The U-S Senate is expected to vote today on competing proposals to reopen the government.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety are praising Louisiana’s highway safety laws, ranking them 7th best in the nation…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis addressed the media Wednesday at the Senior Bowl.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The U-S Senate is expected to vote today on competing proposals to end the longest government shutdown in US history.  The GOP proposal funds a border wall and provides temporary protections for some immigrants. Republican Senator John Kennedy says for it to pass, it will take votes from his colleagues across the aisle.

Cut 4 (11) “…government back open.”

The Democrats bill would reopen the government until February 8th, without border funding. Democratic leaders have said let’s open the government and then discuss funding for border security. Kennedy says he believes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s clouded judgment is keeping lawmakers from finding a middle ground.

Cut 5 (09) “…not middle ground.”

When asked about giving into Democrats proposal with no border wall funding, Kennedy says he’s not caving.

Cut 6 (11) “…to support it.”

Both proposals are not expected to pass and that means federal workers will not receive what should be their second paycheck this month.

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DeRidder insurance industry veteran Tim Temple is running against incumbent Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon in this year’s fall election that features a slate of statewide offices, including governor.  Both men are Republicans. Temple says he was inspired to run after hearing repeated complaints from Louisianans about one thing in particular…

Cut 7 (10) “…national average.”

The Insurance Commissioner is also responsible for a number of insurance industries, including healthcare.

Temple says he plans to address our sky high auto insurance rates by working with the industry that he’s been a part of for nearly two and a half decades…

Cut 8 (09) “…different hats.”

Temple says the key to lower rates is attracting more insurance companies, which would promote competition.

Statewide races are expensive, and doubly so for political newcomers with a lack of name recognition like Temple. He says he plans on traveling the state, spreading his message, and anticipates he’ll be receiving financial support from Louisiana industries sick of high auto rates.

Cut 9 (07) “…industry.″

We reached out to Commissioner Donelon, who says he’ll be running for for re-election, and we’ll have more on his re-election effort in the future.

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Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety say Louisiana is in the top seven for best highway safety traffic regulations. The Bayou State was lauded for having nine of the organizations recommended safety laws. President Kathy Chase says Louisiana really excels when it comes to laws that protect more than just a vehicle’s driver.

Cut 10 (10) “helmet law.”

Chase acknowledged the state’s sky high insurance rates, but says having the right laws on the books are a good first start to promoting general safety.

But, the group says we still have some room for improvement. Chase notes the state should be doing more to address safety concerns when it comes to younger drivers, and infant passengers.

Cut 11 (12) “…our report.”

Breaux Bridge Representative Mike Huval attempted to pass a law last session banning drivers from holding their cell phones while driving, but it fell short. Chase thinks the sentiment is right, but says Louisiana really needs to ban any cell use while driving if they want the safest possible roads.

Cut 12 (08) “…the problem.”

The report notes the annual economic cost of US crashes is 242 billion dollars.

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Saints fans continue to mourn over Sunday’s heart breaking loss in the NFC Championship game, but General Manager Mickey Loomis says the franchise is moving forward. Loomis spoke with reporters at the Senior Bowl in Mobile and says the pain is still fresh, but promises the team will bounce back.

Cut 13 (12) “…win the game.”

Loomis says he hasn’t heard from the league since they admitted to the blown no-call, but says the message to the team is clear.

Cut 14 (11) “…doing right now.”

Loomis says he realizes fans are hurting, who showed up to games and made a big impact on opponents, but says he know they’ll come back stronger for next season.  He adds he doesn’t buy into the fan theories that the game was fixed against them.

Cut 15 (06) “…what I believe so.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a written letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking him and the owners to change the rules to make sure another obvious, blatant and intentional penalty at the end of a championship game doesn’t go uncalled again.  There’s been a report the NFL competition committee will look during the offseason on whether pass interference should be the subject of an instant replay review. Edwards believes it should be.
Cut 4 (09) “…happening again″

Governor Edwards re-election effort is officially underway as he made two campaign stops today in Lafayette. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says despite good approval ratings it’s not a sure thing that Edwards will be re-elected..

Cut 6 (10) “…Louisiana.”
Meanwhile, Republican challenger and Congressman Ralph Abraham held a lunchtime fundraiser in Lake Providence today.

Starting next week, Louisiana abortion clinics will be legally compelled to have admitting privileges at a local hospital. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

Get ready for a cold night, especially in north Louisiana, as Shreveport, Monroe and Natchitoches can all see morning lows below 30-degrees. Chris Nuttall is with the National Weather Service in Shreveport and says it will feel warmer tomorrow afternoon, before another cold front hits the state tomorrow night, early tomorrow morning…

Cut 14 (13) “…few days.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a letter to Roger Goodell urging the NFL Commish to make sure another team is not robbed of going to the Super Bowl. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

And the Governor is out and about today hitting the campaign trail after officially announcing his bid for re-election. He’s facing Alto Congressman Ralph Abraham, and businessman Eddie Rispone, Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says former Congressman John Fleming of Minden could be a threat to Abraham.

Cut 8 (10) “…north Louisiana.”

Beginning Monday, Louisiana abortion clinics will be required to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, that after a Friday ruling from the New Orleans based 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office has been proud to defend the law that was passed in 2014, nearly unanimously, in the Louisiana Legislature.

Cut 9 (11) “common sense″

Act 620 was held up for years after the Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Texas in 2016. The 5^th Circuit in September determined the Louisiana law was different enough to warrant a rehearing.

Get ready for a cold night, especially in north Louisiana, as Shreveport, Monroe and Natchitoches can all see morning lows below 30-degrees. Chris Nuttall with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says it’s possible that below freezing temperatures could get as far south as Lafayette…

Cut 13 (04) “…right now.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a written letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking him and the owners to change the rules to make sure another obvious, blatant and intentional penalty at the end of a championship game doesn’t go uncalled again….

Cut 3 (04) “…for the league.”

Governor Edwards re-election effort is officially underway as he made two campaign stops today in Lafayette. Meanwhile, Republican challenger and Congressman Ralph Abraham held a lunchtime fundraiser in Lake Providence today. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the other announced GOP challenger, Eddie Rispone, is the X-factor, because he can self-fund much of his campaign…

Cut 7 (12) “…hard to do”

Beginning Monday, Louisiana abortion clinics will be required to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, that after a Friday ruling from the New Orleans based 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals. After five years of winding its way through the courts, Act 620 still may not be done facing legal challenges. There’s one appeal left, and that’s to the US Supreme Court. Attorney General Jeff Landry says if that happens, they’re ready.

Cut 11 (07) “our case”

Get ready for a cold night, especially in north Louisiana, as Shreveport, Monroe and Natchitoches can all see morning lows below 30-degrees. Chris Nuttall is with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says it’s possible that below freezing temperatures could get as far south as Lafayette…

Cut 13 (04) “…right now.”

Nuttall says it will feel warmer tomorrow afternoon, before another cold front hits the state tomorrow night

Beginning Monday, Louisiana abortion clinics will be required to have admitting privileges at a local hospital, that after a Friday ruling from the New Orleans based 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals. Attorney General Jeff Landry says his office has been proud to defend the law that was passed in 2014, nearly unanimously, in the Louisiana Legislature.

Cut 9 (11) “common sense″

Act 620 was held up for years after the Supreme Court struck down a similar law in Texas in 2016. The 5^th Circuit in September determined the Louisiana law was different enough to warrant a rehearing.

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a written letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell asking him and the owners to change the rules to prevent another officiating disaster. There’s been a report the NFL competition committee will look during the offseason at instant replay review for pass interference. Edwards believes it should be

Cut 4 (09) “…happening again″

Governor John Bel Edwards re-election effort is officially underway with campaign stops today in Lafayette. Meanwhile, Republican challenger and Congressman Ralph Abraham holds a lunchtime fundraiser in Lake Providence. But Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the other announced GOP challenger, Eddie Rispone, is the X-factor, because he can self-fund much of his campaign…

Cut 7 (12) “…hard to do”

Pinsonat says despite good approval ratings it’s not a sure thing that Edwards will be re-elected.

and now commodities.

Governor John Bel Edwards has officially launched his re-election campaign. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

According to St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne, a pharmacist was using justifiable force when he shot and killed a man trying to rob his story last night in Luling. Deputies say a man wearing a mask ordered the pharmacist and a clerk to hand over drugs and a scuffle ensued. Authorities have identified the deceased as 36 year old Mark Fisher, Jr., of the Madisonville area, and say he was armed at the time of the incident.

Three people are dead, including a two-year-old child after a pickup truck ran off the road into Bayou Lafourche  in Golden Meadow. State Police Senior Trooper Jesse LaGrange says it happened shortly after midnight last night on LA 308 and the driver, 37-year-old Michael Barthelemy of Galliano overcorrected
Cut 6 (06) “…escape it.”
The victims have been identified as Michael Barthelemy of Galliano, two year old Trisha Barthelemy and 17-year-old Zackary Cheramie of Golden Meadow.
The missed pass interference call in Sunday’s NFC Championship game will hurt businesses that sell Saints merchandise. Pam Randazzo of Black and Gold says they were gearing up to sell Super Bowl gear, until the refs took the game away from the Saints…
cut 10 (09) “…that call”

Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman admitted it was a purposeful foul to save a touchdown, saying, “Ah, hell yeah, that was PI.”

Business owners in industries related to the Saints say  that blown call against the Rams is going to cost them a lot of money…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
Three arrests have been made in connection with a West Carroll Parish Homicide and Armed Robbery.  On Sunday afternoon around 12:30, two teens from Oak Grove met with a group of individuals at the Oak Grove Rodeo Arena.  During the interaction, the two were shot, leaving one dead. State Police have arrest 20 year old LeJominek Woodruff, 18 year old Westly Freeman, and 21 year old James Turner, all of Oak Grove in connection with the case.

Governor John Bel Edwards officially launched his re-election campaign today with a video message to voters. The main theme is that he says Louisiana is better now, than when he took office in 2016. Edwards is facing two announced GOP challengers, Congressman Ralph Abraham and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone. Edwards expects his opponents and out of state interest groups to spend millions of dollars attacking his record…
Cut 5 (07) “…our working families.”

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s office has ruled Sunday’s Burglary on the Bayou as a homicide.  Dr. Chuck Preston says the criminal intent was clear in the Saints loss in the NFC Championship.
Cut 12 (11)   “…for this year.”

Preston says his message for the perpetrators is that the Who Dat Nation knows what really happened and will be watching because what’s done in the dark will be brought to the light.

Governor John Bel Edwards officially launched his re-election campaign today with a video message to voters. The main theme is that he says Louisiana is better now, than when he took office in 2016, when he inherited a two-billion dollar plus budget deficit. Edwards says he’s also worked to reduce the state’s unemployment rate and there’s more people working in Louisiana than ever before…

Cut 4 (10) “…new jobs″

Three people are dead, including a two-year-old child after a pickup truck ran off the road into Bayou Lafourche in Golden Meadow. State Police Senior Trooper Jesse LaGrange says they are not sure exactly how Michael Barthelemy’s pickup truck ended up into Bayou LaFourche, but it ran off the roadway to the right while in a curve. He says motorists must understand that driving is a full-time job…

Cut 8 (08) “…buckle up.”

LaGrange says it happened shortly after midnight last night on LA 308 and the driver, 37-year-old Michael Barthelemy of Galliano overcorrected.

Saints fans may be heartbroken, but business owners in sports related industries say that infamous blown call is hitting more than just the heart, it’s hitting the pocketbook. Black and Gold Shop owner Pam Randazzo says the call that robbed Brees and company is going to cost them a good bit of money, as they were gearing up to start selling for the big game.

Cut 9 (13) “a lot″

The league has not publicly made a statement about the decision, but Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman admitted it was a purposeful foul to save a touchdown, saying, “Ah, hell yeah, that was PI.”

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s office has ruled Sunday’s Burglary on the Bayou as a homicide.  Dr. Chuck Preston says his message for the perpetrators is that the Who Dat Nation knows what really happened.

Cut 14 (08) “…in future seasons.”

Governor John Bel Edwards officially launched his re-election campaign today with a video message to voters. The main theme is that he says Louisiana is better now, than when he took office in 2016, when he inherited a two-billion dollar plus budget deficit

Cut 3 (11) “…600-million dollars.”

Edwards is facing two announced GOP challengers, Congressman Ralph Abraham and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone.

Three people are dead, including a two-year-old child after a pickup truck ran off the road into Bayou Lafourche in Golden Meadow. State Police Senior Trooper Jesse LaGrange says it happened shortly after midnight last night on LA 308 and the driver, 37-year-old Michael Barthelemy of Galliano overcorrected

Cut 6 (06) “…escape it.”

Saints fans may be heartbroken, but business owners in sports related industries say that infamous blown call is hitting more than just the heart, it’s hitting the pocketbook. Black and Gold Shop owner Pam Randazzo says the call that robbed Brees and company is going to cost them a good bit of money, and while she’s not currently considering joining other businesses and fan groups legal action against the NFL, she is demanding the league provide an official apology.

Cut 11 (10) “come out

Head coach Sean Peyton says he immediately received an apology call after the game for the missed call, but The NFL has yet to release a public statement on the issue.

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s office has ruled Sunday’s Bayou Burglary as a homicide.  Dr. Chuck Preston says of the official cause of the death of the Saints football season…

Cut 13 (10) “…Super Bowl hopes.”

He says criminal intent is clear.

Governor John Bel Edwards has officially launched his re-election campaign. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Business owners in industries related to the Saints say  that blown call against the Rams is going to cost them a lot of money…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Governor John Bel Edwards officially launched his re-election campaign today with a video message to voters. The main theme is that he says Louisiana is better now, than when he took office in 2016, when he inherited a two-billion dollar plus budget deficit

Cut 3 (11) “…600-million dollars.”

Edwards says he’s also worked to reduce the state’s unemployment rate and there’s more people working in Louisiana than ever before…

Cut 4 (10) “…new jobs″

Edwards is facing two announced GOP challengers, Congressman Ralph Abraham and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone. Edwards expects his opponents and out of state interest groups to spend millions of dollars attacking his record…

Cut 5 (07) “…our working families.”

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Three people are dead, including a two-year-old child after a pickup truck ran off the road into Bayou Lafourche  in Golden Meadow. State Police Senior Trooper Jesse LaGrange says it happened shortly after midnight last night on LA 308 and the driver, 37-year-old Michael Barthelemy of Galliano overcorrected

Cut 6 (06) “…escape it.”

Two-year-old Trisha Barthelemy of Galliano and 17-year-old Zackary Cheramie of Golden Meadow also died in the crash. LaGrange says impairment is unknown as a factor in the crash…

Cut 7 (08) “…under investigation”

LaGrange says they are not sure exactly how Michael Barthelemy’s pickup truck ended up into Bayou LaFourche, but it ran off the roadway to the right while in a curve. He says motorists must understand that driving is a full-time job…

Cut 8 (08) “…buckle up.”

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Saints fans may be heartbroken, but business owners in sports related industries say that infamous blown call is hitting more than just the heart, it’s hitting the pocketbook. Black and Gold Shop owner Pam Randazzo says the call that robbed Brees and company is going to cost them a good bit of money, as they were gearing up to start selling for the big game.

Cut 9 (13) “a lot″

Analysts and fans from across the country are labeling it one of the worst, if not the worst missed call in NFL history, because it directly prevented a team from moving on to the Super Bowl, and Randazzo says it looks unprofessional.

Cut 10 (09) “…that call.

Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman admitted it was a purposeful foul to save a touchdown, saying, “Ah, hell yeah, that was PI.”

Randazzo says she’s not currently considering joining other businesses and fan groups legal action against the NFL, but is demanding the league provide an official apology for the error that’s being nearly universally criticized.

Cut 11 (10) “come out”

Head coach Sean Peyton says he immediately received an apology call after the game for the missed call, but The NFL has yet to release a public statement on the issue.

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The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s office has ruled Sunday’s Burglary on the Bayou as a homicide.  Dr. Chuck Preston says the criminal intent was clear in the Saints loss in the NFC Championship.

Cut 12 (11)   “…for this year.”

Preston says of the official cause of the death of the Saints football season…

Cut 13 (10) “…Super Bowl hopes.”

Preston says his message for the perpetrators is that the Who Dat Nation knows what really happened and will be watching because what’s done in the dark will be brought to the light.

Cut 14 (08) “…in future seasons.”