Louisiana’s flu outbreak is becoming even more widespread, just in time for the Holidays. Medical Director of the Louisiana Office of Public Health, Dr. Frank Welch, says one of the reasons we’re seeing such a bad outbreak is because the H3N2 strain that’s going around is not covered in this year’s flu shot. He says that should not discourage you from getting the flu shot because it’s still better than no protection at all. Welch says nobody wants to give the gift of the flu this Christmas…

cut 12 (05) “don’t wanna do that”

Welch says a whopping six out of every 100 doctor visits in Louisiana are because of flu-like symptoms.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says Louisiana is in for a bout of severe weather today. He says a cold front is tracking across Louisiana that could dump up to three inches of rain on some portions of the state. But Keim says the good news is that all of this nasty weather will be out of the way for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but it will be much colder outside…

cut 6 (11) “Christmas Day”

A Franklin Parish woman faces 28-years in jail after pleading guilty to throwing her 20-month old daughter from a moving vehicle in June. 24-year-old LaSasha Allen pleaded guilty to second-degree cruelty to a juvenile. The Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office says Allen placed her daughter unrestrained in a car and opened the car’s door as she rounded a curve, causing the little girl to be ejected from the vehicle. The child sustained multiple injuries including a broken arm and skull fracture. Allen will be sentenced on March 18.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office says two men are under arrest accused of selling weed out of their snoball stand…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

The flu outbreak in Louisiana that was already bad, is becoming even more widespread and just in time for the Holidays. Michelle Southern reports.

cut 2 (25) “reporting”

A Vernon Parish grand jury has formally indicted Rosepine Police Chief James “Dennis” Parrot on malfeasance and felony stalking charges. Parrot was arrested in August, accused of stalking his estranged wife and using the police department database to illegally check a license plate number. Parrot, who recently won re-election, was booked into the Vernon Parish Jail and later released after posting bond.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested two men accused of selling weed out of the T&E Soul Food and Sno-Ball stand in Opelousas. Sgt. Clay Higgins says 37-year-old Jermaine Doucet and 32-year-old Bryant Fields, both from Opelousas, were caught selling a side dish of “Hydro” marijuana to customers…

cut 14 (07) “grown and cultivated”

The charges on each man include possessing marijuana and transaction involving proceeds from drug offenses.

A record 98.6 million Americans will hit the road during the year-end holiday period, according to the American Automobile Association. The year-end holiday period is defined as today through Sunday, January 4th. AAA spokesman Don Redman says the calendar is definitely playing a role in the increased holiday travel this year…

cut 9 (09) “they’re utilizing it”

He says nearly 91-percent of travelers will take a road trip to celebrate the holidays and they’ll pay the lowest gas prices seen since 2009.

Louisiana’s flu outbreak, which was already bad, is becoming even more widespread. Dr. Frank Welch, medical director of the Louisiana Office of Public Health, says a whopping six out of every 100 doctor visits in Louisiana are because of flu-like symptoms. He says it’s spreading from person to person so the more people that are infected, the more likely it is they are going to give it to somebody else…

cut 11 (10) “worse and worse”

Welch says this is one of the worst seasons for influenza he has ever seen.

According to the American Automobile Association, a record 98.6 million Americans will hit the road over the next two weeks. AAA spokesman Don Redman says this uptick in holiday travel can be attributed to increasing disposable income and consumer confidence…

cut 8 (12) “Christmas holiday travel”

Travelers are expected to pay the lowest gas prices since 2009.

Some severe weather is on tap for the Bayou State today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front is tracking across Louisiana and the entire state is at risk for thunderstorms, damaging winds, possibly an isolated tornado, and hail…

cut 5 (10) “colder weather”

He says rainfall could range from under a quarter inch in the northwest portion of the state, to over three inches in southeast Louisiana.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office says two Opelousas men are under arrest accused of selling weed out of their snoball stand. Sgt. Clay Higgins says they had been getting complaints from the community about the T&E Soul Food and Sno-Ball stand in Opelousas. He says the narcotics enforcement team gathered enough evidence to obtain a search warrant…

cut 13 (08) “each man”

Higgins says 37-year-old Jermaine Doucet and 32-year-old Bryant Fields, face several charges including possessing marijuana and transaction involving proceeds from drug offenses.

The Saints are out of playoff contention, which makes this Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay meaningless in the minds of many fans. But Coach Sean Payton anticipates his players will prepare as if they are fighting for a playoff spot…

cut 16 (15) understand that ”

With the Saints missing out on the playoffs for the third time since 2008, changes are likely to occur with the roster.

Former LSU standout Jeremy Hill rushed for 147 yards, including an 85 yard touchdown run, as the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Denver Broncos 37-28 in Monday Night Football action. The win secures a Bengals playoff berth for the fourth straight year. They’ll play Pittsburgh Sunday night with the winner taking the AFC North title. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns, but was picked off four times in the loss. The Broncos have already clinched the AFC West.

The Louisiana Tech football team arrived in Big “D” yesterday where they’ll play Illinois in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl on Friday. The Bulldogs are a six point favorite against the Fighting Illini. The game has a noon kickoff and will be televised on ESPN.

Texas A-and-M has reportedly reached out to see if LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis is interested in taking the same job with the Aggies. There’s an additional report that Chavis has been offered a three-year, four-million dollar contract extension from LSU, no word of if he has signed it.

On the college hardwood last night, Central Florida beat Southeastern 70-65, Indiana upended UNO 79-59, number 22 Baylor edged Southern 70-66, Central Michigan crushed McNeese 87-58, 25th ranked TCU blasted Grambling 80-36, it was LSU over the College of Charleston 71-47, and number 13 Washington defeated Tulane 66-57.

Today, Southeastern takes on South Florida and Louisiana Tech will face North Carolina State.

The flu outbreak in Louisiana that was already bad, is becoming even more widespread and just in time for the Holidays. Dr. Frank Welch, medical director of the Louisiana Office of Public Health, says this is one of the worst seasons for influenza he has ever seen…

cut 10 (08) “in the thick of it”

Welch says one of the reasons we’re seeing such a bad outbreak this season is because the strain H3N2 is what’s going around and it’s not covered in this year’s flu shot.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says the Bayou State is in for a round of severe weather today. He says a cold front is tracking across Louisiana and rainfall could range from under a quarter inch in the northwest portion of the state, to up over three inches in southeast Louisiana…

cut 4 (10) “their billing”

Keim says the good news is that all of this nasty weather will be out of the way for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

According to the American Automobile Association, a record 98.6 million Americans will hit the road during the year-end holiday period. AAA spokesman Don Redman says that’s a four-percent increase from last year…

cut 7 (09) “Christmas/New Year’s holiday”

The year-end holiday period is defined as today through Sunday, January 4th. Redman says this uptick in travel can be attributed to increasing disposable income and consumer confidence because of lower gas prices.

The State Fire Marshall’s Office is still investigating what caused a fire that killed twin two-year-old girls in Alexandria on Saturday. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

US Senator David Vitter wrote a letter to President Obama requesting that he show the movie “The Interview” at the White House with all members of Congress present. The film, which is a comedy that mocks the leader of North Korea, has been the center of controversy. The FBI says Sony pictures was hacked by the country and Vitter says a serious discussion needs to take place about how the US plans to take action against these types of cyber attacks.

Baton Rouge Police are currently looking for a suspect accused of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl after taking her from a local park. Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa says it happened on December 13 when the girl was allegedly lured near the car of the suspect…:
CUT 3 (08) “assaulted”
She says the suspect is described as a black male, approximately 6 feet tall with a medium to heavyset build and he could be driving a tan Nissan Maxima.

Over one-hundred workers at a processing plant near New Iberia that produces yams will have to find new work. McCall Farms told employees at the facility they are shutting operations down in south Louisiana and moving all sweet potato processing to a plant in South Carolina. Mike Tarantino is the director of the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation:
CUT 12 (11) “will be necessary”
An exact date on when the facility will close has not been given.

Two twin two-year-old girls are dead after an Alexandria house fire Saturday afternoon. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they don’t know all the facts, but they DO know the children were at home with their father when the fire broke out. He says firefighters were able to remove the children…
CUT 10 (10) “from the fire”
He says it won’t be until after Christmas before the investigation is complete.

The holidays are here, but for many people, they have some difficulty in finding joy in the season, and many people focus on their personal relationships…
CUT 8 (09) Q: ‘unrealistic expectation.’
That’s Michele Many (Main-EEE), a clinical social worker with the LSU Department of Psychiatry.
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A 7 year-old girl from Baton Rouge has been sexually assaulted, and Baton Rouge Police are on the search for a suspect who reportedly lured the girl to his car at a park, drove her to another location where he allegedly assaulted her…
CUT 4 (11) Q: ‘release andy information’
That’s BRPD Sgt. Mary Ann Gadawa (ga DOW-ah) who asks if you have any information on the Decmeber 13th incident, call Crimestoppers.

Over 100 workers from the McCall Farms plant near New Iberia are being laid off, as the company that proccesses yams, will be moving their operation to South Carolina. Mike Tarantino-the Director of the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation-says the state didn’t waste any time….
CUT 13 (10) Q: “be affected”

Baton Rouge Police are currently looking for a man accused of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl after taking her from a local park. Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa (ga-DOW-wa) says the incident happened on December 13 when the girl was lured near the car of the black male suspect…
CUT 3 (08) “sexually assaulted”
If you have any information, please call Crimestoppers.

Just in case you’re finding yourslef with a case of the holiday blues, you’re not alone…
CUT 7 (12) Q: ‘in the same way’
That’s Michele Many (Main-EEE), a clinical social worker with the LSU Department of Psychiatry, who says you should try to by take care of yourself physically and try not set unrealistic expectations.
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The investigation continues on what caused a house fire that killed twin two-year-old girls in Alexandria Saturday. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says firefighters got the call about the deadly blaze just before 2:30 Saturday afternoon…
CUT 11 (08) “in the home”
He says the father was also home when the fire broke out.

The state will be assisting about 140 soon-to-be laid-off workers to find work following the announcement of the closure of the McCall Farms facility near New Iberia. Mike Tarantino is the Director of the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation, and he’s optimistic they will.
CUT 14 (07) Q: “quickly”
The company that produces yams is moving all their processing to South Carolina. No exact date of closure was announced.