Former Governor Edwin Edwards is back home after a routine exam over the weekend at LSU Health-Shreveport. Edwards Biographer Leo Honeycutt says Edwards took a private jet on Saturday for a checkup and is back home now.

Cut 9 (11) “…of tests.”

Honeycutt says Edwards was also given a COVID test because he was at a healthcare facility and tested negative.

Work has begun on a 54.9 million dollar restoration of the North Breton Island wildlife sanctuary, a vital brown pelican habitat just east of the Plaquemines Parish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Taylor Pool says Callan Marine has been contracted to pump 5.87 million cubic yards of sand onto the island’s beaches…

Cut 13 (08)“sand”

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 30 years of working for the state. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

Two are dead and one injured after a shooting at a block party in Crowley early Sunday morning. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says police received a call about a crowd of hundreds who had gathered…

Cut 6 (10) “..subjects”

A block party of hundreds in Crowley ends in tragedy after gunfire erupts while police were dispersing the event Sunday. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says the unauthorized gathering was reported by concerned neighbors just after midnight Sunday and while police arrived to break it up two were fatally shot and another injured. Broussard says the party was a bad idea…

Cut 7 (10) “phone call.”

Work has begun on a 54.9 million dollar restoration of the North Breton Island wildlife sanctuary, a vital brown pelican habitat just east of Plaquemines Parish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Taylor Pool says the project will add 400 acres of land, more than doubling the island’s size…

Cut 12 (10) “…impacts” 

North Breton Island was named a National Wildlife Refuge in 1904 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 24 years. Guidry says during his tenure he’s seen how far the state has advanced when responding to disasters, from witnessing lives unnecessarily lost in Katrina to saving lives by being proactive with natural disasters.

Cut 4 (07)  “…storm hit”  

Guidry became state health officer in 1996.

Despite strong objections, President Donald Trump has signed a 900-billion dollar pandemic relief package that will result in many Americans receiving a 600-dollar stimulus check. ULM Political Science Professor Doctor Joshua Stockley says many on Capitol Hill were blindsided when the President initially said he would not sign the legislation

Cut 12 (06) “…four years.”

President Trump last week called the 600 dollar checks disgraceful and called for 2,000 dollar checks instead.

The Ragin Cajuns are 14 point favorites to win Saturday’s First Responders Bowl game against UTSA and it looks like that line may be moving even higher with news that the Roadrunners head coach will have to sit the game out in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. Coach Jeff Traylor did say he’s feeling fine, just emotionally crushed that he won’t be able to be there.

The Pelicans start their season off in style with an impressive 113-99 win over the Raptors in the Canadian team’s temporary new home in Tampa. Newly extended forward Brandon Ingram ran the show with 24 points 11 assists and nine boards and while Zion Williamson’s first sophomore effort was mostly contained at 15 points and ten boards due to constant double teams. The Pels play the Heat on Christmas Day.

LSU freshman runningback Kevontre Bradford was arrested late Tuesday for allegedly shoplifting from a West Baton Rouge Parish Walmart. Bradford was issued a misdemeanor and did not comment on the charge, only saying the situation was a misunderstanding.

The Saints continue their push for the 1^st seed in the NFC playoffs Friday against the Vikings in the Dome. The Vikings aren’t having a great season at 6-8 but have been the bane of the Black and Gold’s existence the past few years and Saints safety Malcom Jenkins says it’s obvious their record doesn’t reflect their high level of talent…

29

The Saints are a game in a half back of the Packers for the 1^st seed, the only bye week in the playoffs.

Former Auburn coach Terry Bowden has been tapped to run ULM’s struggling football program. The team didn’t win a game this season under Matt Viator and a number of players have entered the transfer portal. Bowden says the plan is to re-recruit them back…

Cut 14 (14) “…they get.” 

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting 22,108 people are confirmed to have received their first vaccine, although Governor Edwards has indicated the real number is likely a good bit higher. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says we’re making good progress in the vaccination program…

Cut 11 (09) “…want to be.”

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, who won the runoff for the 5^th district Congressional seat, has been moved into the ICU but is reportedly in stable condition.

Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis tested positive late Tuesday and is reportedly suffering mild symptoms.

A spokesperson for the Lt. Governor says Billy Nungesser is recovering nicely from COVID-19.

UTSA’s head coach Jeff Traylor has tested positive ahead of his team’s Saturday game against UL Lafayette in the First Responders Bowl. The game is reportedly still set to go on.

LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says lagging retail store foot traffic means Christmas Eve anyone who still needs to buy gifts will likely be able to find a few steals if they feel up to braving in-person shopping. Rice says some shops like athletic retailers and home improvement stores are doing just fine but other holiday staples are not.

Cut 8 (10) “…from home.”

Rice says this last bit of the holiday shopping season will make or break many sellers.

Despite being unable to hold tonight’s annual bonfires on the levee due to COVID restrictions, the Louisiana River Parishes Tourist Commission enlisted a 50-foot bonfire alligator in hopes it will become a tourist attraction. Executive Director Buddy Boe says Saint is a reminder of the bonfire custom that was extinguished this year due to high positivity rates of COVID.

Cut 4 (09) “…right now.”

Saint is a smaller version of the 78-foot alligator bonfire that was constructed last year and made headlines.

We’re only a day away from Christmas and state officials are asking residents who have made plans to gather for the holiday outside of their immediate household to cancel those plans. COVID hospitalizations are at their highest level since April and Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says our red levels of community spread mean any large gathering statistically will have one infectious person…

Cut 10 (07) “…accurate.”

Our total number of COVID deaths as of this morning is 7,226.

ULM is cheering as the team hires former Auburn coach Terry Bowden to take over the football program. ULM didn’t win a game this season but Bowden isn’t phased…

Cut 12 (14) “…grinder.”

Procrastinators might be able to find that last-minute Christmas gift on sale this year, Brooke Thorington explains.

 Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

5^th District Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has been moved into the ICU as he battles COVID-19. Letlow was in a hospital bed in Monroe but has been transferred to Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport. The Congressman announced Friday that he had tested positive and was moved into the hospital over the weekend. He’s reported in stable condition and receiving remdesivir and steroids.

The Pelicans opened their season last night in Tampa against the Raptors with a highly impressive 113-99 win. Newly extended forward Brandon Ingram took control of the squad putting up 24 efficient points on a near triple-double and guard JJ Reddick erupted for 23 points off the bench.

Newly acquired center Steven Adams may have had a fairly tame 8/3/8 stat line but easily passed the eye test on defense and with his screening.

Zion Williamson’s sophomore year opened with a fairly quiet but highly efficient 15 points and 10 rebounds. Toronto’s plan to double him every time he touched the ball limited his opportunities.

The team still has a lot to work on before they play the Heat tomorrow, as they turned the ball over an eye-watering 27 times.

Brutal loss yesterday for La. Tech in the New Orleans Bowl. Georgia Southern pummeled the Bulldogs on the ground for 322 yards rushing to win the game 38-3. Tech QB Aaron Allen tossed three picks on only 41 yards passing.

64-year-old former Auburn coach Terry Bowden, son of Florida State legend Bobby Bowden, has been hired to try to reconstitute ULM’s failing football program. The school is reeling after a winless 2020 under recently fired coach Matt Viator’s reign and several players have entered the transfer portal, but Bowden says he’s ready for the challenge…

Cut 12 (14) “…grinder.”

Bowden has a history of building winning programs. He coached at Auburn from 1993 to 1998 and won 45 games. His last head coaching was at Akron from 2012 and 2018. He says when took over the Zips football program it was in bad shape..

Cut 13 (12) “…another bowl.”

It’ll be a tough challenge as ULM has the smallest athletic budget of any FBS school.

Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter warns the data shows we are most likely in the middle of the most dangerous part of the pandemic, even as vaccines have trickled into the state. The Department of Health reported 68 new COVID fatalities yesterday…

Cut 9 (07) “…before.”

Our total number of deaths as of this morning is 7,226

In a surprise move ULM hires former Auburn coach, 64-year-old Terry Bowden son of Florida State great Bobby Bowden, to run the team. He’s in charge of reassembling the squad after recently fired Matt Viator’s disastrous winless season. Bowden says he’ll need to re-recruit players back to the squad…

Cut 14 (14) “…they get.” 

This year’s last-minute Christmas Eve shopping could be easier on your wallet than in the past. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says procrastinators might actually find bargains today because foot traffic was down as much as 90 percent for some stores.

Cut 6 (08) “…still.”

Despite being unable to hold tonight’s annual bonfires on the levee due to COVID restrictions, the Louisiana River Parishes Tourist Commission enlisted a 50-foot bonfire alligator in hopes it will become a tourist attraction. Executive Director Buddy Boe says the gator goes by the name of Saint.

Cut 3 (10)  “…our history.”  

Saint is a smaller version of the 78-foot alligator bonfire that was constructed last year and made headlines.

The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season is finally over and southwest Louisiana residents are breathing a sign of relief after being slammed with two named storms in a six week period earlier this year. Lake Charles is still recovering and Mayor Nic Hunter says while it may take a few months for things to start returning to normal the good news is local industries have committed to sticking around…

Cut 7 (12) “..back.”

A freeze warning will be in effect for all of the state expect the New Orleans metro area tomorrow morning. That means heater will be fired up in many homes for the first time this season and State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue reminds you to check your smoke detectors…

Cut 4 (11)   “…our website”  

In Kenner, a 30-year old gas station clerk was brutally murdered early this morning after cooperating with two men that robbed the store. Kenner PD Lt. Michael Cunningham says Abd Del Ghader Sylla was killed when two men entered the station on Williams Boulevard as if they were shopping then approached the clerk with a gun and demanded cash.

Cut 9 (12) “…no reason.”

Photos of the suspects are posted on the Kenner PD’s Facebook page.

Today is Cyber Monday, one of the largest online shopping days of the year. Carmen Million with the Better Business Bureau of South-Central Louisiana says according to an Accenture Holiday Shopping Survey more people are shopping online this year than before.

Cut 12 (12) “…COVID disease.”