The award-winning Alex Winter Fete kicks off today in Downtown Alexandria.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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With the holidays coming up, the state Office of Public Health raises concerns that only 25-percent of healthy adults in the state have received a flu shot. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (31) “.Jeff Palermo.”    

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Downtown Alexandria is the focal point of holiday spirit this weekend in Rapides Parish with the Alex Winter Fete.  There is no shortage of arts and craft vendors for holiday shopping, a gumbo cook-off, and Interim Director of Community Services TJ Nash, Sr. says for those feeling they need to burn holiday calories, an ugly sweater 5k.

Cut 3 (08) “…their ugly sweaters.”

Nash says several popular attractions are returning this year adding visitors are coming from as far away as the North Pole for the festivities.

Cut 4 (08) “…for our youngsters.”

Nash says no Louisiana celebration would be complete without live music and a parade.

Cut 5 (10) “…approximately 2pm.”

Festivities kick off today and run through Sunday.  More details can be found at alexwinterfete.com.

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At 7PM tonight Louisiana Public Broadcasting takes a deep dive into the world and history of Bayou State duck hunting with In the Blind.

The program interviews hunters from around the state, and was created by New Orleans based producer Emma Lou Reid who went on her first duck hunt in Caplan three years ago.

Cut 6 (11) “…be told”

Reid, a Minnesota native, spoke about the program this morning on Talk Louisiana.

The program takes a look at just what makes a good duck hunter. Reid says having good aim is just one small part of the package…

Cut 7 (10) “…natural landscape.”

Reid says the show traces the evolution of duck hunting from a do or die way of life to the now highly popular, and highly regulated sport.

Cut 8 (10) “…hunting.”

The program will reair at 11:30 tonight, and 6:30 Sunday.

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The White House is scrambling today to sure up Senate support for a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada amid growing concerns by conservatives over the House backed bill.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Democratic House support for the bill earlier this week after a compromise was reached, but Senator John Kennedy says the new changes may have gone too far…

Cut 9 (09) “…weakended.”

The US Trade Representative is briefing Senate Republicans today, hoping to allay concerns that the deal is too liberal after it won the backing of a major labor union. Kennedy says the bill is now stuffed.

Cut 10 (08) “…Mexico.”

Louisiana Delegation members Senator Bill Cassidy, and Congressmen Ralph Abraham and Garret Graves have announced their support for the USMCA deal, but for Kennedy, the jury is still out…

Cut 11 (09) “…for it.”

Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain also celebrated the deal earlier this week.

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The state Office of Public Health says only 25-percent of healthy adults have received a flu shot this year. Immunization medical director, Doctor Frank Welch, says that percentage needs to increase since flu activity is widespread in the state, with almost three times as much activity as the regional baseline

Cut 12 (06) “the flu” 

Welch says Louisiana is already close to matching the peak of last year’s flu season and that was one of the worst in years. He says the B strain of flu is going around Louisiana, while the rest of the country is getting sick from the more severe A-strain…

Cut 13 (09) “…flu shot”

During the 2018-19 flu season, 15-thousand Louisiana residents were hospitalized by the flu, while 15-hundred died from the virus. Welch says protect yourself now…

Cut 14 (08) “flu shot”

Impeachment proceedings continue this morning in House Judiciary where members will review articles of impeachment drawn up over the weekend…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Work on widening and improving portions of I-12 is scheduled to begin before the end of the year. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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The LSU Board of Supervisors is concerned a new ACT policy may be discriminating against students from lower income households. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “ I’m Matt Doyle.”

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The House Judiciary Committee meets again this morning to review articles of impeachment drafted this weekend by Democrats. Impeachment proceedings are beginning to move quickly, and Judiciary Committee member and Benton Congressman Mike Johnson says we could see a resolution soon.

Cut 4 (08) “…week”

The articles are being drawn up in response to the President’s alleged effort to pressure Ukraine into investigating political rivals using Congressionally appropriated military aid.

Johnson says Republicans are being kept out of the loop on what to expect today, so no one is really sure how Democrats will approach crafting the articles.

Cut 5 (04) “…develops”

New Orleans Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond also sits on the committee.

Johnson, a Republican, says the new sense of urgency from Democrats leading the impeachment charge is thanks to a political clock that is starting to rapidly tick down…

Cut 6 (07) “…comming up”

Several Democratic primary contenders are either Senators or Representatives, and a protracted impeachment process could pull them off the campaign trail.

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Work to widen and improve I-12 between US 190 and LA 59 begins in the upcoming weeks. The first phase is being handled by James Construction Group and is estimated to cost $55 million.  DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the project has been in the works for a while.

Cut 7 (10) “…potential rear ends.”

A second phase will cost about $38 million.  Wilson says while funding for the initial two phases is coming from both St. Tammany Parish and the state, much of the funding is federal grant money.

Cut 8 (12) “…competitive and successful.”

DOTD is also preparing for the third phase of improvements between LA 1077 and LA 21.

Wilson says the DOTD is asking motorists to be patient as they are traveling through the upcoming construction zones.

Cut 9 (07) “…pinch in traffic.”
Wilson anticipates construction to take about two years for all phases to be completed.

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LSU is in the college football playoff for the first time ever. The Tigers are the number one seed and they’ll play Oklahoma in a national semifinal game in Atlanta on December 28. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says getting into the playoff is an accomplishment, but it’s not the final destination

Cut 10 (10) “takes us”

The winner between the Tigers and Sooners, will face the winner between Ohio State and Clemson. The national championship game will be played January 13th in New Orleans.

The LSU-Oklahoma game is matchup of two of the top five highest-scoring offenses in the country. And both teams are led by quarterbacks who transferred from another school, Jalen Hurts for Oklahoma and Joe Burrow for LSU. Orgeron says they wouldn’t be here without Burrow…

Cut 11 (09) “without him”

This is Oklahoma’s fourth appearance in the playoff, but they have yet to win a game. Sooners coach Lincoln Riley says the experience will help, but it will not determine who wins in Atlanta…

Cut  12 (12) “…to that” 

The number one seed has yet to win the C-F-P in five years.

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Members of the LSU Board of Supervisors express concern that a new ACT policy allowing students to retake specific sections of the test is economically discriminatory.

Board member Remy Starns says many kids from poor families don’t have the luxury of constantly retaking the vital college admissions test.

Cut 13 (10) “…once.”

Starns notes 15 percent of students take the test four or more times already.

Students are already allowed to retake the full test as many times as they want, but Starns says allowing test takers to focus in on just one section when for a specific test day creates an unlevel playing field.

Cut 14 (09) “nature.” 

The company that distributes the ACT says their studies show allowing multiple retakes does not advantage kids from higher-income families.

Starns says the test system is already biased towards well off kids, because at this time because while 70 percent of students take the test more than once…

Cut 15 (10) “…some do”

VP for enrollment management Joe Aviles notes as other states allow the policy, Lousiana may be forced to join them to allow their students to remain competitive.
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The Saints no longer control the opportunity to have the number one seed in the N-F-C playoffs after losing a wild 48-46 contest to the San Francisco 49ers in the Superdome. This game had six lead changes. Coach Sean Payton ‘s team falls to 10-and-3 on the season

Cut 16  (13)  …needed to” 

The Saints took a one-point lead with 53 seconds left when Drew Brees connected with Tre’Quan Smith on an 18-yard touchdown pass. But the 49ers won it on a 30-yard field goal by Robbie Gould. George Kittle’s 39-yard reception on fourth and two was the big play. Payton on how they tried to defend it…

Cut 17  (17) you in the end ” 

Payton’s postgame press conference lasted three minutes and this is how it ended…

cut 18  (13)     that way”  

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Louisiana Tech is heading to a bowl game for a sixth consecutive season and they will not have to travel far. The Bulldogs will face Miami in the Walk On’s Independence Bowl on December 26th at Independence Stadium in Shreveport. Tech Coach Skip Holtz is glad they’ll be home for Christmas

cut 19 (20)  26th ”  

Miami’s head coach is Manny Diaz, who was a former defensive coordinator under Holtz at La Tech. And the Hurricanes defensive coordinator is Blake Baker, who spent four seasons in Ruston under Holtz. So the Bulldogs have an idea on what they’ll face…

cut 20 (18) “the ball”    

Two State Fire Marshal deputies have been arrested in separate investigations. Jeff Palermo reports one of the deputies was taken into custody after it was learned his K-9 died from malnourishment…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality sustained a 30 percent budget cut between 2008 and 2018 according to a study out of D.C. Matt Doyle has more…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”    

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office announces the arrest of two of their deputies on malfeasance charges. An investigation began on one of the deputies after it was determined his K-9 died from a lack of food and water. Executive Director of the Louisiana Humane Society Jeff Dorson

Cut 3 (06) “…food and water”

Corporal Robert Fain from Bossier Parish faces several charges including a count of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals. Another corporal, Clay Barrett of Calcasieu Parish, has also been arrested on malfeasance as a result of a separate investigation.

A necropsy of Maily revealed neglectful malnourishment as the cause of death as opposed to a lengthy illness as claimed by Fain. Dorson says agency supervisors should conduct random inspections of their issued police dogs …

Cut 4 (10) “…healthy”

Fain is also facing additional charges for allegedly claiming fraudulent hours and expenses related to working with the dog. Investigators have also learned Fain took steps to cover up incomplete investigative work. Dorson says Fain should receive a stiff sentence…

Cut 5 (12) “…high penalties”

Barrett’s charges are the result of investigators finding out that he allegedly took steps to cover-up incomplete and -or incorrect investigative work in two of his fire cases.

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A Brookhaven, Mississippi man is $1.2 million richer after purchasing a jackpot-winning Louisiana Lotto ticket at a Circle K store in Kentwood. Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says it is not every day that someone line 72-year-old Darryl Jordan comes in and claims such a large prize.

Cut 6 (04) “…of this year.”

Jordan won the prize during the Wednesday night drawing. Mississippi now has its own lottery, but Annison says that won’t keep Jordan from playing in Louisiana as he has done for years.

Cut 7 (08) “…to play it.”

Annison says Jordan already has plans for his winnings.

Cut 8 (05) “…his big win.”

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A Calhoun man is in jail accused of holding his girlfriend captive for days and beating her multiple times at various locations.  Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Glen Springfield says the harrowing episode ended when witnesses called authorities after seeing 22-year-old Michael Vaughn taking the victim by the hair…

Cut 9 (11) “…her abdomen.”

Springfield says the victim claims multiple attacks took place over two days later when she was attacked at their home with a closed fist and a baseball bat.

Cut 10 (13) “…the phone was.”

Springfield says if it wasn’t for the quick response of witnesses calling authorities, this situation could have seen a different conclusion.

Cut 11 (07) “…as it was.”

Vaughn was already on probation and now faces four felonies.

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A report by the D.C. based Environmental Integrity Project shows the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality saw it’s budget cut by 35 percent between 2008 and 2018.

Those cuts came while the state saw an increasing number of petrochemical projects take hold, but DEQ Secretary Chuck Brown says it hasn’t significantly hampered their capabilities.

Cut 12 (10) “we have” 

The department also saw a 35 percent decline in staffing during that period, the fourth-highest percentage of cuts to staffing of any state during that period, but LDEQ spokesperson Greg Langley says much of the losses were not to regulatory staff.

Brown notes the department does not get money from the state general fund, but their staffing levels, and how much they can charge in fees are determined by the state.

Cut 13 (08) “…sustained”

The Secretary says despite the cuts in staff and funding, they’ve never failed to obtain key benchmarks set by the EPA.

Cut 14 (09) “…St. Bernard”

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Governor John Bel Edwards pledges more money for higher education. Edwards increased funding for public colleges by 47-million for this fiscal year, but the Board of Regents is requesting a 156-million-dollar boost for the upcoming budget. UL System President Jim Henderson says the increase in funds would entice high quality faculty…

Cut 15 (12) “…faculty.”

Henderson says additional money is also needed to ensure that TOPS students will have their tuition paid for throughout a four-year college career…

Cut 16  (10)  …bargain.” 

A new agreement for Hepatitis C medications is paying off big for Louisiana Medicaid and Corrections patients. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Savoie’s Sausage announces plans to expand its production facility in St. Landry Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”    

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A new Hepatitis C treatment agreement allows the Louisiana Department of Health to treat more Medicaid and Corrections patients in 75 days than in all of Fiscal Year 2019.

Office of Public Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the agreement with Asegua for “Subscription Model” access has resulted in 2,290 people getting treatment since July 15^th.

Cut 3 (09) “…folks.”

The “Subscription Model” plan runs through the next five years.

Hep C is the deadliest infectious disease in the nation, with tens of thousands dying from related complications every year. Billioux says that’s why getting unlimited access to the pill is so crucial.

Cut 4 (08) “…infection”

The CDC estimates 3.5 million Americans live with Hep C.

Billioux says Hep C kills more Americans than all other infectious diseases combined, but you might not be aware of how deadly it is because of how slowly symptoms progress.

Cut 5 (09) “…body”

The homeless, drug users, and those who live or work in non-sterile environments are most at risk for catching Hep C.

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Grambling State completes one of the institution’s largest fundraising campaigns, collecting more than $6.6 million over the course of three years. University Vice President of Advancement Marc Newman says the school saw a 150% increase in alumni participation with more than 5,700 gifts over the course of the campaign.

Cut 6 (10) “…to do that.”

Newman says the money will support scholarships and the institution’s programs.

Cut 7 (10) “…at growing that.”

Newman says basketball star Magic Johnson’s company, SodexoMAGIC, gave the largest unrestricted donation of the campaign.

Cut 8 (12) “…higher education in general.”

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Jennings Police arrest five people connected to a Friday night shooting that left 22-year-old Dakota Chaisson dead.  The incident happened at the Wade Event Center during a private party attended by 150 people.  Chief Danny Semmes says a motive in unclear.

Cut 9 (10) “…fled the scene.”

Semmes says there was a lack of cooperation from the public, making the case challenging, but after reviewing surveillance video and witness statements, the initial arrests were made yesterday.

Cut 10 (13) “…for three others.”

Police are still seeking Keghan Moore of Lake Charles and Dymond Brown of Welsh, both facing charges of second-degree murder, and Daren Zeno of Welsh as an accessory after the fact.  Semmes says it is unusual to have so many suspects.

Cut 11 (05) “…was planned out.”

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Savoie’s Sausage and Food Products announces a 12.7-million dollar expansion at its St. Landry Parish production facility. President Frederick Lafleur says construction will begin next month on a 41-thousand square foot facility on their existing property near Opelousas

Cut 12 (09) “more customers” 

Lafleur says the expansion will take about eight months to complete and it will allow them to nearly double their production.

Cut 13 (11) “…Louisiana.”

Savoie’s was founded in 1955. Lafleur says they started talking with the state last year about expanding and they received an incentive package that includes a performance-based, forgivable loan of 100-thousand dollars…

Cut 14 (11) “…in the future”

Lafleur says once construction is completed, he’ll hire six more workers. They currently have 100 employees. The project is also expected to generate an estimated 172 construction jobs.

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Louisiana is second in the nation and leads the southeast in credit card debt burden. Jeff Palermo spoke with an expert on what to do if you need help.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is set to be sworn in for a second-term on January 13th, but there will not be an inugurual ball that night because of a football game. Don Molino has more…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Don Molino”    

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You might want to watch your spending limit on gifts this year, according to CreditCards-dot-com Louisianians have the second highest credit card debt burden in the nation.  CreditCards-dot-com analyst Ted Rossman says the typical Louisiana household carries $8,364 in credit card debt.

Cut 3 (06) “…your income.”

The report says Lousiana’s median annual household income is just $48,000, which is the fourth-lowest in the country. Rossman says when you don’t make that much money and you build up debt on a credit card, it’s hard to absolve debt. He says if you have a high credit card balance, get a zero balance transfer credit card.

Cut 4 (06) “…tremendous savings.”

He says another way to get out of debt is to dedicate 15% of your monthly income to paying off your and there’s a good chance you’ll be debt-free in a year and a half.

Cut 5 (10) “…every month”

New Mexico ranked first, West Virginia third, followed by Arkansas and Mississippi.

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32-year-old Mark Ebarb, a Dutchtown High teacher has turned himself into after being indicted on charges of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile.

23^rd District Court spokesperson Tyler Cavalier says an investigation uncovered evidence that Ebarb had been sharing inappropriate messages and pictures with students for several years.

Cut 6 (07) “time frame”

The Advocate reports that Ebarb is a former Ascension Parish teacher of the year, and was in contention for the statewide award for 2014-2015.

The investigation began after police received a complaint about Ebarb’s behavior back in October, and  Cavalier says so far it appears the contact was not widespread.

Cut 7 (10) “…this time.”

The investigation was handled by the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Cavalier says a conviction would surely end Mr. Ebarb’s career, and carry a hefty sentence.

Cut 8 (09) “…predator”

Ebarb remains employed, but a spokesperson for the school system says they are reviewing their options at this time.

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LSU remains second in the latest college football rankings, right behind Ohio State. The final rankings will be unveiled on Sunday. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the Tigers can regain the top spot if LSU wins in the SEC Championship game and Ohio State doesn’t play well in the Big 10 title game…

Cut 9 (07) “…good debate.”

LSU faces Georgia in the SEC title game on Saturday, while Ohio State takes on Wisconsin in the Big 10 title game that night. If the top three doesn’t change when the new rankings come out on Sunday, then LSU will play defending national champion Clemson in the semi-finals. Higgins says that will be a tough game….

Cut 10 (08) “…great athletes”

If LSU is upset on Saturday, most college football analysts say the Tigers will still get into the four-team college football playoff. But Higgins says LSU does not want to back into the playoffs…

Cut 11 (09) “…this game.”

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Open enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act will close on December 15th. C-M-S administrator Seema Verma says if you need to change your current health plan or find a new one, time is running out

Cut 12 (08) “price deductible” 

Verma says the average premium for a benchmark health plan on the federal exchange will go down four-percent in 2020. But the Advocate newspaper published an article in October that says rates in Louisiana will go up an average of 10-percent next year.

Verma says when choosing a policy through health-care-dot-gov, you’ll notice the different plans have star ratings next to them

Cut 13 (07) “…decision making.”

Tickets for LSU’s appearance in the SEC Championship game are going for a pretty penny. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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West Monroe Police arrest an Arkansas man who allegedly shot up an elementary school Saturday in an attempt to force a confrontation with the authorities…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”    

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Tiger fans are Atlanta bound this Saturday as the Bayou Bengals take on the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship game.  StubHub spokesperson Erin Exum says over a thousand tickets are currently available with an average price of $567.

Cut 3 (07) “…less than $200.”

Tickets have been purchased in 47 states, but Exum says Bulldog fans will likely be prevalent in their home state.

Cut 4 (11) “…Saturday comes around.”

Exum says it is important to buy tickets from a reputable source and not a scalper outside of the venue on game day.

Cut 5 (11) “…game like this.”

The Tigers are a touchdown favorite to win on Saturday.

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An Arkansas man is under arrest after allegedly breaking into a West Monroe school Saturday and peppering the inside of the building with bullets in an effort to provoke a confrontation with police.  West Monroe Police Sgt. C.J. Beck describes the surveillance footage of Jeffery Smith’s 12 hours inside the school…

Cut 6 (13) “front door”

Beck says police found six bullet casings outside the school and a further 19 inside the building. Surveillance shows Smith randomly firing shots into the bathroom, and down the hall.

But the police never came because the school’s burglar alarm never went off…

Cut 7 (11) “…left.”

A maintenance worker arrived Sunday to find the school riddled with lead and called police with Smith long gone. Smith was eventually arrested Monday and Beck says Smith told detectives he was not targeting any of the children or teachers at Riverbend Elementary, but his motive is still unclear…

Cut 8 (06) “…police”

Beck was armed with a 9mm handgun.

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Today is Giving Tuesday, a day bringing attention to charitable donations.  President and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank Mike Manning says they have seen an increase in contributions in honor of Giving Tuesday.

Cut 9 (09) “…awareness about giving.”

Manning says Giving Tuesday is effective in increasing the awareness to those that may not be paying attention to the needs for contributions.

Cut 10 (08) “…advantage of that.”

Manning says with the holiday, kids are out of class, meaning they won’t be fed at school and they’ll need to find food somewhere.

Cut 11 (10) “…blessed they are.”

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Two men have lost their jobs with Livingston Parish Public Works after allegedly stealing guns from a home while they were supposed to be working. Livingston police chief Randy Dufrene says 37-year-old Kelby Henderson and 24-year-old Adam Church knew the homeowner was a gun collector

Cut 12 (11) “handicap child” 

Dufrene says they also used a parish vehicle to drive to the victim’s home and perform the break-ins. He says Henderson and Church broke into their co-worker’s home three times…

Cut 13 (11) “…gun collected.”

Dufrene says the stolen guns were found in Church’s vehicle’s and Henderson’s home. They were booked into the Livingston Parish Jail. He says the victim is shocked to find out who committed the thefts

Cut 14 (12) “…you know”

Police continue to look for answers following a shooting rampage that injured ten people early Sunday morning in New Orleans.  Kevin Barnhart has the latest.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The LSU produced Joe Burrow video of him taking the field on Saturday night has over eight-million views. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”    

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Cyber Monday deals have many people browsing for toys today.  Known as the Toy Guy, Chris Byrne says video games are a big hit for the whole family, including an 80’s style Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade game console.

Cut 3 (11) “   play at once.”

Online sales are projected to make up more than 35% of all US toy sales.  Byrne says many of the highly coveted toys may be limited edition or in short supply, so shoppers are acting fast.

Cut 4 (09) “…to sell out.”

Byrne says concerns over fake reviews may have some shoppers wondering if they are buying a toy that best suits the person they are buying for.

Cut 5 (10) “…grain of salt.”

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Cyber Monday shoppers are scouring the web today for deals on the most sought after holiday gifts, and LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice has some tips for you before you start typing in your credit card.

Sales will often be marketed as a 30, 40, or even 60 percent markdown, but Rice says many times those advertised sales are misleading. Rice says before you buy…

Cut 6 (10) “…a deal”

If you find a good deal, stick to just buying the big-ticket item that is actually on sale. Rice says if you start picking up accessories, your savings can quickly disappear.

Cut 7 (10) “…cable.”

Rice says know that you may be able to find a better upfront deal for a major appliance item online, but before you buy, know many web-based retailers don’t offer the same services as brick and mortar.

Cut 8 (11) “…breakdown”

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New Orleans Police continue to search for those responsible for a mass shooting in the 700 block of Canal Street early Sunday morning.  Superintendent of Police Shaun Ferguson says they have multiple agencies investigating the incident that injured ten people and says a suspect is still unclear.

Cut 9 (06) “…metropolitan area.”

The shooting rampage occurred while the city was hosting the annual Bayou Classic football festivities.  Crimestoppers President Darlene Cusanza says the reward has been bumped up from $5,000 to $10,000 for info leading to an arrest.

Cut 10 (09) “…authorized that increase.”

Officials are not sure how many shooters were involved and that a weapon was taken from the scene.  Ferguson says six officers and their supervisors were in the block at the time of the shooting.

Cut 11 (08) “…something would occur.”

The victims ranged in age from 16 to 36.

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Millions on Twitter have watched the LSU produced video of quarterback and Heisman favorite Joe Burrow taking the field Saturday for the senior day ceremony. The video shows Burrow from the back and he’s wearing a special jersey with his name spelled with e-a-u-x. Burrow says the idea to change the spelling of his name occurred earlier in the week…

Cut 12 (08) “was great” 

The video ends with Burrow blowing kisses to the roaring crowd in Tiger Stadium. Burrow says he wanted to do something to show his appreciation to LSU fans who have fully embraced him and his family…

Cut 13 (13) “…really has.”

Burrow has broken most LSU passing records and SEC records on his way to possibly winning the Heisman. He’s considered a top-five pick in next year’s N-F-L draft, but the young man from Ohio says he’s living in the moment

Cut 14 (10) “…from me”

A Baton Rouge Democrat is challenging the state’s senior Senator in next year’s Senate election. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Just over half of workers admit they’ll be browsing the web for holiday gift deals this season while at work. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Three Louisiana college football teams will play in conference championship games this Saturday, while two others advance to the second round of the F-C-S playoffs. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “   Jeff Palermo.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy has a new challenger for his seat, Baton Rouge Democrat and Louisiana Juvenile Justice Advisory Board member Antoine Pierce.

Cassidy’s 2017 vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act partly inspired the run and Pierce says Cassidy misled the public about how many people would lose coverage under his replacement plan.

Cut 4 (11) “…healthcare.”

Cassidy disagreed with Kimmel’s claim, saying more people would have coverage under his plan.

Pierce says Cassidy is beholden to moneyed special interests and needs to be replaced with a Senator who focuses on working-class economic issues.

Cut 5 (11) “…people”

Pierce’s platform includes support for Medicare for All, raising the minimum wage, recreational Cannabis legalization, and other progressive policy points.

The Capitol City coffee shop owner says the state’s senior Senator lacks independence, and is too beholden to President, like many in the GOP.

Cut 6 (05) “…that’s it”

Cassidy won the seat in 2014, beating incumbent Mary Landrieu 56-44.

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52 percent of workers admit they will shop online while on the job this holiday season. That’s according to a study conducted by the staffing firm Robert Half Technology.  Senior Recruiting Manager Carrie Lewis of New Orleans says 44 percent of those surveyed admit it hinders productivity, because of how much time they spend doing it…

Cut 7 (10) “…week”

The workshopping divide was starker among generational lines, with 65 percent of those 25-40 to admitting to it, but Lewis says there’s also a gender gap, with more men actually doing the cyber shopping than women…

Cut 8 (07) “…women”

About half of tech leaders say they’re concerned the use of work computers for personal shopping will open the door to security risks, but Lewis says that’s not stopping 77 percent of companies from allowing it. That being said…

Cut 9 (06) “…blocked.”

Today’s Cyber Monday deals will attract the most workshoppers, at 43 percent of those who partake.

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LSU will head to Atlanta later this week to play Georgia on Saturday in the SEC Championship game. The Tigers are 12-0 and college football analysts say the Tigers are in the college football playoff even if they lose to the Bulldogs, Coach Ed Orgeron says his team is not entertaining that thought

Cut 10 (08) “…win anyway.”

The matchup to watch in this game is LSU’s high-powered offense against Georgia’s stingy defense, which is allowing just 10 points a game. Orgeron says it’s the best defense they’ve faced all season

Cut 11 (08) “…do it all.”

Georgia is in the SEC Championship Game for a third straight season. The Bulldogs are 11-and-1 and their only loss was at home to South Carolina. Georgia Coach Kirby Smart likes how his team bounced back from that defeat

Cut  12 (10) “…college football.” 

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Christmas decorating is in full effect and State Fire Marshal Butch Browning has a few tips to keep the holidays fire-free. Browning says do not daisy chain power strips and check them about every 4 hours to make sure the strips are not being overloaded…

Cut 13 (12) “..imminent.”

The Fire Marshal’s Office recommends both artificial and live trees should be treated with a fire retardant material.

Browning says it may sound small but using outdated lights can be a fire hazard…

Cut 14 (12) “…lightbulbs.” 

Browning says if you want to bring home a live tree there are a few extra precautions you need to take…

Cut 15 (10) “…be blocked.”

Louisiana Tech did not win the Conference USA Western Division, but they finished off the regular season with a 41-27 victory over UTSA. Tech quarterback J’Mar Smith returned from a two-game suspension to throw for 331 yards and three touchdowns. Coach Skip Holtz says his senior Q-B played well

Cut 16  (18)  … it as well” 

U-A-B’s win over North Texas puts them in the Conference USA championship game over La Tech and Southern Miss. But the Bulldogs will go for a sixth consecutive bowl victory. Holtz says they’ll have to wait until next weekend to find where they’ll be playing…

Cut 17  (18)  we are going ” 

The Independence Bowl in Shreveport and the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas are two possible bowl destinations for La Tech.

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Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls have advanced to the second round of the F-C-S playoffs. The Lions rallied from 31-14 deficit to beat Villanova 45-44 in Hammond. S-L-U Coach Frank Scelfo says his team doesn’t quit fighting…

cut 18  (20)  we did” 

Nicholls defense didn’t give up a touchdown in a 24-6 win over North Dakota. Senior defensive linemen Sully Laiche led the Colonels to the victory…

cut 19 (16)   every week”    

The Lions are at Montana this Saturday, while the Colonels visit North Dakota State. The Bison are three-time defending champs.

The College Football Playoff selection committee ranks Ohio State over LSU. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Roads are packed with travelers over the four-day weekend and law enforcement are stepping up patrols to help keep things safe. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”    

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The college football playoff selection committee has dropped LSU to number two and moved Ohio State to number one in the latest rankings. The Buckeyes just beat a top ten team in Penn State. Tiger Rag Assistant Editor Tyler Nunez says O-S-U has the same number of quality wins as LSU…

Cut 3 (12) “…that direction.”

LSU closes out the regular season by hosting Texas A-and-M, while O-S-U is at Michigan. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the drop in the ranking should provide the Tigers with some extra motivation

Cut 4 (10) “…the message.”

The C-F-P committee will announce the four playoff teams December 8th. If the rankings do not change, LSU would play Clemson in a semifinal contest. Nunez says Clemson is undefeated, but do not have a win against a Top 25 team…

Cut 5 (10) “…LSU team.”

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Law enforcement agencies are stepping up patrols over Thanksgiving weekend in an effort from keeping the holiday from turning into a tragedy.  Louisiana Highway Safety Commission executive director Lisa Freeman says in 2018’s four-day Thanksgiving weekend, four people died in alcohol-related crashes.

Cut 6 (12) “…were seriously injured.”

Last year, in total ten people were killed and over 700 injured on Louisiana roads.

Freeman stresses the importance of reducing distractions as driving alone is enough multitasking behind the wheel.

Cut 7 (11) “…on the road.”

Freeman says the most important action people can take to protect themselves is buckling their seatbelts.

Cut 8 (07) “…of the year.”

Nationally, 291 people died in Thanksgiving weekend traffic crashes and about half of those were not wearing seat belts.

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A Boy Scout leader, 49-year-old Randy Miller Jr. is charged with 500 counts of possession of child pornography according to Livingston parish authorities.  Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says the judge likely stacked all those counts to set an unprecedented $50 million bond.

Cut 9 (13) “…just one bond.”

Borghardt says Miller’s troubles likely will not end at the state level.

Cut 10 (09) “…at federal charges.”

Borghardt says the judge likely set the bond at such a level to send a message that Miller will not be out for the holidays.

Cut 11 (09) “…out of somebody.”

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With school out for Thanksgiving, Bossier Parish’s Sherriff Deputy School Resource Officer Dusty Crenshaw took to patrolling the streets instead of the halls this week. On Monday Crenshaw answered a call that a dog was running loose along Interstate 20. On his first drive of the area, he didn’t see the dog but he made a second pass and located the white and tan dog that was dragging a chain.

Cut 12 (11) “…to me” 

In the last year Crenshaw lost two of his own dogs and he knows the importance of reuniting the roaming pup with its rightful owner.

Cut 13 (09) “…my Tahoe.”

Crenshaw took the dog to a nearby vet to see if the dog was chipped but it wasn’t. He then dropped her off at Bossier City Animal Control so her rightful owner would have three days to claim her. Since he located the dog, he’s already been back to visit her and Crenshaw asked the shelter to call him first if no one claims the dog.

Cut 14 (10) “…pick her up”

Bossier City Animal Control takes in an average of 40 to 50 dogs per month. They want to encourage you if you are thinking about getting a pet this holiday season to adopt before you shop.

The state has not seen a spike at the gas pump ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.  Kevin Barnhart tells us why.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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It was three years ago today, Ed Orgeron was named as head coach of the LSU Tigers. Jeff Palermo reports the hiring looks to be former athletic director Joe Alleva’s best move…

cut  2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”    

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Motorists can expect to fill their tanks in Louisiana for a few pennies cheaper per gallon compared to last year’s Thanksgiving weekend.  AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says we’ve seen the statewide average for gas prices remain steady for the last few weeks, holding around $2.22 a gallon.

Cut 3 (10) “…continue to drop.”

Redman says gas inventories are starting to build, mitigating a holiday spike.

Cut 4 (08) “…the prices upward.”

Redman expects more price drops on the horizon, but it won’t be in time to be beneficial to the estimated 12 million motorists of the Gulf States region for the holiday weekend.

Cut 5 (10) “…of people traveling.”

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It was three years ago today, LSU hired Ed Orgeron as its head football coach. Who would have thought three years later, LSU would be ranked number one? Football analyst Mike Detillier says Coach O did

Cut 6 (12) “ national championship.”

There were many who were skeptical of the Orgeron hiring. But Detillier says Coach O knew that if they opened up the offense and got a great quarterback it could happen. He says bringing Joe Burrow on was critical

Cut 7 (06) “…players do.”

Detillier says Burrow’s record-breaking season will attract other great quarterbacks and skill position players to LSU, which should help the program remain as one of the best in the country

Cut 8 (11) “  to LSU and play”

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Toy shopping is top of mind for many ahead of the holiday.  Known as the Toy Guy, Chris Byrne says there is a shift in the way parents are buying toys as to not overwhelm them with too many toys.

Cut 9 (12) “…again and again.”

Byrne says while the best time to buy is when you see the toy you need so you don’t have to stress about finding the item later, a later shopping season could be to the advantage of a more frugal shopper…

Cut 10 (09) “…incentive to purchase.”

Byrne says toys such as Legos and dolls will always do great and adds any toy to gain a laugh is always a solid find.

Cut 11 (13) “…burst out laughing.”

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Officials say ticket sales for Saturday’s Bayou Classic between Southern and Grambling State are ahead of where they were last year and they expect a sell-out when the two schools take the field Saturday afternoon in the Superdome. Grambling President Rick Gallot says demand for tickets is high

Cut 12 (08) “…600 level” 

Bayou Classic organizers also expect the Battle of the Bands show on Friday night will also sell out. Grambling coach Broderick Fobbs says he’s been attending the Bayou Classic since he was a kid and this game means a lot to him…

Cut 13 (10) “…possibly are.”

The winner of Saturday’s game will head to the SWAC Championship game for a chance to play in the Celebration Bowl. Southern beat Grambling last year and Southern University President Ray Belton says the Jaguars plan on winning again this year…

Cut 14 (09) “…here to stay”

The Bayou Classic is expected to draw over 200,000 visitors and produce an economic impact of 50-million dollars.