While celebrating the holiday this week, it’s important to remember a few tips to reduce the risk of injuries from fireworks.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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Roads will be packed for Wednesday.  Connor Ferrill has more.

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Good news for the Gulf south, this year’s hurricane season projections have been downgraded. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Independence Day means pyro for many celebrating the holiday.  Although fireworks are dangerous, it’s important that you do take into consideration several factors to reduce the risk of negative outcomes if you choose to fire up the festivities. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says you should start by making sure your fireworks are legal in your area.

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Browning says you should make sure that if your fireworks go into the air, they should have a stable base as you should not handle fireworks as they are ignited.

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Browning says when celebrating, be prepared to extinguish embers that may still be burning after the fireworks have been ignited.

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In conclusion, Browning says a safer option is checking out one of the almost fifty public displays around the state.

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AAA estimates this Fourth of July holiday will see a record-breaking 47 million Americans travel 50 miles or more. This is a five percent increase over last year and AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says the growing economy is propelling families to travel…

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AAA says the statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline is $2.57, which is the highest in four years for Independence Day. But Redman travelers are paying less for airfare, which has resulted in a record-breaking three-point-eight million people traveling by air…

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Redman says Europe is a popular Fourth of July destination this year as well as theme parks and cruises…

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Moody’s investor Service has raised Louisiana’s credit outlook from negative to stable, in a sign that Wall Street may be gaining more confidence in the Bayou State economy. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says this was one of the many reason the Edwards administration pushed for a stable final budget deal.

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After a sustained period on the negative watch list, Dardenne says the Moody’s decision is a validation of the governor’s financial policy.

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Many legislators were hesitant to approve a tax bill without a short sunset period, to allow the next governor to have a bigger say over state finances, but Dardenne says the final 4.45 percent sales tax plan that lasts until 2025 was the long-term stability the state needed.

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Colorado State forecasters are downgrading their expectations for this year’s hurricane season, now saying we’re looking at a below average season for tropical activity. Colorado State University Research Scientist Phillip Klotzbach says they’re now projecting 10 more named storms, four hurricanes, and one major hurricane before the end of the season. He says conditions have changed over the last month.

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But Klotzbach says that doesn’t mean the gulf coast should get complacent. He warns that just because fewer named storms are predicted, doesn’t mean that one mega storm won’t cruise in and cause havoc.