Some are calling it a Thanksgiving Day miracle; a man who fell overboard from a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf was found and rescued last night. The Coast Guard says some hours passed before the ship’s crew knew he was missing and radioed them for search and rescue. They located him about 6 hours later, and a chopper pulled him from the water. He may have been keeping himself afloat for nearly a full day, without a life preserver. Often when person fall or jump off cruise ships, they are never found.

Early voting starts tomorrow for the December 10^th election. State Elections Commissioner Sherri Hadskey says you’ll have seven full days to vote at your leisure…:

CUT 13  (09)        “…December the tenth.”

On the ballot, 3 constitutional amendments and local runoffs and other issues. Find your sample ballot online at “GeauxVote.com.”

Deputies in St. Martin Parish are investigating a Thanksgiving evening murder/suicide in Youngsville. 40-year-old Misti Romero was found shot to death in a business parking lot. They identified a suspect – 54-year-old Andrew DeRouen – and found him some time later; dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. The investigation is ongoing.

The St Landry Parish Council has approved the parish’s first solar farm project. Officials say construction will begin next year on a 900-acre site in a rural area north of Opelousas. Lightsource BP development manager Jack Steele says it is expected to be operational by end of 2024. He says solar power is great for the environment and an effective way to produce energy..:

CUT 10(10)      “…of homes.”

Steele says the panels will be high enough off the ground that sheep and cattle can graze beneath them.

Small Business Saturday is tomorrow. It’s a campaign to get consumers to shop at locally-owned stores. State NFIB director Dawn McVea urges shoppers to save some of their holiday shopping for Saturday and support the businesses that support our communities…:

CUT 09(10)      “…holiday time.”

She says 13-percent of “mom & pops” surveyed have a less-0than-greart outlook for their holiday retail business.

The U.S. Coast Guard has found and rescued a man who fell overboard from a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf. They began their search Thursday at around 2:30 and found the 28-year-old man by 8:30. A chopper plucked him from the water and he is OK. The Coast Guard says the ship’s crew was unware the man was missing for hours before they radioed. The man might have been in the water for almost a whole day.

There is a December runoff election in Louisiana coming up, and Early Voting for that is about to begin. State Commissioner of Elections Sherri Hadskey says you’ll have a full week to vote at your leisure starting tomorrow…:

CUT 13(09)      “…December the tenth.”

There will be something on your ballot, no matter where you are. Preview your sample ballot at “GeauxVote.com.”

State Police are looking into an officer-involved shooting in Alexandria. Troopers report an APD officer attempted to arrest a man who was running into and disrupting traffic. When the man resisted arrest and tried to get the cop’s weapon, he drew and fired – wounding the man.

A gunfight outside the Tiger Truck Stop along I-10 in Grosse Tete leaves one dead and another person injured. That happened at around 10 last night. Iberville Parish deputies are investigating.

The U.S. Coast Guard has found and rescued a man who fell overboard from a Carnival cruise ship in the Gulf. They began their search Thursday at around 2:30 and found the 28-year-old man by 8:30. A chopper plucked him from the water and he is OK. The Coast Guard says the ship’s crew was unware the man was missing for hours before they radioed. The man might have been in the water for almost a whole day.

The holiday shopping season is officially underway, and experts predict inflation will force spending as high as $950-billion this year. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says remember not all advertised “doorbuster” sales are actually a good value, and it helps to do some research on the normal prices of items on your shopping list before you go shopping…:

CUT 05(10)      “…time of year.”

Louisiana’s green energy industry continues to grow, as the St Landry Parish Council approves that parish’s first solar farm project…:

CUT 03(30)      “…Golsby.”

Early Voting for the December 10^th election starts tomorrow. State Elections Commissioner Sherri Hadskey…:

CUT 15(09)      “…and propositions.”

For information on the ballot, go to “GeauxVote.com”

Saturday is Small Business Saturday and Kace Kieschnick reports local retailers hope consumers will spend with them on Saturday….

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Kace Keischnick”

And while you’re out and about today and tomorrow supporting Small Business Saturday, try to bulk the growing trend in the Bayou State. According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, 14% of you aren’t wearing your seatbelt. The national average is 90 percent and Louisiana is at 86 percent.

LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says while taking advantage of Black Friday sales… he says to look for a pretty fair mix of in-store and online buying, and more merchants who offer both will also do what he calls “hybrid sales”; where you order online, then pick the items up yourself at local store…:

Cut 6 (10)  “…additional purchases.” 

Approval for a new solar farm to be built north Opelousas should be operational by 2024 and Lightsource BP development manager Jack Steele says the panels will be so far off the ground that sheep and cattle can continue to graze and they do as much as possible to increase biodiversity…

Cut 12 (09) “…for bees”

It’s Black Friday; the official start of the holiday shopping season. How is the retail picture stacking up against record inflation? Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

And tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, State NFIB director Dawn McVea says consumers always from through…

Cut 8 (10)  “…during small business Saturday”

Another solar farm is coming to the state, this one will be in St Landry Parish. Lightsource BP development manager Jack Steele Louisiana has lots of flat agricultural land ideal for installing solar panels. The company already has a large solar farm near New Roads in Pointe Coupee Parish…

Cut 11 (10)  “…that industry”

The one near of Opelousas is expected to be completed in 2024.

Early voting begins tomorrow for the December 10^th election. State Commissioner of Elections Sherri Hadskey says they are making it as easy as possible for you to vote, and if you can’t make it to an Early Voting location…

Cut 14 (12)  “…December 9th.”

Early voting ends next Saturday, December third.

The US Coast Guard has located a man that went overboard from the Carnival Valor Thursday, responsive. His name has not been released and the Coast Guard is expected to give out more information today.

The holiday shopping season is officially underway, and experts predict inflation will force spending as high as $950-billion this year. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says he agrees, despite the belief that many will be scaling back gift shopping because of rising prices…:

Cut 4 (09)  “…higher cost this year.”

Small Business Saturday is tomorrow. It’s a campaign to get consumers to shop at local stores. State NFIB director, Dawn McVea, says Louisiana small businesses employ over 46% of the workforce…

Cut 7 (08) “…in the state”

The St Landry Parish Council approves the parish’s first solar farm project. Construction will begin next year on a 900-acre site in a rural area north of Opelousas. Lightsource BP development manager Jack Steele says it is expected to be operational by end of 2024 and solar power is great for the environment and an effective way to produce energy

Cut 10 (10) “…of homes” 

There is a December runoff election in Louisiana coming up, and Early Voting for that is about to begin. State Commissioner of Elections Sherri Hadskey says you’ll have a full week to vote at your leisure starting tomorrow…:

Cut 13 (09) “…December the tenth.”

Early voting starts tomorrow and ends next Saturday, December 3^rd.

State Police say a Minden man died in a single vehicle crash on state Highway 59, near Highway 2. Troopers say 24-year-old Bret Dooley’s pickup went off the road, hit a ditch and overturned. He was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. A blood sample was taken to see if Dooley was impaired at the time.

With holiday shopping in full swing, security professionals have a few tips on how to have a safe one when making online purchases. LSU cybersecurity expert Abe Baggili says be aware of whether the site you’re shopping is secure. Look for padlock icon on the right end of the address bar. He says, also, be careful if shopping on a device using Wi-Fi…:

CUT 10 (08)      “…you know.”

He says never shop online using your ATM debit card. Using a CREDIT CARD helps assure you can get your money back if you ARE ripped off.

Tomorrow is Black Friday, perhaps THE busiest retail day of the year. Jill Gonzales, with “WalletHub.com”, says look for big discounts at stores like J.C. Penney, Belk and Macy’s if shopping in-store. If you’re hoping to score a sweet deal on a cell phone or computer, tomorrow may not be the day for you…:

CUT 07 (12)      “…shop for.”

She says there are always gift cards, if shopping is not your thing.

Going on tomorrow and Saturday and Sunday, the Louisiana Renaissance Festival near Hammond; just off I-12. Family fun, food and entertainment for all…plus some unique holiday gift ideas. Festival CEO Alvon Brumfield says the six weekend festival has been a big success this year…:

CUT 13 (07)      “…time you get here.”

For tickets, go online to “LARF2022.org.” The festival closes December 11^th.