Governor John Bel Edwards announces a transportation and infrastructure investment for major projects in three different parts of the state. One of the problems he says it’s time to address is I-10 in Baton Rouge from the Mississippi River Bridge to the 10/12 split…:
Cut 11 (10) “in the state”
Edwards says they will request $600 million in bonds, which the state can repay with federal highway funds Louisiana gets each year.

The Senate Select Committee on Women and Children met at the Capitol today to discuss updating sexual harassment policies within state agencies and among lawmakers. Testimony included an official from DCFS who claimed a legislator exposed himself to him in the bathroom in the 1980s, and also three female faculty from UL-Lafayette who say they face sexual harassment all the time at work and not much is ever done.

Another cold air mass is bringing Canadian air into Louisiana, dropping temperatures well below normal. Temps are expected to fall throughout the day, then the coldest air of the weekend will settle in with overnight temperatures below freezing statewide. State climatologist Barry Keim..:
Cut 3 (13) “on Sunday”
Last time we saw an arctic outbreak, there were several house fires resulting in over a dozen fatalities. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says some of those homes didn’t have a working smoke alarm and were using other dangerous means to heat their homes…:
Cut 5 (09) “some fires”
He says it’s important to check on neighbors, especially the elderly, when these cold blasts take over.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces the state will seek 600 million dollars in loans to pay for major highway projects. If accepted, the bonds will finance a major expansion of I-10 in Baton Rouge, the I-10 Loyola interchange in Kenner, and an interchange into Barksdale Airforce Base in Bossier City. Edwards says the state will use federal highway money to pay back the loans…:
Cut 10 (09) “12 years”
The financing plans will need to be approved by state lawmakers and the bond commission.

Temperatures will struggle only into the mid 40s for highs today as a cold front has moved over the state, and State Climatologst Barry Keim says the brutal winds are coming in from the north…:
Cut 4 (10) “wind chill”
A hard freeze is forecast for North Louisiana tomorrow, and light freeze down to the coast.

26-year-old Neilson Rizzoto was sentenced to five years in prison today after plowing into a crowd of parade goers during last year’s Endymion parade in New Orleans. The crash injured 32 people and police said Rizzuto was drunk. He also has to attend AA and MADD meetings. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Rizzoto should be thankful he gets another chance.:
Cut 15 (12) “other people”
He says the sentence is an example of new criminal justice reforms.

A police department in Ohio is trying to spread the word that they are not the Vermilion where a teacher was removed from a school board meeting this week for questioning the superintendent. Cops in Vermilion, Ohio say they have received angry and profane messages from people reacting to the controversial arrest of Deyshia Hargrave which actually happened in Vermilion Parish. The Ohio department said to please stop sending hate mail.

Governor John Bel Edwards announced that the state is seeking funding for three major infrastructure projects. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Another round of frigid weather is settling over the state this weekend, and the last time this happened there were several fatal house fires. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning encourages you to check on older heating systems…:
CUT 6 (10) “the weekend”
A hard freeze is forecast for North Louisiana tomorrow, and light freeze down to the coast.

It’s going to be tough for the Saints to beat the Vikings on Sunday, but they certainly have a chance. The game is a rematch of the season opener that New Orleans lost, but NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says there’s a new X-factor for the Saints this time around…:
Cut 14 (11) “running back situation”
The game kicks off at 3:40 Sunday on FOX.

The Legislative Women’s Caucus is investigating to see if it is necessary to overhaul sexual harassment policies for the legislature and state government employees. Chairman and New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno says if anyone is found guilty of sexual harassment, they need to be held accountable…:
Cut 8 (08) “this manner”
She believes the current policies are out of date.

Louisiana will receive another round of freezing temperatures this weekend:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Saints face their toughest match up of the season as they roll into Minnesota. New Orleans is a five point underdog against a Vikings team that hasn’t allowed more than 20 points at home. Saints analyst Mike Detillier on how to beat a defense like that…:
Cut 13 (08) “ball over”

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced a major transportation plan that could offer relief for motorists statewide. He says a $600 million dollar initiative includes projects such as widening I-10 in Baton Rouge from the Mississippi River Bridge to the 10/12 split, and new access from I-20 directly into Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City, among others.

The man who crashed into a crowd of people at last year’s Endymion parade while driving drunk, will spend five years in prison and have to attend AA. 26-year-old Neilson Rizzoto was facing a 55 year sentence. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this sentence is an example of the new criminal justice reform measures put in place last year…:
Cut 16 (11) “a third”
The crash injured 32 people.

Another cold air mass is bringing Canadian air into Louisiana, dropping temperatures well below normal. Temps are expected to fall throughout the day, then the coldest air of the weekend will settle in with overnight temperatures below freezing statewide. State climatologist Barry Keim..:
Cut 3 (13) “on Sunday”
Last time we saw an arctic outbreak, there were several house fires resulting in over a dozen fatalities. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says some of those homes didn’t have a working smoke alarm and were using other dangerous means to heat their homes…:
Cut 5 (09) “some fires”
He says it’s important to check on neighbors, especially the elderly, when these cold blasts take over.

The Legislative Women’s Caucus is investigating to see if it is necessary to overhaul sexual harassment policies for lawmakers and state government employees. Chairman and New Orleans Representative Helena Moreno finds it disturbing that even though harassment policies are in place for the state, it’s hard to hold legislators accountable…:
Cut 7 (11) “the legislature”
She feels the current rules are antiquated and need to be brought up to date.

The Louisiana Property Assistance Agency will resume its monthly state surplus property auctions in Baton Rouge this weekend. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says all of the proceeds will go back to the state to take care of a portion of transportation needs…:
Cut 25 (03) “fleet”
He says there is something for everyone at the auction including exercise equipment, cars, boats, RVs and more.

Jennings Senator Blade Morrish is proposing to change TOPS award amounts. Under his plan, students who earn the basic award by achieving a 2.5 GPA and a20 ACT would receive just a four-thousand dollar annual stipend, while TOPS Honor students would get their tuition paid for, plus a stipend between 15-hundred and 25-hundred dollars. Morrish says he wants to challenge students to improve their performance…
cut 9 (08) “….old model”
Morrish could seek this change in TOPS in the upcoming session.

The Louisiana teacher arrested this week at the Vermilion Parish School Board meeting after she questioned her superintendent’s pay raise might file a lawsuit. Deyshia Hargrave spoke yesterday at a rally…
cut 11 (05) “…shocking disrespect”
Hargrave hopes her experience will empower people to use their voice when they see something that’s not right.

Monroe-based Centurylink has told its employees they will not receive a merit raise this year. A company spokesperson says Centurylink remains confident they are on the right path towards growth, but they also have to watch costs and adjust their operations to meet the needs of their business. Centurylink employs 52-thousand workers worldwide, 27-hundred in Louisiana.

A series of social media posts has experts reminding teens not to eat Tide Pods. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has called an 11:30 press conference where he’ll announce a 600-million dollar funding plan to widen I-10 from the Mississippi River bridge to the I-10–I-12 split in Baton Rouge. The governor’s office says if they receive the funding, they’ll also be able to complete construction projects in New Orleans and Bossier City.

A state lawmaker is proposing to change the amounts that TOPS students receive. Kelley Ray has the story…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Hundreds showed up at a rally yesterday to support teacher Deyshia Hargrave who was forcefully removed from a school board meeting after questioning the superintendent’s pay raise. The treatment of Hargrave, who was handcuffed has angered many. She told her supporters that she was just sticking to her principles…
Cut 10 (11) “that myself.”
Hargrave hopes her story will encourage others to speak out when they don’t agree with something.

The Louisiana Property Assistance Agency will resume its monthly state surplus property auctions in Baton Rouge tomorrow. The auction will feature a wide variety of items once used by state agencies. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says there’s something for everyone…
Cut 4 (11) “boats, trailers.”
More information can be found on the Division of Administration’s website.

Jennings Senator Blade Morrish has put forth a proposal that would make substantial changes to TOPS. Morrish is proposing that TOPS recipients who qualify for the scholarship with a 2.5 GPA and a 20 on their ACT would receive a four-thousand dollar annual stipend, while 4.0 students would have tuition paid for, plus a stipend…
cut 8 (11) “….2500 dollars”
The proposal would need legislative approval and if passed, would not impact current students.

Hundreds showed up in downtown Abbeville to support Deyshia Hargrave. Her arrest at a school board meeting has angered many. Hargrave hopes her story will encourge others to stand up for what they think is right…
cut 12 (06) “…those meetings”
Hargrave is considering legal action .

In 2017, poison control centers dealt with more than 10,000 reports of children eating detergent pods. Louisiana Poison Control President-Elect Mark Ryan…
cut 13 (11) “…bright and colorful”
Ryan says a new social media challenge has led to an increasing number of teenagers ingesting the colorful pods. He says under no circumstance should they go into your mouth.

State surplus property will be auctioned off on Saturday in Baton Rouge. Division of adminstration spokesperson Jacques Berry says you can bid on motor vehicles, construction equipment, appliances and home furniture once used by state agencies…
cut 5 (10) “…repurpose them”
For more information go to the division of administration’s website.

A state lawmaker is proposing to change TOPS scholarship amounts. Students who meet the minimum eligibility would receive a four-thousand-dollar annual stipend. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish says four-thousand-dollars may seem low, but it’s still the most lucrative college tuition program in the U-S…
Cut 7 (09) “state universities.”
Morrish says TOPS honors students would have their tuition paid for, plus they would get a stipend ranging from 15-hundred to 25-hundred dollars. The proposal would need legislative approval.

Governor John Bel Edwards will announce a funding plan today to pay for a major I-10 reconstruction project in Baton Rouge. The governor’s office says if the funding is received, a new interchange on I-10 in Kenner can also be built, plus a new access from I-20 directly into Barksdale Air Force Base.

Vermilion Parish teachers held a rally for Deyshia Hargrave, to protest her treatment at a recent schoolboard meeting. Matt Doyle has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Teenagers are putting detergent pods in their mouths as part of a new online challenge on social media. Louisiana Poison Control President-Elect Mark Ryan says no one should be eating these pods….
cut 15 (10) “…breathing tube”
Tide has released a statement says their laundry pods should not be played with, even if meant as a joke.