Today is the final day of 2018, so let’s look at the biggest stories of the year in Louisiana. The first half of the year was all budget talk as the state faced another massive budget shortfall. It took three special sessions, but Governor John Bel Edwards was pleased with the final budget deal…
Cut 4 (06) “ compromise is”
The sales tax plan approved in June fully funded the TOPS scholarship program, public colleges, and health care. But many Republicans were not happy about a state sales tax rate of 4.45 percent. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says it’s needed to pay for a bloated Medicaid expansion program…
Cut 5 (11) “…important priorities.”
Another big story in 2018 was the resignation of Secretary of State Tom Schedler as a result of sexual harassment allegations.

New Orleans will be part of “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve” broadcast on ABC tonight. It will feature live performances by country artists Maren Morris and Grammy-nominated Florida Georgia Line. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says it’s great exposure for the Big Easy.
Cut 13 (08) “…vacation next year.”
Nungesser says 30-million people watched Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve last year.

Not a good end to the regular season for the Saints and as they lost to Carolina 33-14 to finish with a record of 13-and-3. Several starters like Drew Brees and Alvin Kamara did not play. Now the team gets ready to host playoff game on January 13th.

The state is trying to dry out today after yesterday’s drenching rain. About a foot of rain fell in Washington Parish, which has St. Tammany emergency management director Dexter Accardo concerned about river flooding…
cut 8 (09) “…Covington area”
More rain is in the forecast for this weekend.

The state economic development department is calling 2018 another successful year for new jobs. At the end of 2017, DTX Technology announced plans to bring two-thousand high tech jobs to new Orleans and Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says 2018 was another year of substantial gains in the tech and software sectors…
cut 4 (12) “…grow”

A new world record has been set in Shreveport for the largest gumbo ever cooked, all in celebration of the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The LSU football team is holding its first practice in Arizona today as it gets ready for its Fiesta Bowl matchup with Central Florida. Coach Ed Orgeron says they’ve tried to improve the offense during the bowl practices…
cut 11 (11) “…run game”

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.