Drivers are enjoying the Christmas gift of low gas prices. The average price for regular unleaded is $2.50 a gallon. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says one thing keeping prices low is OPEC not adjusting production when the U.S. increased its production of refined gasoline.

Cut 7 (11) “…dollars a barrel.”

Of course, if you win tonight’s Powerball drawing, you’re never going to care about gas prices again. That’s because tonight’s estimated jackpot is a whopping 1.7-billion dollars. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says while no one has won the big prize since September 6th, almost 100 people across the country have come agonizingly close but still came away with huge paydays.

Cut 9 (09)  “…for two million.”

Just in time for Christmas, flu activity is rampant across the country, especially in Louisiana. Dr. David Janese (juh-NEESE) with Ochsner LSU Health says emergency rooms throughout the state are seeing more and more people sick with the flu.

Cut 10 (07) “…illness criteria.”

Nationwide, the CDC says about 4.6-million people have become sick with the flu, including almost 50-thousand hospitalizations and about two-thousand deaths.

The public service commissioner who spearheaded the new policy streamlining the process for data centers and other large projects to access the energy they need is clearing up some misconceptions. While the Alliance for Affordable Energy says the new policy will cause bills for residential customers to spike, Commissioner J.P. Coussan says there are safeguards in place to keep costs from spiraling out of control.

Cut 14 (08) “…the best cost.”

Just in time for Christmas, flu activity is rampant across the country, especially in Louisiana. Dr. David Janese (juh-NEESE) with Ochsner LSU Health says emergency rooms throughout the state are seeing more and more people sick with the flu.

Cut 10 (07) “…illness criteria.”

Dr. Janese says nearly one-fourth of all flu tests are coming back positive.

The flu is also infecting wild birds in the form of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the birds can transmit the virus to domestic dogs and cats, and in rare cases, humans. State Wildlife Veterinarian Jonathan Roberts says if you find a sick or dead wild bird, contact LDWF and have an agent pick it up.

Cut 5 (09) “…to wash that.”

There’s a new policy that streamlines the process for data centers and other large projects to access the energy they need, and the public service commissioner who spearheaded it is clearing up some misconceptions about it. Commissioner J.P. Coussan says it’s not a rubber stamp for utility companies to charge what they want to charge in order to expedite these big projects.

Cut 15 (10) “…of this project.”

Here we go again with a huge Powerball jackpot up for grabs. The estimated jackpot for tonight’s drawing is 1.7-billion dollars. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says while no one has won the big prize since September 6th, almost 100 people across the country have come agonizingly close but still came away with huge paydays.

Cut 9 (09)  “…for two million.”

A Christmas carriage ride in downtown Lake Charles takes a tragic turn Monday night when a driver plows into the carriage. Lake Charles Police Lieutenant Jeffrey Keenum says people were on board at the time, and at least two people were hospitalized.

Cut 23 (09) “…wonderful holiday season.”

49-year-old Monica Guillory of Lake Charles is facing three charges.

Things that are expanding this holiday season – credit card balances from buying presents, waistlines due to overindulging in fruitcake, and the Powerball jackpot because no one can match the five white balls and the Powerball. Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says the estimated jackpot for tonight’s drawing is 1.7-billion dollars.

Cut 8 (11) “…Mega and Powerball.”

One thing that would put a damper on Christmas is the flu, and the virus is running rampant in Louisiana and across the country. Dr. David Janese (juh-NEESE) with Ochsner LSU Health says this is the time of year when flu activity tends to increase.

Cut 12 (08) “…home for Christmas.”

The flu is even spreading among the state’s wild bird population, in the form of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The LDWF is reporting a resurgence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the state’s wild bird population. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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As you drive to your Christmas destination, you can do so without giving too much money to the gasoline companies. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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With the jackpot skyrocketing, Powerball fever is gripping Louisiana. Andre Champagne reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is causing mortality in wild birds, especially in Southwest Louisiana. State Wildlife Veterinarian Jonathan Roberts says the virus affects various species differently.

Cut 4 (09) “…disease in geese.”

The virus can also occasionally transfer to mammals, including domestic cats and dogs, and in rare cases, humans. Health officials consider this strain of the virus to be a minimal threat to humans, but Roberts says if you find sick or dead wild birds, contact the LDWF to remove them safely.

Cut 5 (09) “…to wash that.”

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People hitting the road for the Christmas holiday road can fill their gas tanks and have money left over for some last minute gifts. Don Redman with Triple-A Louisiana says gas prices are the lowest they’ve been since 2020.

Cut 6 (13) “…and a quarter.”

Redman says one thing keeping prices low is OPEC not adjusting production when the U.S. increased its production of refined gasoline.

Cut 7 (11) “…dollars a barrel.”

Redman says the holiday season is typically the time of year when gas prices are at their lowest.

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Things that are expanding this holiday season – credit card balances from buying presents, waistlines due to overindulging in fruitcake, and the Powerball jackpot because no one can match the five white balls and the Powerball. The jackpot has rolled over every drawing since September 6th, and Chrislyn Maher (“mayor”) with the Louisiana Lottery says the estimated jackpot for tonight’s drawing is 1.7-billion dollars.

Cut 8 (11) “…Mega and Powerball.”

While no one has won the big prize, almost 100 people across the country have come agonizingly close. Maher says they still came away with huge paydays.

Cut 9 (09)  “…for two million.”

Of course, you have a much better chance of being struck by lightning or being cast in the lead role of a major motion picture than you have of winning Powerball. But in any event, good luck!

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This will certainly put a damper on a festive holiday season – flu activity is rampant across the country, especially in Louisiana. Dr. David Janese (juh-NEESE) with Ochsner (Ox-ner) LSU Health says emergency rooms throughout the state are seeing more and more people sick with the flu.

Cut 10 (07) “…illness criteria.”

Dr. Janese says the number of people testing positive for the flu is staggering.

Cut 11 (05) “…only trending upward.”

Janese says this is the time of year when flu activity tends to increase.

Cut 12 (08) “…home for Christmas.”

Nationwide, the CDC says about 4.6-million people across the country have become sick with the flu, including almost 50-thousand hospitalizations and about two-thousand deaths.

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The Public Service Commissioner who spearheaded a new policy that streamlines the process for large projects like data centers to access the energy they need is clearing up some misconceptions about the new policy. The policy states that utilities looking to build infrastructure to power those projects no longer have to prove that the generation is the cheapest and most reliable on the market. The Alliance for Affordable Energy says residential customers will see their utility bills skyrocket as a result, but Commissioner J.P. Coussan says that’s not true.

Cut 13 (09)  “…on this deal.”

Coussan says there are still safeguards in place to keep utility costs from spiraling out of control.

Cut 14 (08) “…the best cost.”

Coussan says the new policy is not a rubber stamp for utility companies to charge what they want to charge in order to expedite these big projects.

Cut 15 (10) “…of this project.”

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Yahoo Sports’ Caroline Fenton reviewed the start of the Lane Kiffin era at LSU on Tiger Rag Radio. She says it was always a home run hire, but she’s still been impressed by his enthusiasm to embrace the program and the all-star coaching staff he’s put together.

Cut 16 (16) “…could be better.”

One of Kiffin’s claims to fame is how effectively he’s used the transfer portal to build his roster in Oxford. Fenton says finding players in the portal and bringing in former players from Ole Miss can be a recipe for instant success.

Cut 17 (19)  “…why not?”

Two Rebels Kiffin is sure to target are quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. Fenton says with Harlem Berry and Caden Durham already on the roster and a nearly two-million-dollar NIL offer in Oxford, Kiffin may not be able to persuade Lacy despite their connection.

Cut 18 (20)  “…room already.”

A LaPlace woman was arrested for allegedly setting fire to a home with a child still inside.

Cut 6 (08) “…intentionally set.”

Ken Pastorick with the State Fire Marshal’s Office says because there was a working smoke detector in the house, the child was able to get out unharmed.

Eight years later, an arrest is made in the murder of a Washington Parish mother of three. Deputies arrested Scott Jordan in connection with the 2017 deadly shooting of 40-year-old Donna Arceneaux inside her home. Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith says this case has weighed on the community ever since that late October day that year.

Cut 3 (09) “…to its conclusion.”

Jordan is in the Washington Parish Jail on one count of second-degree murder; his bond has been set at two-million dollars.

With Governor Landry also serving as special envoy to Greenland, how does that affect his job at home? LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says while there are state laws that prohibit people from holding two offices at the state time, those refer to state positions. Thus, a volunteer role as a special envoy would not fall into that category.

Cut 11 (07) “…regard to that.”

There’s a new policy that streamlines the process for data centers and other large projects to access the energy they need, and the public service commissioner who spearheaded it is clearing up some misconceptions about it. Commissioner J.P. Coussan says it’s not a rubber stamp for utility companies to charge what they want to charge in order to expedite these big projects.

Cut 15 (10) “…of this project.”

After eight years, an arrest is made in the killing of a Washington Parish mother of three. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A 43-year-old LaPlace woman was arrested after allegedly setting fire to a home with a child still inside. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Eight years later, an arrest is made in the murder of a Washington Parish mother of three. Deputies arrested Scott Jordan in connection with the 2017 deadly shooting of 40-year-old Donna Arceneaux inside her home. Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith says this case has weighed on the community ever since that late October day that year.

Cut 3 (09) “…to its conclusion.”

Sheriff Smith says while there had been talk back then about Arceneaux’s death being a suicide, law enforcement never officially reached that conclusion – the case simply went unsolved.

Cut 4 (11) “…an unsolved murder.”

Smith says after he became sheriff, he took the case back from State Police, and investigators quickly zeroed in on Jordan.

Cut 5 (09) “…to think otherwise.”

Jordan is in the Washington Parish Jail on one count of second-degree murder; no bond has been set as of yet.

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A LaPlace woman was arrested for setting fire to a home with a child still inside last Friday night. State Fire Marshal spokesman Ken Pastorick says investigators determined that the blaze was intentionally set.

Cut 6 (08) “…intentionally set.”

(43-year-old Brandi Frank was arrested and is charged with one count each of arson and cruelty to a juvenile.) The St. John the Baptist Fire Department responded to the house fire on West Frisco Drive; and while on the scene, Pastorick says they discovered a child had been in the home when it was set ablaze.

Cut 7 (04) “…to juveniles.”

Thanks to a working smoke alarm, Pastorick says no one was hurt.

Cut 8 (04) “..out unharmed.”

He says smoke alarms save lives and encourages Louisiana residents to test their alarms regularly or get one if they don’t have one.

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With Governor Landry serving as special envoy to Greenland, how does that affect his job at home? LaPolitics-dot-com editor Jeremy Alford says being that the capital of Greenland is almost three-thousand miles from Baton Rouge, that will make Landry’s new side hustle a little challenging.

Cut 9 (07)  “…away from Louisiana.”

Alford says logistics could also be an issue.

Cut 10 (09) “…would be receiving.”

Alford says while there are state laws that prohibit people from holding two offices at the state time, those refer to state positions. Thus, a volunteer role as a special envoy would not fall into that category.

Cut 11 (07) “…regard to that.”

Eight years later, an arrest is made in the murder of a Washington Parish mother of three. Deputies arrested Scott Jordan in connection with the 2017 deadly shooting of 40-year-old Donna Arceneaux inside her home. Washington Parish Sheriff Jason Smith says this case has weighed on the community ever since that late October day that year.

Cut 3 (09) “…to its conclusion.”

With Governor Landry serving as special envoy to Greenland, how does that affect his job at home? LaPolitics-dot-com editor Jeremy Alford says being that the capital of Greenland is almost three-thousand miles from Baton Rouge, that will make Landry’s new side hustle a little challenging.

Cut 9 (07)  “…away from Louisiana.”

While there are state laws that prohibit people from holding two offices at the state time, that doesn’t apply in this case since this is not an official state office.

A 43-year-old LaPlace woman was arrested after allegedly setting fire to a home with a juvenile still inside. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

And now, a look at today’s commodities.

Governor Landry takes to social media to address his new side hustle. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Eight years later, an arrest is made in the murder of a Washington Parish mother of three. Deputies arrested Scott Jordan in connection with the 2017 killing of 40-year-old Donna Arceneaux inside her home. While the autopsy classified her death as a homicide, law enforcement had originally ruled her death a suicide. It’s unclear what broke the case after so many years.

One year into the repeal of the “three-year rule” that had prohibited insurance companies from dropping policyholders who had been with them for three years, only one company has taken advantage thus far. Representative Gabe Firment says that bill he authored, along with other programs like the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, have made a big impact in reshaping the state’s insurance landscape.

Cut 6 (11) “…three year rule.”

Speaking of bright futures, the Saints may have one in quarterback Tyler Shough. He has led the team to a three-game winning streak, including a 29-6 win over the Jets Sunday. In fact, the Saints have won four of Shough’s seven starts, including both games against the first place Carolina Panthers. Shough says establishing oneself as a leader is a challenge in itself, even more so as a rookie.

Cut 15 (06) “…to build that.”

Governor Landry is talking about his new side job as special envoy to Greenland. President Trump has long expressed a desire to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark, and his appointment of Landry as special envoy to Greenland is seen as an escalation of that quest. While the Danish government is livid at this development, Landry put a friendly spin on his mission.

Cut 12 (10) “…great Cajun food.”

Back at home, Landry has announced a four-day mourning period to mark one year since the New Year’s Day terrorist attack on Bourbon Street. Flags will be flown at half-staff beginning January 1st at 3:15 a.m., to coincide with the time a man drove onto Bourbon Street, plowing into a crowd of revelers, killing 14 people. On January 4th, there will be a moment of silence to remember the victims, and the governor is asking all churches to ring 14 bells. 

Despite the repeal of Louisiana’s “three-year rule” stopping insurance carriers from dropping policies older than three years last year, only one company has canceled old policies. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Don’t look now, but the Saints are riding a three-game winning streak. Head coach Kellen Moore says with a young team, he hopes that this will be a sign of things to come next year and the years to come.

Cut 14 (06) “…guys doing this.”

We’re now hearing from Governor Landry himself on his new side hustle as special envoy to Greenland. President Trump has long sought to wrest Greenland from Danish control, and Landry said he wants to help Trump achieve that goal. In a video posted to social media, Landry said he’s the one best suited to have a conversation with the government of Greenland about becoming a part of the United States.

Cut 11 (12) “…continental United States.”

A year into the repeal of the so-called “three-year rule” that had prohibited insurance companies from dropping policyholders who had been with them for at least three years, only one company has taken advantage of it so far. Representative Gabe Firment, who authored the 2024 bill, says one of the goals of his bill was to help stabilize the market.

Cut 5 (06) “…or two carriers.”

If their play the last three weeks is an indication of the future, the Saints will have some very bright days ahead of them. The Saints have won three in a row, including an emphatic 29-6 win over the Jets Sunday, and four of their last six games. Head Coach Kellen Moore says it’s good to see his team getting a taste of success.

Cut 13 (06)  “…habits right now.”

While the Saints – and the Pelicans – may be winning, Powerball players are not – at least not the big prize. Despite millions and millions of people scooping up Powerball tickets for last night’s drawing, not a single one matched all five numbers plus the Powerball number. That means the jackpot for the drawing Christmas Eve will be an estimated 1.7-billion dollars. That’ll buy a whole lot of Christmas presents. Just don’t hold your breath.