AM Newscall January 7,2016

According to a personal finance site, Ruston is one of the top 10 cities, out of about 2500 nationwide, with the least sustainable credit card debt. Michelle Southern reports..:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Governor-elect John Bel Edwards takes office on Monday and two former governors have some advice for Edwards. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The coach that guided the Saints to their only Super Bowl victory is not ready to leave the Big Easy. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (23) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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According to a personal finance site, Ruston is one of the top 10 cities out of about 2500 nationwide, with the least sustainable credit card debt. CardHub determined that the average credit card debt for a Ruston resident is $5,323. They say it would take 173 months for that debt to be paid off, at a cost of $7,138. Dr. Bill McCumber, finance professor at Louisiana Tech, says there are about 24,000 people in Ruston:

cut 4  (10)  “adds up”

Several cities on CardHub’s least sustainable credit card debt list are college towns, like Ruston. McCumber says most students are without jobs and use plastic more to pay for things with the idea they’ll get full time employment once they graduate…:

Cut 5  (09)  “to that income”

CardHub analysts looked at various data to determine the number of months required to pay off the average credit card balances and associated finance costs in 2,547 cities. McCumber believes the CardHub study is skewed, but raising awareness about credit card debt is a worthy cause…:

Cut 6 (10)  “with credit card debt” 

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Governor-elect John Bel Edwards takes office on Monday and two former governors have some advice. Democrat Kathleen Blanco, who was governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2008, says Edwards has a tough road ahead with all of the budget issues and dealing with legislators over the state’s finances is not easy…

CUT 7 (09)  “the boys”

Blanco says every new governor is tested when they first enter office. She says it remains to be seen how the governor handles those pressures with the legislature.

Cut 8  (09)  “unpredictable”

Former Republican governor Mike Foster says he had some rules to live by while in office and advises governor-elect Edwards to tell his staff to forget politics. He says to do what you think is the best for the state of Louisiana.

Cut 9 (10)  “do it”

Foster says make those who try to be your enemies your friend. He says that bit of advice is something he found to really work while in office.

Cut 10 (08) “have them” 

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Small businesses in Louisiana aren’t too optimistic about 2016. Dawn Starns, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says owners haven’t changed their negative outlook in quite some time. She says things were more upbeat a couple of years ago, but now businesses have much lower expectations…:

cut 11 (09) “with the economy”

Starns feels many Louisiana businesses are in “wait and see” mode with a brand new administration beginning Monday. She says before owners start to make decisions about whether to expand, build or bring on new staff, they’ll be waiting to see how Governor-elect John Bel Edwards plans to fix the state’s fiscal mess…:

Cut 12 (11) “of optimism”

Starns says the sluggish oil and gas industry seems to be making consumers and potential business owners nervous and uncertain about the future of Louisiana’s economy…:

Cut 13 (11)  “on Louisiana”

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Sean Payton remains the head coach of the Saints, despite weeks of speculation that he may want to coach for another NFL team. Payton spoke with reporters for about an hour talking about his love for the fans, the franchise and the city, despite all of its faults

Cut 14 (12) “it is home”

In the last several weeks, there’s been reports about team wanting to speak with Payton, who is under contract with the Saints for the next two seasons. But Payton says he can’t envision coaching for another club

Cut 15  (13) “do here”

Payton has brought the Saints to the playoffs five times since his first season in New Orleans in 2006. His postseason record is 6-4, but during his tenure, the Saints defense is often ranked as one of the worst  in the NFL. The head coach knows that has to change

Cut 16  (11)  “focus on”