State Police has increased its numbers in New Orleans for Mardi Gras and they’re making their presence known. Over 150 additional troopers are patrolling the French Quarter and the metro area. Spokesperson Melissa Matey says, so far, troopers have made over 115 arrests since last Friday…:
CUT 9 (08) “of the streets”
She says State Police in partnering with other local law enforcement, is working to keep revelers safe during Mardi Gras.

The Attorney for Houston-based Texas Brine has reportedly asked the Louisiana Office of Conservation to grant permission for the company to stop paying $875 a week to the remaining residents in Bayou Corne around the sinkhole. They say the case has been made that stability conditions around the sinkhole have improved and merit an end to the payments.

It’s a dreary and wet Lundi Gras for much of Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more on our Mardi Gras forecast..:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal is headed to north Louisiana today where it’s expected he’ll make an economic development announcement in Monroe which would mean 400 new IBM jobs for the area over the next 10 years. The announcement is also expected to include details about $4.5 million dollars that will be provided to ULM, Louisiana Tech and Grambling for additional computer science programs to help meet IBM’s workforce needs and keep Louisiana graduates in the state.

There’s a front moving through the state today bringing in cold temperatures for Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras. Lake Charles National Weather Service meteorologist Donald Jones satys there could be some freezing rain in central Louisiana between midnight and 8am tomorrow morning…:
CUT 7 (08) “Monroe area”
If you’re headed to New Orleans tomorrow to watch some parades, pack plenty of coats, gloves, beanie hats and blankets as temperatures will struggle to get out of the 40s with little to no sunshine.

State Police say they are working hard to keep The Big Easy safe and family friendly for Mardi Gras. They say since February 6th, over 115 arrests have been made in the area. Troopers report they’ve also seized eight illegally possessed weapons and taken over $370,000 worth of illegal narcotics off the streets.

An accused rapist is back behind bars after slipping out of his shackles and running from Washington Parish Sheriff’s deputies early Saturday Morning. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 39-year-old Kaundra Magee was recaptured just before noon on Sunday when a deputy heard some movement in a large drain that goes under Highway 10 in Franklinton…:
CUT 3 (07) “any incident”
Haley says Magee now faces charges of simple escape.

The Department of Health and Hospitals says the peak of the flu season is behind us, but we still need to protect ourselves especially with all of the cold weather in the forecast for Mardi Gras. State immunologist Dr. Frank Welch says during the height of the flu season, about eight out of every 100 doctor or hospital visit was for the flu, now that ratio is down to five out of every 100..:
CUT 7 (07) “going on”

A strong cold front moves through the state bringing rain and colder temperatures to Louisiana. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says this will result in a cold Mardi Gras…:
CUT 6 (09) “…40s”
He says central Louisiana could see a few ice pellets or freezing rain between midnight and 8am tomorrow morning. It’ll be chilly in New Orleans for Fat Tuesday with highs only getting in the low 50s.

Raisng Cane’s and CC’s Coffee House – two businesses which launched in Louisiana – have made the Sandelman & Associates Top 10 Excellent Fast-Foot Chains list. CC’s President and CEO Celton Hayden says operation excellence has always been a goal of the company and they strive to set the bar higher and higher every year…:
CUT 12 (09) “every day”
Cane’s made Number 4 on the list while CC’s got number 6.

It’s expected IBM will announce today the company will create 400 new jobs in Monroe over the next decade. Governor Bobby Jindal says $4.5 million dollars will be provided to ULM, Louisiana Tech and Grambling for additional computer science programs to help meet IBM’s workforce needs and keep Louisiana graduates in the state.

A new Facebook option allows users to designate a friend or family member to oversee their account upon their death. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”‘

CC’s and Raising Cane’s, two prominent Louisiana-born businesses, made the 2014 Top 10 Excellent Fast-Food Chains list. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (29) “reporting”

Lafayette Police say they have arrested the man suspected in a fatal shooting that occurred over the weekend. They say 52-year-old Jerry Ronald Seals of Lafayette fatally shot 44-year-old James Allen Orgeron in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant. It is reported that Seals and Orgeron had been involved with a long running feud. Seals is charged with second degree murder.

It appears the peak of the flu season is behind us; however, health officials say it’s not time to let our guard down, just yet. Doctor Frank Welch, with the state department of health and hospitals, estimates over half a million Louisiana residents were hit with the flu bug during this influenza season. He says the elderly have been hit especially hard by the flu….

cut 9 (10) “worse”

He says it’s not too late to get your flu shot.

The Bossier Sheriff’s Office is trying to find out who is creating websites for schools claiming to be in the parish — but don’t exist. Lt. Bill Davis says they found fake websites for East Lockwood New Tech High School, Hudson Heights Laboratory Magnet High School, and Walker J Marshall Performing Arts Academy all saying they are in Bossier Parish…

cut 15 (08) “a project”

Davis says they want to find out who is behind these fake school sites to be sure that nothing illegal is going on.

State health officials say the flu bug is starting to slow down. Scott Carwile has the story…

cut 2 (29) “reporting”

Baton Rouge Police have identified the body found near the LSU campus Saturday. Although the person’s name has not been released, they say the remains were that of a male in his 50s. Authorities do not suspect foul play in the man’s death and believe the man died of either natural causes or by suicide.

Facebook’s new Legacy Contact feature allows users to designate a friend or family member to oversee their account upon their death. However, Jensen Moore, with LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication says there are limitations on what your Legacy Contact can do to your page after you die…

cut 6 (08) “delete the account”

If you don’t want your Facebook page to continue on, you can opt for it to be deleted upon your death. You can set your Legacy Contact in the Security Settings page on your Facebook account.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking into who is creating elaborate websites for schools claiming to be in the parish, but actually don’t exist. Lt. Bill Davis says they are working with the Louisiana Department of Education to see if the people behind the sites are trying to defraud the federal government or the state via grant dollars…

cut 14 (07) “to the school”

According to its website, Hudson Heights Laboratory Magnet High School is located on Sawgrass Parkway in Bossier City, but there is no such school.

It looks like the peak of the flu season is behind us, but health officials say that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. Doctor Frank Welch, with the state department of health and hospitals, says it’s still not too late to get a flu shot and also practice proper hygiene…

cut 8 (09) “someone else”

Welch estimates over 500-thousand Louisiana residents were hit with the flu bug during this influenza season.

California based research firm Sandelman & Associates ranked two prominent Louisiana businesses, CC’s and Raising Cane’s, in their 2014 Top 10 Excellent Fast-Food Chains list. The study asked customers during their most recent visit to quick service chains to rate overall satisfaction on a 5 point scale. Celton Hayden, President of CC’s, says they know they have the best coffee and the best food, but keeping the brand’s promise is the most important thing…

cut 11 (06) “than that”

Raising Cane’s was ranked number four and CC’s Coffee House number six in the Quick-Track Awards of Excellence for quick service chains.

The Bossier Sheriff’s Office is trying to figure out who is creating elaborate websites for schools purporting to be in the parish — that actually don’t exist. Lt. Bill Davis says there are three websites with pictures of people, biographies of principals and teachers, and enrollment information for schools listing Bossier City addresses..

cut 13 (07) “exists”

Davis says they want to find out who is behind these fake school sites to be sure that nothing illegal is going on.

Facebook’s new Legacy Contact feature lets users choose someone to manage their account after they die. Jensen Moore, with LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication says this Legacy Contact feature can alleviate a lot potential conflict…

cut 5 (08) “last few years”

You can set your Legacy Contact in the Security Settings page on your Facebook account and Moore says you may want to go through your Facebook pics because those photos will become an eternal remembrance of you.

It appears the peak of the flu season is behind us, but health officials say we can’t let our guard down. Doctor Frank Welch, with the state department of health and hospitals, says during the height of the flu season, about eight out of every 100 doctor or hospital visit was for the flu, now that ratio is down to five out of every 100…

cut 7 (07) “going on”

Welch says it’s still not too late to get a flu shot and also practice proper hygiene.

CC’s and Raising Cane’s, two prominent Louisiana-born businesses, made the 2014 Top 10 Excellent Fast-Food Chains list. The California based research firm Sandelman & Associates ranked Raising Cane’s number four and CC’s Coffee House number six in the Quick-Track Awards of Excellence for quick service chains. Celton Hayden is the President of CC’s…

cut 10 (10) “in everything we do”

The study asked customers during their most recent visit to quick service chains to rate overall satisfaction on a 5 point scale.

A new Facebook option allows users to designate a friend or family member to oversee their account upon their death. Facebook’s Legacy Contact feature lets users choose someone to manage their account after they die. Jensen Moore, with LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication says she can’t believe it’s taken them this long to come up with this policy…

cut 4 (08) “deal with it”

You can set your Legacy Contact in the Security Settings page on your Facebook account. If you don’t want your Facebook page to continue on, you can opt for it to be deleted upon your death.