AM Newscall, December 22nd, 2015

The American Automobile Association projects a record number of Americans will hit the road this holiday season. Jeff Palermo reports…

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Louisiana’s population grew by 22-thousand over the last year based on the lastest Census estimates. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The body of a three year old child who wandered away from his house Monday night, was found in a canal the following morning by the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Michelle Southern reports…:

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Much of the state could experience severe weather today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this warm-humid air mass that’s over the state could produce flash flooding, damaging winds, hail and tornadoes…

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Keim says higher rainfall totals are anticipated in southeast Louisiana, while the threat of severe weather extends across the entire state…

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Keim says rain chances will remain high through Christmas Day, but today provides the highest risk for severe storms

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For the first time on record, the American Automobile Association projects that over 100 million holiday travelers will hit the road this year. That’s nearly one in three Americans traveling 50 miles or more for the holidays. AAA spokesman Don Redman says this is a huge number…

CUT 7 (07)  “for Thanksgiving”

He says of the expected 100.5 million holiday travelers this year, more than 90-percent will get to their holiday destination by car. Redman suggests getting your car checked before hitting the road for the holiday. He says this year’s holiday season is the “perfect storm” for people traveling…

Cut 8  (06)  “since 2009″

He says lower gas prices, an improved economy, and holidays falling on the weekend make it much easier for people to travel this holiday season. Redman says, while airfare is slightly lower this year, there are other travel needs that will cost you a bit more…

Cut 9 (08)  “increasing slightly”

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New Census numbers show Louisiana added nearly 22-thousand residents to its population from July 1st 2014 to July of this year. Demographer Elliot Stonecipher says the slight increase is due to more births compared to deaths and an increase in citizens from foreign countries

Cut 10 (09) “in migrants” 

Stonecipher says Louisiana finished with a net loss of 74-hundred residents, when you look at migration totals within the United States. Meaning, the bayou state lost more of its residents to other states than they took in. He says that problem could get worse, if oil prices remain low…

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Louisiana’ population is at four-point-six million and since 2010, the state has grown by 137-thousand residents, which is a three-percent increase. The state lost a Congressional district following the 2010 census, but Stonecipher doesn’t expect that to happen again in 2020, unless there’s a massive loss of jobs in the oil industry, because of low oil prices

Cut 12 (07) “four or five years”

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The body of a three year old child who wandered away from his house Monday night, was found in a canal the following morning by the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Kevin Cobb says they were called to the home near Crowville around 4am yesterday and learned that the child left the residence while everyone was sleeping…:

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Cobb says once the parents learned the child was not in the home, they contacted authorities and a vigorous search began. He says around 7am Tuesday morning, they located the body of the child…:

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Cobb says the child succumbed to apparent drowning in the ditch about 200 yards from his house. He says this is a horrible tragedy that has rocked their small community…:

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Saints quarterback Drew Brees reportedly has a torn plantar fascia in his right foot and is awaiting a second opinion. That’s according to ESPN’s Ed Werder, who says the injury affects his planting foot when he throws. Saints sideline reporter Kristian Garic says even though the Saints are out of playoff contention, Brees will try to play, if the doctors give him the ok

Cut 16  (11)  “during a game”

Brees suffered the injury in the first half of Monday night’s loss to Detroit. Garic says expects Brees will do all he can to make sure he’s on the field this Sunday when the Saints host Jacksonville

Cut 17 (16) “going to play”

Some Saints say this is a good opportunity to play last year’s third round draft pick Garrett Grayson. But Garic wonders if Grayson is ready to play

Cut 18 (15) “zero reps”

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