If you use the asthma inhaler Flovent, you need to know that beginning January 1st it won’t be on the shelves.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Department of Insurance will hold a hearing on February 14th to examine the sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to Elevance Health. Opponents of the sale are concerned it will result in higher health care costs for patients, while Blue Cross says the deal will benefit its policyholders.

2023 comes to a close on Sunday night and one of the biggest stories of the year was the unprecedented drought and the record heat that sparked hundreds of wildfires that destroyed 62-thousand acres statewide. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says in August alone, there were 550 wildfires…
Cut 15 (14) “…in the archives.”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser 2023 was a good year for tourism and wants to make it better in 2024. In Monday mornings Rose Bowl Parade, his office is sponsoring a Mardi Gras themed float that will promote tourism to Louisiana…
cut 7 (12) “…every year”
The float will feature a larger-than-life Mardi Gras jester, second-line inspired umbrellas, fleur de lis, and lots of purple, green, and gold. More than 90 volunteers from Louisiana and across the country will decorate the massive float.

Heads up for asthma patients who use the inhaler, Flovent, it will no longer be available on January 1st. LSU New Orleans Pulmonologist Doctor Kyle Happel encourages users to be proactive about refilling their maintenance medication…
cut 5 (08) “…their asthma”
The manufacturer of Flovent, G-S-K, says a generic version is available and it works just as well as the branded drug.

For the third consecutive year, there will be a Louisiana Float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. And the idea behind the Mardi Gras themed float is to promote tourism to Louisiana. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says their previous floats won awards…
cut 9 (07) “….and this year”
Performing on the float will be Grammy-nominated Zydeco musician Sean Ardoin, Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw and legendary guitarist James Burton.

2023 will be remembered for election of Jeff Landry as Louisiana’s next Governor. Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson’s unexpected election as House Speaker and an unprecedented drought.

Also, The Louisiana Legislature passed a bill to make it illegal for doctors to perform certain procedures to alter the sex of transgender minors. Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed the legislation because he said it was unnecessary…
cut 16 (09) “….have to do”
But lawmakers overrode the governor’s veto and the legislation goes into effect on New Year’s Day.

2023 saw LSU athletics win two national championships, Lady Tigers basketball in April, and LSU baseball in June….
Cut 17 (16) “…walk it off.”

2023 is coming to a close and the biggest story in Louisiana was the election of Republican Jeff Landry as the state’s 57th governor. Landry’s victory was predicted, but winning in October, without the need for a November run-off was a surprise…
Cut 13 (09) “…(cheering).”
Landry will be sworn into office on January 8th.

We saw a decline in gas prices in 2023. Gasbuddy says in 2022 the average national price was nearly four-dollars for a gallon of regular gasoline, this year it was around $3.50 a gallon. Gasbuddy’s Patrick DeHaan says in 2024 they are forecasting an average price of $3.38
cut 11 (11) “…year ahead”

Louisiana will once again have a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day to promote tourism to the Bayou State.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

The Louisiana Supreme Court says it will not hear Caddo Parish sheriff candidate Henry Whitehorn’s appeal, so there will be another run-off election between Whitehorn and John Nickelson. Nickelson lost the November 18th election by one vote, but a lower court judge ordered a new election after several questionable votes were counted. The new election will likely take place March 23rd.

If you have asthma and use the inhaler Flovent made by GSK, listen up. LSU Health New Orleans Pulmonologist Dr. Kyle Happel says it’s being removed from the shelves beginning Monday. And while there are other options…
Cut 4 (11) “…called fluticasone.”
Happel says fluticasone, which is also made by GSK, works just as well as Flovent.

According to Gas Buddy’s annual fuel outlook, the national average for gas and diesel will drop from $3.51 this year to $3.38 in 2024. After gas prices surged to nearly six dollars a gallon in 2022, GasBuddy’s Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan says the global refining picture has improved.
Cut 10 (10) “…price relief.”
DeHaan says average yearly spending on gasoline per household will fall to 24-hundred dollars, down two-percent from 2023 and 12-percent from 2022.

2023 comes to a close tomorrow and one of the biggest stories in Louisiana this year was Congressman Mike Johnson’s sudden rise to power as he was elected House Speaker after Kevin McCarthy was ousted and Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan failed to get majority support…
cut 14 (14) “….in business”

Louisiana’s third annual Rose Parade float is getting ready to roll along the streets of Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day. The float is designed to encourage viewers of the parade to travel to the Bayou State in 2024. Second-year rider, Assistant Vice President of Communications for the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Kaylie LeBlanc…
Cut 8 (12) “…anything else.”
Louisiana’s 2024 Rose Parade float features a larger than life Mardi Gras jester, fleur-de-lis, second-line inspired umbrellas and a lot of purple, green and gold. The float also features the sights and sounds of a Louisiana Mardi Gras parade.

A Chalmette woman has filed a lawsuit seeking to keep former President Donald Trump’s name off of Louisiana’s presidential primary ballot. A similar lawsuit was successful in Colorado, but not in Michigan. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the U-S Supreme Court will eventually have to rule.
Cut 8 (10) “…in Louisiana.”
Ashley Reeb of Chalmette states in her petition that based on Section 3 Amendment 14 of the U-S Constitution, Trump can not run for President because he engaged in insurrection on January 6, 2021.

The next couple of mornings, most of the state will see temperatures get below freezing. LRN meteorologist Bill Jacquemin…
cut 13 (07) “…short term”
Lows tomorrow morning could dip below 30-degrees for central and north Louisiana.

The State Fire Marshal’s office says a home fire in Jonesboro claimed the life of a teenager last night. A grandmother and a four-year-old were able to escape the blaze, but they are hospitalized. An investigation into the cause is ongoing. The state fire Marshal says it’s the third fatal fire across Louisiana in as many days.

The State Bond Commission approves $15 million to help pay for the infrastructure to build Louisiana’s first Buc-ees in Lincoln Parish. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”