Early voting begins today for the December 8th election. Featured on the ballot are the run off candidates for the secretary of state’s office.

Voters had a high turnout for the November 6th election with voter participation just over 50-percent.

Despite that, pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics expects a much lower turnout for this election.

Cut 8 (11) “…the primary”

Early voting continues through December 1st, except for Sunday.

A movie that began filming in Louisiana a year ago, opened nationwide this week. “Green Book” stars Mahershala (MUH-HER-SHALL-UH) Ali who won the 2016 best actor Academy Award for his role in “Moonlight.”  Viggo Mortensen also co-starred in the film.

The movie had a limited release in mid November, it expanded to a national release on November 21st.

The drama is set in the 1962 but was filmed in Orleans parish locations that include the McAlister Auditorium on Tulane’s campus and the Rosevelt Hotel in the French Quarter according an Advocate newspaper article.

The Thanksgiving holiday has been changed forever for two southwest Louisiana families as a result of an alleged drunk and driving wreck. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (22) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The federal government’s duplication of benefits policy is complicating disaster aid for many homeowners devastated by the 2016 flood.

The problem is that flooded homeowners who received a Small Business Administration disaster loan were deemed ineligible for grants.

Yet in October, Congress approved a law to allow Louisiana flood victims who got an S-B-A loan to also be eligible for federal grants through the Restore Louisiana program.

However there’s a disagreement among bureaucrats over whether the president also needs to sign a waiver.

Congressman Garret Graves took up the issue.

Cut 12 (06) “…this fixed”

Early voting begins Saturday at 8:30 AM for the December 8th election, which features the secretary of state’s runoff election involving Democrat Gwen-Collins Greenup, a Minister, and Republican Kyle Ardoin, the Interim Secretary. Early voting will continue, except on Sunday, through December 1st. pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics expects Ardoin to win the race easily…

Cut 10 (09)   “…for Kyle

The Secretary of State’s office says there are 134 candidate runoffs in 47 parishes.

Christmas tree farms are generally seeing a fair crop this year.  And it is looking much better than the last couple of years.  That’s according to Gray Anderson of Grant Farms in Grant, Louisiana, who says weather has had an effect on the crop in previous years.

Cut 3 (07) “…two years really hard”

Anderson says his farm sells between 2,500 and 3,000 trees each year.

Thousands of 2016 Louisiana flood victims continue to wait for President Donald Trump to sign a waiver so they can be eligible for disaster aid. Flooded homeowners who took out Small Business Administration disaster loans remain ineligible for grant dollars, because of the federal government’s duplication of benefits policy. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves  says he’s heard from the White House that this issue should be resolved shortly. He hopes so, because it’s incredibly frustrating…

Cut 13 (06) “…issue resolved”

Congress approved a law in October to allow Louisiana flood victims who got an S-B-A loan to also be eligible for federal grants through the Restore Louisiana program.

A convicted child rapist, and former Catholic Priest has died in prison while serving out his life sentence. Corrections says 82-year-old Robert Lester Melancon died of natural causes. Melancon was convicted in 1996 for raping an altar boy from 1985 to 1991 was the priest served in Terrebonne Parish.

The Saints roasted some bird last night in the dome smashing Atlanta 31-17. The defense was dominant as they forced four turnovers, three fumbles in Atlanta’s red zone and Falcons QB Matt Ryan was sacked six times. Linebacker DeMario Davis had five hits on the quarterback and two tackles for a loss…

Cut 7 (09) “…their Instagram.”

The offense shined as well, with four undrafted players catching touchdowns.

Early voting begins Saturday at 8:30 AM for the December 8th election, which features the secretary of state’s runoff election. Early voting will continue, except on Sunday, through December 1st. pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics says the Shreveport mayoral race is one high profile election heading to a run-off, plus there are other local races…

Cut 9 (11) “being sought.”

Eight parishes have just the secretary of state race on the ballot.

The Thanksgiving holiday has been changed forever for two southwest Louisiana families as a result of an alleged drunk and driving wreck. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (22) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Thousands of 2016 Louisiana flood victims who fell into the “Duplication of Benefits” loophole continue to wait for President Donald Trump to sign a waiver so they can be eligible for disaster aid. Congress approved a law in October to allow Louisiana flood victims who got an S-B-A loan to also be eligible for federal grants through the Restore Louisiana program, But Congressman Garret Graves says it’s gotten bogged down in DC.

Cut 12 (06)   “…this fixed”

For those on the lookout for a real tree, one Louisiana farmer says this year’s crop is good.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Thanksgiving holiday has been changed forever for two southwest Louisiana families as a result of an alleged drunk and driving wreck. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (22) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Early voting begins Saturday at 8:30 AM for the December 8th election, which features the secretary of state’s runoff election. Early voting will continue, except on Sunday, through December 1st. Voter turnout for the November 6th election was just over 50-percent. But pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics expects a much lower turnout for this election…

Cut 8 (11) “…the primary”

The Secretary of State’s office says there are 134 candidate runoffs in 47 parishes.

Thousands of 2016 Louisiana flood victims continue to wait for President Donald Trump to sign a waiver so they can be eligible for disaster aid. Flooded homeowners who took out Small Business Administration disaster loans remain ineligible for grant dollars, because of the federal government’s duplication of benefits policy. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is trying to get these flood recovery checks out

Cut 11 (08) “…make changes”

For those on the lookout for a real tree, one Louisiana farmer says this year’s crop is good.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Saints performed another beat down in the Dome on Thanksgiving night, frying the Dirty Birds from Atlanta 31-17. It’s the 10th straight win for the Black and Gold and this game was unique as the guys who caught Drew Brees’ four touchdown passes are all undrafted players…

Cut 6 (11) “…holiday season.”

Shoppers are looking for deep discounts on this Black Friday, but Dawn Starns, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says look for great deals tomorrow too on Small Business Saturday….
cut 7 (09) “…their Instagram”
Starns says a recent survey found that 83-percent of shoppers plan to do at least some portion of their holiday shopping at a small independently owned retailer or restaurant.

Crawfish producers are hoping researchers can do something that’s a growing problem in their industry and that’s the white spot syndrome that kill off large crawfish in their ponds. LSU Aquaculture specialist, Doctor Greg Lutz, says they need more research dollars in order to examine what’s causing white spot disease…
cut 11 (07) “…work on it”
The virus was first detected in Louisiana in 2007.

For those on the lookout for a real tree, one Louisiana farmer says this year’s crop is good. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Saints won their 10th straight last night beating Atlanta 31-17. Tomorrow, LSU goes for its 10th win of the year when they visit Texas A-and-M. Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow says the Aggies have a physical defensive front…
cut 13 (10) “…the face”
Kick-off is Saturday at 6:30.

One of the biggest shopping days of the year is here and many consumers will be purchasing toys. Most kids are interested in video games, but the toy guy, Chris Byrne, says there are a group of games that can help limit screen time for younger eyes….
cut 4 (10) “…a good time”
Byrne says the Harry Potter-themed Lego set will also be popular this year.

Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, a celebration of local business that’s sandwiched in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. State director of the National Federation of Independent Business, Dawn Starns says if you spend local, that money tends to stay local.
Cut 6 (11) “…holiday season.”
And Starns says 83-percent of shoppers plan to do at least some portion of their holiday shopping season at a small independently owned retailer or restaurant.

This Thanksgiving weekend, many of us our thankful for crawfish and a new season is right around the corner. But LSU AgCenter Aquaculture specialist Greg Lutz says the white spot virus is a dark cloud over the industry. Lutz says all it takes is for one crawfish to get white spot syndrome and all of the mudbugs in a pond can get sick. He says for some producers it’s been a real issue…
Cut 10 (12) “…profit.”
He says they need more research dollars in order to examine what’s causing white spot disease.

State Police say a 13-year-old was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver in Calcasieu Parish on Thanksgiving morning. 13-year-old Kyrin Pete of Lake Charles was walking on the shoulder of the highway with two others when a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Jake Ryan Hebert of Lafayette hit him. Hebert has been charged with vehicular homicide and DWI.

Many are on the hunt for the best toys as the holiday shopping season is underway. There is not a spotlight toy grabbing headlines this year like the Furby or Tickle Me Elmo, but there is still no shortage of fun items. Known as the Toy Guy, Chris Byrne, says when it comes to video games, the system to grab this year is the Nintendo Switch.
Cut 3 (08) “…a family platform”

Local retailers are hoping consumers shop locally on Small Business Saturday. Dawn Starns, state director of the NFIB, says a recent survey found that nine in ten consumers believe it is more important than ever to support small businesses this holiday season. Starns also remind shoppers that when you need to take a bite to eat, choose a local restaurant…
cut 8 (09) “…the community”

Soon, crawfish will be available again, but an LSU AgCenter aquaculture expert says there’s a dark cloud hanging over the industry. Kevin Barnhart has more…
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Saints won their 10th straight last night beating Atlanta 31-17. Tomorrow, LSU goes for its 10th win of the year when they visit Texas A-and-M. Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow says the Aggies have a physical defensive front…
cut 13 (10) “…the face”
Kick-off is Saturday at 6:30.