A new Southern Media and Opinion Research poll shows 58-percent of Louisianians disapprove of Governor Bobby Jindal’s job performance as he heads into his final year in office. Scott Carwile has more…

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Holiday travelers will enjoy the lowest gas prices we’ve seen in years. Jeff Palermo has more on this nice Christmas gift for motorists.

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The last Saturday before Christmas could be as big a shopping day as Black Friday. Michelle Southern reports…:

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A new Southern Media and Opinion Research poll shows 58-percent of Louisianians disapprove of Governor Bobby Jindal’s job performance as he heads into his final year in office. 600 likely Louisiana voters were surveyed. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says you probably won’t see the Governor’s popularity increase very much as he ends his term…

cut 4  (10)  “have piled up”

But Pinsonat points out that the poll shows 70-percent of Republicans give the governor a positive job rating. With both houses of the state legislature being controlled by Republicans, Pinsonat doesn’t see these poll numbers changing the way Jindal will do business in his last year…

Cut 5  (09)  “of their voters”

Pinsonat says Jindal has a job approval rating of just over 50-percent among white voters. He doesn’t think these poll numbers will factor into Jindal’s decision to run for President in 2016. But Pinsonat says this could be something that could potentially hurt him…

Cut 6 (11)  “definitely hurt him”

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Gas prices are about 75-cents lower than a year ago as we head into what should be a busy two weeks of traveling during this holiday period. Gregg Laskoski, with gas-buddy-dot-com, says with the statewide average at about $2.30 a gallon, it should help consumers pay for other expenses

CUT 7 (08)  “greater distances”

Laskoski says gas prices have been on a sharp decline since October and this trend should continue into next year. He says the US Department of Energy is projecting a national average price of $2.60 a gallon for 2015

Cut 8 (09)  “long,long time” 

Laskoski says this Christmas gift of lower gas prices is the result of a decline in global crude oil prices

Cut 9 (12)  “a barrell”

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Some much needed rain will be hitting Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this rain is coming at a great time as the state has been rain deficient over the last two months. Keim says there is a coastal storm forming off the coast of Texas this morning…

Cut 10 (05) “through tomorrow morning” 

Keim says the storm is projected to travel along the Louisiana coast. He says rainfall amounts with this storm could be anywhere from a half inch up to four inches of rain. Keim says there is the possibility of severe weather depending on the track of the storm…

cut 11 (09) “some severe weather”

Keim says the entire state is teetering right on the edge of drought with everything east of the Atchafalaya Basin experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions. Keim says the precipitation will be short lived with conditions clearing by Saturday morning…

cut 12 (08)  “of the state”

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The last Saturday before Christmas could be as big a shopping day as Black Friday especially if you’re still looking for TVs, appliances or clothes according to experts. Andrew Kuo (quoe) is a marketing professor at LSU. He says the downside of the so-called “Super Saturday” is that shoppers are typically at the mercy of the retailers

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MartketWatch reports Super Saturday could edge out Black Friday as the top sales day of the year in 2014. Kuo says the Day after Thanksgiving sales weren’t as high this year as they have been in years past which is another reason stores are expected to be packed tomorrow…:

Cut 14 (10)  “department stores”

Kuo says tomorrow you can expect to continue to see excellent apparel sales, discounted appliances to help folks get ready for guests in their home and last minute TV deals. He says with the growing popularity of online shopping, consumers have been spreading out their store shopping throughout the entire month of December…:

Cut 15  (08)  “business online”

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U-L Lafaytte and Nevada meet tomorrow morning in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. It’s the fourth straight year the Ragin Cajuns have played in this bowl game and last year 55-thousand people were attendance to see the Cajuns face in-state foe Tulane. Billy Ferrante, executive director of the New Orleans Bowl, says unfortunately they will see that kind of crowd this year

Cut 16  (09)    walk-up gameday”  

The Ragin Cajuns will hold a Fan Fest Friday afternoon at the New Orleans Marriott on Canal Street. And Ferrante says the bowl game will host a concert tonight at the New Orleans Arena featuring Kool and the Gang and Cheap Trick

Cut 17  (09)   “big crowd”

The Saints and Falcons meet on Sunday in the Superdome. Both teams have losing records, but both teams can still win the NFC South. New Orleans can wrap up the NFC South this weekend with a Carolina loss and a Saints victory over the Falcons. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says a big key for the Black and Gold will be putting pressure on Atlanta Quarterback Matt Ryan

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The Saints played well last Monday in a win over the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns and Detillier says the short passing game worked for them that night and they’ll use it again on Sunday…

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Now that the United States and Cuba have announced plans to renew diplomatic relations and resume trade, what does that mean for Louisiana? Eric Gill takes a look at that…

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A statewide poll on next year’s governor’s race shows Republican Senator David Vitter with a double-digit percentage lead over Democratic state representative John Bel Edwards and Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne. Jeff Palermo has more…

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With the full blown crawfish season just around the corner, you may be able to add the mudbugs to your Christmas feast this year. Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association President David Savoy says sacks are starting to show up in stores, but it’s too early to predict how plentiful the season will be…:

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Live crawfish can generally be found from November through July, but are most prevalent from April through June. December crops are still considered somewhat early. Savoy says, weather permitting, the season will really start to kick in early next year…:

CUT 4 (12)  “on the market”

Savoy says if Santa does plan to deliver crawfish this season, he can expect them to be pricey. He says they’ll also be in mixed size right now which is typical for this time of year. Savoy says if we have another bitter winter like last year, it’ll be hard on the harvest…:

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Now that the United States and Cuba have announced plans to renew diplomatic relations and resume trade, what does that mean for Louisiana? Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says resumed trade would be a big benefit for the state, especially the Port of New Orleans…

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Prior to 1961 Cuba was the Port of New Orleans’ largest trade partner. Governor Jindal opposes the President’s plan to “normalize” relations with the Communist nation calling it a disservice to those in Cuba who wish to be free and who live in fear of a dictatorial regime. However, Strain says other non-democratic countries enjoy normal trade relations with the US…

CUT 7 (08) “is time”

A 2005 visit to Cuba by then Governor Kathleen Blanco established limited trade between Louisiana and the island nation. Strain says Cuba needs what Louisiana can provide, especially rice and poultry. But he says food will not be the only thing being exported there…

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A new poll on the 2015 governor’s race shows republican senator David Vitter with a solid lead over three other opponents. Southern Media and Opinion Research pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Vitter benefits from high name recognition and because he’s a vocal critic against President Barack Obama

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Southern Media and Opinion Research surveyed 600 likely voters and 36-percent support Vitter. Pinsonat says Vitter is leading the field of three other opponents in the governor’s race, even though 40-percent of the poll respondents disapprove of Vitter’s job performance

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Democratic state representative John Bel Edwards finished second in the race horse poll, receiving 26-percent, followed by republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne at 19-percent. Pinsonat says Edwards benefits by receiving most of the African-American vote…

cut 11 (08)  “run-off spot”

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Louisiana State Police is offering a $2500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for allegedly running over and killing a pedestrian in St. Rose on Thanksgiving morning. Spokeswoman Melissa Matey says the crash took place on La 626 in St. Charles Parish…:

cut 12 (10) ” survelliance video”

Matey says 25-year-old Christin Allday was walking across the road at 1:30am and did not yield to the oncoming vehicle when she was struck. The victim sustained fatal injuries as a result. Matey the vehicle did not stop or return to the scene of the crash and they now have surveillance video…:

cut 13 (09) “and the driver”

The suspect vehicle is believed to be a dark colored truck or SUV. Matey says callers do not have to give their name or testify to receive the cash reward. She says if you know anything about this crash, please contact authorities…:

cut 14 (04) ” of this vehicle”