This morning at 9:30, greater New Orleans’ Jewish Community will hold a news conference urging the state not to use lethal gas to execute death row inmates. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (37) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Surging egg prices have some looking at raising chickens to offset the cost, but is it worth it? Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Why are people leaving Louisiana? One research firm has a theory. Colleen Crain reports…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Louisiana’s Jewish community is speaking out against using lethal gas in resuming executions. The group Jews Against Gassing is holding a news conference at 9:30 this morning to call on the state not to use nitrogen hypoxia to execute death row inmates. Sara Lewis, the chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council, says it harkens back at an ugly time in world history.

Cut 4 (09) “…of our ancestors.”

Lewis, who’s the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, spoke in support of a bill in the last legislative session that would have banned the use of lethal gas in executions; and even though it subsequently died in a House committee, it got strong bipartisan support.

Cut 5 (10) “…a partisan issue.”

Lewis will be joined by other Jewish leaders in greater New Orleans on the front steps of the Touro Synagogue on St. Charles Avenue this morning to draw attention to this issue.

Cut 6 (10) “…aware of before.”

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Rising egg prices, nearly doubling in the past year due to a bird flu outbreak, have led some people to consider raising their own chickens. However, Lake Charles Farmer Michelle Trahan warns that backyard chicken farming is more complex and costly than expected.

Cut 7 (14) “…that’s predator-proof.”

Trahan stresses that raising chickens involves more than just collecting eggs and says well-cared-for chickens are essential for quality egg production.

Cut 8 (07) “…getting these birds.”

Trahan cautions that egg prices may stabilize, making backyard farming less financially appealing in the long run.

Cut 9 (06)  “…don’t recommend it for everyone.”

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Grocery prices have surged over 25% since 2019, outpacing income growth and making essentials less affordable. WalletHub Chip Lupo says the cost of 26 common grocery items across all 50 states were analyzed, comparing total costs to median household incomes.

Cut 10 (15) “…median annual income.”

Lupo suggests prioritizing groceries in a budget ensures essential needs are met while limiting impulse buys.

Cut 11 (08) “…to a minimum.”

Lupo says focusing on affordable store-brand  products rather than costly name-brand items can help households minimize the impact of rising food costs on their finances.

Cut 12 (11) “…store-brand itemst.”

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Why is Louisiana losing population? Dr. Allison Plyer, the chief demographer at The Data Center, says the biggest culprit is a lack of economic growth.

Cut 13 (13)  “…hiring fewer people.”

In fact, Plyer says since 2000, Louisiana’s job market has grown by just two-percent, while the country as a whole has grown its job market by 20-percent in that same time frame. Plyer says the state needs to look into new economic opportunities to both keep people here and attract new residents.

Cut 14 (09) “…weak economic trend.”

The Data Center’s report cites other reasons, including natural disasters and the high cost of insurance. But Plyer says those pale in comparison to the lack of economic growth.

Cut 15 (09) “…increasing insurance rates.”

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LSU women’s basketball couldn’t hold onto a lead against against Texas and fell to the Longhorns in Austin, 65-58. It was only the Lady Tigers’ second loss of the season. Midway through the third quarter, LSU lead by 12, 43-31; but the Lady Longhorns stormed back and pulled away late in the 4th quarter. After the game, Tigers Coach Kim Mulkey said there are some things that she could have done differently.

Cut 16 (17) “…get it done.”

Mulkey said against an elite team like Texas, there is no room for error.

Cut 17 (21)  “…go do it.”

The dagger for Texas came with just over a minute left when Rori Harmon hit a shot from the foul like to put Texas up by 5. Mulkey said that was the back-breaker.

Cut 18 (17)  “…a big bucket.”

The loss drops LSU to 25-and-2 on the season, 10-and-2 in the SEC. They’ll try to get back into the win column Thursday night against Georgia at the P-MAC. Tipoff is 8 p.m.

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The LSU men’s basketball team snapped a seven-game losing streak on Saturday night by scoring eight points in the final 20 seconds to steal a victory at Oklahoma 82 to 79. Cam Carter led the Tigers with a career-high 29 points and had seven of those eight points in the final 20 seconds. Damion Collins also had a career-high 22 points. Coach Matt McMahon…

Cut 19 (13) “…response today.”

LSU can make it two wins in a row tomorrow night when they host South Carolina. The Gamecocks are winless in SEC play.

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Louisiana Tech men’s basketball had a disappointing week, losing two games at home, including Saturday night’s 70 to 68 loss to Jacksonville State. The Bulldogs are now 6-and-7 in league play and Coach Talvin Hester says they are not playing team basketball…

Cut 20 (16) “…happens.”

Tech is at Middle Tennessee on Thursday night.

Natchitoches Parish is reeling over Thursday’s announcement that International Paper is closing its Red River containerboard mill in Campti. 300 permanent jobs will go away when the facility ceases operations in April. Economic developer Jon Maynard, who is a Natchitoches native, says closure of the mill will increase unemployment and reduce local spending…

Cut 12 (13) “…people themselves.”

The Louisiana Family Forum has named Mr. Ira Milan and Mrs. Margery Milan of New Orleans as Louisiana’s Longest Married Couple for the third straight year, celebrating 83 years of marriage. LFF President Gene Mills says it’s tough staying at the top of the leaderboard.

Cut 3 (14) “…on a daily basis.”

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No matter where you’re at in the state, you will want to be weather aware. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the northern half of the state could see thunderstorms, damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes. He says the southern half of the state could also see some severe weather.

Cut 8 (11) “…to the coast.”

An advocacy group is speaking out against the Louisiana Department of Health over its ending of mass vaccination clinics and its directive that staffers not promote seasonal vaccines. Dr. Jennifer Herricks with the group Louisiana Families for Vaccines, says the department is taking a dangerous approach.

Cut 9 (12)  “…misrepresent basic facts.”

A local advocacy group is speaking out against the Department of Health’s new approach to vaccines. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana saw a round severe weather earlier in the week. But hold onto your hats.  State Climatologist Jay Grymes says what Mother Nature has in store this weekend could top that.

Cut 7 (13) “…fuel the storms.”

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The Louisiana Family Forum has named Ira and Margery Milan of New Orleans as Louisiana’s Longest Married Couple for the third straight year, celebrating 83 years of marriage. LFF President Gene Mills praised the couple’s dedication, emphasizing that lifelong marriage remains a source of joy, health, and community strength.

Cut 5 (10) “…and a successful marriage.”

Natchitoches Parish will be losing 300 permanent jobs when International Paper’s Red River Containerboard mill in Campti clososes it’s doors for good and local residents are worried it could spell doom for the local economy.  Economic developer Jon Maynard, who is a Natchitoches native, says in order for Natchitoches to reverse a downward trent, it’ll have to embrace being a college town and attract more students…
Cut 14 (13) “…or another”

The Louisiana Department of Health is getting some backlash over its ending of mass vaccination clinics and its directive that staffers not promote seasonal vaccines. In a letter posted onto the department’s website, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham and Deputy Surgeon General Wyche Coleman took aim at the rollout of COVID vaccines, saying they were mandated despite having no third-party benefit in terms of reduced transmission. Dr. . Dr. Jennifer Herricks with the group Louisiana Families for Vaccines says that’s misleading.

Cut 10 (10) “…risk of transmission.”

People in Natchitoches Parish are still in shock over the news that International Paper is closing its Red River containerboard mill in Campti, meanng the loss of 300 jobs. Economic developer Jon Maynard, who is a Natchitoches native, says it’ll be a big blow to an already suffering parish economy.

Cut 13 (11)  “…high poverty levels.”

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For the third straight Valentine’s Day, the Louisiana Family Forum is recognizing a New Orleans husband and wife as the state’s longest known married couple. Here’s Sean Richardson.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Louisiana  could be in for some severe weather today. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says most of the state will be at an enhanced risk for severe weather.

Cut 6 (11) “…of itself.”

No matter where you’re at in the state, you will want to be weather aware. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the northern half of the state could see thunderstorms, damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes. He says the southern half of the state could also see some severe weather.

Cut 8 (11) “…to the coast.”

An advocacy group is speaking out against the Louisiana Department of Health over its ending of mass vaccination clinics and its directive that staffers not promote seasonal vaccines. Dr. Jennifer Herricks with the group Louisiana Families for Vaccines, says the department is taking a dangerous approach.

Cut 9 (12)  “…misrepresent basic facts.”

Natchitoches Parish is reeling over Thursday’s announcement that International Paper is closing its Red River containerboard mill in Campti. 300 permanent jobs will go away when the facility ceases operations in April. Economic developer Jon Maynard, who is a Natchitoches native, says closure of the mill will increase unemployment and reduce local spending…

Cut 12 (13) “…people themselves.”

The Louisiana Family Forum has named Mr. Ira Milan and Mrs. Margery Milan of New Orleans as Louisiana’s Longest Married Couple for the third straight year, celebrating 83 years of marriage. LFF President Gene Mills says it’s tough staying at the top of the leaderboard.

Cut 3 (14) “…on a daily basis.” 

Mills says they will be inducted into LFF’s 2025 Marriage Hall of Fame alongside nine other honored couples.

We could be in for some severe weather Saturday. North Louisiana is at an enhanced risk, while south Louisiana is at a slight risk. We had a round of severe weather earlier in the week. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says what Mother Nature has in store for Saturday could top that.

Cut 7 (13) “…fuel the storms.”

In addition to the pending closure of its International Paper mill, Natchitoches Parish is dealing with a 16-percent decline in employment at Northwestern State since 2019 and a declining Natchitoches-based student population. Economic developer Jon Maynard says in order to reverse the trend, Natchitoches needs to fully embrace itself as a college town.

Cut 14 (13) “…or another”

For the third Valentine’s Day in a row, the Louisiana Family Forum is recognizing a New Orleans husband and wife as the state’s longest known married couple. Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

An advocacy group is speaking out against the Louisiana Department of Health over its new vaccine directives. Dr. Jennifer Herricks with Louisiana Families for Vaccines takes exception to the assertion that vaccines may benefit some and cause harm to others.

Cut 11 (11) “…long-term harm.”

The group, Louisiana Families for Vaccines is reeling over the announcement that the Louisiana Department of Health will no longer offer mass vaccination clinics. In a letter on LDH’s website, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham and Deputy Surgeon General Wyche Coleman criticized the CDC’s response to COVID especially vaccination mandates, saying things that are good don’t generally have to be pushed by government and COVID vaccines were mandated despite having no third-party benefit in terms of transmission. Dr. Jennifer Herricks with the group disagrees…

Cut 10 (10) “…risk of transmission.”

Two Colorado men tried to smuggle contraband into a Federal prison using a cannon. An investigation by the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office says Jose Francisco Herrera Munoz and Angel Gonzales Gutierrez planned to launch over $100,000 worth of tobacco and almost $90,000 worth of methamphetamine onto the prison grounds using a compressed air cannon with a range of over 350 feet. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement assisted in the investigation as they have a detainer on Munoz and say he is in the country illegally.

We could be in for some severe weather Saturday. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says most of the state will be at an enhanced risk for severe weather.

Cut 6 (11) “…of itself.”

Thursday’s announcement that International Paper is closing its Red River containerboard mill in Campti is expected to have a significant negative impact on the economy of Natchitoches Parish. 300 permanent jobs will go away in April. Economic developer and Natchitoches native, Jon Maynard says Natchitoches Parish’s economy was already suffering an economic decline that began 20 years ago…

Cut 13 (11)  “…high poverty levels.”

Natchitoches Parish is reeling over Thursday’s announcement that International Paper is closing its Red River containerboard mill in Campti. 300 permanent jobs will go away when the facility ceases operations in April. Economic developer Jon Maynard, who is a Natchitoches native, says closure of the mill will increase unemployment and reduce local spending…

Cut 12 (13) “…people themselves.”

More severe weather is expected for Louisiana. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the northern half of the state could see thunderstorms, damaging winds, large hail and tornados but the southern half should also prepare…

Cut 8 (11) “…to the coast.”

If you plan to enjoy some boiled crawfish with your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day, The Crawfish App released some welcome news saying mudbugs are down another fifty cents per pound this week. If you’re going out you’ll probably pay around $7.99 per pound and if you plan to boil them yourself, expect to pay a little over four dollars per pound or around $150 for a 35 pound sack.

For the third year in a row, Ira and Margery Milan of New Orleans are being recognized as Louisiana’s longest married couple by the Louisiana Family Forum. Married 83 years the couple are being inducted into LFF’s 2025 Marriage Hall of Fame and along with nine other long married couples.

Cut 4 (11) “…very competitive division.”

You can see the full list of couples at la-family-forum-dot-org