Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu wants her opponent, Republican Bill Cassidy, to explain why time sheets show he was paid by the LSU Health Sciences Center for work he apparently never did. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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

Secretary of State Tom Schedler is pleased with the early voting totals for the December 6th run-off. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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

In the final week of the Senate campaign, democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu is making a big issue over time sheets that possibly show her opponent, Republican Bill Cassidy, was paid by the LSU Health Sciences Center for work he never did. Landrieu says the 16 statements that have been made public are full of inconsistencies…

CUT 3 (10)  “very unlikely”

Landrieu has called on Cassidy to produce all 63 time sheets in question for tonight’s debate. Landrieu says another issue here is that Congressmen are allowed to only make $26,000 a year in outside work on top of their Congressional salary…

CUT 4 (11)  “$50,000”

Cassidy says he’s proud of his work in the LSU System and these allegations are an attempt to to salvage Landrieu’s career. Cassidy and Landrieu will meet in a televised debate tonight. Landrieu says Cassidy has been hiding from his record during the campaign…

CUT 5 (07)  “double dipping”

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

Secretary of State Tom Schedler says 221-thousand voters casted ballots during the early voting period that ended Saturday. Schedler says they averaged over 44-thousand votes a day, which is a good number

CUT 6 (06)  “very impressive”

Saturday is election day and Schedler is optimistic we’ll see a voter turnout at 40-percent. There’s a usually a drop-off in voter participation between the general election and the run-off. But he says they averaged more voters per day last week than in the early voting period prior to the November fourth election.

CUT 7 (09) “to us”

Schedler says the heaviest early voting totals were in East Baton Rouge, Orleans and St. Tammany parishes…

CUT 8 (07) “were the heaviest”

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

State Police say a single vehicle crash involving a motorcycle and a deer has left one man dead and his wife seriously injured. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says 53-year-old Gordon Bolton was riding his Harley Davidson with his wife, 57-year-old Monika (MO-nika) Bolton, in Vernon Parish Saturday night…

CUT 9 (05)  “collided with it”

He says a deer entered the roadway and the motorcycle collided with it. Moreau says, as a result, the both individuals were ejected from the motorcycle…

CUT 10 (12)  “serious condition”

Gordon was pronounced dead at a local hospital while Monika remains hospitalized in serious condition. Moreau says both were wearing helmets at the time of the accident. He says, as of now, they do not suspect impairment in this crash, but the investigation is ongoing…

CUT 11 (07)  “a later date“

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

The 2014 hurricane season is over and forecasters were right when they predicted a normal to a below normal year. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there were only eight named stores, the fewest for a hurricane season since 1997

cut 12 (09) “North Carolina”

Keim says this is the ninth straight year we didn’t have a major hurricane hit the US Coastline, the longest such streak since records were kept

cut 13 (06) “major hurricane”

Keim says we can attribute the quiet season to lower than normal sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean

cut 14 (08) “Pacific Ocean”

Tonight is the last night voters will get to see democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu and republican challenger Bill Cassidy debate before Saturday’s Senate election. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

Eating right and staying healthy is more of a challenge during the holiday season. Jeff Palermo has some tips…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

Training is underway for a new cadet class of the Louisiana State Police. Scott Carwile reports…

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

Democratic incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu and republican challenger Bill Cassidy will meet in a televised Senate debate tonight. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says you can bet Landrieu will bring up the recent allegations that Cassidy, who is a doctor, was paid by the LSU Health Sciences Center for work he never did..

Cut 4  (10)  “question is”

Political bloggers first reported that some of Cassidy’s time sheets from LSU did not add up to the hours he actually worked. Dubos says this issue will likely come up in tonight’s debate, but it might be too little too late for Landrieu’s re-election chances

Cut 5  (09)  “sink in”

In published reports, Cassidy denies the accusations that he received payments for work he didn’t do. As far as the debate goes, Dubos expects Cassidy will continue to connect Landrieu’s voting record with President Obama’s policies

Cut 6 (10)  “on that”

______________________________________

After spending the weekend shopping for great deals at the mall and other retail stores, consumers will now turn to the internet for Cyber Monday. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says savvy consumers held off on buying certain items this past weekend to see what kind of deals they’ll get today…

CUT 7 (06)  “free shipping”

Rice says Cyber Monday is becoming a bigger deal then Black Friday for many consumers

Cut 8 (07)  “the house” 

Rice says even though shopping centers and malls were busy this weekend, some people were waiting until today to make most of their purchases

Cut 9 (10)  “over time”

______________________________________

The State Police Cadet Class #93 has started training to earn the privilege of wearing the “gold boot” badge of the Louisiana State Police. The cadets will go through 20 weeks of training. Trooper Jared Sandifer says about 70 new cadets reported to the Training Academy yesterday…

Cut 10 (10) “70 individuals” 

He’s hopeful this class will produce 50 new troopers. This is the second State Police cadet class to be held since September 2008. Sandifer says the graduates from this class will help bolster trooper numbers statewide…

cut 11 (07)  “of our state”

State Police graduated Cadet Class #92 in May and added 46 troopers to the roster. Sandifer says this new cadet class will go through 20 weeks of intense training…

cut 12 (11)  “survival skills”

______________________________________

Staying fit or maintaining your current weight is difficult for some during the holiday season. State department of health and hospital’s Well-Ahead Director, Melissa Martin, says staying hydrated is one way to make sure you don’t eat too much during one sitting

Cut 13 (12)  “hunger cues”

Martin says during the holiday season, many people take in more calories than they do during other months of the year, so she says find ways to burn off those calories

Cut 14 (10)  “play with family”

Martin says also try to plan out your meals, so you are not rushing to eat or forced to eat fast food on a regular basis

Cut 15  (12)  “the holidays”

_________________________________

The Ragin Cajuns wrapped up an 8-and-4 regular season with a 42-23 win over the Troy Trojans. UL Lafayette rushed for 344 yards as Elijan McGuire and Alonzo Harris combined to gain 255 yards on the ground and five touchdowns. Coach Mark Hudspeth on his top two running backs…

Cut 16  (19)  “pretty effective”

Louisiana Tech will play this Saturday in the Conference USA Championship game against Marshall after routing Rice 76-31 on Saturday at Joe Aillet Stadium. The Bulldogs amassed 677 total yards as quarterback Cody Sokol threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns. Head Coach Skip Holtz on his explosive offense

Cut 17  (15)   “went into it”

Tech will take on the Thundering Herd in the league title game this Saturday at 11 AM in Huntington, West Virginia. Marshall is 11-and-1 on the year, with its one loss coming on Friday against Western Kentucky. Holtz says it should be a great football game

Cut 18 (12) “should be”

The Saints continue to do the unexpected. Lose games when you expect them to win, but win games when you think they’ll get beat. New Orleans went into Pittsburgh yesterday and beat the Steelers 35-32. Quarterback Drew Brees threw five touchdown passes to five different receivers, Mark Ingram rushed for 122 yards and the defense forced two turnovers. Coach Sean Payton says it feels good to beat a good team on the road

Cut 19 (08)   “3rd down”

Before the game a report came out that said Payton and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan’s relationship had deteriorate to the point the two ‘hated” each other. Payton denied that was the case and said he loves what Ryan is doing

Cut 20 (09)  “outstanding job”

The National Federation of Independent Business has named this Saturday as Small Business Saturday. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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Saturday is the final day of early voting for the December 6th election. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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

The National Federation of Independent Business has named this Saturday as Small Business Saturday. It’s a day where shoppers can help the local economy by shopping at locally-owned businesses. Louisiana NFIB Director, Dawn Starns, says Small Business Saturday is designed to promote small independent business owners in your community…

CUT 3 (06)  “dollars locally”

This is Small Business Saturday’s fifth year and last year shoppers nationwide spent almost $6 billion at locally-owned shops and restaurants. Starns says supporting small business really pays dividends in the community all year long…

CUT 4 (11)  “it may be”

Starns says holiday shopping is crucial to small businesses who are still recovering from the slowdown in the economy and Small Business Saturday is your opportunity to help out one of your own…

CUT 5 (09)  “you probably know”

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

It’s the time of year where people start looking for that perfect Christmas Tree to display in their home for the holiday season. If you’re looking to get a fresh tree, Kevin Steele. Louisiana Director of the Southern Christmas Tree Association says there is an ample supply in Louisiana…

CUT 6 (08)  “Burkii Cedar”

Steele owns and operates a choose-and-cut Christmas Tree farm in Washington Parish.
He says a problem many people have with fresh Christmas Trees is needles falling from the tree. Steele says if you don’t like falling needles, you may want to consider purchasing a Leyland Cypress…

CUT 7 (08) “that falls off”

He says many people struggle with keeping their trees fresh as they go through the season. Steele says it’s important to hydrate your tree to keep it fresh….

CUT 8 (10) “water-holding stand”

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

The LSU Tigers capped off an up and down regular season with a 23-17 win over Texas A-and-M on Thanksgiving Night. LSU was in control for most of the game, despite what the final score says. Coach Les Miles gives credit to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron for coming up with a good game plan…

CUT 9 (11)  “there 18”

Freshman running back Leonard Fournette led the Tigers ground attack as he rushed for 146 yards. Fournette says they take pride in being a good running team…

CUT 10 (12)  “your hand”

LSU ends the regular season with an 8-4 record, 4-4 in the Southeastern Conference. They’ll now wait to find out who they will play in a bowl game and where. Miles says he’s proud of what his team accomplished this season….

CUT 11 (12)  “to do“

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

Saturday is the final day of early voting for the December 6th election. This election is highlighted by Louisiana’s US Senate runoff between Democratic incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu and Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says, during the first four days, turnout was brisk…

cut 12 (12) “a day”

Schedler says over 174,000 Louisiana voters participated in early voting through Wednesday. Early voting was closed Thursday and Friday and he says Saturday will be your last opportunity to cast an early ballot…

cut 13 (10) “satellite offices”

Schedler says you can go online to geauxvote-dot-com to find out where you can early vote. He says many people wanted to get voting out of the way before the Thanksgiving holiday. Because of this, Schedler is not expecting a record turnout for early voting Saturday…

cut 14 (07) “26,000 range”

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office reminds shoppers to stay safe and shop smart this holiday season. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

Black Friday is here and shoppers are crowding stores looking to find that great deal for their holiday shopping. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office reminds shoppers to stay safe and shop smart this holiday season. Director of the Public Protection Division, Sam Pleasant, says you should be on the lookout for holiday shopping scams. She says it’s very important to protect your identity…

Cut 3 (12) “legitimate retailer”

She says it’s important to keep your card and PIN number from prying eyes while you are out shopping. Pleasant says you should be very aware of suspicious looking point of sale terminals or scanning devices…

Cut 4  (12)  “gain your information”

She says review your financial statements and documents frequently for unusual discrepancies. Pleasant says if you plan on doing some holiday shopping online, be aware of look-a-like or phony websites. Pleasant says you should make sure you are on the proper website before purhasing anything online…

Cut 5  (11)  “click on those”

______________________________________

Black Friday is here and shoppers are crowding stores looking to find that great deal for their holiday shopping. Louisiana Tech Marketing Professor Berry Babin says you can expect blockbuster specials in stores this morning…

Cut 6 (12)  “a lot more blurred”

He says retailers are now offering Black Friday deals online, as well as in-store. Babin says electronics will still be a hot item this holiday season. However, he says some electronics experts say the sale of tablets will be down this year…

CUT 7 (09)  “a lot of people”

Retailers are optimistic that this holiday shopping season will be strong. Babin says, even though online shopping is increasing, you shouldn’t expect the Black Friday shopping crowds to go away anytime soon…

Cut 8 (07)  “love or hate” 

______________________________________

Several metro areas in Louisiana are in jeopardy of not meeting the federal government’s new ozone standards. The U-S Environmental Protection Agency is lowering the acceptable amount of how much ozone pollution should be in the air. State Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Greg Langley says it will force many industries and businesses to reduce their emissions

Cut 9 (07)  “will be expensive”

Governor Bobby Jindal says the new environmental regulations will kill jobs and increase energy prices. Langley says D-E-Q agrees with that assessment

Cut 10 (09) “to industry” 

But EPA administrator Gina McCarthy says lowering the standard will protect children and the elderly, who have trouble breathing because of ozone pollution. Langley says the new rules will take effect next October, but first there’s a 90-day comment period…

cut 11 (09)  “public input”

______________________________________

One of the best stories in college football this season will get national attention on Saturday when the Grambling State Tigers try to complete their remarkable turnaround, by beating Southern in the Bayou Classic. With a win, the Tigers can win the SWAC Western Division after winning just two games in 2012 and 2013. First-year Coach Broderick Fobbs says despite some recent dark days at  Grambling, the winning tradition never left the school

cut 12 (12)  “the challenge”

The winner of Saturday’s game will represent the western division in the SWAC Championship. Southern is also 7-and-1 in the league as they’ve won six in a row. Fobbs has a lot of respect for Jaguars Head Coach Dawson Odums

Cut 13 (10)  “technically sound”

The Saints will look to snap their three-game losing streak on Sunday when they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers. Quarterback Drew Brees remains positive even though they haven’t won a game since October 30th

Cut 14 (10)  “first one first”

The Saints are tied with Atlanta for first in the NFC South, despite a 4-7 record. Brees says the opportunity to make the playoffs is great motivation…

Cut 15  (11)  “positive thing”

More and more restaurants are opening on Thanksgiving day giving people an additional dining option for their holiday festivities. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (26) “reporting”

______________________________________

Louisiana will have a mobile pet shelter for future hurricane seasons. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

Several stores are once again opening their doors tonight to get a jump start on the Holiday shopping season. Wal-mart, Best Buy, Sears and Target are just some of the retailers who will cut their Thanksgiving holiday short in the hopes of increasing revenues. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice is not sure this relatively new tradition will continue

Cut 3 (05) “an advantage”

Some retail analysts say opening on Thanksgiving Day doesn’t lead to an increase in sales. Rice says many shoppers and employees are not happy with it either

Cut 4  (05)  “work those hours”

But Rice says optimism is high among retailers that this will be a good holiday shopping season

Cut 5  (06)  “looks good”

______________________________________

More and more restaurants are opening on Thanksgiving day giving people an additional dining option for their holiday festivities. Erica Burns, with the Louisiana Restaurant Association, says last year 33 million Americans went to a restaurant for all or part of their Thanksgiving meal. She thinks restaurants are open on Thanksgiving because of public demand…

Cut 6 (10)  “restaurant as well”

Burns says this is a trend that’s been growing over the last several years. Burns says a big advantage for eating out on Thanksgiving is that it allows for more time to be spent with your family…

CUT 7 (12)  “a clean house”

She says the Black Friday weekend is a big weekend for the restaurant industry. Burns says with stores now opening on Thanksgiving night, it just makes sense for restaurants to be open, too…

Cut 8 (10)    “for a meal” 

______________________________________

The LSU Tigers take on Texas A-and-M tonight looking to avoid ending the regular season on a three-game losing streak. 1999 was the last time the Tigers lost three games in a row and Coach Les Miles says the players are committed to getting a win tonight

Cut 9 (09)  “and achieving”

Both of these teams enter tonight’s contest with identitcal records, seven and four overall, 3-and-4 in the SEC. Miles says it will be a challenge for his team to go to Kyle Field and play well

Cut 10 (12) “football team” 

LSU has won three straight over the Aggies. In the last two victories, the Tigers defense held quarterback Johnny Manziel in check. Tonight, A-and-M will start freshman Kyle Allen. Sophomore defensive tackle Christian LaCouture says putting pressure on Allen will be important

cut 11 (10)  “create havoc”

______________________________________

Construction will begin next month on a mobile pet shelter that will be used for the 2015 hurricane season and beyond. The state department of agriculture is responsible for pet evacuations and Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says storm victims in the past have refused assistance unless their pets were accommodated

cut 12 (08)  “piece of equipment”  (2x)

Strain says they received a 40-thousand dollar donation which will go towards the construction of the mobile pet shelter, which will be about a 50-foot transport truck that’s outfitted with pet cages…

Cut 13 (09)  “move instantly”

As you get the kitchen ready to cook the family Thanksgiving feast, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning hopes safety is on your mind as well. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Federal judges ruled this week that same sex marriage bans in Arkansas and Mississippi are unconstitutional. Jeff Palermo looks at where Louisiana stands on this issue

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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As you get the kitchen ready to cook the family Thanksgiving feast, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning hopes safety is on your mind, as well. Browning says it’s important that your stove and oven are clean and properly maintained. He says once you begin cooking, you should attend to that cooking…

CUT 3 (09)  “on the stove”

Browning says unattended pots on the stove is the cause of many kitchen fires during Thanksgiving. He says, as friends and family gather, make sure you pay attention to kids playing in the kitchen…

CUT 4 (07)  “in these pots”

Browning says one specific hazard where they see a lot of house fires is the outdoor frying of turkeys. He says a main factor in fires involving fried turkeys is having your cooking apparatus too close to your home…

CUT 5 (07)  “evacuate the area”

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

Mississippi and Arkansas are the latest states to have a federal judge rule their gay marriage bans violated the US Constitution. Those two rulings came down yesterday. But Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says Louisiana’s ban on same sex marriages is safe for now

CUT 6 (09)  “was constitutional”

U-S District Judge Martin Feldman in New Orleans upheld Louisiana’s gay marriage ban with a ruling he made in September. Ciolino says because there are conflicting rulings from various federal judges and appellate courts, the Supreme Court will be forced to make a ruling

CUT 7 (08) “resolve this”

Ciolino says rulings made in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas have been or are in the process of being appealed to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. He says it’s likely that appellate court will rule against same-sex couples…

CUT 8 (11) “conservative bent”

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

Cleco is now offering its customers an energy efficiency program to help reduce their monthly energy use. Spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says the best way to manage your bill is to manage your energy consumption…

CUT 9 (12)  “their electricity bill”

The program is available to all of Cleco’s 284,000 customers in Louisiana. Cooper says there are many features to this program and more information can be found on Cleco’s website. She says the process will start with a free energy assessment…

CUT 10 (05)  “and save energy”

The assessment will show customers where they can make energy efficient improvements to their home. Cooper says that, if you need to have work done on your home to improve its energy efficiency, you can save by using one of Cleco’s approved contractors…

CUT 11 (07)  “is being done“

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

This weekend Louisiana highways will be filled with holiday travelers, shoppers or those heading to or returning from big college and high school football games. State Police Trooper Jared Sandifer is reminding motorists to make smart decisions behind the wheel

cut 12 (10) “holiday season”

Unfortunately, Sandifer says State Police has already investigated about a dozen fatal crashes since last weekend

cut 13 (07) “Thanksgiving holiday”

Sandifer says they are participating in the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Click or Ticket Campaign,” which means they’ll be looking for unbuckled drivers and passengers

cut 14 (06) “while impaired”

Replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships, the Nina and Pinta, will be on display in Houma starting today. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

The American Automobile Association says more than 46 million Americans will be hitting the road to celebrate Thanksgiving which is the most since 2007. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

The Food and Drug Administration announces new rules mandating chain restaurants and supermarkets serving prepared food put calorie counts on the menus. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

Replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships, the Nina and Pinta, will be on display in Houma starting today. The ships are floating museums educating the public on the type of ship that Columbus used during the age of discovery. Captain of the Nina, Stephen Sanger, says the ships attract people of all ages…

Cut 4  (07)  “on the weekend”

The ships will be on display through December 7th at the Downtown Marina in Houma. Sanger says both of these ships are Portuguese Caravels that were hand crafted in Brazil…

Cut 5  (07)  “through generations”

Both ships spend about 10 months out of the year traveling around the United States giving people a glimpse of what life was like for sailors in the 15th century. Sanger says while the Pinta is a slightly larger replica than the original, the Nina is an exact replica of Columbus’ ship…

Cut 6 (07)  “crossing in ’92”

______________________________________

The American Automobile Association says more than 46 million Americans will be hitting the road to celebrate Thanksgiving which is the most since 2007. The travel days are defined as today through Sunday. AAA travel analyst Don Redman says they attribute this jump to an improving economy…:

CUT 7 (10)  “almost four years”

Redman says more than 90 percent of travelers will be doing so by vehicle. He says folks will be enjoying the lowest Thanksgiving gas prices in five years…:

Cut 8 (11)    “versus last year” 

Redman says the number of people traveling this year is also a 4.2% increase over last year. He says though gas prices are going to be lower, there are other travel expenses that are moderately higher this year over last year…:

Cut 9 (05)  “fly this year”

______________________________________

The Food and Drug Administration announces new rules mandating chain restaurants and supermarkets serving prepared food put calorie counts on the menus. The regulation applies to any establishment that serves food, even movie theaters, and have 20 or more locations. Melissa Martin is the state Department of Health and Hospitals “Well-Ahead” manager.:

Cut 10 (13) “actually is” 

The rules also apply to gas stations, bakeries, coffee shops, amusement parks and vending machines and they all have until November 2015 to comply. Martin believes these new rules will help people make a more informed decision when they are ordering food and drinks…:

cut 11 (12)  “improved health”

Martin says menu labeling ensures customers process calorie information as they decide what to eat and drink. She feels this ruling will promote a healthier population…:

cut 12 (10)  “choosing to make”

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It maybe a tradition at your household to rinse the turkey before putting it in the oven for the Thanksgiving feast. But LSU AgCenter nutritionist Denise Holston-West advises against it. She says washing poultry or meat can spread bacteria

Cut 13 (10)  “the kitchen”

Holston-West also advises against having food out on the table for more than two hours…

Cut 14 (10)  “two hours”

Once the turkey is in the oven, use a food thermometer to make sure it cooks to 165-degrees. Holtston-West says the stuffing should be cooked in a separate caserole

Cut 15  (10)  “165-degrees”

_________________________________

With one game left in the regular season, the Ragin Cajuns are still in position to share the Sun Belt Conference Championship, despite their loss last week to Appalachian State. But UL Lafayette Coach Mark Hudspeth says they have to forget about that loss to the Mountaineers

Cut 16  (19)  “who we are”

For U-L Lafayette to claim at least a share of the Sun Belt title, they’ll need ULM to beat Georgia Southern on Saturday and the Cajuns will ned to knock off Troy. It’s the final game on the sidelines for longtime Trojans Coach Larry Blakeney. Hudspeth expects Troy to play hard for their coach

Cut 17  (15)   “offensive line”

U-L-M is looking to close out the 2014 campaign with back-to-back wins, but it won’t be easy against a Georgia Southern team that leads the country in rushing yards per game. Warhawks Coach Todd Berry says Eagles Quarterback Kevin Ellison does a good job of directing their triple-option offense…

Cut 18 (17) “a long way”

The Warhawks snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over New Mexico State last week. Berry says it says a lot about his team that they want to finish the season strong, even though they didn’t win enough games to qualify for a bowl game

Cut 19 (21)   “the road”

A Moreauville family is fighting the town that is trying to enact a ban on vicious dogs. Eric Gill has the story…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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

The Destrehan High School teacher involved in a sex scandal with a 16-year-old student pleads not guilty today. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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

A Moreauville family is fighting the town that is trying to enact a ban on vicious dogs. Joanna Armand, whose family owns a pit bull named Zeus, is fighting to lift that ban. Armand began an online petition and it has already generated over 245,000 signatures. She’s also reaching out to dog owners in Moreauville and Avoyelles Parish…

CUT 3 (10)  “or huskies”

Moreauville passed an ordinance banning pit bulls and rottweilers from town limits. If the ban goes into effect, the family would be forced to give up one-year-old Zeus, who has no history of aggressive behavior. Armand says giving up Zeus would devastate her family since the dog provides love and support for four of her children who have special needs…

CUT 4 (10)  “their helper”

Armand calls Zeus a “Mom’s Helper” for the role he has taken with her children. It’s reported the ordinance was passed because several residents said they were chased by dogs in neighborhoods, although no attacks have been documented. The ban was to go into effect December 1, but that date has been put on hold. Armand feels the town handled this situation in the wrong way…

CUT 5 (09)  “of Moreauville”

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

The riots in Ferguson, Missouri, over the decision by a grand jury not to indict a white police officer in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager has caught the attention of many people in Louisiana. Dialogue on Race Louisiana C-E-O Maxine Crump says the civil unrest is a sign America still has a long way to go to removing color barriers

CUT 6 (07)  “undone”

Crump does not condone the burning of businesses, which occurred last night in Ferguson. But she says these type of emotional outbursts will continue unless America does more to make sure discrimination is no longer a part of our society

CUT 7 (10) “our future”

There are at least three vigils or rallies planned for tonight in Louisiana in response to the grand jury’s decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown. Crump says these events can be positive and a way for people to peacefully express how they feel

CUT 8 (11) “for this country”

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

The Saints dropped their third consecutive home game last night losing to the Baltimore Ravens 34-20. The loss puts the Black & Gold at 4-7 on the season. Head coach Sean Payton says the team needs to play better, but the coaches also need to coach better moving forward…

CUT 9 (11)  “important game”

This is the first time the Saints have lost three in a row at the Dome since 2001. Quarterback Drew Brees says the team having this type of stretch during the season is definitely disappointing…

CUT 10 (10)  “better than that”

Even though the Saints’ record is disappointing, they are still tied for first place in the NFC South. The Saints now prepare to travel to Pittsburgh for a Sunday matchup against the 7-4 Steelers. Brees says losing is no fun…

CUT 11 (06)  “get a win“

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

Texas Governor Rick Perry is campaigning with Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy today. They are making three stops in Louisiana in an effort to get out of the vote as Cassidy tries to unseat democratic senator Mary Landrieu on December sixth. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a good political strategy

cut 12 (09) “go out and vote”

Meanwhile, Landrieu is spending her afternoon, talking with workers at a marine facility in Houma and she also has a meeting with seniors and disabled residents in Terrebonne Parish.  Pinsonat says Landrieu is trying to drum up more support from blue collar workers and seniors…

cut 13 (03 “beat bad”

Pinsonat expects Landrieu to be active on the campaign trail leading up to election day, but it’s likely not enough to keep her job as a US Senator

cut 14 (10) “so much”

As the rate of diabetes continues to rise, new numbers show the costs associated with the disease are climbing at an alarming rate. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

______________________________________

Louisiana continues to set records when it comes to the number of people who are working in the state. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

A West Monroe lawmaker filed a lawsuit this week seeking to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because two days were lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 3 (25) “reporting”

______________________________________

As the rate of diabetes continues to rise, new numbers show the disease costs Louisiana’s five-billion dollars a year. The study was conducted by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the facility’s executive director, Dr. William Cefalu, says the cost of prediabetes went up 74-percent and undiagnosed diabetes grew 82-percent since 2007…

Cut 4  (06)  “number of cases”

Nationally, the cost of diabetes has grown to $322 billion per year in excess medical costs and lost productivity. Cefalu says diabetes is becoming an economic burden for the entire country…

Cut 5  (05)  “this condition”

Cefalu says increased awareness and action to stem the disease is needed to cut down the cost. He says previous studies show that prediabetes can be controlled…

Cut 6 (09)  “to diabetes”

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Former Governor Edwin Edwards took several shots at his opponent in the 6th Congressional District race in a debate where Garret Graves did not show up. Edwards accuses Graves of playing dirty politics in a flyer he sent out prior to the November 4th election that may lead voters to believe Paul Deitzel is gay…:

CUT 7 (10)  “really do hurt”

Edwards is also accusing Graves of helping his family profit from Government contracts when he was the head of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Under that leadership, Edwards says Graves’ father was awarded $130 million dollars in state contracts and he bought coastal restoration office space then made his brother-in-law the leasing agent:

Cut 8 (13)    “all that time” 

Edwards was asked if he thought Senator Mary Landrieu was affecting his campaign. The former governor joked that it’s The President hurting them both…:

Cut 9 (14)  “in this district”

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The state continues to set new employment records. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says total nonfarm employment in Louisiana reached 1,988,900 in October, which is a new record high

Cut 10 (09) “in Louisiana” 

Eysink says the number of private employment jobs has grown by 31-thousand over the last year. he says two industry sectors have set employment records

cut 11 (10)  “very strong”

The state’s unemployment rate is also going up, along with the number of people who are employed. The unemployment rate for October was six-point-two percent, up four-percentage points from last year. Eysink says it’s an indicator people are responding to the state’s strong job growth

cut 12 (08)  “we have”

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A West Monroe lawmaker filed a lawsuit this week seeking to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because two days were lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Governor Bobby Jindal declared this Friday a state holiday, Acadian Day, and polls are closed. Representative Marcus Hunter says he hopes the court knows the will of the legislature when it comes to voting…:

Cut 13 (05)  “to vote”

Hunter says this election, with the US-Senate race at the top of the ballot, is too important to shorten the amount of time someone is given the opportunity to vote. He says he hopes a judge will add those two extra days back…:

Cut 14 (12)  “Friday and Monday”

Hunter says it’s the responsibility of Secretary of State Tom Schedler to make sure voter turnout in Louisiana is as high as it can possibly be. But Schedler says the law is the law…:

Cut 15  (09)  “filed the suit”

Hunter says he hopes his case will be heard either today or tomorrow before the judges take off for Thanksgiving. Schedler says this is not the first time that polls have been closed during the early voting period when state offices are closed…:

Cut 16  (11)  “challenged in court”

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Louisiana Tech can win the West Division of Conference USA this Saturday. But the defending league champions stand in the Bulldogs way. The Rice Owls won ten games last year and were crowned the C-USA champs. This season Rice can win the West from Tech by beating the Bulldogs in Ruston this weekend. La Tech head coach Skip Holtz calls Rice a solid team

Cut 17  (17)   “been winning”

Last season, the Rice Owls embarrassed Louisiana Tech, beating them in Houston 52-14. Holtz says his players remember that game and had a feeling that this year’s contest would decide a division championship

Cut 18 (14) “west division”

LSU heads into Thursday night’s regular season finale against Texas A-and-M struggling on offense. So will true freshman quarterback Brandon Harris get some snaps against the Aggies. When asked. Coach Les Miles gave a non-committal answer

Cut 19 (14)   “he’s improved”

LSU has won the two previous meetings against Texas A-and-M, since the Aggies joined the Southeastern Conference. In both contests, the Tigers defense slowed down an A-and-M offense led by Johnny Manziel. Miles says the Aggies offense hasn’t changed much since “Johnny Football” departed…

Cut 20 (17)  “throw the football”

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

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Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

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State Police are investigating a single vehicle accident involving an alleged drunk driver in Tangipahoa Parish that claimed the life of the driver’s father. Master Trooper Greg Marchand says troopers responded to a call about the crash in the Hammond area last night…

CUT 3 (12)  “a pine tree”

45-year-old Douglas Hoyt of Holden was not restrained at the time of the accident and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Marchand says they do suspect impairment on the part of the driver, 22-year-old Amber Hoyt…

CUT 4 (08)  “vehicular homicide”

Amber, who was restrained, received minor injuries and will be booked upon release from the hospital. Marchand reminds drivers, especially during the holiday season, use proper restraints and never operate a vehicle while impaired… (Amber will be charged with DWI, careless operation, and vehicular homicide.)

CUT 5 (08)  “into tragedy”

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New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. This is the largest individual contribution in the Hall’s 51 year history. Vice President of Communications Pete Fierle (FEAR-ly) says Hall President David Baker approached Benson earlier this season…

CUT 6 (07)  “very, very quickly”

The donation will help build a Hall of Fame Village. $10 million of Benson’s donation will be used to renovate Fawcett Stadium, which will now be called Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The renovations will allow the stadium to be used for other sporting and entertainment events. The additional $1 million will help construct the Hall of Fame’s Legends Landing…

CUT 7 (11) “to literally land”

Legends Landing will be a residence where former greats can live if they fall on hard times. He says the Hall of Fame Village, and the various programs that will run from it, will help teach the values of the game and how you can apply them to all parts of life. Fierle feels Benson made this donation because he shares the Hall’s vision of what Hall of Fame Village represents…

CUT 8 (11) “for this country”

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The famous Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights is officially underway. The 300,000+ lights were turned on for the first time on Saturday and will twinkle every night at dusk through January 6th of next year. Madi Ackel is this year’s Miss Merry Christmas. She says Natchitoches is always special, but this is the highlight of the year…:

CUT 9 (10)  “special here”

Downtown attractions include carriage tours through the historic district and all shops and restaurants will be open late. Ackel says the 88th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Festival and parade happens December 6th…:

CUT 10 (08)  “at the lake”

You can get more information on the festival online at christmasfestival.com. Ackel says all events take place in the Landmark Historic District along the Cane River Lake and they invite everyone to come out and get into the Christmas spirit…:

CUT 11 (06)  “as possible here“

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Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Early voting began Saturday and will run through this Saturday, excluding Thursday and Friday. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voter turnout last Saturday was brisk…

cut 12 (10) “almost 45,000”

He says nearly 45,000 voters cast their ballot early Saturday, but expects numbers to taper off as we get into the week. Schedler says it wasn’t very surprising to see a large number of voters out on Saturday…

cut 13 (06) “was very nice”

He says lines are steady today for early voting, although shorter than what was seen on opening day. Schedler predicts, based on historical data, overall voter turnout for the December 6th election will be in the 35-percent range…

cut 14 (08) “the following day”