A Farm Bill is in conference committee without a work requirement for food stamp recipients sought by many Republicans. Senator John Kennedy has voiced his opposition to the bill, saying it does not go far enough in its SNAP reforms, and says he won’t vote for it due to its lack of those work requirements, but Congressman Ralph Abraham says he’ll vote yes, but plans to continue pushing for food stamp overhauls.

Cut 11 (08) “…to them”

Votes on the bill are expected later this week.

LSU All-American linebacker Devin White remains undecided on whether he’ll skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. White, who won the Butkus Award which goes to the nation’s best linebacker, says he still has some unfinished business…

Cut 16 (14)  limit yet”

Fire safety is paramount as Louisiana reaches 63 fatal fires this year alongside 73 lives lost. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Connor Ferrill.”

The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health has received a $23.1 million State Opioid Response grant. OBH Assistant Secretary Karen Stubbs says the opioid epidemic is at epic proportions nationally and the Bayou State is no different…

Cut 14 (09) “…2016.”

Stubbs says the next step is increasing access to treatment through community outreach.

LSU All-American linebacker Devin White says he still has not made a decision on whether he’ll enter the NFL draft. White could be a top 10 pick, but the Springhill native says he would hate to leave LSU without winning a title…
cut 17 (18) “…the team”
LSU’s other potential top 10 pick, cornerback Greedy Williams, has already turned pro and he will not play in the Fiesta Bowl against U-C-F. Coach Ed Orgeron says he’s old fashioned and believes a player should complete a season with their team…
cut 18 (16) “…with his team”
LSU has started its bowl practice.

The Saints have placed veteran offensive lineman Michael Ola on injured reserve. Ola went down with an ankle injury in the victory against Tampa Bay. Ola has served as the team’s sixth offensive lineman and the team has signed former Texans starter Derek Newton, who hasn’t played since 2016.

Austin Peay has hired former Ragin Cajuns coach Mark Hudspeth as its head coach. Hudspeth spent this past season as the tight ends coach at Mississippi State. Coach Hud was the head man at UL Lafayette for seven seasons and led the Cajuns to five New Orleans Bowl appearances.

In college basketball last night, Louisiana Tech defeated Mississippi Valley State 96-80 as DeQuan Bracey had 24 points. ULM beat Grambling 72-67, while Ragin Cajuns defeated Prarie View 122 to 90 as Marcus Stroman had 18 points and 11 assists.

Tonight LSU visits Houston for an 8 PM tip off.

A Farm Bill is in conference committee with votes expected on a final version in Congress later this week. The bill houses the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or food stamps, along with farming policy for the next several years. Congressman Ralph Abraham says he’s disappointed the bill leaves out SNAP work requirements, but overall it’s a good bill.

Cut 10 (10)   “…big win”

The bill has the support of Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy and Congressman Steve Scalise, and is opposed by Senator Kennedy.

The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health has received a $23.1 million State Opioid Response grant. Assistant Secretary at the Louisiana Department of Health in the Office of Behavioral Health Karen Stubbs says the grant will fund a multitude of programs to the benefit of those suffering from opioid use disorder…

Cut 13 (12) “…prescribers.”

An 11-month old is dead following an infection from untreated burns and now the child’s mother and her boyfriend are charged murder and neglect.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

Fire safety is paramount as Louisiana reaches 63 fatal fires this year alongside 73 lives lost. Spokesperson for the State Fire Marshal’s Office Ashley Rodrigue says a smoke detector is the number one priority in fire safety…

Cut 4 (08) “…major injury″

Fire safety is paramount as Louisiana reaches 63 fatal fires this year alongside 73 lives lost. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Connor Ferrill.”

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An 11-month old is dead following an infection from untreated burns and now the child’s mother and her boyfriend are charged murder and neglect.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

_______________________________

The final version of the Farm Bill will not include work requirements for food stamp recipients. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m  Matt Doyle”

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Fire safety is paramount as Louisiana reaches 63 fatal fires this year alongside 73 lives lost. Spokesperson for the State Fire Marshal’s Office Ashley Rodrigue says in the wake of a fire killing two in Campti, Louisiana Sunday morning no smoke detector was found on the property. Rodrigue says a smoke detector is the number one priority in fire safety…

Cut 4 (08) “…major injury″

Rodrigue recommends families have an exit plan with at least two ways to leave every room…

Cut 5 (09) “…escape plans”

Rodrigue says the Fire Marshal’s Office always advices family members not to return to a burning home for anything…

Cut 6 (08) “…way out”

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An 11-month-old child is dead following an infection from untreated burns.  Emergency services received a call of an unresponsive child on Sunday in DeRidder, and found the child with burns covering the lower portion of the body.  Police Chief John Gott says the injuries were sustained when the mother’s boyfriend gave the child a bath.

Cut 7 (11) “…for the child.”

The mother of the child and her boyfriend are both facing charges of murder and cruelty.  Gott says the suspects didn’t need to have the intent to kill to catch the charges in this case.

Cut 8 (10) “…to a juvenile.″

Gott says the mother and her boyfriend had attempted to home remedy the child’s burns but it clearly didn’t work.  While it is unknown why neither adult got the child proper care, authorities believe it was out of fear of legal ramifications.

Cut 9 (09)  “…everybody understands that.” 

_______________________

A Farm Bill is in conference committee with votes expected on a final version in Congress later this week. The bill houses the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or food stamps, along with farming policy for the next several years. Congressman Ralph Abraham says he’s disappointed the bill leaves out SNAP work requirements, but overall it’s a good bill.

Cut 10 (10)   “…big win”

The bill has the support of Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy and Congressman Steve Scalise.

Senator John Kennedy has voiced his opposition to the bill, saying it does not go far enough in its SNAP reforms, and says he won’t vote for it due to its lack of work requirements. Abraham says he’ll vote yes, but plans to continue pushing for food stamp overhauls.

Cut 11 (08) “…to them”

Abraham praised the legislation’s farming reforms, including preserving crop insurance, increased flexibility for land classification, the Timber Innovation Act, irrigation changes for rice, and an expanded definition for family farms.

Cut 12 (11)   “…big deal”

Abraham says he expects the bill to pass this week, and shortly after being signed by the President before the end of the year.

_____________________________________________

The Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral Health has received a $23.1 million State Opioid Response grant. Assistant Secretary at the Louisiana Department of Health in the Office of Behavioral Health Karen Stubbs says the grant will fund a multitude of programs to the benefit of those suffering from opioid use disorder…

Cut 13 (12) “…prescribers.”

Stubbs says the opioid epidemic is at epic proportions nationally and the Bayou State is no different…

Cut 14 (09) “…2016.”

Stubbs says the next step is increasing access to treatment through community outreach…

Cut 15 (08) “…treatment.”

______________________________________________

LSU All-American linebacker Devin White remains undecided on whether he’ll skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. White, who won the Butkus Award which goes to the nation’s best linebacker, says he still has some unfinished business…

Cut 16 (14)  limit yet”

White could be a top 10 pick in the NFL draft, if he decides to enter the NFL draft. But the Springhill native he would hate to leave LSU without winning a championship…

 cut 17 (18) “the team”

LSU’s other potential top 10 pick, cornerback Greedy Williams, has already turned pro and he will not play in the Fiesta Bowl against U-C-F. Coach Ed Orgeron says he’s old-fashioned and believes a player should complete a season with their team…

Cut 18 (16)  with his team“

LSU started its bowl practice. They’ll have 15 practices before they play the U-C-F Knights on New Year’s Day. Orgeron says they will continue to work on getting the offense to score more touchdowns and it starts with doing more with their quarterback…

Cut 19 (14)   “…on that”

LSU All-American linebacker Devin White remains undecided on whether he’ll skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft. White, who won the Butkus Award which goes to the nation’s best linebacker, says he still has some unfinished business…

Cut 16 (14)  limit yet”

White could be a top 10 pick in the NFL draft, if he decides to enter the NFL draft. But the Springhill native he would hate to leave LSU without winning a championship…

 cut 17 (18) “the team”

LSU’s other potential top 10 pick, cornerback Greedy Williams, has declared for the draft and will not play in the New Year’s Feista Bowl game against UCF.

The Saints have regained the number one seed in the NFC after a shocking defeat for the Los Angeles Rams against the Chicago Bears Sunday night, and are favored to win in the last three games of the regular season. If they win out, they keep the first seed, despite having the same record as the Rams thanks to a week nine tiebreaking win over the Jared Goff led LA. The Saints remaining schedule won’t be easy though with two divisional games against Carolina sandwiching an out of conference contest against the likely playoff-bound Steelers. Their next game will be a Monday night primetime contest in Carolina against the slumping Panthers who’ve lost five straight games after finding themselves just one game back of the Saints in the NFC South earlier in the season. Conidering the Rams easy schedule to end the season, The Saints will probably have to win out to make sure the road to the Super Bowl remains in New Orleans.

Former Louisiana Tech and Zachary High School star Boston Scott has signed with the Eagles and will be placed with the team’s 53-man roster. Scott has been on the Saints practice squad this season after he was drafted in the sixth round by New Orleans.

According to a report workers and their families in Louisiana are spending the largest share of their income on health care compared to the rest of America. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

_____________________________________________

 A Louisiana billionaire is asking the legislature to allow citizens to vote on a ballot measure that would fund vital infrastructure projects…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

_______________________________________________

According to a report by the Commonwealth Fund workers and their families in Louisiana are spending the largest share of their income on health care compared to the rest of America. Vice President for Healthcare Coverage and Access at the Commonwealth Fund Sara Collins says…

Cut 3 (07) “…the country”

Collins says what an employer has to pay on the overall premium is lower than the national average, but the issue stems from what an employee has to pay…

Cut 4 (06) “…state″

Collins says there are plenty of options that could help make employer health care more affordable for workers and families. She says one of the chief issues that needs to be addressed is the “family coverage glitch” that has left millions of families ineligible for marketplace subsidies. Collins says if you are on an employer-based plan spending 9.5 of your income on your premium, qualifying for subsidies will depend on what kind of plan you are looking for…

Cut 5 (10) “…subsidies”

_________________________________________

Jim Bernhard, former president of the Shaw Group, says his private equity firm is willing to finance the cost of a new bridge over the Mississippi, and estimates the project would take about seven years to complete. Bernhard says the numbers look good for financiers investing in the project.

Cut 6 (10) “…forty years”

But before the billion dollar project could be initiated, Bernhard says access roads and additional infrastructure leading up to the structure will need to be approved, noting he would like to avoid another situation like the Sunshine Bridge.

Cut 7 (10) “…to 12”

Bernhard is hoping the legislature passes a ballot measure that will allow voters a direct say in funding for infrastructure projects, such as Baton Rouge Representative Rick Ward’s proposed gas tax increase. He says the project can’t wait.

Cut 8 (11) “…your job”

He estimates waiting another five years on the project could inflate its cost by another 200 million dollars.

_______________________

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has received 12 juvenile whooping cranes at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge as they attempt to reestablish a flourishing population to the Bayou State.  The state’s population of the bird at one point was as high as 10,000, but dropped to just one in the 1950s.  LDWF Wildlife Biologist Sara Zimorski the birds will be released soon and expect to stay around the release area.

Cut 9 (08) “…southwest Louisiana.″

Zimorski says when the project started in 2011, the bird was absent from the state.  But they used to be here in large numbers.

Cut 10 (09) “…Louisiana year around.”

Zimorski says one of the contributing factors to the bird’s disappearance in the state was the disappearance of the wetlands in favor of agriculture development.  Now, the birds are starting to take a liking to some of those areas too.

Cut 11 (13) “…choosing as well.”

_____________________________

The man wanted for the shooting of a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy over the weekend was captured this morning in New Orleans.  There had been a manhunt for 38 year old Tynonne Louis since Sunday when a deputy responded to a disturbance between Louis and his girlfriend, where Louis fled and shot the deputy.  Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says Louis had an active warrant.

Cut 12 (09)   “…the actual shooting.”

Lopinto says they did not expect Louis to go down easily when he was found at a bus station this morning by US Marshals.  However he no longer had a gun on him.  The sheriff adds he hopes the fence is thrown on Louis for quite an extensive amount of time.

Cut 13 (08) “…not do that.”

Lopinto credits the help of Crime Stoppers for getting the tip that lead to the arrest.

Cut 14 (11) “…do our job”

Jim Bernhard, former president of the Shaw Group, says his private equity firm is willing to finance the cost of a new bridge over the Mississippi, and estimates the project would take about seven years to complete. Bernhard says the numbers look good for financiers investing in the project.

Cut 6 (10) “…forty years”

Bernhard is hoping the legislature passes a ballot measure that will allow voters a direct say in funding for infrastructure projects that would be needed to complete the bridge.

According to a report by the Commonwealth Fund workers and their families in Louisiana are spending the largest share of their income on health care compared to the rest of America. Vice President for Healthcare Coverage and Access at the Commonwealth Fund Sara Collins says…

Cut 3 (07) “…the country”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has received 12 juvenile whooping cranes at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge as they attempt to reestablish a flourishing population to the Bayou State.  The state’s population of the bird at one point was as high as 10,000, but dropped to just one in the 1950s.  LDWF Wildlife Biologist Sara Zimorski the birds will be released soon and expect to stay around the release area.

Cut 9 (08) “…southwest Louisiana.″

The man wanted for the shooting of a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy over the weekend was captured this morning in New Orleans. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says they did not expect Tynonne Louis to go down easily when he was found at a bus station this morning by US Marshals, and says his crimes warrant a substantial amount of time in prison.

Cut 13 (08) “…not do that.”

Lopinto credits the help of Crime Stoppers.

A Louisiana billionaire is asking the legislature to allow citizens to vote on a ballot measure that would fund vital infrastructure projects…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

According to a report by the Commonwealth Fund workers and their families in Louisiana are spending the largest share of their income on health care compared to the rest of America. Vice President for Healthcare Coverage and Access at the Commonwealth Fund Sara Collins says what an employer has to pay on the overall premium is lower than the national average, but the issue stems from what an employee has to pay.

LDWF has received 12 juvenile whooping cranes at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge as they attempt to reestablish a flourishing population to the Bayou State.  LDWF Wildlife Biologist Sara Zimorski says one of the contributing factors to the bird’s disappearance in the state was the disappearance of the wetlands in favor of agriculture development.  Now, the birds are starting to take a liking to some of those areas too.

Cut 11 (13) “…choosing as well.”

The man wanted for the shooting of a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy over the weekend was captured this morning in New Orleans.  There had been a manhunt for 38 year old Tynonne Louis since Sunday when a deputy responded to a disturbance between Louis and his girlfriend, where Louis fled and shot the deputy.  Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto credits the help of Crime Stoppers for getting the tip that lead to the arrest.

Cut 14 (11) “…do our job”

Jim Bernhard, former president of the Shaw Group, says his private equity firm is willing to finance the cost of a new bridge over the Mississippi. But before the billion dollar project could be initiated, Bernhard says access roads and additional infrastructure leading up to the structure will need to be approved, noting he would like to avoid another situation like the Sunshine Bridge.

Cut 7 (10) “…to 12”

The project would take about seven years to complete.

The man wanted for the shooting of a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputy over the weekend was captured this morning in New Orleans.  There had been a manhunt for 38 year old Tynonne Louis since Sunday when a deputy responded to a disturbance between Louis and his girlfriend, where Louis fled and shot the deputy.  Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto.

Cut 12 (09)   “…the actual shooting.

According to a report workers and their families in Louisiana are spending the largest share of their income on health care compared to the rest of America. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Connor Ferrill”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has received 12 juvenile whooping cranes at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge. LDWF Wildlife Biologist Sara Zimorski  says when the project started in 2011, the bird was absent from the state.  But they used to be here in large numbers.

Cut 10 (09) “…Louisiana year around.”

Jim Bernhard, former president of the Shaw Group, says his private equity firm is willing to finance the cost of a new bridge over the Mississippi, and estimates the project would take about seven years to complete. Bernhard says the numbers look good for financiers investing in the project.

Cut 6, 10 seconds, forty years

But before the billion dollar project could be initiated, Bernhard says access roads and additional infrastructure leading up to the billion dollar structure will need to be approved.

According to a report by the Commonwealth Fund workers and their families in Louisiana are spending the largest share of their income on health care compared to the rest of America. Vice President for Healthcare Coverage and Access at the Commonwealth Fund Sara Collins says…

Cut 3 (07) “…the country”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has received 12 juvenile whooping cranes at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge as they attempt to reestablish a flourishing population to the Bayou State.  The state’s population of the bird at one point was as high as 10,000, but dropped to just one in the 1950s.  LDWF Wildlife Biologist Sara Zimorski the birds will be released soon and expect to stay around the release area.

Cut 9 (08) “…southwest Louisiana.″

Zimorski says when the project started in 2011, the bird was absent from the state.  But they used to be here in large numbers.