Louisiana actress Donna Douglas, famoulsy known as Elly Mae Clampett on the “Beverely Hillbillies” TV show has passed away at the age of 81. Douglas was born in East Baton Rouge Parish and lived in Zachary. During a recent appearance on the “Jim Engster” show, Douglas said she never considered not living in Louisiana, despite becoming a movie and TV star…
cut 6 (11) “…Louisiana was home”
No word on the cause of her death.

Several new laws have gone into effect with the new year. Jefferson Parish Assistant District Attorney Norma Broussard says the state has revised its D-W-I laws and one of the new provisions calls for jail time for first time offenders, who are under the age of 21….
cut 5 (10) “…three month sentence”
Another new law allows a 16-year-old to register to vote, but they still can exercise their right to vote until they turn 18.

The mild weather across south Louisiana in December should help with this year’s crawfish season. LSU Ag Center aquaculture specialist, Doctor Greg Lutz, says when it’s warm, mud bugs will tend to move around and feed on things to get bigger, and this is welcome news, because we didn’t have a lot of rain during the fall..
cut 10 (09) “…ponds”

LSU fans are wondering who will replace John Chavis as LSU’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”
Louisiana native and former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron says he’s would be interested in joining LSU’s staff, if contacted by Les Miles.

A busy year in politics is anticipated in 2015. We’ll have statewide elections and that means voters will choose a new governor. And current Governor Bobby Jindal is expected to announce he’s running for President this year. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s unclear how involved Jindal will be with state matters in his final year in office…
cut 6 (08) “….the budget’
Pinsonat says another story line to watch is the budget as lawmakers will once again have to deal with a revenue deficit.

Three people were killed on New Year’s eve night in a two-vehicle crash in Livingston Parish. State Police trooper Jared Sandifer says 24-year-old Trinity Kiger of Satsuma hit another vehicle near Walker, killing himself and two others inside the other vehicle….
cut 12 (05) “…not wearing the seatbelt”
The two victims in the other vehicle were a mother and daugther from Denham Springs.

Louisiana’s Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret is anticipating significant job growth in 2015. Scott Carwile has more…
cut 2 (27) “….reporting’

Sad Alabama fans are leaving Louisiana today. They watched the Crimson Tide lose last night in the Sugar Bowl as Ohio State pulled off the upset with a 42-35 victory in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The win for the Buckeyes puts them in the national championship game against Oregon on January 12th. That game will be played in Dallas.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret anticipates the state’s economy will experience significant job growth in 2015. Moret says in 2014, Louisiana announced dozens of company expansions or re-locations, which will result in 25-thousand new jobs…
cut 8 (10) “….nice growth”

If your New Year’s resolution is to live a healthier lifestyle, here are some tips. Emelie Gunn has more…
cut 3 (29) “….reporting’

Three people were killed in a New Year’s eve crash in Livingston Parish, including an 11-year-old girl. State Police trooper Jared Sandifer says alcohol is not suspected in the two-vehicle wreck that happened around 8:15 on Wednesday night near Walker…
cut 10 (11) “…another one”
The 11-year-old girl that died in the crash has been identified as Hannah Chisholm of Denham Springs.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested two men from Slidell for allegedly stealing 19 cases of commercial-grade fireworks. Authorities say the fireworks were intended to be used New Year’s eve night for a show in Bossier City. Detectives believe 22-year-old Marcus Stewart and 30-year-old Donald Armlin Junior stole the fireworks between December 23rd and 29th.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret anticipates significant job growth in 2015 and beyond. Moret says the growth will also spread out among various industry sectors…
cut 9 (11) “…today”
For instance I-B-M is hiring eight-hundred workers for its new facility in Baton Rouge

A Denham Springs family is the mourning the loss of a 37-year-old mother and her 11-year-old daugther. They were killed in a two-vehicle wreck on New Year’s Eve in Livingston Parish. The crash also claimed the life of the other driver that was involved. State Police Troooper Jared Sandifer says the 11-year-old victim was in the rear middle seat, wearing a seatbelt, but the vehicle was equipped with a lap belt only…
cut 11 (10) “…option”
Sandifer says they do not believe alcohol played a role in this crash.

With statewide elections taking place this year and the possibility of Governor Bobby Jindal announcing a run for President, 2015 expects to be another wild year in Louisiana politics. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Republican US Senator David Vitter is the front-runner in the governor’s race, but there are other strong candidates…
cut 4 (12) “….uncertainty”
An announcement is expected early this year on whether Jindal will run for President.

If living a healthier lifestyle is one of your New Year’s Resolutions for 2015, Melissa Martin, director of the department of health and hospitals Well-Ahead initative, says their are apps on your smart phone that can help you stay accountable and aware of the decisions you make…
cut 14 (11) “…back burner”

2015 is expected to be another busy year in Louisiana politics. It’s anticipated Governor Bobby Jindal will announce that he’s running for President. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that announcment could come sooner than originally planned, because of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush’s entrance into the race…
cut 5 (06) “….too far ahead”
Jindal is expected back in Iowa next week to meet with religious leaders.

Many people start the new year making a resolution to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle. Melissa Martin, director of the state department health and hospitals well-ahead program, says watching your alcohol consumption can make a difference when it comes to following through with your resolutions…
cut 15 (11) “…intake”
Martin says drinking water is also important, because staying hydrated helps curb hunger.

Louisiana’s Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret anticipates significant growth in 2015 as a result of the new projects they announced last year. Moret says a lot of that growth will occur in the high tech and the software development industry…
cut 7 (04) “…in Louisiana”
Moret says in 2014, Louisiana announced dozens of company expansions or relocations, which will result in 25-thousand new jobs.

Several new state laws went into effect with the new year. 16-year-olds can now register to vote, but they still can’t vote until their 18. You may have the option to get a sport university logo on your driver’s license. And smoking is now prohibited within 25 feet of an entrance to a state office building.

It’s a new year and for 21 states a higher minimum wage for low-paid workers goes into effect. Critics of a higher minimum wage say it forces some businesses to reduce their work force in order to compensate for the higher wages. But Tulane Business Professor Mark Rosa says government can minimize the impact, by raising the wage rate slightly or index it to inflation….
cut 7 (09) “…50 percent”

The Centers for Disease Control says the flu has now reached the epidemic level in the United States and the state Department of Health and Hospitals says it will get worse before it gets better. Medical director for the immunization program, Dr. Frank Welch, says the flu situation in the Bayou State is absolutely terrible…
Cut 3 (06) “influenza-like symptoms”

A cold and rainy start to the New Year in north Louisiana and Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service, says rain chances will increase across south Louisiana over the next couple of days…
cut 14 (05) “…to be wet”
Dry conditions for the entire state will not return until Sunday.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is now accepting applications to become a wildlife and fisheries field agent. Emelie Gunn has more…
cut 2 (27) “….reporting”

The C-D-C continues to report widespread flu cases across Louisiana. Doctor Frank Welch, with the state department of health and hospitals, is urging residents to get the flu shot, even though it doesn’t match up completely with the strain of flu going around. He says it can prevent a severe illness and he knows from personal experience…
cut 5 (11) “….three days later”
Welch says almost seven out of every 100 doctor visits are for flu-like symptoms.

State Police say three people were killed in a two-vehicle crash in Livingston Parish last night. Authorities say one of the vehicles ended up flipping and it led to the closure of a heavily traveled roadway for several hours. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Rainy conditions for much of Louisiana today, especially for the northern half of the state. And Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service, expects the rain to keep falling in Shreveport, Monroe and Alexandria through Saturday…
cut 13 (09) “…Saturday afternoon”
It’s raining in southwest Louisiana this morning and rain chances will increase across the southern half of the state on Friday and Saturday.

The minimum wage goes up in 21 states today, including Arkansas. Voters approved a minimum wage of $8.05 an hour. Tulane Business Professor, Doctor Mark Rosa, says it will be interesting to see how this impacts Arkansas’ economy…
cut 8 (08) “…large percentages”
Rosa also expects Congress will continue the discussion over whether to raise the federal minimum wage.