PM Newscall November 22nd

A National Retail Federation survey finds nearly six out of 10 Americans will shop either in a store or online or both over Thanksgiving Weekend. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A Monroe family has made a generous donation to State Police Troop F to keep troopers safe in the field. Halen Doughty has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The National Retail Federation expects 59-percent of Americans will shop both in-store or online during the Thanksgiving weekend. Spokesperson Ana Serafin Smith says it’s a slight increase from last year…

Cut 3 (10) “as last year”

Smith says Black Friday remains the busiest day of the weekend with 74-percent planning to shop that day. She says folks of all ages will shop on Black Friday, especially Millennials, as they estimate 86-percent of 18-24 year olds plan to shop.

cut 4  (09) “and deals”

Smith says there’s good news for local businesses as 24-percent of consumers plan to shop on Small Business Saturday, which is up from last year

Cut 5  (10)  “everywhere else”

______________________________________

Amidst tensions between Louisiana law enforcement and the public, one Monroe family is making sure State Troopers are safe in the field. Bunzy Bryant and his wife, Lynn, donated 90 bulletproof vests to State Police Troop F in Monroe. Bryant says these vests are extra protection beyond what the troopers wear every day.

Cut 6 (11) “AK-47”

Bryant says they have been close with Troop F for 16 years and have helped their Christmas drives, crawfish boils, and softball games for years. He says State Police is part of their family, and they want to keep the troopers safe.

CUT 7 (10)  “at night”

Bryant says he and his wife have gotten tons of calls from people expressing their thanks for the family’s donation, including one call from Governor John Bel Edwards. He says they want to spread the word to criminals that our boys are protected, and they have another message for the public.

Cut 8 (11) “of them”

_____________________________________

A Lafayette man attempting to push a disabled U-Haul trailer to the side of the road was struck and killed by an 81-year-old semi-truck driver. State Police Master Trooper Brooks David say the fatal crash happened this morning just after 1:00 am in Henderson.

Cut 9 (10)  “doing so”

The trailer belonged to 26-year-old Tanika Adams. David says the semi-truck driver hit Adams, another person, 25-year-old Vineeth Keesara, the trailer and the two vehicles on the side of the road. He says Keesara was pronounced dead at the scene and Adams was transported to Lafayette General Medical Center.

Cut 10 (09) “critical injuries”

David says Troopers are still investigating how the trailer got detached. He says the driver of the 18-wheeler voluntarily submitted to a chemical test.

cut 11 (10) “this crash”

________________________________________________

State auditors are unsure if the Attorney General’s Office improperly spent nearly $25 million. Beth Davis with the Legislative Auditor’s Office says they requested support for 28 transactions totaling $24.7 million from an escrow account that receives money from court settlements, fines, and other penalties.

cut 12 (07) “were incomplete”

Davis says they can’t say whether or not any illegal transactions took place, because there is no documentation, but they can’t confirm the dealings were appropriate either. She says they’ve asked the AG’s Office to explain what happened to the money.

Cut 13 (09) “could locate”

AG Jeff Landry, who took office in January, issued a statement blaming his predecessor for poor-record keeping. But Davis says the transactions occurred over the span of two fiscal years- the one ending June 30 of 2015 and the one ending June 30 of 2016.

cut 14 (08) “current administration”

________________________________________________