Click It Or Ticket is underway for those traveling on Louisiana roadways. Whitney Thomas has more.
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The U-S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says flu-like illness is at a five-year high. Kace Keischnick has the story…
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Besides Attorney General, Jeff Landry who’s announced he’s running for governor others like Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser are still highly considering it. Brooke Thorington
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This Thanksgiving the National Wildlife Federation wants you to know wild turkeys were almost wiped out. The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says after WW2 Louisiana’s population was down to just 1500 wild birds. The Wildlife Federation says the national population was once two percent of its former numbers. The Wildlife Federation’s John Kanter says it wasn’t easy to bring them back.
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Kanter says when breeders started separating members of turkey flocks to reduce the fighting the populations grew.
Kanter says nationally the population has reached 7 million birds. He says Louisiana doesn’t track the total population but reports it is declining. Louisiana does have a limited wild turkey hunting season. He estimates about 20 thousand Louisiana hunters hunt the birds.
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Law enforcement officers are ready to pass out fines for those not wearing their seatbelts during “Click It or Ticket” during the Thanksgiving traveling period. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says the campaign began over the weekend and wraps up Sunday.
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Last year during the holiday period, which begins the Saturday before Thanksgiving and ends on Sunday after the holiday, 18 people lost their lives on Louisiana roadways. Lambert says it was the second deadliest holiday period of 2021.
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Louisiana law says everyone in the vehicle including the backseat must be properly restrained.
And with it being colder than usual this Thanksgiving Lambert says to be sure to buckle up children in their car seats without a thick coat on.
The first fine for not wearing a seatbelt is $50 and a subsequent fine is $75.
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As the holiday season gets underway Thursday the flu bug is making the rounds. Based on the latest CDC data, flu-like illnesses are at a five-year high. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease expert Doctor Fred Lopez says many people have a decreased immunity against the flu.
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Lopez says the current strain is hitting younger age groups hard. He says two-thirds of flu activity is occurring in people young than 25 years of age. So Lopez advises staying home when sick, washing hands frequently, and getting the flu vaccine…
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Lopez says health officials are concerned about influenza spreading even more with people getting together for Thanksgiving this weekend. And he says the flu bug is not the only virus going around
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So far Attorney General Jeff Landry has formally announced his candidacy for governor and US Senator John Kennedy says he’s highly considering it. Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s not running, and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’s going to conduct polling next month and announce his decision in January.
The 63-year-old New Orleans native has served as Lt. Governor since 2016 and is also the former President of Plaquemines Parish. When asked if he would run against fellow Republican John Kennedy, Nungesser says he plans to talk to him first.
The state GOP formally announced their endorsement of Landry earlier this month and Nungesser called for LAGOP chairman Louis Gurvich and others to resign. Nungesser who he says his own father helped build in the state party, says he’s disgusted over how the party has evolved.
Nungesser says he plans to announce his intentions by January 10th.
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The SEC West Champion Tigers will close out the regular season Saturday in College Station. Coach Brian Kelly has led the Bayou Bengals to a 9-2 record with a chance at the College Football Playoffs in his first season. Kelly, who said he came to the SEC for the chance to win a national championship, says the conference lived up to his expectations…
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The Tigers have struggled against an off-the-field opponent the last couple of weeks as the flu has swept through the team. Despite the sickness, many players still try to see the field and freshman phenom Harold Perkins had his breakout game with the illness. Wide Receiver Kayshon Boutte tried to play Saturday night while sick but wasn’t able to go. Kelly says the team has been fortunate so far…
The Tigers prepare for rivalry week against Texas A&M. The Aggies were ranked sixth in the preseason polls and boasted the top recruiting class in the country, but have had a disappointing 2022 season going 1-6 in conference play so far. Kelly says the team is very talented but inexperienced…
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UL-Lafayette will visit Texas State after their 49-17 loss to FSU last weekend. The Cajuns will need to win their final game of the season for bowl eligibility. Head Coach Michael Desormeaux says the team is treating this game like a playoff game…
Cajuns quarterback Ben Woolridge will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. He earned the starting spot after sophomore Chandler Fields suffered an upper bowl injury. Fields has reclaimed the starting spot with Woolridge sidelined, but Desormeaux couldn’t overstate the importance he still has on the team on the sideline as a leader and mentor…