After eleven rounds of voting, the U-S House still does not have a Speaker of the House. Members of the conservative Freedom Caucus continue to oppose GOP leader Kevin McCarthy. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it IS possible House members would nominate Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise as an alternative to McCarthy. He feels, if that happens, Scalise is a shoo-in…:
Cut 8 (11) “…the votes necessary.”

The Pelicans are 17-and-4 at home this season, but many fans are returning to their vehicles to find windows busted out and their belongings stolen. Saints and Pelicans spokesperson Greg Bensel says they are concerned about the break-ins and need to see action. Interim NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says they will have more officers patrolling the parking lots around the Dome and Smoothie King Center
Cut 13 (08) “…won’t happen again.”

You may have heard the phrase “Dry January” being discussed. Brooke Thorington has more on what it is and benefits.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says they arrested a man who wanted to be arrested so he could go back to jail to have a place to sleep and eat. Deputies say 39-year-old Kenneth Hunt of Lake Charles broke the glass on the front door of the correctional center. He allegedly committed the property damage five hours after he was released from jail after he was booked on November 1st on other charges.

With Senator John Kennedy out of the governor’s race, it’s expected those who are running will make their intentions known by the end of the month. We’ve heard of several Republicans considering the office, but is there a clear frontrunner for Democrats? LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says one possibility is a current cabinet member of Governor John Bel Edwards.
Cut 4 (06) “…the governor.”
In addition to Wilson, Alford says current state Democratic Party chair Katie Bernhardt has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.

Food Network star Valerie Bertinelli announced she’s doing Dry January. It’s where people give up alcohol for the first month of the year. Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Doctor Jennifer Creedon says among the benefits are improved sleep, weight loss, thinking more clearly, and fewer negative thoughts. Creedon says alcohol is also a depressant.
Cut 11 (05) “…on mood.”

The U.S. House will try again today to elect a House Speaker, but could Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise be a possible alternate candidate to lead the House? More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Several Republican names have been mentioned for the 2023 governor’s race but who are the possible Democrats running? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The U.S. House will try again today to elect a House Speaker, but could Kenner Congressman Steve Scalise be a possible alternate candidate to lead the House? More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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You may have heard the phrase “Dry January” being discussed. Brooke Thorington has more on what it is and its benefits.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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With Senator John Kennedy out of the governor’s race, it’s expected those who are running will make their intentions known by the end of the month. We’ve heard of several Republicans considering the office, but is there a clear frontrunner for Democrats? LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says one possibility is a current cabinet member of Governor John Bel Edwards.

Cut 4 (06)  “…the governor.”

In addition to Wilson, Alford says current state Democratic Party chair Katie Bernhardt has also been mentioned as a potential candidate. He says a statewide poll on Bernhardt was conducted Thursday.

Cut 5 (09) “…for Democrats.”

Another possibility is East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore.  Moore says he’s been approached about running for governor but says he’s very happy with his current job.

Cut 6 (10)  “…love doing.” 

Alford predicts by the end of the month, all of the potential gubernatorial candidates will have announced their intentions.

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A the U.S. House continues to struggle with electing Majority leader Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker, many speculate the House Minority leader and District 1 Congressman Steve Scalise may be tapped to be a “compromise candidate.” U.L.-Monroe political science professor Joshua Stockley says that is a plausible course of action for House republicans, but Scalise might be reluctant to do so…:

Cut 7 (12) “…with Representative McCarthy.”

Stockley says it IS possible House members would nominate Scalise as an alternative to McCarthy. He feels, if that happens, Scalise is a shoo-in…:

Cut 8 (11)  “…the votes necessary.”

In Wednesday and Thursday House votes, McCarthy’s “yea” votes continued to shrink. He needs 218 to be named speaker but has received as few at 201 votes. Stockley says House members may see a stalemate and seek another candidate, and that could easily be Steve Scalise. However, he says not to count out the fact that Scalise and McCarthy are both political allies and personal friends…:

Cut 9 (10)  “…of Representative McCarthy.”

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The term Dry January is trending. So, what is it? It’s an opportunity for individuals to give up alcohol for a month and see how it affects their mental and physical health. Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Dr. Jennifer Creedon says many realize they’ve been drinking more than they thought.

Cut 10 (11) “…maybe thought.” 

Among the benefits of giving up alcohol for a month are improved sleep, weight loss, thinking more clearly, and fewer negative thoughts. Creedon says while many people associate drinking as a fun activity, it’s actually a depressant.

Cut 11 (05)  “…on mood.”

And as with any lifestyle change, Creedon says having a support group is helpful, you can find one online, or even discuss going alcohol-free with friends and family members. Seek out activities that aren’t associated with alcohol and if you believe you have a problem, Creedon says to reach out to your doctor.

Cut 12 (07) “…disorders.”

She also suggests journaling and taking before and after photos while abstaining for a better idea of the role alcohol plays in your life.

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The Pelicans are 17-and-4 at home this season, but many fans are returning to their vehicles to find windows busted out and their belongings stolen. Saints and Pelicans spokesperson Greg Bensel says they are concerned about the break-ins and need to see action. Interim NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork says they will have more officers patrolling the parking lots around the Dome and Smoothie King Center

Cut 13 (08) “…won’t happen again.”

Fans have been expressing their frustration on social media, posting photos of their broken into vehicle. One fan says it’s happened to him twice in the last five months. Woodfork says there will be increased patrols…

Cut 14 (13)  “…Smoothie King Center”

The Pelicans are set to host the Nets tonight and on Sunday the Saints will take on the Panthers in the Dome. Bensel says they are on the radar of the NFL and NBA because of the rampant car burglaries. Woodfork says they plan to put a stop to it…

Cut 15 (08)  “…delete it”

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The Monday Night Football matchup between the Bengals and Bills was suspended after Bills Safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after making a tackle. Team staff performed emergency CPR on the field before Hamlin was taken by ambulance to UC Medical Center where he is still in critical condition. Players and coaches were initially told the game would resume before being suspended temporarily and eventually postponed altogether. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow says neither team was in the right mental state to finish the game…

Cut  16 (19)  “…emotional night.” 

Players, coaches, and officials from across the league have extended their thoughts and prayers to Hamlin and his family. Many have expressed fear and shock at the incident as they prepare for the last week of the regular season. Burrow says it’s a strange feeling knowing what happened Monday night but still trying to go on with business as usual…

 Cut 17 (17) “…to go and win.” 

Burrow said he reminded his teammates how important they were to him Monday night and was glad to get back to football this week. The Bengals are preparing for a matchup against division rival Ravens as they look to claim the one-seed in the AFC, but Burrow said opinions in the locker room are still split on those who want to play the game…

Cut 18 (17) “…dealing with it” 

Doctors announced Hamlin is still in critical condition but he’s made substantial improvements. He has no signs of neurological damage and is now awake and communicating through writing. When he asked who won the game Monday night his doctors replied, “Yes, Damar, you won. You won the game of life.”

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Natchitoches Central High School announced they will be hiring Many High School Coach Jess Curtis as their new Head Football Coach. Curtis led the Tigers to an undefeated state championship this season and has three state championships and three runner-up finishes in the last nine years. Curtis is a Many native and played for the Tigers’ 1988 state finalist team. He says it was hard to leave his alma mater and the success they’ve had, but was impressed by Natchitoches Central…

Cut 19 (20) “…at Natchitoches Central”

Curtis will take over a program that went 3-7 last season. The school just finished a new athletic fieldhouse and has erected a grandstand and press box with plans to develop the facility into a home field. Curtis says he was drawn to the challenge of starting a new 5A program…

Cut 20 (20)  “…appealing to me.” 

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In case you hadn’t heard…Senator John Kennedy has made it official; he will NOT run for governor next fall. Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry has already declared candidacy, printed hats and t-shirts and secured the endorsement of the state Republican Party. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser has been considering running, and he makes no secret he feels Landry’s scrappy style isn’t right for being governor…:

CUT 04(11)      “…good of Louisiana.”

Nungesser says he’ll announce his decision on the 2023 governor’s race next Tuesday.

After months on the lam, a Union Parish murder suspect has been captured in Texas. 48-year-old Bruce Causey allegedly stabbed a co-worker to death while on a prison work release at a chicken processing plant in Farmerville way back in April. Union sheriff Dusty gates says cops in the Houston suburb of Pearland busted him on a domestic call. He’ll eventually be extradited back to Louisiana to stand trial.

Jefferson Parish deputies arrest two children, ages 12 and 14, for a string of car thefts and burglaries. The two were apprehended early Wednesday morning in the midst of a car burglary at the Creeks of River Ridge apartment complex and two suspects got away in dramatic fashion. Sheriff Joe Lopinto said one suspect fled the scene, carjacked a vehicle, crashed it, and ran off on foot. While the other suspect drove off, he encountered two deputies blocking his way…:

CUT 06(12)      “…catch up with him”

The young brothers are in juvenile detention; accused of over 60 car burglaries and at least one car theft. Two more suspects are sought.

Ouachita Parish deputies say an anonymous tip of drug use and/or sales at a Calhoun home led to the arrest of 35-year-old Steven Jones. A warranted search of his home turned up a good amount of meth plus nearly a pound of marijuana. They also found a pistol, a rifle and two shotguns. Jones faces drug and weapons charges. He has posted an $11-thousand bond.

Deputies in Jefferson Parish arrest two kids for a string of car thefts and burglaries, and they’re looking for two more that got away…:

CUT 02 (32)      “…Thorington.”

State Police in Vermilion Parish say a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 167 yesterday killed two people. Troopers say a pickup was southbound at high speed when it rear-ended an SUV; causing both to go off the road and roll over. Both in the pickup were unrestrained and died. Everyone in the SUV was seatlbelted and will recover. The crash is still under investigation.

The work release inmate accused of killing a co-worker at the Foster Farms chicken processing plant in Farmerville has been arrested in Texas. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates says he and his deputies have been looking for 48-year-old Bruce Causey since last April…:

CUT 09 (10)      “…warrants on him.”

He’ll be extradited back to Louisiana to stand trial.

A third day of voting ends with the U.S. House still stalemated on Kevin McCarthy for House Speaker. Columnist Mark Ballard of Baton Rouge is in D.C. He says GOP holdouts who won’t back McCarthy demand he commit to allowing far fewer so-called omnibus federal spending bills…:

CUT 14 (13)      “…at that moment.”

A 9^th vote failed to elect McCarthy to Speaker this afternoon.

It looks like a third day of voting will pass without the U.S. House selecting a Speaker. Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has fallen short of the 218 votes needed to become speaker for a 9th time today. “The Advocate” reporter Mark Ballard – who is in D.C. at the Capitol – says behind-the-scenes negotiations will go on until the GOP can unite sufficient votes behind McCarthy’s leadership..:

CUT 13(07)      “…Speaker of the House.”

There are 20 Republican holdouts, who want concessions from McCarthy as House leader. Ballard says they want House rules changed so it no longer takes a majority vote to call for a vote to replace the Speaker. They also demand he commit to allowing far fewer so-called omnibus federal spending bills.

Police in Baton Rouge checked on an early morning car crash on Interstate 110, and found a murder victim in the vehicle. BRPD says the person was dead from multiple gunshots when they arrived. The victim’s name, gender and age have not been released. An investigation is now underway.

The Governor’s race. Senator John Kennedy is officially OUT…so will Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser get IN? Nungesser says officials in the tourism industry want him to run for another term in his current job…:

CUT 03(09)      “…decision to make.”

He says he’ll make an announcement next Tuesday. So far, Attorney general Jeff Landry is running. State Treasurer John Schroder, Congressman Garret Graves, state lawmakers Richard Nelson and Sharon Hewitt are reportedly thinking about running.

Jefferson Parish deputies arrest two for a string of over 60 car burglaries; boys ages 12 and 14. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says their mom couldn’t explain why her sons were out stealing stuff at 2 in the morning. He says he always knows where HIS kids are…:

CUT 08(09)      “…there they are.”

The mom was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Deputies seek two other suspects who got away.

Senator John Kennedy tells supporters he will not run for governor. Fellow Republican Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’ll announce his decision next Tuesday. Jeff Palermo has more…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

New Orleans city leaders have been made aware that the NFL and NBA are reportedly concerned about the “near constant” vehicle break-ins at the Caesar’s superdome and Smoothie King Center parking lots during games. The city is expected to host the 2025 Super Bowl, but that could change if the league doesn’t think fans or their stuff will be safe.

Jefferson Parish deputies arrest two kids – ages 12 and 14 – for a string of car thefts and burglaries. The two were apprehended early Wednesday morning in the midst of a car burglary at the Creeks of River Ridge apartment complex, but two accomplices got away. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says the story got more interesting when the boys’ mother was questioned about why her boys were out and about in the wee small hours…:

CUT 07(08)      “…who they were with.”

42-year-old Tiffany Broomfield reportedly got nasty and argumentative. She was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

The Bed, Bath & Beyond store in Alexandria will close in about 2 months. The company is hemorrhaging money, its stock had dropped 20-percent and its overall bankruptcy appears imminent. Other BB&B locations in Louisiana are also expected to announce they’re closing.

It looks like a third day of voting will pass without the U.S. House selecting a Speaker. Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy has fallen short of the 218 votes needed to become speaker for an 8^th time today. “The Advocate” reporter Mark Ballard – who is in D.C. at the Capitol – says this is despite talk in the halls of Congress that negotiations with McCarthy’s naysayers were making progress…:

CUT 12  (13)        “…and House procedures”

Ballard says there are still 5 congressmen who vow they will never vote for McCarthy as Speaker, and he’ll need at least three of their votes to cross the finish line.

With Senator Kennedy’s announcement last night he will NOT run for governor, the question arises “will Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser get in the race? Or run for re-election?” Nungesser says if too many Republicans run, it will hurt his chances at making the run-off…:

CUT 05  (10)        “…the runoff.”

He says he WILL announce his decision next Tuesday.

A man wanted since last April for killing a co-worker at the Foster Farms chicken processing plant in Farmerville has been arrested in Texas. 48-year-old Bruce Causey was busted by Texas cops on a domestic disturbance and they alerted Union Parish that they had their man. Union Sheriff Dusty Gates says the family of Causey’s alleged victim, Letrick Calhoun, is relieved…:

CUT 11(10)      “…to hear that.”

After Causey faces weapons charges in Texas, he’ll be extradited to Union Parish for murder charges. He accused of stabbing Calhoun to death during an argument, then fleeing the job and the state.

Police in Ruston are investigating a shooting early this morning at a Waffle House that left one man dead. They say both the shooter and the victim fled the restaurant, but the victim died a short time later while driving on U.S. 80. They have identified a suspect, but for now are not releasing his name, nor the name of the victim. No arrest has been made as of this broadcast.

In case you hadn’t heard, Senator John Kennedy has decided he will NOT run for Governor. Kennedy says DC is where he can do the most good for Louisiana. Now eyes turn to Lt. Governor Bill Nungesser and his decision; run for Governor? Or seek re-election as Lt. Governor? The first choice would pit him against attorney General Jeff Landry, who has the state Republican Party’s backing. On Jim Engster’s “Talk Louisiana” radio show, Nungesser says he feels Landry’s nasty political style makes him unelectable…:

CUT 04  (11)        “…good of Louisiana.”

He says he’ll announce his final decision on the fall election next Tuesday.

He’s accused of killing a co-worker at a Farmerville chicken plant last April, and after months on the lam…he’s been caught. 48-year-old Bruce Causey was apprehended in Texas on a domestic disturbance. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates…:

CUT 10  (09)        “…make a mistake.”

Causey will be extradited to Louisiana after Texas is done with him.

Jefferson Parish deputies arrest two juveniles – ages 12 and 14 – for a string of car thefts and burglaries. Brooke Thorington reports…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

..and now time for today’s markets…

Now that Senator John Kennedy has told supporters he will not run for governor, fellow Republican Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’ll announce his decision next Tuesday. Jeff Palermo has more…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

State Police in Vermilion Parish say a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 167 yesterday killed two people. Troopers say a pickup was southbound at high speed when it rear-ended an SUV; causing both to go off the road and roll over. Both in the pickup were unrestrained. Everyone in the SUV was seatlbelted and will recover. The crash is still under investigation

In Jefferson Parish, two teens were apprehended early Wednesday morning in the midst of a car burglary at a River Ridge apartment complex and two suspects got away in dramatic fashion. Sheriff Joe Lopinto says one suspect fled the scene, carjacked a vehicle, crashed it, and ran off on foot. While the other suspect drove off, he encountered two deputies blocking the complex exit…:

CUT 06(12)      “…catch up with him.”

A 12-year-old and a 14-year-old are under arrest, the other two suspects are also juveniles; suspected of dozens of car thefts and burglaries.

The work release inmate accused of killing a co-worker at Foster Farms in Farmerville has been arrested in Texas. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates and his deputies have been looking for 48-year-old Bruce Causey since last April…:

CUT 09(10)      “…warrants on him.”

Causey is accused of fatally stabbed Ketrick Calhoun at the chicken processing plant and fleeing the scene.