The Thanksgiving holiday travel crunch is upon us with experts predicting more than 53 million people will hit the air, roads and waterways to share dinner with others.
Cut 13 (07) “…turn to cruises.”
That’s Triple-A’s Don Redman who says the travel volume predicted is within five percent of 2019 pre-pandemic levels. He says air travel is up 80 percent over last year to a volume of just over four million passengers.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state added 34-thousand jobs from September to October as the Bayou State began to recover from Hurricane Ida. L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates says this also shows the state’s workforce is bouncing back from the pandemic too, but there are still a lot of vacant jobs…
cut 6 (10) “….for jobs there”

State Republican lawmakers are coming out against a Health Department proposal to require COVID shots for kids to attend schools. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says 13-hundred travel trailers have been deployed to the parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Ida. Families are occupying 820 of those units, including 284 in Terrebonne. Lafourche and Jefferson parishes have a total of 265 units occupied.

Republican state legislators are voicing opposition to a Department of Health proposal to require COVID-19 shots for kids to attend schools. The mandate would apply only to age groups approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration for non-emergency use situations – which is currently 16 and older. However, Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says mandating shots for any age group is wrong…:
Cut 10 (07) “…forced to opt-out.”
But Governor Edwards says it would be dangerous not to require vaccines for kids to attend schools once the FDA gives full approval.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state’s workforce grew by 34-thousand non-farm jobs from September to October…
cut 4 (06) “…back to 1990”
L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates says the number of construction jobs increased by 82-hundred from September to October.

If Lt Governor Billy Nungesser gets his wish, the state’s first float to appear in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will steal the show. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Natchitoches Christmas Festival begins Saturday and the city is increasing security in response to Sunday’s tragedy in Wisconsin where a driver of an SUV drove through the Waukesha holiday parade, killing six and injuring dozens. Mayor Ronnie Williams Junior says they must be proactive in their plans to ensure the safety of residents and tourists alike.

Republican legislative leaders are not happy about the Edwards’ Administration’s plan to require students to get vaccinated against the coronavirus or present a written dissent to attend school. Senate Finance Chairman Bodi White believes the vaccines are in an experimental stage and mandating injections for kids without knowing the possible negative side effects is unwise…
cut 11 (09) “…..by doing it also”
But Edwards says it would be unfortunate and dangerous not to add the coronavirus vaccine to the list of required vaccines, once it receives full FDA approval to give to children.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is in New York City as Celebration Gator, a 60-foot-long float, will proudly promote tourism to Louisiana in tomorrow’s Macy Day parade…
cut 7 (09) “…this float”

Tens of millions of people are traveling away from home, or perhaps to home, this Thanksgiving holiday weekend with the highways guaranteed to be crowded as they do. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and several GOP legislators are pushing back against a Louisiana Department of Health proposal to require the COVID vaccine among the vaccines needed for children to attend school. Currently, children five and up can get a COVID vaccine, but Governor Edwards says as of now, the vaccine requirement will only be for teenagers…
cut 11 (09) “…16 and above”
The FDA has yet to fully approve the COVID vaccine for those under 16.

A three-vehicle crash yesterday morning along Highway 1 in Avoyelles Parish that claimed the life of an eight-year-old remains under investigation. State Trooper Casey Wallace says the child that died was a passenger in a vehicle attempting to turn left into a private drive and was struck from behind by a commercial vehicle…
cut 13 (09) “..exact road”
Wallace says the child was restrained in the vehicle but was pronounced dead at the scene.

In an effort to reduce gasoline prices President Biden orders 50 million barrels to be released from the strategic reserve. Brooke Thorington has more from an energy expert who says it’s too little, too late.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The cruise ship industry is returning to New Orleans. Port of New Orleans spokesperson Jessica Ragusa says they expect a record 285 sailings next year and nearly one-million passenger movements, which is great news for the Big Easy’s economy…
cut 8 (05) “…passengers are spending”
She says that includes 300-thousand hotel room nights alone over a year’s time in New Orleans, with most guests traveling into the city from out of state.

Governor Edwards and the Mayor of Lake Charles announce the creation of an eleven-million dollar housing program to help residents recover from the 2020 hurricanes and flooding in May. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor Edwards believes the COVID-19 vaccine should be added to the list of vaccines required for students to attend school, once it receives full FDA approval for children. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder reportedly texted lawmakers that this is a line in the sand that will not be crossed.

President Biden orders 50 million barrels of oil to be released from the strategic reserve in an effort to reduce gas prices. But LSU Center for Energy Studies, Executive Director David Dismukes says the move is a classic example of do-nothing politics.
Cut 3 (11) “…past January.”
Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says gas prices are on the rise because the Biden administration does not support new oil and gas production and the shutting down of the Keystone pipeline.

House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski says based on conversations he’s had with lawmakers, he’s not expecting major changes to the political boundaries for the state’s six U-S House Districts…
cut 9 (07) “….them work”
Stefanski says adjustments will have to be made because of the population growth in urban areas, and a decline in rural areas.

House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski says he’s hearing from lawmakers they are interested in just tweaking the current six U-S House districts when they meet in February for a redistricting session. But Stefanski is concerned that if the state’s population doesn’t grow enough, Louisiana could lose a Congressional district after the 2030 census…
cut 8 (13) “…losing one”
Stefanski says the state’s population only grew three percent over the last decade.

The Second Harvest Food Bank is continuing to seek assistance at stocking its shelves ahead of Thanksgiving and the rest of the holiday season. Spokesman Jay Vise in New Orleans.
Cut 10 (08) “…thankfully that’s changing.”
To make a donation go to no-kid-hungry-dot-org.

State police continue to investigate a deadly officer-involved shooting that left a man dead in Metairie late Sunday night. Trooper Kate Stegall says officers working at a traffic light repair operation were notified of a man walking down Airline Highway with a gun and a knife and subsequently approached him.
Cut 13 (09) “…did not comply.”
Stegall says the subject eventually turned around and pointed a gun at the officers who then opened fire fatally wounding him.

Governor John Bel Edwards says eleven million dollars is now available to help residents in Lake Charles repair homes damaged by last year’s hurricanes and the flooding in May. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter was on hand for the announcement…
cut 6 (09) “…uninsured”
Funds will be capped at 50-thousand dollars per household and the wait continues for when the state can have access to 595 million dollars in federal disaser recovery assistance.