An arctic blast will arrive in Louisiana today, and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is ready. Kace Kieschnick spoke with GOHSEP’s Mike Steele…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Kace Kieschnick”

Governor John Bel Edwards has named Terri Ricks the new Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services. Ricks has been serving in the interim role since Marketa Walters stepped down last month after DCFS faced scrutiny over a series of missteps at the agency this year.

The Pelican Institute for Public Policy files suit against the White House on behalf of a Fort Polk soldier who refuses to get the COVID vaccine. Pelican’s Special Counsel James Baehr says 16-year veteran Master Sergeant Robert Galey Jr. had and still has religious misgivings about the vaccine, and faces discharge if he does not comply…:
Cut 10 (11) “unfortunately rejected”
So far there has been no official response to the lawsuit by the Army of Department of Defense.

The American Red Cross has put out an urgent call for volunteers to help people impacted by last week’s tornadoes. Ed Bush is the executive director of the Capital-West area of the Louisiana Red Cross…:
Cut 4 (06) “by tornadoes”
He says teams are providing aid across the state, focusing efforts in Caddo, Iberia, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles, and Union parishes.

This flu season nationwide has been the worst so far in 10 years, and Covid cases are on the rise which is why the State Department of Health is urging folks to be updated on their shots before hanging out with family for Christmas. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter…:
CUT 6 (12) “holidays”
He says doing that now will get your immune system ready in time to unwrap presents.

Get out and vote today. A low voter turnout is expected because there aren’t a lot of high profile races on the ballot. But there are constitutional amendments for everyone and several municipalities are voting on a new mayor or local propositions. It’s easy to check your ballot and find your voting location on the GeauxVote app or GeauxVote.com. Polls close at 8.

The U-S House has approved 858-billion dollars for national defense and hundreds of millions of dollars will go towards Louisiana’s military bases. Congressman and House Armed Services Committee member Mike Johnson says Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier Parish will receive 125-million dollars to construct a Weapons Generation facility…:
Cut 12 (10) “…which has been done”
The defense spending bill still needs U.S. Senate approval which is expected.

AARP launches a simple online tool to help Louisiana Veterans understand their healthcare options. Director of Advocacy and Outreach, Lorie Lucas says on The PACT Act…:
Cut 10 (11) “patient outreach”
Access it on the following website: AARP.com/VetsHealthNagivator.

Don’t forget to go vote today. Everyone in Louisiana has at least 3 constitutional amendments on their ballot. Shreveport, Hammond, Kentwood, Crowley and Zachary will be electing a new mayor, and the 3rd District will vote on a new Public Service Commissioner. You can check your ballot at GeauxVote.com or the Geaux Vote app. Geaux spelled the Louisiana way.

Covid cases are on the rise and flu is at its highest level in 5 years, so the Louisiana Department of Health is strongly encouraging residents to get boosters and vaccines before holiday gatherings. LDH reported nearly 4500 new Covid cases in its last count. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter…:
CUT 4 (13) “Covid-19”
He says if you get your shots now, your immune system will be ready for the height of holiday gatherings.

Lt Governor Billy Nungesser is conducting a poll this weekend as he contemplates running for governor, but is it too soon?
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The 2022 Prep Classic saw three terrific games yesterday in the Superdome. St. Thomas More rallied from 10 points down with a minute 45 seconds left to beat Lafayette Christian 52-48 to win the division 2 select championship. St. Charles Catholic rallied from eleven points down in the fourth quarter to beat Dunham in the division three select state championship. And Destrehan completed an undefeated season by winning the division one non-select title game as the Wildcats beat the Ruston Bearcats 17 to 10. There are three more games today.

Today is Election Day in Louisiana and polls are open until 8pm tonight. Voters across the state will have the opportunity to vote on three proposed amendments to the state constitution. The December 10th election also includes runoff races from the November 8th primary. A little more than 20 Parishes also have local propositions and candidate races on the ballot. You can see what’s on yours by visiting GeauxVote.com or downloading the app.

It still remains to be seen who’s in or out for the 2023 gubernatorial race as several candidates wait to see if Senator John Kennedy makes it official. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’ll conduct a poll this weekend to see if he’ll run or not. But political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says until Kennedy decides a poll is obsolete…:
Cut 6 (09) “in the poll”
DOTD Secretary and Democrat Shawn Wilson says he’s putting together an exploratory committee to consider the governor’s race.

State Police have identified the man who was shot and killed by a trooper after a police chase on I-10 near downtown Baton Rouge early Friday morning. They say 52-year-old Jose Reza-Navarro of Spring, Texas crashed his vehicle and fled on foot when for unknown reasons was shot by the trooper. A search of Reza-Navarro’s vehicle uncovered 83 kilos of cocaine with an estimated street value of 2.5 million dollars.

Louisiana’s military bases are set to receive over 200-million dollars as a result of federal legislation that’s close to final passage…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Yet another insurance company, Florida-based United Properties Casualty, says it will stop renewing its more than 30,000 property insurance policies in Louisiana next year. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says even though we didn’t get hit by a storm this year, Hurricane Ivan hammered the industry in Florida which us why UPC can no longer renew policies…:
CUT 6 (09) “coastal states”
Donelon says he is aggressively trying to get more insurance companies to move here.

Electricity bill getting higher? Well Louisiana’s rates are actually two cents lower than the national average. That’s according to a recent survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says they are working on creating new sources of energy, like the five solar plants being constructed in northwest Louisiana and three more in the New Roads area…:
Cut 9 (07) “better off”

There are a few notable races on tomorrow’s ballot in Louisiana…:
Cut 2 (38) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

LSU Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey is breaking her silence on the release from Russia of WNBA player Brittney Griner. Mulkey was Griner’s coach at Baylor and told ESPN her former stand-out player being home now is an answered prayer and God is good.

The insurance company that reportedly writes the 5th most homeowners’ policies in Louisiana is leaving the state in 2023. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Florida based UPC is under duress in its own state which was hammered by Hurricane Ivan in September….:
CUT 5 (10) “in Florida”
UPC has about 36,000 policyholders in Louisiana and will stop renewing in 2023.

Tomorrow is election day in Louisiana. A low turnout is expected but you can check to see what’s on your ballot by visiting GeauxVote.com. The Public Service Commission race in the 3rd District is a big one, as Incumbent Lambert Boissiere facing off with Davante Lewis who’s a formidable candidate, according to LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford…:
CUT 10 (09) “this race”

The LHSAA Prep Football Classic in the Caesars Superdome kicked off yesterday and it’s already been exciting. Ouachita Christian knocked off top seeded Vermilion Catholic 28-14 in the Division IV select title game. Oak Grove shut out Homer to win its 3rd state title in 4 years. Union Parish Faces Many tomorrow afternoon. Union Parish’s Trey Holly is the leading rusher in state history and is committed to LSU. His coach Joe Spatafora says Holly’s drive is incredible…:
Cut 13 (11) “fun to coach”
Dunham, who hasn’t played in a title game in 18 years, will look to dethrone defending state champ St. Charles Catholic this afternoon at 3:30.

Gas prices in Louisiana continue to go down which is a nice Christmas present. The statewide average for a gallon of regular currently stands at $2.90 which is down over 10 cents from the same time last week, and nearly 40 cents lower from last month.

If you are one of more than 30,000 customers that have homeowners’ insurance through United Property & Casualty, you’ll have to find new coverage next year…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Marsanne Golsby”

A Louisiana State Trooper fatally shot someone on I-10 near downtown Baton Rouge this morning, the agency announced. No more information on what led to the shooting was released, but State Police say they will give more details later today. No law enforcement was injured in the incident.

Tomorrow is Election Day in Louisiana and turnout is expected to be low, but there are a few notable races. The only race for Parish President is in Plaquemines, where LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says a downturn in the economy is playing a central role in oil and gas there…:
Cut 12 (11) “President’s race”
Shreveport, Hammond, Kentwood, Crowley and Zachary will be electing a new mayor, and the 3rd District will vote on a new Public Service Commissioner. 28 Parishes have local propositions on tomorrow’s ballot.

You might be frustrated with your electricity bill like this reporter, but Louisiana’s rates are actually two cents lower than the national average. That’s according to a recent survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says we are making strides in creating new sources of energy — like North Louisiana using wind power from Kansas…;
CUT 8 (06) “lot cleaner”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says a Florida-based company that writes homeowners insurance is leaving Louisiana and several other states because of an insurance crisis in Florida, not conditions in Louisiana. Donelon says United Property and Casualty, or UPC won’t renew policies in 2023…:
Cut 4 (09) “state of Florida”
Donelon says he is aggressively trying to get more insurance companies to move here.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration indicates electricity prices in Louisiana are two cents cheaper than the national average. Customers have seen their bill steadily go up, and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says that’s due to the price of natural gas…:
Cut 7 (10) “goes up”
In 2021 the average retail price for electricity in Louisiana was 8.82 cents per kilowatt hour compared to the national average of 11.10 cents an hour.

The LHSAA Prep Football Classic kicked off last night in the Caesars Superdome. This year’s Classic will feature perennial contenders as well as some up-and-coming schools making their long-awaited returns to the Dome.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”