AM Newscall December 22

The National Retail Federation says half of holiday shoppers will hit up stores on the last Saturday before Christmas, also known as “Super Saturday.” Michelle Southern reports…:

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Over 103 million Americans will take to the roads and skies between now and the first of the year.  Kelley Ray talked with Triple A’s Don Redman to find out why.

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A state police troop is bringing toys to kids stuck in the hospital for the holidays. Matt Doyle has more.

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This will be a big weekend for Christmas present crunch time, and retailers are rolling out plenty of last-minute deals to get that holiday dollar. The last Saturday before Christmas is known as Super Saturday, and LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says it’s a big day for brick and mortar stores because it’s too late for online shopping in most cases…:

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About 126 million people, or 53 percent of consumers, plan to shop on Saturday, according to a report from the National Retail Federation. Rice believes the best sellers in the few days left before Christmas will be jewelry, fragrances and of course, gift cards…:

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The NRF says of those who miss the deadline, 47 percent say they plan to take advantage of after-Christmas sales, while 46 percent say they will take their shopping back online. Rice says either way, people know the best way to find what great deals are in-store is to check online…:

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This will be a record setting holiday for traveling this Christmas.   Over 103 million Americans will take to the roads and skies between now and the first of the year.  Part of the reason behind the surge in travelers is low gas prices.  Triple-A’s Don Redman says prices are higher than they were last year, but travelers feel more confident about the economy…

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Airline fares are seeing a drop.  Some six million are expected to take to the skies during the final week of the year, a one-point-five-percent increase over 2016.  Redman says cheaper air fares started appearing over the Thanksgiving holidays and it has continued through now…

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Redman says most travelers are looking at warm weather destinations to wrap up the year…

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Redman says after all the holiday traveling is done, predictions show gas prices will be near or just below $2.00 a gallon after the first of the year.

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The roads will be packed this weekend with holiday traffic, and the Louisiana State police want everyone traveling to stay safe. Trooper Glen Younger says the stress and extended traffic times can stress drivers and sometimes lead to road rage. He says if you are driving, expect longer travel times…

 While the state isn’t expecting a white Christmas, road conditions could still be icy. Younger says motorcyclists in particular should stay up to date on their maintenance…

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Holiday season means holiday parties, and that could lead to poor decisions on the road. Younger says if you plan on drinking, make a plan and stick to it…

 

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For the seventeenth year in a row State Police troop E out of Alexandria will be delivering gifts to children who are stuck in the hospital for Christmas. The troop plans to meet Christmas Eve morning to start wrapping gifts to deliver to kids later that night. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says the troop works on the toy drive all year long.

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Moreau says any hospitalized child, regardless of background, will be getting a gift…

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Moreau says it’s his troops way of spreading a little holiday cheer…

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The Saints can qualify for the playoffs with a win over NFC South rival Atlanta or a Carolina loss this weekend.  New Orleans has the easiest road to the post season of any NFL team still trying to qualify, only needing to win one of the next two to play in January.   Quarterback Drew Brees says he would love to wrap this up and win in front of the home crowd…

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The Saints met up with the Falcons two weeks ago in a 20-to-17 loss.  Brees says even though running backs Mark Ingram was held to just 49 yards and Alvin Kamara rushed once for two yards in their last match up, he expects the ground game to be solid for the second game…

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Wideout Michael Thomas is having a stellar year, catching 94 passes for nearly 11-hundred yards.  He’s on course for catching 109 passes for the regular season.  Brees says he’s never seen an athlete do what last year’s second round pickup is able to accomplish on the field…

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The game kicks off Sunday at 12noon on FOX.