16:30 LRN Newscast November 20

A recent JMC Analytics poll shows Democrat John Bel Edwards’ lead over Republican David Vitter is down to the single digits. Jeff Palermo reports…
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The state’s unemployment rate rose slightly to six-point-two percent in October based on figures from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. But that’s lower than last October when the unemployment rate was seven-percent. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the civiillan labor force lost nearly 12-thousand workers from September to October. The two main factors, low oil prices and a decline of government workers.

Law enforcement’s Click it or Ticket campaign begins Sunday. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says they’ll increase enforcement through the 29th and if you don’t buckle up, it could turn your happy holiday into a nightmare…:
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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45-percent.

The joint legislative budget committee approves Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to close a 487-million dollar budget deficit. The plan calls for cuts to state agencies, patchwork financing and tapping into the rainy day fund. Senate president John Alario says it’s not a perfect plan, but it puts something in place until a new governor takes over in January…
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Higher education was not cut under the plan.