A big fundraiser is scheduled for tonight in Monroe for Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham who is raising cash to challenge Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards. According to his federal campaign finance report, Abraham has 125-thousand dollars left over from his re-election campaign. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says legally, Abraham can’t use money for a federal race in state elections, but there is a way around that rule…
cut 9 (11) “….the money”
Abraham’s campaign can not dictate how that cash is spent.

A line of strong storms capable of producing tornadoes is moving through Louisiana at this hour. A tornado watch is in effect until 11 AM for many central Louisiana parishes and all of southwest Louisiana. And there’s a good chance we can see severe weather in southeast Louisiana later today. We are already seeing power outages because of the high winds.

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office has issued a 2,500 dollar reward for information leading to an arrest in a double homicide that took the life of a 42-year-old woman and her 13-year-old son in Independence Sunday night. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says the victims likely knew their killer.
Cut 4 (07) “…of violence″
The shooting left Daytra Miller and Robert West Jr. dead in their home.

The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl takes over Shreveport today….
Voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A former death row inmate has moved closer to becoming a free man after he plead guilty to manslaughter in the 1998 killing of a pizza delivery boy in Livingston Parish. Michael Wearry’s original conviction was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2016, because prosecutors failed to disclose information that could have aided his defense. Livingston District Attorney Scott Perrillloux told the Hammond Daily Star that based on the evidence in the case, this was the best resolution they could get for a horrible crime…
cut 15 (08) “….the entire case”
Wearry will receive credit for time served beginning in 1999, so he could become a free man in 2024.

It’s an active weather day….a tornado watch is in effect until 11 AM for parishes in southwest and central Louisiana. Southeast Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until 6 AM tomorrow.

Investigators continue to track down leads in the double homicide that took place Sunday night in Independence. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they are asking the public to come forward with information into the slayings of 45-year-old Daytra Miller and her 13-year-old son Robert West Junior….
cut 6 (11) “…everything out”
Edwards’ office has issued a 25-hundred dollar reward for information leading to an arrest in this double homicide.

The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl is today in Shreveport as Duke takes on Temple. During the pregame fan fest, there will be an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for a pot of gumbo. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will be on hand….
Cut 10 (12) “…good Louisiana gumbo.”

A fundraiser takes place tonight in Monroe as Congressman Ralph Abraham looks to collect a bunch of money to challenge Governor John Bel Edwards in next year’s governor’s race…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

____________________________________________

The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl has taken over Shreveport.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

_______________________________

A former death row inmate who had his conviction overturned by the US Supreme court has pleased guilty to manslaughter and sentenced to 25-years that includes credit for time served.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

___________________________________

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs have issued a 2,500 dollar reward for information leading to an arrest in a double homicide that took the life of a 42-year-old woman and her 13-year-old son in Independence Sunday night. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they’ve ruled out the crime being a chance encounter.

Cut 4 (07) “…of violence″

The shooting left Daytra Miller and Robert West Jr. dead in their home on Labruzza Lane.

Police are running down leads and have been in contact with West’s father, who does not reside at the residence. Edwards says the child’s dad has been questioned.

Cut 5 (08) “…with us.”

Edwards is asking anyone with information to come forward. Any information that leads to arrests and indictment may result in compensation from both the TPSO and CrimeStoppers.

Cut 6 (11) “out”

__________________________________________________

Congressman Ralph Abraham holds a fundraiser in Monroe tonight for his gubernatorial campaign as he attempts to catch up to the at least five million dollars In campaign funds reported by the Edwards re-election campaign earlier this year. ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says he’ll need a lot of cash on hand, because this race will be remarkably expensive…

Cut 7 (08) “…ten million.”

Baton Rouge businessman and fellow Republican Eddie Rispone has also pledge five million of his own dollars for his own campaign.

Abraham has served for four years in Congress, likely making quite a few deep pocketed contacts. Stockley says there’s a few industries that tend to come in handy for Louisiana Republicans looking to raise campaign funds.

Cut 8 (08) “…DC.″

Those who donate the 5,000 dollar max to Abraham’s campaign will join the honorific “Abraham’s Aces”

And he’s got some cash on hand from his Congressional re-election run as well, but there’s a catch. Legally, you can’t use money raised for federal races in state elections, but there’s a way around that rule.

Cut 9 (10)  “…the money.” 

Abraham’s campaign would not be able to dictate how that cash is spent.

_______________________

The Walk-On’s Independence Bowl is happening today in Shreveport as Duke takes on Temple.  Beyond just the game, there will be plenty to do, including sampling a Guinness World Record pot of gumbo.  Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will be on hand for the Fan Fest in the stadium parking lot.

Cut 10 (12)   “…good Louisiana gumbo.”

Nungesser says the gumbo will be sold at $5 per bowl and the proceeds will go toward the Fisher House Foundation to provide housing for military families of patients in military and VA medical centers.  Don’t worry, there will be plenty to go around.

Cut 11 (08) “…good Louisiana seafood.”

Nungesser says he’s seen plenty of tourists in the area for the game in addition to state residents who have chosen to have a staycation in Shreveport.

Cut 12 (09)   “…like they’re family.”

Kickoff is at 12:30 and the game will be aired on ESPN.

_______________________________

Former death row inmate Michael Wearry has been sentenced to 25 years in prison as part of a plea deal in the killing of 16-year-old Eric Walber, an Albany High honor student and football player. Walber was robbed, beaten, and run over with his own car after wrapping up his pizza delivery shift in April 1998.  Wearry was among six people convicted in the death, but the US Supreme Court overturned his sentence in 2016.  In audio from the Daily Star in Hammond, District Attorney Scott Perrilloux says the timing of the event and arrest made it a difficult case.

Cut 13 (09) “…back then”

Perrilloux said even prior to the case, there was plenty of discussion as to whether enough evidence was present to prosecute.

Cut 14 (10) “…as of today.”

Perrilloux says attempting to retry a case likely would prove to be a difficult task.  As for his opinion of Wearry…

Cut 15 (08) “…the entire case.”

Wearry will receive credit for time served since March 4, 1999.

____________________________________

LSU leaves this afternoon for Arizona to continue preparations for its Fiesta Bowl matchup with undefeated U-C-F on New Year’s Day. Before taking a few days off for Christmas, LSU practiced for a couple of weeks in Baton Rouge and Quarterback Joe Burrow says those workouts went well

Cut 16 (18)  walk that line”

LSU enters the game ranked 77th in total offense, averaging 389 yards per game. Burrow, who did not arrive on campus until the middle of the summer, says it took time for this offense to find its rhythm…

 cut 17 (20) “next season”

Burrow says pass protection is one area where the offense has improved the most. Meanwhile, LSU’s defense is getting ready to go up against the nation’s third best offense, U-C-F is averaging 545 yards a game. Tigers defensive back Jacoby Stevens the Knights have a lot of weapons

Cut 18 (20) good team“

Today is one of the busiest shopping days of the year as some are taking back Christmas gifts, others are using gift cards and then there’s some looking for post-Christmas day bargains. National Retail Federation spokesperson Katherine Cullen says retailers are prepared for the crush…
cut 11 (10) “…spirit of the season”
Cullen says 42-percent of those surveyed say they will wait for a good sale to maximize the value of their gift cards.

Two juveniles were killed in a mobile home fire in the Claiborne Parish town of Homer. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says four others were able to escape…
Cut 16 (11) “…not there.”
Rodrigue says there were no working smoke detectors in the home.

Alexandria Police now say there are definite links in the two fatal shootings that occurred on Christmas Day. Authorities say 58-year-old Wendell Reed knew the two female victims, one was found in her car, the other in a home with Reed. The two women killed have been identified as 33-year-old Tamyra Lea Tison and 59-year-old Iona Louise Gatlin-Reed.

CRCL.org is the place to go for Louisianans looking to responsibly recycle their Christmas trees. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A wet weather pattern begins today in Louisiana and there’s a chance for severe weather tomorrow. CS Ross with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says we could see high winds, maybe a tornado or two and large hail…
cut 4 (06) “…northern Louisiana”
South Louisiana could also see some severe weather, which has the possibility of sticking around until Friday morning.

The investigation into a Christmas Eve quadruple shooting that left two people dead, and two others injured continues in Lutcher. St. James Parish Sheriff Wily Martin Junior admits the Christmas holiday has impacted their investigation…
cut 14 (13) “…give us some leads”
Former Lutcher standout Thaddeus Watis of Convent, was one of the people killed. He was a freshman at Arkansas Baptist College. Twenty-three-year-old Dedrick Paul Green Junior died at a local hospital.

Two juveniles were killed this morning in a mobile home fire in the Claiborne Parish town of Homer. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the ages on the victims are 16 and 4-years-old
Cut 15 (07) “…the home”
Rodrigue says the home did not have working smoking detectors.

The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana has a page on their website that provides information on how you can recycle your Christmas tree. Trees picked up in Orleans, Jefferson, Tangipahoa and Terrebonne Parishes can be used to help slow coastal erosion and C-R-C-L spokesperson Jimmy Frederick says several other parishes also participate in Christmas Tree recycling programs…
cut 8 (11) “….other things”
To get more information go to C-R-C-L-dot-org.

Authorities in southeast Louisiana are looking to make arrests in two separate fatal shootings. Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards is looking for information into the shooting deaths of 42-year-old Daytra Miller and her 13-year-old son Robert West on Sunday night. On Christmas Eve night, two people were also killed and two others wounded in a shooting on Main Street in Lutcher.

The Lafayette Public Library has caught the attention of the ACLU for its ban on Drag Queen Story time events, saying the ban is a first amendment violation. Kevin Barnhart has more…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

With the first seed, and a bye week in hand, history is on the Saints side as home teams have won 65-percent of their games in the playoffs since 1990. Defensive end Cam Jordan…
cut 13 (06) “….is real ”
But before the playoffs begin, the Saints will host Carolina in the regular season finale. It’s a game were the starters could see limited action.

Research from LSU business professor Reginald Tucker finds there’s a link between ADHD and Entrepreneurship. Tucker says his research indicates that higher education should begin moving away from a stigmatization of the disease, and consider pushing students with ADHD to enter career fields that suit their attributes, because one size does not fit all.
Cut 6 (10) “level.”

The state Fire Marshal’s office says two juveniles died in a mobile home fire early this morning in the Claiborne Parish town of Homer.

Alexandria Police detectives are trying to determine if two Christmas Day fatal shootings that happened within minutes of each other are connected. Two of the victims are women, one found inside a car, the other in a home. 58-year-old Wendell Reed of Alexandria was also found dead in that home from a self inflicted gunshot wound.

A group called In Defense of Animals wants to see legislation approved in 2019 to make sure those who are guilty in severe cases of animal cruelty receive at least some prison time. Doll Stanley on the new sentencing law they are seeking…
cut 8 (10) “….incarceration without probate”
Stanley says two 17-year-olds in Bastrop recently slit a dog’s throat and posted it on Snap chat, but only received a fine and one-year of probation. An Opelousas woman also didn’t receive jail time for burning a horse with battery acid.

An LSU Professor says people with ADHD and ADHD like symptoms are more likely to be geared towards entrepreneurship….
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Saints host Carolina Sunday in the regular season finale. New Orleans has locked up the number one seed in the NFC playoffs and linebacker DeMario Davis says the top seed has been a goal since the beginning of the season…
cut 15 (11) “…the NFL”
Coach Sean Payton has been mum on how much the starters will play on Sundy.

The reward has been doubled to 25-hundred dollars for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing a woman and her 13-year-old son on Sunday in the town of Independence. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards believes the shooter knew the mother and son.

Harsher penalties for those found guilty of animal cruelty could be coming soon. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Research out of LSU indicates those with ADHD may have highly desirable traits when it comes to starting a business. The report by LSU Assistant Business Professor Reginald Tucker indicates while hyperactivity can be detrimental in many fields, it’s common for entrepreneurs…
Cut 4 (07) “…ideation″
Tucker says the results imply that individuals with A-D-H-D symptoms may be empowered to craft their own jobs to fit their special needs.

The Lafayette Public Library has been requiring individuals who are seeking to use a room in the library to sign a form saying they will not use that room to host an event where men dressed up in drag will read stories to children. The Louisiana ACLU has filed a lawsuit in response…
cut 11 (06) “….the public facility”
That’s the ACLU’s Katie Schwartzman, who says the library began requiring this form ever since the library was sued to block its planned Drag Queen Story Time Event.