A winter storm warning is in effect for parishes in northwest Louisiana until 9:00 tonight and several parishes in northeast Louisiana are under a freezing rain advisory until 10:00 this morning. Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says how much ice we see across north Louisiana depends on the temperature…

cut 14 (07) “more ice”

I-49 in Caddo Parish has been closed due to winter weather conditions, as well as I-220 in Bossier and Caddo Parishes and several on and off ramps to I-20 in Ouachita Parish. Governor Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana due to the adverse winter weather conditions.

LSU students believe the governor and state lawmakers should approve a constitutional amendment that protects higher education from budget cuts.. Mass communications student David Scotton leads an effort to get such an amendment proposed. Scotton is a junior at LSU and he’s seen how previous budget cuts have harmed the university….

cut 6 (07) “not respected”

Scotton has helped gather over one-thousand signatures of LSU students who support the idea.

In three special state House elections Saturday, two new representatives were elected, while one election goes to a runoff. In District 29 in Iberia and Vermillion Parishes, Republican Blake Miguez defeated one other Rebublican to gain the House seat. In Rapides Parish, Democrat Jeff Hall is the new District 26 representative. And in District 66 in Baton Rouge, Republicans Buddy Amoroso and Darrell Ourso will meet in a March 28 runoff to fill that seat.

The iconic Louisiana Cajun food company Savoie’s is celebrating 60 years in business. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

A winter storm warning is in effect for parishes in northwestern Louisiana this morning. Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says freezing rain and sleet is expected…

cut 13 (10) “I-2o corridor”

I-49 in Caddo Parish has been closed due to winter weather conditions, as well as I-220 in Bossier and Caddo Parishes and several on and off ramps to I-20 in Ouachita Parish. A state of emergency has been declared for several parishes.

The Louisiana Cajun food company Savoie’s  is celebrating 60 years in business. Vice President Robert vanLeeuwen says it all started with Eula Savoie who got into the hog farming business shortly before the price of hogs dropped steeply in 1955. He says then she decided to have the hogs slaughtered for sausage…

cut 11 (10) “each hog”

He says not many “niche” food products companies reach this age in Louisiana.

A group of LSU students believe the legislature should approve a constitutional amendment that protects higher education from budget cuts. Mass communications student David Scotton has helped gather over one-thousand signatures of LSU students who support the idea for a constitutional amendment to protect higher education…

cut 5 (05) “not happy”

Higher ed and health care are not protected and they will likely take the brunt of next fiscal year’s budget cuts.

The Google online video library YouTube is now offering a more age appropriate medium for children. YouTube Kids is a free app and it launches today for Android devices. LSU professor Jenson Moore who specializes in digital media says one of the new features of YouTube Kids is the safe search which limits certain words and will weed out inappropriate words or uncensored content…

Cut 8 (11) “has designated”

Moore says comments can also be removed which many times contain profanity or inappropriate content.

The Pelicans 105-91 win Saturday over the Miami Heat cost them a lot more than expected. Forward Anthony Davis was pulled from the game in the first quarter with a right shoulder strain. Davis is expected to miss the next 1 – 2 weeks of action. And Ryan Anderson left the game in the second quarter with an MCL sprain in his right knee. Anderson will be out of action for the next 2 – 4 weeks.

In college basketball, LSU upended Florida 70-63. Jarell Martin lead the Tigers with a career-high 28.

Old Dominion dominated Louisiana Tech 72-53. The Bulldogs remain in the Conference USA top spot.

In the Southland, Lamar topped McNeese 58-53, Stephen F. Austin defeated Nicholls State 86-71. Northwestern State edged UNO 87-84. And Southeastern Louisiana squeeked by Abeline Christian 55-54.

In Sun Belt Conference basketball action, UL-Lafayette blew past Texas-Arlington 81-70. And ULM came up short against Arkansas State 70-68. ULM is now in a three way tie for first in the league.

In college baseball, LSU swept Boston College after the Tigers pounded the Eagles 16-2 Saturday at Alex Box Stadium. Coach Paul Mainieri’s club is now 6-1 and will face Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday night.

ULM lost a close one to Stephen F. Austin yesterday 8-7. The Warhawks took two of three in the series from the Lumberjacks and move to 3-3 on the season.

McNeese State were defeated by Bradley yesterday 5-0. The Cowboys were swept by the Braves in the series as they failed to produce a single run over the weekend. McNeese falls to 4-4 on the season.

A group of LSU students believe the legislature should approve a constitutional amendment that protects higher education from budget cuts. Higher ed and health care are not protected and they will likely take the brunt of next fiscal year’s budget cuts. Mass communications student David Scotton leads an effort to get such an amendment proposed

cut 4 (5) “that solution”

Scotton has helped gather over one-thousand signatures of LSU students who support the idea for a constitutional amendment to protect higher education.

The iconic Louisiana Cajun food company Savoie’s is celebrating 60 years in business. The company headquarters remain at the original grocery site on LA 742 just east of Opelousas. Robert vanLeeuwen is a vice president at Savoie and he says sixty years is a real milestone as there are not many “niche” food products companies who reach that age in Louisana

cut 10 (10) “of ownership”

Governor Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana due to the adverse winter weather expected over northern and central Louisiana over the next day or so. A winter storm warning is in effect for northwestern Louisiana this morning, while north, central, and southwestern Louisiana are under winter weather and freezing rain advisories. I -49 in Caddo Parish has been closed due to winter weather conditions.

Many parents will be happy to hear that the Google online video library YouTube is now offering a more age appropriate medium for children. YouTube Kids is a free app and it launches today for Android devices. LSU professor Jenson Moore who specializes in digital media says this is a major evolution in social video…

cut 7 (08) “on track with this one”

Yesterday, one-hundred-three million dollars worth of cuts was approved by the Legislative Joint Budget Committee today, but not without some concerns. Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols pushed lawmakers to approve the governor’s plan, because if any proposed cuts are restored, it could lead to deeper cuts next fiscal year….
cut 15 (10) “higher education”

Even though it may not feel like it now, very cold conditions for North and Central Louisiana are on the way with some freezing preceip in the forecast. Mario Valverde with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says that could lead to some problems…
CUT 3 (09) “hazardous”
He says Monday, some parts of the state will be lucky to get above freezing.
—————————-
In the Louisiana Governor’s race, the first TV ads started yesterday, and they belong to Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the Angelle campaign kept things quiet about the media buy of $200 thousand dollars…
CUT 11 (11) Q: ‘was celebrating’
He says get ready for a steady diet of campaign ads until election day.

Following a recent string of business closures in Pineville, there is good news to report, as Mayor Clarence Fields confirmed the announcement that American Specialty Alloys company will build a plant that will bring hundreds of jobs to Central Louisiana. That plant will be located on the former site of International Paper on Highway 165, and is targeted to begin operations in 2016.

Right now the state has temperatures in the 60’s , but that is about to change, as meterologists are keeping an close eye on the next front coming through…
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

A Beauregard Parish man has been arrested for his fourth DWI after causing a crash that involved a 5 day-old baby on Highway 171 in Moss Bluff. Even though no one was injured in the crash, State Police say that 27 year-old Colby K. Hebert tested 5 times the legal limit for blood alcohol content.
————————-
Yesterday, the Louisiana legislative joint budget committee approved $103 million dollars in cuts to this year’s fiscal budget, but not everyone was happy about that; or Governor Bobby Jindal…
CUT 13 (11) Q: “six months”
That’s Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith.

Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon is reporting millions in rebates for homeowners, renters and businesses are going unclaimed. Donelon thinks the problem is just knowing about it…
CUT 8 (10) Q: ‘to access’
He says you can also still claim the assessment, even if you failed to do so from 2011 to 2014. for more information you can visit the department website.

Yesterday, the legislative budget committee approved a $103 million dollar cut to this fiscal year’s budget, but not without many concerns being voiced. Crowley Representative Jack Montoucet, expressed concerns with cuts to the Department of Ag, which could result in fewer food inspectors…
cut 14 (10) “my concern”

One item lawmakers will examine closely are the tax credits to the film industry. The Advocate is reporting today a former big player, who went to prison for a bribery scandal, will now be collecting $6.5 million dollars from the state. An independent arbitrator ruling stated that film policy directives on the books should give Malcolm Petal the big paycheck within 10 days. It’s unclear on whether or not the state can appeal. In 2009 Petal went to prison for 5 years for a payoff scheme with the film commissioner.
—————————-
Louisiana weather is about to get cold again courtesy of another cold front, and things could get especially dramatic with the possibility of winter precipitation for central and north Louisiana Sunday night and into Monday…
CUT 4 (07) Q; “gonna be”
That’s National Weather Service Office meteorologist Mario Valverde, who says there’s should a pretty good chance of snow, especially along the I-20 corridor.

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle is the first 2015 gubernatorial candidate to begin advertising on television. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says Angelle’s spots starting airing Friday as part of the $200,000 buy…:
CUT 9 (08) “quietly”
Alford says now we can expect to see gubernatorial ads non-stop between now and the fall.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is closely monitoring the chance of severe winter weather across portions of the state. According to the National Weather Service, showers will gradually increase across much of the area with a few thunderstorms possible through Saturday night as a cold front begins to approach the region from the north. A mixture of freezing rain and sleet appears probable Sunday night into Monday for central to norther parts of the state.

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle is the first 2015 gubernatorial candidate to begin advertising on television. LaPolitics.com was the first to deliver the report about the ads and publisher Jeremy Alford Friday is the first day Angelle’s spots starting airing as part of the $200,000 buy…:
CUT 9 (08) “quietly”
Alford says now we can expect to see gubernatorial ads non-stop between now and the fall.

The Legislative Budget Committee approved the Jindal’s Administration’s plan to cut $103 million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget. Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith expressed her frustration that the governor’s office only received a ten-thousand dollar cut in funding…:
CUT 12 (06) “by example”
Smith suggested Jindal should work without pay.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon encourages taxpayers to file for an insurance rebate available to any person who pays for a homeowners, renters or business property insurance policy. Donelon says eligible taxpayers should check the box on their returns for the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Assessment rebate…:
CUT 6 (12) “tax return”
He says if you have any questions you can visit the Department of Insurance’s website.