54-year-old Ronald Gasser has been arrested and booked on a charge of manslaughter. Jefferson Parish authorities say Gasser has admitted to fatally shooting former NFL player and John Curtis star Joe McKnight during an apparent road rage incident at an intersection in Terrytown.

Also this morning in New Orleans, opening statements are underway in the Will Smith murder trial. Saints players Roman Harper and Jahri Evans are at the courtroom to support the family of the former Saints star.

A new television ad in the US Senate race has Governor John Bel Edwards urging voters to vote for Democrat Foster Campbell. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the ad is a nice gesture, but it’s unlikely Campbell can beat the favorite, Republican John Kennedy…
cut 10 (07) “…upset victory”
The election is Saturday.

New Orleans will be featured during Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve show as host Ryan Seacrest will toss it to the Crescent City to see how the Big Easy is celebrating the New Year. Gary Solomon with Dick Clark Productions says viewers will feel like they’re a part of the New Orleans culture…
cut 15 (10) “….Brewery drop”
Solomon says there will be musical acts performing in the French Quarter that will be shown on the show as well.

The state’s efforts to rebuild its whooping crane population got another lift as 21 more large birds were brought to south Louisiana, where they once dominated the landscape over 65 years ago. Wildlife and fisheries biologist Sara Zimorski says once these birds are released, the birds are encouraged to stay by being fed….
cut 6 (09) “…natural foods”