The National Weather Service reports a deadly tornado that tore through central Louisiana was a highly powerful EF-3.
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle
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Governor Edwards highlights the success of his administration during 2019, the final year of his first term. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Senator John Kennedy says Democrats may support impeachment in the House, but there’s next to no shot the Senate will vote to remove the President.
Kennedy says House Democrats failed to prove the President tried to without military aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into the Bidens.
Cut 3 (07) “…fried chicken.”
Polls show Americans are still sharply divided on the issue along partisan lines, and Kennedy says the Upper Chamber is as well, which makes the odds of President Trump being removed slim to none.
Cut 4 (11) “…as well”
An AP poll of House Representatives shows Democratic defections on impeachment in the House will be in the low single digits.
Once the House votes to impeach, Kennedy says the Senate will take up the issue in the first week of the New Year.
Cut 5 (10) “Trump”
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A tornado that flattened parts of central Louisiana during it’s 62 mile trip from DeRidder to Alexandria is confirmed to have peaked at EF-3, with winds of 140 to 160 miles per hour.
NWS Forecaster Kent Kuyper says the twister peaked at a remarkable 400 yards wide but varied wildly depending on where it was.
Cut 6 (07) “…strength.”
Kuyper says it’s the biggest tornado he’s seen strike the region in his 20 years out of Lake Charles…
Cut 7 (08) “…EF-2”
The system was a full EF-3 when it entered southwest Alexandria, but had dipped down to around an EF-1 when passing south of Leesville.
The tornado grew as the system moved through the region, and Kuyper says he had upgraded the situation from a regular tornado, before making a rare declaration as it approached Alexandria…
Cut 8 (11) “dangers.”
One person died in Vernon Parish as a result of the event when their mobile home was crushed by another trailer that had been flung by the high winds.
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At his end of the year press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards said it’s a good time to be a Louisianan right now. Edwards says not only can the state say it’s home to LSU and the Saints, but Louisiana’s economy continues to grow
Cut 9 (13) “…in Lousiana”
Edwards says one of the big economic development wins this year was the retaining of CenturyLink’s corporate headquarters in Monroe through 2025.
The governor says they continue to see positive results from the expansion of the Medicaid program, which is providing insurance to 466-thousand residents. Edwards says a recent Tulane study found more people are going to the doctor and taking their necessary medication
Cut 10 (07) “…our goal”
Edwards says in 2019 budget stability was achieved for the first time in years. He says it led to a pay raise for teachers and additional investments into education
Cut 11 (10) “in a decade”
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A spirited debate is ongoing on the House floor today ahead of tonight’s vote to impeach President Donald Trump. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond is the lone member of Louisiana’s House delegation who supports removing President Trump out of office because he’s doing irreparable harm to our country…
Cut 12 (11) “…Donald Trump”
Richmond says Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine into investigating a political rival in exchange for military aid
Cut 13 (07) “…to justice.”
But Republican Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson from Benton says it’s the House Democrats who are abusing their power
Cut 14 (13) “…due process.”