US Senator John Kennedy’s decision to stay out of the governor’s race may be a big boost to Governor Edwards’ re-election chances…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A state judge sets a January 28th date on where he’ll decide whether Matthew Naquin should turn over his personal passcode to his cell phone. The former LSU student is accused of negligent homicide in the 2017 alcohol-related hazing death of Phi Delta Theta pledge Max Gruver.

The run-off election for Secretary of State is Saturday. Pollster Bernie Pinsonant conducted a survey that found Republican Kyle Ardoin has a three-percentage point lead over Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup. Pinsonat predicts Ardoin will win..
cut 15 (06) “…an R”
Collins-Greenup is a minister from East Feliciana Parish who worked at the elections office.

The FCC is encouraging TV viewers who use an antenna to watch TV to rescan their TVs as local stations in Lake Charles, Lafayette, Monroe and Alexandria are moving frequencies to free up airwaves for high speed internet and mobile broadband. Chair of the FCC Incentive Auction Task Force Jean Kiddo says if you subscribe to TV, you don’t have to worry…
Cut 3 (09) “…cable and satellite.”
Kiddo says it’s always good to rescan your TV periodically, because new channels pop up all the time.

Now that Republican U-S Senator John Kennedy has announced he will not challenge Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards next year, who will step up from the G-O-P. Baton Rouge Businessman Eddie Rispone is the lone announced candidate, but UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Congressman Ralph Abraham has more name recognition…
cut 6 (08) “….around”
Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt is also considering a potential campaign.

The Louisiana Health Department releases six recommendations to win the fight against the opioid epidemic. Assistant State Health Officer, Dr. Joseph Kanter, says the state needs to expand access to effective treatment and must look into other means to treat chronic pain.
cut 7 (08) “…with non-opoid alternatives”
Other recommendations include expanding the use of peer recovery specialists and investing in models of care that support women and families.

A statewide poll looking at Saturday’s special election for Secretary of State’s shows a close race…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Canadian cold air has returned to Lousiaina. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will feel even colder tomorrow…
cut 10 (09) “…low 50s”
Keim says a weather system later this week could produce locally rainfall.

With Senator John Kennedy not running for governor in 2019, it creates the question who will challenge Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards, who is up for re-election? There’s only one announced challenger, Baton Rogue businessman Eddie Rispone, who can self-finance much of his campaign, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that doesn’t always translate into success…
cut 5 (09) “…third or fourth”
GOP Congressman Ralph Abraham and Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt are two other potential challengers.

A poll has this Saturday’s Secretary of State’s election at 43-40 for Republican Kyle Ardoin over Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat…
Cut 13 (07) “…party affiliation”
Pinsonat says 17-percent are still undeciced.

The Louisiana Department of Health has released six recommendations to fight the opioid crisis. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 2 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office says a 59-year-old Marrero man pointed a gun at a manager at Popeyes during a dispute over condiments. Deputies say Earl Jethore didn’t fire the weapon and no one was hurt. The police report says Jethore went to another restaurant and started yelling and that’s where he was arrested. Authorities say he smelled of alcohol.

Now that Republican U-S Senator John Kennedy has announced he will not challenge Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards next year, who will step up from the G-O-P. Baton Rouge Businessman Eddie Rispone is the lone announced candidate, but UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Congressman Ralph Abraham has more name recognition at this point…
cut 6 (08) “….around”
Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt is also considering a potential campaign.

Pollster Bernie Pinsonat conducted a survey that found Interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has a three-percentage point lead over Democrat Gwen Collins-Greenup in Saturday’s election. But Pinsonat expects a comfortable win for Ardoin, since he has more money to get his name out…
cut 14 (12) “….an advantage”

The Louisiana Department of Health has released six recommendations on how to battle the fight against the opioid epidemic. The suggestions come from an expert panel and they include improving access to non-opioid treatements for pain, expanding access for effective treatment, treating addiction as a chronic illness and expanding the use of peer recovery specialists. Assistiant state health officer, Doctor Joseph Kanter,…
cut 9 (08) “…measurable actions”
Kanter says there’s also 14 action steps to accomplish the six recommendations.

I recommend having a jacket with you the next couple of days as the high temperature will only be in the 50s. But State Climatologist Barry Keim says temps will see saw back up later in the week…
cut 11 (08) “…morning”
Keim says the next front has the potential to bring heavy rainfall.

With Senator John Kennedy’s decision not to run for governor in 2019, it creates the question who will challenge Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards, who is up for re-election? There’s only one announced challenger, Baton Rogue businessman Eddie Rispone, who can self-finance much of his campaign, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that doesn’t always translate into success…
cut 5 (09) “…third or fourth”
GOP Congressman Ralph Abraham and Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt are two other potential challengers.

The run-off election for Secretary of State is Saturday. Pollster Bernie Pinsonant conducted a survey that found Republican Kyle Ardoin has a three-percentage point lead over Democratic Gwen Collins-Greenup. Pinsonat predicts Ardoin will win..
cut 15 (06) “…an R”
Collins-Greenup is a minister from East Feliciana Parish who worked at the elections office.

The Louisiana Health Department has released six recommendations in the fight against the opioid epidemic, much of which assistant State Health Officer, Dr. Joseph Kanter, says is common sense solutions. Kanter says the state needs to expand access to effective treatment and must look into other means to treat chronic pain.
cut 7 (08) “…with non-opoid alternatives”
Other recommendations include expanding the use of peer recovery specialists and investing in models of care that support women and families.

Canadian air has made its way back into Louisiana and it will be feel more like winter for the next couple of days. But State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s no chance for winter precipitation, remember about a year ago, we saw a snow event at this time…
cut 12 (09) “….get it”
Keim says there’s a chance we could see heavy rainfall before the week ends.

The Republican side of the 2019 governor’s race is now wide open after Senator John Kennedy bowed out, leaving the GOP with no clear standard-bearer to lead the charge against the southeast’s only Democratic governor. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says not having to face Kennedy is a major boost to Edwards’ re-election chances.
Cut 4 (07) “the vote″
Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone is the only Republican to officially join the race, but Congressman Ralph Abraham is expected to get in.

The Louisiana health department has released six recommendations that a panel of experts believes can address the opioid epidemic . Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says the recommendations call for improving access to non-opioid treatments for pain and treating addiction as a chronic illness…
cut 8 (10) “…addicition”
Over 400 Louisianians died of opiod overdose in 2017, a 20-percent increase over 2016.

A doctor in St. Landry Parish is recovering after he was shot in what authorities are calling a home invasion. At last report, Doctor John Vallain was said to be in critical condition after he was shot in his home. Witnesses told deputies they saw someone walking from the victim’s home carrying something in their hands.

Cool Canadian air is back in Louisiana this morning, after an unusually warm streak of weather to start December. State Climatologist Barry Keim says north Louisiana is seeing temperatures in the mid 30s this morning, while south Louisiana is in the 40s, about 10 to 20-degrees colder than yesterday. And it will be even colder tomorrow….
Cut 10 (09) “…low 50s.”
But Keim says it will warm up later in the week, but there’s also the potential for locally heavy rainfall as we head into the weekend.

Senator John Kennedy announces he’s staying put in the U-S Senate and will not run for governor. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards responded to Senator Kennedy’s decision today by saying Kennedy’s flirtation with running for governor was to put the spotlight on himself. Edwards says he now hopes Kennedy and the entire Congressional delegation can work with him to get things done for the hard working families in Louisiana.

Pamela George, known for her work as President of the LaFourche Humane Society, has been arrested on animal cruelty charges. Lt. Brennan Matherne with the LaFourche Sheriff’s office, says deputies found over a dozen horses emaciated on her property and one of them was already dead, two others had to be euthanized….
cut 4 (09) “…on the property”
George and fellow property owner John Gautreaux were arrested on animal cruelty charges.

A few days after riding his horse on the LSU campus, linebacker Devin White announced today he will play in LSU’s bowl game against U-C-F, even though he could be a top 10 pick in next year’s N-F-L draft. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says it’s not a surprise…
cut 14 (12) “…targeting suspension”
But LSU cornerback Greedy Williams will not play, as the likely top 5 pick has decided to turn pro.