It’s a big day of parades and floats across south Louisiana and wild costumes in New Orleans historic French Quarter. All things Mardi Gras, Arthur Hardy says Zulu gets it started in the Big Easy this morning, which is one of the oldest African American Clubs, founded in 1909….
cut 5 (06) “…marvelous parade”
If you are heading out for Mardi Gras festivities, it will be sunny and cool and a bit breezy.

Governor John Bel Edwards has put together a special web page to solicit public input on how to handle the state’s budget crisis. It can be found at gov-dot-louisiana-dot-gov. The Public Affairs Research Council has also provided a series of recommendations on how to cut government spending. PAR president Robert Travis Scott says elected officials have a huge task in front of them…
cut 12 (11) “…the session”
A special session to address the state’s budget problems begins Sunday.

The 2016 US Senate race in Louisiana is off and running with several announced candidates already campaigning. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany, who is seeking outgoing senator David Vitter’s seat, stopped in Baton Rouge and told reporters that strengthing our national security is a must…
cut 7 (08) “…operations”
US Representative John Fleming, state treasurer John Kennedy, former ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert, retired US Air Force Colonel Rob Maness and New Orleans lawyer Caroline Fayard are other announced candidates.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry continue to fued about a lawsuit involving Common Core. Landry wants to follow through with an appeal involving the suit, which was originally filed by former Governor Bobby Jindal. But Edwards says that’s not necessary, especially since Louisiana is in the process of rewriting its public school standards.

Governor John Bel Edwards will reportedly meet with state senators today as he seeks their support and input heading into a special session that’s been called to close a massive budget shortfall this fiscal year and next. Meanwhile, House Speaker Taylor Barras says the lower chamber is committed to avoiding big cuts to higher ed and health care…
cut 14 (09) “…inflicted”
The special session begins on Sunday.

The Public Affairs Research Council has provided the governor and the legislature with several recommendations on how to cut government spending. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says one suggestion is to come up with a plan to make sure retirement costs and health care plans for employees do not escalate…
cut 10 (07) “….year to year”
PAR’s other suggestions include a 200-million dollar cut across state agencies and consolidating academic programs with colleges that are located near each other.

Mardi Gras 2016 comes to a close today with Fat Tuesday. Michelle Southern has more with Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy…
cut 1 (30) “..I’m Michelle Southern”

The Saints have released six-time Pro Bowl guard Jahri Evans. He was a key member of the 2009 Super Bowl team.

Louisiana is one of just 7 states whose economy did not end 2015 on a good note. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 1 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Louisiana is under a strong wind advisory with winds over 20 miles per hour throughout the state. He says it will feel really cold when the winds pick up.

CUT 13 (09) “…even.”

Strong winds have caused power outages in the Baton Rouge area.

A Crowley man is facing two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder after allegedly stabbing two Acadia Parish Narcotics Agents. 42-year-old Jason Broussard is facing multiple charges after police were called when Broussard caused a disturbance at a grocery store. Maxine Trahan with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office says both officers were transported to the hospital after the incident.

CUT 4 (10) “…home recovering.”

Shots rang out at the Baccaus parade in New Orleans last night. This is the second shooting in two weeks along a parade route. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says prosecutors should keep career criminals behind bars.

CUT 10 (08) “…first offense.”

A wind advisory is in effect throughout the state and could affect Mardi Gras parades tonight and tomorrow, according to the National Weather Service. They say winds could be in excess of 25 to 35 miles per hour. State Climatologist Barry Keim says bundle up as temperatures continue to drop…:

CUT 14 (05) “…40s tonight”

Officials are monitoring conditions for upcoming parades.

Louisiana’s economy is one out of only 7 states that did not have a strong end of 2015, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. State Economist Dr. Loren Scott says oil cuts hit Louisiana’s economy extremely hard…:

CUT 6 (10) “…West Texas”

Louisiana as a whole began losing jobs September of last year.

A Crowley man is facing multiple charges after allegedly stabbing two Acadia Parish Narcotics Agents. 42-year-old Jason Broussard has been arrested for several charges including two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder. Maxine Trahan with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office says the agents responded to a call at a grocery store after Broussard caused a disturbance.

CUT 3 (10) “…with them.”

The officers are recovering, and Broussard is held on a one million dollar bond.

For the second time in two weeks there has been a shooting along a Mardi Gras parade route in Louisiana. A week ago, there was a shooting in Thibodaux and last night shots rang out during the Bacchus Parade. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says this must stop…:

CUT 9 (10) “dozen times”

No one was injured at last night’s shooting at the Bacchus Parade.

Data shows just seven states struggled during the last three months of 2015, and Louisiana was one of them. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s index, our economy contracted during the end of the year. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says the historic low oil prices caused Louisiana as a whole to start losing jobs in September. He says they hope to see some upward growth in mid 2016, but that will mostly depend on Saudi Arabia..:
CUT 8 (08) “in the market”
Scott says the big hits Louisiana incurred were in Houma and Lafayette.

The wind advisory has some officials monitoring conditions as they could impact parades this Mardi Gras. State Climatologist Barry Keim says wind gusts are a concern…:
cut 12 (12) “tomorrow morning”

For the second time in two weeks, there has been a shooting along a Mardi Gras parade route in Louisiana. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says this needs to stop as Fat Tuesday celebrations bring in a huge majority of revenue and tourism for New Orleans and they have to make sure crime doesn’t effect that…:
Cut 11 (07) “it up”
Last night’s shooting, with no injuries, happened at the Bacchus Parade. Two men were injured last Sunday in a Thibodaux parade shooting.

Two narcotic agents from Acadia Parish are recovering from stab wounds they suffered while trying to arrest a 42-year-old Crowley man. Sheriffs’ Office spokeswoman Maxine Trahan says deputies were called to a disturbance at a grocery store on Saturday night and eventually encountered Jason Broussard, who allegedly stabbed the deputies as he tried to flee.
CUT 5 (11) “an officer”

For the second straight weekend during the carnival season, gunfire erupted along a parade route. Halen Doughty has the story…:
CUT 2 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

New Orleans native Peyton Manning is a Super Bowl champion for a second time as Manning helped the Broncos beat the Carolina Panthers 24-10 in Super Bowl 50. Peyton now has as many Super Bowl rings as his younger brother Eli, but that doesn’t matter in the Manning household…
cut 30 (06) “…do that”
Social media is having fun with Eli Manning, Eli didn’t look happy at one point in the game, even though his brother’s team was winning.

Louisiana’s economy is just one out of those in seven states in the nation that did not end 2015 on a strong note, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says the big hits Louisiana incurred were in Houma and Lafayette, with employment down three and a half and two and a half percent…:
CUT 7 (07) “Lake Charles areas”
He says they hope Saudi Arabia will stop flooding the market so we can start to see upward growth in the oil industry.

It’s cold outside on this Lundi Gras, but the wind is making it extremely brisk. The entire state is under a wind advisory and State Climatologist Barry Keim says a strong breeze of 20-miles per hour will be felt throughout the day. He says when the wind really starts blowing that’s when it will feel really cold…:
cut 13 (09) “even”
He says parade goers today and tomorrow would be wise to bundle up.

Louisiana’s economy is one out of seven states that did not end 2015 on a strong note, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

There is a wind advisory all of Louisiana, and State Climatologist Barry Keim says strong winds will stick until tomorrow morning. He says make sure you bundle up if you’re heading out tonight this Lundi Gras…:
cut 14 (05) “40s tonight”

A 42-year-old man from Crowley is facing serious charges for allegedly stabbing two Acadia Parish Sheriff’s deputies as they were trying to arrest him. Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Maxine Trahan says Jason Broussard was arrested while trying to flee the scene after stabbing the two agents. She says both officers were immediately transported to the hospital to treat their stab wounds…:
CUT 4 (10) “home recovering”
Broussard is facing multiple charges including 2 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder.

For the second time in two weeks there has been a shooting along a Mardi Gras parade route in Louisiana. One happened in Thibodaux and the other last night during Bacchus. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says these are repeat offenders and it’s time for the prosecutors and lawyers to stop letting career criminals back on the streets…:
cut 10 (08) “first offense”