News for Tuesday 021213

By Dave Graichen

It's Mardi Gras Day, but revelers will have to celebrate in the rain.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says it's a near certainty the entire  state will see rain today. Flood watches and warnings are posted throughout southeast Louisiana and  along the Mississippi Delta. 

Mardi Gras in rural Southwestern Louisiana draws traditions that are  centuries old, and not your average "New Orleans" style parade. Eunice  Chamber of Commerce Executive Dire Francine Hughes says the Courir de  Mardi Gras dates back to when the town was first established in the late  19th century. And yes.. the events today will go on rain or shine. Other Courir de Mardi Gras events will be held today in Ville Platte, Mamou and several other towns across the Cajun Prairie .

They may be one of the smallest federally recognized tribes in the US, but, you couldn’t tell that by all the excitement surrounding the opening of the new Jena Choctaw Pines Casino. Media day is today with the opening to the general public tomorrow morning at 10. The 46,000-square-foot Class 2 casino  will offer more than 700 gaming devices, poker tables and a sports bar, as well as entertainment and dining options. The Casino is located on U.S. Highway 167 between Tioga and Prospect, in the speed trap known as Creola.

Louisiana's top court next month will hear the state's appeal of a Baton Rouge judge's ruling that Louisiana's expanded voucher program unconstitutionally diverts public funds to private and parochial schools. The state Supreme Court is scheduled to entertain oral arguments March 19 in New Orleans.

A truck accident yesterday forced the closure of the North Mac Arthur drive exits on and off of I-49 for about three hours yesterday morning. An 18 wheeler hit and then jumped the guard rail. The driver, 30 year old Charles Jones, received moderate injuries in the crash and was cited for failure to maintain control.

Louisiana ranks 38th in the nation for its 4 percent sales tax, according to a report released Monday by the Tax Foundation. But the state has among the highest average sales tax rates charged by local governments. That gives Louisiana the third highest combined local and state sales tax rates in 2013 at 8.87 percent, or nearly 9 cents on every $1 in sales, according to “State and Local Sales Tax Rates in 2013,” published Monday by the Tax Foundation. State taxes could double under a plan by the governor to eliminate the state income and corporate income taxes.

President Obama delivers his first state of the union address tonight  since winning a second term in office. Obama's first term nearly ended  with the nation going over the so-called fiscal-cliff. LSU Political

Science Professor Robert Hogan says taxes and spending along with immigration and gun control  will  be the main topics. Hogan says the President will also have to address the looming March

 first deadline for across-the-board spending cuts to the Pentagon and  domestic programs. Live coverage tonight starting at 8p on 970 KSYL.

The St. Tammany  Parish Sheriff's office says one man was killed and another hospitalized  after  a  homemade  bomb went off in the Pearl River area. The exact composition of the explosives used has not yet been determined. They say both victims were in their 20s.

Gas  prices keep on climbing. The current statewide  average  for  a gallon  of regular today is $3.39. That's up a nickel from this time last week.

The Lafayette Police  Department  is  investigating  the  case  of a bizarre  shooting  that  left  a  15-year-old  dead  and  two  other 15-year-olds in the hospital suffering gunshot wounds. Corporal Paul

Mouton  says 18-yaer-old Seth Fontenot of Lafayette was charged with first  degree   murder  and  2  counts  of  attempted  first  degree murder. Mouton says they are not releasing a possible motive just yet.

The New  Orleans  Saints  are getting mixed reviews on the hiring of Rob Ryan as their new defensive  coordinator.   Ryan  was fired from the  Dallas  Cowboys staff at the end of last season for  the  teams

poor performance.  NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Ryan is known for being brash and  cocky.   Ryan  believes  in  an attacking style  of defense,   says   Detillier,  much  like  former  Saints   defensive

coordinator Greg Williams.