Laissez les bons temps rouler! It’s Mardi Gras and celebrations are taking place this morning throughout the state. More and more people are visiting Louisiana every year to celebrate Fat Tuesday, according to a study from WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzales explains why traffic might be at a standstill right now heading into The Big Easy…:
Cut 14 (10) “city’s population”

There’s no shortage of mudbugs for Mardi Gras. That’s according to Dr. Greg Lutz with the LSU Ag Center who says the mild winter in Louisiana has helped crawfish farmers catch up. But he says since there are plenty out there, many people are planning boils today…:
Cut 10 (09) “as well”
He says because there are so many people partying today, the price per pound of crawfish could be higher than usual for a couple of days.

How about this heart warming Fat Tuesday story? The city of Opelousas almost had to cancel their parade today due to lack of funds to pay for security. But businessman Bob Giles, who owns car dealerships in Acadiana, stepped up to help the Krewe of Frank Parade…:
CUT 7 (11) “take place”
He says he couldn’t stand by and watch a nearly 20 year old Opelousas Krewe cancel their parade due to lack of funding. It rolls at 11 this morning.

Governor John Bel Edwards has been in Washington D.C. over the past several days meeting with President Donald Trump and FEMA about flood relief and tornado disaster recovery. The governor returns today and will hold a news conference this afternoon at the New Orleans Airport to provide an update on his meetings as the state seeks an additional $2 billion dollars in flood relief from Congress.

The NFL Scouting Combine gets underway today in Indianapolis and 10 former LSU Tigers will participate. It’s an opportunity for running back Leonard Fournette to show NFL teams he’s over an ankle injury that limited him to seven games last season. Draft Analyst Mike Detillier says teams near the top of the first round will also be interested in talking with Fournette..:
Cut 16 (20) “on the track”
He says outside linebacker Duke Riley is moving up the draft boards the fastest out of the former Tigers, and Malachi Dupre has the most to gain, as he had trouble catching passes early in 2016.

Mississippi State head football coach Dan Mullen has been given a four-year contract extension through 2021, the school announced Monday. His deal will be $4.5 million dollars this season.

LSU senior left-hander Jared Poche was named Monday as one of the Collegiate Baseball National Players of the Week. He fired a no-hitter for two weekends in a row tossing eight hitless innings against Maryland on Saturday.

The Tigers will take on Nicholls State today at the Box. LSU coach Paul Maineri announced more injury news Monday, as junior pitcher Doug Norman will miss the remainder of the 2017 season.

Northwestern State hosts No. 16 UL-Lafayette today in Natchitoches. Both the Demons and the Ragin Cajuns are 3-3 on the season.

Two unbeaten teams will face off in Ruston today as Louisiana Tech hosts no. 24 Arkansas at JC Love Field. The Bulldogs are off to their best start in school history. Tech pitcher Nate Harris has been named Conference USA Pitcher of the Week.

In college hoops last night, UL-Lafayette pulled away to defeat Appalachian State 77-62 in Sun Belt Conference action. ULM fell to Coastal Carolina 77-72. Grambling lost to Mississippi Valley State 84-80. Nicholls’ center Liam Thomas has been named the Southland Conference Men’s Basketball player of the week.

It’s Fat Tuesday, and a report by WalletHub finds more and more people are letting the good times roll in Louisiana. Analyst Jill Gonzales says Mardi Gras is growing every year as people actually save up to visit the Big Easy for the Carnival season…:
Cut 13 (10) “higher numbers”
She says Mardi Gras has an economic impact of $465 million for New Orleans alone.

But parades and celebrations that are centuries old take place throughout the state. New Roads native Brian Cosetllo recently wrote a new book called “Carnival in Louisiana: Celebrating Mardi Gras from the French Quarter to the Red River.” He says everyone is familiar with the large Krewe parades in cities like Lafayette and New Orleans, but small towns also get in on the fun…:
Cut 4 (11) “community participation”

Forecasters say that this Mardi Gras in southeast Louisiana could be the warmest in more than 70 years, with highs expected to reach the low to mid 80s.

It looks like there’s no shortage of crawfish for today’s Fat Tuesday celebrations and the upcoming Lenten season. Jeff Palermo has more:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

What kind of jail time might the man who drunkenly plowed into a crowd at the Endymion parade in New Orleans be facing? 25-year-old Neilson Rizzuto is charged with negligent vehicular injury among other charges after cops say he crashed into a crowd sending 21 to the hospital…:
CUT 6 (10) “five year sentence”

That’s legal analyst Tim Meche who says Rizzuto could be looking at 5-10 years but it depends on how the prosecution stacks up the counts.

A Mansfield man is behind bars on a murder charge after he fatally shot a man who was allegedly vandalizing his car. Police Chief Gary Hobbs says 34-year-old Cody Parker has filed police reports in the past for issues with vandalism.
Cut 14 (11) “…of it”
Hobbs says they’re trying to determine if Parker and the victim, 50-year-old James Hewitt, had a previous connection.

Sneezing more than normal? Itchy/watery eyes? Experts say allergy season is hitting Louisiana with a bang this year. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A Breaux Bridge man has been arrested after trying to rob a store in Henderson but eventually bought an item after the clerk did not immediately do as ordered. The St. Martin’s Parish Sheriff’s Office says 35-year-old Homer John left the store and went to a casino where he was arrested. John faces multiple charges including attempted armed robbery with the use of a firearm.

A legal analyst says the man accused of injuring more than two dozen Endymion parade goers in New Orleans may only face 5 years in jail…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Allergy season is in full swing earlier this year, and experts say because Louisiana had such a mild winter, there never really was a low pollen period. Dr. Kenneth Paris, with LSU Health New Orleans, says warm winters typically mean pollen season will peak earlier, and last longer…:
Cut 9 (09) “when we don’t have rain”
Paris says there’s excellent medicine available to control symptoms.

A DeSoto Parish homeowner has been arrested for fatally shooting a man who was allegedly vandalizing his car. Mansfield Police Chief Gary Hobbs says 34-year-old Cody Parker saw 50-year-old James Hewitt near his car and shot Hewitt multiple times as he was fleeing the scene….
cut 12 (11) “pronounced dead”
Hobbs says Parker is charged with second-degree murder.

Volunteers are coming together to help Louisiana flood victims get back into their homes. Louisiana Launch volunteer Shanna Forrestall says their group helps families who are not getting what they need from insurance or FEMA….:
Cut 3 (10) “their houses”
She says Lousiaina Launch can provide donations to families who need it the most, those with elderly, disabled and special needs members.

Colonel Mike Edmonson has no plans to resign even though U-S Senator John Kennedy is calling on the head of the L-S-P to step down as result of four troopers charging the state overtime and hotel expenses for a side trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. Kennedy is disappointed the legislative auditor is not investigating…:
Cut 17 (06) “find the truth”
But Edmonson says Kennedy doesn’t have all the facts and the LSP and the Governor’s investigation need to play out…:
Cut 15 (05) “change those”

Our warm winter means allergy season has arrived early and it’s producing high pollen counts. Doctor Kenneth Paris with LSU Health Sciences says pollen impacts those with asthma…
cut 10 (10) “….resipartory symptoms”
Paris says there are effective medications to help allergy suffers.

U-S Representative Clay Higgins has been appointed to a task force to stop terrorists from entering the country. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 4 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Volunteers are coming together to help Louisiana flood victims get back into their homes. Louisiana Launch volunteer Shanna Forrestall says Let’s Rock uses donations to get flood victims a gift certificate that covers drywall, and more..
cut 4 (10) “those walls up”
You can find out more at launchlouisiana.com.

Police say the drunk driver who crashed into parade goers at Endymion in New Orleans had a blood alcohol content three times the legal limit. A judge says if 25-year-old Neilson Rizzuto is able to post bond, he’ll be put on house arrest. Legal analyst Tim Meche says his circumstances aren’t really that bad.

Cut 7 (11) “jail time”

Rizzuto is charged with negligent vehicular injury, hit and run, and careless operation.

Launch Louisiana is helping August flood victims rebuild their damaged homes by covering the cost of their drywall. Volunteer Shanna Forrestall says donations can be made at LaunchLouisiana.com.

Cut 5 (10) “that are hurting”

She encourages everyone to share the link on social media to raise awareness for the cause.

A Mansfield man is behind bars on a murder charge after he fatally shot a man who was vandalizing his car. Police Chief Gary Hobbs says 34-year-old Cody Parker has filed police reports in the past for issues with vandalism.

Cut 14 (11) “…of it”

Hobbs says they’re trying to determine if Parker and the victim, 50-year-old James Hewitt, had a previous connection.

If you’re struggling with allergies more than usual this year, you’re not alone. Dr. Ken Paris with LSU Health New Orleans says a mild winter has led to more pollen. But he says there are plenty of effective medicines to help keep their symptoms under control.

Cut 11 (10) “…illness”

Paris recommends non-sedating oral antihistamines and over the counter intranasal steroid sprays.