New Orleans is nearly a touchdown favorite to beat Carolina on Sunday in their NFC playoff match-up. The Black and Gold already own two victories over the Panthers this season. Sideline reporter for the Saints Radio Network, Kristian Garic, likes New Orleans chances to win…

Cut 16 (14) “…find an answer for him”

Since 2001, there have been 16 times the team that won both regular season games faced that same team in the playoffs, and the team went 2-0 in 11 of those 16 games.

Now that LSU has locked up LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to a reported four-year deal, the school is reportedly in talks with Matt Canada on a deal that ends his time in Baton Rouge, two years before his contract ends. Canada has three-million dollars left on the three-year deal he signed last year.

The UL-Lafayette basketball team improved to 3-0 in the Sun Belt with an easy 78-45 win over Appalachian State. The Cajuns outscored the Mountaineers 46-17 in the first half. Bryce Washington had a double-double, 15 points and 10 rebounds.

ULM earned its first Sun Belt win as the Warhawks flew past Coastal Carolina 82-72. Sam McDaniel led the way with 28 points as he was a perfect six-for-six from three-point territory.

Despite 24 points from Jacobi Boykins, Louisiana Tech fell to UT San Antonio 78-76. The Bulldogs have lost five games by four points or less and they are 9-7 on the year.

Also last night, Tulane lost to SMU. The LSU Lady Tigers won their eighth straight as they upset 15^th ranked Missouri 69-65.

And Grambling’s Shakyla Hill recorded the fourth quadruple-double in NCAA Division One Women’s basketball history as she had 15 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in a 22 point win over Alabama State.

The arctic blast is expected to start receding this weekend, sending the state back to its usual mild winter weather. Low temperatures this week sat in the lower 20s for much of Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s one of the coldest weeks on record…

Cut 13 (08)  “since 1930.”

The 96^th Louisiana State Police cadet class will graduate today with 27 men and women being assigned to the ten different troops around the state.  Sgt. Jared Sandifer says the new troopers will help drivers throughout the Bayou State…

Cut 7 (12)  “we do.”

46 men and women were assigned from the 95^th cadet class that graduated last April.

New Orleans is nearly a touchdown favorite to beat Carolina on Sunday in their NFC playoff match-up. The Black and Gold already own two victories over the Panthers this season. Sideline reporter for the Saints Radio Network, Kristian Garic, likes New Orleans chances to win…

Cut 16 (14)  find an answer for him”

The game kicks off Sunday at 3:25pm on FOX.

Governor John Bel Edwards has asked the Louisiana Public Service Commission to see if the state’s utility customers should see lower rates as a result of the recently approved federal tax overhaul legislation. P-S-C member Foster Campbell says Edwards is right and that will be a focus of their first meetings of 2018…
cut 10 (08) “…average household”
Edwards says Dominion Energy in South Carolina has already announced plans to lower its rates, because of the new federal tax law.

A key member of LSU’s defense has declared for the NFL draft. Arden Key told fans on social media that he’ll skip his senior season. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Key left the team during spring football to deal with a personal matter and also missed five games during his junior campaign, because of injuries…
cut 13 (08) “…three years”
Still waiting to hear if running back Derius Guice will enter the NFL draft. He has until January 15th to decide.

A mobile home fire in East Baton Rouge Parish has killed three people, a mother and her two young daughters. Zachary Fire Chief Danny Kimble says it looks like the family didn’t receive a warning to get out…
cut 7 (10) “…should have”
An exact cause of the fire has not been determined, but the state has seen an uptick in fires because of the cold weather. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says four of the recent fire deaths have been attributed to use of space heaters.

We’ll see temperatures drop below freezing again tonight and into tomorrow morning. But State Climatolgist Barry Keim says a warm up will begin this weekend….
cut 14 (11) “….very, very soon”
Keim says tomorrow will mark the sixth straight morning below freezing, we’ve only seen that happen nine times since 1930.

The federal tax reform bill slashed taxes for different businesses, and the state believes those tax savings could be passed on to utility customers. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the tax reductions will save some utility companies, such as Entergy and Cleco, hundreds of millions of dollars. Campbell says those savings shouldn’t be stashed…
Cut 8 (10) “the people”
Campbell anticipates the Public Service Commission working on this issue in their upcoming monthly meetings.

LSU officially announced this afternoon that defensive coordinator Dave Aranda will receive a contract extension. He’ll reportedly make 2.5 million dollars a year over the next four seasons. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran…
cut 12 (11) “…next year”
And the Advocate reports that LSU and offensive coordinator Matt Canada are deep in talks for him to coach somewhere else next season.

Three people, a mother and her two children, were killed in a mobile home fire in Zachary late last night. Zachary Fire Chief Danny Kimble says firefighters reported to a fully engulfed trailer shortly after 11pm…
Cut 6 (09) “by anyone.”
A cause of the blaze hasn’t been determined the but the State Fire Mashal says the below freezing temperatures have led to a surge in fire-related deaths.

Saturday’s Powerball jackpot and Friday night’s Mega-Millions drawing are some of the largest jackpots the history of the multi-state lottery games. Louisiana Lottery spokesman Dustin Annison says a lot of money is on the line…
Cut 4 (12) “that game.”
Annison says the large jackpots are drawing people across state lines.

Governor John Bel Edwards has asked the Louisiana Public Service Commission to see if the state’s utility customers should see lower rates as a result of the recently approved federal tax overhaul legislation. P-S-C member Foster Campbell says Edwards is right and that will be a focus of their first meetings of 2018…
cut 10 (08) “…average household”
Edwards says Dominion Energy in South Carolina has already announced plans to lower its rates, because of the new federal tax law.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.27 that’s up nearly a nickel from a week ago and it’s the highest new year gas prices since 2014. But AAA fuel analyst Don Redman believes the price at the pump will drop at least 10-cents as we move closer to February….
cut 14 (07) “…into February”
Redman says demand of gas is on the decline, because of the winter weather that’s griping much of the country.

Hard freeze warnings are once again posted for tomorrow morning in Louisiana. But we’ll start to see warmer air move into the state this weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim Keim says the cold weather snap was particularly surprising given the long term forecasts for the winter…
Cut 15 (10) “anything but.”
State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the state has seen a recent surge in fire-related deaths, several due to the below freezing temperatures we’ve experienced this week.

A teenager was found with multiple stab wounds inside a Lafayette home and later died from his injuries. A 32-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter. Lafayette Police Corporal Bridgette Dugas says they believe an argument between the teen and 32-year-old Lawrence Allen the Second escalated into murder…
cut 4 (07) “…domestic situation”
Allen has been booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center.

Governor Edwards has written the Public Service Commission to let them know utility rates should be lowered as a result of a new federal income tax rate. In his communication with the P-S-C, he said Dominion Energy announced its plans for an average rate reduction of five percent for customers in South Carolina. PSC member Foster Campbell says he’ll make sure they look into it…
cut 9 (12) “….target with”
Campbell says this issue will likely come up at this month’s meeting.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has been celebrating record breaking tourism numbers over the last couple of years, but he says that could change due to potential state budget cuts and growing crime probems in the state’s top tourist destination spot New Orleans. Nungesser says Louisiana’s litter problem also does not help…
cut 30 (08) “…the highway”
Nungesser says they are working with the Keep Louisiana Beautiful organiziation to reduce litter.

A mobile home fire in East Baton Rouge Parish has killed three people, a mother and her two young daughters. Zachary Fire Chief Danny Kimble says it looks like the family didn’t receive a warning to get out…
cut 7 (10) “…should have”
An exact cause of the fire has not been determined, but the state has seen an uptick in fires because of the cold weather. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says four of the recent fire deaths have been attributed to use of space heaters.

LSU and Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda have reportedly agreed to a four-year deal that pays him on average 2.5 million dollars a year. Texas A-and-M came after Aranda with a strong offer, but Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says LSU showed him the money
Cut 11 (12) “years after years”

The new GOP tax law could lead to savings on some customers’ utility bills. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A mother and her two children are dead after a fire engulfed their mobile home in East Baton Rouge Parish. Zachary Fire Chief Danny Kimble says firefighters arrived at the scene just after 11 PM last night…
cut 5 (05) “…someone inside”
The family has told a Baton Rouge TV station that an eight year and 11-month-old child died in the blaze.

Lafayette Police say a teenager is dead after a stabbing Wednesday night. Corporal Bridgette Dugas says they found a 17-year-old male victim shortly after arriving at a home and arrested the alleged suspect after obtaining information from him…
Cut 3 (07) “LPCC currently.”
Dugas says the investigation is continuing, but they believe an argument escalated into murder.

A key member of LSU’s defense has declared for the NFL draft. Arden Key told fans on social media that he’ll skip his senior season. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Key left the team during spring football to deal with a personal matter and also missed five games during his junior campaign, because of injuries…
cut 13 (08) “…three years”
Still waiting to hear if running back Derius Guice will enter the NFL draft. He has until January 15th to decide.