It was a frigid night across the state that saw some incredibly close games in the Louisiana high school football playoffs, along with some shocking upsets. In 4A, Helen Cox takes down North Desoto 19-14. In 2A, Frankling beats Red River 16-13, and Independence beats Pine 36-32

In college basketball, number 23 LSU beats the UNC Greensboro Spartans 97-91 to start off a year with March Madness intentions 2 and 0. Forward Naz Reid scored 29, and grabbed 7 rebounds, while Guard Tremont Waters dropped 21 points and dished out 10 assists. The Tigers next game is against Memphis on Tuesday at 6pm.

And UL Lafayette got hammered last night by the number 6 ranked Vols 87-65, to begin the year 1 and 1. The Ragin Cajuns top player was Jakeenan Gant, who managed 18 points and 6 assists. Schedule doesn’t get any easier as Lafayette has to take on number one ranked Kansas next Friday at 7pm.

LSU will face an Arkansas team today that has just two wins. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron is eager to see how his team bounces back from the Alabama loss…

Cut 14 (08) “very good offense.”

If LSU wins its remaining three remaining games they’ll likely play in one of the New Year’s Six bowl games. Orgeron says winning 10 games is the goal…

The hype is not as high as it was last weekend when the Tigers and Saints hosted a pair of undefeated football teams, but it’s still a big weekend for the LSU and New Orleans. The Black and Gold are at Cincinnati and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins says they better be ready for the 5-and-3 Bengals…

Cut 12 (11)   “…he does.”

In the Saints win over the Rams last week, they held Rams superstar running back Todd Gurley to 68 yards rushing. They’ll need another game like that against the Bengal’s Joe Mixon.

Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup shocked many analysts in the midterm as the East Feliciana Parish Minister and Elections Office worker made the run-off for Secretary of State. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The mother of an infant that was found burned alive in a barn in Natchitoches has been indicted on 1^st degree murder. 23-year-old Hannah Baker allegedly asked her partner, Felicia Smith to murder her child. On July 17^th, police say Smith set took the child from Bakers home and set it on fire, but Baker says her child was stolen against her will during a break in.

A 17-year-old is dead following a single vehicle crash last night just after 9PM.  Louisiana State Police responded to a crash on US Hwy 165 just north of Bastrop.  LSP spokesperson Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says the vehicle was southbound when, for reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control.

Cut 9 (12) “…of the car.”

Reichardt says during the holidays, the death of a loved one is news no one wants to receive, and says this is a reminder to always buckle up.

And it’s sweater weather this weekend and beyond as a cold front has invaded the Bayou State. National Weather Service Slidell Meteorologist Tim Destri says says south Louisiana can expect highs in the mid to upper 50s for Saturday and Sunday into the low 60s.  sorth Louisiana will struggle to get out of the 40s.

Cut 7 (04) “…than late fall.”

Secretary of State candidate Gwen Collins-Greenup is the surprise of the midterms, as the Democrat will head to a run-off against Interim Secretary Kyle Ardoin. Collins-Greenup was just 10 thousand votes shy of topping the Interim Secretary, despite little fundraising and not securing the Democratic Party’s backing, which went to 3^rd place candidate Renee Fontenot Free. She says she never viewed herself as an underdog.

Cut 4 (09) “…to it″

The Democrat who only raised 3,000 dollars for the campaign is a minister with a law degree, was a notary, and worked in elections in the East Feliciana Parish Clerk’s Office. The run-off election will be held December 8^th.

LSU will face an Arkansas team on Saturday that has just two wins. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron is eager to see how his team bounces back from the Alabama loss…

Cut 14 (08) “very good offense.”

A 17-year-old is dead following a single vehicle crash last night just after 9PM.  Louisiana State Police responded to a crash on US Hwy 165 just north of Bastrop.  LSP spokesperson Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says during the holidays, the death of a loved one is news no one wants to receive, and says this is a reminder to always buckle up.

Cut 11 (11) “…save your life.”

The driver was buckled up and sustained only minor injuries.  Reichardt says the teen who died was not wearing a safety belt.

Those looking for an excuse to break out that beloved hoodie or sweater will get the opportunity to do so this weekend.  But you’ll need the heavier jackets next week. National Weather Service Slidell Meteorologist Tim Destri says a cold front is pushing through most of the state starting today.

Cut 6 (10) “…next week as well”

Secretary of State candidate Gwen Collins-Greenup is the surprise of the midterms, as the Democrat will head to a run-off against Interim Secretary Kyle Ardoin. While some candidates fundraised and sought high profile endorsement’s Collins-Greenup, an East Feliciana Minister and law degree holder says she just went door to door, talking to constituents about their needs.

Cut 3 (09) “…their area.”

The run-off election will be held December 8^th

A 17-year-old is dead following a single vehicle crash last night just after 9PM.  Louisiana State Police responded to a crash on US Hwy 165 just north of Bastrop.  LSP spokesperson Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says the teen who died was not wearing a safety belt.

Cut 10 (07)   “…of the crash.“

The driver was buckled up and sustained only minor injuries.

A St. Bernard Parish correctional officer on trial for the death of an inmate is hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Kevin Barnhart has more…

Cut 2 (22) “Im Kevin Barnhart.”  

The hype is not as high as it was last weekend when the Tigers and Saints hosted a pair of undefeated football teams, but it’s still a big weekend for the LSU and New Orleans. The Black and Gold are at Cincinnati and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins says they better be ready for the 5-and-3 Bengals…

Cut 12 (11)   “…he does.”

The Bengals will be without star wideout AJ Green.

Gwen Collins-Greenup is the surprise participant in the December 8th runoff for Secretary of State. The Demcrat from East Feliciana Parish received nearly as many votes as interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. Analysts say Ardoin will win because he’s a Republican, Collins-Greenup is confident she can get her vote out and if she does win, the political newcomer will look to increase voter turnout…
cut 5 (11) “…our state”
Collins-Greenup is a minister with a law degree, who has worked in the East Feliciana Parish Clerk’s office.

It will be a cold weekend and more cold air is on the way. Tim Destri is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Slidell and says we could see a first major freeze during the middle of next week…
cut 8 (09) “…or below freezing”
High temperatures tomorrow will only be in the 40s to upper 50s.

Another big football weekend is on tap for Louisiana. Maybe not as big as last weekend, when the Tigers and Saints hosted undefeated teams. LSU is at 2-7 Arkansas tomorrow night and Coach Ed Orgeron says finishing with three more wins in the regular season is the goal…
cut 15 (09) “…shooting for”
A 10-win season could get the Tigers into the Sugar, Fiesta or Peach Bowl.

Last week, the Saints held superstar running back Todd Gurley to 68 yards rushing. Linebacker A-J Klein says Cincinnati running back Joe Mixon is also very talented…
cut 13 (11) “…with him”
The Saints and Bengals will kick-off at noon on Sunday. New Orleans is seeking its eighth straight win, while Cincinnati is 5-3 on the season.

Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup shocked many analysts in the midterm as the East Feliciana Parish Minister and Elections Office worker made the run-off for Secretary of State. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Shreveport Police Violent Crimes detectives are investigating the discovery of two bodies located inside of a burning vehicle in west Shreveport last night.  Shortly before midnight, police responded to the call of a vehicle engulfed in flames at an abandoned home.  The bodies, believed to be that of a man and woman, were taken to the Caddo Parish Coroners office for identification.

A 17-year-old is dead following a single vehicle crash last night just after 9PM.  Louisiana State Police responded to a crash on US Hwy 165 just north of Bastrop.  LSP spokesperson Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says the vehicle was southbound when, for reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control.

Cut 9 (12) “…of the car.”

The driver was buckled up and sustained only minor injuries.  Reichardt says the teen who died was not wearing a safety belt.

If you are going to be spending any time outside this weekend it’s going to be pretty chilly.  National Weather Service Slidell Meteorologist Tim Destri says South Louisiana can expect highs in the mid to upper 50s for Saturday and Sunday into the low 60s.  North Louisiana will struggle to get out of the 40s.

Cut 7 (04) “…than late fall.”

Secretary of State candidate Gwen Collins-Greenup is the surprise of the midterms, as the Democrat will head to a run-off against Interim Secretary Kyle Ardoin. Collins-Greenup was just 10 thousand votes shy of topping the Interim Secretary, despite little fundraising and not securing the Democratic Party’s backing, which went to 3^rd place candidate Renee Fontenot Free. She says she never viewed herself as an underdog.

Cut 4 (09) “…to it″

The Democrat is a minister who holds a law degree, was a notary, and worked in elections in the East Feliciana Parish Clerk’s Office.

Bust out the hoodies and sweater, cause it’s about to get cold. National Weather Service Slidell Meteorologist Tim Destri says a front is pushing through most of the state starting today.

Cut 6 (10) “…next week as well”

Louisiana’s public school report card is out, and the number of schools scoring “A”s is down while “F”s are up, with 40 percent of schools ordered to submit plans to improve their performance. The 502 schools deemed in need of intervention will have to submit reform plans, but funding to execute those plans might be hard to come by. Superintendent of Education John White says short-term, a revenue neutral approach might be needed.

Cut 12 (09)   “…our kids”

13 percent of schools scored an A, while 12 percent of schools nabbed an F rating, but the state instituted higher standards this year, so If rated under the old system, the average score for schools would have been roughly ten percent higher on average.

Fall will arrive with a vengeance at the start of this weekend. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 2 (26) “Im Connor Ferrill”  

A 17-year-old is dead following a single vehicle crash last night just after 9PM.  Louisiana State Police responded to a crash on US Hwy 165 just north of Bastrop.  The Ford Crown Victoria was southbound on 165 when, for reasons still under investigation, the 31 year old driver, Dallas Lee of Bastrop, lost control of the vehicle and struck tree on the passenger’s side, killing 17 year old Quaterrius Brooks, also of Bastrop.  Brooks was not wearing a seatbelt.

Secretary of State candidate Gwen Collins-Greenup is the surprise of the midterms, as the Democrat will head to a run-off against Interim Secretary Kyle Ardoin. While some candidates fundraised and sought high profile endorsement’s Collins-Greenup says she just went door to door, talking to constituents about their needs.

Cut 3 (09) “…their area.”

The Democrat is a minister who holds a law degree, was a notary, and worked in elections in the East Feliciana Parish Clerk’s Office.

The Louisiana Department of Education has released school performance scores. Education Superintendent John White says over 500 schools have been identified as struggling and must submit an improvement plan to the state…
cut 11 (10) “…those plans”
13-percent of schools received an “A” grade while 12-percent of schools statewide received an “F” grade.