Many are praying for former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco, who says she is in a battle for her life as she’s receiving treatement in Philadelphia for liver cancer. Blance was elected as the state’s first female governor and served from 2004 to 2008. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross….
cut 6 (09) “…her legacy”
Female mayors are currently serving in Shreveport and Baton Rouge and New Orleans just elected its first woman mayor.

Authorities are trying to determine who dumped a Shreveport woman’s body into a south Louisiana lake. St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says a search and rescue team found the deceased 21-year-old in Lake Dubuisson. Guidroz says they are looking at surveillance cameras, but it doesn’t give a clear picture…
cut 12 (08) “…the distance”
Alexandria Police say they received a tip about a missing woman from a hotel on Sunday.

A 32-year-old Lafayette man faces up to five years in prison after he admitted to using Donald Trump’s social security number in an effort to get the president’s federal tax information. Court documents say Jordan Hamlett was unsuccessful. He’ll be sentenced at a later time. Some have criticzed Mr. Trump for failing to release his tax returns, like every other president has done since Jimmy Carter.

Gas prices in Louisiana are on a steady downward trend. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco is battling an incurable form of liver cancer. It traveled from her eye after she was diagnosed in 2011 with ocular melanoma, a dangerous and rare cancer. Chief of Surgical Oncology at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Adam Riker says the key is to get Blanco’s immune system strong to slow the cancer growth…:
Cut 3 (10) “tumor cells”
The New Iberia native served as Louisiana’s first female governor from 2004 to 2008, and was criticized for her handling of Hurricane Katrina. But UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that has been muted after looking back at the magnitude of the storm.:
Cut 5 (06) “for them”
Blanco is 74.

Gasoline prices are on the decline for the first time in several weeks. Usually they start to fall in October after the summer driving season, but there was a still a strong demand for gasoline in the fall. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says many motirists didn’t notice, because the economy is strong…
cut 9 (10) “…in their personal economy”
The current statewide average is $2.26, which is four-cents lower on the week.

Totals are in from Friday’s historic snow event. Kentwood saw the most in the state with 6 and a half inches. That’s according to Shawn O’Neil with the National Weather Service in Slidell, who says parts of the Baton Rouge area saw three to five inches…
Cut 13 (09) “that area”
O’Neil says it’s the biggest snow event in south Louisiana since December of 2008.

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Richland Parish lawmaker is very popular in north and central Louisiana, but…:
Cut 12 (10) “southern Louisiana”
Abraham says he hasn’t made any decisions about his political future.

The LSU AgCenter believes they have developed a milk-based meal replacement powder that can help individuals lose weight. Director of the AgCenter Food Incubator, Gaye Sandoz, says they will work with LSU’s Pennington Research Center to package and market the product…
cut 6 (10) “…the market”
Did you watch the NFL yesterday? Recent reports indicate fewer people are tuning in on Sunday to watch. With viewers scattering, Deborah Todd, owner of Baton Rouge-based Todd Advertising Agency foresees advertisers and networks alike renegotiating their contracts…
cut 9 (08) “…to give”
Fox, NBC and CBS have agreements with the NFL to televise their games through the 2022 season.

As part of Louisiana’s effort to rebuild the whooping crane population, another dozen juvenile whooping cranes have been released at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge…
cut 15 (12) “….in Louisiana”
That’s state wildlife and fisheries biologist Sara Zimorski who says the whooping crane population in Louisiana is up to 72.

Three more state champions were crowned in football last night and three more will be crowned today. In the Class 3A state championship game, West Feliciana beat Richwood 40-21 to claim their first ever title in football. The Saints were led by Louisiana Tech commitment Davon Harris who had an 87-yard kick off return for a touchdown. He had another long return to set up another score and also had a 6 yard touchdown run.

In Division III, U-High looked very impressive in a 45-19 victory over De La Salle. Cubs running back Mike Hollins rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns.

And in Class Two-A, the Welsh Greyhounds raced past St. Helena 38-26. Welsh senior Quarterback Zach Hayes threw four touchdown passes.

The action resumes at noon today as Catholic High of Baton Rouge faces John Curtis. Then it’s Karr versus Lakeshore and the final game of the day is the 5A title between Hahnville and the Zachary Broncos.

__________________________________________________________________

Saints Coach Sean Payton is still not a happy camper about the some of the calls that were made against his team in the 20-17 loss to Atlanta on Thursday night. Payton spoke with reporters on Friday afternoon and said the officiating was extremely poor and inconsistent would be a great way to put it. New Orleans was penalized 11 times for 87 yards and the Falcons picked up nine first downs because of a penalty. Payton added the officials also missed holding calls against his star wide receiver Michael Thomas. New Orleans next game is December 17th when they host the New York Jets.

Anthony Davis returned to the court after missing three games, but the Pelicans lost to the Sacramento Kings 116-109 in overtime. Zach Randolph hit a career-high five 3 pointers and finished with a season-high 35 points. DeMarcus Cousins led New Orleans with 38 points and 11 rebounds, while Davis had 18 points. The Pels conclude a four-game homestand on Sunday when they take on the 76ers.

Many Saints fans are still shaking their head over yesterday’s 20-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Six players for the Black and Gold left the game as a result of injuries and never came back and New Orleans was flagged 11 times for 87 yards. Head Coach Sean Payton summed it up well…

cut 18 (11) “…bounce back”

Payton took it a step further today when speaking with reporters. He said the officiating was extremely poor and inconsistent. It’s likely he’ll get fined for that and the choking gesture he made towards Falcons running back Devonta Freeman during the game. New Orleans has time to rest up and get ready to play the Jets on December 17th and then it’s a rematch with the Falcons on Christmas Eve.

The Saints will be keeping an eye on the second place Panthers on Sunday. Carolina hosts 10-2 Minnesota.

Four state champions have now been crowned at the Allstate Sugar Bowl  L-H-S-A-A Prep Classic in New Orleans. Yesterday it was West St. John, Lafayette Christian and Catholic New Iberia. The Panthers won their first title since 1962. The Knights won their first and it’s the fourth championship for the Rams.

Welsh won its first football title today as the Greyhounds ran past St. Helena 38-26 for the 2A title. The Division Two state championship game is underway, University High versus De La Salle. Tonight it’s West Feliciana and Richwood. The Saints have never won a title and Richwood is the only team from north Louisiana in the prep classic. You can watch all of the games on C-S-T.

In college football news…Former Ragin Cajuns head coach Mark Hudspeth has found a new job. Hudspeth has reportedly been hired as the tight ends coach at Mississippi State.

The Pelicans host the Sacramento Kings tonight. There’s a chance Anthony Davis could play tonight after missing the last three games with a pelvis injury.

Tonight at the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans

Cut 1 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn.”

______________________________________________

Nine state champions will be crowned the next three days, as the state football championships take place in the Superdome. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

This cold blast of air could produce some wintry precipitation tonight and into Friday morning for sections of southeast Louisiana.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 3  (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”  

________________________________________________________

The holiday season is supposed to be a joyous time but can often be overwhelming, causing seasonal depression. Our Lady of the Lake Psychiatric Nurse Glenda Natale says this time of year, they receive more calls for help dealing with the holiday blues. She says we live in a perfectionist society….

Cut 4  (09) “is about”

Natale says people who feel like they don’t have a strong support system are at a higher risk for developing holiday depression. She suggests getting out to volunteer or befriending a neighbor, rather than dwelling on past memories with people who are no longer with you.

Cut 5  (10)  “of happiness”

Natale says the weather also plays a part in holiday depression with temperatures getting cold and rainy and it gets darker much earlier. She says it’s important to contact your doctor if you continue to have unrelenting thoughts.

Cut 6 (11) “that rut” 

________________________________________________________

The 2017 Allstate Sugar Bowl—L-H-S-A-A Prep Classic begins today and runs through Saturday at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Nine state champions will be crowned over the next three days and Association Executive Director Eddie Bonine says they anticipate several close games

Cut 7 (12)  “good attendance”

The first game today is between traditional One-A powers West St. John and Kentwood. At 3:30 it’s Lafayette Christian against Ascension Catholic. Bonine says L-C-A has never played for a state championship and Ascension Catholic will make history as soon as the game begins, because of its coach Drey Trosclair…

Cut 8 (12) “for everybody”

The final game of the night is Notre Dame versus Catholic High of New Iberia. The Pioneers from Crowley have won five state titles and Coach Lewis (Louie) Cook is coaching in his 11th state championship game in his Hall of Fame career

Cut 9 (06)  “the championship”

________________________________________________________

The recent cold snap could bring southeast Louisiana some wintry precipitation tonight into Friday morning.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says even though the air temperature will stay above freezing, you may still see freezing precipitation…

Cut 10 (12)  “the surface.”

Keim says if there is wintry precipitation, it won’t be a statewide weather event…

Cut 11 (09) “first place.”

Keim says there may be isolated reports of icing in the area, but there aren’t any widespread expectations of icing conditions to bring power outages..

Cut 12 (12) “isolated areas.”

Sunny but still cold weather is expected to return by the weekend.  Temperatures will remain in the 50’s for the majority of the state.

________________________________________

The New Orleans Saints are set to square off against the Atlanta Falcons tonight in a key NFC South showdown.  Quarterback Drew Brees says the short week can make it difficult to prepare, but he knows the Falcons will be ready with some new tricks up their sleeve…

Cut 13 (10) “to play.”

Brees says he has great respect for Atlanta’s secondary. He says the Saints passing game has to be top notch tonight because cornerback Desmond Trufant is back from his injury and will be on the field…

Cut 14 (10) “good corners.”

The Saints are nine and three while the Falcons come into the contest with a seven and five mark.  Brees knows the defense is what got the Falcons to the Super Bowl last year, and knows their defense will be flying around tonight…

Cut 15 (11) “ball security.”

Kickoff is tonight at 7:25 at Mercedes-Benz stadium in Atlanta. Saints running back Mark Ingram is listed as questionable with a toe injury.