AM Newscall Dec 17

AM NEWSCALL

Saturday (Tomorrow) is “Super Saturday” for retailers. Kevin Gallagher reports on this last-ditch chance to complete your holiday shopping…:

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Lafayette City Court Judge Michele Odinet is no longer denying she used a racial slur while viewing a security video of a black male attempting to burglarize her home last Saturday.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

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Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry filed a lawsuit this week against Gov. John Bel Edwards from adding COVID vaccines to the list of shots students are required to receive to attend schools and universities. One of the plaintiffs in the suit is Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews.

Cut 3 (12) “….himself.” 

With respect to the litigation, Edwards says he’s not surprised that a suit has been filed.

Cut 4 (13) “….sort it out.”

Edwards stated he followed proper procedures and in adding the COVID vaccine school schedule, however, Crews disputes that and says it’s the legislature that makes laws. They go through committees, then are debated, and voted on by the legislature, and then signed by the governor.

Cut 5 (09) “…laws here.”

Edwards says he fully expects the administrative procedures act will be upheld and pondered the thought of where the state would be vaccination rate-wise if there wasn’t opposition.

Cut 6 (14) “…promoting vaccinations”

The state already requires students to be immunized against mumps, measles, and polio — before attending public and private K-12 schools, daycares, universities, and colleges.

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Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last Saturday in which to get your Christmas shopping done; the so-called Super Saturday. Retail experts predict over 148-million consumers will be shopping, whether in stores or online. National Retail Federation spokesperson Katherine Cullen says for many – especially those with full-time jobs – Super Saturday is their “last hurrah”…:

Cut 7 (14) “…big holiday celebration.”

Supply chain issues that have prevailed since late summer have caused many consumers to begin their Christmas shopping early; some as early as September. However, Cullen says, you should still be prepared for stores to be crowded and bustling Saturday…:

Cut 8 (09) “…early start this year.”

Retailers started their Holiday marketing earlier as well. Some advertised “Black Friday Specials” before Halloween. Cullen says a sizable number will be men, who tend to wait until it’s almost too late to start shopping. Some shoppers, she says, just find Super Saturday invigorating…:

Cut 9 (09)  “…what they’re looking for.”

Cullen says the average shopper will spend nearly $900 on holiday gifts. Popular gifts this year: clothing, toys, electronics, and, of course, gift cards.

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The attorney for Lafayette City Court Judge Michele Odinet (oh-dih-nay) says his client is now admitting to using a racist slur when reacting to those seen in a security video that captured an attempted burglary at her home last Saturday morning. Dane Ciolino is representing Odinet:

Cut 10 (12)  “…admittedly has said.”

Ciolino says Odinet is petitioning the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Judiciary Commission asking that she be placed on an indefinite period of unpaid leave until she can consider her next step. Governor John Bel Edwards is among those urging Odinet to resign her judicial post.

Ciolino tells us that Odinet is hoping she can be forgiven for her inappropriate utterances.

Cut  11 (06)  “…for this conduct.”  

Ciolino says Judge Odinet is not opting to resign her post but rather has filed a petition with the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Judiciary Commission:

Cut 12 (11) “…for her community.”

Governor Edwards at his end of the year press conference Thursday said that Odinet should resign her post for using a racial slur while viewing the security camera video.

Cut 13 (05) “…of the judiciary.”

A 59-year-old Black man was arrested and charged with two counts of simple burglary in connection with Saturday’s incident at Odinet’s residence.

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U.S. Senator John Kennedy says the disturbing increase in crime across Louisiana – and the country – falls at the feet of liberals and progressives. During his most recent news conference, the Senator was asked about his views on the spikes in criminal activity…:

Cut 14 (09)  “…de-fund and disrespect police movement.”

Louisiana has three cities listed among the nation’s Twenty Worst Cities for Violent Crime; Shreveport, Baton Rouge & New Orleans. Baton Rouge has already set an all-time record for murders within a calendar year. Kennedy says, in America’s most liberal cities after the George Floyd incident in Minneapolis, liberal mayors permitted widespread rioting and looting, while calling for a general de-funding of law enforcement. He says these leaders have a skewed mindset…:

Cut 15 (07)  “…always the gun’s fault.”

He says it’ll take voters to replace leaders who are soft on crime, in order to make cities safer for law-abiding people. Kennedy says “what you allow is what will continue”…:

Cut  16 (14) “… a rise in crime. Duh!”

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The Saints and Buccaneers renew their rivalry on Sunday night when the two teams meet in Tampa Bay. New Orleans has won the past six regular season meetings, but it was the Bucs who beat the Saints in the playoffs last January. Running back Alvin Kamara on the matchup…

Cut 17 (19) “ ready for it” 

Tampa Bay’s defense ranks third in the NFL in defending the run, allowing 91 rushing yards a game.

The Bucs can win the NFC South with a win on Sunday. Quarterback Tom Brady leads the NFL in completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns with 36. Cornerback CJ Gardner-Johnson is looking forward to competing against the best quarterback to ever play in the NFL…

Cut 18 (20) “ striving for” (2x) 

Safety Malcom Jenkins says they can’t just focus on Tom Brady and the Bucs’ receivers. Jenkins says running back Leonard Fournette was a big reason why Tampa Bay won last year’s playoff game….

Cut 19 (12) “ of their offense” 

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