2018 is off to a very cold start. Lows this morning were in the teens to low lows 20s and wind chills were in the single digits in some areas. Phil Grigsby, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says this artic air mass is not going away…
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A hard freezing warning is in effect for tonight into tomorrow morning

It’s cold for those who work outside, but State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says several major construction projects will take place in 2018. He says major work will be done on I-10, west of the Basin Bridge to Lafayette. They will also break ground on the widening of the highly traveled interstate between Highland Road in Baton Rouge to La 73.:
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Wilson says I-49 north will also be completed in Caddo Parish.

The number of Craft Breweries in Louisiana has more than doubled in the last five years and as a result of the tax reform legislation passed by Congress, we could see a few more. Executive Director of the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild Cary Koch…
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Koch says the state’s craft brewing industry is worth about 740-million dollars a year.

Many people will attempt to quit smoking as one of their New Year’s resolutions. Louisiana is 47th out of 50 states for tobacco use, as over 22-percent of adults light up. Smoking Cessation Trust CEO Mike Rogers says one of the main reasons people don’t succeed is they try to go it alone
Cut 4 (10) “people do.”
Rogers advises smokers who plan to quit to remove cigarettes and other tobacco products from your home, car and work.

Another frigid morning in Louisiana. We are seeing temperatures in the low 20s in south Louisiana and upper teens in north Louisiana. Factor in the wind chill and the real feel tempeature is in the single digits. We’ll experience below freezing temperatures the rest of the week.

Craft Breweries are getting a big tax break as a result of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 3 (30) “Im Matt Doyle.”

Managing your money is a popular New Year’s Resolution. Baton Rouge CPA Layne McDaniel says if you really want to make an expensive purchase, give yourself time before plopping down your hard earned money….
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McDaniel says putting 10-to-15 percent of your paycheck into some sort of savings account is a realistic goal if you want to save more money in 2018.

Many smokers will try to use the new year as another opportunity to quit smoking. Smoking Cessation Trust CEO Mike Rogers says an important tip is to get rid of anything that may tempt you…
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Nearly 23-percent of Louisiana’s adult population smokes. If you started smoking before September 1st, 1988, the Smoking Cessation Trust can provide free cessation services.

A new year can mean the start of several new things, including how to handle your finances. Keeping your financial house in order can be tough, if you are not aware of where you spend your money. Baton Rouge CPA Layne McDaniel says knowing how you spend is very important…
Cut 10 (10) “you want.”

Louisiana’s craft brewery industry has the opportunity to grow this year, thanks to the recently approved GOP tax bill, because it cut in half the excise tax on beer for many producers. Cary Koch, director of the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild, says Louisiana ranks 48th in the country for the number of breweries per capita and this tax cut can help grow this industry….
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State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson looks ahead to road projects coming and continuing into 2018. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern.”

Another very cold start to the morning, with wind chills in some areas reaching the single digits. but it will be a tad warmer this afternoon.

A tough finish to the 2017 season for the LSU Tigers as Notre Dame backup Quarterback Ian Book connected with Miles Boykin on a 55-yard touchdown pass play to give Notre Dame a 21-17 victory over the Bayou Bengals. Boykin made a spectacular catch with two LSU defenders near him, but he broke away from Donte Jackson and John Battle and walked into the end zone.

Book came off the bench and completed 14 of 19 passes for 164 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

In his final game as an LSU Tiger, Danny Etling was 19-of-33 for 229 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Derrius Guice. Guice also rushed for 98 yards on the ground.

LSU missed two field goals in the first half and that is one of the reasons the Tigers finish the year 9-4, instead of 10-and-3.

The Tigers next game on the gridiron, will be September 2^nd against Miami in Dallas.

The Saints are preparing to host the Carolina Panthers in an NFC playoff game this Sunday. New Orleans offense hasn’t played great the last two weeks. Coach Sean Payton says the postseason is great opportunity to get the offense back on track….

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New Orleans will host the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at 3:40 in the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

Tonight at the Dome, it will be Alabama versus Clemson in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs. Clemson beat Bama in the national championship game last year.

Earlier today in bowl game action, UCF completed an undefeated season by beating Auburn 34-27 as quarterback McKenzie Milton accounted for three touchdowns in the Peach Bowl.

And in the Outback Bowl, Michigan had five turnovers in the second half and blew a 16-point lead to South Carolina as the Gamecocks rallied for a 26-19 win.

Offense Coordinator Matt Canada tells reporters he hopes to be back next season with the LSU Tigers.…

Voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo

The Saints can win the NFC South with a win over Tampa Bay on Sunday. Also, Quarterback Drew Brees can set an NFL single-season record for completion percentage. He’s currently at 71.9 and the record is 71.6 set last year by Minnesota’s Sam Bradford. Kick-off is at 3:25.

Disappointing loss for the Pelicans last night as they gave up 22 3-pointers to Dallas and the Mavericks dribbled past New Orleans 128-120. The 22 3s is a franchise record for the Mavs. New Orleans did not come ready to play as they fell behind by 26 points in the 1^st half. New Orleans spoiled a monster game from DeMarcus Cousins who had 32 points and 20 rebounds. Tonight, the Knicks visit the Smoothie King Center.

The Ragin Cajuns jumped out to a double digit lead in the 1^st half and went on to beat Little Rock 77-63. U-L Lafayette is now 11-3 and 1-0 in the Sun Belt. Byrce Washington had 15 points and 19 rebounds. ULM lost its Sun Belt opener, falling to Arkansas State 75-64, despite 22 points from Travis Munnings.

In other action tonight, Louisiana Tech is at Marshall. McNeese State hosts Northwestern State. Nicholls takes on Incarnate Word in Thibodaux. And UNO is at Houston Baptist.

Offense Coordinator Matt Canada tells reporters he hopes to be back next season with the LSU Tigers. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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St. James authorities have arrested a second person in the beating of two black teenagers at a Christmas Eve bonfire in Gramercy. 25-year-old Grady Gieger of Prairieville was charged with second-degree battery. Authorities expect a third arrest, but still don’t believe it was racially motivated.

Temperatures could fall into the teens in North Louisiana as we ring in the New Year, and the bottom half of the state won’t be spared either. Freddie Zeigler with the National Weather Service in Slidell says temps will drop well below freezing in South Louisiana next week..:
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He says bring any pets inside and wrap outdoor exposed pipes to protect them from freezing.

Slidell Police arrest a 67-year-old man who was allegedly acting as middle man to a Nigerian Prince as part of an email scam operation. Lt. Daniel Seuzeneau says they believe Michael Neu was acting alone, at least in southeast Louisiana…
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Authorities say Neu participated in hundreds of financial scams over the internet and phone and wired the money back to co-conspirators in Nigeria.

A Slidell man has been arrested for his alleged role in a “Nigerian Prince’ email scam. Kelley Ray has more…
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The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says law enforcement will be on the lookout for drunk drivers during the holiday weekend. According to the Highway Safety Research Group at LSU, 76 people were injured and five people died in crashes involving alcohol on Louisiana roads during the 2016 New Year’s Eve holiday weekend.

LSU’s Matt Canada told reporters covering the Citrus Bowl he’d love to remain the offensive coordinator of the Tigers. Multiple media reports indicate the relationship between Canada and head coach Ed Orgeron is not good. Coach O had previously said he hoped Canada would land a head coaching gig. Canada says if a school wants you to be the head coach, they’ll call..:
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He says the focus right now is beating the Fighting Irish on Monday.

Sunday night will be a big night for fireworks in Louisiana, since it’s New Year’s Eve. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says if you are not a licensed pyro technician, do not try to put on a display that rivals what trained professionals do…
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Browning says make sure you have at least 300 feet of clear space before launching fireworks.