The state Supreme Court orders enforced suspension without pay for a Lafayette City Court judge allegedly heard saying racial slurs on a viral video. Judge Michelle Odinet says she had taken a sedative and has no memory of saying any of the things heard. Legal analyst and attorney Franz Borghardt says it’s never good to have a jurist with a perceived biased against a person or community…:

CUT 05(10)      “…Supreme Court to decide.”

An interim judge will hear Judge Odinet’s docket.

Saints head Coach Sean Payton has COVID and will miss Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay. Saints D.C. Dave Allen will take center seat. Allen says he and the coaching staff will roll with the changes…:

CUT 14(05)      “…going to manage the game.”

The Saints are 11-point underdogs. Kickoff is 7:20 Sunday night.

Saturday is the last day to use priority mail so your packages will arrive on time for Christmas. Brooke Thorington has some tips…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

A Kinder man gets two life sentences, after his conviction for killing an Iowa couple in 2020. 37-year-old Scott Kidd will get no parole for murdering 73-year-old Joan O’Brien and 81-year-old Zoren O’Brien.

A Lafayette city court judge, who’s made national headlines for a video of her allegedly using a racial slur, is ordered to take a suspension without pay while an investigation goes on. Judge Michelle Odinet’s docket will be heard by an interim appointee. For her part, she says she had taken a sedative and has no memory of the event. Legal analyst and attorney Franz Borghardt…:

CUT 04(11)      “…making racial slurs.”

Borghardt says even the perception of bias – racial or other – is a bad thing for any judge.

Saints Head Coach Sean Payton will miss Sunday’s game against the defending NFL champion Tampa Bay Bucs, after testing positive for COVID. DC Dave Allen will fill Payton’s shoes. He says so far it’s only Payton out, but they’ll make more changes if needs be..:

CUT 13(11)      “…have to adjust.”

The Buccaneers are 11 point favorites.

A Christmas present for all Shreveport city workers; they get a 13-percent across-the-board pay raise. Mayor Adrian Perkins and City Council members to make the announcement earlier today. The full council must approve the plan, which they are expected to do.

State Wildlife & Fisheries agents and Ouachita Parish deputies have found the body of a man who drowned Thursday in a boating accident on the Ouachita River. The remains of 59-year-old Scotty Stone were located near the town of Marion.

Only 3000 people attended the New Orleans Bowl last year, but event organizers hope to have about ten times as many in the Superdome Saturday. Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero says, in its 21-year history, the New Orleans Bowl has become a staple during the bowl season and brings tourists to the city…

CUT 08(09)      “…down the line.”

The game features nationally ranked UL-Lafayette versus Marshall.

The Louisiana Supreme Court orders Lafayette Judge Michelle Odinet off the bench without pay, while she’s investigated for racial slurs on a video that’s made national headlines. Brooke Thorington has more…:

Cut 01  (31)      “…Thorington.”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he backs the creating a second majority-minority U.S. House district in Louisiana. Mr. Edwards says blacks make up a third of the state’s population, and having two minority districts would reflect one-third of the state’s six districts. Redistricting is coming up in February.

COVID puts Saints Head Coach Sean Payton out of the game for a second time. He’ll miss Sunday’s game and Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen will be making the calls for the game against defending Super Bowl Champions Tampa Bay.  Allen says they got the word Friday morning that Payton tested positive…:

CUT 12(15)      “…the game.”

Payton tested positive for COVID back in March of 2020.

Saturday is the last day to mail a package via Priority Mail if you want it to arrive by Christmas. USPS spokesman David Walton offers tips to get it there on time…like making sure you get the right zip code…:

CUT 11(10)      “…shipped off to.”

You can look up the correct zip, by address, at USPS.com

The state Supreme Court has ordered Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet off the bench without pay. Odinet was captured on video reportedly using racial slurs while watching security video of a man trying to break into her home. The story has made national headlines. Odinet is suspended while the investigation of her acts plays out. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says it is indeed rare for the state’s high court to take such an action…:

CUT 03  (15)        “…racial slurs.”

Saturday is the last day to mail a package via Priority Mail if you want it to arrive by Christmas. USPS spokesman David Walton advises using clear block printing on labels; not cursive, so handler can be assured of getting it there on time…:

CUT 10(05)      “…little difficult.”

After only three-thousand fans attended the New Orleans Bowl last year, bowl officials are hoping for about ten times that number Saturday night, as U-L Lafayette faces Marshall. Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero says they are expecting a competitive game between the Thundering Herd and a nationally ranked Ragin Cajuns team…:

CUT 07(07)      “…offensive weapons.”

This is ULL’s 6^th appearance in the 21-year history of the New Orleans Bowl.

You knew this was coming: New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell is now mandating that kids ages 5-11 have COVID vaccine shots to be in NOLA public schools. The requirement goes into full effect February 1^st. Kids must have at least one shot by January 3^rd.  Parents unsure or unhappy with the vaccine will have an opt-out.

An autopsy of former New Orleans Saint Glenn Foster shows he did not die of natural causes, but was strangled. Foster was, at the time, in police custody in Alabama. Now the question emerges, who killed him and when?

The City Court Judge from Lafayette who was caught on tape using racial slurs in a video posted to social media is being called on to step down from her post by Governor John Bel Edwards. Judge Michele Odinet’s lawyer, Dane Ciolino, says his client is hoping she can be forgiven…:
CUT 11 (06) “this conduct”
Ciolino says Odinet is petitioning the state Supreme Court and the Judiciary Commission asking taht she be placed on an indefinite unpaid leave for now.

In a recent news conference, US Senator John Kennedy addressed the alarming rise in the crime rate in Louisiana. He says it’ll be up to voters to replace leaders who are soft on crime, because “what you allow is what will continue”…:
Cut 16 (14) “… a rise in crime. Duh!”

Tomorrow is a big shopping day, or the “Super-Saturday” before Christmas. Retail experts predict over 148-million consumers will be shopping, whether in stores or online. National Retail Federation spokesperson Katherine Cullen says tomorrow is a big day for last minute shoppers, but some people just find Super Saturday invigorating…:
Cut 9 (09) “what they’re looking for”
Cullen says the average shopper will spend nearly $900 on holiday gifts.

The Saints have got a big game Sunday as they travel to Tampa to face Tom Brady and The Buccaneers. But Safety Malcom Jenkins says they can’t just focus on Brady as former LSU star running back Leonard Fournette is also a force to be reckoned with on the Bucs team…:
CUt 19 (12) “their offense”
The game kicks off at 7:20pm.

Lafayette City Court Judge Michele Odinet is no longer denying she used a racial slur on tape while reviewing security footage of an attempted robbery on her home:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Dave Brannen”

Governor John Bel Edwards said at his year end news conference Thursday he supports 2 minority House districts in Louisiana ahead of a planned special session in February by lawmakers to redraw congressional lines. Mr. Edwards said it’s only fair as one third of Louisiana’s residents are black.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy says the disturbing increase in crime across Louisiana – and the country – falls at the feet of liberals and progressives. During his most recent news conference, the Senator was asked about his views on the spikes in criminal activity…:
Cut 14 (09) “de-fund and disrespect police movement”
Louisiana has three cities listed among the nation’s Twenty Worst Cities for Violent Crime; Shreveport, Baton Rouge & New Orleans. Baton Rouge has already set an all-time record for murders within a calendar year.

Tomorrow is the last shopping Saturday before Christmas which is thus dubbed, “Super-Saturday.” National Retail Federation spokesperson Katherine Cullen says even though supply chain issues had folks getting gifts as early as September, the stores will still be packed tomorrow…:
Cut 8 (09) “early start this year”
Popular gifts this year: clothing, toys, electronics, and, of course, gift cards.

The Louisiana judge who was caught on tape repeatedly using a racial slur while she was reviewing security video of an attempted burglary at her home has admitted it. Lafayette City Court Judge Michelle Odinet’s attorney is Dane Ciolino…:
CUT 10 (12) “admittedly has said”
He says his client is taking an unpaid leave of absence while she considers her next steps. Governor John Bel Edwards on Thursday called for Odinet’s resignation:
Cut 13 (05) “of the judiciary”
Police say a 59-year-old black man was arrested and charged in the robbery of Odinet’s home.

Meanwhile, also at his year-end news conference Thursday Mr. Edwards announced he supports 2 minority districts among Louisiana’s 6 when congressional lines are redrawn during a special session planned for February. He said it would be only fair as 1/3 of Louisiana’s residents are black.

Tomorrow is the last Saturday in which to get your Christmas shopping done; the so-called Super Saturday. Retail experts predict over 148-million consumers will be shopping, whether in stores or online. National Retail Federation spokesperson Katherine Cullen says for many – especially those with full-time jobs – Super Saturday is their “last hurrah”..:
Cut 7 (14) “big holiday celebration”
Cullen says the average shopper will spend nearly $900 on holiday gifts.

It looks like these crazy warm temperatures will hang on through Saturday afternoon as a cold front moves into the state. Temps across most of Louisiana will still be in the upper 70s to low 80s today, but after the front brings storms through tomorrow night, high temperatures Sunday and Monday are slated to be in the upper 50s to low 60s.

Attorney General Jeff Landry and Bossier City Representative Ramond Crews have filed a lawsuit against Governor John Bel Edwards in an attempt to block Covid vaccines from being required for kids to attend schools. Crews says it’s a shame this matter has to be taken to court…:

Sports betting is off to profitable start in Louisiana. More than $27 million in sports bets were placed in the state over the first two months, and casinos collected $5 million in that time, according to officials.

Governor John Bel Edwards held his year-end press conference this afternoon. He covered a variety of events that impacted the state in 2021 from the pandemic, hurricanes, infrastructure funds, and COVID vaccinations to name a few. Mr. Edwards asks us to pray for the New Year…:

CUT 08(07)      “…a better 2022.”

The governor also stated that he still plans to go forward with adding the COVID vaccine to the school shot schedule for fall of 2022, despite a lawsuit to block it from Attorney General Jeff Landry.

A former priest and ex-director of the Association for Retarded Citizens in Greater New Orleans faces charges under Louisiana’s video voyeurism law. Jefferson Parish detectives say 59-year-old Stephen Sauer possessed images of men in sexual situations that appeared to be taken without their knowledge. Sauer was fired from his job at ArcGNO earlier this week.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is looking for volunteers to help plant 600 trees in Lake Maurepas near Manchac this weekend – weather permitting. CRCL’s James Karst says they need volunteers who aren’t afraid of a boat ride to get to the job…:

CUT 11(10)      “…click on ‘events’”

That web address is “CRCL.org”

This could help with some roadside encounters with law enforcement. Eligible Louisiana motorists can now request to have an “Autism” indicator added to their driver’s license. Any person diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by a qualified medical or mental health professional is included. The autism indicator will appear under the customer’s picture on the license.

LSU senior Quarterback Myles Brennan says he’ll exit the transfer portal and return to LSU. Brenna could play in the January 4^th Texas Bowl versus Kansas State.