Governor Bobby Jindal is scheduled to have two closed door meetings with conservative religious leaders in Iowa today. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley calls this part of the process the “invisible primary”, where candidates try to win endorsements and backing before the actual contests. He says this will have an important impact on Jindal’s decision to run, or not to run, for president…

cut 6 (11) “invisible primary”

According to the Des Moines Register, the meetings will take place in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.

Doctor Bill Cassidy will be sworn in as a US Senator today. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross anticipates since Cassidy has a medical background, he’ll find some issues that he can be an expert on…

cut 12 (12) “quite heavily”

He says Louisiana will now have a unified voice on issues that the Senate debates with Cassidy and Senior Senator David Vitter.

Angola warden Burl Cain says he has not taken any steps to install a cooling system on death row despite a federal judge’s ruling to reduce the heat levels. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (28) “reporting”

A federal judge has sentenced a Bastrop tax preparer to more than three years in prison for filing fraudulent tax returns. 41-year-old Claudia Mays received a 39 month sentence in prison for filing 15 tax returns using stolen identities and false information. Mays was also ordered to pay more than $94,000 in restitution. 53-year-old Carla Inzina of Bastrop, who assisted Mays, was sentenced to three years probation.

Louisiana will have two Republicans in the US Senate after Doctor Bill Cassidy is sworn-in today. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the state loses clout in the Senate, with Cassidy replacing three-term democratic Senator Mary Landrieu. But he says Louisiana can make up for it by having Cassidy and Senior Senator David Vitter working together in a Republican controlled Senate…

cut 11 (11) “might seem”

According to the Des Moines Register, Governor Bobby Jindal is scheduled to have two closed door meetings with conservative religious leaders in Iowa today. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Iowa is important because it’s the first primary and evangelicals and conservatives are important because of their participation. He says these meetings are very important to Jindal’s hopes…

cut 5 (11) “financial backing”

Angola warden Burl Cain says he has not taken any steps to install a cooling system on death row. A federal judge has ruled that the state needs to take more measures to cool off death row during the hot summer months. Cain says they couldn’t just reduce the heat levels on death row, it would have to be the entire prison…

cut 14 (10) “another prison”

The ruling is currently under appeal.

King Cake season is officially underway but it will be a short one with Mardi Gras falling so early this year on February 17th. Gambino’s Bakery owner Sam Scelfo says they typically sell between 70,000-75,000 King Cakes in any given season and offer almost 70 different flavors…

cut 8 (07) “as we can”

He says the bulk of the pastry cakes they sell go two weeks before Mardi Gras.

Today, Governor Bobby Jindal is scheduled to have two closed door meetings with conservative religious leaders in Iowa. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Jindal is looking to shore up his support among this group of voters…

cut 4 (08) “presidential nomination”

Jindal is thinking about a presidential run in 2016 and Iowa is important because they host the first primary.

Doctor Bill Cassidy will be sworn in as a US Senator today giving Louisiana two republicans in the US Senate. What will that mean for the Bayou State? U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Louisiana will have a unified voice on issues that the Senate debates…

cut 10 (10) “other issues”

Cross says Louisiana loses clout in the US Senate, with Cassidy replacing three-term democratic Senator Mary Landrieu.

King Cake season is officially underway on this Twelfth Night and it’ll be a short one with Mardi Gras falling so early this year on February 17th. Gambino’s Bakery owner Sam Scelfo says the bulk of the pastry cakes they sell go two weeks before Mardi Gras no matter what day it falls in the year…

cut 7 (10) “we’re excited about it”

Scelfo says they’ve been selling a bunch of King Cakes so far already this year but they expect to be extremely busy today.

It’s another election year in Louisiana and Angola Warden Burl Cain’s name has been thrown around as a possible candidate for Governor. He was in Baton Rouge today and says he’s still thinking about it..:
CUT 15 (09) “old Burl”
Cain says he’s a civil servant and he’ll have to resign if he runs so he’ll cross that bridge when he gets to it, if he gets to it.

Sad story out of Alexandria as cops say a man was accidentally shot and killed by another man who was playing with a gun. Lt. Brooks Fairbanks says 29-year-old Kendall Smith is charged with negligent homicide after a 29-year-old victim was located with a single gunshot wound…:
CUT 9 (05) “pronounced deceased”
Faibanks says after a tragedy like this it’s good to send the reminder that you should never ever handle a firearm in a reckless manner.

The Kenner Police Department says New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Junior Galette was arrested today and booked with domestic abuse battery. They say the incident involved a female acquaintance who sustained injuries including blood coming out of her ear when her earring was apparently ripped out. Lt. Brian McGregor read the victim’s statement:
CUT 12 (06) “I couldn’t breathe”
Galette told cops the woman was a dancer he brought home the night before and not his paramour.

Republican lawmakers are looking to move past the controversy surrounding House Majority Whip, Republican Congressman Steve Scalise of Metairie, over a speech he gave 12 years ago to a white supremacist group. Incoming Utah Representative Mia Love told ABC’s “This Week” that Scalise should remain in the party leadership…
cut 4 (11) “American people done”
Love is the first black female Republican elected to the House.

Republican lawmakers are looking to move past the controversy surrounding the new House Majority Whip Republican Congressman Steve Scalise, over a speech he gave 12 years ago to a white supremacist group…
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says Scalise once referred to himself as -quote- David Duke without baggage.

It’s possible we’re getting close to the bottom of the dramatic drop in gas prices. Gasbuddy.com reports some areas have increased slightly as refineries are about to shift production to their summer blends of gas.
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New Orleans Saints linebacker Junior Galette has been arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery. Galette told cops that the woman he brought home was a dancer, but the victim claims she was his assistant. Gallett’s cousin, 27-year-old Terrance Banks of Newark, New Jersey was also arrested for allegedly jumping her…
cut 13 (12) “jump me again”
That’s Kenner Police Lt. Brian McGregor reading the victim’s statement.

There could be another name on the Louisiana Governor candidate list. Angola Warden Burl Cain, although he said in Baton Rouge today he’s just thinking it over….
CUT 16 (10) Q” “to be’

New Orleans Saints linebacker Junior Galette has been arrested and booked with domestic abuse battery, related to and alleged incident with a woman who he says was a dancer he brought home. The victim claims she was Galette’s assistant, and told cops the argument started over money for a cab, then claims Galette and his 27 year-old cousin-Terrence Banks- jumped her…
cut 14 (06) “10″
That’s Kenner Police Lt. Brian McGregor reading the victim’s statement.

A Breaux Bridge man originally charged with DWI last week is now facing upgraded charges after a woman who was injured in the crash on LA has died. Thirty year-old Emmanuel Wiltz crossed the center line of LA 328 and crashed into the vehicle driven by 56 year-old Denise Borel. When Borel died, …
CUT 8 (05) Q: “in the beginning”

That’s Master Trooper Brooks David.

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Republican lawmakers are looking to move past the controversy surrounding Republican Congressman Steve Scalise, over a speech he gave in 2002 to a white supremacist group. Incoming Utah Representative Mia Love is the first black female Republican elected to the House.
CUT 3 (09) “of his colleagues”
Love made those comments about the new House Majority Whip to “This Week” on ABC. The White House released a statement about the GOP saying “that says a lot about who they are.”

Alexandria Police say reckless handing of a gun has resulted in the death of a 29 year-old male victim. Lt. Brooks Fairbanks says it was a needless tragedy…
CUT 11 (12) Q: “not toys”
Twenty-nine year-old Kendall Smith is charged with negligent homicide.

As Republican Congressman Steve Scalise is dealing with the political fall-out from his speech to a white-supremacist group in 2002, there are people showing support for him to remain as House Majority Whip. Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that speaking to that group was a “grave mistake” for Scalise, but that’s not an indication of who he is…
CUT 5 (11) “stick with that”
Scalise made that speech almost 13 years ago.

It’s an election year in Louisiana and Angola Warden Burl Cain’s name has come up as a possible candidate for governor. Cain was in Baton Rouge today and says he’s still thinking about running for the highest elected position in the state…
cut 15 (09) ” old Burl”
So no final decision has been made.

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The Kenner Police Department confirms New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Junior Galette is under arrest and booked with domestic abuse battery…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

An overnight shooting at a nightclub in Lake Charles has left a Lafayette man dead. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Deputies got the call from Club Vibe around 12:40 this morning. Thirty-four year-old Kenneth Joseph Brown was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. That investigation continues.