US Representative John Fleming of Minden has announced his intention to run for US Senate next year. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany, state treasurer John Kennedy, and Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle are other candidates who could run for David Vitter’s seat. Political analyst Elliot Stonecipher says Fleming could run into name recognition issues, but there are ways around that…

cut 8 (12) “you have”

Vitter announced he will not seek re-election in 2016.

For the fourth year in a row, the cost for a traditional Thanksgiving meal has increased. The LSU AgCenter surveyed Baton Rouge retailers and found the cost of items to prepare a meal for 10 was $49.81, a $1.31 increase from last year. Economist Kurt Guidry says a rise in turkey prices led to this year’s price increase…

cut 4 (07) “this year”

A National Federation of Independent Business/American Express survey finds a record number of people plan to shop local for Small Business Saturday. Dawn Starns, the Louisiana state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says shoppers are often looking for unique gifts and items and that’s where your small business retailer comes in handy….

cut 14 (09) “a gift”

Starns encourages shoppers to keep local stores in mind this holiday season.

LSU Coach Les Miles does not want speculation of his firing to distract his team as it prepares for the final regular season game against Texas A&M. The coach sidestepped a question on whether he’s spoken with any LSU administrators about his job security saying the only instruction he’s received is to continue doing his job…

cut 12 (06) “eleven years”

Speculation over whether LSU would fire Miles at the end of the season intensified last week as a result of a published report in the Advocate newspaper.