Unfortunately, with the holiday season comes flu season. Dr. Frank Welch with LDH says we’re seeing a slight uptick in the number of flu cases in Louisiana…:
cut 24 (08) “1.5 percent”
Welch says illness is more prevalent this time of year because so many people stay indoors, which allows viruses to spread.

Christmas Eve is a time for family traditions, and that means something a little different in St. James Parish- the Festival of Bonfires. Festival spokesperson Jason Amato says they have over 135 bonfires lined up on the levee tomorrow night…:
Cut 3 (11) “Mardi Gras”
He encourages spectators to be there at 5 p.m.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, is gearing up to track Santa’s journey around the world. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (31) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

There are brave men and women who are not home for the holidays with loved ones. But these soldiers took time to send Christmas wishes back home…
cut 9 (18) “…Roanoke, Virginia”

Thousands are making their way to their Christmas destination today where they’ll spend the weekend with family and friends. Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says more than 103 million Americans will travel between today and January 2nd…
cut 27 (07) “….smashed that”
Redman say many people are comfortable with hitting the road, because of the second cheapest New Year’s gas prices in nearly a decade.

Authorities say a 75-year-old woman is lucky to be alive after she was kidnapped, sexually assaulted and stuffed in the trunk of her own vehicle. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says the elderly victim escaped from the trunk in Wisner…
cut 16 (07) “….own live”
Cobb says her attacker, 32-year-old Jimmy Edward Franklin, was taken into custody this morning in Franklin Parish.

Wooden structures are lined up along the Mississippi River levee in St. James Parish where they’ll be set on fire as part of the Festival of Bonfires tomorrow night. Festival spokesperson Jason Amato says once again there are some creative bonfire builders…
cut 5 (10) “…Cajun navy”
Amato says they light the bonfires at 7 p.m. sharp, but he encourages spectators to be there at 5 p.m.

Children are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus tomorrow night. The North American Aerospace Defense Command began tracking Santa’s trip around the world in 1955. Lt. Commaner Paul Noel says there was a misprint in the paper urging children to call and talk to Santa, instead it connected them to the Continental Air Defense Command…..
cut 13 (08) “…that night”
Now you can track Santa’s movements through the NORAD Santa app.

A 32-year-old man is in the Franklin Parish detention center after he allegedly kidnapped, sexually assaulted and forced a 74-year-old woman into the trunk of her car. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says 32-year-old Jimmy Edward Franklin was eventually taken into custody in a wooded area early this morning after a pursuit by law enforcement. Cobb says Franklin has a lengthy criminal history…
cut 14 (06) “…of things”
Cobb says they are not sure on a motive and the victim is doing okay, considering the ordeal she went through.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning is asking residents that have a real Christmas tree to make sure they are properly watered, because when they dry out, the tree becomes a fire hazard….
cut 7 (11) “…a fire”
Folks in the Lutcher-Gramercy area are getting ready for tomorrow night’s Festival of Bonfires in St. James Parish. Festival spokesperson Jason Amato says there’s a few stories about how the tradition got started and locals tell people to pick the one they like best….
cut 4 (11) “….Santa Claus”
Amato says they light the bonfires at 7 PM sharp.

And if you want to track Santa Claus tomorrow night, the folks at the North American Aerospace Defense Command have you covered. Lt. Commander Paul Noel says they took over 141-thousand calls and emails last year…
cut 12 (11) “…yuletide journey”
Families can monitor Santa’s journey through the NORAD Track Sanata app.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette has received criticism from fans and those in the national media for deciding not to play in the Citrus Bowl. Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron came to Fournette’s defense today by saying Leonard would still be with the team today, if his ankle was not injured…
cut 11 (10) “no question”
Orgeron insists the team has no qualms with the decision Leonard has made.

Tomorrow afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas, Louisiana Tech will face Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl. Both teams enter the game on two-game losing streaks. Navy averages 310 yards rushing a game, while Tech has only allowed 134 yards rushing per contest. And two of the Midshipmen top rushers, Will Worth and Toneo Gulley are injured and will not play.

The Saints are putting the finishing touches on its game plan for Saturday’s home game against Tampa Bay. These two teams met two weeks ago and New Orleans Quarterback Drew Brees had a poor performance as he was intercepted three times and finished with a passer rating of 48.5 in a 16-11 defeat. Kick-off Saturday is at 3:25.

The LSU men’s basketball team plays in its final non-conference game, before SEC play begins when the Tigers visit Wake Forest. Last year, the Demons Deacons beat the Tigers 77-71 at the Maravich Center. Tonight’s game will be played in Winston-Salem and can be seen on ESPN U at 8 PM.

In other action….Louisiana Tech hosts LSU Shreveport, ULM is at VCU and McNeese State is North Carolina State. The Cowboys are coming off a seven-point win over Tulane.

Northwestern State’s top scorer Zeek Woodley will have surgery tomorrow to repair a broken wrist and he’ll miss the next six to eight weeks. Woodley suffered the injury in Monday night’s loss to Rice. He’s averaging 17 points a game and he’s 70 points away from becoming N-S-U’s all-time scoring leader.

The Pelicans are off tonight. New Orleans fell to 10-21 on the season last night with a loss to Oklahoma City. Tomorrow night they host Miami.

Followers of the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Instagram account got an unexpected surprise, courtesy of 61-year-old Executive Director Lynn Dorsey. Michelle Southern has more…
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Some LSU fans have criticized Leonard Fournette for opting to skip the Citrus Bowl. Coach Ed Orgeron insists the team is fine with this…
cut 12 (08) “with it”
He says if Fournette was healthy, he would play against Louisville.

Governor John Bel Edwards is defending his brother, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards, whose office was raided by FBI agents last week. The feds said the searches were court ordered. The governor insists his brother had nothing to do with any illegal activity..:
cut 4 (09) “much less illegal”
Two suspects who worked for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office are reportedly facing federal charges.

The West Monroe High School Rebel Band has been selected to perform in President-elect Donald Trump’s inaugural parade. It will cost each band member 600-dollars to make the trip, but band director Robert Freeman says they couldn’t turn down this opportunity…
cut 6 (09) “….be accepted”
The West Monroe marching band also performed at President George W Bush’s 2013 inauguration.

The West Monroe High School band has been invited to march in the Presidential Inaugural parade on January 20th. They also performed at President George W. Bush’s second inauguration. Band director Robert Freeman on what they might play…
cut 7 (10) “…musical gumbo”
Fundraising efforts are underway so that band members will not have to pay a significant portion of the trip.

A stolen trailer containing items that were not damaged in the August flood has led the arrest of a dozen people in Livingston Parish. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Lori Steele says this is a good reminder that thieves like to strike during the holidays, so take the necessary precautions…
cut 16 (09) “…of the day”
LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says if Leonard Fournette was 100-percent healthy, he would play in the bowl game against Louisville. Fournette missed four games this season because of an ankle injury. Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey and Baylor’s Shock Linwood are other high profile running backs who have decided not to play in their team’s bowl game. Orgeron doesn’t see this becoming a trend in college football…
cut 13 (12) “…different case”
Orgeron insists the team is fine with Leonard’s decision not to play.

Governor John Bel Edwards defends his brother Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards following FBI raids at both the Sheriff’s Office and the Hammond Police Department. Edwards is confident his brother was not involved in any illegal activity…:
Cut 3 (11) “…my brother Daniel”
FBI agents seized computers, cellphones, and case files from both agencies in an investigation that reportedly stems from mishandling of evidence by a drug task force.

Tourism official Lynn Dorsey says the adult video she shared on the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau Instagram account was a horrible mistake. Webster C-V-B Chairman Jerry Madden says Dorsey has apologized for what was an honest error…
cut 10 (09) “….deal with”
The 61-year-old Dorsey is the C-V-B’s executive director.

Governor John Bel Edwards is defending his brother, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards, whose office was raided by FBI agents last week. The feds said the searches were court ordered. The governor insists his brother had nothing to do with any illegal activity..:
cut 4 (09) “much less illegal”
Two suspects who worked for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office are reportedly facing federal charges.

West Monroe High School’s own Rebel Band has been selected to play at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office is taking part in a multi-agency investigation to bust criminals accused of robbing flood victims. Spokesperson Lori Steele says so far, a dozen suspects have been tied to multiple crimes including the case of a stolen trailer..:
cut 14 (10) “take place”