It’s Black Friday; the official start of the holiday shopping season. How is the retail picture stacking up against record inflation? Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”
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Saturday is Small Business Saturday and Kace Kieschnick reports local retailers hope consumers will spend with them on Saturday….
Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Kace Keischnick”
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Louisiana’s green energy industry continues to grow. The St Landry Parish Council has approved that parish’s first solar farm project. Marsanne Golsby has more.
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The holiday shopping season is officially underway, and experts predict inflation will force spending as high as $950-billion this year. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says he agrees, despite belief that many will be scaling back gift shopping because of rising prices…:
Cut 4 (09) “…higher cost this year.”
The National Retail Federation predicts 6-percent to 8-percent growth in holiday sales over last year, when it was over 13-percent as the pandemic wound down. This even with record high levels in inflation, fuel and delivery costs and other economic factors. Rice says remember not all advertised “door buster” sales are actually a good value, and it helps to do some research on the normal prices of items on your shopping list before you go shopping…:
Cut 5 (10) “…time of year.”
Rice says look for a pretty fair mix of in-store and online buying, and more merchants who offer both will also do what he calls “hybrid sales”; where you order online, then pick the items up yourself in local store…:
Cut 6 (10) “…additional purchases.”
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Small Business Saturday is tomorrow. It’s a campaign to get consumers to shop at local stores. State NFIB director, Dawn McVea, says Louisiana small businesses employ over 46% of the workforce, so shopping locally will help the state’s economy…
Cut 7 (08) “…in the state”
In the NFIB’s latest optimism survey, 13% of small business owners reported not having a good outlook for the next three months. Employers have relied on Small Business Saturday over the last couple of years to help keep up during the holiday season, and McVea says consumers have come through…
Cut 8 (10) “…during small business Saturday”
Originally made by American Express in 2010, the holiday has become a household name over the last twelve years. McVea says small businesses offer a unique experience to consumers they can’t find on Black Friday. She urges shoppers to save some of their holiday shopping for Saturday, get out and enjoy local businesses and restaurants, and support the businesses that support our communities.
Cut 9 (10) “…holiday time.”
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The St Landry Parish Council has approved the parish’s first solar farm project. Officials say construction will begin next year on a 900-acre site in a rural area north of Opelousas. Lightsource BP development manager Jack Steele says it is expected to be operational by end of 2024. He says solar power is great for the environment and an effective way to produce energy
Cut 10 (10) “…of homes”
Steele says Louisiana has lots of flat agricultural land ideal for installing solar panels. The company already has a large solar farm near New Roads in Pointe Coupee Parish…
Cut 11 (10) “…that industry”
Steele says the panels will be high enough off the ground that sheep and cattle can graze beneath them. He says the company tries to do as much as possible to use native grasses and increase biodiversity.
Cut 12 (09) “…for bees”
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There is a December runoff election in Louisiana coming up, and Early Voting for that is about to begin. State Commissioner of Elections Sherri Hadskey says you’ll have a full week to vote at your leisure starting tomorrow…:
Cut 13 (09) “…December the tenth.”
Early voting starts tomorrow and ends next Saturday, December 3rd. Hadskey says the Secretary of State’s office is making it as easy as possible for you to vote in you cannot make it to an Early Voting place…:
Cut 14 (12) “…December 9th.”
Hadskey says there will be something on your December ballot, no matter where you are in the state, so get out and cast your vote…:
Cut 15 (09) “…runoff and propositions.”
For ballot information or to get an absentee mail-in ballot, go to “GeauxVote.com”, or download the GeauxVote app.
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Fifth-ranked LSU looks to finish the regular season with a ten-and-two mark when they visit Texas A-and-M tomorrow night. The Aggies are a disappointing four and seven, but Tigers defensive end Ali Gaye expects the Aggies to bring their “A” game…
Cut 16 (15) “…finish strong”
Kyle Field holds 102-thousand fans, but with Texas A&M playing for just pride on Saturday, Aggie fans may prefer to watch this one from home. But LSU defensive end BJ Ojulari expects a difficult environment…
Cut 17 (14) “…College Station”
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An up-and-down Saints offense will face a big test Sunday when they visit San Francisco. The 49ers are the only team in the NFL that’s allowing less than 300 yards a game. New Orleans quarterback Andy Dalton says San Fran is fundamentally sound on defense
Cut 18 (14) “…they fly around the football”
The Saints will have to account for Nick Bosa. The defensive end leads the N-F-C with 10.5 sacks. Dalton says Bosa is as good as gets when it comes to rushing the passer…
Cut 19 (18) “…out there”
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Louisiana Tech closes out the regular season on Saturday when they host UAB. The Blazers are led by running back DeWayne McBride, who is the fifth-leading rusher in college football, with 1,441 rushing yards. Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie says it will take a team effort to slow down McBride
Cut 20 (20) “…hang on”
LSU held McBride to just 34 rushing yards last week.