Louisiana ranks 49th among states for its overall quality of life. Kevin Gallagher has more on that…:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The F-B-I is reportedly looking at New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell for a series of clothing purchases made by a local salon owner who is the personal shopper and stylist for Cantrell. Fox 8 TV says the FBI has subpoenaed receipts and documents from high-end New Orleans fashion retailer Ballin’s Limited and some of the clothing purchases examined date back to 2017.

A new report from LSU’s Center for Energy Studies predicts Louisiana will regain thousands of jobs in the oil and gas industry by the middle of next year. Research professor Greg Upton says this year Louisiana has already gained 2500 jobs that involve extracting oil and gas from the ground.
Cut 4 (12) “…levels off.”
He says the state lost 8,700 upstream oil and gas sector energy jobs during the pandemic.

Kindness-dot-org ranks ranks Louisiana as the sixth kindness state in the country. Verizon and NextDoor questioned 10-thousand people across the U-S and asked if they would do things like return a lost item to a neighbor or forgive a neighbor’s debt. Verizon spokesperson Andrew Testa…
cut 8 (04) “…one to 50”
Among the top five are Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas and Utah.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell answered questions Wednesday about issues surrounding her leadership. FOX 8 investigative reporter Lee Zurik questioned if Cantrell’s use of city-owned French Quarter apartment and excessive travel was a detriment to her leadership.
Cut 9 (06) “…my opinion.
Zurik has been running a series of reports pertaining to Cantrell’s use of a city-owned apartment and has more than 600 hours of recordings of her entering and leaving the apartment.

Who’s running for governor in 2023 has made the headlines this week, but Governor John Bel Edwards still has 14 months left in office and he has some items on his to-do list. For example, continued strides with education.
Cut 21 (13) “…far too long.”
Edwards made the comments on his monthly call-in radio show.

Are you tired of the chilly temperatures? Well, a warm-up is not expected until next week. In fact, State Climatologist Barry Keim says Friday night into Saturday morning there will be a reinforcing cold front.
Cut 7 (06) “…into Thanksgiving.”
Most of the southern half of the state is under a freeze watch late tonight and into tomorrow morning. Temperatures could be in the upper 20s for central Lousiaina tomorrow morning.

Inflation has been at a 40-year high but your Thanksgiving dinner will not break the bank. According to the American Farm Bureau price survey Louisiana residents can expect to pay $13.62 less than the national average for a classic Thanksgiving dinner for ten. Farm Bureau of Louisiana spokesperson Avery Davidson…
Cut 14 (07) “…sweet potatoes.”
Davidson says the average price for a 16-pound turkey is nine dollars less than the national average.

Louisiana’s suicide prevention coordinator Robyn Thomas at the Louisiana Department of Health says the new 988 national suicide prevention and crisis hotline has seen a 50-percent increase in calls since it replaced a ten-digit number in July. Thomas says counselors can connect callers with additional resources if they are needed…
cut 28 (11) “….confidential”
And again that number is 9-8-8.

Who will run for governor next year is a big topic in Louisiana politics? Slidell Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt is a possible candidate. The chairwoman of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee says she’s looking at her options…
cut 9 (07) “…in January”
A decision by Senator Bill Cassidy is expected by the end of the week.

Southeastern Louisiana University’s School of nursing has been named the Nursing School of the Year by the Louisiana Nurses Foundation. Ann Carruth is dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.
Cut 3 (06) “…graduation”
This is the fifth year the school has won the award. The competition is evaluated by a panel of out-of-state judges that look at accreditation status, innovations in education and teaching, and nursing exam passing rates.

If you were hoping Louisiana would get a break from the chilly temps anytime soon, well you’re out of luck. State Climatologist Barry Keim says tonight will be the coldest of the current grip old man winter has on the Bayou State with temps hovering around freezing.
Cut 6 (12) “…next week.”
Most of southern half of the state is under a freeze watch late tonight into tomorrow morning.

In July, a new three digit mental health and suicide prevention hotline was introduced and according to Louisiana’s suicide prevention coordinator with the department of health Robyn Thomas says there’s been an increase in substance abuse calls, plus calls related to anxiety, depression, and especially financial concerns…..
cut 6 (12) “…financial assistance”
The suicide and crisis lifeline is 9-8-8.

Inflation has been at a 40-year high but your Thanksgiving dinner will not break the bank. According to the American Farm Bureau price survey Louisiana residents can expect to pay $13.62 less than the national average for a classic Thanksgiving dinner for ten. Farm Bureau of Louisiana spokesperson Avery Davidson…
Cut 14 (07) “…sweet potatoes.”

We are expecting an announcement this week from U-S Senator Bill Cassidy on whether he’ll run for governor in 2023. Fellow G-O-P U.S. Senator John Kennedy, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser and State Treasurer John Schroder are also considering running for governor. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he’s also strongly considering…:
cut 8 (09) “….over Thanksgiving”
Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt and Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson are also considering, while State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson is a possible candidate on the Democrat side.

Governor Edwards has about 14 months left in office. Edwards says improving education is one of his top priorities. Next year will be a mostly fiscal legislative session and Edwards hopes lawmakers will remain focused on what’s best for the state not their own agenda in an election year…
cut 12 (11) “…their election”

Who will run for governor next year is a big topic in Louisiana politics? Slidell Republican Senator Sharon Hewitt is a possible candidate. The chairwoman of the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee says she’s looking at her options…
cut 9 (07) “…in January”
Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson also says he plans to make an official announcement in January but told a Baton Rouge radio station this morning he’s likely in.

And while who’s running for governor in 2023 has made the headlines of late, Governor John Bel Edwards says there are a few things he wants to accomplish in the final year of his second term. For example, continued strides with education.
Cut 11 (13) “…far too long.”
Edwards made the comments on his monthly call-in radio show.

Mental health officials say crisis calls have jumped by nearly half since a new, shorter number replaced an old ten-digit number in July. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says over 10-percent of ER visits are individuals who are sick with the flu. Kanter says get the flu shot now especially with the holiday season right around the corner…
cut 21 (10) “…flu season”

A lot of names are being thrown about as possible candidates for Governor in 2023. Kevin Gallagher reports on two of them who’ve been pretty quiet about it so for…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

School performance scores indicate Louisiana K-12 schools are back at pre-pandemic levels. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley believes if they stay the course on literacy, refresh the way they think about math teaching, continue to transform high schools and…
Cut 29 (09) “…in the state of Louisiana.”

Louisiana’s suicide prevention coordinator Robyn Thomas at the Louisiana Department of Health says the new 988 national suicide prevention and crisis hotline has seen a 50-percent increase in calls since it replaced a ten-digit number in July. Thomas says counselors can connect callers with additional resources if they are needed…
cut 5 (11) “….confidential”
And again that number is 9-8-8.

We’ve heard a lot about inflation, but according to the American Bureau Federation Thanksgiving Dinner Price survey, Louisiana residents can expect to spend 13-dollars less than the national average for a classic Thanksgiving dinner for ten people. Louisiana Farm Bureau spokesperson Avery Davidson…
cut 15 (13) “….food source”
Davidson says the average price for a frozen turkey is just under 20-bucks.