Monday’s tornado outbreak in Louisiana and into Mississippi is to blame for at least one fatality in Vernon Parish and widespread damage and utility outages. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says his parish has a long path to recovery.
Cut 6 (04) “…take some time.”
The woman killed has been identified as 59-year-old Betty Patin. She died in her home near Rosepine.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s Heisman acceptance speech has sparked a spirit of giving. Burrow referenced his upbringing in Athens, Ohio, an impoverished area where the poverty rate is almost two times the national average. Rob Szabo is with the Athens County Food Pantry and says the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.
Cut 10 (07) “…shock to us.”
A Facebook fundraising campaign has eclipsed 300-thousand dollars since Burrow’s acceptance speech.

The Louisiana National Guard will soon have a new leader. Major General Glenn Curtis will leave his position on January 10th after eight years as L-N-G’s leader. Curtis says Brigadier General Keith Waddell, an assistant principal at Westlake High School, will take his place…
cut 14 (11) “…preparedness”
Waddell is also a coach and has worked in education for 24 years.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is the NFL’s new all-time touchdown passing leader. Brees surpassed Peyton Manning’s mark of 539 TD passes by tossing four touchdown passes in a 34-7 win over the Colts. Brees says it was special to do it on a night the franchise honored the 2009 Super Bowl team…
cut 3 (12) “…as well”
The Saints are 11-and-3 and will visit Tennessee this Sunday.