Tried of porch pirates stealing your gifts? Brooke Thorington talks to an attorney who’s doing his part to save Christmas.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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As Congress races to pass a federal spending bill before a government shutdown deadline, Senator Bill Cassidy laments there’s NO money in it for coastal restoration. Kevin Gallagher reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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The Salvation Army is making it easier to donate in a variety of ways. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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By day Alistair Adkinson is a New Orleans attorney and when he’s not practicing law, he’s saving Christmas. After reading about porch pirates stealing packages in their neighborhood, he decided to offer his office as a drop-off site because they have an indoor door.

Cut 4 (08)  “…holidays.”

Adkinson and his wife are allowing folks to send packages to their Lower Garden district office so your Christmas gift won’t get swiped by a Grinch. And if you’re worried that their office will be closed by the time you can pick up your package, they’ve got that covered.

 Cut 5 (08) “…give us a call.”

It’s the first Christmas they’ve offered the free service and with all the positive feedback they’ve received Adkinson believes it will become a holiday tradition.

Cut 6 (07)  “…lifesaver.” 

You can call Adkinson at his office at 504-444-6910 or visit their website triplealawyer.com that’s triple spelled out for package arrangements.

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Efforts to bring more federal funding for coastal restoration, via higher oil & gas royalty payments, are dead for the year. Senator Bill Cassidy says he and Senator John Kennedy worked on the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems Act was not a part of the omnibus federal spending bill that Congress must pass this week…:

Cut 7 (08) “…not included.”

Cassidy’s RISE Act would lift a cap on royalties to energy-producing states to give them more capital for coastal rebuilding. The bill passed out of committee without opposition, but Cassidy says it got shunted aside in the mad dash to pass the spending bill. He says Congress dithers too long on important matters…:

Cut 8 (12)  “…this will change.”

Cassidy says the RISE Act could have brought nearly $ 2 billion to Louisiana over ten years, and he vows to bring it back in the next Congress. As for the spending bill itself…Cassidy says he cannot support it…:

Cut 9 (13)  “… I’m a NO.”

Cassidy calls the failure of the RISE Act to pass, and the rush to pass a massive spending plan at the last minute “chaos by design.”

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A Baton Rouge woman is sentenced to life in prison for the 2015 poisoning death of her boyfriend Damian Skipper. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says it was persistence that led to the second-degree murder conviction of Meshell Hale.

Cut 10 (09) “…in a verdict.” 

Moore says when they exhumed Skipper’s body, they found high levels of barium acetate which they believe Hale used to poison him and possibly her husband Arthur Noflin. Moore says they believe money was the motive.

Cut 11 (09)  “…intent.”

Two years after Skipper died in a Baton Rouge hospital his body was exhumed and his death was ruled a homicide after barium was found in his system. The charred remains of Noflin, the estranged husband, were found in the back of a truck in New Orleans in 2016. Moore says both men had been hospitalized with similar symptoms before their deaths.

Cut 12 (10) “…where we are.”

Hale has only been convicted for the death of Skipper.

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Because people tend to not carry cash on them these days, the Salvation Army is offering additional ways for you to donate to their annual Red Kettle Campaign. Lt. Thomas Johnson with the Salvation Army in Lafayette says now it’s as easy as pulling out your phone to donate when you see a bell ringer.

Cut 13 (08) “…to the site.”

Johnson says the Salvation Army has made it easier than ever to donate and your contribution stays in the community. He says donations help them fill a variety of needs.

Cut 14 (11)  “…come to us.”

With the inflation causing so many to tighten their belts, Johnson says that also means more people need assistance.

Cut 15 (11)  “…too small.”

Johnson says funds raised during the holidays go towards programs year-round, not just Christmas.

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A three-day early signing period begins today for high school football recruits to sign with college programs and the LSU Tigers are on the verge of signing a Top 5 class. On3.com ranks LSU’s 2023 Class as the seventh best. It features several defensive backs, including safety Javien Toviano, cornerback Daylen Austin and safety Kylin Jackson from Zachary. On3-dot-com’s Shea Dixon says five-star cornerback Desmond Ricks could also sign with the Tigers on Thursday

Cut  16 (23)  “..next class” 

In Kelly’s first recruiting class, the Tigers only signed 15 high school players last year. Dixon says Coach Brian Kelly will sign well over 20 high school players this recruiting cycle, a good combination of players from Louisiana and out of state…

Cut 17 (19) “…D-C area” 

Dixon says this goes down as Kelly’s first full signing class and it’s looking good…

Cut 18 (17) “…up well.” 

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The LSU men’s basketball team hosts East Tennessee State in its final game before taking few days off for Christmas Break. Coach Matt McMahon’s team is 10-and-1 and he’s looking for his guys to be mentally locked in tonight…

Cut 19 (27) “…take of business”

McMahon is looking for better perimeter defense after allowing opponents to make 18 three-pointers over the last two games…

Cut 20 (23)     ….of the year” 

The Corps of Engineers says yes to a huge project to divert Mississippi River sediment to the Barataria Estuary. The money is coming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement funds. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 1(30)  “…I’m Marsanne Golsby.”

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating three separate house fires that claimed three lives in just over a day. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Fund will stop accepting applications tomorrow. Desiree Honore Thomas is Assistant Commissioner in the Division of Administration.

Cut 3 (05) “..funds left. ” 

The rental assistance program began in March 2021 and Thomas says it has paid rent for about 26,000 tenants. The homeowner assistance program begin in January 2022 and has helped about 6200 homeowners to date. Thomas says both programs have helped people stay afloat through financial challenges brought about by the pandemic.

Cut 4 (09)  “…few people 

Thomas says the state will continue reviewing applications submitted by the deadline until all funds are expended. To learn more or to apply, go to lacovidhousing.com.

Cut 5 (05) “…Wednesday at 5″

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The Corps of Engineers has given the green light to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project to use Mississippi River sediment to rebuild parts of Louisiana’s coast. Bren Haase is the executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. He says it’s a monumental development.

Cut 6 (12)  “…first place”

Haas says the money for the project is coming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement fund. Governor John Bel Edwards says the project represents a major step forward towards restoring caused by the oil spill. Haase says the project will provide important storm surge protection for inland communities, including New Orleans.

Cut 7 (07)  “…systems”

Haase says construction on the project could get underway next Spring. He says once its operational, it will be able to build and sustain up to 26,000 acres of wetlands.

Cut 8 (09)  “…vegetation grows.“

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In a 26-hour period, three separate house fires claimed three lives in Louisiana. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it’s tragic especially because they could have been prevented. The fires happened in New Orleans, Leesville, and Ruston.

Cut 9 (11) “…fire hazards.” 

Sunday night a 73-year-old woman was unable to escape her home in the Gentilly neighborhood, they believe she was using canned sources of heat because the home had been without utilities for years. Monday afternoon an 83-year-old woman died in her Leesville home and the smoke detector was not working. And Monday evening in Ruston a disabled man in his 40s died. All fatalities are under investigation. Rodrigue says it’s vital to have a working smoke detector, especially with the hard freeze in the forecast.

Cut 10 (09) “… us yet.” 

And it’s not just those who are using extra sources of heat right that need to check for fire hazards. Rodrigue says you need to be mindful of the role holiday decorations can play also.

Cut 11 (09)  “…outlet.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is asking the EPA to have Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge declared as a Superfund site. Edwards says the letter he sent last week is the final step to make the long-polluted lakes eligible for federal assistance.

Cut 12 (10) “…by the EPA.”  

However, Edwards says the state match of 10 percent could be waved. Capitol Lakes have been plagued by pollution since the early 1980s. Edwards says contamination from PCB was detected in the lakes on the north side of the Capitol Complex in 1983.

Cut 13 (12) “…unacceptable levels.”  

He says the contaminates weren’t encapsulated, and they are still present in the lakes. Edwards says unfortunately the state doesn’t have the resources for remediation and he’s asking the EPA for assistance.

Cut 14 (10)   “…happen immediately.”

Edwards says it could take three to five years before remediation work begins.  Signage warning people not to consume fish from the lake has been there since the 1980s.