LSU football begins a new era as Brian Kelly, who has the most victories of any active coach in major college football is named the Tigers’ new head football coach. Kelly who most recently coached at Norte Dame will receive a ten-year $95-million-dollar contract. He will be formally introduced Wednesday.

The question remains on what a person’s natural immunity to the virus is after contracting COVID-19. More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

The 100^th Louisiana State Police cadet class starts this Sunday. LSP Superintendent Colonel Lamar Davis acknowledges State Police have had difficulty with use of force, especially with persons of color. The new academy class of 65 cadets includes 10 females and reflects cultural diversity as well, which Davis feels will help.

Cut  11 (13)  “…is value-added.”  

Today is the last day of hurricane season, and it was another wild ride for the Bayou State. State Climatologist Barry Keim says in 2020 Louisiana was impacted by five storms and this year three storms have left their mark here.

Cut 6 (07) “..unprecedented.”

Keim says this is the first time we’ve had two back-to-back seasons with 21 or more named storms.

LSU has made it official they’ve hired Brian Kelly as the new head football coach of the Fighting Tigers. The school says Kelly has agreed to a ten-year, 95-million dollar contract, plus incentives. The winningest coach in Notre Dame history will be formally introduced tomorrow but will arrive in Baton Rouge this afternoon.

The 2021 Hurricane Season officially ends today and after a wild ride for Louisiana two seasons in a row, it’s welcome news.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

State Police report they investigated 10 fatal crashes which resulted in 16 deaths during the Thanksgiving weekend. It’s a significant increase compared to last year. Superintendent of State Police, Colonel Lamar Davis, says they are down 200 troopers from where they would like to be, which is why it’s so important that the 100th cadet class of 64 men and women begin training on Sunday….
cut 12 (14) “…supposed to be done”

Today is giving Tuesday and the Red Cross is asking residents to consider donating to them…..
cut 14 (11) “…your behalf”
That’s Red Cross spokesperson Caroline Foutain who says they’ve been very busy the last two years due to the hurricanes.

A new era of LSU football is set to begin as Tigers athletic director Scott Woodward has hired Brian Kelly to be the Tigers’ next head coach. Kelly is the winningest football coach in Notre Dame history.

The hurricane season officially ends today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says its the third busiest on record with 21 named storms, seven hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.
Cut 4 (10) “…past season. “

Today is Giving Tuesday. Red Cross for Louisiana spokesperson Caroline Fountain says with two devastating hurricane seasons back-to-back, a donation to the Red Cross is greatly welcomed.
Cut 13 (11) “…to go.”

The 100th Louisiana State Police cadet class starts this Sunday. LSP Superintendent Colonel Lamar Davis says this academy comes at a good time, as they are about 200 troopers shy of ideal manpower…:
Cut 10 (12) “…mission of public safety.”
Davis the cadet class includes 10 females and reflects cultural diversity as well.

Senator Bill Cassidy is frustrated the CDC will not study the natural immunity a person has once they’ve recovered from COVID-19…
cut 8 (13) “…won’t do it”
Meanwhile, State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter is encouraging everyone five years and up to get vaccinated and everyone 18 and older to get a booster to protect themself from the omicron variant.

LSU has found itself a new head football coach. Media reports indicate Brian Kelly is leaving Notre Dame after 12 seasons for Tiger Town. The 60-year-old is the winningest coach at Notre Dame and he’s won 263 games during his career. He led the Fighting Irish to a BCS title game appearance in 2012 and college football playoff appearances in 2018 and 2020.

The 100th Louisiana State Police cadet class begins training on Sunday…
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is expressing concern that federal health officials are not looking into how long one can expect to remain naturally immune to COVID-19 after getting it. He believes it’s due to incompetence on the part of such agencies as the CDC and the NIH.
Cut 7 (08) “…not to know.”
Cassidy says the CDC has not done a great job with the COVID pandemic. He claims the agency’s director is running the response effort via ZOOM from home.

Today is the final day of the 2021 hurricane season, which brought us Hurricane Ida….
cut 5 (11) “….took place”
That’s State Climatologist Barry Keim who says there were 21 named storms in 2021. The first time there have been 20 plus named storms in back-to-back years.

Time is just about up with the deadline today to register for FEMA disaster relief funds following Hurricane Ida more than three months ago. The agency’s Nathan Custer says no matter the extent of damage there is no fixed dollar amount on the financial assistance you can request:

Cut 4   (11)  …to the catastrophic.

Visit DisasterAssistance.gov for more information.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has cleared the way for St. Tammany Parish voters to decide whether the $325 million Camellia Bay casino resort should be built or not near Slidell.  In a ruling today, the justices overturned a lower court ruling that would have removed the ballot proposition from the December 11^th ballot. It had been challenged on a constitutional question. Approval of the ballot measure later this month would cast aside a vote in 1996 that banned casinos in the parish.

News of the Omicron variant of COVID has health experts concerned as a number of countries have reported cases of the new variant, including Canada. No cases have been confirmed in Louisiana. Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are now experiencing a surge in the Delta variant, similar to the one Louisiana had over the summer. Governor Edwards says it’s another reminder the pandemic is far from over and everyone needs to help slow transmission.

Cut 7 (10) “…global pandemic.”  

This year’s 12^th annual Small Business Saturday was a hit nationwide with spending hitting an estimated all-time high of 23.3-billion dollars. Dawn McVea, Louisiana Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says the figure includes a two percent increase in small business online shopping that increased to 58 percent.

Cut 12 (06) “…good positive trend.”  

McVea says six percent more shoppers opted Saturday to support local independent restaurants around the nation than in 2020.

It’s Cyber Monday but before you click on that too good to be true sale, Brooke Thorington has some tips on avoiding a scam…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington.”

Police in Natchitoches are investigating the shooting death of a teen over the weekend. Officers say the 14-year-old was brought to the emergency room with a gunshot wound and was transported to University Health in Shreveport, where he later died from that injury. Natchitoches Crimestoppers will accept tips or info gladly.

This year’s 12^th annual Small Business Saturday was a hit nationwide with spending hitting an estimated all-time high of 23.3-billion dollars. Dawn McVea, Louisiana Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says the fact that sales went up this year for mom and pop shops during Small Business Saturday can be a precursor to an improved fourth quarter…:

CUT 14(10)      “…strong holiday season.”

A new COVID virus variant, called “omicron” is raising concerns for many, as cases begin turning up in Canada and other countries. So far none in Louisiana, but Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s about par for the course…:

CUT 06(10)      “…more variants.”

He says getting COVID shots and boosters will help with that.

Today is Cyber Monday, a day set aside to do your online holiday shopping, but the Better Business Bureau warns to be wary of where you take to web browser to shop. BBB’s Carmen Million says check for an “S” in the web address which indicates the site is secure. She advises you price check and compare prices from a variety of online retailers, but most importantly, especially this year with supply chain disruptions…:

CUT 10(08)      “…important thing.”

And remember to check the website’s returns policy, they are not all the same and there are some who don’t have any such policy.

More on holiday shopping: Small Business Saturday this past weekend was apparently a pretty big success. Dawn McVea, state director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses…:

CUT 13(11)      “…throughout the year.”

Nationwide, small businesses reported a 2-percent increase in revenues over last year.

Today is the deadline to register for FEMA disaster relief if your main home suffered damage during Hurricane Ida. Nathan Custer with the agency says that damage can range from the minor to the catastrophic, but if you haven’t registered with FEMA for assistance, you only have hours left to do so…:

CUT 03(07)      “…hear from you.”

Visit DisasterRelief.gov or call FEMA at 800-621-3362.

It has sat vacant ever since Hurricane Katrina, but New Orleans’ former Charity Hospital building will soon be revitalized. Tulane University will be the main tenant of the 350-thousand square foot structure – using it for classroom and research space, but it will also be a mixed-use facility; featuring apartments, retail shops and more. Refurbishing will take well over two years, Tulane hopes to be in by 2025.

Today is the deadline to register for FEMA disaster relief if your main home suffered damage during Hurricane Ida. FEMA’s Nathan Custer says more than a half-million property owners have registered with FEMA since Ida hit and at least $1.6-billion in assistance has been paid out by the agency…:

CUT 05(08)      “…in late August.”

Custer says you can claim for damage ranging from the minor to the catastrophic, but if you haven’t registered with FEMA for assistance, you only have hours left to do so.

A holiday weekend child hand-off from one divorced parent to another became violent and ended with one man dead. Shreveport Police say adults meeting in a gas station lot for the exchange argued, and then gunfire erupted.  That was one of four shootings SPD responded to within just five minutes Sunday.

The figures are in and this year’s Small Business Saturday was an apparent record-setter. More from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 02(34)      “…Brannen.”

A new COVID variant, called Omicron, has some alarmed. Governor John Bel Edwards urges us all to take steps to help slow transmission…:

CUT 07(10)      “…global pandemic.”

Right now, just under half the state has need vaccinated for coronavirus.

It’s Cyber Monday but before you click on that too good to be true sale, Brooke Thorington has some tips on avoiding a scam.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The St. Landry Sheriff is reporting that an ATV accident late Sunday afternoon left a child dead.  A woman reported the five-year-old was riding in the side-by-side vehicle in a field with her husband when the ATV crashed.  The boy, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the hospital. The crash occurred in the Frilot Cove area. No word on the cause of the accident.

News of the Omicron variant of COVID has health experts concerned as a number of countries have reported cases of the new variant. Governor  Edwards says we should all be concerned about the newest variant and continue to practice mitigation. The governor says he’s hoping and praying the state will not have another surge similar to the one Louisiana experienced in July and August.

Cut 8 (08) “…to use them.”

This year’s 12^th annual Small Business Saturday was a hit nationwide with spending hitting an estimated all-time high of 23.3-billion dollars. Dawn McVea, Louisiana Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says the figure includes a two percent increase in small business online shopping that increased to 58 percent.

Cut 12 (06) “…good positive trend.”  

McVea says six percent more shoppers opted Saturday to support local independent restaurants around the nation than in 2020.