We say goodbye to 2015 tonight. One of the biggest stories in the state this year was the mass shooting at a Lafayette movie theater that killed three, including the gunman, and injured nine others. Here’s one man who survived the attack…
cut 3 (06) “…right at people”
At the state capitol, the budget was the big story. On two occasions, students from public colleges protested on the steps of the capitol over proposed cuts in state funding to higher education…
cut 5 (11) “….cheers”
Public colleges were able to avoid cuts in state funding.

Hoverboards will not be allowed on the LSU campus or in campus-run housing when the new year begins. The university has told students that the self-balancing scooters are a potential fire hazard when they are being charged.

State Police reminds everyone ringing in the New Year with alcohol, not to drink and drive. Sgt. Nick Manale says to make sure you have a plan in place to get home safely before you start drinking, because once alcohol enters the body, your judgement becomes impaired…
cut 10 (10) “ride home”
Manale says State Police will be out in full force tonight.

Officials in northwest Louisiana are not expecting a repeat of the widespread flooding that took place in June when the Red River crested well above flood stage. It’s above flood stage again and it’s projected to crest at 31.5 feet in the Shreveport area on Saturday. Robert Jump, with the Caddo office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says they don’t expect any water in homes or businesses…
cut 14 (09) “…be effected”

2015 comes to a close tonight. Don Molino looks back at an eventful year in Louisiana…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Don Molino”

With a new year, a handful of laws go into effect. One new measure creates stricter marriage license requirements in order to prevent illegal immigrants from getting married in Louisiana. There’s also new legislation designed to prevent fraud with the state’s film tax credit program. Both laws were approved by lawmakers earlier this year.

It’s New Year’s Eve and State Police urges motorists not to drink and drive. Sgt. Nick Manale says they will have additional troopers on the highways to get drunk drivers off the road. He says if you suspect an impaired driver, notify L-S-P…
cut 11 (09) “that vehicle”
Manale says, if you’re going to drink, make sure you have a plan in place to get home safely.

One of the most popular gifts this holiday season is the hoverboard. But it’s also sending people to the hospital. Dr. Russell Russo, a New Orleans Orthopedic Surgeon, says he’s seen a spike in hoverboard injuries in the past few weeks…
cut 7 (10) “hoverboard injuries”
Russo feels the problem with hoverboards is that people jump on them and assume they’re just going to learn to ride with no issues.

Law enforcement is asking those who plan on celebrating New Year’s away from home to avoid driving home drunk. State Police Sergeant Nick Manale…
cut 12 (08) “…these holidays safe”
Manale says they’ll have extra troopers on the highways tonight looking to arrest those who are impaired behind the wheel.

The hoverboard looks fun, but it also can be painful. New Orleans Orthopedic Surgeon Russell Russo says he’s seen up to 10 injuries from hoverboard accidents in the past couple of weeks, compared to 6 in the previous four months. Russo says most hoverboard injuries occur when people try to step off the device…
cut 8 (09) “coming from”
Russo says take it slow when you first learn to ride a hoverboard and try to do it in a padded area or have someone close by to help in case you fall.

One of the big stories in Louisiana for 2015 was the election of Democrat John Bel Edwards as the state’s next governor. Here’s what Edwards had to say on election night…
cut 6 (08) “…others”
Edwards will be sworn in on January 11th.

The governor-elect has been involved in meetings with emergency prepardness officials regarding the rising Mississippi River and the Red River. The Red River is expected to crest above flood stage on Saturday in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Caddo Office of Homeland Secrurity and Emergency Preparedness deputy director, Robert Jump, says they learned valuable lessons from the June floods when the Red River busted out fo its banks…
cut 15 (11) “….pumps running”
Jump says they are not anticipating any flooding to homes and businesses with this latest event.

As 2015 comes to a close Don Molino looks back at an eventful year in Louisiana…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

State Police is reminding people ringing in the New Year with alcohol to not drink and drive. LSP will be out in full force across the state with DWI checkpoints and proactive patrols looking to get impaired drivers off the roads. They urge revelers to make sure you have a plan in place to get home safely before you start drinking.

===================================

Dr. Russell Russo, a New Orleans Orthopedic Surgeon, says he has seen a spike in hoverboard injuries this holiday season. He feels the problem with hoverboards is that people jump on them and assume they’re just going to learn to ride with no issues. Russo says if you’ve received a hoverboard, it would be best if you learned how to properly ride it…

cut 9 (09) “jump on them”

He says most hoverboard injuries occur when people try to dismount the device

The Red River in the Shreveport-Bossier City area is expected to crest at 31.5 feet on Saturday, but officials are not expecting a huge impact to the public. Robert Jump, Caddo Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness deputy director, says they don’t predict the rising waters will cause any flood damage to businesses or homes…

cut 13 (10) “flaws are”

Jump says their largest impact right now is agriculture in the southern part of the parish

Today is University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley’s last day on the job. Don Molino reports…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

The drop in oil prices continues to lead to job losses in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

LSU is searching for a new defensive coordinator after Kevin Steele leaves the Tigers to become the new D-C at Auburn. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Today is University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley’s last day on the job. Woodley announced her resignation last month. She says one of the things she’s most proud of is working with partners to flip the narrative about higher education in the legislature where it’s no longer viewed as an expense but an investment…

cut 4  (09)  “in Louisiana”

Former Louisiana Tech President Dan Reneau will serve as interim system president until a permanent replacement is found. Woodley feels she’s made a difference in higher education during her three years as UL System President…

Cut 5  (09)  “retention rates”

She will stay on in an advisory capacity until March 15th. Woodley says she will look back on her time as UL System President with fondness. As far as her future plans go, Woodley is remaining mum on that…

Cut 6 (08)  “will be”

 ______________________________________

Tonight is New Year’s Eve and many will ring in the new year by shooting off fireworks. Deputy Chief with the State Fire Marshal’s office, Brent Thompson, has some tips to stay safe tonight….

CUT 7 (08)  “your hand”

Thompson says to exercise extreme caution when handling fireworks. He says to never give children fireworks, even if you think they are small and harmless.

Cut 8  (07)  “millisecond”

Thompson says make sure to only purchase fireworks from a licensed distributor, never online. He also advises people to never experiment with homemade fireworks.

Cut 9 (05)  “in jail”

_______________________________________

LSU has to find a new defensive coordinator. After guiding the Tigers defense for one season, Steele has left Baton Rouge to become the new defensive coordinator at Auburn. Football analyst Mike Detillier is shocked another SEC school would be interested in Steele after LSU’s defense took a step back from what it was under previous defensive coordinator John Chavis

Cut 10 (10) “in the season” 

It’s the second straight year LSU will have to find a new defensive coordinator. The list of candidates last year recently became public and  Detillier believes head coach Les Miles will go back to that list

cut 11 (11) “at LSU”

Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, Georgia Tech’s Ted Roof, Penn State’s Bob Shoop, and Oklahoma’s Mike Stoops are some of the individuals Miles spoke with last year. Miles also has the option to promote defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, but Detillier doesn’t see that happening

Cut 12 (05) “the family”

______________________________________

A 52-year-old Boyce man is in jail on a three-million dollar bond after he allegedly held a gun to a woman’s head and repeatedly raped her.  Lt. Tommy Carnline, with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office, says Jeffery Ducote Sr knocked on the door at the victim’s home, held a brief conversation with the woman, and then brandished a handgun to get inside her house…

Cut 13 (09)  “terrible act”

Carnline says Ducote told his victim that he was looking for a person who used to live there. He says evidence found in the home helped detectives develop Ducote as a suspect…

Cut 14 (06) “so quickly”

Ducote faces four counts of first-degree rape plus other charges. Carnline says after the sexual assault, the victim fled her home and told authorities what happened to her

Cut 15  (11) “that time”

 __________________________________

The Saints final regular season game is this Sunday as the Black and Gold visit Atlanta. New Orleans will look to end the season on a two-game losing streak, but that won’t be good enough to avoid a second straight losing streak. Quarterback Drew Brees says despite missing the playoffs again, he feels good about the future because of the character and leadership that’s on the team

Cut 16  (15)  “move forward”

But will Brees be a part of the Saints future? The future Hall of Famer is entering the final year of his contract, but Brees laughs at any of the reports that suggest he might not be back next year…

Cut 17 (19) “I chuckle”

Some young wide receivers have emerged this year. Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead have combined to catch 145 passes and 12 touchdowns. Brees says the future is bright for the Saints

Cut 18 (19) “a time”

______________________________________

The imminent threat of flooding along the Mississippi and Red Rivers has led to Governor Bobby Jindal declaring a state of emergency. The action paves the way for the state to prepare for the potential of flooding along those two rivers because, high crests are projected as a result of recent storms across the south and middle United States.

The state’s fiscal situation is worse than previously thought, according to Jay Dardenne, who is the budget architect for Governor-elect John Bel Edwards. Dardenne says the revenue shortfall for this fiscal year has grown to 750-million dollars, thanks to a drop in oil prices and a slump in corporate income and sales taxes…
cut 12 (08) “calendar year”
Dardenne projects the budget shortfall for next fiscal year at 1-point-9 billion dollars, and everything is on the table to address this situation, including higher taxes.

LSU has lost its defensive coordinator to Auburn. After spending just one season in Baton Rouge, Kevin Steele is bolting the Tigers for the same job at Auburn. Steele guided an LSU defense that allowed 347 yards a game this year, which is ranked as the 27th best mark in the country.

Total employment in Louisiana declined by more than 30-thousand from November 2014 to 15. The Louisiana Workforce Commission says low oil prices have led to thousands of jobs lost in Lafyaettee and the Houma-Thibodaux areas.

State Police says an Independence Police Officer is under arrest accused of using his position to steal money from non-English speaking Hispanic males during traffic stops. Spokesman Dustin Dwight says 25-year-old Laquinton Banks was arrested for three felony charges, theft, malfeasance in office and a hate crime…
cut 10 (06) “hate crime”
Dwight says Banks stole 16-hundred dollars during four separate traffic stops.