A federal government shutdown tonight is becoming more likely as the President draws a line in the sand over border wall funding…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

It’s the first day of Winter, but we’ll see warmer afternoon highs this weekend and State Climatologist Barry Keim says the mild weather will stay in place through Christmas Day…
cut 16 (06) “…warmer temperatures”

The National Retail Federation finds that 134-million people will shop tomorrow as consumers try to complete their gift buying list. That’s 56-percent of all holiday shoppers, according to N-R-F spokesperson Katherine cullen…
cut 12 (09) “…over Sunday”
Gifts fo experience are growing in popularity.

The governor’s office announces Diversified Foods and Seasonings near Madisonville will spend 12-million dollars to expand and upgrade their manufacturing facility. The company will also add 44 jobs to their St. Tammany Parish plant, which makes the red beans sold at Popeyes.

Congress approves legislation awarding Saints hero and ALS advocate Steve Gleason the Congressional Gold Medal…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state’s personal income growth for the third quarter slowed to two-point-three percent, one of the lowest rates in the nation. Governor Edwards blames federal tariffs and calls for the trade war with China to end soon…
cut 14 (10) “…as possible’

A Mandeville woman who has received heat for putting inflatable dragons on her front lawn as Christmas decorations has no plans to take the dragons down. Diana Rowland says she received an anymous note that said her neighbors were wondering if she was involved in a demonic cult. But Rowland says other neighbors are accepting of the dragons…
cut 8 (09) “…dragons better”
Rowland says she has no plans to add to the five inflatable dragons that are currently up in her front yard.

Louisiana’s START K12 saving program has launched and it allows families to put money into a high interest account that can be used to pay private school tuition expenses between kindergarten and 12th grade. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says he’s excited about the accountt..
Cut 10 (11) “…college savings plan.”
To open a Start K-12 account, visit start-saving-dot-la-dot-gov.

Louisiana personal income growth tanked in the third quarter, down to 2.3 percent, good for 48th in the nation. That’s down from 4.8 and 6.6 percent in the second and first quarters respectively. Governor John Bel Edwards blames the federal tariffs, which he says has resulted in a 101-million dollar drop in farm earnings during the last quarter.
Cut 13 (08) “…their product”
But Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s more complicated than just the tariffs. While they hurt farmers, there was also heavy rains that hit just as harvest time had rolled around.
Cut 15 (10) “…plowed under”
Strain says the good news is that China has just made two huge purchases for U-S soybeans.

The START K-12 Saving program is up and running and accepting deposits for those families looking to put money into a high-interest account that can help pay for private school expenses. It works like the START saving plan, which can help families save up for college expenses. Baton Rouge Representative Franklin Foil says START K-12 can also be used, even if your child doesn’t attend private school…
cut 12 (08) “…for college tuition”
To open a start account go to start-saving-dot-la-dot-gov.

A holiday display dispute in the front of a Mandeville home has taken over social media. An anonymous note was sent to the home of Diana Rowland, by what Rowland calls a “Judgy McJudgeface” neighbor, saying her use of three inflatable dragons as decorations was inappropriate at Christmas and made her neighbors wonder if she was involved in a demonic cult. Rowland refused to take them down and instead added more…
Cut 7 (07) “…at Home Depot.”
Rowland says she’s surprised by all of the attention her Christmas dragon decorations are receiving.

The state’s personal income growth for the third quarter slowed to two-point-three percent, which is one of the lowest rates in the country. Governor John Bel Edwards blames federal tariffs, which he says is negatively impacting agricultural and petrochemical industries. He hopes the trade war with China will end soon…
cut 14 (10) “…as possible’

Congress has approved legislation to award former Saints star Steve Gleason with the Congressional Gold Medal for his work to help those who are disabled. The 41-year-old was diagnosed with A-L-S in 2011. Senator Bill Cassidy says Gleason has shown that people who suffer with disabilities can still have a meaningful life…
cut 6 (12) “…momentum”
The bill awaits the President’s signature.

Louisiana parents with children enrolled in private schools now have the ability to take advantage of the new START K12 saving program. Kevin Barnhart has the details.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana’s longest-serving Supreme Court justice, Pascal Calogero, has died at the age of 87. He was elected to the state’s highest court in 1972 and served on the bench for 36 years, before retiring in 2008. Calogero has been praised for putting rules in place regarding conduct of judges and lawyers, setting up an indigent defender system and getting students involved in the judicial system.

Governor John Bel Edwards says President Trump’s tariffs on certain imports are hurting Louisiana’s economy. Edwards blames tariffs for the reason why Louisiana’s personal income growth dropped to two-point-three percent in the third quarter, one of the lowest rates in the nation. AG and the oil and gas industries were the hardest hit. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it’s just not tariffs, wet weather has dragged commodity prices down and oil prices have also dropped…
cut 16 (09) “….70-cents”

Congress has passed legislation to award former Saints football player Steve Gleason the Congressional Gold Medal, which is the highest civilian award given out by Congress. Senator Bill Cassidy says it’s a deserving award for Gleason who has done a lot to improve the quality of life for those who suffer from A-L-S…
cut 5 (10) “….vocal chords”
Gleason was diagnosed with A-L-S in 2011.

A dispute over the use of inflatable dragons in a holiday display at a Mandeville home is garnering worldwide attention after going viral on social media. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A Bossier City police officer has been arrested and charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse of an animal. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A Monroe man is facing one count of solicitation for murder after he allegedly tried to pay a man to kill his estranged wife. Detectives say 47-year-old Michael Faubion asked his roommate, who has a criminal history, if he can contact people in jail that would be willing to execute a hit on his wife. But now Faubion is the one in jail on a one-million dollar bond.

Governor John Bel Edwards held an end of the year press conference today where he hit on some of state’s accomplishments during 2018. He says the state has finally shed its title as having the largest incarceration rate in the world. Edwards that’s the result of criminal justice reform legislation approved in 2017 and it saved the state 12-million dollars in its first full year in effect…
cut 13 (12) “…victims of crime”

The lack of money for a massive wall along the U-S and Mexico border could result in a federal government shutdown tomorrow night. President Donald Trump is demanding that the money be put in a funding bill that he can sign before the Christmas holiday. Senator John Kennedy says the stop gap funding bill also needs to include money for flood insurance…
cut 10 (09) “….February 8th”

Governor John Bel Edwards says 2018 was a successful year for Louisiana as the state continues to move in the right direction. Edwards says stabilizing the budget was his top accomplishment. He says the tax deal fully fund higher education, without raising taxes…
cut 12 (08) “….600-million dollars”
Edwards says his biggest legislative priority in 2019 is a pay raise for teachers.

Bossier City police have put one of their own officers on administrative leave after he was arrested on animal sexual abuse charges. State Police Trooper Glenn Younger says once enough evidence was collected, 38-year-old Terry Yetman voluntarily surrendered…
cut 4 (05) “…good too”
Yetman was honored in October for his work against domestic violence. The LSP investigation began in August.

In Washington D-C, we could be heading to a federal government shutdown at midnight Friday as President Donald Trump reportedly will not sign a stop-gap funding bill that was approved by the Senate. Senator John Kennedy says the President is digging in on his request for money to build a border wall…
cut 11 (10) “…the issue”
The stop-gap funding bill also funds the National Flood Insurance Program for another six weeks.

Researchers in Sweden have found that the risk of having a heart attack on Christmas Eve increases nearly 40-percent. The study observed the timing of 283,000 heart attacks over 15 years. Cardiologist Doctor Frank Smart at LSU Health New Orleans says the research indicates the peak timing of heart attacks on Christmas Eve is around 10pm, but he says it usually isn’t caused by overeating for a few days…
Cut 7 (05) “…or two days.”