Congress has raised the minimum smoking and vaping age to 21 nationwide. The provision was added to a year-end spending bill signed by President Donald Trump. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebecca Gee says it’s welcomed news considering, most people get addicted to nicotine in their teens.
Cut 7 (05) “…the public.”
The new age requirement is expected to go into effect in nine months.

The Saints rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat the Titans 38 to 28 and Michael Thomas set the NFL record for catches in a single season. A record number of tickets have been bought for Saturday’s Peach Bowl between LSU and Oklahoma. Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan says fans are really excited about the matchups in the college football playoff…
cut 15 (11) “….two betters”
The winners will meet in New Orleans on January 15th in the national championship game.

New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Hammond and the Lafayette metro areas have seen the largest job growth over the last year. That’s according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Houma, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport all lost jobs over the year. But L-W-C Chief Economist Ali Bustamante says Shreveport has seen a one-thousand job increase over the last month…
cut 6 (04) “…the area”
New Orleans added 34-hundred jobs over the last month.

Gilead Sciences sent 245-thousand dollars in grant money to four organizations in Louisiana to combat the spread of HIV and to help support those living with H-I-V. Corporate Contributions Director Arun Skaria says a total of two-point-three million dollars in grants are going to 40 organizations fighting H-I-V in the South, which is disproportionately affected by H-I-V….
cut 11 (10) “…challenge”

The federal government is raising the minimum smoking and vaping age to 21 nationwide. Brooke Thorington on what this means for Louisiana
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment has increased by nine-thousand over the year. L-W-C Chief Economist Ali Bustamante says New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Hammond saw the biggest job gains…
cut 5 (09) “…area”

Big win for the Saints on Sunday as they came back from 14 down to beat Tennessee 38-28. Michael Thomas set the N-F-L record for catches in a season and running back Alvin Kamara had two touchdowns, his first scores since Week three, but he’s more worried about winning…
cut 17 (12) “…I’m Good”
New Orleans is 12 and 3 and they can still get the number one seed in the N-F-C playoffs.

LSU has arrived in Atlanta for Peach Bowl preparations. Fans are expected to arrive in Atlanta after Christmas. Peach Bowl C-E-O Gary Stokan says there’s plenty to do for fans once they get to Atlanta…
cut 14 (12) “…Olympic Park”
Stokan says a record number of tickets have been purchased for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says total private employment has seen an increase in jobs over the year for 21 consecutive months. Also, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment is at its highest level since 2015, and Workforce Commission Chief Economist Ali Bustamante says the state added 41-hundred jobs from October to November.
Cut 4 (09) “year”
The state’s unemployment rate fell slightly over the year to 4.7 percent in November.

LSU and Oklahoma hold their first practices in Atlanta today as they prepare for their semifinal game in the Peach Bowl. Peach Bowl C-E-O Gary Stokan says they are expecting a bunch of points inside the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday…
Cut 13 (11) “…December 28”
Coach Ed Orgeron will speak with the media this afternoon.

An effort to raise the legal smoking age to 21-years-old failed in Louisiana this year, but it doesn’t matter, because the federal government is raising the legal age to purchase tobacco and vaping products to 21. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee is thrilled…
cut 9 (06) “….other challenges”
The new age requirement is expected to go into effect in nine months.

Four Louisiana organiziations are sharing 245-thousand dollars in grant money from California-based Gilead Sciences to fight H-I-V in Louisiana. Corporate Contributions Director Arun Skaria says Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services, Louisiana Public Health Insitute, Brotherhood Inc and 504 Health Net will receive the funds…
cut 12 (10) “…leadership”

Louisiana’s unemployment rate has fallen slightly over the year to 4.7 percent as the state as a whole continues to add jobs…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The federal legal age to buy tobacco and vaping products is set to increase to 21-years-old as a result of legislation approved by Congress. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says any hurdle to keep tobacco products out of the hands of teens could prevent them from becoming smokers and save the state money in future medical care.
Cut 8 (05) “…these products.”

Gilead Sciences awards 245,000 dollars in grants to four Louisiana organizations to help combat HIV as part of 2.3 million dollars in grants administered across the south. Corporate Contributions Director Arun Skaria says HIV is still a serious problem in America, but we’re near epidemic levels in the south…
Cut 10 (10) “…right now”

The Saints rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat the Titans 38 to 28 and Michael Thomas set the NFL record for catches in a single season. A record number of tickets have been bought for Saturday’s Peach Bowl between LSU and Oklahoma. Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan says fans are really excited about the matchups in the college football playoff…
cut 15 (11) “….two betters”
The winners will meet in New Orleans on January 15th in the national championship game.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate has fallen slightly over the year to 4.7 percent as the state as a whole continues to add jobs…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle

148 million American shoppers are expected to hit the stores today, up from 134 million last year. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says retailers do a good job marketing themselves to procrastinators
Cut 4 (11) “…more male”

Congress has raised the minimum smoking and vaping age to 21 nationwide. The provision was added to a year-end spending bill signed by President Trump. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebecca Gee says its welcomed news considering, many people get addicted to nicotine in their teens.
Cut 7 (06) “…the public.”
The new regulation is expected to go into effect in nine months.

LSU and Oklahoma leave for Atlanta tomorrow as they continue preparations for the semi-final contest in the Peach Bowl. LSU fans are expected to get to Atlanta after the Christmas holiday. Peach Bowl C-E-O Gary Stokan says there will be a fan night at the Georgia Aquarium on Friday and a fanfest Saturday, plus there are many other activities
Cut 14 (12) “…Olympic Park.”
The game is Saturday at 3 PM central time.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says total private employment has seen an increase in jobs over the year for 21 consecutive months. Also, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment is at its highest level since 2015, and Workforce Commission Chief Economist Ali Bustamante says the state added 4,100 jobs from October to November.
Cut 4 (09) “year”

St Tammany Parish will see major job growth. Medline Industries will build a distribution center that will create more than 460 new jobs near Covington. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Interstates 12 and 55 make the location very attractive for industry.
Cut 14 (06) “…distribution.”

Calcasieu Parish-based Isle of Capri gets approval to be the first riverboat casino to move its gaming activities on land. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Quarterback Joe Burrow received his Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts from LSU today. His high school, Athens High in Ohio, will rename its football stadium after Burrow.

Tomorrow It will be the Saints and Titans in Nashville. Kiko Alonso, Larry Warford and Vonn Bell have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Titans because of injuries.

The Calcasieu-Parish based Isle of Capri has received approval from the state to be the first riverboat to build a land-based casino as a result of a 2018 law that allows riverboats to conduct gaming activity on the land. The industry pushed hard for this legislation and Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says more boats are likely to follow.
Cut 11 (12) “follow suit”
The 112-million dollar facility will have 72,000 square feet of gaming space.

A Benton mother is behind bars this morning facing a second-degree murder charge as a result of a two-month-long investigation into the death of her one-year-old child. 35-year-old Courtney Marie Seilhammer faces a 500-thousand dollar bound. Deputies arrested Seilhammer after an autopsy determined that her child died of renal failure because the child was poisoned.

AAA tows an average of 850-thousand motorists over the holiday season but there are steps you can take ahead of the drive to get to your destination without a hitch. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington

Medline Industries announces plans to build a new facility in Covington that will add 460 new jobs to the region. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Medline might not be a household name, but they do business in more than 90 countries.
Cut 13 (09) “…company.”