The Louisiana Health Department is making flu shots available at parish health units throughout Louisiana from 2 until 6:30 this afternoon. LDH Immunization director Dr. Frank Welch says a similar event was conducted last January during the middle of a rough flu season that saw more than 1,600 deaths in Louisiana.
Cut 13 (06) “…a little earlier.”
Welch says Louisiana is among the states with the highest levels of flu activity so far this season.

Google’s annual Year in Search report shows Louisianans searched the most for soccer, LSU football and hurricanes. Google Technology Expert Molly Vandenburg says the number one search in the Bayou State was a little surprising…
cut 4 (09) “….directly”
Vandenburg says Louisiana internet users also googled the LSU football schedule a bunch this year.

The legislative auditor’s office says they can’t determine if State Police properly spent two-point-four-million dollars policing the New Orleans French Quarter last year. But the Department of Public Safety disagrees with the report. The agency says two-point-four million in other funding was used to cover their French Quarter policing costs until funding designated for that area’s policing became available.

A survey shows Louisiana has three cities in particular in need of charitable givings this season. I’m Matt Doyle.
Voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Louisiana Health Department will make flu shots available at their parish health clinics this afternoon…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The special one-day shot promotion will take place from two until 6:30 PM.

There’s a marginal risk for severe weather today as a strong system that will bring Louisiana heavy rainfall moves in from Texas. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 10 (08) “…serious problems”
One to two inches of rain is possible.

Louisiana has three of the top 30 cities most in need of charity donations this holiday season according to the personal finance website Wallethub.com. New Orleans come in at 10th, Shreveport 21 and Baton Rouge 26th. Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzales says one category in particular stood out…
cut 7 (10) “…pretty huge”
The report also took into account unemployment, homelessness, high school drop outs and economic security.

The FBI and local prosecutors are reportedly investigating allegations that former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain sexually abused teenagers. Two of Strain’s former top aids already face federal charges in an alleged kicked scheme involving a work release program. A source says an investigation is now looking to see if Strain awarded these two men a contract in an effort to keep them quiet about the alleged sexual abuse.

LSU All-American linebacker Devin White says he still has not made a decision on whether he’ll enter the NFL draft. White could be a top 10 pick, but the Springhill native says he would hate to leave LSU without winning a title…
cut 17 (18) “…the team”
LSU’s other potential top 10 pick, cornerback Greedy Williams, has already turned pro and he will not play in the Fiesta Bowl against U-C-F. Coach Ed Orgeron says he’s old fashioned and believes a player should complete a season with their team…
cut 18 (16) “…with his team”
LSU has started its bowl practice.

The Saints have placed veteran offensive lineman Michael Ola on injured reserve. Ola went down with an ankle injury in the victory against Tampa Bay. Ola has served as the team’s sixth offensive lineman and the team has signed former Texans starter Derek Newton, who hasn’t played since 2016.

Austin Peay has hired former Ragin Cajuns coach Mark Hudspeth as its head coach. Hudspeth spent this past season as the tight ends coach at Mississippi State. Coach Hud was the head man at UL Lafayette for seven seasons and led the Cajuns to five New Orleans Bowl appearances.

In college basketball last night, Louisiana Tech defeated Mississippi Valley State 96-80 as DeQuan Bracey had 24 points. ULM beat Grambling 72-67, while Ragin Cajuns defeated Prarie View 122 to 90 as Marcus Stroman had 18 points and 11 assists.

Tonight LSU visits Houston for an 8 PM tip off.

The Pelicans fell to 4-11 on the season on the road with a 113 to 100 loss to the Boston Celtics. Anthony Davis, who was questionable prior to the game with a hip injury, scored 41 points. Julius Randle added 20 points and had 11 rebounds. The Celtics were without the injured Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, but got 31 points from Marcus Morris.

The Saints are in position to claim the top overall seed in the NFC. New Orleans, who is 11-2, has to win just as many games as the Rams to earn homefield advantage in the NFC playoffs. New Orleans will play Carolina twice in the final three games and also host Pittsburgh. Los Angeles will host Philadelphia on Sunday night and then visit Arizona and host the 49ers in the regular season finale.

Former Louisiana Tech and Zachary High School star Boston Scott has signed with the Eagles and will be placed with the team’s 53-man roster. Scott has been on the Saints practice squad this season after he was drafted in the sixth round by New Orleans.

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The LSU Tigers begin Fiesta Bowl practice today. The Bayou Bengals will battle Central Florida in Glendale, Arizona on New Year’s Day. Grant Delpit, Cole Tracy, Greedy Williams and Devin White were named to the A-P All-America team.

Junior college cornerback Dreshun Miller has switched his commitment from LSU to West Virginia according to 24-7 sports. Miller is a four-star prospect, but the LSU’s 2019 recruiting class already contains commitments from three other cornerbacks, including five-star prospect Derek Stingley Junior from Dunham High School.

Louisiana Tech’s Jaylon Ferguson has been named Third team all-american by Associated Press. Ferguson has 15 sacks on the season, which is tied for the nation’s lead. He also has 23.5 tackles for a loss and was voted Conference USA Defensive Player of the year.

Back to the NBA, former Louisiana Tech standout Paul Millsap will miss the next four to six weeks with the Denver Nuggets because of a broken toe. Millsap is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds a game.

Louisiana voters decide to keep Republican Kyle Ardoin as Secretary of State. Ardoin defeated Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup in Saturday’s special election and had this to say to his supporters
Cut 13 (11) “…upon me.”
Since Ardoin was elected to complete the term of former Secretary of State Tom Schedler, he will have to run for re-election again next year.

An LSU grad has developed an app that shows you locations on where to meet another person when trying to determine a good halfway point to meet. It’s called Find A spot and Walker native Derrick Denicola says it’s simple to use, even his parents can figure it ou, which was his goal…
cut 9 (10) “…password in”
Denicola says th app has been downloaded 45-hundred times and it has a retention rate of 40-percent, which he says is good for a new app.

An AMBER alert issued for 3-year-old Paizley Ann Fontenot of Ville Platte was cancelled late last night after the little girl was found safe in Amite County, Mississippi. State Police issued the AMBER Alert after the child was taken by non-custodial father yesterday afternoon. Authorities say the father, Brandon Fontenot, is in custody and charges are pending.

A group of LSU faculty and students have teamed up to create a rehab program for stroke patients using an adapted guitar. Connor Ferrill has the story.
Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Connor Ferrill.”

Saturday’s special election drew 17-percent of registered voters. Don Molino has a recap…
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Don Molino.”

In St. Landry Parish, Cleven Clark, who ran against Melville police chief Anthony Moreau, has bonded out of jail after he allegedly hit a Meville Police officer who rode past his daughter’s house with sirens going off in celebration. Clark denies hitting the officer and told a Lafayette TV station the officers were harassing his family. It’s a tradition in Melville for police to celebrate with sirens when a chief is elected.

The Saints own the number one-seed in the NFC after the Rams lost to the Bears last night and New Orleans topped Tampa Bay 28-14. The Black and Gold trailed 14-3 in the third quarter, but Coach Sean Payton says his team responded…
cut 5 (12) “…little bit”
Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 201 yards and had a passing and rushing touchdown.

A group of LSU faculty and students have teamed up to create a rehab program for stroke patients using an adapted guitar. Assistant Kinesiology Professor Nikita Kuznetsov (KOOZ-nets-ahv) helped to create the project after a musician and friend suffered a stroke. Kuznetsov says the guitar could be an avenue for recovery, because of the focused movements involved in strumming…
Cut 10 (11) “…song production”
Kuznetsov says they are testing the guitar with healthy, young adults to characterize motor learning skills and determine how people will actually interact with the device.

Republican Kyle Ardoin remains Louisiana’s Secretary of State as he defeated Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup in Saturday’s election for the statewide post. Ardoin has held the job since May when he took over for Tom Schedler, who stepped down because of a sexual harassment scandal. Ardoin received 59-percent of the vote…
cut 14 (09) “…history”
In Shreveport, 33-year-old political newcomer Adrian Perkins defeated incumbent Ollie Tyler in the city’s mayoral race. Perkins is an attorney and war veteran. His promise of a better Shreveport led to a landslide victory over the 73-year-old Tyler…
cut 16 (11) “….call home”
Perkins will be sworn in before the end of the year.

For the first time in franchise history, the Saints are back-to-back division champions. New Orleans clinched the NFC South crown on Sunday with a come from behind 28-14 win over Tampa Bay. New Orleans trailed 14-3 in the third quarter, but scored 25 unanswered points to avenge an earlier loss to the Buccaneers. Coach Sean Payton…
cut 4 (13) “…an important win”
And with the Rams losing to the Bears last night, New Orleans once again owns the top spot in the N-F-C Standings with three games left.