State Police arrest two drug traffickers in Alexandria that were preparing to sell drugs to Mardi Gras revelers. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says authorities were alerted to suspicious activity of an aircraft at Alexandria International Airport. He says a K9 alerted officers to possible drugs on the plane…:
CUT 9 (12) “8500 dollars”
37-year-old George Marshall of Gulf Shores and 40-year-old John Marshall of Grass Valley, California face two counts of possession with intent to distribute.

The 2015 King of the Houma Mardi Gras Krewe is in trouble again for breaking sex offender rules according to cops. 34-year-old Glynn Matherne had already been arrested for riding in a parade with a mask last year which sex offenders are banned from doing and now he’s been arrested for having a social media account — also against the sex offender law. He was forced to resign as king for this year’s parade.

The National Highway Safety Administration reports that fewer drunk drivers are on the road, but drug use while driving is rising. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

The price at the pump in Louisiana jumped another 2 cents overnight. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is now $2.08 according to the American Automobile Association.

The candidates for running governor must report by Wednesday how much they raised during 2014. It’s expected Senator David Vitter will report the most at around four-million dollars, and Lt Governor Jay Dardenne said on the Jim Engster Show he’s raised about half of that…:
CUT 6 (06) “the bank”
Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle previously said he raised one-half-million dollars in 2014, while the lone democrat in the race, state representative John Bel Edwards said he raised one-million dollars.

The US House gave final congressional approval to a bill to construct the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. The 270-152 vote endorses amendments made in the Senate and sends it to President Obama’s desk. The President has stated several times that he will veto the measure. Neither side of Congress has enough votes to override a presidential veto.

The National Highway Safety Administration reports that fewer drunk drivers are on the road, but drug use while driving is rising. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Col. John Leblanc says there have been an exceptional number of Louisiana drivers found to be under the influence of drugs…:
CUT 3 (10) “was three”
He says synthetic drugs have become a particularly bad problem and warns motorists that driving under the influence of narcotics is just as dangerous as driving drunk.

There were three winning tickets sold in last night’s $564 million Powerball drawing. The winning tickets were sold in North Carolina, Texas, and Puerto Rico. The jackpot was the third largest in the game’s history with a cash value of over $381 million. Louisiana Lottery officials say that one ticket, purchased in Monroe, matched five numbers for a prize worth $1 million.

Governor Bobby Jindal proposes reducing the size of tax credits in cases where a company or individual receives more money from the state than they owe as a way to balance next fiscal year’s budget. Jindal says two of his cabinet secretaries are looking at how this could help the state’s fiscal situation…:
CUT 11 (10) “health care”
Commissioner of administration, Kristy Nichols, will present a proposed spending plan to lawmakers on February 27th. Jindal will be in Roanoke today to make and economic development announcement.

There’s been a development in the Ascension Parish shooting deaths of two men last month and now a $7500 reward is being offered for information about the unsolved crime. Cops say the gun used to kill 37-year-old Chad Nichols and 29 year old Benny Booker, both of Donaldsonville, was also linked to four other shootings in New Orleans between 2011 and 2013. Anyone with information about the shootings is encouraged to call Crime Stopper.

No one in Louisiana won the $564.1 million Powerball jackpot but someone who bought a ticket in the Bayou State is a new millionaire. The Louisiana Lottery reported this morning that one ticket sold in Monroe matched five of the numbers for a prize worth $1 million dollars before taxes. Winning jackpot tickets were sold in Texas, North Carolina and Puerto Rico.

The longtime voice of the LSU Tigers announces his retirement. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 3 (32) “reporting”

An appeal is pending regarding a Department of Health and Hospitals decision denying Planned Parenthood permission to perform abortions at their new facility currently under construction in New Orleans. The organization says DHH offered no basis in denying their application. However, DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert says the group didn’t meet the Facility Need Requirements specified by the state and is positive their decision will stand…

cut 7 (09) “those rules correctly”

An administrative law judge is expected to decide in 4 to 7 months.

After 35 years, the voice of the LSU Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, has announced he will retire following 2015-16 basketball season. The Northwestern State grad says he never thought his broadcasting career would turn out the way it did…

cut 16 (11) “from there”

Hawthorne says it’s been a blessing, but he’s ready to move into a new phase of his life.

The US House gave final congressional approval to a bill to construct the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. The 270-152 vote endorses amendments made in the Senate and sends it to President Obama’s desk. The President has stated several times that he will veto the measure. Neither house of Congress has enough votes to override a presidential veto. This is the first of several expected clashes between the Republican controlled Congress and the White House.

States in the south are snatching up more tickets than ever for the movie “50 Shades of Grey” compared to the rest of the nation. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (31) “reporting”

Planned Parenthood has filed an appeal regarding a Department of Health and Hospitals decision denying the group permission to perform abortions at a new facility currently under construction in New Orleans. Scott Carwile reports…

cut 1 (29) “reporting”

There were three winning tickets sold in last night’s $564 million Powerball drawing. The winning tickets were sold in North Carolina, Texas, and Puerto Rico. The jackpot was the third largest in the game’s history with a cash value of over $381 million. Louisiana Lottery officials say that one ticket, purchased in Monroe, matched five numbers for a prize worth $1 million.

Governor Bobby Jindal continues to search for solutions to next fiscal year’s $1.6 billion budget shortfall. Jindal says he’s committed to protecting higher education and health care from big budget cuts. He says one possible solution is to reduce tax credits in cases where the amount of the credit is more than the company or person owes in taxes…..

cut 13 (09) “higher education and health care”

Jindal says two of his cabinet secretaries are looking at how this could help the state’s fiscal situation.

Moviegoers in the south seem to be more excited about release of the racy movie “50 Shades of Grey” compared to the rest of the nation. Fandango’s chief correspondent Dave Karger says people in southern states are buying more tickets than expected when you look at the rest of the US…:

cut 9 (05) “we’re realizing”

According to Fandango, Louisiana and Alabama are buying twice as many pre-sale tickets than normal for the film, while Mississippi tops the list at 4 times their usual rate.

An appeal has been filed by Planned Parenthood regarding a Department of Health and Hospitals decision denying the group permission to perform abortions at their new facility in New Orleans. DHH says they denied the application because the organization did not meet the Facility Need Requirements specified by the state. But Planned Parenthood Senior Counsel, Roger Evans, says they did show the need for the new facility and is confident the denial will be overturned…

cut 6 (12) “has one succeeded”

A decision from an administrative law judge is expected in 4 to 7 months.

In an attempt to balance next fiscal year’s $1.6 billion budget shortfall, Governor Bobby Jindal proposes reducing the size of tax credits in cases where a company or individual receives more money from the state than they owe. Jindal says, despite this huge deficit, increasing taxes are off the table…

cut 12 (05) “health care”

Jindal’s commissioner of administration, Kristy Nichols, will present a proposed spending plan to lawmakers on February 27th.

The voice of the LSU Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, has announced his retirement. Hawthorne will hang up the mic following 2015-16 basketball season. During his career, he’s been on the mic for LSU’s three Final four appearances, two national titles in football and all six of LSU’s national championships in baseball. Hawthorne says it’s been quite a ride

cut 15 (10) “collegiate sports”

Hawthorne has been calling LSU sporting events since 1979.

States in the south are snatching up more tickets for the racy movie “50 Shades of Grey” compared to the rest of the nation. According to Fandango, Louisiana and Alabama are buying twice as many pre-sale tickets than normal for the film, while Mississippi tops the list at 4 times their usual rate. The ticket hub’s chief correspondent is Dave Karger…:

cut 8 (11) “are in the south”

He says this film is already the fastest-selling R-rated movie in Fandango’s 15 years of business.

Planned Parenthood has filed an appeal regarding a Department of Health and Hospitals decision denying the group permission to perform abortions at a new facility currently under construction in New Orleans. Senior Counsel, Roger Evans, says the basis of the appeal is that DHH offered no basis in denying the application…

cut 4 (12) “was no need”

But DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert says the organization did not meet the Facility Need Requirements specified by the state and their application was denied…

cut 5 (06) “those requirements”

The group says they currently see about 8,000 patients at their current health center in New Orleans. A decision from an administrative law judge is expected in 4 to 7 months.

Governor Bobby Jindal proposes reducing the size of tax credits in cases where a company or individual receives more money from the state than they owe as a way to balance next fiscal year’s budget. Jindal says two of his cabinet secretaries are looking at how this could help the state’s fiscal situation

cut 11 (10) “health care”

The state faces a one-point-six billion dollar shortfall for next fiscal year. Jindal’s commissioner of administration, Kristy Nichols, will present a proposed spending plan to lawmakers on February 27th.