Entergy is reporting nearly 50-thousand people are still without power and customers in parishes like Union, Ouachita, East Carroll, Morehouse and West Carroll may have to wait until Saturday before the power is restored. Entergy’s vice president of customer service, Nyka Scott says they have opened information centers to help customers who are dealing with a prolonged outage. She says these are places where customers can charge devices and access assistance.

Cut 8 (12) “…their areas.”

A 73-year-old woman was stabbed to death in her apartment in Bastrop and a 17-year-old has been charged in her murder. Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Chief Deputy James Mardis says they do not know why Amier Dolwes killed Ruby Lee Peterson. The two lived in the same apartment complex…

Cut 11 (06) “…knew him yes”

Louisiana had a net population gain last year. The U.S. Census Bureau says between July 1st, 2024, and June 30th, 2025, Louisiana added about 33-hundred people to its population total. Demographer Greg Rigamer says that net increase still does not get Louisiana’s population back to the level at the beginning of the decade.

Cut 21 (09) “…40-thousand people.”

Rigamer says that growth pales to the population gains seen in neighboring states like Texas, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

We could see a partial federal government shutdown if the Senate does not pass a House approved funding package. Democrats saying they’ll pass the budgets for the other five departments, but they want to pull Homeland Security from the package, tying its funding approval to Republicans agreeing to a series of conditions, including ending roving patrols and establishing a universal code of conduct. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says whereas Republicans might not have previously acquiesced to those demands, this time they might.

Cut 4 (11) “…in this case.”

Some people in northeast Louisiana have been waiting a long time to get their power restored. Now, Entergy says they may have to wait a little longer. It says it may be as late as Saturday before it can restore power to everyone. Nyka (NIGH-kah) Scott, the vice president of customer service for Entergy, says that’s because the task was a lot more daunting than originally anticipated.

Cut 6 (09) “…than we thought.”

Entergy has opened information centers to help customers who are dealing with a prolonged outage. These are places where customers can charge devices and access assistance.

A teenage boy is arrested in connection with the killing of an elderly woman inside her Morehouse Parish apartment. On Tuesday evening, 73-year-old Ruby Lee Peterson was found stabbed to death inside her apartment in Bastrop. Chief Deputy James Mardis with the Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office says the following day, deputies arrested 17-year-old Amir Dowles.

Cut 9 (06)  “…with the investigation.”

The clock is ticking towards another partial government shutdown. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

According to police records, the Teacher of the Year at Broussard Middle School has been arrested on child sex abuse charges. Thirty-seven-year-old Christi Oster has been charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Lafayette Police say Oster had an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

It’s a huge political networking event and D-C Mardi Gras is happening this week in our nation’s capital. Events are underway all this week with a dinner dance on Friday and a Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday. But LaPolitics publisher and editor Jeremy Alford says amid all the parties and pageantry, there are big issues and storylines.

Cut 11 (09) “…cycle as well.”

Could we be headed for another government shutdown? That could happen – more specifically a partial shutdown – if the Senate fails to give its approval to a House-passed funding package by midnight tomorrow night. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says the six pending bills were cruising towards passage – but then, something happened last weekend.

Cut 3 (08) “…that want changes.”

Louisiana trails other Southern states in internships and apprenticeships for high school students. That’s why the Leaders for a Better Louisiana are alerting businesses about a new state tax credit employers can take advantage of if they hire interns or have an apprenticeship program. Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin…

Cut 30 (09)“…them do that.”

A really cool event happens in the Superdome on Saturday night as one-thousand musicians both amateur and professional will gather to play iconic rock songs. It started in Italy in 2015 and Saturday night in the Dome will be their first ever U-S performance. I told you, many of the musicians are amateurs, including ten-year-old George Schafer of Covington…

Cut 15 (05) “….they were 10”

Schafer say she’s been playing the guitar since he’s five years old.

Louisiana had a net population gain last year. The U.S. Census Bureau says between July 1st, 2024, and June 30th, 2025, Louisiana added about 33-hundred people to its population. But demographer Greg Rigamer says that growth pales to the population gains seen in neighboring states like Texas, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

Cut 8 (08) “…to a place.”

Louisiana had the seventh worst-population growth in the nation in 2025 according to the latest Census data.

A new state tax credit available to businesses is designed to encourage employers to hire interns and have apprenticeships. Leaders for a Better Louisiana CEO Barry Erwin says employers must employ the individual for at least 100 hours in the tax year to qualify….

Cut 6 (11) “….dollars a year”

D-C Mardi Gras festivities pick up today in the nation’s capital. It’s one of the largest political networking events of the year. Lapolitics publisher Jeremy Alford says with this year being an election year, the candidates running for U.S. Senate and the now-open fifth congressional district seat will use this event to secure campaign donations.

Cut 12 (11) “…in touch with.”

The first ever U-S Rockin 1000 concert will take place at the Caesars Superdome on Saturday. It features one-thousand musicians playing iconic rock anthems and there will be musicians from Louisiana involved, including 70-year-old drummer Andy Chetta of Covington…

Cut 13 (06) “…couldn’t pass up”

The musicians begin rehearsals today and the concert is Saturday night.

Last year, Louisiana had a net gain of 33-hundred residents. That pales in comparison to the net gains of nearby states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee, and that still puts Louisiana some 40-thousand people short of where it was at the start of the decade. Still, demographer Greg Rigamer says the fact that Louisiana had a net increase is a good sign, and the state needs to maintain the momentum.

Cut 9 (10)  “…or no growth”

It’s the show where one-thousand ordinary folks with extraordinary talent come together – the Rockin’1000 is rehearsing together for the first time today for Saturday’s show. Among them is 70-year-old Andy Chetta of Covington. He admits that he may have a little stage fright, but organizers are putting him at ease.

Cut 14 (09) “…won’t get noticed.”

It’s D-C Mardi Gras weekend in the nation’s capital. Jeff Palermo has more on the big social and political networking event.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Speaking of that fifth district seat, former Congressman Garret Graves is invoking the fifth – his words, not mine. Amid speculation that Graves may run for the seat that Letlow is vacating for her U.S. Senate run, Graves says he’s not going to do so, saying it’s not the time nor the office that makes sense.

It’s a huge political networking event and D-C Mardi Gras is happening this week in our nation’s capital. Events are underway all this week with a dinner dance on Friday and a Mardi Gras Ball on Saturday. But LaPolitics publisher and editor Jeremy Alford says amid all the parties and pageantry, there are big issues and storylines.

Cut 11 (09) “…cycle as well.”

Louisiana had a net population gain last year. The U.S. Census Bureau says between July 1st, 2024, and June 30th, 2025, Louisiana added about 33-hundred people to its population total. But demographer Greg Rigamer says last year’s growth here still pales compared to the growth seen in neighboring states like Texas, Tennessee, Florida and North Carolina.

Cut 8 (08) “…to a place.”

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Rockin’1000 is a gathering of one-thousand musicians on the same stage, and they come from all walks of life and of all ages. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (36) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Repair crews are still hard at work in north Louisiana, trying to get utility polies back up and transformers back online.   In a news release yesterday, Entergy officials said restoration crews continue to make progress but they’re performing presision work that cannot be rushed without compromising safety, especially in the extreme cold.  As of this morning, some 53-thousand customers are still without power.

Louisiana had a modest gain in population last year.  But as Andre Champagne reports, our state still has a long way to go.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

More than 53-thousand people in North Louisiana remain without power this morning with more than half of those in Ouachita Parish.  Entergy said yesterday they’d identified damage to 700 utility poles, and 170 transformers. We’re told restoration crews continue to make progress in extreme cold as they perform precision work than cannot be rushed without compromising safety.

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One of Louisiana’s biggest political networking events of the year is underway in the nation’s capital, as it’s D-C Mardi Gras time. LaPolitics publisher and editor Jeremy Alford says there will be a dinner dance on Friday night and a Mardi Gras ball on Saturday, but before that there’s plenty of opportunities to rub elbows.

Cut 10 (11) “…governments to universities.”

When it comes to internships and apprenticeships for high school students, Louisiana trails other Southern states.  But a new state tax credit for employers aims to change that.  Leaders for a Better Louisiana Chief Policy Officer Barry Erwin says the credit is available to businesses that make eligible hires this year, and its something they can claim on their state tax returns beginning next year.

Cut 5 (07) “…for that student.”