6:30 am Newscast

Louisiana is the 10th most expensive state for groceries, with residents spending an average of 283 dollars per week in 2023, compared to the national average of 270 dollars. UNO Professor of Economics Walter Lane says despite a slowdown in inflation over the past year, it still feels like prices are rising for many in Louisiana since costs are still higher than they were before 2021.

Cut 10 (07) “…gone away.”

As you get ready to cook all that food for Thanksgiving, be sure you’re practicing food safety. By now, you should be thawing your frozen turkey. But Jennifer Duhon, a registered dietician at the LSU Agricultural Center, says if you didn’t give your turkey enough time to completely thaw out, you do have another option.

Cut 4 (13) “…to be cool.”

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The 51st annual Bayou Classic is this Saturday at the Superdome. Jeff Palermo reports.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Whether you’re headed to the game, grandma’s, or anywhere else, be aware the Click it or Ticket campaign is underway this holiday weekend. Greg Fischer with the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission  says if you’re caught not wearing your seatbelt, it will cost you.

Cut 15 (05) “…75 for consecutive.”

11:30 am Newscast

Early voting is underway in the December 7th election. With this early voting period interrupted by Thanksgiving, Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says turnout is expected to be low, which would be unfortunate since everyone has something on the ballot.

Cut 4 (10) “…big mayor’s race.”
Early voting ends next Saturday, but polls are closed tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving.

A Tangipahoa Parish Jail escapee who’d been on the run since mid May, is back in custody this morning.  20-year-old Jamarcus Cyprian escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail back on May 16th; he was arrested Wednesday in Hammond.  Sheriff Gerald Sticker…

Cut 6 (06) “…with a gun.”

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Louisiana lawmakers have approved a tax reform package that will result in lower income taxes for working individuals, but a higher state sales tax rate. The individual income tax rate would be a flat three-percent rate.  Leesville Senator Mike Reese says this tax change will help grow the economy…

Cut 12 (12) “…to our state.”

The film tax credit program has been capped at 125-million dollars, down from 150-million. Legislators also voted to repeal the corporate franchise tax.  Senator Franklin Foil says this tax penalized businesses

Cut 14 (07) “…concerned.”

The tax section of Louisiana’s constitution has also been changed, which will require voter approval in March.

10:30 am Newscast

Louisiana lawmakers have approved a tax reform package that will mean lower income taxes, but higher state sales taxes.  Under the plan, the state sales tax rate will increase from 4.45 percent to five percent for the next five years. Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux is the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus

Cut 13 (12)  “…additional adjustments.”

The LSU Tigers are looking to avoid their first four-game losing streak wince 1999 as they take on Vanderbilt tonight.  Tigers head coach Bryan Kelly.

Cut 28: …

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Early voting is underway in the December 7th election. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A Sheriff’s deputy in Rapides Parish Sheriff’s is hospitalized after being shot by a patient at a psychiatric facility.  Authorities say there was a disturbance between the patient and hospital employees and the deputy intervened, trying to de-escalate the situation.

Cut 9 (12)  “…shot the suspect.”

 

9:30 am Newscast

The state Legislature has approved a major change to Louisiana’s tax laws, which will result in a cut in income taxes in exchange for higher sales taxes. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Early voting is underway in the December 7th election. Everyone across the state will be voting on four constitutional amendments, and there are also a handful of runoffs to be decided, including the race for mayor-president in Baton Rouge. Polls will be closed Sunday, Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving. Early voting ends November 30th.

A prison escapee’s run for freedom comes to an end. 20-year-old Jamarcus Cyprian escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail back on May 16th; and on Wednesday, he was arrested at an apartment complex in Hammond. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker says Cyprian was going to great lengths to change his appearance so that he would not get caught.

Cut 7 (07) “…of his hair.”

Cyprian was serving time for armed robbery.

A Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputy is recovering after being shot by a patient at a psychiatric treatment facility. It started as a disturbance between the patient and hospital employees. Tommy Carnline with the sheriff’s office says the patient shot a deputy who was trying to de-escalate the situation, and another deputy returned fire, hitting the suspect.

Cut 10 (11) “…of this time.”

8:30 am Newscast

Early voting is underway in the December 7th election. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office says what’s unique about this early voting period is that it goes straight through Thanksgiving; and as such, there are some days when the polls will be closed.

Cut 3 (11) “…their voice heard.”

Early voting ends next Saturday, but polls are closed tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving.

A Tangipahoa Parish Jail escapee who’d been on the run since mid May, is back in custody this morning.  20-year-old Jamarcus Cyprian escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail back on May 16th; he was arrested Wednesday in Hammond. Hammond. Sheriff Gerald Sticker…

Cut 6 (06) “…with a gun.”

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Louisiana lawmakers have approved a tax reform package that will result in lower income taxes for working individuals, but a higher state sales tax rate. The individual income tax rate would be a flat three-percent rate. The standard deduction would triple $12,500 dollars. Leesville Senator Mike Reese says this tax change will help grow the economy…

Cut 12 (12) “…to our state.”

The film tax credit program has been capped at 125-million dollars, down from 150-million. Legislators also voted to repeal the corporate franchise tax. Foil says this tax penalized businesses

Cut 14 (07) “…concerned.”

The tax section of Louisiana’s constitution has also been changed, which will require voter approval in March.

 

 

 

9:30 am Newscast

Meta cleared its first hurdle Wednesday on moving forward with its five-billion-dollar A-I Data Center in Richland Parish.  The Alliance for Affordable Energy, though, has voiced concerns about the project’s dependence on fossil fuels.  Executive Director Logan Burke says prioritizing clean energy could better serve both the climate and residents.

Cut 12 (13) “…in our state.”

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick is speaking out after the second deadly mass shooting in the Crescent City in five days, saying the city is safe. The latest shooting happened at the intersection of Iberville and Royal, just one block south of Bourbon Street leaving one dead and three others injured…

Cut 6 (07) “…not look random.”

A suspect is in custody in connection with yesterday afternoon’s shooting.

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Governor Landry not pulling any punches with his opinions on the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project. Speaking before the Senate Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee, Landry said not only would the project cost the state a lot of money, but he believe it would also destroy Coastal Louisiana’s culture.

Cut 8 (14) “…to oyster fish.”

Amanda Moore, the senior director of the gulf program for the National Wildlife Federation, disagrees and says without the project, communities along the coast would be more vulnerable.

Cut 10 (13) “…from storm surge.”

8:30 am Newscast

New Orleans Police want people to know the city is safe, despite a second deadly mass shooting in five days.  One person was killed and three others were injured yesterday in what investigators are calling a targeted shooting in the French Quarter. Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says while violence usually picks up during the holiday season, murders are still down in New Orleans compared to last year.

Cut 4 (10) “…us to nine.”

LSU will host Vanderbilt tomorrow as they look to bounce back from a three-game losing streak. Head Coach Brian Kelly says his team and coaching staff have been just as disappointed as Tiger fans, but his team is committed to playing better…

Cut 16 (17) “…Vanderbilt team.”

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Governor Landry had some choice words about one of the state’s massive coastal restoration projects. Colleen Crain reports.

Cut 2 (36) “…I’m Collen Crain.”

Today’s the first day of early voting for the December 7th general election in Louisiana.  Registered voters will be able to cast their ballots today through next Saturday.  Polls are open from 8:30 am until 6 pm, except on Sunday.

 

7:30 am Newscast

Governor Jeff Landry is speaking out about the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project. Speaking before the Senate Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee, Landry said the project would cost the state a lot of money.

Cut 7 (15) “…the whole coast.”

The police superintendent in New Orleans is assuring people that the city is safe following the second deadly mass shooting in a five-day span. Yesterday, one person was killed and three others injured in what investigators say was a targeted shooting in the French Quarter. Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick…

Cut 5 (10) “…were last year.”

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As the proposed five-billion-dollar Meta A-I Data Center near Monroe gets closer to final approval, it is receiving some pushback. Sean Richardson reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

State lawmakers could end the special tax session early as they settled on the final details of the Governor’s tax package late yesterday. The Senate is expected to approve the package first today, followed by the house.  Lawmakers technically have until 6 pm next Monday to wrap up the session.

6:30 am Newscast

The police superintendent in New Orleans is assuring people that the city is safe following the second deadly mass shooting in a five-day span. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Meta cleared its first hurdle Wednesday on moving forward with its five-billion-dollar A-I Data Center in Richland Parish.  But the Alliance for Affordable Energy says the facility contradicts the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels and could mean higher costs to Louisiana ratepayers.  Exexutive Director Logan Burke.

Cut 11 (11) “…it isn’t necessary.”

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Governor Jeff Landry had some choice words about the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project. Speaking before the Senate Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee, Landry said the project would cost the state a lot of money and destroy coastal Louisiana’s culture.

Cut 8 (14) “…to oyster fish.”

They’re not on LSU’s football schedule, but the Tigers lost to Michigan last night. The nation’s top recruit for next season, quarterback Bryce Underwood, has decommitted from LSU and will instead play for the Wolverines. Vice president and executive editor of Tiger Rag magazine Todd Horne says Underwood’s move came down to just one thing.

Cut 14 (10) “…next four years.”

9:30 am Newscast

Richland Parish will see a huge economic boost when Facebook’s parent company Meta builds a five-billion-dollar artificial intelligence data center there. That’s according to Economist Loren Scott, who says one of the biggest impacts the data center will bring is job growth.

Cut 10 (09) “…shot in the arm.”

We’re told the average salary will be around 130-thousand dollars.

For the third year in a row, Louisiana’s statewide school performance score has gone up.  In the U.S. News and World Report states ranking, Louisiana has earned its highest national ranking ever, moving up from 46th to 40th. State Education Secretary Cade Brumley on the good news.

Cut 12 (06) “…work to do.”

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The Louisiana Senate is expected to vote on the tax reform bills that have made it through the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee. The committee kept the income tax plan at a flat three-percent, but it restored the historic preservation and film tax credits, and they inserted an option for local governments to tax pharmaceuticals. Committee Chairman Franklin Foil, a Republican, says there are two options on the table when it comes to sales taxes.

Cut 5 (12) “…make everything work.”

If they go the latter route, the state sales tax rate being floated is five-percent. Democrat Jay Luneau says he has concerns about raising sales taxes, which are already among the highest in the nation.

Cut 6 (11) “…clean it up.”

The special session must end by six Monday evening.