As the holiday season begins the flu bug is making the rounds. According to the CDC, flu-like illnesses are at a five-year high. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease expert Doctor Fred Lopez says many people have a decreased immunity against the flu.
Cut 10 (08) “…against the flu”
Lopez says two-thirds of flu activity is occurring in people young than 25 years of age.

Here’s an update on Next year’s governors’ race, US Senator John Kennedy says he’s highly considering it. Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s not running, and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he will conduct a poll next month and announce his decision in January.
Cut 13 (06) “…of the year.”
The 63-year-old Nungesser has seved as Lt. Governor since 2016 and is also the former president of Plaquemines Parish.

Click It Or Ticket is underway for those traveling on Louisiana roadways. Whitney Thomas has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

Opelousas attorney and former state senator Elbert Guillory is facing a first-offense DWI charge. State Police say he received the charge after he was involved in a minor crash over the weekend where he exchanged information with the over vehicle involved in the wreck. Troopers tracked down Guillory’s vehicle after the wreck and he refused to submit a breath test.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’ll run a poll next month and then announce on January 10th if he’ll run for governor. Attorney General Jeff Landry is running and already has the endorsement of the Louisiana Republican Party and Senator John Kennedy will make a decision soon. Nungesser says he plans to meet with Kennedy…
cut 14 (09) “…plans are”
Senator Bill Cassidy announced last week he’s not running.

According to the C-D-C, flu-like illnesses are at a five-year-high in Louisiana, which is well above the national average. LSU Infectious Disease Expert Doctor Fred Lopez says the flu bug is not the only virus going around…
cut 12 (08) “….COVID still”
Lopez is concerned about viruses spreading even more with people getting together for the Thanksgiving weekend.

Law enforcement is paying close attention to whether everyone inside a vehicle is buckled up as part of a Click It or Ticket it campaign. Last year during the Thanksgiving holiday period, 18 people lost their lives on Louisiana roadways. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says it was the second deadliest holiday period of 2021.
Cut 8 (09) “…properly wearing it.”
Louisiana law says everyone in the vehicle including the backseat must be properly restrained.

Many of us will be enjoying turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Did you know that the wild turkey population was nearly wiped out. After World War Two, Louisiana’s wild turkey population was down to just 15-hundred, now the population has reached seven million nationally. National Wildlife Federation Senior Scientist John Kanter says Louisiana has a limited wild turkey hunting season…
cut 6 (06) “…do so”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’ll make an announcement in early January on whether he’ll run for Governor….
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana National Guard has fired the commander of its 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. An investigation determined Colonel Scott Desormeaux sent inappropriate text messages to other service members. The Army Times reports Desormeaux presided over the 256th’s 2020-21 deployment to Iraq and Syria.

Flu-like illnesses in Louisiana are at a five-year high according to the C-D-C. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease expert Doctor Fred Lopez says two-thirds of flu activity is occurring in people young than 25 years of age. So Lopez advises staying home if sick, washing hands frequently, and getting the flu vaccine…
Cut 11 (09) “…hospitalization.”
Lopez says health officials are concerned about influenza spreading even more with people getting together for Thanksgiving.

Law enforcement has a Click It or Ticket It campaign to coincide with a busy travel week for Thanksgiving. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says they will also be making sure kids are restrained properly, especially small ones who should be in a car seat. Lambert says it might be cold outside, but children wearing heavy coats in car seats is not a good match…
cut 9 (11) “…your seatbelt”
The first fine for not wearing a seatbelt is 50-dollars, subsequent fine is 75-dollars.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, a potential candidate for governor next year, has some strong words for the leaders of the Louisiana Republican Party. Nungesser says state party chair Louis Gurvich should resign for already endorsing Jeff Landry in next year’s governor’s race…
cut 15 (10) “…should resign”
Nungesser says he’ll announce a decision on whether he’ll run by January 10th.

Law enforcement officers are ready to pass out fines for those not wearing their seatbelts during “Click It or Ticket” during the Thanksgiving traveling period. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says the campaign wraps up Sunday.
Cut 7 (08) “…fifty dollar fine.”
Lambert says during last year’s Thanksgiving week, 18 people lost their lives on Louisiana roadways.

The U-S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says flu-like illness is at a five-year high. Kace Keischnick has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

Visitation will begin Sunday for former First Gentleman of Louisiana and longtime U-L Lafayette administrator Raymond Coach Blanco. The funeral is set for Monday.

State Police has released the name of the man who witnesses say attacked a DOTD worker with a knife killing him on Interstate Ten yesterday, before West Baton Rouge Sheriff Deputies shot and killed the suspect. He’s been identified as 31-year-old Ruben Ernesto Dorado of Miami, Florida. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson is mourning the death of 66-year-old Darrell Guillory of Youngsville….
cut 3 (09) “….service mission”
Guillory was a DOTD Motorist Assistance Patrol worker.

Gas prices are falling as we get closer to the Thanksgiving holiday. According to Gasbuddy-dot-com petroleum analyst Patrick De Haan the price at the pump is down 11-cents in the last week to $3.09 a gallon statewide for regular gasoline…
cut 13 (11) “…a barrel”

Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump says footage of the fatal arrest of Derrick Kittling confirms what they suspected the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, Rodney Anderson, used unnecessary force during a traffic stop on November 6th in Alexandria. State Police released video of the physical altercation between the deputy and Kittling and Colonel Lamar Davis was asked what Kittling’s family thought…..
cut 15 (11) “…to comment on”
Kittling was pulled over because of his vehicle’s window tint and modified exhaust.

Former first gentleman and the husband of former governor Kathleen Blanco, Raymond “Coach” Blanco, has passed away at the age of 87. Coach Blanco was the vice president of student affairs at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for decades. Current school president, Doctor Joe Savoie, says Coach felt it was his moral obligation to listen to students…
Cut 6 (10) “…exists today.”
Coach Blanco served as the school’s vice president of student affairs from 1974 to 2009.

The state Department of Transportation is mourning the stabbing death of a Motorist Assistance Patrol worker on Interstate 10 in West Baton Rouge Parish yesterday. Marsanne Golsby has more..
Cut 1(30) “…Marsanne Golsby”

According to the Gas-Buddy-dot-com, gas prices are falling as we approach one of the busiest travel weekends of the year…
cut 12 (07) “….for Thanksgiving”
Gas-buddy-dot-com petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says the statewide average is $3.10 for a gallon of regular gasoline.

Louisiana’s only First Gentleman, Raymond “Coach” Blanco passed away over the weekend at the age of 87. Blanco, the husband of former Governor Kathleen Blanco, was an institution at U-L Lafayette, serving as the school’s vice president of student affairs for decades. Current university president, Joe Savoie, says Blanco hired him as an administrator at U-L in 1978 after Savoie was a student and a fraternity president…
cut 8 (11) “…student organizations”
Coach Blanco retired from U-L Lafayette in 2009.

As we mentioned earlier in the newscast, there will be a lot of motorists on the road this week taking long drives to see family. AAA’s Don Redman says one way to avoid distractions or keep from daydreaming is to check your mirrors every three to five seconds…
cut 11 (12) “….you’re driving”

Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump says footage of the fatal arrest of Derrick Kittling confirms what they suspected that the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, Rodney Anderson, escalated and demonstrated the use of unnecessary force during a traffic stop on November 6th in Alexandria. State Police released video of the physical altercation between the deputy and Kittling and Colonel Lamar Davis was asked what Kittling’s family thought…..
cut 15 (11) “…to comment on”

In West Baton Rouge Parish yesterday, authorities say a DOTD employee was stabbed to death and his attacker was fatally shot by sheriff deputies.
Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says he’s sickened by the death of Darrell Guillory, a Motorist Assistance Patrol worker.
Cut 3 (09) “…service mission”
State Police is investigating and has not released details on what sparked the attack.

New labor statistics show Louisiana has again posted a new record low unemployment rate. Louisiana Workforce Commission Supervisor for Employment Statistics Mark Jones says the numbers are tremendous news…:
Cut 7 (09) “…the unemployment rate.”
Also, the number of employed persons statewide increased by over 7000 during October.

Soccer fans might be cutting out of the work or could be less productive this afternoon to watch the U-S take on Wales in the World Cup. President of the Louisiana Soccer Association Sean Esker says the hype is really building for Friday’s contest against England…
cut 12 (07) “….the community”
U-S Soccer player Cameron Carter-Vickers is the son of former LSU basketball player Howard Carter.