Unemployment is down from last year, and state Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson credits more foreign investment and tech jobs…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

FEMA announces it will not issue or renew flood insurance policies during the partial federal government shut down. This impacts those individuals selling or buying a home that’s required to have flood insurance. The governor’s office says over 501-thousand Louisiana homes depend on flood insurance.

Thursday’s heavy rain event resulted in several homes taking in water. St. Charles Parish President Larry Cochran says about 30 homes expeirenced flooding in Norco, Montz, Destrehan and New Sarpy. About a foot of rain fell in Washington Parish, which resulted in some property damage and in St. Tammany, parish emergency management director Dexter Accardo says low lying roads are covered by water…
cut 7 (07) “…the street”

Louisiana Chef John Folse and a team of cooks set a Guiness world record for the largest pot of gumbo, 68-hundred pounds. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was in Shreveport to witness it and he says it contained 983 pounds of shrimp, 590 pounds of catfish and hundreds of pounds of crab, alligator and oysters, plus rice spices and broth…
cut 13 (10) record books”:
The previous record was 58-hundred pounds.

The government shutdown is now a week old. GOP U-S Senator John Kennedy says negotiations have stalled over funding for a border wall sought by President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers…
Cut 13 (10) “…Representatives”
Kennedy blames Democratic Congressman Nancy Pelosi for not negotiating in good faith. Meanwhile, FEMA has announced that insurers cannot issue new flood insurance polices or renew policies during the shutdown.

In one month, the I-R-S will begin accepting 2018 tax returns. So what will middle class wage earners see as far as a tax break as a result of the tax reform legislation approved by Congress a year ago. Wayne Dussel is with the Louisiana C-P-A Society…
cut 6 (08) “…will see”

A charitable fund has been created to help LSU students who need an emotional support dog pay for those costs. The fund was started in honor of former LSU basketball player Wayde Sims, who was killed in a shooting in September and had an emotional support dog. Tracy Evans at the LSU Vet School says donations are pouring in…
cut 9 (12) “….was December 13th”
To donate, look up the Wayde Forever 44 Emotional Support Dog Fund and find a link to donate.

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the number of law enforcement professionals who died in the line of duty nationwide in 2018 increased by 12% over the previous year, a total of 144. CEO for the organization Chris Floyd says four officers were killed in Louisiana….
Cut 10 (08) “…among officers nationwide.”

The partial government shutdown is nearing a week old and there’s no end in sight. The 60 votes needed in the Senate to fund a border wall are not there. Many conservative advocates say Republican leaders should exercise the “nuclear option” which would allow items to pass the Senate with only a 51 vote majority, but Senator John Kennedy says that’s risky…
Cut 15 (11) “…stop them.”

Four Louisiana officers were killed in the line of duty in 2018. All of them died in traffic related incidents. Nationwide, there were 144 law enforcement officer fatalities and firearm-related deaths led the way, which is a concern to National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Craig Floyd…
cut 11 (12) “…deaths among officers”

The Jefferson Davis Sheriff’s office says the second suspect wanted in connection with the double homicide of an elderly couple near Lacassine has turned himself in. 23-year-old Javari Guidry of Houston was booked on first-degree murder and aggravated burglary charges. 21-year-old Jordan Legros turned himself in on Wednesday night.

The family of the LSU basketball player Wayde Sims, who was killed by gunfire in September, has started a charitable cause in his honor to help LSU students who need an emotional support dog. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The partial government shutdown is now nearly a week old, and Senator John Kennedy says the chances of a quick end are getting dimmer…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

FEMA announces it will not issue or renew flood insurance policies during the government shut down. This impacts those individuals trying to sell or buy home that’s required to have flood insurance. The governor’s office says over 501-thousand Louisiana homes depend on flood insurance.

Four Louisiana police officers were killed during the line of duty in 2018 and nationwide there have been 144 law enforcement fatalities this year. A 12-percent increase over last year. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund CEO Craig Floyd says in the 1970s the number was much higher…
cut 12 (12) “….a 35-percent drop”

The family of former LSU basketball player Wayde Sims, who was killed by gunfire in September, has established the Wayde Forever 44 Emotional Support Dog Fund, which will help LSUstudents with the costs associated with caring for a support dog. Senior Director of Development at the LSU Vet School, Tracy Evans, says Sims had an emotional support dog.
Cut 7 (06) “…his dog Buddha.”
Look for information on the Wayde Forever 44 Fund on the internet for a link to make a donation.

LSU arrived in Arizona last night, but freshman cornerback Kelvin Jospeh is not with the team because he violated a team rule. So that means Kary Vincent and Terrence Alexander will start at cornerback for the Tigers against U-C-F on New Year’s Day. Coach Ed Orgeron said running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire will play. Six days ago Edwards-Helaire and walk-on Jared Small were involved in a fatal shooting that authorities have determined was a justifiable homicide.

Duke Head Coach David Cutcliffe improved to 4-0 in the Independence Bowl as the Blue Devils topped the Temple Owls 56-27 in Shreveport yesterday. Daniel Jones threw for 423 yards and five touchdowns.

In basketball…the Pelicans begin a three-game homestand tonight against Dallas. The Mavericks beat New Orleans in Big D on Wednesday night 122 to 119.

and LSU hosts ULM in the final non-conference game for both teams.

Even though the Saints have locked up the number one seed in the N-F-C playoffs, there’s still something to play for on Sunday when they take on the Carolina Panthers. A win and the Black and Gold can set the franchise record for most regular wins in a single season. Quarterback Drew Brees says that’s important
Cut 16 (12) significant yes”
Veteran Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to play Sunday. He led the Vikings to the playoffs in 2015, but suffered a significant knee injury and missed all of 2016 and only played in one game last year. The 26-year-old says he’s anxious for his chance…
Cut 19 (13) “…one day at a time”
And Saints tight end Ben Watson says he’ll retire after the season, ending a 15-year career.

There are no signs that the partial federal government shutdown will end any time soon. Democrats in Washington oppose a funding bill that would pay for President Trump’s border wall. Republican US Senator John Kennedy blames the impasse on internal party politics surrounding potential House Speaker Nancy Pelosi…
cut 14 (10) “…yet”
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards says the shutdown is shameful and needs to be solved quickly.

There are many who make end of the year donations, but because of new tax rules it will be more difficult to get a deduction for your donations, because the standard deduction has been doubled. Wayne Dussel is with the Louisiana C-P-A Society…
cut 5 (09) “…do that”

According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the number of law enforcement professionals who died in the line of duty nationwide in 2018 increased by 12% over the previous year, a total of 144. CEO for the organization Chris Floyd says four officers were killed in Louisiana, one struck by a vehicle, one died in a motorcycle crash, and two were killed in automobile crashes….
Cut 10 (08) “…among officers nationwide.”
The four who died in 2018 were Zachary Police Officer Michael Lawton, Monroe Police Officer Ayriana Michelle Williams, Montgomery Assistant Chief of Police Kirt Roy Ricks III, and Slidell Police Officer Jason Michael Seals.

The Saints host Carolina on Sunday. New Orleans already owns homefield advantage throughout the N-F-C playoffs, but Quarterback Drew Brees says the Black and Gold are not taking their foot off the gas pedal…
cut 30 (16) “…ready for”
Brees needs eight more passing yards to eclipse 4,000 in a single season for a 13th straight year. A win over the Panthers will also give New Orleans 14 victories on the regular season, which would be a franchise record.

The Pelicans franchise is heading in the wrong direction as New Orleans lost its fifth straight last night, a three-point defeat in Dallas. But Head Coach Alvin Gentry says Elfrid Payton is getting closer to returning as he’s been practicing with a splint on his broken finger.

The LSU football team is expected to arrive in Arizona later this evening as they are five days away from facing U-C-F in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day. The Knights have the nation’s third best offense, averaging 545 yards a game. Tigers defensive back Jacoby Stevens says Central Florida has a lot of weapons on offense…
cut 18 (20) “….good team”
Stevens’ teammate, Kary Vincent is mourning the death of his father. Kary Vincent Senior died at the age of 49. Twice this year the former teacher and coach in Port Arthur, Texas has battled pneumonia. The second bout forced him into coma.

And at the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Duke scored three touchdowns in the third quarter on their way to a XXX win over the Temple Owls.

Southeast Louisiana remains under a tornado watch until six PM tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a strong cold front brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to the entire state today…
cut 4 (12) “…down trees”
There are reports of scattered power outages.

A Texas motorist traveling on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge was arrested yesterday for allegedly performing lewd acts on himself with his two young girls in the car. State Police Sergeant Jared Sandifer.
cut 12 (12) “…traffic stop”
47-year-old James Toomey of Spring, Texas, has been charged with Indecent Behavior and Contributing to the Delinquency of Juveniles.

There’s some good news regarding the number of traffic fatalities in Louisiana. State Police Trooper Glenn Younger says 655 have died in traffic crashes this year, but that’s a double-digit percent decline from this same time last year…
cut 11 (09) “…on our way”
Younger says you can expect increased patrols during the New Year’s holiday.

One of the two men suspected in the double homicide of an elderly couple near Lacassine is in custody. Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff Chief Deputy Chris Ivey says 21-year-old Jordan Legros of Welsh turned himself in last night, which is a relief to those who knew the victims, Walter and Darlene Gotreaux…
cut 8 (10) “….this happen”
The search continues for 23-year-old Javari Guidry.