It’s Christmas Day a day to open presents, visit with family, eat food and today there will be plenty of sports to watch. The Pelicans will face the Heat to begin the NBA’s five-game extravaganza. And the Saints host the Vikings for a rare Friday afternoon 3:30 kick-off in the Dome.

The LHSAA Prep football Classic begins Sunday in Natchitoches and Brooke Thorington says the city is putting out the red carpet…
cut 2 (30) “…Brooke Thorington”

The Louisiana Legislature had its hands full in 2020 and 2021 also looks busy. Redistricting will be a priority once all of the census data comes in. Crowley Republican John Stefanski has been named chairman of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the drawing of political lines. But Stefanski says it’s also likely the state will face a COVID-induced budget deficit when they return in April for the regular session…
cut 5 (08) “….redistricting”
That special session would take place in June.

The Day 1 Families Fund awards Catholic Charities of Acadiana a $5-million dollar grant to help families facing homelessness. Catholic Charities Spokesperson Ben Broussard says with the pandemic and two major hurricanes the grant couldn’t have come at a better time.
Cut 6 (11) “…homelessness.”
The money comes from a charitable organization created by the founder of Amazon, Jeff Bezos.

The Catholic Charities of Acadiana has received a five-million-dollar grant to help solve family homelessness. Catholic Charities of Acadiana spokesperson Ben Broussard says with mass evictions and the hurricanes they’ve spent half a million dollars to keep families from being homeless. He says the five million dollar grant from the Day One families fund will help them build a new shelter and aid more families…
cut 8 (11) “…right there”

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder names Crowley Representative and Republican John Stefanski the chair of House and Governmental Affairs, the committee tasked with overseeing redistricting next year. We don’t have census data just yet but Stefanski says they’re confident about one thing…

Cut 3 (08) “…right now.”
Ten years ago the state lost a congressional seat after a population loss post-Hurricane Katrina.

The Saints look to win the NFC South today and avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Vikings for a 3:30 kick-off. Minnesota is 6-8 on the season and need a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins…
cut 12 (08) “…A-game
New Orleans has lost to the Vikings twice in the playoffs in recent history, both times Minnesota won on the final play.

Natchitoches is preparing to host the L-H-S-A-A’s Prep Football Classic. The four-day event begins Sunday. This is a real tourism opportunity for Natchitoches as they have an already scheduled fireworks show set for Saturday night and they hope football fans check out their renowned Christmas lights…
cut 10 (12) “….and scenes”
That’s Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission spokesperson Kelli West.

The Saints look to win the NFC South today and avoid a three-game losing streak when they host the Vikings for a 3:30 kick-off. Minnesota is 6-8 and need a win to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins…
cut 12 (08) “…A-game
New Orleans has lost to the Vikings twice in the playoffs in recent history, both times Minnesota won on the final play.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the state’s Phase Two coronavirus restrictions, which includes the statewide mask mandate, to January 13th. Edwards says hospitalizations have exceeded the level reached during the second surge in July. He says it’s clear we still have a lot of work to do, but there is light at the end of the tunnel…
cut 9 (07) “….here yet”
The state health department reported yesterday that 22-thousand health care workers have been vaccinated.

The first Amazon fulfillment center in Louisiana will be in Lafayette Parish, the online giant will construct the center in Carencro. Gregg Gothreaux, CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority says it’s a big boost for the area and not just because they will hire 500 employees.
Cut 10 (11) “…a year.”
Construction of the fulfillment center is expected to be completed by the end of 2021 and Gothreaux says hiring will begin three months prior to opening.

AAA says the pandemic has reduced holiday travel by 29-percent. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Jefferson Parish Coroner says a 69-year-old passenger on a United Airlines flight bound for California has died of COVID-19. 69-year-old Isaias Hernandez of Los Angeles was experiencing respiratory issues when his flight from Orlando was diverted to New Orleans because he needed medical attention. During efforts to save Hernandez’s life his wife said he was experiencing COVID-like symptoms.

Louisiana will remain in the current Modified Phase Two for coronavirus restrictions until January 13th. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Multiple reports say former Auburn coach Terry Bowden will be announced today as the new head football coach for the U-L-M Warhawks. The 64-year-old was the head coach at Auburn from 1993-98. His last head coaching experience was at Akron from 2012 to 2018 and he has an overall record of 175-114 and 2.

There’s the potential for severe weather across south Louisiana this afternoon and into tonight as a strong cold front approaches the state, which will bring us some cold temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll see below-freezing lows on Christmas morning…
cut 13 (11) “..degrees”

You can call it a Christmas Gift for Acadiana’s economy as Amazon announces plans to build a 100-million dollar fulfillment center in the Lafayette Parish city of Carencro. The online retailer plans to hire 500 workers and Lafayette Economic Development Authority CEO Gregg Gothreaux says hiring will begin three months prior to opening…
cut 11 (07) “…etc”
Construction of the fulfillment center is expected to completed by the end of 2021.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the current coronavirus restrictions will remain in place through at least January 13th. That means, restaurants, gyms, salons, casinos and malls must limit their maximum occupancy to 50-percent, churches are restricted to 75-percent occupancy. Edwards is concerned the number of COVID patients in the hospital is at its highest number since April…
cut 8 (11) “…trouble’

Speaking of traveling, AAA is anticipating at least 34 million fewer Americans will travel this holiday season, a decline in travel of at least 29-percent. Spokesperson Nick Chabarria says they still expect as many as 84- million Americans will travel during the holidays and a vast majority will do so by car…
cut 5 (09) “…pandemic”
Chabarria says airline travel is down nearly 60-percent from last year.

500 new jobs are coming to Acadiana as Amazon has announced plans to build a fulfillment center in the Lafayette Parish city of Carencro. Lafayette Economic Development Authority CEO Gregg Gothreaux says the one-point-one million square foot facility will be located on the former Evangeline Downs site near I-10 and I-49…
cut 12 (11) “…the south”

There’s a slight risk for severe weather in south Louisiana today as a strong cold front approaches. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this front will bring us colder temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day…
cut 15 (10) “…outside”
But the first concern is the potential for severe weather today. Strong storms are expected this afternoon and into tonight in south Louisiana. There’s a marginal risk for central Louisiana.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the current Modified Phase Two restrictions for at least another three weeks citing the state’s high number of COVID hospitalizations, which have exceeded the level reached during the second surge in July. Edwards says the state is seeing a plateau of reported COVID-like illness and declining test positivity rates, but…
Cut 7 (04) “…quo”
So that means the statewide mask mandate stays in effect through January 13th. Restaurants, retail businesses and gyms will also remain limited to 50-percent indoor capacity and most bars will stay closed.

If you plan on holding an outdoor Christmas celebration, be prepared for temperatures 10 to 12 degrees below normal…
cut 14 (09) “….Christmases”
State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs will be in the 50s on Christmas Day as a strong cold strong front moves through today. There’s a slight chance for severe weather in south Louisiana this afternoon into tonight.

This time next year Amazon’s first fulfillment center in the state will be up and running in Lafayette Parish, Brooke Thorington on how it will impact Acadiana…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Jefferson Parish Coroner says an airplane passenger’s cause of death was respiratory failure due to COVID-19. 69-year-old Isaias Hernandez of Los Angeles was on a flight from Orlando to L-A on December 14th when the flight was diverted to New Orleans because Hernandez needed medical attention. An emergency medical technician who gave C-P-R to Hernandez has also tested positive.