Former Governor Kathleen Blanco announces she’s fighting an incurable form of liver cancer. Kelley Ray reports on how doctors feel about her prognosis…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray.”

Baker Police say a woman left an autistic child in a vehicle in 35-degree weather while she went to play bingo. Authorities responded to a call from witnesses that the non-verbal child had been in the car for almost two hours. 53-year-old Leslie Domengeaux told police she was only in the bingo hall for 20 minutes. She faces multiple charges including cruelty to juveniles.

Kentwood saw the most snow in the state on Friday with six and a half inches, according to the National Weather Service. Shawn O’Neil with the NWS says the moisture stayed a little longer than originally anticipated creating all the snow flurries. He says most areas below Lake Pontchartrain saw at least a small amount of snow but the majority fell within the Florida Parishes.
Cut 14 (09) “inch range”

Baton Rouge saw 3.5 inches and Donaldsonville saw five inches.

The St. Landry Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a 21-year-old whose body was found by a fisherman in Lake Dubisson. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the woman’s purse was found and shows a Shreveport address but they believe she was visiting friends in Alexandria. Family members notified deputies she was abducted while there. Guidroz says deputies are hoping to finds a lead to identify a suspect.
Cut 11 (06) “killed her.”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco has announced she is fighting an incurable form of liver cancer. Chief of Surgical Oncology at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Adam Riker says there is no known treatment that leads to a cure for this form, but says there are several therapies that can be tried in both mainstream and experimental medicine…:
Cut 4 (12) “these days”
Blanco is currently undergoing treatment in Philadelphia.

Gasoline prices are finally coming back down, after an unseasonable autumn run-up. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says January and February will be one of the best times of the year at the pump…:
Cut 8 (08) “right now”
The current statewide average is about $2.26.

Authorities in St. Landry Parish say the body of a 21-year-old woman from Shreveport was found today in Lake Dubisson (Doo-ba-san). Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says a search was started Sunday after a fisherman reeled in an unusual item…:
Cut 10 (11) “identified her”
Police say the woman disappeared from an Alexandria motel.

Twin brothers who are Gonzales firefighters will appear in the next season of the CBS reality show “The Amazing Race.” 33-year-old Daniel and Eric Guiffreda said they competed against world champion skiers, NBA players, and competitive eater, Joey Chestnut. The show premieres January 3rd on CBS for its 30th season.

The 2017 Prep Classic wrapped up on Saturday with three more champions crowned, Zachary, Edna Karr for a second straight year and Catholic won its second title in three years with an upset win over John Curtis.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco announces she’s fighting an incurable form of liver cancer. Kelley Ray reports…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Gas prices in Louisiana are on a steady downward trend, as the current statewide average of $2.26 is 4 cents lower on the week. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says they expect gasoline demand to weaken throughout the winter:
CUT 7 (05) “Christmas Holidays”

The body of a Shreveport woman who was abducted was found in a St. Landry Parish lake this morning. Officials say a fisherman on Lake Dubuisson hooked a purse on his line, and called the sheriff’s office to report it. A search and rescue team were dispatched and later found the body. The woman was abducted in Alexandria. The investigation is ongoing.

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Richland Parish physician will need to boost his name recognition…:
Cut 26 (12) “support”
Abraham says he hasn’t made any decisions, but a number of people are asking him about it.

Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has announced she is fighting an incurable form of liver cancer. It traveled from her eye after she was diagnosed in 2011 with ocular melanoma, a dangerous and rare cancer. Chief of Surgical Oncology at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Adam Riker says the key now is to get Blanco’s immune system strong to slow the cancer growth…:

Cut 3 (10) “tumor cells”
The native of New Iberia served as Louisiana’s first female governor from 2004 to 2008, and was criticized for her handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. BUt UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that has been muted after looking back at the magnitude of the storm.:
Cut 5 (06) “for them”
Blanco is 74.

The LSU AgCenter has developed a milk-based meal replacement powder to help consumers lose weight. Director of the AgCenter Food Incubator Gaye Sandoz says the powder shake comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors, plus a candy can be added to the meal replacement…:
Cut 5 (07) “special milk”
Studies show drinking meal replacement shakes for 12 weeks instead of meals is a safe way to drop pounds.

Multiple reports indicate NFL viewership is down this season. Kelley Ray spoke with a Baton Rouge ad agent about the impacts:
Cut 2 (22) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco is asking for prayers in the fight for her own life against cancer. She said in a letter to Louisianians, friends and family that melanoma has invaded her liver and that no treatments have yet been identified to cure the type of illness. In a statement, Governor John Bel Edwards said Blanco is a strong woman of incredible faith, and asked the people of this state to join him in prayers for the former governor.

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley believes that at this point US Senator John Kennedy, AG Jeff Landry or Congressman Garret Graves have the better change to defeat Governor John Bel Edwards:
Cut 11 (10) “disadvantage”
Stockley says Abraham is popular in the top half of the state, but would need to campaign heavily in South Louisiana to have a chance. Abraham says he has yet to decide.

A dozen juvenile whooping cranes have been released in Vermilion Parish as part of an ongoing effort to protect them from extinction. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski says these are beautiful birds…:
Cut 14 (12) “in 1950″
She says the whooping crane population in Louisiana is now at 72.

WWL-TV is reporting that the winning Louisiana Lotto ticket from Saturday’s drawing was sold in St. Landry Parish. The jackpot was hit at $350,000.

The State Department of Transportation announces plans to help keep traffic at a minimum during the holidays. They say on December 25th and 26th, and on January 1st and 2nd, all oversize and overweight vehicle movement on all State highways will be prohibited.

The LSU AgCenter developed a milk-based meal replacement powder to help consumers lose weight. Emelie Gunn has more on the product that will be tested at LSU’s Pennington Research Center …
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco has disclosed that her previously diagnosed eye cancer has spread to her liver and says there’s no cure. She was elected as Louisiana’s first female governor and served from 2004 to 2008. Blanco revealed in 2011 that she had a rare eye cancer and in her letter, she said that cancer has now “invaded her liver,” and she has a difficult road ahead.

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Richland Parish physician will need to boost his name recognition…:
Cut 10 (12) “to support”
Abraham says he hasn’t made any decisions, but a number of people are asking him about it.

Did you watch the NFL games yesterday, the Saints game Thursday or are you planning to catch Monday Night Football? Reports indicate ratings for pro football have been slipping of late. Baton Rouge-based Todd Advertising Agency owner Deborah Todd says one reason could be cheap streaming services:
Cut 8 (08) “a month”
She also believes games being on multiple nights instead of just on Sunday hurts ratings.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco says she’s in the fight for her life as the 74-year-old is battling liver cancer. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Richland Parish lawmaker is very popular in north and central Louisiana, but…:
Cut 12 (10) “southern Louisiana”
Abraham says he hasn’t made any decisions, but a number of people are asking him about it.

Multiple reports indicate fewer people are watching as much pro football as they used too. Baton Rouge-based Todd Advertising Agency owner Deborah Todd says it’s not just national anthem protests, she says viewer fatigue has also set in, because of an over saturation of games…:
Cut 7 (10) “used to”
She also says a lot of people are getting rid of cable in favor of streaming services which further diverts attention away from pro sports.

A dozen juvenile whooping cranes have been released at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge as part of an ongoing effort to protect them from extinction. Biologist Sara Zimorski with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says they are joining eleven others released a couple of weeks ago in Vermilion Parish…:
Cut 13 (08) “72 birds”
In 2016, the first whooping crane chick hatched in the wild in Louisiana since 1939, a significant sign of recovery for the species.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco is asking for prayers in the fight for her own life against cancer. She said in a letter to Louisianians, friends and family that melanoma has invaded her liver and that no treatments have yet been identified to cure the type of illness. In a statement, Governor John Bel Edwards said Blanco is a strong woman of incredible faith, and asked the people of this state to join him in prayers for the former governor.

The LSU AgCenter has developed a milk-based meal replacement powder to help consumers lose weight. Director of the AgCenter Food Incubator Gaye Sandoz says they’ve developed the powder and now LSU’s Pennington Research Center will test the product.
Cut 4 (07) “to do”
Studies show drinking meal replacement shakes for 12 weeks instead of meals is a safe way to drop pounds.

Multiple reports indicate NFL viewership is down this season. Kelley Ray spoke with a Baton Rouge ad agent about the impacts…:
Cut 2 (22) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Congress has approved a short-term extension for the National Flood Insurance Program, ensuring it will operate as normal through December 22nd. But it’s unclear if a deal can be reached within two weeks, as Senators have voiced concerns over the NFIP re-authorization bill that cleared the House in November, citing the potential for rate increases for homeowners.

Social media went crazy when south Louisiana actually got snow. Parents are posting videos of their kids playing in the white stuff for the first time ever. One man recorded his young son opening the door and discovering a winter wonderland in the Bayou State.
Cut 6 (12) “woah.”

More than six inches of snow stuck in Kentwood yesterday and white flurries covered the grass in Baton Rouge for the first time since December of 2009. So how does snow happen in Louisiana? State Climatologist Barry Keim says it happens when there is cold Canadian air at the surface, but moist air coming in from the Gulf of Mexico…:
Cut 4 (11) “cold rain”

The state Department of Transportation advises drivers to stay off the roads if possible in south Louisiana due to the possiblity of black ice. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says if you have to be on the roads, you can visit 511la.org to find closures and other helpful weather related information.
Cut 11 (07) “necessary”

Three more state champions were crowned in football last night and three more will be crowned today. In the Class 3A state championship game, West Feliciana beat Richwood 40-21 to claim their first ever title in football. In Division III, U-High looked very impressive in a 45-19 victory over De La Salle. And in Class Two-A, the Welsh Greyhounds raced past St. Helena 38-26. Catholic High in Baton Rouge takes on John Curtis at noon to start off today’s games.