Some of the hottest holiday toys for the season are already in short supply. Michelle Southern speaks with a toy expert..:

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Voice of the ULM Warhawks Frank Hoffmann will hang up his mic after giving the play by play of Saturday’s game against Arkansas State. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Nobody wants to be that parent who wasn’t able to get their hands on the most popular toy this holiday season. So what’s hot in 2017? Chris Byrne, aka “The Toy Guy,” plays with toys for a living for the consumer review website TTPM.com. He says arts and crafts are a huge trend this year…:

Cut 3 (10) “of frosting”

Byrne says on the high tech end, KidiBuzz from VTech is all the rage. He says it’s essentially a kid-friendly smartphone, that’s not a phone…:

Cut 4  (10) ” their phone” 

Byrne says they find parents are not loyal to specific retailers when it comes to toys at this busy time of the year. He says some of the hottest holiday toys for the season are already in short supply, so if you see something you want, buy it right then…:

Cut 5  (07)  are selling out”

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The holidays can be challenging for those living with Alzheimer’s. Families and friends may be unsure how to handle their loved one suffering from the disease, which can create stress for everyone. Stacey Denham with the Alzheimer’s Association’s Louisiana chapter says when you approach someone with the disease, do it in a non-threatening way

Cut 6 (11)  that stress”

Denham says depending on abilities and preferences, make sure to keep the person with Alzheimer’s involved in the celebrations and don’t make that person guess who is in the room with them…

Cut 7 (11)     together” 

When there are several people around, it can become very confusing for someone coping with Alzheimer’s.  She says let guests know what to expect before they arrive and tell them how they can help…

Cut 8 (09) “that conversation”

Denham says there is a help line available anytime at 800-272-3900.

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West Monroe state representative Frank Hoffmann has been the voice of the ULM Warhawks for the last 42-years but Saturday, he will call his last game against when ULM takes on Arkansas State. Hoffman says it’s bitter sweet to end his long play by play career.

Cut 9 (11)  “doing it”

Hoffmann is the eighth active longest play by play voice for a university in the nation. Hoffman says he’s called some great wins over his 42-years.

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The Attorney General’s Office is offering safety tips for consumers who will shop online this holiday. Spokesperson Ruth Wisher says shoppers need to be aware that internet scams are out there…

Cut 12 (10) “it is”

Wisher says if something looks too good to be true, it probably is. She says consumers should always pay online with a credit card.

Cut 13 (09)  “an S”

To report a scam to the Attorney General call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889. Wisher says it’s never a good idea to online shop while using a public wireless network. She says consumers should also be on the lookout for the scam, cybersquatting.

Cut 14 (08) “it’s legal”

AAA projects that the number of travelers for Thanksgiving holiday will be the highest it’s been in 12 years. Don Molino has more.

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Don Molino.”

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The USDA reminds holiday chefs not to forget food safety when cooking your Thanksgiving turkey. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Restore Louisiana awards nearly 92-million dollars to 31-hundred homeowners affected by the 2016 floods. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3  (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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AAA predicts nearly 51-million people will travel 50 miles or more for the Thanksgiving holiday, a three-percent increase from last year and it’s the highest number since 2005. AAA spokesman Don Redman says gas prices are about 35-cents higher than last year, but that’s not stopping the expected 45-million that will hit the highways..

Cut 4  (07) “personal economy.”

Air fares are the lowest since 2013, which Redman says will mean about a five percent increase in air travel, but Redman warns air passengers may pay more after they land…

Cut 5  (07)  “an increase.”

Redman says planning ahead is the key to making it to your destination safely…

Cut 6 (07) “alternative routes.”

Redman adds AAA expects to service over 300-thousand due to automotive problems. He says make sure your vehicle is inspected before leaving.

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds holiday chefs to be conscious of food safety. Sarah Lichtman with the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service says the first step is cleaning your hands and surfaces before and after touching raw meats. She says the next step is to separate…

Cut 7 (10)  “like that”

About 128-thousand people are hospitalized each year as a result of foodborne illness. Lichtman says it’s also important to make sure you cook your turkey to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. She debunks the common myth that the before cooking your turkey it needs to be washed in the sink.

Cut 8 (10) “the oven”

Lichtman says it’s important not to forget about leftovers sitting out on the table.

Cut 9 (10)  “containers”

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The lines have become blurred between family traditions on Thanksgiving and getting the good deals before everyone else to kick off the holiday shopping season.  National Retail Federation’s Ana Serafin Smith says many stores are opening earlier on Thanksgiving.  It all started with one retail giant…

Cut 10 (11)  “followed suit.”

According to best-black-Friday-dot-com, 38 retail chains will be open Thursday.  They include Best Buy, Gamestop, JcPenney,’s, Sears and numerous others.  The four Louisiana K-Marts are expected to open as early as 6am.  Most other retailers will remain closed until early afternoon.  Smith says the consumer demands it and retail will answer…

Cut 11 (10) “the holidays.”

Surveys show more consumers are expected to shop online this year compared to shopping at brick and mortar stores.  Smith says for some shoppers there’s a great attraction to shopping on Thanksgiving night…

Cut 12 (06) “they’re off.”

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The Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program has offered grant awards for nearly 31-hundred homeowners affected by the floods in 2016, totaling nearly 92-million dollars. Office of Community Development Executive Director Pat Forbes says these funds are helping people rebuild their homes and many of the homeowners are reimbursed for work already done.

Cut 13 (11) “to work”

Forbes says they still have a long way to go as this is less than 10-percent of the people they hope to serve. He says they have Homeowner Assistance Centers in Baton Rouge, Hammond and Lafayette to help those still in need of funds.

Cut 14 (11) “from contractors”

Over 38-thousand homeowners have qualified to receive assistance. Forbes says there is no risk of running out of this federal grant money and encourages more people to take the next step in the application process.

Cut 15 (10) “done so.”

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For Nicholls State to advance in the FCS playoffs, they’ll have to figure out a way to slow down South Dakota senior quarterback Chris Streveler, who has thrown for 32-hundred yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Colonels Coach Tim Rebowe says Streveler is the best quarterback they’ve faced all season

Cut 16  (20)  “the board”

Rebowe says South Dakota is also stingy on defense as they’ve held four of their opponents to a touchdown or less…

Cut 17 (15)  “get it done”

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Fifth-year senior left tackle K-J Malone would love to play in the regular season finale against Texas A-and-M, but his injured knee may not allow him to do so. Malone hasn’t played since the Florida game and remains very questionable for this Saturday. But the 6-4, 320-pounder from Ruston hopes to at least be in uniform…

Cut 18 (11) “goes down” 

Freshman Saahdiq Charles has replaced Malone on the line and the Tigers are 4-and-1 during that time. Malone says he’s tried to stay as part of the team as much as he could, despite his injury…

Cut 19 (13)        as a positive”

Louisiana orthopedic specialists are practicing a method to reduce the need for oral painkillers after surgery. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A new study finds that black students are two times as likely to be suspended as white students. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A well known north Louisiana chef was arrested after allegedly stalking a woman by calling and texting her 54 times.  Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Glen Springfield says 35-year-old William Blake Phillips was asked several times to quit calling.  However the woman claims Phillips went a step farther…

Cut 3 (07) “the complainant.”

After making contact with Phillips, Springfield says Phillips denied some of the allegations…

Cut 4  (11) “the residence.” 

Phillips was named the 2016 Louisiana Seafood King and has managed restaurants in the Monroe area.

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Orthopedic specialists in the Bayou State are using a new post-surgical procedure to control pain and decrease the need for oral painkillers. Dr. Judson Penton says they are using a specially designed disposable pump to deliver medication that blocks pain only in the area of the surgery.

Cut 5  (10)  “after surgery”

Penton, who practices in Lafayette at Louisiana Orthopedic Specialists, says they started inserting small disposable pain pumps near the incision site next to the nerves in the surgical area. He says the pumps are portable and will only administer an amount of medication approved by a physician.

Cut 6 (08)  “the state”

Penton says the medicine flows continually at a very slow rate and they’ve seen patients have quicker recovery times and they were not dependent on opioids for relief….

Cut 7 (11) “60%”

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A new study out of the Education Research Alliance for New Orleans at Tulane University finds from 2001 to 2014, black students were twice as likely as white students to be suspended. Low income students were about 1.75 times more likely as non-low income students to be suspended. Researcher Nathan Barrett says these numbers are troubling.

Cut 8 (08) “within incidents”

Barrett says they also found that punishments resulting from fights between a black student and white student are different.

Cut 9 (10)  “day difference”

Barret says it’s hard to determine if adults are intentionally punishing students differently. He says reducing discipline disparities based on race and income requires addressing both within-school and across school disparities.

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Today in Atlanta, the Georgia Dome was imploded after 25 years in existence. Meanwhile, the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans continues to be one of the top entertainment venues. Alan Freeman, General Manager of the Dome, says when the facility was built, the architects took a long range view of the stadium’s future.

Cut 11 (10) “practical”

Freeman also credits the success of the Superdome to the great relationship they have with the New Orleans Saints. He says the state owns the arena and provides the funds to keep up with improvements as the building ages, especially after Hurricane Katrina did major damage.

Cut 12 (11) “Wrestlemania”

Freeman says the Superdome is a viable building and in a city that thrives on hosting major events. He says they have plans to make the facility even better.

Cut 13 (12)  30 years”

High school students who are in good standing with the FFA have an opportunity to get a college scholarship.  Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern.”

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Republican John Schroder has been elected as the state’s new state treasurer and says he plans to bring transparency and accountability to the office. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Prices are the lowest they have been in years for Thanksgiving dinner.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 3  (31) “I’m Kelley Ray.”  

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High school students who are in good standing with the FFA are eligible to receive a 500-dollar scholarship to attend a community college in Louisiana.  Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan says they hope this will help convince more students to continue their education past high school…

Cut 4  (10) “any kind.”

Sullivan says they have made it easy for students to apply for the scholarship by eliminating unnecessary paperwork…

Cut 5  (09)  “the award.”

Sullivan says this is the first time they have entered into a partnership with an organization to provide scholarships, but it is generating a lot of excitement…

Cut 6 (06) “be involved.”

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Now that Republican John Schroder has been elected as Louisiana’s new State Treasurer, he says he wants to improve the way the state handles finances in a struggling economy. Schroder hopes to work with the state legislature and Governor Edwards to balance the budget and spend responsibly.

Cut 7 (10)  “of Louisiana”

Schroder says government has become a burden and the state’s infrastructure has become unaffordable. He plans to stay a budget hawk, as he’s been since he was elected as a state representative 10 years ago.

Cut 8 (09) “get done”

Schroder also hopes to reform the process on how the state picks construction projects for funding and take the politics out of it. He also plans to educate the public on the state budget, so taxpayers know how their money is spent.

Cut 9 (10)  “the expense”

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You will see savings this year on Thanksgiving dinner.  An American Farm Bureau Marketbasket survey estimates it will cost $43.27 on average in Louisiana.  Farm Bureau Federation News Director Neil Melancon says a large inventory of turkeys are helping to drive prices down…

Cut 10 (10)  “that stuff.”

That is over three-dollars cheaper than 2016 for a 16-item meal including turkey and all the trimmings. Melancon says since turkey prices are very low right now, he recommends to shop around and compare…

Cut 11 (08) “dollar range.”

Melancon says we are paying less for other items, some which are grown locally…

Cut 12 (07) “four-cents.”

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There are plenty of reasons to be proud of the New Orleans Saints right now, and fans are loading up on black and gold gear more now than even before the season. That observation is from Pat Randazza with Purple and Gold Sports and Black and Gold Sports in Baton Rouge…:

Cut 13 (10) “it gets”

Randazza says her biggest seller with Saints fans is by far the jerseys. She says the hottest one right now, other than Drew Brees, is the Alvin Kamara #41 jersey. The running back, who is having a breakout rookie season with the Saints, recently told fans to go ahead and buy his #41 jersey because he’s not changing it…:

Cut 14 (10) “always the hottest”

Randazza says the third most popular jersey is running back Mark Ingram’s which she said spiked big time mid-season. She also expects a busy holiday season and now is about the time shoppers are coming in to buy gifts for their fellow sports maniac friends…:

Cut 15 (08) “automobile with”

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LSU has a chance to finish the regular season with nine wins, after beating Tennessee 30-10 in Knoxville. Because windy and rainy conditions, the Tigers had to rely on its ground game on Saturday night. Darrell Williams rushed for two touchdowns and Derius Guice had 97 yards and a score. The second half was played in a cold rain, but Guice says that’s what football is about…

Cut 16  (18)  “and go”

Head Coach Ed Orgeron was pleased his team didn’t let the weather affect them when the sideways rain began falling at the start of the 2nd half…

Cut 17 (12)  “came to play”

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The Saints won their eighth straight yesterday in dramatic fashion, rallying back from a 15-point deficit late in the 4^th quarter to beat the Washington Redskins 34-31 in overtime. Will Lutz kicked his fourth field goal to win it in OT. Running back Mark Ingram rushed for 131 yards and a score and Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Brees on the 8-and-2 Saints….

Cut 18 (18) “anyway” 

The Saints needed a big game from the offense, because the defense had trouble stopping the Redskins. Washington QB Kirk Cousins threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns. But the Saints have rookie running back Alvin Kamara who had a touchdown catch and scored on a two-point conversion to the tie game at 31 with 1:05 left. Kamara had 117 total yards of offense. Brees on his star-studded backfield of Ingram and Kamara….

Cut 19 (20)   like that” 

The Saints are 8-2 heading into next Sunday’s game at Los Angeles versus the Rams. New Orleans is tied with Minnesota for the 2^nd best record in the NFC. Coach Sean Payton says he’s not ready to say they are one of the best teams in the NFL….

cut 20 (22)  “I’ll say that” 

A south Louisiana restaurant will get national attention this weekend on the Travel Channel’s “Food Paradise.”  Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana’s unemployment rate for October is at 4.8-percent, the lowest since June of 2008. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A strong cold front will cross Louisiana Saturday, reminding us it’s winter time. C.S. Ross with the National Weather Service says it will be around 80 degrees today but tomorrow, the temperature will drop 20 degrees after the front passes.

Cut 3 (11) “be noticeable ”

Ross says Louisiana won’t see more than a tenth of an inch of rain. He says come Monday, temperatures will be in the mid to upper 30s across the state.

Cut 4  (11) “next week” 

Ross says Halloween weekend was the last time we had a chill in the air….

Cut 5  (11)  “October 29th”

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A south Louisiana restaurant will get national attention this weekend on the Travel Channel’s “Food Paradise.”  Boudreau and Thibodeau’s Cajun Cookin’ in Houma will be one of the segments on the show.  Owner Debra Blanchard says a producer has local ties to Houma and thought it make for a great feature…

Cut 6 (12)  “to eat.”

She calls it an honor to be chosen for the show.  They have been in business for nearly 20 years.  Blanchard says the combination of good food and fun is the secret to their longevity…

Cut 7 (10) “up on.”

Blanchard says when it came time to name the restaurant. She explains it comes from a long time tradition throughout south Louisiana…

Cut 8 (06) “the walls.”

The show will air Sunday at 7pm on the Travel Channel.

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Governor John Bel Edwards announces a plan to upgrade high speed internet connectivity to 164-thousand students in K-12 public schools. Education Policy Advisor for the Governor Donald Songy says these kids have broadband in their schools but it’s slow…

Cut 9 (09)  “minimum speed”

88-percent of school districts are meeting the Federal Communications Commission’s recommended minimum connectivity required for students to take advantage of digital learning. Songy says the state will partner with the non-profit EducationSuperHighway to help improve internet services for schools lagging behind. He says they are identifying which schools need additional help…

90-percent of high speed internet costs are paid for by grant money but Songy says the struggle for many schools is finding the funding for that last 10-percent. He says these last few school districts are working hard to receive this level of broadband and sometimes just need a little extra technical support.

Cut 11 (10) “they have”

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New data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows Louisiana’s unemployment rate for October was 4.8-percent, the lowest it’s been since June of 2008. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Ava Dejoie says this is the sixth consecutive month the rate has declined. She says we’ve had four industry super sectors that have reached all-time record highs this year.

Cut 12 (11) “machinery repair”

Dejoie says the announcement that DXC will open up in New Orleans will only help this number continue to decrease. She credits the many programs in place to help the unemployed find work…..

Cut 13 (11)  “healthcare sector”

Dejoie says professional and business services gained 49-hundred jobs for the month. She says oil and gas is still struggling, but they are working to transfer employees in that industry into other fields. She says Lake Charles continues to grow the most in the state with job opportunities.

Cut 14 (11) “that area”

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The Saints go after their eighth straight win on Sunday when they host the Redskins. New Orleans is coming off a 47-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills where they rushed for 298 yards. Running back Mark Ingram says they came into the season wanting a strong running attack and so far they’ve been able to do it….

Cut 15 (12) “down field”

A victory Sunday would give New Orleans its longest winning streak since 2011. Ingram credits great team chemistry for the team’s success on the field…

Cut 16  (11)  “details”

WrestleMania is April 8th.

The state is launching a Louisiana Cultural Shopping Trail to provide visitors an opportunity to discover unique retail stores as they travel through the Bayou State.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kelley Ray”

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Tickets are on sale now for WrestleMania 34, which takes place April 8th at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo reports..:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Polls show Democratic councilwoman LaToya Cantrell beating fellow Democrat and former judge Desiree Charbonnet by a landslide in Saturday’s New Orleans mayoral election. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3  (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”  

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The state is launching a Louisiana Cultural Shopping Trail to provide visitors an opportunity to discover unique retail stores as they travel through the Bayou State. Chairman of the Louisiana Tax Free Shopping Commission Steve Windham says L-A-shopping-trail-dot-com will highlight great antique or boutique shops, along with stores that feature hand-crafted goods…

Cut 4  (09) “main street.”

Windham says the Louisiana Cultural Shopping Trail gives specialized businesses off the beaten path a chance to showcase the state’s vibrant culture to visitors who are traveling our highways…

Cut 5  (09)  “cultural destination.”

Windham says Louisiana residents are encouraged to visit the over 100 stores that make up the Louisiana Cultural Shopping Trail, which winds throughout the state, but the main goal is to encourage out of state travelers to shop at these unique retailers…

Cut 6 (08) “to another.”

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Secretary of State Tom Schedler is expecting a voter turnout of 13 percent statewide for Saturday’s election which features the race for state treasurer and the New Orleans mayoral runoff between LaToya Cantrell and Denise Charbonnet.  Schedler says if it wasn’t for this race, it would be a slow day at the polls…

Cut 7 (10)  “single digits.”

Voter turnout for the October statewide election was 14-percent. Schedler says he initially thought that turnout for the November election would be even lower but early voting turnout was better than expected…

Cut 8 (06) “proud of.”

Schedler says the Treasurer Race between Democrat Derrick Edwards and Republican John Schroder is the only item on the ballot in half of the state’s parishes…

Cut 9 (07)  “the state.”

About 400-thousand are expected to vote in Saturday’s election.

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Tickets are on sale now for WrestleMania 34, which takes place April 8th at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The last time WWE’s flagship show came to The Big Easy was in 2014, bringing in over 75,000 fans and generating $142 million dollars in economic impact. WWE superstar Big Show did a media tour in south Louisiana this week to promote WrestleMania 34…:

Cut 10 (09)  “World Series”

Fans from all 50 states and 36 countries attended WrestleMania 30 in New Orleans. Big Show says you can expect more of the same next year…:

Cut 11 (07) “and then leave”

This is the quickest that Wrestlemania has ever returned to a previous host city ever. Big Show encourages locals to go, even if they aren’t wrestling fans, because there’s really nothing like it…:

Cut 12 (10) “in history”

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The election for the New Orleans mayoral race is tomorrow and polls show Democratic councilwoman LaToya Cantrell beating fellow Democrat and former judge Desiree Charbonnet by a landslide. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says Charbonnet has raised nearly twice as much money as her opponent but  Cantrell has spent her money more wisely.

Cut 13 (11) “voters were”

Dubos says Cantrell’s campaign was very much rooted in social media. He says Charbonnet began the race as the frontrunner but recent attacks weakened her considerably.

Cut 14 (10) “her out”

This will be the first time a female has been mayor of New Orleans. Dubos says this big race with two Democratic candidates is likely to help out Democrat Derrick Edwards’ campaign for State Treasurer against Republican John Schroder.

Cut 15 (10) “would’ve been”

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The forecast calls for rain and temperatures falling into the 50s on Saturday in Knoxville for the LSU-Tennessee game. But the Tigers should have success running the football as the Volunteers rank last in the SEC in rushing defense. LSU Quarterback Danny Etling hopes success on the ground will lead to good results through the air…

Cut 16  (14)  “get involved”

Tennessee is a disappointing 4-6, 0-6 in the SEC, which is why Butch Jones was fired and Brady Hoke named as the interim head coach this week. Etling says they expect to face a fired up Tennessee team…

Cut 17 (17)  “be ready”

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The elimination of a tax break in Republican tax reform legislation could be detrimental to college sports, according to LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today state officials announced a newly formed software company will be relocating to New Orleans. Michelle Southern reports this is huge jobs news:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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According to a recent survey, Louisianans are researching butt implants more than any other plastic surgery procedure. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Oren Tessler says having a bigger behind is the latest trend, especially with celebrities.

Cut 3 (09) “themselves”

Tessler wants to remind those interested in the procedure that you’re actually getting an augmentation, not a lift. He says it’s also never a good idea for patients to come in with a photograph of what they’d like their hindquarters to look like after surgery.

Cut 4  (11) “safe manner” 

Tessler says women look at Kim Kardashian and other famous celebrities and want to have a similar body. But he says there are some significant risks associated with the procedure.

Cut 5  (09)  “significantly ”

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LSU Atheltics Director Joe Alleva says the elimination of tax break in the GOP tax reform bills could be disastrous for big-time collegiate athletics. LSU and many other schools require donations to purchase tickets to athletic events and Alleva is concerned those donations will go away, if fans can no longer claim 80-percent of the donation as a tax deduction…

Cut 6 (07)  “of money”

Alleva says LSU receives about 50-million dollars from this revenue stream as reportedly 45-thousand football season tickets require a donation to the school’s Tradition Fund for the right to purchase those tickets.

Cut 7 (11) “the difference”

A spokesperson for Congressman Steve Scalise, Lauren Fine, says this House tax proposal will put more money back in the pockets of people in Louisiana, who can choose to spend it how they want, whether it be on football tickets, or anything else. But Alleva is still concerned that fans will no longer make a donation if they know they can’t deduct it on their taxes.

Cut 8 (11) “some sports”

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Expectations of a bumper pecan crop in Louisiana this year have been lowered due to unfavorable weather, but that shouldn’t affect your pies for the holidays. That’s according to LSU AgCenter Associate Professor Charlie Graham, who says their original projection for this year was around 15 million pounds of pecans…:

Cut 9 (10)  “below that”

Graham says even though numbers are falling short of what they had hoped this year, pecans are still in greater supply than they were last year:

Cut 10 (10) “it was gonna be”

Graham also says prices should remain steady and not go down because the Georgia crop, expected to be about 90-100 million pounds, was reduced by 30 percent because of damage from hurricanes. He says Pointe Coupee Parish is typically the number one pecan producer in the state…:

Cut 11 (10) “so is the east”

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Governor John Bel Edwards announced today that two-thousand new jobs will be created as DXC Technology will open a digital transformation center in January of 2018 in New Orleans. Edwards says this has been in the works for over two years and is a great addition to the state.

Cut 12 (11) “and private”

DXC is a Virginia based information technology company. Edwards says LED estimates that another 2,257 indirect jobs will be created from this project. He says the two-thousand direct jobs will pay an average salary of 63-thousand dollars plus benefits and the economic benefits are unmatched.

Cut 13 (11)  “billion dollars”

Edwards says Louisiana will invest $25 million in higher education grants through the LSU, UL, and Technical and Community College Systems to ensure qualified workers can fill these new positions. He says this project is one of the most significant economic development announcements in Louisiana history.

Cut 14 (10)  “of Louisiana”

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A new phone app has been created to help you keep tabs on how elected officials vote on various issues.   Jeff Palermo has more about OnPoint…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Two years from this week, Louisianans will cast their vote for the next governor of the Bayou State. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor Edwards Office says AG Jeff Landry is incorrect in saying the opioid crisis is worse due to Medicaid expansion.  Kelley Ray has more.

Cut 3  (30) “I’m Kelley Ray.”  

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A new phone app called OnPoint can help you keep an eye on politicians at nearly every level of government.  Vote-Smart-dot-org National Director Walker McKusick says they have culled information on over 40-thousand politicians, including those in Louisiana. He says the OnPoint app makes it easy to identify those in your area…

Cut 4  (11) “to you.”

The app helps to bring together the hottest trending topics in politics and reviews of government positions, who holds them and how they have voted. McKusick says OnPoint gives you up to date information on what elected officials have said about various issues…

Cut 5  (10)  “their website.”

McKusick credits their non-partisanship donations in helping them to present the true facts behind every politician in Louisiana…

Cut 6 (11) “facts matter.”

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This week, two years from now, voters will cast their ballots for Louisiana’s next governor. Current Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards is planning to run again. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry could challenge Edwards and tensions between the two continue to escalate. He says expect GOP leaders to keep attacking the governor on various issues.

Cut 7 (11)  “Republicans”

Pinsonat says there’s been word that along with Landry, Congressmen Garret Graves and Steve Scalise as well as U.S. Senator John Kennedy are taking a look at the governor’s seat.

Cut 8 (11) “to be”

Pinsonat says Scalise may decide to run if the Democrats take control of the House next year. He says the governor’s mansion is attractive to Scalise, Kennedy and Graves because they don’t have to give up their seat in Congress.

Cut 9 (10)  “them runs”

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The Edwards administration disputes the claim by Attorney General Jeff Landry that the expansion of the Medicaid program has helped fuel the opioid crisis. The state health department says there are fewer pain killers on the streets in the last year and more individuals are seeking life saving substance abuse treatment.  L-D-H Chief of Staff Andrew Tuozzollo says legislation passed this year that limits first time prescriptions for opioids has been effective…

Cut 10 (06)  “per prescription.”

Tuozzollo says the total number of pills prescribed has decreased by more than 10-million doses, a three-percent reduction from the year before Medicaid expansion to the year afterwards. He says Medicaid expansion has also helped thousands get treatment for addiction to painkillers…

Cut 11 (09) “getting treatment.”

Landry asserts that hundreds of thousands of new prescriptions have been provided to Louisiana patients in the past year at almost no cost, which has exacerbated the opioid crisis. Tuozzollo says nothing could be further from the truth, as there is solid data that shows the state has been successful at limiting painkiller prescriptions:

Cut 12 (10) “Medicaid expansion”

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Complete domination. That’s the best way you can describe the Saints 47-10 beat down of the Bills in Buffalo yesterday. New Orleans had 482 yards of total offense to Buffalo’s 198 and the Saints had the ball for over 41 minutes in the game. Quarterback Drew Brees on the team’s seventh straight victory..

Cut 13 (13) “moving forward”

The Saints rushed for 298 yards and set a franchise record by scoring six rushing touchdowns. Even Brees had a rushing touchdown…

Cut 14 (14) “a game”

Mark Ingram had three touchdowns and 121 yards rushing. Rookie Alvin Kamara also broke the century mark as he rushed for 106 and a touchdown. Brees says it’s fun to watch these guys run the ball…

Cut 15 (12) “us succeed.”

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The LSU football team scored four touchdowns in the 2nd half on Saturday to beat Arkansas 33-10. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron is glad the 11 AM kick-off or last week’s loss to Alabama didn’t negatively affect his team…

Cut 16  (13)  “win the game”

LSU is now 7-3, 4-2 in the SEC and this Saturday they’ll visit a Tennessee team that was crushed by Missouri 50-17. The Vols are 0-6 in the league but Orgeron says their preparation for Saturday’s game is about LSU…

Cut 17 (14)  “bit better”

In LSU’s win over Arkansas. Quarterback Danny Etling threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Both of the TD passes went DJ Chark. The Alexandria native says their preparation going into the game paid off…

Cut 18 (16) “accomplish something” 

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Two people are arrested in two separate accidents which killed young children.  Kelley Ray has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray”

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A man in Kenner who was released from jail because of the new state sentencing laws committed a crime 5 days later. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A Franklin woman is under arrest for a crash claimed the life of a toddler. The single vehicle wreck occurred on Highway 83 in St. Mary Parish Wednesday morning.  27-year-old Grace Loustaloot was driving with three children in the vehicle.  State Police Master Trooper Brooks David explains what happened…

Cut 3 (13) “restraint seat.”

The two-year-old, Temperence Finister, was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.  David says they are trying to figure out why the child wasn’t properly restrained…

Cut 4  (07) “in time.” 

The other two children and the driver were properly restrained and received minor injuries.  David says upon arrival, police allegedly found prescription drugs in Loustaloot’s possession, which may have played a factor in the fatal accident…

Cut 5  (09)  “the roadway.”

Loustaloot is charged with vehicular homicide, two counts of first degree vehicular negligent injuring, possession of narcotics, no child restraint, careless operation and expired motor vehicle inspection sticker.

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A report by Truth Initiative finds youth in Louisiana are smoking at a rate of 12-percent, lower than the national average of 16-percent. President and CEO of Truth Initiative Robin Koval says when you give young people the facts and allow them to make decisions for themselves, they are more likely to respond in a positive way.

Cut 6 (11)  “like that”

The adult smoking rate in Louisiana is over 22-percent, compared to 15 in the rest of the country. But Koval says the Bayou State is making some strides in the right direction, with more parishes approving ordinances to ban smoking in all public buildings.

Cut 7 (11) “national average”

Truth Initiative spoke with Louisiana Radio Network because the Bayou State is among 12 states that makes up Tobacco Nation because of its high adult smoking rate. Koval says individuals within these states smoke more, live shorter lives and are more likely to get and die from cancer than the rest of the country.

Cut 8 (09) “United States”

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A woman suspected of texting before a fatal accident on I-12 that killed a 5 month old child, turned herself into Denham Springs police today.  A warrant was issued for the arrest 23-year-old Jessica Cowart of Denham Springs. Detective Amber Fairburn says Cowart was not fully focused on the road when the wreck happened…

Cut 9 (05)  “was messaging.”

Police say she slammed into a vehicle, which hit another one, throwing five-month-old Reese Graham and her car seat through the front window.  Reese died two days later.  Fairburn says speed was also a factor in the accident…

Cut 10 (05) “per hour.”

Cowart is charged with negligent homicide, negligent injuring and reckless operation.  She is free on a 51-thousand-dollar-bond.

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The five police officers at the baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia, where U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise was shot, have received the Capitol Police Medal of Honor. Scalise, who was critically injured, says these individuals risked their lives and ran towards the danger knowing they were outgunned.

Cut 11 (12) “their bravery”

Scalise says the training undergone by members of the Capitol Police Department prepared them and gave them the skills to save the lives of so many that day…

Cut 12 (09) “the line”

Scalise says nobody saw this attack coming and these five individuals immediately jumped in and did things no one can describe to save lives.

Cut 13 (09)  “and women”

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The Kenner Police Department says a habitual offender that was released early from jail due to the state’s new criminal justice reform, committed an armed robbery 5 days after he was let out. Chief Michael Glaser says it’s extremely frustrating that Tyrone White was let back on the streets:

Cut 14 (10)  “City of Kenner”

Glaser says White approached two construction workers repairing a roof on a home, shouting orders with what they thought was a real gun. He says one of the victims was on the ground, and another was on the roof…:

Cut 15 (09) “he wasn’t robbed”

Glaser says White is well known in that neighborhood, and cops had already been alerted that he was lurking again pulling on car door handles to see if they were unlocked. Glaser says this 24-year-old man should never have been let out of jail…:

Cut 16  (10)  “and he’s 24 years old”

A Covington woman has been arrested for lying that an NFL referee physically abused her. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Two people were injured when a Shell platform caught fire in the Gulf early this morning. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A 25-year-old man is in custody after he allegedly attacked a woman, who tried to help him as he was lying in a ditch near Oak Grove.  West Carroll Sheriff Jerry Philley says the victim was driving her children to school when she saw Christian Turnbow of Oak Grove lying in a roadside ditch and she called 911 before coming to the man’s aid…

Cut 3 (08) “him off.”

After one of the children in the car called 911, police arrived.  Philley says they arrived and Turnbow was still on the scene…

Cut 4  (08) “and arrested.” 

Philley says they are still trying to determine why Turnbow was lying in a ditch to start with…

Cut 5  (09)  “later date.”

The victim suffered moderate injuries including a separated shoulder.  Philley says Turnbow is charged with attempted second degree murder and sexual battery.

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A fire in Many destroyed the SARC of Sabine Workforce building, which helps developmentally disabled persons find employment.  State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the investigation is moving along quickly after witnesses saw a suspicious person near the building after the fire started.  Police found the suspect soon after that…

Cut 6 (07)  “active warrant.”

Browning says upon further questioning, it was discovered the alleged arsonist was an “active participant” in some of the programs at the center…

Cut 7 (07) “the facility.”

Browning says the burned down building is a great loss to the community. An active search is underway to find a suitable location for them to relocate…

Cut 8 (11) “important work.”

Formal charges will be filed later.

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The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office says a Covington woman has been arrested after lying that an NFL referee was physically abusing her. Lt. Brennan Matherne says 49-year-old Sandra Brooks filed reports with the sheriff’s office in June stating her live in boyfriend, 57-year-old Carl Johnson Sr. of Thibodaux,  was hitting her. He says Brooks sent police audio recordings of the alleged incidents…

Cut 9 (10)  “false report”

Matherne says Brooks is also charged with defamation because she filed a report with Johnson’s employer, the NFL and also contacted a media outlet with these allegations. He says they take domestic abuse seriously but it is never acceptable to falsely report these incidents.

Cut 10 (11) “their advantage”

Matherne urges any and all victims of domestic violence to come forward. He says this is a very unique case where the believed victim submitted evidence that actually implicated her of the crime.

Cut 11 (08) “wrongdoing”

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The U.S. Coast Guard says two people were injured and dozens have evacuated a Shell platform off of Louisiana after an early morning fire. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says the platform sits about 115 miles south of Vermilion Bay on the central Louisiana coast…:

Cut 12 (07) “nearby platform”

Preston the fire has been reduced to a small flame, and a light sheen is reported north of the platform. She says a 54-year-old male suffered from flash burns and a concussion, and a 29-year-old male suffered a sprained wrist and a concussion….:

Cut 13 (05)  “nearby hospital”

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The Rayville Police Department arrested a 14-year-old twice yesterday after he was found with rifle ammunition and a handgun at school. Police Chief Willie Robinson says they received a call from Rayville High School that a .30-06 magazine was found in the student’s backpack. He says the teenager was charged and released into the custody of his grandparents.

Cut 14 (11)  “kid’s vehicle”

Robinson says the student was picked up once again and taken to Green Oaks Juvenile Detention Center in Monroe. He says the teenager gave police an excuse for why he had the gun and ammunition in his possession on school campus.

Cut 15 (09) “another bag”

Robinson says carrying a firearm on school property by a student or nonstudent is against the law. He says it’s never a good idea to bring a weapon to a firearm free school especially after all the recent incidents we’ve seen in the country.

Cut 16  (11)  “and everything”