With your Louisiana Radio Network News, I’m Matt Doyle

Looking to save some cash this year?  Kelley Ray spoke with a CPA to get some easy tips

Cut 2, 30, Kelley Ray

Many people make quitting smoking one of their New Year’s resolutions.  Louisiana is 47^th out of 50 states for tobacco use.  Smoking Cessation Trust CEO Mike Rogers says one of the main reasons people don’t succeed is they try to go it alone…

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An average person quits at least eight times before succeeding.

LRN

Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson looks ahead to road projects coming and continuing into 2018. He says major progress will take place on the work being done on I-10, west of the Basin Bridge to Lafayette. They will also break ground on the widening of the highly traveled interstate between Highland Road in Baton Rouge to La 73.:

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Wilson says there is a major construction boom happening in Southeast Louisiana this year.

The Saints lost their regular season finale to Tampa Bay 31-24, but New Orleans still won the NFC South, because Carolina also lost. New Orleans offense struggled mightily in this game.  Coach Sean Payton says they need to be better in the playoffs…

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LRN, I’m Matt Doyle

Unusually frigid temperatures will blanket the state this week. Temperatures started in the 20s statewide this morning.  High temperatures will be in the 30s today and tomorrow. This time of year, temperatures are usually about 20 degrees higher. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service says residents can expect below freezing temperatures every morning this week…

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Governor John Bel Edwards believes Louisiana can continue the progress it made during 2017.  However, a big challenge for the governor in 2018 is the looming fiscal cliff, triggered by the expiration of a temporary one cent sales tax, which will create a one billion dollar gap in the budget. Edwards says he wants a solution that doesn’t include renewing that temporary penny sales tax.

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The Saints lose to Tampa Bay 31-24 in the final seconds, but still win the NFC South and they’ll host Carolina for a playoff game this weekend. Head Coach Sean Payton wishes they finished the game better….

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The Saints will play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at 3:40 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The 17^th ranked LSU Tigers take on number 14 Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando today. Both teams are 9-3 with the Tigers riding a three-game winning streak.  Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says LSU will face one of the best running games in college football, but Irish Quarterback Brandon Wimbush is inconsistent as a passer…

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Kickoff is at noon on ABC.

Unusually frigid temperatures will blanket the state this week. High temperatures will be in the 30s today and tomorrow. Donald Jones, with the National Weather Service, says it’ll also be a gusty start to the year making it feel even colder outside.

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Temperatures bottomed in the 20’s state wide, with even colder overnight lows expected early Tuesday morning.

Many are turning to additional sources of heat with the extended cold snap.  State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says there has been an increase in fire fatalities in the state in the last couple of weeks. Browning says under no circumstances should a kitchen stove be used…

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A man is under arrest after state troopers say he killed a bicyclist, then drove away from the scene. State Police say 29-year-old Juan Lujan of Luling was arrested Saturday. Troopers said 60-year-old Michael Atkinson was riding a bike on the shoulder of highway 90 in New Orleans near the edge of the roadway when he was hit from behind by an SUV that drifted onto the shoulder. Atkinson died at the scene.

The Citrus Bowl pits LSU against Notre Dame.  Jeff Palermo has a look at what it will take to get a Tiger win…

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The Saints lost their regular season finale to Tampa Bay 31-24, but New Orleans still won the NFC South, because Carolina also lost. New Orleans offense struggled in this game. They only rushed for 92 yards, scored just two touchdowns on offense, despite getting three turnovers and they also had seven penalties. Coach Sean Payton says they need to be better in the playoffs…

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New Orleans will now get ready to play the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. The Saints are the four seed and will play the 5^th seed Panthers on Sunday at 3:40 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The other wild card match-up is Atlanta at Los Angeles. If the seeds hold, New Orleans will visit the Philadelphia Eagles a week from Saturday.

In the AFC, its the Buffalo Bills versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. The other game is Kansas City hosting Tennessee.

The bowl game is finally here for the LSU Tigers as they face Notre Dame in Orlando at noon. The Tigers will look to run the football and Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says they should have success against a Fighting Irish team that’s allowing 153 yards a game on the ground….

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Winning the Citrus Bowl would give the Tigers a ten win season, the first since back to back ten win seasons in 2012 and 2013.

Tonight at the Mercedes Benz Superdome, Alabama and Clemson meet for the third year in a row in the college football playoffs. This time it’s a semi-final matchup and the winner will play the winner of the Rose Bowl, Georgia or Oklahoma.

In college basketball last night…the Cajuns beat Arkansas State 88-78, Little Rock knocked off Ulm 71-62 and Southeastern Louisiana defeated Central Arkansas 73-69.

The Bayou State is experiencing freezing temperatures to ring in the new year. Jeff Palermo has more…

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Governor John Bel Edwards believes Louisiana can continue the progress it made during 2017 in the areas of employment and criminal justice reform. The state’s unemployment rate has declined seven straight months and at 4.7 percent it’s the lowest been since 2008.  He says there will be more employment opportunities this year…

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Many are turning to additional sources of heat with the extended cold snap.  State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says there has been an increase in fire fatalities in the state in the last couple of weeks.  He says homes that don’t have a working smoke alarm are at the greatest risk…

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The 17^th ranked LSU Tigers take on number 14 Notre Dame in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando today. Both teams are 9-3 with the Tigers riding a three-game winning streak.  Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Winning the Citrus Bowl would give the Tigers a ten win season. It would be the first since back to back ten win seasons in 2012 and 2013 making this season a success…

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