LRN PM Newscall December 23rd

Three people are dead and three others injured after a train collided with a car in New Iberia. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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If you still haven’t cleared out your Christmas list, experts say gift cards are always a huge hit with last minute shoppers. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Tonight’s Powerball prize is the second largest Christmastime jackpot the multi-state game has had in over 10 years, according to the Louisiana Lottery. Spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says tonight’s drawing is worth an estimated $227 million dollars. She says on Christmas day in 2002, the jackpot was $280 million…

CUT 3 (10)  “record yet”

The jackpot tonight has an estimated cash value of $141 million dollars. Chopin says since 2009, of the Holiday jackpots that were over $100 million dollars, 5 of them were hit during the Christmas drawing…

CUT 4 (10)  “millionaire”

She says you must purchase your Powerball ticket before 9PM to get into tonight’s drawing. Chopin says you often find larger jackpots around Christmas because more people tend to purchase lottery during the holiday season. She feels there are a couple of reasons for that…

CUT 5 (11)  “kind of gift”

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Three people are dead and three others injured after a train collided with a car in New Iberia. State Police Master Trooper Brooks David says the vehicle was stopped on the tracks and the train was unable to avoid the crash. He says three occupants of the car were pronounced dead at the scene…

CUT 6 (09) “critical condition”

He says the 70-year-old victim is identified as Phyllis Leblanc of New Iberia. The names of the two minors killed have not been released. At last report, the three injured were listed in critical condition. David says they are working to determine why the car was stopped on the tracks. He says investigators did speak to witnesses…

CUT 7 (08) “functioning properly” 

David says the warning devices at the crossing were working properly at the time. He says they believe the car came to a stop on the tracks either before or while the lights and crossing gates were activated. David says a tragedy like this is heartbreaking for the family, especially at this time of year…

CUT 8 (07) “out to them”

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The flu bug has been quiet this holiday season. According to the CDC’s latest flu count, South Carolina is the only state showing significant flu activity. Over the last three years, doctor offices were very busy with flu cases prior to Christmas. CDC medical officer Fiona Havers says eventually the flu bug will start to spread…

CUT 9 (04)  “pretty soon”

Havers says the slow start to influenza activity gives people more time to get a flu shot, if they haven’t received one already..

cut 10 (11)  “now”

Experts are not sure why previous flu seasons started prior to Christmas. Havers says they do know that this year’s vaccine protects you better from the various flu strains that are going around

Cut 11 (10) “vaccine”

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If you still haven’t cleared out your Christmas list, experts say gift cards are always a huge hit with last minute shoppers. More consumers than ever before will purchase gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. LSU Assistant Professor of Marketing Dan Rice says gift cards are more appropriate than some people think…:

cut 12 (10) “type of gift”

The NRF says gift cards are the most-requested gift for the 8th year in a row. Rice says gift cards let the giver feel like they’ve put some effort into which one to select that would fit their friends and relatives passions…:

cut 13 (10)  “Best Buy”

CardHub’s list of the most popular choices this year include Visa gift cards, Amazon and American Express. Starbucks loaded $5.1 billion dollars onto cards between October 2014 and September 2015, according to the company. Rice says cash is becoming more taboo,as gifters and giftees feel it’s far too impersonal…:

cut 14 (07)  “at one point” 

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