More freezing temperatures are expected across the state as we get into the weekend. A freeze warning has already been issued from 10PM tonight until 9AM Saturday for a large portion of southeast Louisiana. Phil Grigsby, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, predicts overnight lows in the area to be colder than last night…:
CUT 9 (09) “in southeast Louisiana”
Grigsby expects a harder freeze for north Louisiana and residents there should really tend to plants, pipes, and pets.

The state Revenue Estimating Conference is meeting today and they’ve cut income projection for the current fiscal year by $171 million dollars. This means budget cuts will be coming mid year. The state income forecast dropped $201 million dollars which is on top of an already projected $1.2 billion dollar budget shortfall.

The US House passed legislation today approving the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. The bill was sponsored by Baton Rouge Congressman Bill Cassidy. House Republican whip, Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise says the pipeline is all about jobs and American energy security…:
CUT 15 (10) “that American needs”
The bill passed on a 252-161 vote and now heads to the Senate.

The move is viewed as an effort by Republicans to boost Cassidy’s chances in the Senate runoff election against Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu. The congressman is also getting some help tomorrow at a rally in Monroe featuring Duck Dynasty patriarch Phil Robertson and former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

The second enrollment period to acquire health insurance through the Affordable Care Act begins Saturday. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

This year’s Louisiana Tax Amnesty period ends tonight. The tax amnesty allows delinquent tax payers to settle their debt with the state by paying 100-percent of overdue taxes and only 50-percent of the interest owed. You can apply online at ldrtaxamnesty-dot-com. The deadline is 11:59PM.

The Hammond Police Department says they are looking for a robber who allegedly stole a large amount of perfume from a retail store. Lt. Vince Giannobile says the incident took place this week at ULTA Beauty in the mall…:
CUT 12 (13) “$500″
He says they think they know who the suspect is because he is known to cross dress and rob beauty supplies in the past.

Most of southeast Louisiana is advised to be prepared for another winter weather event tonight. A freeze warning begins at 10pm and runs through 9am tomorrow morning.

Southeast Louisiana needs to brace for another winter weather event tonight as the national weather service issues a freeze warning again from 10pm to 9am Saturday. They say low temps could be between 25 to 30 degrees in some areas and last for 6-10 hours. Record low temperatures were reported throughout most of the state last night.

If you need health insurance through the Affordable Care Act then open enrollment begins tomorrow. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the penalty is higher this year for those who go uninsured. He says also another insurer has started selling insurance on the Federal Marketplace so you’ll have more companies to choose from
CUT 7 (09) “52-64 parishes”
Those uninsured will be penalized $325 dollars or 2% of your income in 2015.

We’re two weeks away from the Black Friday shopping frenzy and some retailers have already revealed their special deals. Best Buy, Walmart, and Target are a few of the stores that have already released their Black Friday sales ads. Assistant Professor of Marketing at LSU, Dan Rice, says these stores want to get into people’s minds early…:
CUT 3 (11) “that they remember”
But he says you should always keep your eyes open because you could find great deals before or after Black Friday.

In Hammond, cops are looking for someone who allegedly stole a bunch of perfume from Ulta Beauty store this week. They say the robber was dressed in all LSU clothing and got away with about $500 worth of perfume. Investigators believe the suspect is a cross-dresser who has robbed the store before.

Many areas of the state reported record low temperatures last night as the winter weather hit Louisiana hard. The National Weather Service has once again issued freeze warnings for much of the state again tonight from 10pm to 9am tomorrow morning.

Open enrollment begins tomorrow for those seeking health insurance through the federal Affordable Care Act. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says 101-thousand residents are insured through Obamacare and that will likely go up with this second enrollment period, because the penalty is higher this year for those who go uninsured…:
CUT 6 (11) “or two-percent income”
He says many Louisianians will have up to six different insurance companies to choose from.

The possibility state government will have to implement a midyear budget cut will become more clear today as the Revenue Estimating Conference meets at this hour. Jeff Palermo has more..:
CUT 3 (29) “reporting”

Monroe Police say a 63-year-old doctor died in an accidental drowning in Bayou Desiard Thursday. They say Dr. Madura Rangaraj was located under his boat house yesterday evening. Officers indicated the wife said Rangaraj went to check pipes in the boat house because of the cold weather and called cops when he did not return. Dive teams discovered the body.

Louisiana woke up to freeze warnings statewide today and, with freezing temperatures expected across most of the state overnight tonight, we could see much of the same tomorrow. A freeze warning has already been issued for a large portion of southeast Louisiana from 10PM tonight until 9AM Saturday morning.

The Grand Isle Fire Chief and 19 others were arrested in an undercover drug operation. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (29) “reporting”

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Duck Dynasty Patriarch Phil Robertson will rally support for Congressman Bill Cassidy in the US-Senate runoff at an event in Monroe tomorrow. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says voter turnout is critical in the runoff and both Senator Mary Landrieu and Cassidy have got to remind their supporters to get out and vote if they want to win…

cut 15 (10) “to support him”

He says it would make Cassidy’s chances of winning this election easier if he picked up those 200,000 plus Rob Manness votes.

Ochsner Health System is hosting the first Alton Ochsner Conference on Tobacco today in New Orleans, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Dr. Alton Ochsner’s groundbreaking article linking smoking to lung cancer. Dr. John Ochsner, Alton’s son, will speak about his father’s breakthrough research on tobacco which was co-authored by Dr. Michael DeBakey…

cut 5 (09) “to public health”

That’s Ochsner International CEO Patrick Quinlan.

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today and it’s expected the state will receive bad news concerning the amount of revenue coming in. Senate President John Alario says the two main factors are low oil prices and income tax revenue that is down, even though employment is at an all-time high in Louisiana..

cut 12 (11) “this point”

He says a mid-year budget cut is possible.

20 people were arrested during an undercover operation aimed at the sale of illegal drugs and alcohol on Grand Isle, including Fire Chief Aubrey Chaisson. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says they are still searching for two others involved…

cut 9 (08) “initial information”

The Fire Chief was charged with possession of Marijuana.

Ochsner Health System is hosting the first Alton Ochsner Conference on Tobacco today in New Orleans. Scott Carwile has more…

cut 1 (31) “reporting”

This year’s Louisiana Tax Amnesty period ends tonight. The tax amnesty allows delinquent tax payers to settle their debt with the state by paying 100-percent of overdue taxes and only 50-percent of the interest owed. You can apply online at ldrtaxamnesty-dot-com. The deadline is 11:59PM.

An undercover operation aimed at the sale of illegal drugs and alcohol on Grand Isle has lead to the arrest Grand Isle Fire Chief Aubrey Chaisson and 19 others. Chaisson was charged with possession of Marijuana. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says says all of the arrests were the result of the extensive undercover operation….

cut 8 (13) “purchases of drugs “

He says they are still searching for two others involved.

It’s expected the state will receive bad news concerning the amount of revenue coming in when The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today. Lower than anticipated revenues could lead to a mid-year budget cut. Senate President John Alario says state government is aware and have taken steps to prevent deep cuts…

cut 11 (10) “some of that”

He says it’s likely the state will have less money to spend next fiscal year, which could lead to additional cuts.

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will visit Louisiana this weekend to attend a rally for US Senate candidate Congressman Bill Cassidy. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it would make Cassidy’s chances of winning this election easier if he picked up those 200,000 plus Rob Manness votes. He says those voters are more likely to support the Congressman than they are the Democratic US Senator Mary Landrieu…

cut 14 (13) “opposed to Landrieu”

Phil Robertson, of Duck Dynasty fame, will also attend the rally tomorrow afternoon in Monroe.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested three men accused of an armed robbery of a fast food restaurant earlier this month in Albany. 19-year-old Trevor Smalls of Mobile, Alabama, 17-year-old Kelly Stewart, and 20-year-old Christopher, both of Slidell, were booked on counts of armed robbery with a firearm. The three are also wanted in the robbery of another fast food restaurant in Florida.