Thousands of Donald Trump supporters gathered at a hangar at the Baton Rouge Airport Friday, as the president-elect was in Louisiana to stump for Republican John Kennedy in Saturday’s US Senate election. Mr. Trump says he needs Kennedy in Washington to help accomplish their agenda, including protecting the southern border.

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A recent UNO poll shows Kennedy leads Democrat Foster Campbell 62 to 33-percent. Pollster Ed Chervenak says Campbell has been hurt by the lack of strong support within the Democratic Party.

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Campbell says voters should support him because his record in public service speak for itself.

Governor John Bel Edwards spoke with the Donald Trump while he was in Baton Rouge on Friday to update the president-elect on Louisiana’s ongoing flood recovery. He says the Mr. Trump will play a vital role in securing additional federal assistance next year. He says they agreed to meet after the inauguration to discuss more aid for Louisiana.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler expects voter turnout to be low for Saturday’s election. Michelle Southern has more…

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President-elect Donald Trump was in Baton Rouge Friday afternoon to support Republican John Kennedy in the US Senate race. Mr. Trump says Kennedy has worked hard for Louisianans over the years.

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Democrat Foster Campbell spent Friday meeting with reporters in Baton Rouge and then had campaign stops in Alexandria and Lake Charles.  He says his record speaks for itself.

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Governor John Bel Edwards met with the president-elect before the rally in Baton Rouge and updated him on flood recovery efforts in Louisiana. He says they plan to meet again after the inauguration to discuss the issue more in detail.

With the state facing another year of budget problems, Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s time to create a tax structure that’s fair and predictable and able to pay for state services. Edwards says there’s one area of the tax code he would like to fix.

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Lawmakers learned earlier this week that the state has a budget deficit that’s grown to 600-million dollars.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler is expecting an overall voter turnout around 30-percent for Saturday’s election. Schedler says voter fatigue has hit and now people are more worried about getting ready for the holidays.

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Schedler says there are 156 local tax propositions across 44 parishes. He adds that the US Senate race will be on every ballot in the state.

President-elect Donald Trump laid out the agenda for his presidency during a speech in front of supporters in Baton Rouge. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Governor John Bel Edwards spoke with the president-elect before the rally. Edwards says he updated Mr. Trump on Louisiana’s recovery from the historic floods of 2016. He says the president-elect will play a vital role in securing additional federal assistance. He says they also agreed to meet after the inauguration to discuss these issues in more detail.

With the state facing budget problems, Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s time for serious tax reform. Earlier this year the legislature approved $1.5 billion in tax increases to help fill a huge budget gap when Edwards walked into office. But Edwards says that wasn’t enough to prevent cuts to government services.

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The state is currently facing a $600 million shortfall.

A recorded phone conversation between Capt. Clay Higgins and his ex-wife discussing child support he owes has been released just ahead of Saturday’s election. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says it’s clear the 3^rd Congressional District candidate didn’t know the conversation was recorded.

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Higgins suggested winning the election would help him pay child support.

Thousands of Donald Trump supporters are at a hangar at the Baton Rouge Metro Airport waiting on the arrival of the president-elect, who is in Louisiana to stump for Republican John Kennedy in tomorrow’s US Senate election. Kennedy says he’s humbled by Mr. Trump’s visit.

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Democrat Foster Campbell isn’t worried Trump’s visit will give his opponent an edge on Election Day.

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A UNO poll shows Kennedy with a huge lead. Pollster Ed Chervenak says Campbell has been hurt by the lack of strong support within the Democratic Party.

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The poll finds Kennedy leads 62 to 33-percent.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler expects voter turnout to be low for tomorrow’s election. Michelle Southern has more…

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Here’s today’s commodities…

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The election cycle finally ends tomorrow in Louisiana, and voter turnout is expected to be substantially lower than in November. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says early voter turnout was much lower for the runoff than it was in the general election.
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Schedler expects an overall voter turnout around 30-percent for Saturday’s election.

A new poll conducted by the University of New Orleans Survey Research Center finds Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Kennedy continues to have a huge lead over Democrat Foster Campbell in tomorrow’s runoff election. UNO Pollster Ed Chervenak says 62-percent of the 776 respondents favored Kennedy while 33-percent supported Campbell.
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Life expectancy in the U.S. has decreased for the first time in over 20 years, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Doctor Ben Springgate with LSU Health New Orleans Internal Medicine and Public Health says although life expectancy has increased in years past due to medical advances, health outcomes are still declining because of lifestyle choices.
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The report found the death rate from heart disease rose by about one percent last year.

Governor John Bel Edwards discussed his priorities for 2017 during a speech at the Council for a Better Louisiana annual luncheon. Edwards says his big goal is to ensure the state uses money from the Transportation Trust Fund in the right places, like improving the daily congestion in Baton Rouge near the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge…:
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President-elect Donald Trump will be in Baton Rouge today to support Republican John Kennedy in the US Senate race. The visit comes after Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence endorsed the State Treasurer. Kennedy says he’s humbled by Mr. Trump’s visit…:
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Kennedy’s opponent  Democrat Foster Campbell says anytime such a large figure comes to a state it’s good for Louisiana, so he doesn’t mind Mr. Trump visiting the Capitol City. He even agrees with the president-elect on some issues..:
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People have been waiting at the Baton Rouge airport since early this morning for the president-elect’s noon arrival.

Funeral arrangements have been set for former NFL and John Curtis player Joe McKnight who was fatally shot during an apparent road rage dispute last week in Jefferson Parish. Visitation will be held at New Home Ministries in New Orleans at 9 a.m. Monday and services will follow.

Life expectancy in the US has decreased by one month over the past year, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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Once again a reminder that tomorrow is an election day in Louisiana. The big US Senate race is on the ballot, and voters in the 3rd and 4th Districts will be choosing a new Congressman. Polls are open from 7am-8pm. A low voter turnout is expected which is why Secretary of State Tom Schedler says he’d like to see December federal elections in Louisiana go away.

There are already people waiting for President-elect Donald Trump today who is slated to appear in a few hours at the Baton Rouge airport to rally for US Senate candidate John Kennedy. The state treasurer, who has been leading in the polls, hopes Mr. Trump’s visit will encourage people to cast a ballot tomorrow…:
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Kennedy’s opponent, Democrat Foster Campbell, says the President-elect’s rally in Louisiana is proof that this is a tight race.

Highs may not get out of the 40s for most of the state today. Tim Humphrey with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says we’re also in store for more chilly temperatures tomorrow…:
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He says look for a warm up Sunday into early next week.

Governor John Bel Edwards discussed his priorities for 2017 during a speech at the Council for a Better Louisiana annual conference. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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There were tense moments Thursday in the murder trial of tow truck driver Cardell Hayes who is accused of killing popular former football Saints player Will Smith. Kevin O’Neal was Hayes’ passenger the night the April crash and shooting of Smith took place. When asked about Smith’s widow having to celebrate her son’s birthday without her husband, O’Neal said her husband brought on his own demise.

Governor John Bel Edwards talked about transportation when discussing his 2017 priorities Thursday in Baton Rouge. The governor’s task force on transportation will likely support a higher gasoline tax. Edwards says interstates need to be upgraded because some closed this year due to flooding…:
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He says a big goal next year will be to make sure Transportation Trust Fund money is used in the right places.

Despite the chilly weather, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is warning against using unconventional methods to heat your home. They say a 66-year-old Ponchatoula man was likely killed in a fire Thursday morning as he was using his kitchen gas stove as warming source.

And the cold isn’t going away today or tomorrow…:
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That’s Tim Humphrey with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.

A report from the National Center for Health Statistics finds overall life expectancy dropped by one month from 2014 to 2015. It’s the first decrease in the US in more than 20 years. Doctor Ben Springgate with LSU Health New Orleans Internal Medicine blames heart disease..:
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He says health outcomes are declining because of people’s lifestyles.

President-elect Donald Trump will be in Baton Rouge today to stump for US Senate candidate John Kennedy. But the state Treasurer’s opponent, Democrat Foster Campbell, doesn’t believe Mr. Trump’s visit gives Kennedy the edge in tomorrow’s election…:
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Kennedy says he’s humbled by Mr. Trump’s visit. The President-elect is slated to appear at noon today at the Baton Rouge airport, and despite the cold — some people are already in line waiting.