8:30 AM News

A Koch brother’s backed conservative advocacy group will begin airing anti-gas tax ads on social media and at gas station video screens across the state this weekend ahead of next year’s legislative session that may include a push to raise the tax to pay for road projects. Americans for Prosperity State Director John Kay says gas taxes hurt everyday Louisianans most.

Cut 10 (07)   “…Louisiana”

Last year infrastructure advocates attempted to pass a 17 cent gas tax that would have raised half a billion dollars a year.

Former US President George HW Bush has passed away.  The news came late last night.  He served in the nation’s highest office from 1989 until 1993.  It was at the Louisiana Superdome where Bush was officially nominated to the Republican ticket in August 1988.  He is preceded in death by his wife Barbara, who passed away earlier this year.  George HW Bush was 94.

 

A federal judge has ordered $34.8 million in restitution from the owner of Explo Systems, a military contractor hired to demilitarize artillery charges at Camp Minden in Webster Parish, in a case stemming from a huge munitions blast in 2012 due to illegal dumping of the materials.  US Attorney David Joseph says the state has already been reimbursed for the cost it incurred from the case, so the restitution would be going toward the military.

Cut 8 (03) “…is currently due.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says you should check out the  Nachitoches Chrismas Festival, which is in its 92nd year in 2018, as the one of the state’s staple Christmas celebrations, and a great family friendly experience.

Cut 14 (11) “…lights and celebration.”

7:30 LRN sportscast

The nine matchups are set for next week’s state football championships. The game of the night last night was in Destrehan as the Class 5A defending champion Zachary Broncos outlasted the Wildcats 67-57. Zachary will play top seeded West Monroe as the Rebels blanked John Ehret 28-0. West Monroe has not allowed a point in the postseason.

In Four-A, top seeded Karr defeated Neville 25-13 and the Cougars will face Warren Easton who crushed Leesville 54-14. In Three-A, fourth seeded Sterlington upended Iota (Eye-oh-tuh) 21-12, while Eunice (U-niss) blanked Kaplan 19-0.
In Two-A….second-seeded Amite beat Ferriday 44-20 and the Warriors will go up against defending champ Welsh, who beat top seeded Many (Man-ee) 28-21

And finally in One-A, top seeded Oak Grove blanked West St. John 30-0 and the Tigers will face Kentwood, who beat Haynesville 20-14.

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No LSU game today, but three teams from Louisiana are in action. At 11 AM its the first ever Sun Belt Championship game as the Ragin Cajuns face Appalachian State. A win for UL Lafayette and they’ll go back to the New Orleans Bowl for the sixth time in eight years, a loss willl send the Cajuns to Orlando for the AutoNation Cure Bowl.

Southern brings a five-game winning streak into the SWAC title game and the Jaguars will face Alcorn State.

And in the FCS playoffs, Nichollls will battle third seeded Eastern Washington at 4 PM. The Eagles are very good at running the football, while the Colonels defend the run very well.

LSU finds out its bowl destination tomorrow. Fiesta, Peach and Outback Bowl are the most likely options.

Saints fans will be Lion fans tomorrow as they’ll be rooting for Detroit to beat the Los Angles Rams, so that the Black and Gold can move to the top spot in the NFC Standings. New Orleans will visit Tampa Bay next weekend.

In the NBA, the Pelicans fell behind by 31 points to Miami and lost to the Heat 106-101.