Job gains are continuing in the Bayou State, as we added 21,900 jobs from December of 2017 to December of 2018.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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The hearse that carried that at one time carried the remains of MLK is now on display in Baton Rouge.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

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What could have gone down as one of the best moments in sports history for Louisiana, goes down as one the worst thanks to a missed call. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana now has 15 straight months of employment gains, and added 21,900 jobs from December of 2017 to December of 2018, putting the state’s unemployment rate at 4.9 percent. Workforce Commission chief economist Ali Bustamante says more than half of those gains came from one market.

Cut 4 (6) “…manufacturing.”

New Orleans added 12,600 jobs from 17 to 18, and Baton Rouge added 5,200.

Lafayette looks like it’s beginning to bounce back from the slow decline of the oil and gas industry, adding 2,200 jobs from December 2017 to 2018. Bustamante says the job market in Acadiana is beginning to diversify.

Cut 5 (10) “…areas.”

Houma unfortunately did not fare so well as other market, where 700 jobs have disappeared year to year. Bustamante says that’s due to a major change in the energy sector…

Cut 6 (10) “…employment levels.”

Louisiana as a whole added 1,100 jobs from November to December of 2018.

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The hearse that carried Martin Luther King Jr. to his final resting place is now on display in Baton Rouge as part of the Carrying on the Dream exhibit at Capitol Park Museum and will be on display for the next year.  Raising Cane’s founder and CEO Todd Graves recently acquired the 1966 Cadillac 616 Superior Coach…

Cut 7 (12) “…need to see.”

Graves says he plans to display the historic vehicle in other cities following it’s time in Baton Rouge.  The exhibit will also feature many pieces and photos from King’s era. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it’s great to have an important piece of history on display in Baton Rouge as Louisiana gets ready to put together a civil rights trail along with other southern states.

Cut 8 (08) “…a perfect timing.”

Graves says the hearse is a sobering reminder of what King did to change the world…

Cut 9 (09) “…our country.″

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The Saints Super Bowl hopes were dashed inside a stunned Superdome on Sunday by a miss pass interference call and a 57-yard field goal in O-T to give the Rams a 26-23 win over the Black and Gold. New Orleans had a chance to win in regulation, but thanks to a missed pass interference call, L-A was able to tie the game. Coach Sean Payton says the league office has told him, the refs blew the call

Cut 10 (11) “to swallow.”

Payton says the N-F-L told him that not only was it pass interference on the Rams Nickell Robey-Coleman, but it was also helmet-to-helmet contact on Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. Payton says the technology is in place to use instant replay to review that type of play…

Cut 11 (10) “…though”

Quarterback Drew Brees said after the game he plans on being back next season to make another run at the Super Bowl, but says this loss will be tough to get over and part of the reason why is that missed P-I call

Cut 12 (12) “…tough”

Brees says the missed pass interference call is something he can not control, so he’ll focus on the opportunities missed to score more points as they had to settle for three field goals on the afternoon…

Cut 13 (15) “…counted.”

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The Saints season is over, one game away from a second Super Bowl trip in franchise history. Many who dats are blaming the officiating, specifically a missed pass interference call in the final two minutes…

Cut 14 (11) “…no call rather.”

Saints fans are already not happy with the NFL as a result of the bounty gate investigation that cost Coach Sean Payton to miss the entire 2012 season. The no call on pass interference as Who Dats even more frustrated…

Cut 15 (14) “…not fair”

The Rams are now heading to Atlanta to play in Super Bowl 53. The team from L-A will not get a lot of support from Louisiana…

Cut 16 (11)  “..in our house”

An absolute heart breaking loss for the Saints in the NFC Championship game. New Orleans had a chance to win in regulation, but a missed pass interference call gave the Rams a chance and they took advantage of it and won 26-23 in overtime. Coach Sean Payton says the league office told him afterwards, the refs should have called pass interference and targeting on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman towards the end of regulation
cut 10 (11) “to swallow.”
Here’s what the officials told Robey-Coleman after the play…
cut 30 (15) “…in the air”
But the ball was not tipped and it goes down as one of the biggest blown calls in NFL history.
The state workforce commission says employment has increased by nearly 22-thousand jobs from December 2017, marking the 15th straight month for over-the-year increase. Workforce commission chief economist Ali Bustamante says even the Lafayette market, which has seen oil and gas job losses over the last decade, increased its workforce by 22-hundred jobs from December…
cut 5 (10) “…areas”
But Houma saw a decline in 700 jobs over the last year.

If you vist the State Capitol over the next year, you can walk across the street and see the hearse that brought Martin Luther King Junior to his final resting place. CEO of Raising Cane’s, Todd Graves, purchased the 1966 Cadillac and has loaned it to the Capitol Park Museum. Graves says the hearse is a sobering reminder of what King did to change the world…
cut 9 (09) “….our country”
The exhibit will also feature many pieces and photos from King’s era.

A blown call by the officials towards the end of regulation in yesterday’s NFC Championship game has Saints fans in absolute disgust this morning, as the Rams are heading to the Super Bowl instead of New Orleans. The NFL has admitted the officials should have called a pass interference and targeting on Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman when he hit Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis before he had a chance to catch a pass. Quarterback Drew Brees says it was an obvious call…
cut 12 (12) “…that’s tough”
And don’t expect Saints fans to root for the Rams when they take on the Patriots in Super Bowl 53…
cut 16 (11) “…in our house”
It was the first time an away team won a conference championship game since the 2012-13 season.

The hearse that carried Martin Luther King Jr. to his final resting place is now on display in Baton Rouge as part of the Carrying on the Dream exhibit at Capitol Park Museum and will be on display for the next year. Raising Cane’s founder and CEO Todd Graves recently acquired the 1966 Cadillac…
Cut 7 (12) “…need to see.”
Graves says he plans to display the historic vehicle in other cities following it’s time in Baton Rouge.

The federal government shutdown is in its 30th day. Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber has told federal employees on furlough and living in his parish that they will receive an extension to pay property taxes, if they are due and they will not face any interest or penalties.

A lot of people showed up to work wearing a Saints jersey today as the Black and Gold are on the cusp of reaching the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history. Governor John Bel Edwards was at last week’s 20-14 come from behind playoff win over the Eagles and he’ll be there again on Sunday…
cut 3 (09) “…28 to nothing”

In West Monroe, there’s a group of people who will be rooting for Los Angeles That’s because former West Monroe and LSU star Andrew Whitworth plays left tackle for the Rams. In his 13th NFL season, he finally won his first playoff game last week and doesn’t want to stop now…
cut 5 (11) “…get there”
Kick-off on Sunday is at 2:05.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says strong storms will move through the state tonight and into tomorrow morning and then you’ll need a heavy jacket..
cut 15 (12) “…uncomfortable”
Low temperatures are expected to get below freezing in central and north Louisiana on Sunday and Monday.

The Louisiana Lottery says no one has stepped forward to claim a one-million dollar Powerball ticket that was purchased in August at Ideal mart in New Orleans. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the ticket will expire on February 21st. Annison says unclaimed prizes happen from time to time, but one of this mangitude is rare…
cut 7 (06) “….the bigger ones”
If you are the owner of this ticket from the August 25th drawing, you can claim your prize one of the Lottery’s five regional offices or at their headquarters building in Baton Rouge.

State climatologist Barry Keim warns Louisiana residents to expect a rapid change in the weather. The first part of that roller coaster starts today, where things may feel fine right now, but are set to take a drastic turn later tonight.
Cut 13 (11) “…rain.”
There’s a marginal risk for severe weather for north and central Louisiana today and for southeast Louisiana tomorrow. It will turn colder on Saturday too.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is asking Who Dat nation to be loud during Sunday’s NFC Championship game, even when the Rams offense is in the huddle. Bill from Covington is confident Saints fans will bring the noise and the team will do its part…
cut 5 (09) “….stay in Atlanta”
The NFC Championship game is Sunday at 2:05.

At the state capitol, the stalemate continues over an effort by the Edwards’ administration to increase revenue projections based on the forecast provided by economists. Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras has voted against raising revenue projections and prefers to wait, based on what happened last year when the state ended up with a surplus after approving a sales tax…
cut 12 (10) “…..or adopt”
Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne accuses Barras of playing politics.

The Southern Republican Leadership Conference is underway at the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner. State GOP leaders it’s the official kick-off in their effort to beat Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards in this year’s governor’s race.

And in Baton Rouge, over two-thousand runners will participate in the Louisiana Marathon. Governor Edwards will run in a 5-K marathon tomorrow.

It’s a warm morning, but strong storms are expected to arrive later today in north and central Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 14 (08) “…severe ”
Strong storms are possible in southeast Louisiana on Saturday morning and once the rain moves out, the cold air will move in as we’ll see low temperatures drop below freezing on Sunday and Monday morning for a good portion of the state.

The two-day Southern Republican Leadership Conference is underway at the Ponthartrain Center in Kenner. President of the event, Roger Villere, says the theme is…
cut 29 (07) “…in Louisiana”
Villere says Republicans Ralph Abraham and Eddie Rispone are expected to attend. They are seeking to defeat Governor John Bel Edwards. Villere says there will also be workshops to help Republicans who plan to run for seats in the state legislature.

It’s a Black and Gold Friday and Saints fans are confident in a victory over the Rams in Sunday’s NFC championship game…
voicer 1 (33) “…Super Bowl”

Saints Coach Sean Payton is asking fans to bring the noise, but Rams wide receiver Robert Woods is not concerned…
cut 30 (12) “…an impact”
Kick off Sunday is at 2:05.

House Republican leadership continues to block a recommendation to increase the amount of money the state has available to spend. Matt Doyle has more on the lack of inaction from the Revenue Estimating Conference…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Morehouse Sheriff deputies have arrested three men and charged them with first-degree murder in the death of 85-year-old William Wyatt Smith, who was found dead Thursday. One of the suspects is Smiths’ grandson, 29-year-old Trent Scott Little.

Hundreds of Republicans will gather for the Southern Republican Leadership Conference that begins today at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner….
cut 7 (08) “…elections in Louisiana”
That’s the past chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, Roger Villere, who says the two announced GOP gubernatorial candidates will attend and so will Republicans looking to get elected to serve political offices at all levels of government and there will be training seminars for them.

The Saints are three point favorites to beat the Rams on Sunday in the NFC title game. Louis from New Orleans is preciting a high scoring game and hopes the Black and Gold will play the Chiefs in the Super Bowl…
cut 6 (08) “…more exciting matchup”
Saints Coach Sean Payton is asking the fans to bring the noise for Sunday’s NFC Title game.