Retired US Army General Wesley Clark is in Louisiana pushing the federal free cell phone program despite complaints from Senator David Vitter saying it’s a waste of tax payer dollars. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

State Farm auto insurance customers in Louisiana will soon see a rate increase. Customers will see rates rise by an average of 3.7 percent statewide. Rate increases will begin December 8th and existing customers will see the increase when they renew their policies. State Farm’s last auto insurance rate increase was in February.

With falling oil prices having a negative impact on the state’s oil and gas industry, many analysts say layoffs are in the industry’s near future. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Don Briggs says oil prices in the $70 to $80 dollar a barrel range can be problematic for a while…

cut 6 (08) “period of time”

He says the low prices for oil are forcing companies to pull back and reassess their budgets.

A tame cougar was found dead in Calcasieu Parish and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is trying to find the owner. LDWF Wildlife Division Director Rob Gosnell says the cougar was about 10 years old and weighed 70 pounds. He says it is unlawful to kill a cougar in Louisiana…

cut 8 (10) “we’ll take it from there“

He also says cougars are illegal to own unless you’re a zoo so they are trying to figure out where it came from.