Louisiana is getting a shot at having clean drinking water where it may not exist for one reason or another.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

At this hour, Governor John Bel Edwards is providing an update on the state’s response to COVID-19. Edwards says the omicron variant has not been detected in Louisiana so far, but that doesn’t mean it’s not here. Omicron variant has been detected in five states.

Concerns are growing in the state about the possibility of Chronic Wasting Disease infecting white-tailed deer in Louisiana. This after CWD was found in one of the animals in Union County, Arkansas.
Cut 6 (06) “..concerning to us.”
That’s State Veterinarian Jim LaCour with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries who says the agency has issued a ban on baiting and feeding in nearby Moorehouse and Union parishes beginning December 6.

Monroe Representative Patricia Moore, who also serves on the House Transportation Committee says she’s hopeful a portion of the federal infrastructure funds will go towards easing congestion along Interstate 20 between Monroe and West Monroe by adding a lane in each direction…
cut 10 (08) “…look at”
Moore says she hopes to hear in a couple of weeks that funding will be available to widen I-20 in the Monroe area.

Never at a loss for words, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell shares his feelings on new LSU football coach Brian Kelly receiving an annual salary of 10-million dollars a year. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The Saints lost their fifth straight last night as quarterback Taysom Hill threw four interceptions in a 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Tomorrow, the Ragin Cajuns will attempt to win its first Sun Belt Championship in football. U-L Lafayette hosts Applachian State at 2:30.

Ventrue Global announces plans to invest over ten billion dollars to develop an L-N-G facility in Cameron Parish. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the project will result in at least 200 direct new jobs that will pay six-figure salaries. Pierson says they also estimate the project will result in over 800 indirect jobs…
cut 5 (12) “…2,300 new jobs”
And the state says the facility will feature clean energy technology that will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the state is set to receive 101-million dollars this fiscal year to improve drinking water systems. Cassidy says access to clean drinking water is a problem and he’s heard the complaints…
cut 14 (09) “…supporting that”
Cassidy says the state should expect to receive another 100-million dollars each year over the next four years as a result of the infrastructure bill.

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says Louisiana will receive 101 million dollars from the recently approved federal infrastructure bill that will go to local governments who struggle to provide clean drinking water to their residents…
cut 15 (13) “…to it”
And Cassidy says Louisiana can expect similar water infrastructure funding for the next four years.

For the next ten years, new LSU football coach Brian Kelly will be paid about ten million dollars a year to coach the Tigers. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell believes that kind of money for a football coach is insane…
cut 8 (08) “….on academics”
Campbell wishes the school can raise that kind of money to build a new library on campus.

Venture Global is investing more than $10 billion in a new liquefied natural gas facility in Cameron Parish. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor Edwards will hold a media briefing at 11 AM to discuss COVID-19, including an update on the Omicron variant. So far the variant has not been detected in Louisiana.

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries says chronic wasting disease, which is fatal to deer, was found in a 2.5-year-old female white-tailed deer just north of the Louisiana-Arkansas border.

According to the Advocate newspaper, Ochsner Health has fired 28 employees for refusing to get a COVID vaccine. The state’s largest health system says these workers also refused to seek an exemption. Ochsner tells the Advocate 99-percent of the system’s employees are vaccinated or have been exempted.

Louisiana is getting a shot at having clean drinking water where it may not exist….
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Venture Global announces a plan to invest over ten billion dollars on a new L-N-G facility in Cameron Parish. It will be located to their adjacent Calcasieu Pass terminal. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Venture Global is also building an L-N-G facility in Plaquemines Parish…
cut 6 (11) “….this facility”
Venture Global says it’s on a mission to produce the cleanest low-cost LNG in North America.

Monroe Representative Patricia Moore, who serves on the House Transportation Committee, is pushing for some of the federal dollars from the massive infrastructure bill to go towards widening I-20 to three lanes in the Monroe area…
cut 12 (07) “…two weeks”
Senate Transportation Chairman Patrick McMath says the expansion of I-20 is a top priority.

Never at a loss for words, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell shares his feelings on new LSU football coach Brian Kelly receiving an annual salary of 10-million dollars a year. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The Saints lost their fifth straight last night as quarterback Taysom Hill threw four interceptions in a 27-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Tomorrow, the Ragin Cajuns will attempt to win its first Sun Belt Championship in football. U-L Lafayette hosts Applachian State at 2:30.

Senator Bill Cassidy says Louisiana will be receiving $101-million this fiscal year in federal infrastructure funding for addressing the state’s clean water needs. He offers up some of the known problems:
Cut 13 (14) “…with raw sewage.”
Cassidy says the funding from the infrastructure bill will also go towards replacing lead pipes.

Venture Global announces they are investing more than $10 billion in a new liquefied natural gas facility in Cameron Parish. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the company already has a $7-billion facility in Calcasieu Parish and the new plant has an added feature.
Cut 4 (12) “…the world. “
Pierson says the project will result in at least 200 new jobs with an average annual salary of 120-thousand dollars plus benefits.

Never at a loss for words, Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is troubled by the new LSU football coach’s ten-year contract. Brian Kelly’s deal with incentives would pay him over $10-million dollars a year.
Cut 7 (08) “…I don’t think that.”
Campbell says it’s not a good message when LSU football fans raise millions of dollars for a coach, while the school’s academic rankings continue to drop.

With Louisiana set to receive billions of dollars to improve roads and bridges, a northeast state lawmaker is pushing for some of that money to go towards expanding I-20 in Monroe to three lanes in each direction from the Stella Street exit to the Well Road exit. Monroe Representative Patricia Moore…
cut 11 (06) “…I-20″
Moore hopes to find out soon if funding from the federal infrastructure bill will be available for this project.

Venture Global is investing more than $10 billion in a new liquefied natural gas facility in Cameron Parish. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana is beginning to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to improve water systems in small towns and rural parishes. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

Louisiana’s Shot for $100 program is continuing through the end of December with more than 34-thousand 100-dollar debit cards distributed so far to those receiving their initial COVID-19 vaccination. Sheree Taillon heads up the program and says college students are rolling up their sleeves in fear of classes being canceled if they don’t.

Cut 3 (10) “…climbed very quickly.”

The new Omicron variant of COVID is also expected to increase the response to the Shot for $100 program. The governor is set to have a news conference tomorrow to discuss Omicron and update the state’s response to COVID overall.

With oil prices dropping of late, Louisiana drivers and others nationwide are hoping that’ll mean a drop in gasoline prices, sooner rather than later. Triple A’s Nick Chabarria says it usually takes a while for the transition to lower prices to show up at the pump. He’s optimistic that gas prices will continue slowly dropping as the price of oil declines.

Cut 8 (07) “…at the pump.”

Thanksgiving Weekend state police responded to 15 fatal crashes. Troop C’s area alone in southeast Louisiana, last month there were 13 deaths from fatal crashes. So, they are working with several agencies like Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre in hopes of curbing impaired driving.

Cut 12 (09) “…commit a murder”  

Webre, along with other law enforcement officers, says they can’t do it alone, they need the public to contact them when they see an impaired driver behind the wheel.

Many of you may still be able to score a hundred bucks just for getting your first COVID shot in Louisiana. More from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 01         (30)    “…Brannen.”

The New Orleans Saints go into tonight’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys minus three starters. Alvin Kamara, Ryan Ramczyk, and Terron Armstead are out with knee injuries. Quarterback Taysom Hill has been nursing a foot injury but IS expected to start for the Black & Gold tonight. Kickoff is 7:20 in the Dome.

With oil prices dropping of late, Louisiana drivers and others nationwide are hoping that’ll mean a drop in gasoline prices, sooner rather than later. AAA’s Nick Chabarria says it usually takes a while for the transition to lower prices to show up at the pump…:

CUT 06(07)      “…pump as well.”

Crude oil is $15 cheaper than a week ago. The statewide average for regular gas is $3.10; down 2 cents from last week.

A Legislative Budget Committee approves spending $23-million in federal funds to modernize very old water and sewerage systems in small towns and rural parishes. House Appropriations Chair Jerome Zeringue says this round of money will fund 29 projects, but there’s more work to be done…:

CUT 09(08)      “…those projects.”