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.

_______________________

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.

_________________________________

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.”

______________________

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.

_______________________

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.”

______________________

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.”

_______________________

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”

_________________________________

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.

______________________

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.

______________________________________________________

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.

______________________________________________________

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.” 

_________________________________________________________

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.”

______________________

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.”

_______________________

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.”

______________________

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.

The Louisiana Public Health Institute releases a survey that finds 80-percent of parents believe schools should be required to offer sex education. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

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The National Retail Federation expects over 165 million consumers to get shopping done over the holiday weekend.  Michael Farrar has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Michael Farrar.” 

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After pushing the N-F-L to use video to review pass inteference calls, Saints Coach Sean Payton believes three people, not one should be in on the decision when instant replay is used to judge pass interference. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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There’s been long debate in Louisiana on whether schools should be required to offer sex education. A survey released by the Louisiana Public Health Institute finds 80-percent of parents believe it should be a requirement. L-P-H-I managing director Kristie Bardell says sex-ed could lead to healthier lives…

Cut 4 (11) “…contraceptive use.”

Bardell says school-based sex education provides young people with facts on topics they will likely encounter and reinforces the conversations families may already be having at home…

Cut 5 (07) “…human development.”

So far Louisiana’s legislature has not been willing to pass legislation requiring sex ed in public schools. Bardell says they plan to present this survey to legislators next spring when lawmakers convene for a regular session…

Cut 6 (09) “…sex education.”

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The National Retail Federation expects over 35 million consumers to shop online and in-stores on turkey day, up about 3.5 million more than last year.  NRF spokesperson Katherine Cullen says overall of the course of the weekend, more than 165 million will be looking to get some holiday shopping done.

Cut 7 (09) “…on turning out..”

Cullen says younger consumers are more likely to use the weekend to shop compared to older generations.  Almost 90% of those under 25 say they plan to shop, adding there is more to it than just enticing bargains.

Cut 8 (08) “…together with others.”

Cullen says the preference for online shopping and brick and mortar stores is split, but just slightly more than half are setting foot in a store first.

Cut 9 (08) “…something with family..”

_____________________

The Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to initiate the discussion with the new legislative leadership on increasing infrastructure funding.  President of Louisiana Good Roads Ken Perrett says it is vital to come up with a plan that everyone can support.

Cut 10 (08) “…to work together.”

The non-profit organization is dedicated to promoting the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of the transportation system.  Perret recommends adjusting the gas tax, which he says hasn’t been adjusted in over 30 years.

Cut 11 (13) “…highway trust fund.”

Perret says the state should try to use existing revenues if they can as no one likes seeing tax increases.

Cut  12 (11) “…and everything else.” 

__________________________

Top-ranked LSU is spending this Thanksgiving week getting ready for Texas A-and-M. A game the Tigers have been waiting for, ever since they lost to the Aggies in seven overtimes last year. Coach Ed Orgeron doesn’t want his team thinking about what happened last year

Cut 13 (12) “..this team.”

LSU lost that game last year in College Station. Orgeron says playing the contest this year in front of Purple and Gold nation should help

Cut 14 (13) “…no looking back” 

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The Ragin Cajuns go after their 10th win of the season on Saturday when they host U-L-M to close out the regular season. Coach Billy Napier on the importance of beating their in-state rivals..

Cut 15 (19) “..this point”

If the Cajuns win Saturday and Appalachian State loses to Troy, then U-L Lafayette will host the Sun Belt Championship game next week. But Napier will not spend much time scoreboard watching on Saturday night…

Cut 16  (19)  …that part”  

The FCC is holding a public auction for airwaves to be used in 5G wireless technology that should result in improved access to broadband internet in rural communities.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

__________________________________

Mississippi residents no longer have to travel into Louisiana to play lottery scratch off games. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”    

__________________________________________

Senator John Kennedy files the “Clearing Broad Airwaves for New Deployment, or C-Band, Act” in an effort to secure $10 billion for rural broadband infrastructure.  Kennedy says there are many people that do not have reliable internet in less populated areas.

Cut 3 (10)   “don’t have broadband.” 

Kennedy expects internet service providers to shell out between $40 and 50 billion in public auctions to get their piece of the airwaves in an effort to implement 5G technology.

Cut 4 (10) “…the best price.”

Kennedy says 5G is faster and can handle more traffic. Kennedy adds it will improve lives.

Cut 5 (11) “…have the surgery.” 

_______________________

Louisiana State Parks end the 3-night minimum stay for weekday stays at campgrounds and cabins. The change starts December 9^th. State Parks Director Brandon Burris says they’ve heard the feedback from visitors to waive the minimum weeknight stay requirement that has been in place the last few years.

Cut 6 (10) “the weekdays only.”

Burris expects an uptick in reservations, adding that in some of the less-populated areas the park is the only available overnight accommodations.

Cut 7 (06) “…local economy there.”

Burris says the repeal sends an encouraging message to those that want to explore sportsman’s paradise.

Cut 8 (07) “   …open for business”

For more info on booking a stay, head to L A State Parks dot com.

_________________________________

For the first time ever, Mississippi residents do not have head to Louisiana to buy scratch-off lottery tickets. About 12-hundred convenience stores in the Magnolia State began selling them today. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says hopefully this will not result in lower revenues for the Bayou State

Cut 9 (08) “…monitor″

Chopin says Texas and Arkansas have popular lottery games, but residents in those states also play in Louisiana…

Cut 10 (09) “some time”

Chopin says Louisiana Lottery is coming off its most successful fiscal year ever in its 28-year history, as they transferred more than 184-million dollars to the state treasury for K-through-12 public education. She credits their creative scratch-off games

Cut 11 (07) “…Mardi Gras themed game”

Mississippi lottery retailers will begin selling Mega Millions and Powerball tickets on January 30th.

______________________

The Transportation Security Administration expects nearly 27-million people will fly from November 22nd to December 2nd. So the T-S-A is getting the word out, make sure you don’t pack anything in your carry-on bag that could be used as a weapon. Spokesperson Sari Koshetz

Cut 12 (12) “…to jail” 

Many people go on hunting trips during Thanksgiving week. Koshetz says if you have a gun in your carry-on bag at the security check-point, you could get arrested…

Cut 13 (11) “…gun was.”

Koshetz says this year T-S-A agents have confiscated at least 72 guns at security checkpoints at Louisiana airports. She says you can travel with a gun, but it must go in your checked luggage…

Cut 14 (06) “…check in”

The feds OK some reduced royalty and royalty-free oil and gas drilling in shallow Gulf waters. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

________________________________________

Louisiana residents can expect to pay $47.54 for a Thanksgiving dinner that caters to a party of ten. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

__________________________________________________

The Click it or Ticket campaign kicks off today for Thanksgiving week. Connor Ferrill has the story.

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Connor Ferrill”

____________________________________________

The Trump Administration will begin allowing new shallow water Gulf of Mexico oil and gas rigs to operate at reduced royalty, or royalty-free rates to incentivize new activity.

Rig activity is expected to increase over the next year, but Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Director Scott Angelle says that’s only in deep water areas.

Cut 4 (10) “…first place.”

The number of shallow water drills has dropped 89 percent in the last decade.

Angelle says lowering or eliminating the royalties in shallow water zones will allow companies to tap into a significant amount of untapped oil and gas.

Cut 5 (07) “…water.”

Shallow water leases currently have a 12.5 percent royalty rate.

Angelle says revitalizing shallow water drilling would reinvigorate coastal communities like Morgan City, Houma, New Iberia, Terrebonne, and Lafourche.

Cut 6 (12) “…investment.”

Opponents argue the move is just a giveaway to oil companies.

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The American Farm Bureau finds that Louisiana residents can expect to pay $47.54 for a Thanksgiving dinner that caters to a party of ten. That’s $1.37 less than the national average price of $48.91. Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation spokesperson Avery Davidson says a 16-pound turkey is about $2 less than the national average.

Cut 7 (06) “…whole lot more.”

Davidson says for three pounds of sweet potatoes, Louisiana residents can expect to spend about $1.43 compared to just over $3 around the rest of the country.

Cut 8 (10) “…directly from them.”

The classic dinner consists of eleven items. For many of the sides, Louisiana residents may be paying slightly higher than the national average. Davidson says when it comes to dessert, the Bayou State is in line with the rest of the nation.

Cut 9 (11) “…you about $2.17.”

The farmer’s share of Thanksgiving food spending is about eight cents on the dollar, meaning farmers will see only $3.80 for each meal.

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Beginning January 14^th Windows will no longer offer patches and updates for their Windows 7 operating system.

Tech Gumbo host Hagai Davis says nearly a third of all computers in circulation still run Windows 7, and a lot of those folks are in serious danger of being hit by malware that’s sat dormant on their computer.

Cut 10 (11) “…explode”

Davis says when Windows discontinued XP in 2013, users saw a massive spike in malware attacks the day after it dropped support.

It’s not that your Windows 7 computer won’t work starting January 15^th, but Davis says it will leave you particularly vulnerable to attack, and even expose other, updated computers on your network…

Cut 11 (09) “…network”

Windows also announced it will no longer support Windows 2008 server platforms as of January 14^th either.

Good news for Windows users is that the company offers a free upgrade to Windows 10 for Windows 7 and 8 users. Davis says it’s something that can be taken care of pretty quickly.

Cut  12 (04) “…computer” 

Davis adds Windows 10 may not run well on older computers, so if your system is four years old or older, it’s time to look at getting an upgrade.

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With Thanksgiving on the way, drivers need to be aware of the Click or Ticket campaign that will run this week. State Police Lt. Nick Manale says state troopers and local law enforcement will be on the lookout to see if drivers are buckled up…

Cut 13 (11) “…properly restrained.”

The increased surveillance may lead to more tickets given out but Manale says a ticket is better than a tragedy…

Cut 14 (09) “…time of year.” 

Louisiana’s front seat belt use rate for 2018 is 86.9 percent but Manele says everyone in the car needs to be safe…

Cut 15 (11) “…restrained.”
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LSU is SEC West champions for the first time since 2011, but there was not a big celebration after the Tigers clinched with a 56-20 victory over Arkansas. Coach Ed Orgeron says the team strives to accomplish bigger goals…

Cut 16  (12)  …we are done”  

Quarterback Joe Burrow had another solid day on Saturday as he threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns. But Clyde Edwards-Helaire was the story in this contest with 188 yards rushing and three touchdowns. His final carry was for 89 yards and he was only in the game so he could pick up a couple of yards to get over 100 yards

Cut 17  (18)  for everybody” 

The Tigers can complete an undefeated regular season on Saturday with a win over Texas A-and-M. Edwards-Helaire says LSU is seeking redemption from last year’s seven overtime loss to the Aggies..

cut 18  (20)  worse than that” 

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The Saints raced out to a 14-0 lead but needed a 33-yard game-winning field goal by Will Lutz as time expired to beat the Panthers 34-31 at the Superdome on Sunday. Lutz connected on his field goal a couple of minutes after Carolina missed a field goal to give them their first lead. Drew Brees marched the team 65 yards for the winning score…

cut 19 (21)   team effort”    

Brees threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He was also intercepted once, which led to Carolina tying the game. The Saints also committed 12 penalties. Coach Sean Payton says it wasn’t there best game and they need to cut down on the penalties…

cut 20 (18) “ bigger games”    

Governor John Bel Edwards says he has begun reaching out to lawmakers as he looks forward to his second term. Edwards clashed several times with House Republican leadership in his first term and he wants to avoid a similar scenario in his second term…
cut 4 (08) “…Senate as well”
Edwards says he’ll also continue to push legislation to increase the minimum wage and bills that call for equal pay for men and women who do similar work at a business.

Louisiana’s Deputy Chief Information Officer, Neal Underwood, told state lawmakers at a budget meeting today that the goal is still for the Office of Moter Vehicles to re-open on Monday …
Cut 11 (10) “…Monday″
The state was hit with a cyberattack on Monday which impacted 10-percent of the state’s government servers. The investigation continues into who orchestrated the attack.

Have you seen the V-H-I reality show called the Cartel Crew. Well, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy wants it cancelled because he says the show glorifies a brutal, deadly lifestyle that creates countless victims. He says it’s the most irresponsible thing he’s seen on TV…
cut 8 (07) “….over the line”
Kennedy has written a letter to V-H-1 president Chris McCarthy.

Former LSU band members have formed an alumni group known as the Four Notes Club, aimed at supporting the university’s marching band. Executive Board President Timothy Rodrigue says the Tiger band has never had a philanthropic organization dedicated to raising funds specifically for the band.
Cut 12 (09) “…place for LSU.”
More details can be found at TheFourNotesClub.com.