More and more restaurants are opening on Thanksgiving day giving people an additional dining option for their holiday festivities. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (26) “reporting”

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Louisiana will have a mobile pet shelter for future hurricane seasons. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

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Several stores are once again opening their doors tonight to get a jump start on the Holiday shopping season. Wal-mart, Best Buy, Sears and Target are just some of the retailers who will cut their Thanksgiving holiday short in the hopes of increasing revenues. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice is not sure this relatively new tradition will continue

Cut 3 (05) “an advantage”

Some retail analysts say opening on Thanksgiving Day doesn’t lead to an increase in sales. Rice says many shoppers and employees are not happy with it either

Cut 4  (05)  “work those hours”

But Rice says optimism is high among retailers that this will be a good holiday shopping season

Cut 5  (06)  “looks good”

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More and more restaurants are opening on Thanksgiving day giving people an additional dining option for their holiday festivities. Erica Burns, with the Louisiana Restaurant Association, says last year 33 million Americans went to a restaurant for all or part of their Thanksgiving meal. She thinks restaurants are open on Thanksgiving because of public demand…

Cut 6 (10)  “restaurant as well”

Burns says this is a trend that’s been growing over the last several years. Burns says a big advantage for eating out on Thanksgiving is that it allows for more time to be spent with your family…

CUT 7 (12)  “a clean house”

She says the Black Friday weekend is a big weekend for the restaurant industry. Burns says with stores now opening on Thanksgiving night, it just makes sense for restaurants to be open, too…

Cut 8 (10)    “for a meal” 

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The LSU Tigers take on Texas A-and-M tonight looking to avoid ending the regular season on a three-game losing streak. 1999 was the last time the Tigers lost three games in a row and Coach Les Miles says the players are committed to getting a win tonight

Cut 9 (09)  “and achieving”

Both of these teams enter tonight’s contest with identitcal records, seven and four overall, 3-and-4 in the SEC. Miles says it will be a challenge for his team to go to Kyle Field and play well

Cut 10 (12) “football team” 

LSU has won three straight over the Aggies. In the last two victories, the Tigers defense held quarterback Johnny Manziel in check. Tonight, A-and-M will start freshman Kyle Allen. Sophomore defensive tackle Christian LaCouture says putting pressure on Allen will be important

cut 11 (10)  “create havoc”

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Construction will begin next month on a mobile pet shelter that will be used for the 2015 hurricane season and beyond. The state department of agriculture is responsible for pet evacuations and Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says storm victims in the past have refused assistance unless their pets were accommodated

cut 12 (08)  “piece of equipment”  (2x)

Strain says they received a 40-thousand dollar donation which will go towards the construction of the mobile pet shelter, which will be about a 50-foot transport truck that’s outfitted with pet cages…

Cut 13 (09)  “move instantly”

A Moreauville family is fighting the town that is trying to enact a ban on vicious dogs. Eric Gill has the story…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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The Destrehan High School teacher involved in a sex scandal with a 16-year-old student pleads not guilty today. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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A Moreauville family is fighting the town that is trying to enact a ban on vicious dogs. Joanna Armand, whose family owns a pit bull named Zeus, is fighting to lift that ban. Armand began an online petition and it has already generated over 245,000 signatures. She’s also reaching out to dog owners in Moreauville and Avoyelles Parish…

CUT 3 (10)  “or huskies”

Moreauville passed an ordinance banning pit bulls and rottweilers from town limits. If the ban goes into effect, the family would be forced to give up one-year-old Zeus, who has no history of aggressive behavior. Armand says giving up Zeus would devastate her family since the dog provides love and support for four of her children who have special needs…

CUT 4 (10)  “their helper”

Armand calls Zeus a “Mom’s Helper” for the role he has taken with her children. It’s reported the ordinance was passed because several residents said they were chased by dogs in neighborhoods, although no attacks have been documented. The ban was to go into effect December 1, but that date has been put on hold. Armand feels the town handled this situation in the wrong way…

CUT 5 (09)  “of Moreauville”

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The riots in Ferguson, Missouri, over the decision by a grand jury not to indict a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager has caught the attention of many people in Louisiana. Dialogue on Race Louisiana C-E-O Maxine Crump says the civil unrest is a sign America still has a long way to go to removing color barriers

CUT 6 (07)  “undone”

Crump does not condone the burning of businesses, which occurred last night in Ferguson. But she says these type of emotional outbursts will continue unless America does more to make sure discrimination is no longer a part of our society

CUT 7 (10) “our future”

There are at least three vigils or rallies planned for tonight in Louisiana in response to the grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. Crump says these events can be positive and a way for people to peacefully express how they feel

CUT 8 (11) “for this country”

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The Saints dropped their third consecutive home game last night losing to the Baltimore Ravens 34-20. The loss puts the Black & Gold at 4-7 on the season. Head coach Sean Payton says the team needs to play better, but the coaches also need to coach better moving forward…

CUT 9 (11)  “important game”

This is the first time the Saints have lost three in a row at the Dome since 2001. Quarterback Drew Brees says the team having this type of stretch during the season is definitely disappointing…

CUT 10 (10)  “better than that”

Even though the Saints’ record is disappointing, they are still tied for first place in the NFC South. The Saints now prepare to travel to Pittsburgh for a Sunday matchup against the 7-4 Steelers. Brees says losing is no fun…

CUT 11 (06)  “get a win“

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Texas Governor Rick Perry is campaigning with Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy today. They are making three stops in Louisiana in an effort to get out of the vote as Cassidy tries to unseat democratic senator Mary Landrieu on December sixth. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a good political strategy

cut 12 (09) “go out and vote”

Meanwhile, Landrieu is spending her afternoon, talking with workers at a marine facility in Houma and she also has a meeting with seniors and disabled residents in Terrebonne Parish.  Pinsonat says Landrieu is trying to drum up more support from blue collar workers and seniors…

cut 13 (03 “beat bad”

Pinsonat expects Landrieu to be active on the campaign trail leading up to election day, but it’s likely not enough to keep her job as a US Senator

cut 14 (10) “so much”

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

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Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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State Police are investigating a single vehicle accident involving an alleged drunk driver in Tangipahoa Parish that claimed the life of the driver’s father. Master Trooper Greg Marchand says troopers responded to a call about the crash in the Hammond area last night…

CUT 3 (12)  “a pine tree”

45-year-old Douglas Hoyt of Holden was not restrained at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Marchand says they do suspect impairment on the part of the driver, 22-year-old Amber Hoyt…

CUT 4 (08)  “vehicular homicide”

Amber, who was restrained, received minor injuries and will be booked upon release from the hospital. Marchand reminds drivers, especially during the holiday season, use proper restraints and never operate a vehicle while impaired… (Amber will be charged with DWI, careless operation, and vehicular homicide.)

CUT 5 (08)  “into tragedy”

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New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. This is the largest individual contribution in the Hall’s 51 year history. Vice President of Communications Pete Fierle (FEAR-ly) says Hall President David Baker approached Benson earlier this season…

CUT 6 (07)  “very, very quickly”

The donation will help build a Hall of Fame Village. $10 million of Benson’s donation will be used to renovate Fawcett Stadium, which will now be called Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The renovations will allow the stadium to be used for other sporting and entertainment events. The additional $1 million will help construct the Hall of Fame’s Legends Landing…

CUT 7 (11) “to literally land”

Legends Landing will be a residence where former greats can live if they fall on hard times. He says the Hall of Fame Village, and the various programs that will run from it, will help teach the values of the game and how you can apply them to all parts of life. Fierle feels Benson made this donation because he shares the Hall’s vision of what Hall of Fame Village represents…

CUT 8 (11) “for this country”

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The famous Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights is officially underway. The 300,000+ lights were turned on for the first time on Saturday and will twinkle every night at dusk through January 6th of next year. Madi Ackel is this year’s Miss Merry Christmas. She says Natchitoches is always special, but this is the highlight of the year…:

CUT 9 (10)  “special here”

Downtown attractions include carriage tours through the historic district and all shops and restaurants will be open late. Ackel says the 88th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival and parade happens December 6th…:

CUT 10 (08)  “at the lake”

You can get more information on the festival online at christmasfestival.com. Ackel says all events take place in the Landmark Historic District along the Cane River Lake and they invite everyone to come out and get into the Christmas spirit…:

CUT 11 (06)  “as possible here“

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Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Early voting began Saturday and will run through this Saturday, excluding Thursday and Friday. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voter turnout last Saturday was brisk…

cut 12 (10) “almost 45,000”

He says nearly 45,000 voters cast their ballot early Saturday, but expects numbers to taper off as we get into the week. Schedler says it wasn’t very surprising to see a large number of voters out on Saturday…

cut 13 (06) “was very nice”

He says lines are steady today for early voting, although shorter than what was seen on opening day. Schedler predicts, based on historical data, overall voter turnout for the December 6th election will be in the 35-percent range…

cut 14 (08) “the following day”