The Louisiana National Guard is mobilizing to assist local, parish, and state emergency officials in advance of flooding threats due to near record crests expected along the Mississippi River. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”

Lottery history has been made. There were no jackpot winners last night which means the Powerball grows to an estimated $675 million for Saturday. It’s the largest jackpot in US history. There are already some lucky Louisianians as two tickets sold in last night’s drawing hit the Match 5 for $1 million dollars. They are in New Roads and New Iberia.

The Corps of Engineers announces they will open the first Morganza gate on Monday and the spillway will be fully operational by January 13th until approximately January 21st, according to Congressman Garret Graves.

Sean Payton remains the head coach of the Saints, despite weeks of speculation that he may want to coach for another NFL team. Payton spoke with reporters for about an hour talking about his love for the fans, the franchise and the city, despite all of its faults…:
Cut 14 (12) “it is home”

Louisiana ranks 49th in the US in public academic achievement for the second year in a row according to the 20th edition of Quality Counts, a study compiled by Education Week magazine. The report shows the Bayou State ranking 47th in both fourth-grade math proficiency and reading, 50th in eighth-grade math, and 48th in eighth grade reading.

The Louisiana National Guard is mobilizing to assist local, parish, and state emergency officials in advance of flooding threats due to near record crests expected along the Mississippi River. LANG Col. Pete Schneider says they’re bringing on extra soldiers and airmen to aid efforts…:
CUT 3 (08) “for the flooding”
The guard has issued sand bags to West Feliciana and Avoyelles Parishes for the anticipated opening of the Morganza Spillway.

A suspect has been named in the Tuesday stabbing of an LSU football player at a Baton Rouge bar. BRPD says 20-year-old Jamal Joseph Vaughn of Gonzales is wanted on a second-degree battery warrant for allegedly stabbing LSU tight end Dillon Gordon multiple times during an altercation at an establishment near campus. Gordon was released from the hospital later that day. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Vaughn is urged to contact authorities.

According to a personal finance site, Ruston is one of the top 10 cities, out of about 2500 nationwide, with the least sustainable credit card debt. Michelle Southern reports..:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Former governor Mike Foster offers advice to Governor-elect John Bel Edwards who takes office on Monday. He says you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar…:
CUT 10 (08) “have them”
Foster was governor between 1996-2004.

A former Louisiana governor has a tip for Governor-elect John Bel Edwards before he officially takes office. Former Democratic governor Kathleen Blanco says every new governor is tested when they first enter office. She says it will be interesting to see how Edwards will handle those pressures with the legislature…

cut 8 (09) “unpredictable”

Blanco served as governor from 2004 – 2008. Edwards’ inauguration is Monday.

State officials say an effort to make quality child care more affordable for about 15,000 low-income Louisiana families will go into effect this month. The Child Care Assistance Program will help pay the cost of child care for children up to 4-years-old while their parents are at work, school, or in a job training program. The program will lower out-of-pocket expenses for most low-income families by 60-percent and will be financed through a federal grant.

Louisiana small businesses aren’t very confident about 2016. State director of the National Federation of Independent Business, Dawn Starns, says before owners start making decisions about expanding, building, or bringing on new staff, they want to see how Governor-elect John Bel Edwards plans to fix the state’s fiscal mess…

cut 12 (11) “of optimism”

She says things were more upbeat a couple of years ago.

According to the personal finance site, CardHub, Ruston is one of the top 10 cities out of about 2500 nationwide, with the least sustainable credit card debt. Several cities on the list are college towns, like Ruston. Louisiana Tech Finance Professor Dr. Bill McCumber says most students are without jobs and use plastic more to pay for things with the idea they’ll get full time employment once they graduate…

cut 5 (09) “to that income”

Small businesses in Louisiana aren’t too optimistic about 2016. Dawn Starns, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says owners were more upbeat a couple of years ago, but now businesses have lower expectations. She says the sluggish oil and gas industry seems to be making consumers and potential business owners nervous and uncertain about the future of Louisiana’s economy…

cut 13 (11) “on Louisiana”

She also says business owners will be waiting to see how Governor-elect John Bel Edwards plans to fix the state’s fiscal mess.

There were no jackpot winners in last nights $500 million PowerBall drawing. The estimated jackpot for Saturday night’s drawing climbs to an incredible $675 million, the largest lottery jackpot ever in the United States. The cash value for Saturday’s prize is just over $413 million.

According to a personal finance site, Ruston is one of the top 10 cities out of about 2500 nationwide, with the least sustainable credit card debt. CardHub determined that the average credit card debt for a Ruston resident is $5,323. Dr. Bill McCumber, finance professor at Louisiana Tech, says there are about 24,000 people in Ruston…

cut 4 (10) “adds up”

CardHub says it would take 173 months for that debt to be paid off, at a cost of $7,138.

Despite weeks of speculation that he may want to coach for another NFL team, Sean Payton remains the head coach of the Saints. Payton spoke with reporters and said he can’t envision coaching for another club…

cut 15 (13) “do here”

Payton stated that New Orleans is home.

Two former governors have some advice for Governor-elect John Bel Edwards before he takes office. Democrat Kathleen Blanco, who was governor of Louisiana from 2004 to 2008, says Edwards has a tough road ahead with all the budget issues our state faces. She says dealing with the legislators to balance the budget will not be easy…

cut 7 (09) “the boys”

Former Republican governor Mike Foster says he had some rules to live by while in office and advises governor-elect Edwards to tell his staff to forget politics. He says to do what you think is the best for the state of Louisiana…

cut 9 (10) “do it”

Edwards will be sworn into office Monday.

Louisiana ranks 49th in the US in public academic achievement for the second year in a row according to the 20th edition of Quality Counts, a study compiled by Education Week magazine. The report shows the Bayou State ranking 47th in both fourth-grade math proficiency and reading, 50th in eighth-grade math, and 48th in eighth grade reading. New Mexico and Mississippi were the only states to rank lower than Louisiana.

The coach that guided the Saints to their only Super Bowl victory is not ready to leave the Big Easy. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 3 (23) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards takes office on Monday and two former governors have some advice for Edwards. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Despite weeks of speculation that he may want to coach for another NFL team, Sean Payton remains the head coach of the Saints. At a press conference Wednesday, Payton stated tha he couldn’t envision himself coaching for any other club. Payton has led the Black & Gold to the playoffs five times since becoming head coach in 2006.

Small businesses in Louisiana aren’t too optimistic about 2016. Dawn Starns, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says owners haven’t changed their negative outlook in quite some time. She says things were more upbeat a couple of years ago, but now businesses have much lower expectations…

cut 11 (09) “with the economy”

Starns feels many Louisiana businesses are in “wait and see” mode with the a brand new administration moving in beginning Monday.

Saints head coach Sean Payton says he can’t imagine coaching anywhere else, despite rumors that he could be leaving New Orleans. He says there were some who may have speculated that he should leave the Saints while he was ahead…:
CUT 15 (11) “wagon out of town”
Payton still has two years left on his current deal and said any talk of a contract extension will take care of itself.

Jimmy LeBlanc will remain secretary of the Department of Corrections. He’s a friend and business associate of former Angola warden Burl Cain, who is being investigated for possible rules violations. Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is assured that LeBlanc took no part in any of those activities…:
CUT 8 (09) “on the team”
LeBlanc says he and Edwards are on the same page when it comes to reducing Louisiana’s prison population.

A Crowley man is under arrest for allegedly killing his girlfriend then trying to burn her body then her home. The Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office charged 33-year-old Nicholas Dupuis with first degree murder and arson. Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Brant Thompson says 22-year-old Kantarise Lazaro of Church point told authorities he followed Dupuis to a location where they tried to burn the body…:
CUT 10 (08) “this case”
He says there are three crime scenes, one where the victim was shot, one where she was burned and the other where her home was set ablaze.

Half a billion dollars is up for grabs tonight with the Powerball drawing. Lottery officials raised it for the second time since Saturday and now it’s the 6th largest jackpot offered in North America in history. These Louisianians we spoke with said the thought of winning $500 million is just too much to comprehend. Others say they would want to help those less fortunate…:
cut 13 (04) “of myself”