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

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

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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…

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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…

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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….

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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”

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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

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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”

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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

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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

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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”

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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…
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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.

According to Jay Dardenne, the budget architect for Governor-elect John Bel Edwards, Louisiana’s revenue shortfall for this fiscal year has grown to $750 million, while next year’s budget is a projected $1.9 billion short. He says the state’s fiscal outlook is more dire than they thought and hard work is needed to resolve it…
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A special legislative session is expected in February to address the state’s budget problems.

The imminent threat of flooding along the Mississippi and Red Rivers has led to Governor Bobby Jindal issuing a state of emergency. Flood warnings have been posted along those two rivers as it’s projected they’ll crest above flood stage in many areas next month. The Bonnet Carre Spillway in southeast Louisiana could be opened for the first time since 2011.

An Independence Police Officer is now behind bars after he allegedly used his position to steal currency from non-English speaking Hispanic males during traffic stops. State Police spokesperson Dustin Dwight says 25-year-old Laquinton Banks is facing several charges
cut 9 (10) “of impairment”
Banks served on the Independence Police Department for five months prior to his arrest.

The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged a Labadieville teenager with negligent homicide in an accidental shooting death. Sheriff Mike Waguespak says 18-year-old Jamal Starks and several friends were playing with a handgun when it discharged, shooting 17-year-old Dronald Washington in the head. Waguespack says they originally investigated the incident as a self-inflicted shooting…
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Bail for Starks has been set at $125,000.

There were 30-thousand fewer people working in Louisiana last month compared to the previous November. That’s according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission who says depressed oil prices are the reason for the job losses.

There’s also bad news about the state’s budget situation. Jay Dardenne, who is the state’s next Commissioner of Administration, says after examing the state’s finances, the budget shortfall for this fiscal year is 750-million dollars and one-point-nine billion dollars next fiscal year. Dardenne says tax increases could be needed, but they’ve yet come up with a budget plan to propose to lawmakers…
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Dardenne says a drop in oil prices and a slump in collections from sales and corporate income taxes have caused the budget holes to become larger.

LSU needs a new defensive coordinator again. Kevin Steele is leaving the Tigers for the same job at Auburn.

An Independence Police Officer has been arrested for stealing money from non-English speaking men during traffic stops. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (27) “…reporting”

A Labadieville teenager is charged with negligent homicide in an accidental shooting death. Assumption Parish Sheriff Mike Waguespak says 18-year-old Jamal Starks was playing with a gun when it went off, striking 17-year-old Dronald Washington in the head. Waguespack says it is now up to a grand jury to determine how they will move forward with this case…
cut 7 (05) “all around”
Waguespack says this is a prime example of why no one should ever play with guns.