State Climatologist Barry Keim says most of the state will remain below freezing today, with the exception of the most extreme coastal parishes but it will be short-lived. Saturday’s forecast is almost a carbon copy of today, but some areas will be just above freezing in the mid and upper 30s for the highs on Saturday. Christmas Day a slight increase in temperatures. Instead of seeing teens in north Louisiana temps will be in the lower 20s.

Cut 10 (07) “…freeze mark.” 

Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy both voted against the federal budget. Kennedy sited inflation and says too many members of Congress have no qualms about overspending.

Cut 8 (11)  “…to get the money.“

The budget now heads to the House for a final vote before it can be sent to the President for signature.

State Treasurer John Schroder wants to remind parents to use the START for a college savings plan. Donations before the end of the year can be deducted from your 2022 taxes.  Schroder says similar plans are wildly popular in other states but are underused here.

Cut 4 (06)  “…in Louisiana” 

UL-Lafayette will play in the Independence Bowl today against Houston. The Cajuns are in Shreveport to face the 5-7 Cougars. ULL Coach Michael Desormeaux says this is a bowl game the program is excited about…

Cut  16 (19)  “..good match.” 

Kickoff is at 2:00 pm.

One of the most anticipated cold fronts of the year has moved through Louisiana and winter has arrived right on cue. State Climatologist Barry Keim says most of the state will remain below freezing today, with the exception of the most extreme coastal parishes but it will be short-lived.

Cut 9 (13) “…though.” 

Keim says it will still be cold but just above freezing in the mid and upper 30s for the highs on Saturday.

Both of Louisiana’s Senators voted against the budget which ended up passing 68-29. Kennedy says he voted against it because of inflation. He even called out his own party for overspending.

Cut 7 (15)  “…enough money.”

On his monthly radio show, Governor John Bel Edwards reflected on his two terms. He says it was a rocky start but he’s hopeful that he will leave the state in better shape than when he started.

Cut 11 (13)  “…tough year.”

If you’re looking to give a Christmas gift that will last long past the season, State Treasurer John Schroder has an outside-the-gift-box suggestion—an education savings plan.

Cut 3 (07) “…your friends.” 

Schroder says there are two START savings plans. One is for college, the other for eligible K-12 schools. He says you have until the end of this year for deposits to the account to be eligible for 2022 tax deductions on your state income tax.

The hard freeze warning continues in Louisiana as most the state will not see temperatures above freezing today. The Artic weather is also causing numerous flight cancellations. The hard freeze warning remains in effect until 9am Christmas morning.

The Office of State Tourism will bring some Christmas cheer to displaced residents who lost their homes last week when multiple tornadoes tore through areas of the state. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they worked with the governor’s office and moved travel trailers to state parks on the West Bank and in North Louisiana. The same trailers once housed individuals who were displaced by tornados in Ruston last year. Nungesser says because not every disaster qualifies for FEMA the state needs to be ready to step in and take care of its own.

Cut 8 (12)  “…difficult times.”

Both of Louisianas Senators voted against the budget which ended up passing 68-29. Kennedy says he opposed the budget because it was written by Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer and, Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Another reason he voted in opposition is inflation.

Cut 6 much money :14

Cassidy says the budget did not include his legislative priorities for Louisiana, like making the National Flood Insurance Program more affordable and fixing social security.

Cut 4 (07)  “…cutting benefits.”

Cassidy was also upset that his Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISE) Act was not a part of the budget.

The cold weather you’re feeling today is going to stick around through the Christmas weekend and state officials are reminding you to keep the usual precautions in place as a result around your home. Those include wrapping pipes, checking on neighbors and keeping pets inside.

UL-Lafayette will face Houston in Shreveport’s Independence Bowl today. Kace Kieschnick spoke with Bowl spokesperson Erik Evenson…:
CUT 3 (30) “I’m Kace Kieschnick”

On his last monthly radio show of the year this week, Governor John Bel Edwards reflected on his time in office, and what he plans to do before his term ends in January 2024:
Cut 12 (14) “the case”

State Police is investigating a fatal crash out of Assumption Parish that claimed the life of a teen passenger and sent a suspected impaired driver to jail on DUI and vehicular homicide charges. They say 50-year-old Juan Ramos of Houma hit the rear of a truck and trailer in front of him when his vehicle flipped and flew off an elevated highway on US 90 just east of Amelia. Ramos’ teen passenger suffered fatal injuries. The incident remains under investigation.

The New Orleans Police Department is investigating a fatal crash that claimed the life of a motorcyclist who was ejected after crashing into a stalled pick-up truck on US 90 near the Smoothie King Center and was thrown over the elevated roadway into the Superdome parking lot. EMS pronounced him dead on scene.

Put your beanie hat on, gloves and layer up today Louisiana, it’s cold out there. The Arctic air has arrived, and the winds are howling as temperatures across the state fell some 30 degrees in 12 hours from yesterday afternoon to this morning. Wind chills are in the teens and single digits and another hard freeze is on tap for tonight and Christmas morning.

US Senator Bill Cassidy outlines his priorities in a divided Congress in 2023. Marsanne Golsby reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “Marsanne Golsby”

Residents displaced from last week’s tornados are staying in travel trailers in state parks throughout Louisiana. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser helped spearhead that effort and says they are also feeding those families dinner tonight and will bring gifts for the kids. He asks us to remember these families Christmas weekend…
Cut 9 (10) “little tougher”

There are two college bowl games today and one of them is right here in Louisiana as UL-Lafayette takes on Houston in Shreveport’s Independence Stadium. This is the 12th bowl game in Ragin Cajun football history, and the first meeting against The Cougars since 2006 when ULL won 31-28. The Independence Bowl kicks at 2pm.

The price of gas keeps falling as the New Year approaches. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $2.73 which is about 30 cents less than last Christmas.

The state is waking up to temperatures in the low 20s and teens this morning, with wind chills making it feel much colder.

Utility companies have decided to suspend shutoffs due to non-payment through the New Year, so there is no need to worry about going without heat as temperatures struggle to get above freezing.

To help those who are displaced from last week’s deadly tornadoes, the State Office of Tourism is providing a little Christmas cheer. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

If you were impacted by hurricanes in 2020 and 2021, the Office of Community Development wants you to know you can apply for federal aid online at restore.la.gov…:
Cut 14 (12) “into the process”
That’s O.C.D. director Pat Forbes who says if you don’t have internet you can apply by calling 866-735-2001.

On his last monthly radio show of the year this week, Governor John Bel Edwards reflected on his time in office. His current term ends on January 8, 2024. Mr. Edwards said one of his biggest accomplishments was reforming the state’s healthcare system…:
Cut 10 (13) “as well”

Edit

Low temps in parts of Louisiana will dip into the tens and twenties tonight and gusty winds of 40 miles per will make it feel below zero. LRN’s John Weatherby says the hard freeze begins tonight and lows in the state will remain below freezing into the following week.

Cut 8 (04)  “…you’re prepared.“

Louisiana Humane Society director Jeff Dorson says the arrival of very cold winter weather has led to a sharp increase in calls about pets left outside without adequate shelter. Dorson says many complaints are overlooked or never investigated because more than half of the parishes don’t have animal control agencies.

Cut 4 (07)  “…put it.” 

The artic weather will continue into next week.

According to AARP’s COVID dashboard, the nation saw a 26-percent increase in nursing home deaths in the four-week period ending November 20^th.   Louisiana AARP Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says as we enter the winter months and holidays urges residents and staff to get updates on their boosters.

Cut 14 (10)   “…and the CDC”

He says the vaccination rate in Louisiana among nursing home residents is 42% and for staff, it’s 15%.

State police are investigating a head-on collision in Ascension Parish that claimed a Geismer man this afternoon. Troopers say 62-year-old Michael Head was killed in the crash on LA 928 east near LA 74. The initial investigation says the vehicle Head was driving crossed the center line and collided with another vehicle.

Get prepared for a hard freeze overnight…pretty much anywhere you are in Louisiana. Temperatures are expected to drop into the teens, withstiff winds making it feel even colder. LRN meteorologist John Weatherby…:

CUT 06  (10)        ”…many locations.”

The Louisiana ASPCA worries that too many of us will leave our pets outside in tonight’s bitterly cold weather. Executive Director Jeff Dorson reminds us that leaving the pets out with no proper food or shelter in such conditions is also ILLEGAL…:

CUT 03  (10)        “…with nothing.”

Dorson says your pets can suffer frostbite, hypothermia and even freeze to death if you leave them out. So, bring them in…please.

A new head of the state Department of Children & Family Services has been appointed. Terri Ricks takes over after the resignation of Marketa Walters a few weeks ago. Governor Edwards says DCFS is understaffed and underfunded, and he hopes to fix that…:

CUT 09  (11)        “…they have.”

Edwards says the state will have a surplus of over $600-million for the fiscal year that starts in July and he’ll work to get DCFS a bigger budget from those funds. DCFS has seen two children under its watch die from drug poisoning and had a foster parent sexually assault a number of kids under his care.

One last note about the coming frigid weather: Entergy, CLECO and other utility says they will suspend cutting off anyone’s power for non-payment right through New Year’s day, so no one need to worry about the heat going out with temperatures below freezing.

The Bayou State will become the Frozen State tonight with temps dipping into the teens tonight. LRN’s John Weatherby says make sure to protect plants, pets and pipes from freezing, and – if going outside – dress in layers…:

CUT 07(07)      “…Christmas Day.”

Weatherby says temperatures should drop into the teens over most of the state tonight, but we’ll also experience strong northwest winds with gusts up to 40 miles per hour.

Let’s talk about folks that leave the pets out in cold like this. Louisiana ASPCA’s Jeff Dorson reminds us that is actually illegal, and you do not want animal Control coming to your house…:

CUT 05(07)      “…take the animal.”

Think of it this way: if you wouldn’t want to be out there, neither would they. Bring them inside.

A surge in COVID cases is impacting nursing homes across the country. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(34)      “…Thorington.”

A Jennings man is behind bars after he allegedly uploaded a brief, but graphic video depicting a sex act with a child to Instagram. 22-year-old Logan Crochet is accused of posting the video last summer. He’s charged with pornography involving juveniles.