The Department of Health and Hospitals is urging businesses to strengthen wellness at the office. Emelie Gunn has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

According to GasBuddy.com, it’s possible we’re getting close to the bottom of the dramatic drop in the price we pay at the pump. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

____________________________________

A new Congress will be sworn in tomorrow, which means Mary Landrieu’s 18-year run as a US Senator has ended. Scott Carwile has the story…

Cut 3 (28) “reporting”

________________________

The state department of health and hospitals is encouraging businesses to come up with programs or policies at the workplace that would encourage employees to live a healthy lifestyle. D-H-H Well-Ahead Director Melissa Martin says we are at the workplace more frequently than anywhere else.

cut 4  (08)  “wellness programs”

Martin says the most important initiative is to offer a tobacco free environment. She says the state offers many cessation coaching programs for the workplace.

Cut 5  (09)  “many diseases”

Martin says providing two or three healthier cafeteria options can help improve employee wellness. And She says healthier snacks during meetings can actually provide a more productive workforce. (Martin says for ideas you can go to wellaheadla.com)

Cut 6 (12)  “for sweets”

___________________________________________________

According to GasBuddy.com, it’s possible we’re at the bottom of the dramatic drop in the price we pay at the pump. Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski says their current statewide average for a gallon of regular in Louisiana is around $2.10 and crude oil prices will likely not drop much lower…:

CUT 7 (10)  “that point”

Laskoski says if gas prices are at their lowest point right now it wouldn’t be much of a surprise because that’s typically what happens in January…:

Cut 8 (05)  “gasoline” 

Laskoski says if gas prices do start to drop again it won’t be by much because this is the month refineries have to make the switch from the winter blend to the summer blend of gasoline. He says we’re still paying far less than we were in January 2014…:

Cut 9 (07)  “a year ago”

________________________________________

With a new Congress set to swear-in tomorrow that puts a wrap on Mary Landrieu’s last day as a U-S Senator. Landrieu has served Louisiana in the Senate the last 18 years and LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says she’ll be remembered for her work to bring federal resources to the Bayou State…

Cut 10 (11) “Katrina” 

In 2006, Landrieu co-authored a piece of legislation that expanded oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico and it also steered billions of dollars in revenues produced offshore to Louisiana to help fund the state’s coastal restoration efforts. Hogan says Landrieu fought for the state

cut 11 (10) “available”

Landrieu has not said what she’ll do next. Hogan says Landrieu’s middle of the road approach to politics could result in her making a lot of money as a lobbyist or she could become an outspoken advocate on issues dealing with children or the poor

cut 12 (08)  “those issues”

_____________________________________

A cold week is on tap for Louisiana as artic air makes it way into the Bayou State. Tim Humphrey, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says high temperatures will only be in the 40s for north Louisiana today and 50s in south Louisiana and even more colder air will arrive Wednesday

Cut 13 (12)  “freeze likely”

Humphrey says a high pressure area currently located in Canada will bring us the cold air…

Cut 14 (12)  “for us”

Humphrey says the cold air mass heading down from Canada will be dry, so you won’t have to worry about any winter precipitation

Cut 15  (07)  “especially cold”

____________________________________

After missing 21 games with a shoulder injury, Pelicans shooting guard Eric Gordon may play tonight when New Orleans hosts the Washington Wizards. Gordon, who is averaging almost 10 points a game, went through practice yesterday and believes there’s a chance he can play tonight

Cut 16  (12)  “still uncertain”  

The Pelicans are 17-and-16 on the season, one game back of Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday says it will be a big boost to get Gordon back…

Cut 17 (20)  “helps everybody out”

Head Coach Monty Williams expects Gordon will provide a jolt to the team…

Cut 18 (12) “been missing”

There are some new state laws that are on the books with the start of a new year. Don Molino tells us about a few of them…

CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

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

Louisiana native Donna Douglas, famously known as Elly Mae Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, died at the age of 81 on New Years Day. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

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

Just over 20 new state laws went into effect with the start of the new year. That includes changes to Louisiana’s D-W-I laws. Jefferson Parish assistant district attorney Norma Broussard, says the changes will make it easier for everyone to understand the penalties of driving under the influence

CUT 3 (06)  “what’s gonna happen”

Broussard says another change is that judges can now take certain measures to provide substance abuse help for those convicted of their first or second D-W-I…

CUT 4 (09)  “third or fourth offenders”

Broussard says the state’s revised D-W-I laws also calls for jail time for first time offenders, who are under the age of 21…

CUT 5 (10)  “three month sentence”

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

Louisiana native Donna Douglas, famously known as Elly Mae Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, died at the age of 81 on New Years Day. She was born in Pride at and lived in Zachary in East Baton Rouge Parish. Douglas appeared on the Jim Engster show in May of 2013 and says she never considered not coming back to Louisiana…:

CUT 6 (11)  “Louisiana was home”

Douglas was an author of works including the cookbook, Southern Favorites With a Taste of Hollywood. She was a “Miss Baton Rouge” and was named “Miss New Orleans” in 1957. On the Jim Engster Show in May of 2013 Douglas said she’d never planned to be an actress…:

CUT 7 (09) “up there”

The CBS television series aired from 1962 to 1971 and Douglas starred on the program for all nine seasons. The Beverly Hillbillies became the number one show in the United States in its first two years. Douglas was famous for closing out the show with a whistle and her signature line, “Y’all come back now, here!” — which is how she signed off on the Jim Engster show in May 2013…:

CUT 8 (08) “a year ago”

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

Louisiana has been experiencing some mild temperatures so far this winter which is good news for the crawfish season. LSU Ag Center Aquaculture specialist Dr. Greg Lutz says warmer weather allows the mudbugs to grow faster during the winter months…:

CUT 9 (05)  “a little bit”

Lutz says this also means the harvest will begin sooner than it normally would which is welcome by growers because we didn’t have a lot of rain during the fall…:

CUT 10 (09)  “into the ponds”

Lutz says the supply of crawfish right now is fair and it should be getting bigger toward the end of the month. He says mudbug lovers like when the season starts early…:

cut 11 (12)  “our producers”

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

LSU fans are wondering who the Tigers will get to coach up the defense, now that John Chavis is in Texas as A-and-M’s defensive coordinator. Football insider Mike Detillier says it shouldn’t be hard to find a good replacement as many NFL and college football assistants will seek out the coaching vacancy at LSU

cut 12 (12)  “coveted job”

Detillier says the names he’s keeping an eye on to replace “Chief” are former USC defensive coordiantor Clancy Pendergast, Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele, Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables and Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop. And he believes these individuals would be interested if Miles contacted them

cut 13 (12)  “college football”

Louisiana native and former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron says he’s would be interested in joining LSU’s staff, if contacted by Miles. Detillier says Coach “O” has always had a great interest in working at LSU

cut 14 (06)  “type titles”