If it sounds too good to be true that deal online it might just be, Brooke Thorington explains how to protect yourself and your wallet.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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A family tradition for many this weekend is buying that fresh Christmas tree. Jeff Palermo reports it’s been a good year for the Louisiana Christmas Tree Association…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”    

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Holiday shopping might bring out super savings, but it also brings out sleuths.  But there are things you can do to protect yourself and your wallet.  Amanda Larkins, Outreach Manager for the Louisiana AG’s Office says always be aware of your surroundings.

Cut 3 (10) “…after dark.”

Larkins says when shopping with small children take extra precaution in case you are separated. With large crowds the likelihood increases.

Cut 4 (11) “…contact 911.”

Another tip Larkin has for you this holiday season is to use only one credit card when shopping. It could save you valuable time in the end if things do go awry.

Cut 5 (12) “…cancellation time.”

Also be sure to check that card for unusual activity after you’ve made shopping trips and especially when you’ve used the card online.

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You may be splurging on Black Friday deals today, but save some cash and remember to shop local tomorrow for Small Business Saturday.

The National Federation of Independent BusinessState Director Dawn Starns says 42 percent of people say they’ll be supporting small businesses tomorrow, which could break a sales record set last year.

Cut 6 (08) “…billion dollars.”

Nearly 104 million Americans participated in Small Business Saturday last year.

Starns says some businesses add holiday activities to the shopping experience to get the whole family involved and break up the mundane big retail store holiday experience…

Cut 7 (10) “…customer loyalty.”

Starns says shopping locally has a big impact on business and local families along with the cities and towns their companies reside in.

Cut 8 (12) “…community.”

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The Saints are NFC South Champs for a third consecutive season as they clinched the division title with a 26-18 win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. Taysom Hill set the tone, by blocking a punt that set up his three-yard touchdown catch. He also had a 30-yard touchdown run.

Cut 9 (12) “…those guys”

The Saints sacked Atlanta Q-B Matt Ryan nine times. Cam Jordan had four of them. Meanwhile, Drew Brees threw for 184 yards and a touchdown…

Cut 10 (12) “…best football.”

It’s the eighth division title in franchise history, the sixth under Coach Sean Payton. And it’s the earliest the Saints have ever clinched a division title. Hill says it’s a nice accomplishment…

Cut 11 (12) “…win a Super Bowl”

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Thanksgiving is in the books and families are flocking to Christmas tree farms looking for the perfect centerpiece to complement their holiday decorations.

Steele’s Christmas Trees founder Kevin Steele says the state’s been blessed with proper rainfall exactly when they’ve needed it, and so this year’s crop is looking great.

Cut 12 (06) “shape” 

Nationwide prices are up this year, but The 40-year-veteran Angie tree farmer says at a local level tree prices have remained steady.

Cut 13 (10) “…couples.”

The National Christmas Tree Association estimates the average price for a tree this year is 76 dollars nationwide.

If you do select one of the southern varieties of trees this year, Steele says make sure you keep it well watered, particularly for the first week.

Cut 14 (12) “…a day”

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If that deal online sounds too good to be true it just might be, Brooke Thorington explains how to protect yourself and your wallet.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

WalletHub surveyed over eight thousand retailers to find out who’s offering the most discounts today and Stage topped the list with an average of 70 percent off. As for which category of items will have the biggest savings, WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says jewelry has the highest markup traditionally, so it should have the highest markdowns.

The Saints are NFC South Champs for a third consecutive season as they clinched the division title with a 26-18 win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. The Saints sacked Atlanta Q-B Matt Ryan nine times. Cam Jordan had four of them. Meanwhile, Drew Brees threw for 184 yards and a touchdown…

Cut 10 (12) “…best football.”

You may be splurging on Black Friday deals today, but save some cash and remember to shop local tomorrow for Small Business Saturday. National Federation of Independent Business State Director DawnStarns says some businesses add holiday activities to the shopping experience to get the whole family involved and break up the mundane big retail store holiday experience…

Cut 7 (10) “…customer loyalty.”

The Black Friday crowds are packing stores today, and with those crowds every year comes scammers and holiday thieves who are hoping to take advantage of the chaos. Amanda Larkins, Outreach Manager for the Louisiana AG’s Office says always be aware of your surroundings.

Cut 3 (10) “…after dark.”

Thanksgiving is in the books and families are flocking to Christmas tree farms looking for the perfect centerpiece to complement their holiday decorations. Steele’s Christmas Trees founder Kevin Steele says the state’s been blessed with proper rainfall exactly when they’ve needed it, and so this year’s crop is looking great.

Cut 12 (06) “shape” 

The National Christmas Tree Association estimates the average price for a tree this year is 76 dollars nationwide. The local price is a bit lower.

The Saints are NFC South Champs for a third consecutive season as they clinched the division title with a 26-18 win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. Taysom Hill set the tone, by blocking a punt that set up his three-yard touchdown catch. He also had a 30-yard touchdown run.

Cut 9 (12) “…those guys”

The Saints are set for a titanic game Sunday against the 49ers. Winner will control pole position in the race for the 1^st seed through the NFC playoffs.

You might be out splurging today, but save some of your holiday cash for tomorrow because the National Federation of Independent Business wants people out shopping for small business Saturday. NFIB State Director Dawn Starns says 42 percent of people should be on the town to support small business and possibly break the record sales set last year…

Cut 6 (08) “…billion dollars.”

Holiday shopping might bring out super savings, but it also brings out sleuths.  But there are things you can do to protect yourself and your wallet.  Amanda Larkins, Outreach Manager for the Louisiana AG’s Office says use only one credit card when shopping. It could save you valuable time in the end if things do go awry.

Cut 5 (12) “…cancellation time.”

Also, be sure to check that card for unusual activity after you’ve made shopping trips and especially when you’ve used the card online.

WalletHub surveyed over eight thousand retailers to find out who’s offering the most discounts today and Stage topped the list with an average of 70 percent off. As for which category of items will have the biggest savings, WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says jewelry has the highest markup traditionally, so it should have the highest markdowns.

A family tradition for many this weekend is buying that fresh Christmas tree. Jeff Palermo reports it’s been a good year for the Louisiana Christmas Tree Association…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”    

The holiday shopping season is underway and the National Retail Federation expects holiday retail sales to increase four-percent over 2018. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says Louisiana retailers can expect a similar increase in sales

Cut 7 (07) “…low unemployment numbers”

Holiday shopping might bring out super savings, but it also brings out chaos and crowds. Amanda Larkins, Outreach Manager for the Louisiana AG’s Office says when shopping with small children take extra precaution in case you are separated, the likelihood increases this time of year.

Cut 4 (11) “…contact 911.”

She says to remain extra vigilant after dark.

The Saints are the NFC South Champs for a third consecutive season as they clinched the division title with a 26-18 win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. It’s the eighth division title in franchise history, the sixth under Coach Sean Payton. And it’s the earliest the Saints have ever clinched a division title. Taysom Hill says it’s a nice accomplishment…

Cut 11 (12) “…win a Super Bowl”

LSU has already wrapped up the SEC West title. Jacoby Stevens says last year’s loss to Texas A-and-M helped motivate them through the offseason

Cut 14 (12) “…ever again” 

Kickoff at Tiger Stadium is at 6pm.

Holiday shopping might bring out super savings, but it also brings out sleuths.  But there are things you can do to protect yourself and your wallet.  Amanda Larkins, Outreach Manager for the Louisiana AG’s Office says always be aware of your surroundings.

Cut 3 (10) “…after dark.”

Larkins says when shopping with small children be sure they know your cell phone number.

According to WalletHub, Stage, Belk, Bealls, JCPenney and Kohls are the top 5 retailers with the Best Black Friday Discounts this year. But if you are not willing to risk the crowds WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzales says don’t feel guilty about opting for a gift card.

Cut  12 (11) “…and Target.” 

The Saints are NFC South Champs for a third consecutive season as they clinched the division title with a 26-18 win over Atlanta on Thanksgiving night. The Saints sacked Atlanta Q-B Matt Ryan nine times. Cam Jordan had four of them. Meanwhile, Drew Brees threw for 184 yards and a touchdown…

Cut 10 (12) “…best football.”

It should be an electric atmosphere on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium as LSU looks to complete a perfect regular season when they host Texas A-and-M at 6 PM. Tiger fans want revenge from last year’s seven overtime loss to the Aggies, but LSU safety Jacoby Stevens says they have to keep their emotions in check

Cut 13 (06) “..aren’t smart”

The holiday shopping season is underway and the National Retail Federation expects holiday retail sales to increase four-percent over 2018. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says most retailers are advertising big Black Friday deals today, but he says stores started discounting prices several weeks ago and many Black Friday sales will extend through the weekend…

Cut 8 (09) “…of spending”

WalletHub surveyed over eight thousand retailers to find out who’s offering the most discounts today and Stage topped the list with an average of 70 percent off. As for which category of items will have the biggest savings, WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says jewelry has the highest markup traditionally.

Cut 11 (11) “…and 40 percent off.”

An active 2019 hurricane season ends Saturday. One of the major events Imelda, a slow-moving tropical storm that dumped over 40 inches of rain near Beaumont, Texas. State Climatologist Barry Keim says even though Louisiana was hit by a hurricane this season, it was relatively a good year for us.

Cut 6 (06) “…pretty good”

It’s a big Saturday of college football throughout the state tomorrow. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

Cut 3 (30) “…Jeff Palermo.”

A busy 2019 hurricane season comes to a close on Saturday. Kevin Barnhart takes a look back at what we experienced…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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So which store has the best Black Friday discounts? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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It’s a big Saturday of college football throughout the state tomorrow. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

Cut 3 (30) “…Jeff Palermo.”

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An active 2019 hurricane season comes to a close Saturday. It was a season in which we saw 18 named storms. But State Climatologist Barry Keim says most of those storms never reached hurricane strength…

Cut 4 (08) “…average season.”

The signature storm for Louisiana was Barry. A rare hurricane in July that made landfall in Louisiana, but spared the Bayou State from the massive flooding that was predicted. However, Keim says in September, Hurricane Dorian broke records with its 185-mile per hour winds

Cut 5 (12) “…1980”

Another major event was Imelda, a slow-moving tropical storm that dumped over 40 inches of rain near Beaumont, Texas. Keim says even though Louisiana was hit by a hurricane this season, it was relatively a good year for us

Cut 6 (06) “…pretty good”

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The holiday shopping season is underway and the National Retail Federation expects holiday retail sales to increase four-percent over 2018. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says Louisiana retailers can expect a similar increase in sales

Cut 7 (07) “…low unemployment numbers”

Rice says most retailers are advertising big Black Friday deals today, but he says stores started discounting prices several weeks ago and many Black Friday sales will extend through the weekend…

Cut 8 (09) “…of spending”

Rice says Black Friday remains a profitable day for brick and mortar stores. But he says Cyber Monday sales outpaced last Black Friday sales last year and there’s no sign of that trend slowing down

Cut 9 (08) “…last year.”

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It’s the busiest shopping day of the year and if you’re looking for the best place to get the most for your money, WalletHub has done the research for you. They surveyed close to eight-thousand retailers in the U-S and found which stores have the biggest discounts on Appliances, Jewelry, and Toys.  WalletHub analysist Jill Gonzales.

Cut 10 (11) “…70 percent off.”

Rounding out the top four is Belk, Bealls, and JCPenney. They all came in with average discounts above the 60 percent mark. Kohl’s rounded out the top five with an average of 57 percent off.

As for which category of items will have the biggest discount for Black Friday, Gonzales says jewelry has the highest markup traditionally so it will be among those discounted.

Cut 11 (11) “…and 40 percent off.”

If you are stumped on what to get the person who has everything or just not sure what to buy, Gonzales says don’t feel guilty about choosing a gift card.

Cut  12 (11) “…and Target.” 

According to WalletHub 35-million still have holiday debt from last year and about 27 percent of those surveyed plan to spend less this year.

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It should be an electric atmosphere on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium as the LSU looks to complete a perfect regular season when they host Texas A-and-M at 6 PM. Tiger fans want revenge from last year’s seven overtime loss to the Aggies, but LSU safety Jacoby Stevens says they have to keep their emotions in check

Cut 13 (06) “..aren’t smart”

LSU has already wrapped up the SEC West title. Stevens says last year’s loss to Texas A-and-M helped motivate them through the offseason

Cut 14 (12) “…ever again” 

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La Tech has lost its last two, but they still have an opportunity to win the Conference USA West if they beat U-T-S-A on Saturday. Suspensions to key players has contributed to the recent losses, but those players are back and Coach Skip Holtz says his players can’t worry about the past

Cut 15 (13) “..UTSA”

Returning from suspension for Saturday’s game are starting quarterback J’Mar Smith and standout receiver Adrian Hardy. Receiver C-J Powell is also set to return from a lower leg injury. Holtz says the return of these players should help

Cut 16  (15)  … last week” 

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For the third straight season, 19th ranked Nicholls will host an F-C-S playoff game on Saturday as they welcome 24th ranked North Dakota to Thibodaux. Since an overtime loss to Abilene Christian on October 26th, Coach Tim Rebowe’s team has won four straight

Cut 17  (17)  at the year” 

North Dakota brings a seven and four record to the Bayou. The Fighting Hawks have several quality wins, victories over Montana State, Weber State and Sam Houston. Rebowe says North Dakota provides numerous challenges

cut 18  (14)  the ball” 

Your pets may want to dine from the table scraps this holiday, but what human food acceptable for animals? Kevin Barnhart has the details.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

If you’ve opted to deep fry your Turkey for the holiday, not having it properly thawed beforehand is one of the main causes of accidents. According to State Fire Marshal Butch Browning not following proper instructions can cause explosive fires.

Cut 7 (12) “…boil over.”

With the holidays comes scammers trying to rip off unsuspecting victims.  Webroot.com cybersecurity expert David Dufour says when you are on an unsecured Wi-Fi network at a place like a coffee shop or an airport, your information is potentially available for a cybercriminal to scrap off that network.

Cut 9 (06) “…bank account information.”

Scammers are also looking to shake down victims by posing as a charity.  Dufour says many of the emails and text messages will ask for peculiar donations.

Cut 11 (07) “…anything like that.”

Dufour also advises to be on the lookout for emails that appear to be from retailers. Be apprehensive of links and use promo codes instead. Dufour also says when you shop for your gifts online, check U-R-Ls before sharing info and avoid using debit cards.

Some people opt to deep fry their turkey for Thanksgiving, but if you aren’t familiar with the practice it can be extremely dangerous and has been known to cause severe burns and house fires. State Fire Marshall Butch Browning says where you choose to place to the deep fryer is vital.

Cut 6 (10) “…to the home”

And if you like to share some of your Thanksgiving feast with your four-legged friend, white meat turkey is okay for dogs to eat, so are veggies like yams and potatoes, but watch out for the sugar content. Louisiana SPCA spokesperson Alicia Vial says if your pet shows signs of distress, it’s possible they got hold of something they should not have…
cut 5 (13) “….regardless of holidays”

The Saints and Falcons meet tonight in Atlanta. A win for New Orleans and they’ll clinch the N-F-C South. The Saints will not have two of their starting offensive line, Andrus Peat and Terron Armstead have been ruled out. Quarterback Drew Brees says they can’t use that as an excuse not to play well…

Cut  12 (13) “…as well.” 

With the holidays comes scammers trying to rip off unsuspecting victims.  Webroot.com cybersecurity expert David Dufour says often scammers will send out emails that look like an authentic retailer.

Cut 10 (07) “…of the retailer.”

Dufour says any sort of incentives for savings will likely come in the form of promo codes, not clicking through links.