A recent JMC Analytics poll shows Democrat John Bel Edwards’ lead over Republican David Vitter is down to the single digits as voters head to the polls to elect the state’s new governor. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (25)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Sunday begins the Click it or Ticket campaign to get drivers to buckle up during the holiday season. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Louisiana voters will head to the polls Saturday to elect the state’s new governor. A recent JMC Analytics poll shows Democrat John Bel Edwards’ lead over Republican David Vitter has shrunk down to the single digits. LAPolitics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says the Syrian refugee issue has helped Vitter gain ground…

CUT 3 (08)  “leverage that”

Polls will be open from 7AM to 8PM. Alford says, in order for Vitter to win, he’ll need conservative voters to return to his camp. He says tracking numbers have shown that has happened in the last week…

CUT 4 (08)  “to do”

He says Edwards was polling highest during early voting, but that is not considered in these poll leading to election day. Alford says the Democratic Party’s “Get Out The Vote” campaign for Edwards is very strong, as evidenced during the early voting period…

CUT 5 (07)  “John Bel Edwards”

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

With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission kicks off their Click it or Ticket campaign this Sunday. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says make sure you buckle up, because it’s the first step in saving your life in case you’re in an accident.

CUT 6 (08) “that easy”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a seatbelt reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45-percent. Reichardt says the campaign runs from November 22 until the 29^th. He says if you don’t buckle up, it could turn your happy holiday into a nightmare.

CUT 7 (10)  “tragedy”

Reichardt says in addition to checking for seatbelt violations, troopers will also be on the lookout for motorists drinking and driving.

CUT 8 (08)  “home safe”

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

A 26-year-old Denham Springs man will spend the rest of his life in prison for shooting up his fiancee with heroin, causing a fatal overdose. An East Baton Rouge Parish jury found Jarret McCasland guilty of second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence. District Attorney Hillar Moore says a seldom used statue was used in his case

CUT 9 (08)  “deadly drug”

McCasland, who did not take the stand in his defense, will face formal sentencing in January for the death of 19-year-old Flavia Cardenas. Moore says the evidence against McCasland was overwhelming and a verdict came quickly…

cut 10 (10)  “that testified”

Cardenas died in July of 2013. Moore says this case illustrates that heroin is a deadly drug and could have lasting consequences…

Cut 11 (10) “person’s death”

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

The joint legislative budget committee approves Governor Bobby Jindal’s proposal to close a 487-million dollar budget deficit. The plan calls for cuts to state agencies, patchwork financing and tapping into the rainy day fund. Senate president John Alario says it’s not a perfect plan, but it puts something in place until a new governor takes over in January…

cut 12 (09)  “what’s happening”

Gubernatorial candidates, David Vitter and John Bel Edwards, had asked legislators to reject Jindal’s deficit reduction plan. Covington Representative John Schroder was one of a handful of lawmakers who voted against it. Schroder says it doesn’t address the state’s spending problems…

cut 13 (09)  “in reductions”

Higher education was not cut under the plan. Commissioner of Administration Stafford Palmieri says the governor made it a priority to make sure public colleges were not hit with cuts…

cut 14 (07)  “Louisiana forward” 

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

The Voice of LSU, Jim Hawthorne, is back tonight for the call of the men’s basketball game. Eric Gill reports its his first broadcast since undergoing a medical procedure last month…:

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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

Authorities held a press conference in New Orleans this morning to reassure residents that an attack similar to the one in Paris last week is not imminent in Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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

Baton Rouge Police report a second man has been arrested in the slaying of an elderly Baton Rouge couple whose bodies were discovered at a Hammond truck stop last month. Lt. Johnny Dunham says 48-year-old Frank Garcia was arrested in Hollywood, Florida Wednesday…

CUT 3 (08)  “homicide case”

71-year-old Denis Duplantier (doo-PLAHN-shay) and 70-year-old Suzanne Duplantier were taken from their home, robbed, and killed October 18th. Garcia is charged with two counts of first degree murder. Dunham did not disclose what information led to issuing the warrant for Garcia’s arrest…

CUT 4 (10)  “at this point”

42-year-old Ernesto Alonso was previously arrested and charged in the deaths of the Duplantiers. Dunham says this is still an active investigation and it’s possible more arrests could be made…

CUT 5 (07)  “call Crime Stoppers”

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

The Voice of LSU, Jim Hawthorne, returns to his play-by-play calling duties tonight for the first time since having a medical procedure last month. Hawthorne will broadcast tonight’s men’s hoops game at the PMAC, after missing the Alabama and Arkansas football games. He says the doctors gave him the green light…:

CUT 6 (07) “very fortunate”

The LSU men’s basketball team is 2-0 after a win over McNeese State on Friday and victory over Kennesaw State on Monday. Hawthorne says he’s been extremely humbled by how many friends and LSU fans have reached out and wished him the best for a speedy recovery…:

CUT 7 (11)  “very supportive”

The 71 year old had previously announced he’d retire from LSU after this men’s basketball season. Hawthorne says he plans to call the final regular season football game next week. He admits it was an extremely unique experience to watch football games as a fan, which you don’t get to do when you’re working it…:

CUT 8 (11)  “watch a game”

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

Federal, state, and local authorities held a press conference in New Orleans this morning to reassure residents that an attack similar to the one in Paris last week is not imminent in Louisiana. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says facts have been confused in the days following the Paris attacks…

CUT 9 (10)  “threats at all”

Landrieu says he’s been assured that there are no credible threats from any of the Syrian refugees in the New Orleans area. FBI Special Agent Jeffrey Sallet (sa-LET) says there is a very strong Joint Terrorism Task Force in the state. He says their job is to protect the citizens of Louisiana from these type of attacks…

cut 10 (11)  “preparing for”

He says, prior to the Paris attacks, the task force has been preparing to respond and prevent multi-event attacks. Sallet says there are currently no credible terrorist threats to Louisiana and authorities will strive to keep it that way…

Cut 11 (08) “are safe”

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

Today is the Great American Smokeout, a day that has been designated for smokers to quit their habit. According to the Center for Disease Control 24-percent of Louisiana adults smoke, which is higher than the national percentage. Mike Rogers with the Smoking Cessation Trust says there are free products and services to help long time smokers put cigarettes down for good.

cut 12 (10)  “for it all”

Rogers says the only requirements to sign up are, you live in Louisiana and started smoking prior to September 1, 1988. He says the Smoking Cessation Trust has been around since 2012 and is showing much success.

cut 13 (09)  “receive benefits”

Rogers says 43-percent of those who sign up report that they actually quit. He attributes the success to the trust providing free medications and other necessary services and encourages everyone eligible to try it out.

(For more information visit smokefreela.org)

cut 14 (06)  “tobacco’s money” 

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

LSU Coach Les Miles says there’s no added pressure to win, despite a published report suggesting he could be fired if they lose their last two games. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Governor Bobby Jindal has returned to Louisiana after ending his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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

Political pundits in Louisiana are wondering if Governor Bobby Jindal’s announcement to suspend his presidential campaign was timed to upstage Republican David Vitter in the days leading up to the gubernatorial runoff election. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says that’s mere speculation, at this point, but it is plausible…

CUT 3 (10)  “in New Orleans”

In 2007, Vitter held a press conference to make his first public statement about his infamous prostitution scandal just before Jindal formally announced he was entering the governor’s race. Vitter’s event pushed Jindal’s announcement from the headlines. Dubos says this was not lost on the governor…

CUT 4 (10)  “fair play”

He says now that Jindal is back in Louisiana, he’ll begin working to fix the state’s budget crisis. Dubos says the budget issue could continue to keep Vitter from the headlines leading to the election…

CUT 5 (12)  “budget cuts”

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

According to a report in the Advocate, LSU Coach Les Miles is coaching for his job the next two weeks. The Tigers have lost two in a row and could be looking at a 7-4 record if they lose to Ole Miss this Saturday and Texas A-and-M on November 28th. On today’s SEC coaches teleconference, Miles says there is no added pressure to win

CUT 6 (10) “than I have”

The Advocate article says there is a serious threat to Miles tenure based on sources at LSU. Miles current contract runs through the 2019 season. If LSU fired Miles at the end of the season, the Tigers would have to pay a buyout of at least 12.9 million dollars. On today’s SEC coaches teleconference, Miles said the support he’s received from athletic director Joe Alleva remains the same and there are no issues there…

CUT 7 (09)  “to me”

The LSU fan base is frustrated over the Tigers losing to Alabama for a fifth consecutive time and getting dominated two years in a row by Arkansas. But Miles says his team can win its last two games and play in a significant bowl game…

CUT 8 (07)  “on track”

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

According to officials with the organization, Catholic Charities of Baton Rouge, have received threats for helping Syrian refugees resettle in Louisiana. Louisiana State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says a phone call came in Tuesday from out of state making gun threats to the organization.

CUT 9 (06)  “tolerate that”

Edmonson says he’s spoken to the executive director of Catholic Charities in Baton Rouge, David Aguillard, about the gun threats and learning information about the refugees.

cut 10 (09)  “State Police”

Edmonson says there have also been threats to Catholic Charities in other states. He says they take threats very seriously in Louisiana and are investigating the incident.

Cut 11 (05) “…into it.”

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

Governor Bobby Jindal has returned to Louisiana after ending his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. At a news conference at the Governor’s Mansion, Jindal said he has no regrets seeking the nation’s highest elected office. He stated that the failure of his campaign rests solely on his shoulders…

cut 12 (10)  “my responsibility”

Jindal says he would have liked the Republican National Committee to allow all candidates to participate in the debates, but the ultimate responsibility for the campaign’s failure is his. As far as his future goes, Jindal says that’s up in the air…

cut 13 (05)  “being governor”

Jindal says he will not get involved in this year’s governor’s race. His second term as governor will end in January. Jindal says, before leaves office, he’ll go on a statewide tour highlighting the achievements made during his two terms as governor…

cut 14 (08)  “job creation” 

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