Black Friday is here and shoppers are crowding stores looking to find that great deal for their holiday shopping. Louisiana Tech Marketing Professor Berry Babin says you can expect blockbuster specials in stores this morning…

cut 6 (12) “a lot more blurred”

He says retailers are now offering Black Friday deals online, as well as in-store.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office reminds shoppers to stay safe and shop smart this holiday season. Director of the Public Protection Division, Sam Pleasant, says you should be on the lookout for holiday shopping scams. She says it’s very important to protect your identity…

cut 3 (12) “legitimate retailer”

She says it’s important to keep your card and PIN number from prying eyes while you are out shopping.

Several metro areas in Louisiana are in jeopardy of not meeting the federal government’s new ozone standards. The U-S Environmental Protection Agency is lowering the acceptable amount of how much ozone pollution should be in the air. State Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Greg Langley says it will force many industries and businesses to reduce their emissions…

cut 9 (07) “will be expensive”

Governor Bobby Jindal says the new environmental regulations will kill jobs and increase energy prices.

LSU finishes their regular season on a high note as they defeated Texas A&M last night 23-17. The Tigers finish the regular season with an 8-4 overall record, 4-4 in the Southeastern Conference.

Once again, many stores will be opening their doors tonight to get a jump start on the Holiday shopping season. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears and Target are just some of the retailers cutting their Thanksgiving short in the hopes of increasing revenues. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says optimism is high among retailers that this will be a good holiday shopping season…

cut 5 (06) “looks good”

But Rice says many shoppers and employees are not happy with with stores opening on Thanksgiving Day.

Next month, construction will begin on a mobile pet shelter that will be used for the 2015 hurricane season and beyond. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says they received a 40-thousand dollar donation which will go towards the construction of the mobile pet shelter, which will be about a 50-foot transport truck that’s outfitted with pet cages…

cut 13 (09) “move instantly”

The state Department of Agriculture is responsible for pet evacuations.

A lot of restaurants are staying open on Thanksgiving Day giving people an additional dining option for their holiday festivities. Erica Burns, with the Louisiana Restaurant Association, says a big advantage for eating out on Thanksgiving is that it allows for more time to be spent with your family…

cut 7 (12) “a clean house”

She says last year 33 million Americans went to a restaurant for all or part of their Thanksgiving meal and it’s a trend that’s been growing over the last several years.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has produced a series of hunting safety videos illustrating the proper use of hunting gear. These videos contain information that will help both experienced and novice hunters enjoy the outdoors safely. Topics include “Safe Boating While Duck Hunting”, “Tree Stand Safety Basics”, and “Pirogue Safety”. The videos are available on the LDWF website, wlf-dot-louisiana-dot-gov.

More and more restaurants are opening on Thanksgiving day and that gives people an additional dining option for their holiday festivities. Scott Carwile reports…

cut 1 (26) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal announces that Providence Foods will open a new 12,000 square food canning facility in East Carroll Parish. The facility will produce tomatoes, relishes, and sauces. The Lake Providence project will create 24 new direct jobs and an estimated 45 new indirect jobs for northeast Louisiana. Providence Foods targets commercial operations beginning in the first quarter of 2015.

Many stores are once again opening their doors on Thanksgiving to get a jump start on the Holiday shopping season. Some retail analysts say opening on Thanksgiving Day doesn’t lead to an increase in sales. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says many shoppers and employees are not happy with it either…

cut 4 (05) “work those hours”

But Rice says optimism is high among retailers that this will be a good holiday shopping season.

LSU and Texas A-and-M hook up tonight in a Thanksgiving football matchup. Both of these teams enter tonight’s contest with identical records, seven and four overall, 3-and-4 in the SEC. LSU Head Coach Les Miles says it will be a challenge for his team to go to Kyle Field and play well…

cut 10 (12) “football team”

The Tigers are looking to avoid ending the regular season on a three-game losing streak.

Several stores are once again opening their doors tonight to get a jump start on the Holiday shopping season. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears and Target are just some of the retailers who will cut their Thanksgiving holiday short in the hopes of increasing revenues. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice is not sure this relatively new tradition will continue…

cut 3 (05) “an advantage”

Some retail analysts say opening on Thanksgiving Day doesn’t lead to an increase in sales.

More and more restaurants are opening on Thanksgiving day giving people an additional dining option for their holiday festivities. Erica Burns, with the Louisiana Restaurant Association, says last year 33 million Americans went to a restaurant for all or part of their Thanksgiving meal. She thinks restaurants are open on Thanksgiving because of public demand…

cut 6 (10) “restaurant as well”

Burns says this is a trend that’s been growing over the last several years.

Construction will begin next month on a mobile pet shelter that will be used for the 2015 hurricane season and beyond. The state department of agriculture is responsible for pet evacuations and Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says storm victims in the past have refused assistance unless their pets were accommodated…

cut 12 (08) “piece of equipment” (2x)

Strain says they received a 40-thousand dollar donation which will go towards the construction of the mobile pet shelter.

The LSU Tigers take on Texas A-and-M tonight looking to avoid ending the regular season on a three-game losing streak. 1999 was the last time the Tigers lost three games in a row and Coach Les Miles says the players are committed to getting a win tonight…

cut 9 (09) “and achieving”

Both of these teams enter tonight’s contest with identical records, seven and four overall, 3-and-4 in the SEC.

As of yesterday, Arkansas and Mississippi are the latest states to have a federal judge rule gay marriage bans violate the US Constitution. But Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says Louisiana’s ban on same sex marriages is safe for now…
CUT 6 (09) “was constitutional”
He says it’s likely that appellate court will rule against same-sex couples.

If you’re cooking at home for Thanksgiving, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says it’s important that your stove and oven are cleaned and properly maintained before you start, and keep an eye on things when you are cooking…
CUT 3 (09) “on the stove”
And he says keep an eye on the kids if they’re in the kitchen.

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Right now, Louisiana highways are filling up with holiday travelers, shoppers or football fans on their way to their specific games. State Police Trooper Jared Sandifer is reminding everyone to make smart decisions behind the wheel…
cut 12 (10) “holiday season”
State Police and local law enforcement have already investigated about a dozen fatalities this past weekend.

Cleco is now offering its customers an energy efficiency program to help reduce their monthly energy use.
CUT 9 (12) “their electricity bill”
That’s spokesperson Robbyn Cooper, who says the program is available to all Cleco customers.

Two rulings by federal judges in neighboring states have ruled the gay marriage bans in Mississippi and Arkansas are unconstitutional. Here in Louisiana, a judge upheld the same-sex marriage ban, but it’s very likely the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will eventually hear and rule on all three states.
CUT 8 (11) Q: ‘conservative bent’
That’s Loyola University Law professor Dane Ciolino.

This evening kicks off the beginning of the long Thanksgiving weekend, and State Police are reminding everyone that they are actively participating in the “Click it or Ticket” campaign…
CUT 14 (06) Q: “while impaired”
In other words, Sandifer says make smart decisions for driving.
==========================
As you get the kitchen ready to cook the family Thanksgiving feast, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning hopes safety is on your mind as well. Jeff Palermo has more…
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The Moreauville woman who was facing haivng to give up her pet pitbull because of a town ordinance ban on vicious dogs, has collected almost 300 thousand signatures on a petition to keep him. Backlash from Joanna Armand’s “Save Zeus” campaign has prompted aldermen to put the ban deadline on hold, with a special meeting scheduled December 1st.

Federal judges ruled this week that same sex marriage bans in Arkansas and Mississippi are unconstitutional…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

A request from Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter to extend early voting because of the Thanksgiving Holiday has been denied by a state judge. Judge Todd Hernandez refused to issue a temporary restraining order, and set a trial date for December 4th. Even though that date won’t help for this early period, Hernandez says it could bring a change for future elections.

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With more people on the road this Thanksgiving, State Police and local law enforcement are out looking out for impaired and unrestrained drivers in the Click or Ticket campaign. Trooper Jared Sandifer says there’s already been about a dozen traffic fatalities just this past weekend…
CUt 13 (07) Q: “Thanksgiving Holiday”
So if you’re not buckled, ploice won’t cut you any slack.

Cleco is now offering its customers an energy efficiency program to help reduce their monthly energy use. Spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says if you need to have work done to improve your home’s energy efficiency, you can save by using one of Cleco’s approved contractors…
CUT 11 (07) Q: ‘is being done’
And that applies to all Cleco customers in the state of Louisiana.

The latest states to have a federal judge rule their gay marriage bans violated the US Constitution are Mississippi and Arkansas. Both rulings came down yesterday. But Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says because there are conflicting rulings from various federal judges and appellate courts, the Supreme Court will be forced to make a ruling..

cut 7 (08) “resolve this”

U-S District Judge Martin Feldman upheld Louisiana’s gay marriage ban with a ruling he made in September.

This weekend Louisiana highways will be filled with holiday travelers, shoppers or those heading to or returning from big college and high school football games. State Police Trooper Jared Sandifer is reminding motorists to make smart decisions behind the wheel…

cut 12 (10) “holiday season”

Unfortunately, Sandifer says State Police has already investigated about a dozen fatal crashes since last weekend.

In an effort to help reduce customer’s monthly energy use, Cleco is now offering an energy efficiency program. Spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says says there are many features to this program and more information can be found on Cleco’s website. She says the process will start with a free energy assessment…

cut 10 (05) “and save energy”

The program is available to all of Cleco’s 284,000 customers in Louisiana.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning hopes safety is on your mind as you get ready to cook the family Thanksgiving feast. Browning says one specific hazard where they see a lot of house fires is the outdoor frying of turkeys. He says a main factor in fires involving fried turkeys is having your cooking apparatus too close to your home…

cut 5 (07) “evacuate the area”

If you are really wanting a fried turkey and don’t want to accidentally cause a fire, Browning suggests you buy a fried turkey from a commercial kitchen.