CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – More than 800 miles separate Cedar Rapids and Bossier City, Louisiana. But they both are communities banking on transformation with gaming, and one casino closure in Louisiana could share something with the proposed one in Cedar Rapids: they share the same operator, Peninsula Pacific Entertainment.

When Peninsula Pacific bought DiamondJacks casino in Bossier City, it promised to re-invest in the aging riverboat and accompanying hotel. But instead, DiamondJacks closed during the pandemic and never re-opened; eventually the empty property became a magnet for criminals.

The city leaders and state gaming regulators were enraged.

Ronnie Jones was the head of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and says he tried to take away DiamondJack’s gaming license since it wasn’t open.

“That week I directed the Attorney General’s office to get me an opinion on what the state of Louisiana needed to do to take his license away from him, because he had violated the terms and the conditions of that license,” said Jones.

DiamondJacks was one of many casinos in the northwest Louisiana region called the Shreveport- Bossier City Metro. DiamondJacks’ operator, Peninsula Pacific, blamed the pandemic’s financial impact for making it impossible to reopen. The same operator, now called Peninsula Pacific Entertainment or P2E, is behind Linn County’s bid for a casino.

Jones described how he learned that Peninsula Pacific wasn’t reopening after the pandemic shutdown. And he takes particular issue with how the founder and chairman, Brent Stevens, communicated with state regulators and the casino’s 349 workers.

“I get a call from a reporter from a TV station in Shreveport, and she goes ‘Chairman Jones. What’s this about Diamond Jack’s not reopening?’ I said, excuse me. She goes yeah, there’s a Facebook post to their employees that they’re closing permanently,” said Jones.

Jones, who led the Louisiana Gaming Board from 2013 to 2020, reached out to KCRG after seeing that Stevens was part of the group looking to open a new casino in Linn County.

“The only thing that I would urge is as a former regulator that they get Brent Stevens before them under oath and ask him the right questions. And I’m not suggesting he’s not deserving of a license. I’m not suggesting that he might not build a beautiful property that’s great for Iowa, but the last year experience that I had with Brent, who I considered a friend as well as a licensee, just raised some issues with me as a regulator. That’s all,” said Jones.

Steve Gray, who has led the investor group for a Cedar Rapids casino for nearly 13 years, does not share Jones’ concerns about Brent Stevens and Peninsula Pacific. Gray researched potential operators and saw the success Peninsula Pacific had running other casinos in Iowa – namely Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City.

Diamond Jo’s revenue grew 56 percent under Peninsula Pacific’s ownership.

Steve Gray: “I mean who are those people that have a good reputation with the commission that have done a good job, financially that have done a good job with problem gamblers that have really exemplified what the statue really intends for gaming in Iowa and our partners and now P2E that they were then known as The Diamond Jo in Dubuque they, they were just head and above everybody else from third party references.”

Beth Malicki, KCRG-TV9: “Do you have, or have you heard any concerns about Brent Stevens, Peninsula? Any of it?”

Gray: “No, no. Okay. And you know, doing what we do in life. If we were measured by our stumbles, instead of our accomplishments, investors would never invest.”

Malicki: “So, you don’t have concerns about this operator. In fact, you would elevate his performance to say, one of the best.”

Gray: “I, we, continue to believe, so when we pick them, we’d spent about a year understanding how they operated, you know, what would the project look like? How would they operate? Who would they hire? Or what would the culture be in the gaming operation and the surrounding amenities? That was really important to the local investor group. And we became convinced that they were the right people, but the sanity checks that we did with the Racing and Gaming Commission, also, provided us a little comfort… But over the last 12 years, we have really got to know them. So not only do I refer to them as partners, I refer to them as friends. They have done nothing in the last 12 years to make us, even for a second, question them as the right operator. In fact, if anything we are just absolutely thrilled with our choice.”

Those like Gray who’ve been pushing for a casino in Linn County have had to be resilient. They’ve been through two failed efforts to get a license from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in 2014 and 2017; state lawmakers passing a two-year moratorium in 2022 to pause any new casinos in Iowa; and, now, an organized effort by existing casinos to prevent any new competition.

Gray: “I’m beginning to feel like General Custer felt in [the Battle of] Little Bighorn. There are a lot of different arrows, coming from a lot of different places… But this ‘Iowans for Common Sense’ is unequivocally not grassroots.”

Gray: “It’s 50 percent funded by Riverside, Elite [Casino Resorts], and the other 50 percent by other operators in the state. One thing that I do want to make very clear is that not all of the other operators are participating in this. I mean I happen to have friends that own casinos in the state and they’re not participating. So it’s just a select few people that are financially contributing to this grassroots organization.”

Malicki: “Do you think the arrows and those who are shooting them toward this project are behaving above board?”

Gray: “You know, we’re all competitive. And you know, Beth, my career over the last 40 years, I’ve competed with AT&T, US West, very dominant providers with huge balance sheets. And, by and large, we’ve done pretty well. But we’ve never stooped morally, ethically, and we’ve never even gotten into a gray area, you know, pun intended. I mean, we’ve tried to conduct ourselves above board. We don’t have the water park that we were promised.”

That water park reference is from 2013. That’s when Linn County voters were deciding if they’d support gaming and the Chief Executive Officer of Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, Dan Kehl, promised to build a water park if people in Cedar Rapids voted ‘No.’ The county voted ‘yes,’ so no water park, even though the community never got a casino.

Now Kehl is trying again to prevent competition from encroaching on his property in Washington County. Kehl employs about 700 people and his revenues at Riverside have grown 43.5 percent in five years with gaming revenue reaching $129 million in fiscal year 2024.

We asked for an interview with Kehl and did not receive a response. But he did speak to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission in November of 2024 at a public forum.

“We are opposed to the Cedar Rapids casino license because of cannibalization in a saturated market will significantly hurt our Iowa company,” Kehl said to the Commission.

Steve Gray and other supporters of Cedar Crossing say Kehl is pulling every lever available to stop a casino. From claiming the Linn County ballot language from 2021 is not clear enough to allow a casino to urging lawmakers to extend a moratorium to ban any new licenses.

Gray says Kehl is the main driver of a campaign called “Iowans for Common Sense.” That campaign is running commercials and gathering signatures to oppose any new casinos, but especially one in Cedar Rapids.

“Now with this petition, that was put forward as a grassroots organization, and then when we saw this email and how it’s being organized by the Iowa Gaming Association and pushed out to all the other operators and asking for their financial participation. Yeah, that’s just not right,” said Gray.

Gray provided a copy of what he says is an email from the Iowa Gaming Association. That is the trade organization supporting the state’s existing 19 commercial casinos. Iowa has four tribal casinos, but they aren’t part of the Iowa Gaming Association and don’t need a license to operate from the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

The email from the Iowa Gaming Association is urging the state’s casinos to join Riverside in stopping Cedar Crossing before it starts.

Back in Louisiana, the place where DiamondJacks once sat empty, is transforming. The new casino will have a new owner and open on February 13. It will bring back hundreds of jobs and invest $270 million to build a new casino.

Diamond Jacks serves as a worst case scenario of what can happen if a casino goes bust, which is exactly what Iowa’s regulators want to avoid. And while the Shreveport – Bossier City market has a population of about 100 thousand more people than the Cedar Rapids Metro, that region alone has six casinos. Cedar Rapids is hoping for one.

And those behind the project are sure they have the right plan, with the right operator, the only question is if it’s the right time.

“This is round three to your question. Will there be a Round four? Or a round 5? Probably. But you know we’re all doing this because of what we think could be very beneficial to our home county and our hometown,” said Gray.

What one casino backer calls cannibalization, another calls competition. And the casino poised to lose the most if Cedar Crossing receives a license is Riverside.

Damon John is the General Manager at Riverside. He spoke to KCRG in early January of 2025.

“If you look at a nearly 30 percent reduction on our revenues, extrapolating that on our staff of nearly 700 employees here, I mean we’re talking 200 employees, 200 jobs on the line,” said John.

Gray acknowledges the hit Riverside would take.

“So if 30 percent, 40 percent, even 50 percent of the revenues that they enjoy come from Linn County, why hasn’t Linn County participated in the nonprofit dollars that are being distributed? It’s just disproportionate. I mean, they commit more to their nonprofit in a year than Linn County has received in the last 15,” said Gray.

Riverside is the third most visited casino in Iowa, and fourth in terms of revenue. In Fiscal Year 2024, its adjusted gross revenue reached nearly $130 million, a growth of 47 percent in a decade. And many of the Riverside patrons come from Linn County.

“Riverside’s investors have done very well in that project. They would continue to do well; it’s not going to render that facility bankrupt or insolvent. Would it be smaller? Yes. But you know what? Let’s compete. I mean create a better product as I’ve always done and let’s just compete,” said Gray.

If Cedar Crossing gets a license, Linn County is poised to get more than $6 million a year to give to local nonprofits. State law requires casinos to give three percent of gaming revenue to nonprofits. Cedar Crossing says it will give nearly triple that amount and commit eight percent to nonprofits.

In Washington County, it’s clear the impact of those nonprofit dollars. The Washington County Riverboat Foundation holds the gaming license for the Riverside Casino and Golf Resort.

Since 2006, the Foundation has given out grants totaling $58 million, with the vast majority staying in Washington County. Like the more than half a million-dollar grant for Kalona, in Washington County, from the casino-funded Foundation, and $630 thousand for an expansion on the Wellman Public Library.

The mayor of Cedar Falls, Danny Laudick, spoke to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission to oppose a Cedar Rapids Casino.

“This decision not only impacts one city or one county, but all of eastern Iowa, including the small communities that rely on the amenities and services that we’re able to provide as a region because of the support of the existing casinos,” said Laudick.

Parts of Iowa that don’t have casinos also receive a portion of the gaming revenues. But it’s a pittance compared to what counties with casinos get.

In 2022, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation gave the Washington County YMCA $3 million for its new pool.

That same year, Linn County received a total of $37,000 in grants from gaming revenue. The YMCA in Cedar Rapids received a grant funded through gaming revenue for $10,000 – the largest amount awarded in Linn County.

The state regulators who award licenses commissioned two studies to determine the impact Cedar Crossing would have. On the positive side, one study notes the “Cedar Crossing Casino and Entertainment Center is attractively designed and well located, such that we expect it will be successful in drawing large numbers of Iowa gamblers.”

The studies touted the 300 new jobs, the $6.8 million in added tax revenue for the state and $13.7 million in local tax revenue.

On the negative side, roughly half of Cedar Crossings’ revenue would come from cannibalization – taking money from other casinos.

The largest impact would be on Riverside Casino and Golf Resort. The Marquette Advisors Market Analysis shows Riverside would lose 26 percent of its annual revenue, starting in fiscal year 2029 with a new Cedar Rapids casino. That comes to $34 million Riverside would lose a year.

Isle of Capri in Waterloo is poised to lose 10 percent of its revenue to cannibalization, or $8.8 million a year. And tribal casino, Meskwaki in Tama, would lose 11 percent or $14.1 million.

“If Cedar Crossing were to go through we’re talking $1.32 million dollars on an annual basis from our commitment to the Riverboat Foundation that would be evaporated,” said Damon.

The money that gaming pumps into the economy, the government and nonprofits is why those outside Linn County want to stop a casino as much as those within it want to have one.

Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.

District races have begun in earnest across the state. Some leagues will greatly impact the rankings, such as District 5-5A (Catholic-BR, Liberty, Zachary, Central-BR, Scotlandville and Woodlawn). That league, which only plays one round, hasn’t kicked off yet. The robust Catholic League will showcase a terrific matchup this week in St. Augustine vs. Jesuit on Jan. 24.

There is a small slate of games scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day). Things will grind to a halt on Tuesday and Wednesday with a historic winter storm on the way that will cancel some games and postpone others.

Keep reading to find out our top 25 boys basketball teams in Louisiana.

Previous rank: 1

Power rating: No. 1 (Division I select)

The Bears defeated Dunham, 63-49, in a Baton Rouge city rivalry game. Matthew Hotstream scored 22 points as Catholic built a 15-point halftime lead on the road, according to Charles Salzer of The Baton Rouge Advocate. Senior Tate McCurry added 20 points.

Previous rank: 2

Power rating: No. 2 (Division I select)

The Patriots defeated St. Helena and Glen Oaks. Liberty has a game on Monday, Jan. 20, against Greenforest High (Georgia) at the MLK Classic in Atlanta. Seniors Malek Robinson (14.9 ppg), Chivas Lee (10.3) and Kareem Washington (10.2) are the leading scorers. Washington is shooting 52% from the field. Junior Devin Houston is averaging 9.7 points, 2.4 assists and 2.4 steals per game.

Previous rank: 4

Power rating: No. 1 (Division II select)

The Eagles defeated Woodlawn-BR and McDonogh #35. Shaw erupted for 61 points in the second-half of the 97-61 rout of McDonogh #35, according to Grant Chachere of Crescent City Sports. Freshman Christian Clair posted 20 points. Shaw made 14 3-pointers. Senior Khalil Awogboro also totaled 20 points with five 3s. Kobe Butler and Allen Shaw, who came off the bench, chipped in 15 and 14 points. Triston Naquin was also in double figures (12).

Previous rank: 5

Power rating: No. 1 (Division III select)

The Cavaliers defeated Homer, Union Parish and Wossman. Bubba Strong’s triple at the buzzer clipped Wossman, 57-55, in a game played Saturday night at Lincoln Prep in Grambling. Robert Wright (2027) led with 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists, according to Jimmy Watson of The Shreveport Times. Strong had 12 points. Jaiden Hall added 10 points, six rebounds and three assists. G’Marrion Scott tallied seven points and 11 rebounds.

Previous rank: 6

Power rating: No. 3 (Division II select)

The Warhorses defeated Northside, 62-47, and won the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Classic with a 50-48 victory vs. Springfield (Mass.) Central. Telek Love scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds to nab game MVP honors vs. Springfield. Isaiah Jones had 13 points and nine boards. Braydon Durant finished with six points and 14 rebounds. Hall of Fame coach Charles Smith signed the “iconic Hall of Fame shoe” during the trip.

Previous rank: 7

Power rating: No. 3 (Division I select)

The Cougars defeated Westgate, 62-40, in the District 4-4A opener, and routed Holy Savior Menard in Alexandria, 75-35. STM made a dozen 3-pointers in the win vs. Menard. Eli Deats, one of the primary perimeter shooters, had 15 points. Trenton Potier contributed 12. An important district game at Northside will take place on Jan. 31.

Previous rank: 3

Power rating: No. 1 (Division I nonselect)

The Broncos gained wins over Madison Prep and David Thibodaux sandwiched around an 85-82 double overtime loss to Archbishop Hannan. Sophomore Ian Edmond, who led with 29 points vs. Hannan, scored at least20 points in all three games. Xavier Ferguson added 25 vs. Hannan. For the week, Edmond totaled 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals, and he took two charges in the game vs. David Thibodaux, which was at Madison Prep on Saturday.

Previous rank: 9

Power rating: No. 2 (Division I nonselect)

The Yellow Jackets secured non-district wins over Baton Rouge area foes Episcopal and Parkview Baptist. Jermaine O’Conner (9 of 14 FG) poured in 23 points in the 68-60 win over Parkview Baptist (14-4), which led at halftime, 36-29. Trae Dorsey’s reverse lay-up put Denham Springs ahead 61-54, according to Will Weathers of The Baton Rouge Advocate.

Previous rank: 10

Power rating: No. 3 (Division I nonselect)

The Wildcats went 3-0 on the week with wins over Donaldsonville, White Castle and Archbishop Rummel. Central pounded Donaldsonville (63-33), which is No. 5 in the Division III nonselect power ratings, with a 10-5 record. Max Tingle and Karter White knocked down 3-pointers in the first quarter of the 73-38 win over White Castle.

Previous rank: 16

Power rating: No. 2 (Division II select)

The Hawks blew out John F. Kennedy, 51-31, which avenged a recent loss to the Cougars. Hannan also won at Zachary, 85-82. AJ Thompson gave the Hawks an 83-82 lead and tacked on two free throws, according to Robin Fambrough of The Baton Rouge Advocate. Drew Timmons had 34 points and 11 rebounds.

Previous rank: 11

Power rating: No. 6 (Division I select)

The Blue Jays defeated Brother Martin and East Jefferson. After trailing by six points entering the fourth quarter, Jesuit outscored Brother Martin, 18-5, to claim a victory at home by a 52-45 margin, according to Ken Trahan of Crescent City Sports. Brewer Nitcher’s 21 points paced the Blue Jays in the non-district win over its Catholic League rival. Ethan Lapeze and Brennan Pitts had eight points apiece.

Previous rank: 12

Power rating: No. 4 (Division I select)

The Trojans defeated Northwest, 66-63, and earned a 52-50 win over Neville in the District 2-5A opener. Jordyn Johnson’s long-range 3 from the top of the key provided ASH with a 21-8 lead vs. Neville, which rallied at home. Marcus Bolden made it 27-22 with another 3. Trey Dorty put the game on ice with a steal.

Previous rank: 13

Power rating: No. 6 (Division II select)

The Blazers won on the road in overtime, 62-59, against Cecilia, and handled LaGrange, 85-42. LCCP beat is previous season high of 70 points. Jaiven Matthews had 23 points. Izayha Brown added 21.

Previous rank: 14

Power rating: No. 5 (Division I select)

The Purple Knights defeated Frederick A. Douglass , Chalmette and Young Audiences Charter. St. Aug won at home (50-48) against Douglass (16-5). Shooting guard Tye Williams recently returned from injury, according to Spencer Urquhart of The New Orleans Advocate.

Previous rank: 8

Power rating: No. 1 (Division II nonselect)

The Wildcats won the District 2-4A opener vs. Tioga, 68-56, with losses to Carroll (61-55) and Calvary Baptist. Wossman is scheduled to travel to Peabody on Jan. 21.

Previous rank: 15

Power rating: No. 10 (Division I nonselect)

The Bearcats defeated West Monroe and Pineville. Sophomore Ahmad Hudson accounted for 28 points and 26 rebounds with six blocked shots in the 73-63 win over West Monroe, according to Matt Belinson of The Ruston Daily Leader. Hudson (6-8) scored 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Bearcats rallied from a five-point third-quarter deficit.

Previous rank: 17

Power rating: No. 2 (Division III select)

The Class 2A Cajuns downed Class 5A Hahnville (57-43) and Edna Karr (59-51). Upcoming opponents include De La Salle (12-5), Vandebilt Catholic (16-5), Madison Prep (14-6), McDonogh #35 (16-6) and H.L. Bourgeois (11-10).

Previous rank: 19

Power rating: No. 4 (Division I nonselect)

The Chiefs defeated Haughton in the District 1-5A opener, 71-27, and are scheduled to travel to small school power Negreet (17-5) this week. Ja’Dell Demery had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Haughton.

Previous rank: 20

Power rating: No. 7 (Division II select)

The Vikings lost at Peabody and defeated Jennings. Northside plays its District 4-4A opener at home vs. St. Thomas More on Jan. 31.

Previous rank: 22

Power rating: No. 6 (Division I nonselect)

The Lions defeated Sterlington and West Monroe. Freshman Darren Ford scored 22 points and made two clutch free throws in the 66-64 Districtr 1-5A win over West Monroe, according to Megan Murray of KNOE-TV.

Previous rank: 23

Power rating: No. 1 (Class B)

The Cardinals defeated Loreauville and St. Louis Catholic. Lacassine exploded for a 49-19 halftime lead vs. Loreauville (11-4) and went on to win, 77-64, according to poster CJR3888 on the Louisiana Sportsline message board. 6-foot-4 Kane Broussard is a top scorer.

Previous rank: Not ranked

Power rating: No. 7 (Division I select)

Ponchatoula is 2-0 in league play with a 63-40 win over Hammond (15-5) and a 96-85 overtime win over Covington (15-5). The Green Wave’s losses have been to teams with a combined record of 75-12. U-High (11-6), which defeated the Wave by three points earlier this month, has half of that group’s setbacks.

Previous rank: Not ranked

Power rating: No. 9 (Division I select)

The Raiders have won five straight games since a loss to Captain Shreve, which it avenged. Against a box-and-one defense, sophomore Peyton Parker helped his team to a win over Carroll with 11 assists, 10 rebounds and four steals, according to The Basketball Tribune X page. 6-foot-6 junior Antonio Dixon is scoring 10.1 ppg and shooting 55%.

Previous rank: 21

Power rating: No. 3 (Division II nonselect)

The Bulldogs lost to Huntington and Wossman and defeated Wossman, showing again that they’re capable of taking down any opponent on a given night.

Previous rank: 18

Power rating: No. 6 (Division II select)

The Chargers snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over Hahnville on Saturday. The last two setbacks – to St. Aug and Zachary – were by one and six points.

Dropped Out: No. 24 John F. Kennedy (17-5), No. 25 Holy Cross (16-3)

Watch List: Sulphur (18-4), Northshore (12-5), East Ascension (15-4), Minden (13-1), Opelousas (12-4) Franklin Parish (14-5), Brusly (15-2), Red River (15-3), Marksville (18-6), Ferriday (18-4), Franklin (11-3), Lakeview (15-4), John Curtis (15-5), Holy Cross (16-3), LB Landry (15-7), Bonnabel (13-6), Scotlandville (14-5), David Thibodaux (17-4), Sophie B Wright (13-5), Vandebilt Catholic (16-5), McKinley (10-7), University Lab (11-6), Frederick Douglass (16-5), St. Michael (16-7), Dunham (12-4), Newman (11-5), Rosepine (18-3), John F. Kennedy (17-5), De La Salle (12-5), Catholic New Iberia (9-7), Lincoln Prep (13-6), Crescent City (10-6), Avoyelles Public Charter (14-5), Zwolle (15-7), Pleasant Hill (19-5), Hicks (24-6), Quitman (19-2), Negreet (17-5), Loreauville (11-4), Mamou (17-4), Madison Parish (17-3)

Icicles form on a mailbox during a rare freeze in Ponchatoula brought on by Winter Storm Uri on Feb. 15, 2021. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

Sub-freezing temperatures and a high chance of snow have officials in Louisiana treating the approaching winter weather as an emergency, one in which they anticipate road closures and other impacts from the frigid conditions.

Gov. Jeff Landry took part in a conference call Sunday afternoon with state and local emergency officials and allowed the news media to listen in as they made preparations. Temperatures below the freezing mark are expected Sunday night lasting through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

Beyond road hazards, the main concerns among state officials on the call are an increased risk of power outages and low water pressure. 

In order to keep water in exposed pipes from freezing, some utilities recommend keeping a thin line of water dripping from a single interior faucet. But doing so could strain local water delivery systems.   

“This is one of those hard freeze events that’s going to be complicated with snowfall,” Landry said during the conference call. “We could be looking at 24 to 48 hours with little water pressure.”

State climatologist Jay Grimes recommends people have at least two days of supplies on hand in the event the all-clear from the winter weather doesn’t happen Wednesday. Expect grocery store shelves to be lean through at least midweek because road closures will likely impact resupplies, he said.

Some parishes have already opened warming shelters for their residents as windy cold conditions set in Sunday, according to officials taking part in the call. 

The biggest impacts are expected in south Louisiana early Tuesday when a wet weather system comes in from the west, creating a 70% to 90% chance for snow throughout the day. Snow accumulation amounts could reach 4-6 inches above Interstate 10 and Lake Pontchartrain, with 1-3 inches to the south. 

Although the chances for snow are far less in the northern half of Louisiana, temperatures there will still dip into the teens early Tuesday.

State road crews were already pre-treating elevated roads and bridges Sunday and expected to continue working well into Monday in anticipation of icy conditions. Drivers are being encouraged to stay off streets and highways that see winter precipitation Tuesday and Wednesday – or as long as temperatures don’t increase enough to melt accumulated ice.

Motorists are encouraged to monitor 511la.org, where state officials will post updates on road conditions and closure status.   

The Louisiana Fire Marshal urges residents to be mindful where they place space heaters in their homes, ensuring they avoid fire hazards. Its personnel will be inspecting warming shelters to ensure they remain safe.

The state health department is monitoring local water systems in case the need for boil water advisories arises from low pressure. It also recommends residents check the status of their carbon monoxide detectors. A gas furnace or heater that isn’t working property increases the chances for CO poisoning.

Although motorists are being discouraged from being on the road, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain said there should be adequate fuel supplies provided power outages are not widespread. The state’s poultry operations, concentrated in central and north Louisiana, have natural gas-powered generators to deal with power outages, Strain said. 

Jessica Kayuha, a utilities specialist supervisor with the Louisiana Public Service Commission, said power restoration crews will be staging Monday to respond to outages. They will only be able to reconnect service as long as roads are safely navigable and winds are below 35 mph. 

Louisiana utilities have also stopped customer disconnections through the freeze, Kayuha said.

Utility companies have not voiced any concern about their ability to generate electricity being affected in the freezing weather, she said.  

Troopers with Louisiana State Police will start working double shifts starting Monday evening, said Lt. Joshua Nations, executive officer with LSP’s Crisis Response Command. Officers have already started clearing potential road hazards, he said.

Motorists who need help should dial *LSP to be connected to the nearest troop for assistance. 

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