Several media outlets are reporting 81-year-old Donna Douglas passed away on New Years Day. The native of Louisiana who lived in Zachary and was born in Pride in 1933 is best known for her role as Elly May Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies. Douglas was also a Miss Baton Rouge and was named Miss New Orleans in 1957.

Just over 20 new state laws went into effect with the start of the new year. That includes changes to Louisiana’s D-W-I laws. Jefferson Parish assistant district attorney Norma Broussard, says judges can now take certain measures to provide substance abuse help for those convicted of their first or second D-W-I…:
CUT 4 (09) “third or fourth offenders”
She says the state’s revised D-W-I laws also calls for jail time for first time offenders, who are under the age of 21.

If your New Years resolution is to live a healthier lifestyle, here are some tips. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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There are some new state laws that are on the books with the start of a new year. Don Molino tells us about a few of them…:
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Louisiana’s Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret anticipates significant growth in 2015 as a result of the new projects they announced last year. He says a lot of that will take place in the high tech and the software development industry. Louisiana announced dozens of company expansions or re-locations last year which Moret says will result in 25,000 new jobs.

Louisiana has been experiencing some mild temperatures so far this winter which is good news for the crawfish season. LSU Ag Center Aquaculture specialist Dr. Greg Lutz says warmer weather allows the mudbugs to grow faster during the winter months…:
CUT 9 (05) “a little bit”
Lutz says this also means the harvest will begin sooner than it normally would which is welcome by growers because we didn’t have a lot of rain during the fall.

Happy Ohio State fans are headed home from The Big Easy today after The Buckeyes upset Alabama 42-35 and now head into the college football championship game against Oregon January 12th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

2015 promises to be another interesting year in Louisiana politics. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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Gas prices dropped yet another 2 cents overnight as the fast decline continues into the new year. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular now stands at $2.07 which is over 11 cents less than this time last week and down $1.08 from the start of last year.

Just over 20 new state laws went into effect with the start of the new year. That includes changes to Louisana’s DWI laws. Jefferson Parish assistant district attorney Norma Broussard says the changes will make it easier for everyone to understand the penalties of driving under the influence…:
CUT 3 (06) “what’s gonna happen”
Another new state law prohibits smoking within 25 feet of an entrance to a state office building.

With a New Year underway, many people strive to live a healthier lifestyle and try to lose weight. Melissa Martin with the State Department of Health and Hospitals says in order to keep your New Years resolution you can start with keeping it simple and realistic…:
CUT 13 (12) “and convenient”
Martin says drinking water is very important to staying on track because the number one symptom of dehydration is hunger.

It’s January first, and today 21 states have officially raised the minimum wage, but Louisiana is not one of them. Critics of a higher wage say it forces some businesses to reduce their work force, But Tulane Business professor Mark Rosa says government can minimize the impact, by raising it slightly, or index it to inflation.
CUT 7 (09) “50 percent”

The CDC is reporting the flu has now reached the epidemic level in the U.S. and the State Department of Health and Hospitals says its going to get worse before it gets better here in the Bayou State.
Cut 3 (06) “influenza-like symptoms”
Medical director for the immunization program, Dr. Frank Welch, who says get a flu shot.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is now accepting applications to become a wildlife and fisheries field agent. Emelie Gunn has more…
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New Year’s Day has turned out to be a wet, dreary and chilly one for most of north and central Louisiana, keeping most people inside. For the rest of the state…
CUT 14 (05) Q: “to be wet”
That’s Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service Office in Shreveport.

Even though the minimum wage is going up in 21 states today, here in Louisiana the minimum hourly wage stays at $7.25. But Tulane Business Professor Mark Rosa says with nearly half of the states acting on their own, it will spur more talk about raising the federal minimum wage
Cut 6 (10) “has been changed”
Arkansas is one of the few states in the south that has raised the minimum wage.

If you’re looking for a new job in 2015, and you love the outdoors, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has some new openings for enforcement officials…
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That’s LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck.

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The Centers for Disease Control says the flu has now reached epidemic levels in the U.S. and here in Louisiana, DHH says its going to get worse before it gets better….
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Shreveport Police are asking for your help in locating a missing teen-ager who who reportedly ran away from home. Fifteen year-old Daigerria Morrow (who is 5 foot 4, and 110 pounds) has been missing since Christmas Day. If you have any information, call CrimeStoppers.

No winner last night for the $120 million Powerball jackpot, which means the prize goes to an estimated $131 million for Saturday’s drawing.

There were several crashes reported from New Years Eve, including a deadly two-car accident in Livingston Parish that killed the driver of one vehicle and two passengers in the other on Louisiana 447 South of I-12. State Police say one driver, 24 year-old Trinity Kiger of Satsuma died after striking another car in the opposite lane, driven my Ronald Chisolm of Denham Springs. His 37 year-old wife Shannon died, along with his 11 year-old daughter Hannah.

Health officials are saying the flu has now reached epidemic levels in the U.S. and DHH says its getting bad in Louisiana. Medical director for the immunization program, Dr. Frank Welch, says this year’s flu shot is not perfect, but it’s your best protection…
CUT 4 (11) Q: ‘dies from it’
He says right now, seven out of every 100 doctor visits in the state are for flu-like symptoms.
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2015 is off to a dreary start weather-wise in north Louisiana. Marty Mayeaux, with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, says cold and rainy conditions will keep people inside….
cut 12 (06) “of rainfall”
There’s also a good chance of rain in southwest Louisiana today and those rain chances increase across most of South Louisiana over the weekend.

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to get a new job, The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is now accepting applications from those who are interested in becoming an enforcement agent.
Cut 9 (11) “of the week”
That’s LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says more information can be found on the state’s civil service website. He adds this is a great job if you love the outdoors.

State Police will be out in force tonight putting in extra effort to keep impaired drivers off the roads for New Year’s Eve. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director, Lt. Col. John LeBlanc says…
CUT 4 (10) Q: “an impaired driver”
Last year, there were eight Louisiana road fatalities that were alcohol-related.

Between tonight’s New Year’s Eve countdown party in New Orleans, and tomorrow’s New Year’s Day matchup between Alabama and Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, it’s going to be a huge boost for tourism in the Crescent City….
CUT 11 (10) Q: “great business”
That’s New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Communications Director Lauren Cason.

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Federal Health officials report almost 102-thousand people in Louisiana purchased health insurance through the federal marketplace in 2014. Doctor Karen DeSalvo says the 2015 open enrollment period will last until February 15th, and so far, sign-up has been brisk…
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More than 56-thousand Louisiana residents have selected health insurance plans during the first month of enrollment.

There are reports that indicate LSU Defensive Coordinator John Chavis has agreed to a three-year deal with Texas A-and-M, which will pay him nearly one-point-seven million dollars a year. Tiger Rag Editor James Moran says one possible candidate to replace Chavis is former Ole Miss head coach and Louisiana native Ed Orgeron…
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Still, Moran says losing Chavis is a big loss.

Over 56-thousand people in Louisiana have selected a health insurance plan during the first month of enrollment “Obamacare.”
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A Chackbay (shack bay) man has died after being shot in his home yesterday. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office says 22 year-old Raushaud Gasery was struck by a single round that traveled through his arm and into his chest. The shooting is being ruled an accident; however police are still investigating.
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Highway Safety officials are hoping to avoid a repeat of last year where eight people were killed on Louisiana roadways during the New Year’s holiday, which historically is one of the deadliest times to be out there…
CUT 3 (09) “over these holidays”
That’s Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director, Lt. Col. John LeBlanc, who says police will be out in force tonight.

New Orleans has their famous New Year’s Eve celebration this evening, and a huge national stage tomorrow for the Sugar Bowl featuring the Alabama-Ohio State match-up. Tourism-wise, it’s huge, and there’s more coming in 2015…
CUT 11 (10) Q “annual one”
That’s New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Communications Director Lauren Cason.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director, Lt. Col. John LeBlanc hopes to avoid a repeat of last year where eight people were killed on Louisiana roadways during the New Year’s holiday…
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A Denham Springs motorcycle police officer who was struck by a car on Monday, has died. Officer James Foster Jr. was responding to an accident on I-12, when he was thrown after he was hit by a 78 year-old woman who turned into his path. He is survived by his wife and two older teen-agers.
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The current numbers show more than 56-thousand Louisiana residents have selected health insurance plans during the first month of enrollment under “Obamacare.” Doctor Karen DeSalvo, with the US Department of Health and Human Services, says it’s encouraging…
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The 2015 open enrollment period will last until February 15th.

It’s being reported that LSU Defensive Coordinator John Chavis is leaving to take the same gig at Texas A & M. Only this time, it will mean more money than LSU’s latest offer to keep “the chief”…
CUT 13 (08) Q: “over the top”
That’s Tiger Rag editor James Moran, who says it’s a big loss for the program. Chavis made one-point-three million dollars last season, and reportedly going to receive a three year deal with the Aggies for nearly 1.7 million.