State Police say 61 people have died in crashes they’ve investigated since the day before Thanksgiving this year. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says a Houma man is under arrest accused of kidnapping his estranged wife. Authorities say 52-year-old Mike Nixon allegedly forced his way into the victim’s home armed with a shotgun and forced her into his vehicle. Nixon and his estranged wife were later found at Nixon’s residence. The victim was unharmed. Nixon is charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated assault with a firearm.

Governor Bobby Jindal returns to the key Presidential primary state of Iowa today. Radio Iowa News Director Kay Henderson says a Jindal victory in Iowa would not be out of the question with the caucuses over a year away. Henderson says Mike Huckaby was virtually unknown in Iowa a year from the 2008 caucuses…

cut 12 (08) “was Mitt Romney”

Although he has yet to declare his intent to run for President in 2016, Henderson says Jindal has been doing the things that one does if your are planning a presidential campaign.

The ugly Christmas sweater continues to grow more popular every year. LeShai Brown is a vendor at Polished Peasant in Sulphur which specializes in tacky Christmas attire. She says many people throw specific “Ugly Christmas Sweater” parties with the goal of being the one in attendance with the most hideous holiday shirt….

cut 8 (05) “by the trend”

Brown says a lot of her customers will buy an ugly Christmas sweater then go home and add even more ugliness.

61 people have died in crashes Louisiana State Police have investigated since the day before Thanksgiving this year. Col Mike Edmonson says the tragedies have become too frequent and the people who have lost their lives in these crashes can’t be viewed as just a number…

cut 14 (09) “accident”

Edmonson says he’s been thinking about the family from Texas who died on I-20 on their way to Disney World and the sisters on their way to Dutchtown High School.

Governor Bobby Jindal returns to Iowa today. Although he has yet to declare his intent to run for President in 2016, Radio Iowa News Director Kay Henderson says has been doing the things that one does if your are planning a presidential campaign. She says Jindal has a lot of work ahead of him when it comes to educating voters…

cut 11 (06) “personal story is”

This is the governor’s fourth trip to Iowa this year and third in the past three months.

The ugly Christmas sweater is becoming more and more popular every year for Holiday gatherings. So what is all the fuss about? LeShai Brown is a vendor at Polished Peasant in Sulphur which specializes in tacky Christmas attire. She says people have a blast with silly festive gear…

cut 7 (10) “gift giving”

Brown says many people throw specific “Ugly Christmas Sweater” parties with the goal of being the one in attendance with the most hideous holiday shirt.

The Ragin Cajun football team heads to the Crescent City where they’ll play in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl for the 4th straight time. The game has set attendance records all three years UL Lafayette has appeared. UL Athletic Director Scott Farmer says ticket sales are down so far for the game but they hope the Ragin’ Cajun Nation will show up in full force…

cut 5 (10) “really special”

The Cajuns will face Nevada Saturday morning at 10AM.

Although he has yet to declare his intent to run for President in 2016, Governor Bobby Jindal returns to Iowa today. Iowa is a key Presidential primary state. Radio Iowa News Director Kay Henderson says Jindal has been making political appearances in Iowa for several years and some Iowans have had a chance to meet him…

cut 10 (09) “County GOP”

Jindal will headline the Polk County Republican Winter Victory Dinner in West Des Moines tonight.

State Police say 61 people have died in crashes they’ve investigated since the day before Thanksgiving this year. Not being properly restrained, impairment and driver distraction were the contributing factors. Col Mike Edmonson says in his 34 years with state police, he’s never seen a worse 30 day period than this one…

cut 13 (09) “up to the present”

Edmonson says these tragedies have become too frequent.

The UL-Lafayette football team leaves today for New Orleans where they’ll play in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl for the 4th straight time. The Ragin’ Cajuns will travel to The Big Easy to take on Nevada in the Mercedes Benz Superdome Saturday with a 10am kickoff. UL Athletic Director Scott Farmer says this is always an exciting game for fans..

cut 4 (11) “very accessible”

The game has set attendance records all three years the Cajuns have appeared.

The New Orleans Saints beat the Bears 31-15 at a soggy Soldier Field in Chicago last night. The Saints are now in sole possession of first place in the NFC South.

Fisherman got some good news today as areas off the coasts of Elmer’s and Grand Terre islands opened up for the first time since the 2010 oil spill. Dean Blanchard, Seafood business owner, says the more shrimp they are able to put more on the market the lower the price will go. He says they are keeping a close eye on these shrimp to make sure they aren’t affected by the spill…:
CUT 8 (06) “good so far”
There is still an area near Barataria Bay that remains closed to fishing.

US Senator David Vitter announced his committee assignments today and says he’s been appointed to the Senate Judiciary Committee. He says he promises to use that position to launch attacks on the Obama administration’s agenda. Vitter says he’ll also become Chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee and continue serving on the Senate Environment, Public Works and Banking committees.

State Police say a Louisiana Department of Public Safety officer is charged with sexual battery and malfeasance in office following a traffic stop in Zachary. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

State Police say nine people were killed over the weekend. No seat belts, impaired driving and driver error were the contributing factors. 61 lives have been lost since the week before Thanksgiving in accidents investigated by State Police.

A Louisiana Department of Public Safety officer is charged with sexual battery and malfeasance in office following a traffic stop in Zachary. State Police Lt. JB Slaton says the victim contacted the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office after the traffic stop…
CUT 9 (07) “sexual manner”
Michael Selders of Clinton was booked into the East Baton Rouge Prison.

State Police are investigating a crash involving a pedestrian who was struck and killed after he fell out of the back of a truck in LaSalle Parish over the weekend. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says 22-year-old Brittany Walker of Jena was traveling on Highway 8 when she struck an unknown object in the roadway…:
cut 12 (08) “was a person”
The victim is identified as 43 year-old Marcus Jones.
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The state has reopened a couple of areas in the Gulf that were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to commercial fishermen. Here’s Eric Gill with more.
CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

Interstate 12 near Hammond has been closed in both directions, due to an overturned 18 wheeler near I-55. Eastbound traffic is being diverted onto I-55, and Westbound traffic is being diverted onto US Highway 51 Business, then south on 22, to I-55 north then back to I-12 past the incident. Please avoid the area if you can.
—–(story below is for 20:30 newscast ONLY )
A Gonzales man has been arrested on 31 counts of child porn. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says 55 year-old Everett Carter was arrested without incident. This arrest was the result of a joint investigation involving the AG’s Cyber Crime Unit, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office , Homeland Security and the FBI.

The charges are sexual battery and malfeasance in office following a traffic stop by a Louisiana Department of Public Safety officer in Zachary. State Police Lt. JB Slayton says the female victim told police they new each other, and he allegedly escalated physical advances…
CUT 11 (08) Q: ‘dealt with swiftly’
LDPS officer Michael Selders is on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s office is investigating the case of two women who were shot in a domestic disturbance leaving one dead and one injured. Major Ginny Higgins says they found two female victims with gunshot wounds…:
cut 14 (09) “passed away”
Twenty-five year-old Donovan Kennedy of New Iberia was arrested shortly after the incident.
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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has reopened two commerical fishing area near Grand Isle, previously closed because to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Dean Blanchard, owner of Dean Blanchard’s Seafood in Grand Isle, says they’re off to flying start near Elmer and Grand Terre (pron. “tear” as in rip)…
CUT 7 (09) Q: ‘back to normal’

State Police say a suspected drunk driver heading the wrong way on a four-lane highway in Beauregard Parish struck another vehicle head-on, resulting in three fatalities. Authorities says they believe 28-year-old Kristi Poteet was traveling south in the northbound lanes of US 171 just north of Longville…
CUT 3 (11) “heading north”
That’s State Police Sergeant James Anderson.

A Louisiana Department of Public Safety officer is charged with sexual battery and malfeasance in office following a traffic stop in Zachary. State Police Lt. JB Slaton says the victim contacted the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office after the traffic stop…
CUT 10 (11) Q: ‘determined fully”
In the meantime, LDPS Officer Michael Selders of Clinton was booked into the East Baton Rouge Prison.

A domestic dispute that lead to a shooting in St. Martin Parish has lerft one woman dead and the other injured. Major Ginny Higgins says the St. Martin’s Parish Sheriff’s Office got the call of shots fired, and later were able apprehend the suspect, 25 year-old Donovan Kennedy of New Iberia…
CUT 15 (06) Q; “attempted second degree murder”
The relationship of the two women is unknown at this time.
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The state has reopened a couple of areas in the Gulf that were affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to commercial fishing. Areas off the coasts of Elmer’s and Grand Terre (tear, as in rip something) islands had been closed since the spill. The inital reports of catches are really good…
CUT 6 (10) “for this week”
That’s Dean Blanchard, owner of Dean Blanchard’s Seafood in Grand Isle.

One suspected drunk driver and three fatalites are the result of a head on crash last night in Beauregard Parish on a fourlane stretch of Highway 171.
CUT 5 (09) Q: ‘turned back’
The identity of that driver is 28 year-old Kristi Poteet who was driving on the wrong side of the road, along with her passenger who died, and the other driver 41 year-old Ricky Gill of Singer also passed away.