Currently, there are about 110-thousand customers without power throughout the state. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says it’s a difficult restoration

Cut 7 (11) “…warm weather.”

Unfortunately, a heat wave is not coming soon. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says we are looking at another cold night tonight…

Cut 19 (16) “…tonight”

State officials are imploring those who do not have power and heat, to seek out a warming shelter. At 2 PM press conference, it was announced there are 76 warming shelters available and more than a dozen more are opening soon.

The winter precipitation is gone, but those of you in the northern part of the state should still use extreme caution when venturing out onto the roadways.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

USA Today Network reporter Greg Hilburn is among those without power in his Monroe home. Hilburn says it seems most people are taking state and local officials’ advice and are staying home.

Cut 10 (12) “…they are doing.”

Thousands of people throughout the northern half of the state remain without power because of the deadly ice storm. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says buildup of ice on tree limbs has led to many of the outages.

Cut 6 (10) “…up here.”

USA Today Network reporter Greg Hilburn is among those who had the power knocked out at his home. He tells us he was able to stay warm inside his house, thanks to his fireplace. Looking at it on the bright side, he told us at least it looked pretty outside.

Cut 9 (11)  “…transportation.”

Campbell says restoring power has been a huge game of whack-a-mole – when one area gets its power restored, another area loses it.

The precipitation has moved out of Louisiana, and none is expected for the next several days. But Rodney Mallett with DOTD says those of you especially in North Louisiana still need to use extreme caution when venturing out onto the roadways.

Cut 3 (07) “…dangerous driving conditions.”

Among those who have died in the storm is an 86-year-old man in DeSoto Parish who died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The death was confirmed by the parish coroner as winter storm related. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson says his deputies have been busy conducting welfare checks.

Cut 11 (14) “…go check.”

Two deaths in Caddo Parish are being attributed to hypothermia.

Even though precipitation has moved out of Louisiana and none is expected for the next several days, lingering moisture is making some roadways in North Louisiana slick, especially on I-20, where it’s a slow-go between Monroe and Arcadia in both directions. Rodney Mallett with DOTD says this is despite crews working around the clock to keep roadways as passable as they possibly can.

Cut 4 (11) “…get hit first.”

Currently, there are more than 110-thousand customers without power throughout the state. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says it’s a game of whack-a-mole – when one area gets its power restored, another area loses it.

Cut 7 (11) “…warm weather.”

Almost 87-hundred customers are without power in DeSoto Parish, which is looking at another night with low temperatures in the teens. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson says people who do not have an adequate way to warm their homes should find shelter.

Cut 12 (09) “…life-threatening temperatures”

The Red Cross has opened shelters and warming centers throughout the state; but with brutally cold temperatures forecast overnight, the organization is looking to open more of them. Thus, Kenneth St. Charles, the regional CEO of the American Red Cross Louisiana Region, is putting out a statewide call for volunteers.

Cut 14 (12) “…that we have.”

Training only takes about a couple hours, and it can be done virtually.

The Louisiana Department of Health has reported a third winter-storm related death. An 86-year-old man in DeSoto Parish died due to carbon monoxide poisoning. The death was confirmed by the parish coroner as winter-storm related. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson says his deputies have been busy conducting welfare checks…

Cut 11 (14) “…go check.”

The state health department says the other two winter-storm related deaths happened in Caddo Parish as two men died due to hypothermia.

Numerous roads are closed, especially in Caddo and Ouachita Parishes. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they have been working around the clock, even before the storm arrived…

Cut 5 (10) “…a day”

Mallett says they are advising the public to avoid I-20 westbound in Bienville, Lincoln and Ouachita parishes due to stalled or stopped 18-wheelers.

More than 100-thousand people are without power as a result this historic ice storm. Joe Gallinaro has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…Joe Gallinaro.”

And we are looking at another cold morning tomorrow with low temperatures in north Louisiana ranging from the single digits to the teens and wind chill readings in the teens for south Louisiana. It will begin to warm up on Tuesday afternoon, but looking at another cold front at the end of the week and another cold weekend.

At this hour, about 120-thousand customers remain without power throughout the state. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says while no one likes living without power, the public understands Mother Nature has produced a difficult situation for Entergy, SWEPCO, Cleco and all of the power companies working around the clock to get the power restored.

Cut 8 (13) “…up here.”

USA Today Network reporter Greg Hilburn is among those without power in his home. Amid his shivering, Hilburn says most people are taking state and local officials’ advice and are staying home.

Cut 10 (12) “…they are doing.”

The precipitation has moved out of Louisiana, and none is expected for the next several days. But Rodney Mallett with DOTD says especially those of you in North Louisiana still need to use extreme caution when venturing out onto the roadways.

Cut 3 (07) “…dangerous driving conditions.”

Nowhere is that more evident than on westbound I-20, where stalled 18-wheelers had caused massive backups today.

If you have some extra time on your hands, the Red Cross could use your help. Kenneth St. Charles, the regional CEO of the American Red Cross Louisiana Region, is putting out a statewide call for volunteers.

Cut 13 (12)  “…ready to go.”

Training only takes a couple of hours, and you can do it from the comfort of your own home.

Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Jeff Palermo….

Cut 9 (11) “…transportation”

That’s Greg Hilburn, a reporter with the USA Today Network. Hilburn is like many in north Louisiana, hunkered down in his home with no power, but able to stay warm because of his fireplace. According to power-outage-dot-com, more than 120-thousand utility customers are without power, 47-thousand of the outages are in Ouachita Parish. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell represents all of north Louisiana. Campbell says the buildup of ice on tree limbs has led to many of the outages…

Cut 6 (10) “…up here.”

Entergy says its crews are prepared to work long hours to restore service to customers as safely and quickly as possible.

If it seems like you’re paying up the nose in sales taxes, the Tax Foundation says you’re right.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Senator Bill Cassidy along with several other Republican members of Congress, has called for an in-depth investigation into federal immigration tactics after the fatal shooting in Minnesota of U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti by a U-S Border Patrol Agent. Cassidy said the events in Minneapolis are “incredibly disturbing” and the credibility of ICE and D.H.S. are at stake.”

Despite the efforts of utility crews, more than 123-thousand customers statewide remain without power at this hour. Ouachita Parish leads the pack by a mile with more than 47-thousand in the dark. Michael Corbin with SWEPCO says especially given the dangerous road conditions, crews worked quickly and efficiently throughout the weekend in getting power restored as quickly as possible.

Cut 13 (11)  “…people so quickly.”

With brutally cold temperatures gripping the state, fire officials are very concerned that people are going to resort to creative – and dangerous – methods to heat their homes. State Fire Marshal Bryan Adams says do not try to use your oven to warm up your home. He says if you have a fire going in your fireplace, make sure it’s out before your head hits the pillow.

Cut 11 (07) “…fire as well.”

According to a conservative columnist, it’s not a slam dunk that Julia Letlow will win the Republican U.S. Senate primary just because she has the backing of President Trump. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Letlow is not the only Louisiana candidate to earn Trump’s endorsement. Trump has given his endorsement to Congressman Clay Higgins for his re-election bid in the state’s Third Congressional District. Higgins is in his fifth terms in the House and has thus far not drawn a primary challenger. Tia LeBrun is running as a Democrat in the heavily Republican district.

Following President Trump’s endorsement of Julia Letlow for U.S. Senate, incumbent, Bill Cassidy said endorsements will not decide the race; instead, the voters will select the candidate with the best record. Advocate newspaper columnist Tyler Bridges said on Talk Louisiana, it will be interesting to see if Cassidy’s strategy will work.

Cut 6 (13) “…in the Senate.”

Cassidy is not backing away from the issues that may be contrary to the president’s views. In a social media post, Saturday he expressed concern about the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the reputations of ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. After another fatal shooting in Minnesota, he said there must be a full federal and state investigation.

The winter precipitation and heavy rains have moved out of the state, but the cold weather is here. The storm caused power outages for almost 130,000 homes and businesses, mostly in North Louisiana where temperatures are not expected to get above freezing until Tuesday. LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says we will see a slight warm up as the week goes on.

Cut 15 (08) “…I-10, I-12.”

And the storm claimed the lives of two men in Caddo Parish. DHS says the men died from hypothermia.

Louisiana has the highest average combined state and local sales tax rate in the country says the Tax Foundation. Policy Analyst Janelle Fritts says the state did reduce income taxes across the board to a flat three percent and cut other taxes as well so the state’s ranking in overall tax burden has improved.

Cut 9 (11)  “…used to be.”