Replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships, the Nina and Pinta, will be on display in Houma starting today. Scott Carwile reports…

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The American Automobile Association says more than 46 million Americans will be hitting the road to celebrate Thanksgiving which is the most since 2007. Michelle Southern reports…:

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The Food and Drug Administration announces new rules mandating chain restaurants and supermarkets serving prepared food put calorie counts on the menus. Jeff Palermo reports…:

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Replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships, the Nina and Pinta, will be on display in Houma starting today. The ships are floating museums educating the public on the type of ship that Columbus used during the age of discovery. Captain of the Nina, Stephen Sanger, says the ships attract people of all ages…

Cut 4  (07)  “on the weekend”

The ships will be on display through December 7th at the Downtown Marina in Houma. Sanger says both of these ships are Portuguese Caravels that were hand crafted in Brazil…

Cut 5  (07)  “through generations”

Both ships spend about 10 months out of the year traveling around the United States giving people a glimpse of what life was like for sailors in the 15th century. Sanger says while the Pinta is a slightly larger replica than the original, the Nina is an exact replica of Columbus’ ship…

Cut 6 (07)  “crossing in ’92″

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The American Automobile Association says more than 46 million Americans will be hitting the road to celebrate Thanksgiving which is the most since 2007. The travel days are defined as today through Sunday. AAA travel analyst Don Redman says they attribute this jump to an improving economy…:

CUT 7 (10)  “almost four years”

Redman says more than 90 percent of travelers will be doing so by vehicle. He says folks will be enjoying the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in five years…:

Cut 8 (11)    “versus last year” 

Redman says the number of people traveling this year is also a 4.2% increase over last year. He says though gas prices are going to be lower, there are other travel expenses that are moderately higher this year over last year…:

Cut 9 (05)  “fly this year”

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The Food and Drug Administration announces new rules mandating chain restaurants and supermarkets serving prepared food put calorie counts on the menus. The regulation applies to any establishment that serves food, even movie theaters, and have 20 or more locations. Melissa Martin is the state Department of Health and Hospitals “Well-Ahead” manager.:

Cut 10 (13) “actually is” 

The rules also apply to gas stations, bakeries, coffee shops, amusement parks and vending machines and they all have until November 2015 to comply. Martin believes these new rules will help people make a more informed decision when they are ordering food and drinks…:

cut 11 (12)  “improved health”

Martin says menu labeling ensures customers process calorie information as they decide what to eat and drink. She feels this ruling will promote a healthier population…:

cut 12 (10)  “choosing to make”

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It maybe a tradition at your household to rinse the turkey before putting it in the oven for the Thanksgiving feast. But LSU AgCenter nutritionist Denise Holston-West advises against it. She says washing poultry or meat can spread bacteria

Cut 13 (10)  “the kitchen”

Holston-West also advises against having food out on the table for more than two hours…

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Once the turkey is in the oven, use a food thermometer to make sure it cooks to 165-degrees. Holtston-West says the stuffing should be cooked in a separate caserole

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With one game left in the regular season, the Ragin Cajuns are still in position to share the Sun Belt Conference Championship, despite their loss last week to Appalachian State. But UL Lafayette Coach Mark Hudspeth says they have to forget about that loss to the Mountaineers

Cut 16  (19)  “who we are”

For U-L Lafayette to claim at least a share of the Sun Belt title, they’ll need ULM to beat Georgia Southern on Saturday and the Cajuns will ned to knock off Troy. It’s the final game on the sidelines for longtime Trojans Coach Larry Blakeney. Hudspeth expects Troy to play hard for their coach

Cut 17  (15)   “offensive line”

U-L-M is looking to close out the 2014 campaign with back-to-back wins, but it won’t be easy against a Georgia Southern team that leads the country in rushing yards per game. Warhawks Coach Todd Berry says Eagles Quarterback Kevin Ellison does a good job of directing their triple-option offense…

Cut 18 (17) “a long way”

The Warhawks snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over New Mexico State last week. Berry says it says a lot about his team that they want to finish the season strong, even though they didn’t win enough games to qualify for a bowl game

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A Moreauville family is fighting the town that is trying to enact a ban on vicious dogs. Eric Gill has the story…

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The Destrehan High School teacher involved in a sex scandal with a 16-year-old student pleads not guilty today. Michelle Southern reports.

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A Moreauville family is fighting the town that is trying to enact a ban on vicious dogs. Joanna Armand, whose family owns a pit bull named Zeus, is fighting to lift that ban. Armand began an online petition and it has already generated over 245,000 signatures. She’s also reaching out to dog owners in Moreauville and Avoyelles Parish…

CUT 3 (10)  “or huskies”

Moreauville passed an ordinance banning pit bulls and rottweilers from town limits. If the ban goes into effect, the family would be forced to give up one-year-old Zeus, who has no history of aggressive behavior. Armand says giving up Zeus would devastate her family since the dog provides love and support for four of her children who have special needs…

CUT 4 (10)  “their helper”

Armand calls Zeus a “Mom’s Helper” for the role he has taken with her children. It’s reported the ordinance was passed because several residents said they were chased by dogs in neighborhoods, although no attacks have been documented. The ban was to go into effect December 1, but that date has been put on hold. Armand feels the town handled this situation in the wrong way…

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The riots in Ferguson, Missouri, over the decision by a grand jury not to indict a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager has caught the attention of many people in Louisiana. Dialogue on Race Louisiana C-E-O Maxine Crump says the civil unrest is a sign America still has a long way to go to removing color barriers

CUT 6 (07)  “undone”

Crump does not condone the burning of businesses, which occurred last night in Ferguson. But she says these type of emotional outbursts will continue unless America does more to make sure discrimination is no longer a part of our society

CUT 7 (10) “our future”

There are at least three vigils or rallies planned for tonight in Louisiana in response to the grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. Crump says these events can be positive and a way for people to peacefully express how they feel

CUT 8 (11) “for this country”

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The Saints dropped their third consecutive home game last night losing to the Baltimore Ravens 34-20. The loss puts the Black & Gold at 4-7 on the season. Head coach Sean Payton says the team needs to play better, but the coaches also need to coach better moving forward…

CUT 9 (11)  “important game”

This is the first time the Saints have lost three in a row at the Dome since 2001. Quarterback Drew Brees says the team having this type of stretch during the season is definitely disappointing…

CUT 10 (10)  “better than that”

Even though the Saints’ record is disappointing, they are still tied for first place in the NFC South. The Saints now prepare to travel to Pittsburgh for a Sunday matchup against the 7-4 Steelers. Brees says losing is no fun…

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Texas Governor Rick Perry is campaigning with Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy today. They are making three stops in Louisiana in an effort to get out of the vote as Cassidy tries to unseat democratic senator Mary Landrieu on December sixth. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a good political strategy

cut 12 (09) “go out and vote”

Meanwhile, Landrieu is spending her afternoon, talking with workers at a marine facility in Houma and she also has a meeting with seniors and disabled residents in Terrebonne Parish.  Pinsonat says Landrieu is trying to drum up more support from blue collar workers and seniors…

cut 13 (03 “beat bad”

Pinsonat expects Landrieu to be active on the campaign trail leading up to election day, but it’s likely not enough to keep her job as a US Senator

cut 14 (10) “so much”