6:30 LRN Newscast November 24

It’s a big day in the kitchen today as Thanksgiving dinners get prepared. USDA Food safety expert Kenneth King has tips to ensure against foodborne illnesses…
cut 30 (29) “…I’m Kace Keischnick”

Tomorrow is a busy shopping day. Jill Gonzales with the personal finance website, Wallethub-dot-com says based on their research, J-C Penny, Belk and Macy’s have the best Black Friday deals…
Cut 6 (12) “…65-percent off”

The non profit group Troops Direct is asking for help to provide critical supplies to American service members around the globe. Founder Aaron Negherbon says Troops Direct is unique…
cut 3 (12) “…deployment”
For more info go to Troops-direct-dot-org.

If you are looking for a unique experience over the next few weekends, check out the Louisiana Renaissance Festival, just minutes off I-12 near Hammond. There’s live jousting, artists and entertainers that takes visitors back to the 16th century in England. Festival CEO Alvon Brumfield says there’s fun for the whole family and you buy tickets on their website. L-a-r-f-2022-dot-org…
cut 14 (07) “….rain or shine”
They’ll be open this week Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the first two weekends in December.

LRN AM Newscall November 25

Tomorrow is Black Friday and Jeff Palermo has the latest trends for one of the biggest shopping days of the year…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Holiday shopping online? An LSU Cybersecurity Expert has some tips to keep your money out of the hands of scammers. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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The nonprofit Troops Direct is asking for help to provide critical supplies to American service members. Aaron Negherbon (NEAR-BON) says Troops Direct is unique.

Cut 3 (12) “…deployment”

Negherbon says they do not supply care packages. They supply items such as medical kits, GPS units, sleeping bags, helmets, and even K-9 care kits.

Cut 4 (11)  “…government”

He says due to the specialized nature of what they supply, they are asking for cash donations only.  He says their overhead is only about 9 to 10 percent of their overall budget.  There are four people on staff and one is a Marine Corps veteran.

Cut 5 (08) “…possibly can”

He says the need is year-round, not just during the holidays. To donate, go to Troopsdirect.org

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Tomorrow is the one of the busiest shopping days of the year as shoppers will look for great deals to complete their Christmas shopping list. Jill Gonzales with the personal finance website, Wallethub-dot-com says based on their research, J-C Penny, Belk and Macy’s have the best Black Friday deals…

Cut 6 (12)  “…65-percent off” 

Gonzales says if you’re looking for great deals to buy a new computer or phone, Black Friday usually doesn’t provide great value…

Cut 7 (12) “…shop for”

Gonzales says if you don’t want to shop, there are always gift cards…

Cut 8 (13)  “…Chik-fil-A”

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With holiday shopping in full swing, security professionals have a few tips on how to have a safe one when making online purchases. LSU Cybersecurity Expert Abe (BAH-gil-lee) Baggili to use a credit card for those purchases versus a debit card so you can get your money back if it proves to be a scam.

Cut 9 (08)  “…shopping.”

And if the price sounds too good to be true it probably is. Knock-off websites tend to have more of a security risk, so avoid them. Baggili says to also read online reviews about the product and or vendor before you enter payment information. And also, be mindful of the wi-fi connection you’re using.

Cut 10 (08) “…you know.” 

Baggili says to also never reveal too much personal information when making purchases, or in general to avoid identity theft.  And be sure to check your credit card statements that you use to make online purchases…

Cut 11 (10)  “…a message.”

Another safety tip Baggili says when shopping at a store in person, is to use your phone to make purchases so your card number is not revealed.

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Looking for some post-Thanksgiving fun? You may want to check out the Louisiana Renaissance Festival; now in its 23rd year. Festival CEO Alvon Brumfield says it’s a celebration and re-creation of European culture of the Middle Ages, and loaded with fun and entertainment…:

Cut 12 (12) “…shows that go every day.”

The L.R.F. is located just minutes off I-12 near Hammond. It’s open tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday…and will be open for two more weekends after that. Visitors can see live jousting, a birds of prey exhibit, sing along with minstrels and pirates, play games of skill, enjoy many delicious foods and shop dozens of vendors selling hand-made works. Brumfield says this year’s festival has been a terrific success…:

Cut 13 (07) “…time you get here.”

The Louisiana Renaissance Festival is good fun for the whole family. There is stuff for children and things more geared for adults. Brumfield says it’s smart to buy your tickets online before you leave the house. Do that at “larf2022.org/tickets”…:

Cut 14 (07)  “…rain or shine.”

Rain is predicted to end Friday, so don’t let that stop you. The Louisiana Renaissance Festival closes for the year December 11th.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

Texas A-and-M does not have much to play for when the Tigers visit the Aggies on Saturday. But last week Aggies wide receiver Jalen Preston said he’s looking forward to ruining LSU’s chances of getting into the college football playoff. LSU Coach Brian Kelly says he’s not paying attention to the possible bulletin board material…
Cut 19 (25) “…on that”
LSU will practice in the morning tomorrow, then have Thanksgiving dinner as a team in the afternoon. On Friday, it’s off to College Station for Saturday night’s game at Texas A&M.

ULM will welcome Southern Miss to Malone Stadium for the final regular season game of the year on Saturday. The Golden Eagles are on a three-game losing streak, but one win away from becoming bowl eligible. Coach Terry Bowden says he’s impressed with Southern Miss and how they do not give away points…
Cut 17 (15) “…well coached”
Kick-off is at 4 PM.

The 49th annual Bayou Classic is Saturday. Grambling State, who has a losing record, is playing for bragging rights, but a win for Southern and they will play in the SWAC Championship game against Jackson State. First year Jaguars coach Eric Dooley was a wide receiver at Grambling and knows the rivalry well…
Cut 15 (12) “.opposite shirts..”
Kick off Saturday is at 1 PM.

1:30 LRN Newscast

Shreveport authorities say two women accessed USAA bank accounts of veterans to steal up to a million dollars in an identity theft scheme
Cut 1(30) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

In Baton Rouge, police have charged 21-year-old Adam Carter with manslaughter in the shooting death of his 64-year-old father, Ronnie Carter. BRPD Sergeant L’ Jean McKneeley says the two were arguing when the son grabbed a gun…
cut 8 (10) “…before Thanksgiving”

Kitchens will be busy across the state tomorrow as the chef in your family makes that turkey or other signature item for Thanskgiving Day. If you are cooking a turkey, the USDA does not recommend stuffing your turkey as it can lead to cross-contamination and take longer to cook. USDA Expert Kenneth King says you still can still stuff your turkey, as long as you take extra caution…
cut 13 (09) “…165”

The 49th annual Bayou Classic is Saturday. Grambling State, who has a losing record, is playing for bragging rights, but a win for Southern and they will play in the SWAC Championship game against Jackson State. First year Jaguars coach Eric Dooley was a wide receiver at Grambling and knows the rivalry well…
Cut 15 (12) “.opposite shirts..”
Kick off Saturday is at 1 PM.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU has moved up two spots in the latest College Football Playoff ranking to number five. Despite having two losses, the Tigers are one spot ahead of U-S-C, who has one loss on the season. C-F-P Committee Chairman Boo Corrigan says LSU’s strength of schedule is better than U-S-C’s and the Trojans have not been as good on defense as LSU.

LSU is preparing for its regular season finale on Saturday at Texas A-and-M. Aggies Coach Jimbo Fisher says he’s impressed with Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels…
cut 20 (17) “…critical moments”

College basketball, LSU defeated Akron 73-58 and will play Kansas State in the Cayman Islands Classic, while the Ragin Cajuns knocked off SMU 76-72 in O-T.

ULM closes out the season on Saturday by hosting Southern Miss at Malone Stadium. The Warhawks are four and seven and Coach Terry Bowden says a win on Saturday will give them one more victory than they had last season…
Cut 16 (20) “…football game ever.”
The Golden Eagles will come to Monroe on a three-game losing streak, but one win away from bowl eligibility.

Louisiana Tech also wrapping up the season at home by hosting UAB. Senior offensive lineman Joshua Mote says it’s tough knowing that this is his last game at Joe Aillet Stadium…
cut 29 (12) “….lessons here”
Kick-off between Tech and UAB is at 2:30 PM.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Two women are facing charges of identity theft in Shreveport for allegedly stealing money from the accounts of USAA bank account holders. Shreveport Police Department Sergeant Angie Willhite says ZarRajah Watkins was arrested on November 17th. Destane Glass was arrested yesterday.
Cut 3 (08) “…citizen veterans.”
Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in the investigation, which authorities say is still underway.

Baton Rouge police are investigating the shooting death of 64-year-old Ronnie Carter who was allegedly shot by his son 21-year-old Adam Carter. BRPD spokesperson Sgt L’Jean McKneely says it happened around 9:30 Tuesday morning.
Cut 6 (10) “…killing him.”
Adam Carter has been charged with manslaughter.

According to Triple-A 55-million Americans are traveling this Thanksigving Holiday. Nearly 49-millon people are expected to travel by car and Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says there is an increase in air travel this year…
cut 30 (12) “…in advance”

And it’s a big tourism weekend for New Orleans which is hosting the Bayou Classic on Saturday. And there are several events scheduled for Friday. President of New Orleans Convention Company Dottie Belletto…
cut 14 (14) “…inspirational speakers”
Friday night it’s the Battle of the Bands in the Caesars Superdome. Saturday’s football game between Grambling and Southern will kick off at 1 PM.

8:30 LRN Newscast

Once again this year, Louisiana will have its Celebration Gator float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

If you’re looking for a fresh-cut Christmas tree this year, according to Kevin Steele of Steele’s Christmas Tree Farm in Washington Parish there are plenty. Much of the state experienced a fall drought, but he says it didn’t affect the Christmas trees ready for sale…
Cut 27 (07) “…no trouble.”

Are you hitting the highways today for your Thanksgiving destination? AAA predicts nearly 49-million people will travel by car, which is up a half a percent from last year. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says if you’re driving for a long distance, take a break every couple of hours.
Cut 6 (11) “…every two hours.”
Redman says the worst time to travel today is 11 AM to 8 PM.

The 49th annual Bayou Classic is Saturday. Grambling State, who has a losing record, is playing for bragging rights, but a win for Southern and they will play in the SWAC Championship game against Jackson State. First year Jaguars coach Eric Dooley was a wide receiver at Grambling and knows the rivalry well…
Cut 15 (12) “.opposite shirts..”
Kick off Saturday is at 1 PM.

7:30 LRN Newscast

According to AAA, just under 55 million people will travel for the Thanksgiving holiday, either by plane, train, or automobile but the majority will be on the road. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says that’s up 2 percent from last year.
Cut 4 (06) “…since 2000. ”

And Grambling and Southern football fans will head to New Orleans this weekend for the Bayou Classic…
cut 3 (33) “…I’m Whitney Thomas”

There are 28 floats in tomorrow’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City and for the second year in a row, Louisiana will have its celebration gator rolling through the streets of Manhattan. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the float will promote Louisiana as a tourist destination…
cut 8 (08) “…is incredible”
For the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California on New Year’s Day, Louisiana will have a riverboat float.

As folks prepare for their Thanksgiving feast, there are some tips to make sure you don’t overdo it when it comes to overeating. LSU AgCenter Registered Dietitian Jennifer Duhon says make sure half of your plate is fruits and vegetables.
Cut 10 (07) “…decrease those calories”
And with plenty of delicious food to consume, Duhon says go easy on the sauces.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU moved up two spots to number five in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The two loss Tigers finished one spot ahead of one-loss USC, who beat UCLA last Saturday 48-45. The Bayou Bengals are at Texas A-and-M This Saturday, while USC faces Notre Dame in L-A. Georgia is number one in the C-F-P, followed by Ohio State, Michigan and TCU.

The Saints will return to the practice field today to prepare for Sunday’s game at San Francisco. The 49ers have won three in a row and New Orleans Coach Dennis Allen says they are a physical team…
Cut 18 (18) “…extremely hard.”
The 49ers are 9.5 point favorites. Kick-off is at 3:25.

The 49th annual Bayou Classic will take place on Saturday. Grambling State, who has a losing record, is playing for bragging rights, but a win for Southern and they will play in the SWAC Championship game against Jackson State. First year Jaguars coach Eric Dooley was a wide receiver at Grambling and knows what this rivalry is all about…
Cut 15 (12) “.opposite shirts..”
The Bayou Classic rivalry is tied at 24 since the series began in 1974.

In college basketball yesterday, LSU went on an 18-6 run in the second half to defeat Akron 73-58. Adam Miller had 23 points, while K-J Williams had 19 points. The 5-and-0 Tigers will face Kansas State tonight in the championship game in the Cayman Islands Classic.

And the Ragin Cajuns won in overtime last night over SMU 76-72 on the Mustangs home floor. Jordan Brown Brown had 26 points as U-L Lafayette rallied back from 10 point deficit.

6:30 LRN Newscast

If you’re hitting the road for Thanksgiving, AAA says it’s expected to be the third busiest travel period on record since 2000. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

It’s perfect weather to travel today across the Gulf South. But tomorrow is a different story as there’s a slight risk for excessive rainfall for most of the state on Thanksgiving. Three to four of inches of rain could fall across north, central and southwest Louisiana tomorrow.

For the second year in a row, Louisiana will have a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The Celebration Gator made its first appearance last year as a way to promote Louisiana as a tourism destination. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it’s the longest float to ever roll in the parade, measuring 60-feet from mouth to tail….
cut 9 (09) “….of this gator”
New Orleans’ own Trombone Shorty is riding on the float and will perform along the way.

It will be a big tourism weekend in New Orleans as the President of New Orleans Convention Company Dottie Belletto says the Bayou Classic draws about 200-thousand visitors to the city…
cut 13 (12) “…the millions”
The football game between Southern and Grambling is at 1 PM on Saturday, but there are plenty of activities on Friday and Saturday morning leading up to the game.