A new policy is in place that will require high school seniors attending public schools to apply for financial aid to attend college. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (27)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lafayette ranks as the worst in the nation for jobs decline. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Starting with the senior class 2018, Louisiana high school students who attend public school will be required to apply for financial aid for college. State Superintendent of Education John White says students are leaving tens of millions of dollars on the table every year because they do not apply…

CUT 3 (09)  “financial aid”

White says they estimate about 15-thousand seniors do not seek federal aid and that’s ashame, because they could be eligible for assistance to attend a university or community college

CUT 4 (11)  for Louisiana kids”

Filling out financial aid applications with the state and federal government will be required for graduation starting in 2018. Students can opt out, but their parents will need to sign a waiver. White says they at least want to present students with a choice

CUT 5 (09)  “first place”

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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lafayette ranks as the worst in the nation for jobs decline. Between October 2014 and October 2015, the area lost approximately 4,300 jobs. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says the Lafayette economy, as well as Houma-Thibodaux’s, is getting hit hard by the decline in oil prices…

CUT 6 (10) “Louisiana experiences“

The Houma-Thibodaux area has lost some 2,800 jobs during the same time period. Scott says the downturn in the oil and gas industry affects other parts of the economy, as well. He says the oil and gas industry has a multiplier effect of five…

CUT 7 (09)  “services sector“

On the other side of the coin, the Lake Charles area has the nation’s third best percentage of job increases, as they have added 4,600 jobs. Scott says the increase is fueled by huge construction projects in the area, like two LNG export terminals that are under construction…

CUT 8 (11)  “build them, too“

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State Police are investigating a seven vehicle crash that occurred on I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish early this morning. Sergeant Nick Manale says the crash happened around 3AM in heavy fog conditions when a passenger vehicle stopped in the roadway…

CUT 9 (09)  “stopped vehicle”

He says a total of six 18-wheelers were involved in the crash. Manale says one of the rigs burst into flames after the crash and the others were severely damaged. He says, luckily, there were no serious injuries reported…

cut 10 (11)  “local hospitals”

Two people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Manale says their investigation is ongoing, but there were many factors involved with this crash…

Cut 11 (11) “18-wheelers”

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State Police say a 31-year-old man is under arrest in the deaths of two people found dead in a home in East Feliciana Parish. Trooper Bryan Lee says Eric Sanders of Norwood is charged with two counts of first degree murder. Lee says the victims were found Sunday at a home near Clinton…

cut 12 (09)  “Zachary, Louisiana”

The victims have been identified as 46-year-old Kem Smith of Clinton and her boyfriend, 39-year old Clfton Cowan, Jr. of Zachary. Lee says LSP got involved with the investigation at the request of the East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office…

cut 13 (10)  “degree murder”

The investigation determined that Sanders was the ex-husband of Smith. Lee says Sanders was arrested without incident…

cut 14 (05)  “degree murder” 

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Nominations for the 58th Grammy Awards have been announced and Louisiana is well represented.  Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Republican US Representative John Fleming has officially announced he will run for the US Senate seat that’s being vacated by David Vitter. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate last week’s murder of a 56-year-old woman in Bourg. Capt. Dawn Foret says Pamela Johnson was found dead of a gunshot wound last Tuesday and the two children she was caring for were kidnapped by the shooter. Foret says they now have a description of the alleged shooter…

CUT 3 (09)  “years of age”

Foret says the suspect fled in Johnson’s gray Buick Enclave and abandoned the vehicle in west Houma between 6:15 and 6:30 last Monday evening. The two girls were left inside the vehicle overnight and asked for help Tuesday morning. Since that is a busy traffic time in the area, Foret says they are asking for the public’s help…

CUT 4 (10)  “contact us”

The TPSO is also investigating four recent heroin overdoses in the parish that have resulted in two deaths. Foret says an arrest warrant is out for 27-year-old Shantelle White in connection with the overdose death of 35-year-old Christy Hurst…

CUT 5 (11)  “overdose deaths”

White is a 5’2″ 120 pound white female with brown/blond hair. Foret says they are trying to determine if these overdose victims received their heroine from the same source. She says investigators are also looking into the death of 28-year-old Terry Braud of Shriever was found dead of an apparent heroin overdose Thursday…

CUT 6 (07) “contact with”

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Louisiana Tech is heading to the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl where the Bulldogs will play Arkansas State on December 19th. It’s only the second time in school history that Tech will appear in back-to-back bowl games and its the Bulldogs first appearance in the New Orleans Bowl. Coach Skip Holtz is looking forward to the game…

CUT 7 (06)  “get too”

Louisiana Tech brings an 8-4 record to the bowl game, while Arkansas State has won its last eight consecutive games. Holtz says he’s impressed with what he’s seen from the Red Wolves…

CUT 8 (11)  “football games”

Holtz says to represent Louisiana Tech in only its eighth bowl game in school history is certainly something our players are really excited about…

CUT 9 (09)  “in New Orleans”

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Governor-elect John Bel Edwards announced his transition committee for healthcare today and says expanding Medicare is one of his top priorities. State Treasurer John Kennedy estimates it will cost about 1.5 billion dollars to add 300-thousand new people to Medicaid and he hopes the state will negotiate some terms that other states have in place…

cut 10 (06)  “percent of it”

Kennedy also suggests giving incentives to patients to live a healthier lifestyle, like quitting smoking and losing weight. He also says we should require a small co-pay for visiting doctors’ offices.

Cut 11 (10) “or hospital”

Kennedy says another idea to keep down Medicaid costs is requiring able-bodied recipients to take job training courses or get a job. He says none of these solutions are radical and hopes the administration considers these ideas to save us a lot of money.

cut 12 (10)  “anything else”

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US Representative John Fleming has made it official. The republican from Minden has announced his candidacy for US Senate, as he’ll seek the seat that David Vitter is giving up. Fleming made his announcement with a posting on youtube

cut 13 (13)  “United States Senate”

Fleming says he wants to work on legislation to fight terrorism, remove Obamacare and help small businesses grow. Fleming has served in the US House since 2009 and is expected to be one of several prominent republicans to be on the ballot next fall

cut 14 (07)  “is possible” 

ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says Fleming is a strong candidate that will  have a good chance at replacing Vitter as Senator

cut 15 (10)  “if you will”

Stockley says expects a large field of candidates to run…

cut 16 (13)  “John Kennedy”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has received 11 new whooping cranes to be released into the wild in a couple of weeks. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A UNO Philosophy Professor has received a grant to study alternatives to incarceration. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

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Those looking to give hoverboards as a gift this holiday season need to be wary as they’re known to burst into flames.  Jeff Palermo reports…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has received 11 young whooping cranes to be released at White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. Spokesperson Bo Boehringer says the population will increase to 46 with the addition of 8 females and 3 males. He says they’re working to create a flock that is able to survive in the wild.

cut 4  (10)  “adult birds”

Boehringer says they’ve experienced some hardships since the project began six years ago, like illnesses and birds being illegally shot. But he’s optimistic with hard work the whooping crane population will increase and flourish.

Cut 5  (10)  “success process”

Boehringer says biologists predict that a successful hatch with the whooping cranes is in the near future. He says once the birds start to reproduce on their own, they hope to have over 100 mating pairs.

Cut 6 (08)  “the population”

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A UNO Philosophy Professor has received a grant to study alternatives to incarceration. The US leads the world, on a per capita basis, in incarceration and Louisiana incarcerates more people per capita than any other state in the nation. Professor Chris Suprenant (SIR-pruh-nont) says the grant will help them study America’s approach to punishment…

CUT 7 (06)  “of punishment”

Suprenant says the project will consider under what conditions incarceration is legitimate and should be implemented. He says the goal of punishment is to deter bad behavior from happening again. Suprenant says locking people up doesn’t always achieve the desired goal…

Cut 8  (06)  “as a society”

The grant, from the Charles Koch Foundation, will fund an academic conference and studies related to the topic. Suprenant says they will look at other forms of punishment that are currently being used or have been used historically…

Cut 9 (10) “realizing justice”

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The highly sought after “hoverboard” is on the top of many children’s Christmas wish lists, but these self-balancing, motorized scooters have been known to burst into flames. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says read up on these devices before purchasing one…

Cut 10 (10) “laboratory” 

Browning says in November, a Lafitte resident was harmed by a fire started from an exploding “hoverboard,” but events like this are happening all over the country. He advises buyers to read the operation manual before using the device.

cut 11 (10) “recommendations”

Browning says not all hoverboards are unsafe, because some are properly tested. He says the highest risk of fire is when the device is charging.

Cut 12 (09) “the battery”

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It looks as though a stiff competition is brewing in the race to be Louisiana’s next Speaker of the House. Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is backing New Orlreans Democratic Representative Walt Leger. Conservatives are working to drum up support for Republican Representative Cameron Henry of Metairie to lead the lower chamber. LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford:

Cut 13 (13)  “for confrontation”

Some are wondering if this battle could be a sign of what’s to come when lawmakers convene for a special session in February to address the budget issue. Alford says these kinds of leadership struggles always take place in the months leading up to a session, but this time the mainstream media is paying attention…:

Cut 14 (08) “elected”

The election occurs January 11th. Alford says the House votes on their choice for speaker or they end up with a single candidate, but they have
never gone against the governor’s choice…:

Cut 15  (06) “historic” 

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The 20th ranked LSU Tigers will play Texas Tech in the 10th annual Advocare V-100 Texas Bowl on December 29th in Houston. Coach Les Miles is excited about the bowl invite…

Cut 16  (18)  “for us”

The Red Raiders are ranked second nationally in offense, averaging almost 600 yards per game and 47 points a contest. Miles says it will be a good test for the Tigers defense.

Cut 17 (19) “match-up”

LSU’s players will have this week off as they final exams. The coaches are busy recruiting. Miles was asked if offensive coordinator Cam Cameron would return next season and Miles says he’s not contemplating any changes

Cut 18 (14) “…execute it”

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The Saints nearly handed Carolina its first loss of the season, but Panthers quarterback Cam Newton threw five touchdown passes to help the NFC South champs escape the Big Easy with a 41-38 victory. Saints QB Drew Brees threw three touchdown passes in the hard fought defeat…

Cut 19 (15) “that one”

Carolina improved to 12-0 with the win, while the Saints fell to 4-8 as they’ve now lost four straight. With four more games left in the regular season, Brees wants the team to forget about its record….

Cut 20 (21) “playing at”