State Climatologist Barry Keim recaps the 2014 year in Louisiana weather. Michelle Southern reporting.

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

According to the latest Southern Media and Opinion Research poll, likely voters in Louisiana don’t have an answer for how the legislature should fill a $1.4 billion dollar budget hole next year. Michelle Southern reporting.

Cut 2 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

This time of year in Louisiana sees an increase of deer spotted on roadways and state officials are urging motorists to use extreme caution to avoid deer collisions. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

The 2014 year in weather will go down as the year of the polar vortex. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this large pocket of very cold air has been around for a while but it was really brought to life this year in Louisiana. He says this polar vortex produced four rounds of mixed precipitation here…:

cut 4  (11)  “Mardi Gras Day”

Keim says those frosty episodes included freezing rain, sleet and some snow which lead to the closure of many roads and bridges and even I-10 and I-12…:

Cut 5  (10)  “downright cruel”

Keim says this year the heaviest rainfall days were May 27th and 28th with a storm total of 17.7 inches at Convent with several other surrounding sites over 12 inches. He says another inception of the polar front came in the form of five summer cold fronts bringing in relief to blistering hot days. Keim says we’ve now had no hurricane activity in Louisiana for a second year in a row…:

Cut 6 (08)  “in my book”

______________________________________

According to the latest Southern Media and Opinion Research poll, likely voters in Louisiana don’t have an answer for how the legislature should fill a $1.4 billion dollar budget hole next year. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says the numbers show people don’t want to see any more cuts to higher education, but they also don’t want taxes raised…:

CUT 7 (06)  “on what to do”

Pinsonat says we keep having these recurring deficits so he predicts lawmakers will do what they’ve done every year which is nothing…:

Cut 8 (11)  “special exemption taxes” 

Pinsonat says it’s going to take the next Governor to come up with with a program that combines a few taxes here, a few cuts there…then get out and try to sell the plan to voters. He says there does seem to be interest in cutting out certain tax incentives in order to help balance the budget..:

Cut 9 (06)  “tax the other person”

______________________________________

State Police Col Mike Edmonson is saying thanks to the more than 100,000 followers they have on Facebook heading into 2015. He says it took just three years to get so many people on board with wanting to remain informed about what’s going on with the state’s law enforcement…:

Cut 10 (08) “to prepare for those” 

The site is Facebook.com/LousianaState Police. Edmonson says they worked hard to get over 100,000 before the end of the year and it’s gone above and beyond. He says they pledge to continue providing real time updates:

cut 11 (15) “to hear”

Edmonson says their Facebook page includes news, photos and videos of emergency incidents, community events and topics that directly affect the citizens of Louisiana. He is very grateful so many people have jumped on board and shared important information with their other friends…:

cut 12 (10)  “100,000 likes”

______________________________________

This time of year in Louisiana sees an increase of deer spotted on roadways and state officials are urging motorists to use extreme caution to avoid deer collisions. State Farm spokesman Gary Stephenson says a collision with a deer could be costly and even deadly. He says Louisiana had about 9800 deer-auto collisions in the past year ending July 1…

Cut 13 (11)  “hit a deer”

He says these are the most dangerous months in terms of deer-auto collisions because the animals are very active searching for food and a mate. Stephenson says the most active times for deer movement are early morning and early evening…

Cut 14 (12)  “of the survey”

He says there was about $38 million in damage from deer-auto collisions in the past year. Stephenson says motorists should use common sense when driving this time of year to avoid a deer-auto collision…

Cut 15  (12)  “things to remember”

______________________________________

An ugly 2014 New Orleans Saints football season is officially behind us. Many Black & Gold faithful now wonder what happens next. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says the salary cap will play a big role for next year’s Saints team. He says, first, several veterans will be asked to rework their contract to save money under the cap. Then, Detillier says the team needs to go to the “Bank of Brees”…

Cut 16  (09)  “room, cap-wise”  

He says the team should focus on getting a center and cornerback through free agency and work to get a big time pass rusher through the draft. Detillier says it wouldn’t be surprising to see some coaching changes on the Saints’ sideline, either…

Cut 17 (09)  “football team”

Detillier calls the 2014 season the most disappointing season in the history of the franchise because of the expectations going in. But he says with the right personnel moves, the team can get right back in it. Detillier reminds the Black & Gold faithful of 2005…

Cut 18 (12) “Championship Game”

Scattered heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to roll through Louisiana this weekend. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

===================

US Senator David Vitter is asking Louisianans to go see the movie “The Interview”. Eric Gill reports.

CUT 2 (27) “reporting”

===================

Scattered heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to roll through Louisiana this weekend. Gavin Phillips, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says a Flash Flood Watch is being placed in effect for a majority of southeast Louisiana starting at midnight Friday night…

CUT 3 (08)  “and evening”

Rain is expected to continue to fall across most of the state through Sunday. Phillips says the state will see significant amounts of precipitation this weekend…

CUT 4 (07)  “amounts possible”

Two to five inches of rain is expected, with locally higher amounts possible. Phillips says the storms should end late Sunday afternoon into the evening. He says dryer conditions and cooler temperatures lie ahead as we enter next week. But Phillips says more wet weather could be on the way later in the week…

CUT 5 (08)  “time period”

=====================

It’s unhappy Christmas present return time and another busy few days at stores and malls as folks exchange or bring back gifts they didn’t like. Cynthia Albert, with the Better Business Bureau says there are a few things to be aware of if you’re making a return. She says first of all you need to find out what the store’s policy is…:

CUT 6 (08)  “store policy”

Albert says the BBB gets a lot of calls after Christmas with complaints about stores not taking back items like that sweater that didn’t fit…:

CUT 7 (04) “it may be theres”

Albert says it’s always important to get information about return policies up front but if you are having a problem returning something you can call your local Better Business Bureau…:

CUT 8 (03) “Santa will show up”

=====================

US Senator David Vitter is asking Louisianans to go see the movie “The Interview”. The film depicts the assassination of North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un and had originally been pulled from release after Sony was hacked apparently by the country. It is now being shown in select theaters and Vitter says it’s important that ALL Americans stand up to dictatorship

CUT 9 (08)  “The Interview”

Vitter says he will be seeing the movie with adult members of his family at Chalmette Movies on Monday. It is also being shown at Hollywood Cinemas in LaPlace and the Robinson Center in Shreveport. Vitter says please keep in mind that the movie is rated “R” and some people may consider it crude.

CUT 10 (09)  “to North Korea”

Vitter says he’s also written a letter to President Obama asking him to show the movie at the White House for Members of Congress. He says that would be another clear signal and strong message to North Korea…:

cut 11 (10)  “and cyber attacks”

=====================

The Duck Commander Independence Bowl kicks off Saturday afternoon in Shreveport. This year’s matchup sees South Carolina facing off with the University of Miami. Media Relations Director, Stefan (STEF-an) Nolet (NO-lay), says the excitement level has been high for this game since they made the announcement…

cut 12 (09) “that’s huge”

Miami and South Carolina come into this game looking to put a positive end on disappointing seasons. Both teams are 6-6 on the season. But Nolet says both squads have passionate fan bases and is hopeful the distance to Shreveport doesn’t keep them away…

cut 13 (07) “play each other”

The game will kickoff at 2:30 and be televised on ABC. This is the first time the I-Bowl will be on national broadcast network television since 1991. With Duck Commander being the game sponsor, Nolet says you can expect to see the Robertson family out in full force…

cut 14 (09) “after the game”

____________________________________

Christmas is over but that doesn’t mean shoppers are done with finding great deals. Michelle Southern reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

______________________________________

We’re still in the middle of the Holiday season and experts advise us to continue taking it easy. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

______________________________________

Christmas is over but that doesn’t mean shoppers are done with finding great deals. Louisiana Tech Marketing Professor, Barry Babin, says the day after Christmas is a big day for retailers. He says most retailers have a couple of objectives…

Cut 3 (12) “in the spring”

He says retailers need to make up for lost sales, if they had a sub par Christmas season, and make room for new merchandise that will arrive in the spring. Babin says you can still find great deals on electronics…

cut 4  (10)  “discounts on now”

He says with the day after Christmas falling on a Friday this year, this is a potentially big weekend for retailers. Babin says the true post-Christmas shopper knows where to find the best deal…

Cut 5  (07)  “after Christmas”

______________________________________

With the holiday spirit in full swing folks have plenty of reason to raise their glass in happy toasts, but with that celebration comes a note of caution. Michele Many, a clinical social worker with the LSU Department of Psychiatry says alcohol can contribute to seasonal blues…:

Cut 6 (13)  “and emotionally”

Many says lots of family and friends are still celebrating together on this day after Christmas and it’s perfectly fine to “get away” from the festivities if you’re feeling overwhelmed…:

CUT 7 (10)  “very helpful”

Many says today is a day that many people feel they didn’t do enough for Christmas but don’t be too hard on yourself. She says don’t be afraid to take a break from it all..:

Cut 8 (06)  “helped us in the past” 

______________________________________

In response to a comment made by Opelousas State Senator Elbert Guillory in which he called Representative Ted James a Chihuahua, the Baton Rouge lawmaker decided to create a feign caucus named for the dog. The incident happened on The Jim Engster Show. James said he’s passed out about 20 chihuahua pins but, to be clear, it’s not an official caucus…:

Cut 9 (12)  “get out of me”

Guillory called James a Chihuahua twice during a joint interview when discussing the Opelousas lawmaker’s video attacking Mary Landrieu during the US Senate race. James did not appreciate the ads. He says the name calling gives elected officials a bad image which is why he wanted to make light of the matter with the chihuahua caucus…:

Cut 10 (14) “that one got” 

James says members of the Chihuahua caucus simply wore their dog pins for the Louisiana Legislature’s annual holiday party…:

cut 11 (15) “light out of it”

______________________________________

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs take the field this afternoon to take on the University of Illinois in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. This is Tech’s first bowl appearance since the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl. Head Coach Skip Holtz says his team is focused for today’s game…

cut 12 (09)  “month of December”

The Illini come into the contest with a 6-6 record after finishing their schedule with two big wins over Penn State and Northwestern. The Bulldogs are 8-5 and coming off a heartbreaking loss to Marshall in the Conference USA championship game. Holtz says this game is about Tech playing up to their potential…

Cut 13 (10)  “where they may”

Kickoff is scheduled for 12 noon and can be seen on ESPN. This is the final collegiate game for senior quarterback Cody Sokol. He feels the Bulldogs are ready for today’s matchup. Sokol says this football team has done a great job this season responding to losses…

Cut 14 (11)  “football team”

______________________________________

The 2014 year in Louisiana politics will be one for the history books. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

It’s Christmas Day and State Police wants safety to be on the minds of motorists as they travel to visit family and friends. Scott Carwile reports…

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

______________________________________

The 2014 year in Louisiana politics will be one for the history books. Among the notable points — the Republican party finished its return to dominance, Mary Landrieu lost her US-Senate seat and former Governor Edwin Edwards finally ends his hopes of being in public office again. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says then there’s the 5th District Kissing Congressman Vance McAllister…:

Cut 3 (10) “with Vance McAllister”

Dubos says it’s his feeling that Edwin Edwards political career was over when he went to federal prison. He says the fact that the former Governor made the runoff had nothing to do with his popularity, but that there was no other significant Democratic candidate in the 6th District race…:

cut 4  (11)  “Garret Graves”

Dubos says there were many careers that ended this year not just Landrieu’s, Edwards’ and McAllister so he’d consider 2014 a year of closure in Louisiana politics….:

Cut 5  (09)  “this year”

______________________________________

There are many Louisiana soldiers fighting overseas who will not be home with their families today for Christmas, and they’d like to send a message home. Here’s Tech Sgt. Craig Reed who is sending his love to St. Landry Parish…:

Cut 6 (14)  “Happy Holiday”

Tech Sgt James Lewis sends a holiday greeting to his friends and family in Acadiana…:

CUT 7 (14)  “Church Point”

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Adam Nguyen is stationed at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska…:

Cut 8 (09)  “Happy Holidays” 

______________________________________

Hunting is a big activity on Christmas Day across Louisiana and there is now a mobile app for hunters. HuntSoft, the App for Hunters, is now available for free in the Apple App Store. HuntSoft’s developer, Randal Nachman, says this started as a website app where hunters could create a map of their property, enter game log data, and more…

Cut 9 (10)  “your information”

Nachman says you can even track and enter your information on the app without an internet connection. He says this app allows hunters to quickly enter in-the-field data the moment it happens…

Cut 10 (12) “that you’re hunting” 

Nachman says their mission is to help hunters be more successful by helping them capture the data that impacts their ability to be successful. He says hunting is an extremely social activity and that’s why this app also serves as a hunter-focused social network…

cut 11 (09) “into the app”

______________________________________

It’s Christmas Day and State Police are urging motorists to be extra careful on the road. Many people will be on Louisiana roadways today visiting friends and family. Sgt. Nick Manale says they want this to be a safe time of year for everybody…

cut 12 (08)  “properly restrained”

He says the easiest things you can do to stay safe on the roadways is to make sure you and everyone in your vehicle are properly restrained and, of course, never drink and drive. Manale says troopers will be out patrolling Louisiana highways and interstates today…

Cut 13 (06)  “a happy holiday”

Manale says, unfortunately, they see an increase in serious injury and fatality crashes around the holiday season. He says troopers do what they can to help drivers be safe, but motorists need to do their part, as well. He says it’s important to make smart decisions behind the wheel…

Cut 14 (07)  “holiday season”

______________________________________

The Louisiana Department of Transportation has a few resources drivers can use to check on traffic and road conditions on Louisiana roadways for their holiday travel. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

===================

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has already started tracking Ole Saint Nick on his present delivering journey around the world. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

===================

Many Louisianians will be hitting the roadways to visit family and loved ones this Christmas. Louisiana Department of Transportation spokesman Rodney Mallett says there are many different resources drivers can use to check on traffic and road conditions on Louisiana roadways. He says you can plan your travel through their 511LA-dot-org website…

CUT 3 (10)  “on the website”

Mallet says another resource for drivers is their “Way to Geaux” app, which is available for your smart phone. He says you won’t have to worry about constantly looking at your phone for information with this app…

CUT 4 (12)  “alternate route”

Mallett reminds motorists to be patient and courteous on the road this Christmas weekend as roadways will see increased traffic. He says drivers can also get up to date road conditions by paying attention to the message boards set up across the state…

CUT 5 (06)  “through Louisiana”

=====================

The North American Aerospace Defense Command has already started tracking Ole Saint Nick on his equipped present delivering journey around the world. NORAD spokeswoman Major Beth Smith says making sure the skies are safe is part of their mission and they began tracking Santa in 1955 when a number for the jolly guy was misprinted in the media and instead kids were calling their center

CUT 6 (08)  “track Santa for him”

Smith says the reindeer journey looks smooth so far and they don’t anticipate there being any disturbances in St. Nick’s path this year. She says the NORAD military command is well equipped to track anything that travels in the sky including Santa…:

CUT 7 (09) “continent”

Smith says trackers can call 1-877-Hi-NORAD to inquire about Santa’s whereabouts or go to www.noradsanta.org. She says he should be arriving in Louisiana sometime tonight likely between 10 and midnight and he does know when you’re sleeping and when you’re awake…:

CUT 8 (03) “Santa will show up”

=====================

Today on Christmas Eve by far one of the most sought after items here at the VERY last minute is a gift card. Tucker Group Financial Educator Jeanette Tucker it’s best not to rush your decision because you want to make sure you’re getting a card that will actually be used by the person you’re buying it for…:

CUT 9 (06)  “for the consumer”

Tucker says it’s always better to purchase your card directly from the vendor rather than from a rack at a grocery store. She says sometimes those cards can be drained fraudulently then returned to the rack…:

CUT 10 (05)  “invalid card”

Tucker says you should make sure the gift card is valid for 5 years and has a number on the back so consumers can call and check the balance. She says if you get a gift card for Christmas, use it up…:

cut 11 (10)  “particular vendor”

=====================

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is offering up to a $7,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the illegal killing of a black bear found in Avoyelles Parish. Spokesman Adam Einck says they were first contacted about the incident on December 5th…

cut 12 (09) “they really need”

Authorities say the bear was shot with a bullet that went through the abdomen and was dead for over a week before it was found. An examination of the 70 pound bear suggests the animal was a juvenile. Einck says anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call their Operation Game Thief hotline… (1-800-442-2511)

cut 13 (09) “Apple App Store”

The bear was found in the woods in the Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuge. Einck says the LDWF is working to raise the black bear population in Louisiana. He says those efforts are increasing the hunter-black bear contacts in the wild…

cut 14 (11) “in the future”

____________________________________

Now that the bad weather day is behind us, we can expect beautiful, yet chilly, conditions for Christmas. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

______________________________________

The annual Bonfires on the Levee takes place tonight in St. James Parish. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

A thief with a heart two sizes too small is behind bars after the Washington Parish Sheriff’s office got a tip that Mr. Grinch was trying to steal Christmas. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

State Climatologist Barry Keim says now that we have the nasty conditions behind us we can expect to have some nice weather for Christmas in Louisiana. He says colder temperatures are now descending upon the state…:

cut 4  (09)  “bottom line”

Keim says temperatures this morning range from the upper 30s across northern parishes to about 50 degrees along the coast, but most of the state is in the 40s. He says Christmas morning is when the real cold weather is going to settle in…:

Cut 5  (09)  “chilly morning”

Keim says conditions will be perfect out to open your presents by a nice warm fire on the chilly Christmas morning. He says highs on Thursday will rise up into the 50s…:

Cut 6 (05)  “just the way Christmas should be”

______________________________________

The annual Bonfires on the Levee takes place tonight in St. James Parish. Rhonda Lee, President of the Festival of the Bonfires, says this is a tradition in the parish dating back more than 100 years. She says, this year, 130 bonfires will be lit…

CUT 7 (09)  “along the levee”

Lee says the popularity of the Christmas Eve bonfires has been growing steadily over the last 25 years or so. She expects the levees to be packed tonight with revelers. Lee says people from all over the United States plan their Christmas vacations to check out the bonfires…

Cut 8 (06)  “time with us” 

If you plan on heading to the Bonfires on the Levee celebration, it’s recommended that you get into the area before 6PM. The fires will be lit around 7PM. There are several stories about how the bonfires started in St. James Parish, but Lee says one stands out…

Cut 9 (06)  “little children”

______________________________________

A thief with a heart two sizes too small is behind bars after the Washington Parish Sheriff’s office got a tip that Mr. Grinch was trying to steal Christmas. Sheriff Randy Seal they did some investigating and were able to apprehend the suspect’s dog and attach a surveillance recorder to it…:

Cut 10 (08) “put him in jail” 

Seal says the 56-year-old infamous Mr. Grinch was allegedly planning to take Christmas trees, ornaments, decorations and presents for children. He says now the people of Washington Parish can sleep easier now that the cuddly as a cactus suspect has been caught…:

cut 11 (08) “really are a heel”

Seal said they found Grinch hiding in the woods near Highway 62 and were able to listen in on his plans to ruin Christmas. He says they sent out this release to put smiles on faces and let citizens know there is a warm and fuzzy side cops and they don’t stink, stank stunk…:

cut 12 (05)  “Sheriff Seal”

______________________________________

Clean-up and recovery will take place today in Tangipahoa Parish near Amite where a tornado touched down yesterday afternoon causing damage to nearly 20 homes. Jeff McKneely, spokesperson for Tangipahoa Parish Emergency management, says thankfully no one was hurt

Cut 13 (05)  “severe damage”

The twister also knocked down trees and power lines, causing power outages. McKneely says the whole incident happened really quick…

Cut 14 (13)  “this storm”

McKneely says with the weather much better today, they’ll continue to survey the damage, but they do have a lot of property damage east of Amite…

Cut 15  (05)  “was destroyed”

________________________________________________

A group of people in St. John Parish have constructed a “Hands up!” bonfire on the Mississippi River West Bank. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

===================

Baton Rouge Police say the search for 4-year-old Jassiah Clark came to a sad end last night when the boy’s body was found in a deep hole less than 10 yards from his home. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

===================

A traffic stop near Hammond lead State Police to arrest a Texas man for transporting illegal narcotics. 37-year old Matthew Llanas is accused of transporting marijuana from Texas to Atlanta. Trooper Greg Marchand says while Llanas was stopped for a traffic violation, he began displaying some suspicious behavior. He says at that point, officers requested a K-9 unit to assist…

CUT 3 (10)  “200-thousand dollars”

A subsequent search of Llanas’ vehicle turned up approximately 200 pounds of marijuana with a street value of about $200,000. Marchand says Llanas was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail in Amite…

CUT 4 (08)  “is marijuana”

Llanas is charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, as well as a traffic violation of improper lane usage. Marchand says State Police will continue to use proactive enforcement to target drug trafficking organizations…

CUT 5 (06)  “constant commitment”

=====================

A group of people in St. John Parish have constructed a “Hands up!” bonfire on the Mississippi River West Bank. The structure, which is a reaction to a grand jury’s decision not to indict the cop in Ferguson who shot and killed Michael Brown, is built across from Harold LaGrange’s home in Lucy. He says they construct a creative bonfire every Christmas Eve..:

CUT 6 (08)  “really trending right now”

LaGrange says they’ve been getting a lot of support from the community. He says he’s appalled by Brown’s killing but the bonfire is in no way meant to be negative…:

CUT 7 (09) “educating them at home”

Lagrange says they will light the bonfire at about 7pm tomorrow night. He says they want to get people talking about what happened and teach their children that police are there to protect you…:

CUT 8 (09) “not about being negative”

=====================

Baton Rouge Police say the search for 4-year-old Jassiah Clark came to a sad end last night when the boy’s body was found in a deep hole less than 10 yards from his home. Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa (ga-DOW-wa) says last night officers were doing a follow up search in the neighborhood where Clark was last seen…

CUT 9 (11)  “body of Jassiah”

The boy’s body was found in a deep hole, which was filled with dirt and water, in a vacant lot behind the child’s home. Godawa says recent rains camouflaged the hole …

CUT 10 (08)  “a muddy area”

That hole was an old, abandoned sewer pump station site that had been backfilled earlier this year. She says more will be known after an autopsy is completed. Around one hundred officers from different agencies, including the FBI, were involved with the search and Godawa says this case really affected them…

cut 11 (08)  “real tragic ending”

=====================

Time is running out to get your Christmas shopping done. For many last minute shoppers, gift cards are the way to go. But Chair of the Louisiana Tech Marketing Department, Barry Babin, says when it comes to gift cards, people either love them or hate them. He says some people feel obligated to use a gift card and it’s kind of a pain to receive…

cut 12 (09) “they really need”

But Babin says to not underestimate the will of last minute Christmas shopper. He says many of those with the job of getting those final Christmas gifts will go through the effort of working their way through the crowds and getting meaningful presents…

cut 13 (09) “on Christmas Day”

And if you have to fight the crowds in the final hours of Christmas shopping, Babin says you can still get some great deals. He says, by this time in the shopping season, many retailers have already started their post-Christmas sales…

cut 14 (08) “they don’t like”

According to the American Automobile Association, a record 98.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home over the next two weeks.  Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

______________________________________

The flu outbreak in Louisiana that was already bad, is becoming even more widespread and just in time for the Holidays. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 2 (25) “reporting”

______________________________________

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office says two men are under arrest accused of selling weed out of their snoball stand. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

State Climatologist Barry Keim says the Bayou State is in for a round of severe weather today. He says a cold front is tracking across Louisiana and rainfall could range from under a quarter inch in the northwest portion of the state, to up over three inches in southeast Louisiana.

cut 4  (10)  “their billing”

Keim says the entire state is at risk for thunderstorms, damaging winds, possibly an isolated tornado and hail…:

Cut 5  (10)  “colder weather”

Keim says the good news is that all of this nasty weather will be out of the way for Christmas Eve and Christmas day but it will be much colder outside…:

Cut 6 (11)  “Christmas Day”

______________________________________

According to the American Automobile Association, a record 98.6 million Americans will hit the road during the year-end holiday period. AAA spokesman Don Redman says that’s a four-percent increase from last year…

CUT 7 (09)  “Christmas/New Year’s holiday”

The year-end holiday period is defined as today through Sunday, January 4th. Redman says this uptick in travel can be attributed to increasing disposable income and consumer confidence…

Cut 8 (12)  “Christmas holiday travel” 

Travelers are expected to pay the lowest gas prices since 2009. Nearly 91-percent of travelers will take a road trip to celebrate the holidays. Redman says the calendar is definitely playing a role in the increased holiday travel this year…

Cut 9 (09)  “they’re utilizing it”

______________________________________

The flu outbreak in Louisiana that was already bad, is becoming even more widespread and just in time for the Holidays. Dr. Frank Welch, medical director of the Louisiana Office of Public Health, says this is one of the worst seasons for influenza he has ever seen…:

Cut 10 (08) “in the thick of it” 

Welch says a whopping six out of every 100 doctor visits in Louisiana are because of influenza-like illnesses. He says it’s spreading from person to person so the more people that are infected, the more likely it is they are going to give it to somebody else…:

cut 11 (10) “worse and worse”

Welch says one of the reasons we’re seeing such a bad outbreak this season is because the strain H3N2 is what’s going around and it’s not covered in this year’s flu shot. He says that should not discouraging you from getting the flu shot because it will still be better than no protection at all. Welch says nobody wants to give the gift of the flu this Christmas.:

cut 12 (05)  “don’t wanna do that”

______________________________________

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office says two men are under arrest accused of selling weed out of their snoball stand. Sgt. Clay Higgins says they had been getting complaints from the community about the T&E Soul Food and Sno-Ball stand in Opelousas. He says the narcotics enforcement team gathered enough evidence to obtain a search warrant…:

Cut 13 (08)  “each man”

Higgins says 37-year-old Jermaine Doucet and 32-year-old Bryant Fields, both from Opelousas, were caught selling a side dish of “Hydro” marijuana to customers…:

Cut 14 (07)  “grown and cultivated”

The charges on each man include possessing marijuana and transaction involving proceeds from drug offenses. Higgins says this story is especially disturbing because hundreds of children passed the Hydro weed Sno-Ball stand every day…:

Cut 15  (09)  “Catholic church”

________________________________________________

The Saints are out of playoff contention, which makes this Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay meaningless in the minds of many fans. But Coach Sean Payton anticipates his players will prepare as if they are fighting for a playoff spot

Cut 16  (15)    understand that ”  

With the Saints missing out on the playoffs for the third time since 2008, changes are likely to occur with the roster. Payton says games like this Sunday are part of the evaluation process, when it comes to determining who should return next season..

Cut 17  (14)   “on film”

Payton says it is disappointing to have to play a game, knowing you can’t get into the playoffs…

Cut 18 (16) “those emotions”

Now that winter has officially begun, lots of folks may start experiencing Holiday Blues. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

===================

The State Fire Marshall’s Office is still investigating what caused a fire that killed twin two-year-old girls in Alexandria on Saturday. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

===================

Baton Rouge Police are currently looking for a suspect accused of sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl after taking her from a local park. Sgt. Mary Ann Godawa (ga-DOW-wa) says the incident happened on December 13 when the girl was lured near the car of the suspect…

CUT 3 (08)  “sexually assaulted”

Godawa says the suspect forced the girl into the car and drove her to another location where the assault took place. She says the suspect is described as a black male, approximately 6 feet tall with a medium to heavyset build. Godawa says information is limited at this time, but detectives have been working non-stop to find this suspect…

CUT 4 (11)  “release any information”

She says they are also searching for a gold or tan four-door Nissan Maxima that was seen around the park at the time of the incident. Godawa asks anyone with information on this case to please contact Crime Stoppers…

CUT 5 (07)  “to anyone else”

=====================

Now that winter has officially begun, lots of folks may start experiencing Holiday Blues. Michele Many (Main-EEE), a clinical social worker with the LSU Department of Psychiatry says it’s very common to become depressed during the Christmas season. She says this happens, in part, because we’re getting less UV exposure due to the shorter winter days…:

CUT 6 (11)  “have more of it”

Many says if there have been some losses during the year, Christmas can be a painful reminder that a person isn’t here with us. She also says other people may have sadness around the fact that they don’t get a long with certain family members or relationships are a little strained…:

CUT 7 (12) “Steve Scalise”

Many says one of the best ways you can battle the “bah humbugs” is to take care of yourself physically and try not set standards that are impossible to live up to. She says the Holidays are a prime time people develop impractical views about what our life should look like…:

CUT 8 (09) “unrealistic expectation”

=====================

The State Fire Marshall’s Office is still investigating what caused a fire that killed twin two-year-old girls in Alexandria on Saturday. Firefighters responded to the deadly blaze just before 2:30 Saturday afternoon. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says this is still a very active investigation…

CUT 9 (07)  “in the home”

He says they do not have a conclusive cause of the blaze at this time. The children were at home with their father when the fire broke out. Browning says firefighters were able to remove the children, named Annaya and Makaya, from the home…

CUT 10 (10)  “from the fire”

Autopsies are pending on both girls. Browning says it will be after the Christmas holiday before the investigation is complete. It is unknown at this time if the home had working smoke detectors. Browning says it appears the fire started near a bedroom…

cut 11 (08)  “the fire, together”

=====================

Over one-hundred workers at a processing plant near New Iberia that produces yams will have to find new work. McCall Farms told employees at the facility they are shutting operations down in south Louisiana and moving all sweet potato processing to a plant in South Carolina. Mike Tarantino is the director of the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation

cut 12 (11) “will be necessary”

Tarantino says about 140 people work at the plant, most of those are seasonal employees. He says the state is assisting the soon to be laid off workers…

cut 13 (10) “be affected”

An exact date on when the facility will close has not been given, but it’s expected to occur early next year. Tarantino is hopeful the workers at the plant will find other job opportunities soon…

cut 14 (07) “quickly”

It’s the first full day of winter. Michelle Southern tells us if we can expect cold and freezing precipitation like last winter…:

CUT 1 (25) “reporting”

______________________________________

A new Southern Media and Opinion Research poll shows Republican Senator David Vitter’s change in position on Common Core will benefit him. Scott Carwile reports…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

Here in the final days of 2014, there are some things taxpayers can do to help them financially. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

Today is the first full day of winter and many have not forgotten last year’s winter, which saw colder than normal temperatures and a few rounds of frozen precipitation.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says the climate prediction center’s forecast for the next three months indicates we could see a repeat..:

cut 4  (07)  “normal rainfall”

Keim says the wildcard right now is the El Nino which has been in the forecast for a while, but hasn’t formed yet. He says the climate prediction center is giving the system a 60% chance of forming sometime this winter…:

Cut 5  (10)  “the rain chances”

Keim says if the El Nino does form the way they think it will this winter, we’ll get more rain and even possibly some freezing rain like we saw last winter…:

Cut 6 (12)  “above normal”

______________________________________

A new poll shows that Republican Senator David Vitter’s change in position on Common Core is popular with voters. Vitter announced earlier this month he opposes the new educational testing standards and a Southern Media and Opinion Research survey found that 64-percent agree with Vitter. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Vitter made the right move, politically…

CUT 7 (08)  “with Common Core”

Pinsonat says opposing Common Core will help Vitter in his quest to become Louisiana’s next governor. He says the testing standards will be a main issue in the governor’s race…

Cut 8 (09)  “in Louisiana” 

Another Republican gubernatorial candidate, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, says he supports the controversial education standards. Pinsonat says Common Core will make next year’s race interesting…

Cut 9 (11)  “will be Common Core”

______________________________________

Here in the final days of 2014, there are some things taxpayers can do to put them in a better financial position in 2015. John Theriot is an accountant with the Louisiana Society of CPAs and he says business owners should accelerate expenses, because anything they can pay before year’s end will get the 2014 deduction.:

Cut 10 (09) “should do that” 

Theriot says now would also be a good time to let your employer know you want to up your contribution on your 401K or change your filing status on your W4. He says before the new year, you also might want to think about making charitable donations, so you can deduct it on your 2014 tax form…

cut 11 (10) “deduction also”

Theriot says if know you’ll have a big federal or state tax bill in the spring, you can begin paying those taxes off…

cut 12 (10)  “file your return”

______________________________________

The LSU Tigers are back at practice this week as they continue preparations to play Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl. Even though the Bayou Bengals have some extra time to prepare for this game, Coach Les Miles says don’t expect many changes when it comes to game planning for this game

Cut 13 (19)  “game day”

The other issue hanging around the LSU football program….Is how many underclassmen will leave for the NFL? There’s a report LSU cornerback Jalen Collins plans to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft, but Miles is optimistic they won’t see as many juniors leaving for the pros early as previous seasons

Cut 14 (17)  “football team”

______________________________________________

For the fourth straight season, the Ragin Cajuns have ended the year by winning the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. U-L Lafayette defeated Nevada 16-3 on Saturday in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Coach Mark Hudspeth has now led the Cajuns to four straight…nine-win seasons

Cut 15  (21)  “solid defense”

Senior quarterback Terrance Broadway set the tone early as he completed his first 14 passes, which is an NCAA Division One bowl record. Broadway finished with 227 yards passing and a touchdown in his final game as a Cajun

Cut 16  (15)    next level”  

_____________________________________________

Louisiana Tech holds its first practice in Dallas today leading up to its game against Illinois in the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas bowl. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says the team is looking forward to bowl week preparations…

Cut 17  (20)   “work done”

Holtz says the message to his team is that playing in a bowl game is great, but winning it, is even better…

Cut 18 (17) “uniform”

________________________________________________________

The Saints had a chance to win the NFC South on Sunday, but instead the Black and Gold’s season came to an end with a bitter 30-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. What makes it hurt even more is that, New Orleans finishes the year with five straight losses at the Dome. Coach Sean Payton on the lack of wins at home this year

Cut 19 (14)   “pretty obvious”

The loss reflected the Saints disappointing season. They had four turnovers and the defense had trouble getting off the field on third down and ended up allowing Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan to throw for 322 yards. It’s the first time a Payton coached team has missed the playoffs since 2008

Cut 20 (09)  “consistently enough”