Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is in good shape financially and more people are working as 2022 winds down.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Judge Tim Kelley has dismissed seven of the 13 counts in a lawsuit filed by former LSU Associate Athletic Director Sharon Lewis who claimed she faced an atmosphere of hostility and discrimination after she reported sexual harassment claims made by two female students against former coach Les Miles.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is banning TikTok on all Department of State-issued devices, and is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same on a statewide level. Deputy Secretary for Outreach services, Joel Watson says TikTok poses a risk to your personal identification.
Cut 4 (13) “…Communist party.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on Entergy’s request for customers to pay an additional six-dollars a month for the next 15 years to pay for the costs associated with recovery from five named storms in 2020 and 2021. PSC Member Foster Campbell believes Entergy’s shareholders should split those costs with customers…
Cut 13 (10) “…hell with that.”
In February, the PSC approved an average storm recovery cost surcharge of about ten-dollars per month for 15 years.

At his end-of-the-year press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards highlighted the state’s finances which have drastically improved from when he took office seven years ago, and because of that, the state is able to increase funding to programs versus cutting them.
Cut 7 (11) “…few things.”
Edwards says when he took office the state had a $2-billon deficit.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on Entergy’s request to charge ratepayers another six-dollars per month for 15 years to recoup the costs it took to repair their infrastructure following several storms in 2020 and 2021. P-S-C Member Foster Campbell believes Entergy should borne some of the cost…
cut 15 (08) “…absolutely yes”

One of Louisiana’s statewide elected officials takes aim at TikTok.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

Master Trooper Kory York has hired high profile criminal defense attorney Mike Small to represent him in the Ronald Greene Case. York is one of the five law enforcement officers facing charges. His charges are the most serious, one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance. Small says it’s significant federal prosecutors investigated the case for two and half years and determined criminal charges were not warranted
Cut 7 (09) “…subject of the investigation”
Small says there will be no plea bargaining.

Be prepared for some downright cold weather later this week. National Weather Service meteorologist Brandon Thorne says low temperatures will get down into the low teens in north Louisiana on Friday morning and we’ll see single digit wind chill temperatures for south Louisiana…
cut 14 (09) “….cold weather”

Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is banning TikTok on all Department of State-issued devices, and is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same on a statewide level. Deputy Secretary for Outreach services, Joel Watson says TikTok poses a risk to your personal identification.
Cut 4 (13) “…Communist party.”

2022 will go down as one of the worst sweet potato crops in decades. LSU Ag Center Sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk says a hot and dry summer hampered crop development and as the summer moved along as much as 20 inches of rain flooded fields. Sistrunk says sweet potatoes are a costly crop to produce, which gives some producers pause heading into next year…
cut 5 (08) “…works out”

The attorney representing Kory York believes the now suspended Master Trooper will be found not guilty of the charges he faces as a result of the 2019 in-custody death of Ronald Greene, a Black man who was beaten by officers before he died. Mike Small spoke with us today..
cut 6 (12) “…in the indictment”
York has been charged with one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance.

Experts say this year has been the worst year for Louisiana sweet potato production in more than 30 years. LSU Ag Center sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk says production is down as much as 60-percent due to a long stretch of dry weather in the summer followed by flooding rains
Cut 4 (10) “…for the state”
Sistrunk says the crop is expensive to produce, due to increased fuel, labor, and pesticide costs.

A major blast of artic air will arrive in Louisiana on Thursday bringing the Bayou State some very cold temperatures. Lows along I-20 will be around the low teens on Friday morning and low 20s for south Louisiana. Plus strong winds will produce below zero wind chills in north Louisiana and single digits in south Louisiana. Meteorologist Brandon Thorne with the National Weather Service says minor snow accumulations can not be ruled out Thursday for north Louisiana…
cut 13 (08) “…high accumulations”

During his end of the year press conference today, Governor John Bel Edwards remarked on how COVID is no longer a major story as it was the last two years…
cut 11 (12) “….protect ourselves”
Last Wednesday the state reported 4,700 new COVID cases and a seven-day average of 256 hospitalizations.

Alexandria attorney Mike Small believes his client Master Trooper Kory York will be found not guilty of the criminal charges he faces for his role in the fatal arrest death of Ronald Greene.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Ruston man has received a three-year federal prison sentence after leaving a threatening message on a Congress member’s voice mail. Prosecutors say 39-year-old Chase Levi Thibodeaux told the Congress person from New York that he would buy an uzi and shoot federal lawmakers in the streets.

Experts say 2022 has been the worst year for Louisiana sweet potato production in more than 30 years. LSU Ag Center sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk blames inconsistent weather.
Cut 3 (09) “..the state. ”
He says farmers in the northeastern part of the state were hit the hardest.

The National Weather Service says the coldest weather of the season so far is expected in Louisiana by late in the day Thursday, bringing temperatures as low as ten degrees north of I-20 Friday morning. Forecaster Brandon Thorne says strong northwesterly winds, with gusts up to 30-40 mph, will accompany the front.
Cut 12 (08) “…even Saturday.”
South Louisiana will experience wind chill readings in the single digits. And some light snow is possible for north Louisiana.

The attorney representing Kory York believes the now suspended Master Trooper will be found not guilty of the charges from the 2019 in-custody death of Ronald Greene. Mike Small says there will be no plea bargaining as he believes York did not commit any crimes…

Cut 8 (11)  “…in Union Parish.“

Body camera video of the arrest shows York dragging Greene by his ankle shackles and putting his foot on his back to push him down and leaving him face down in the dirt for nearly ten minutes.

A major arctic blast is heading Louisiana’s way. State Climatologist Barry Keim says you’ll need the heavy coats and gloves later this week.

Cut 13 (10) “…below normal.”

The lows on Friday will be in the teens in north Louisiana and the 20s elsewhere.

Governor Edwards held his End of the Year Press Conference today highlighting accomplishments of 2022. Edwards reflected on where the state was in January with the Omicron surge and how cases are much lower now. But the governor pointed out that the healthcare system is still stressed because they are responding to a “tridemic.”

Cut 10 (12) “… boosters.” 

Experts say this year has been the worst year for Louisiana sweet potato production in more than 30 years.  LSU Ag Center sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk says the crop was expensive to plant, due to increased fuel, labor, and pesticide costs. He says production is down as much as 60-percent.

Cut 4 (10)  “…for the state” 

A major arctic blast is heading Louisiana’s way. State Climatologist Barry Keim says you’ll need heavy coats later this week…:
CUT 13(10) “…below normal.”
Keim says the artic airmass will arrive on Thursday, dropping temperatures into the 20s and 30s by late Thursday afternoon in north Louisiana. Wind chill readings will be in the single digits on Friday in south Louisiana.

Master Trooper Kory York has hired high profile criminal defense attorney Mike Small to represent him in the Ronald Green Case. York is one of the five law enforcement officers facing charges. His charges are the most serious, one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance. Small says it’s significant federal prosecutors investigated the case for two and half years and determined criminal charges were not warranted
Cut 7 (09) “…subject of the investigation”
Small says there will be no plea bargaining.

Governor Edwards held his End of the Year Press Conference today highlighting accomplishments of 2022. Among the topics were the state’s budget surplus and record unemployment. Edwards also recounted where the state was in the pandemic a year ago at the beginning of the Omicron surge.
Cut 9 (11) “…much better.”
The number of people hospitalized with COVID is around 250.

2022 will go down as one of the worst sweet potato crops in several decades. LSU Ag Center Sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk says a hot and dry summer hampered crop development and as the summer moved along as much as 20 inches of rain flooded fields. Sistrunk says sweet potatoes are a costly crop to produce, which gives some producers pause heading into next year…
cut 5 (08) “…works out”

The attorney representing Kory York believes the now suspended Master Trooper will be found not guilty of the charges he faces as a result of the 2019 in-custody death of Ronald Greene, a Black man who was beaten by officers before he died. Mike Small spoke with us today..
cut 6 (12) “…in the indictment”
York is one of the five law enforcement officers facing charges. His charges are the most serious, one count of negligent homicide and ten counts of malfeasance.

Experts say 2022 has been the worst year for Louisiana sweet potato production in more than 30 years. LSU Ag Center sweet potato specialist Myrl Sistrunk blames inconsistent weather.
Cut 3 (09) “..the state. ”
He says farmers in the northeastern part of the state were hit the hardest.

Get ready for a big blast of frigid air to hit Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says wind chills Thursday night into Friday night will be in the single digits, if not below zero for north Louisiana. Keim says it will warm up for the Christmas weekend, but it will still be cold…:
CUT 15(10) “…below normal.”

Will working remotely continue into 2023? Tulane surveyed 150 startups and small businesses across the New Orleans area and Emily Egan with Tulane’s Freeman School of Business, says more than 50-percent of respondents indicated some staff will continue to work remotely, but 38-percent believe having an office is a good idea…
cut 8 (05) “…interact in person”
Egan says respondents who leased commercial space increased from 38-percent to 32-percent from 2021 to 2022.

Governor Edwards is meeting with reporters this morning for his annual end of the year news conference. Brooke Thorington gives us a preview on what he’s expected to discuss….
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

At 5-and-9 the Saints are still alive for the playoffs after beating Atlanta 21-18 for the second time this season. Tampa Bay lost yesterday, so the Buccaneers have just a one game lead over New Orleans for first place in the NFC South.

A major arctic blast is heading Louisiana’s way. State Climatologist Barry Keim says you’ll need the heavy coats and gloves later this week, as temperatures dip to near or below freezing. He says morning lows on Friday will be in the teens in north Louisiana…:
CUT 14(07) “…in New Orleans.”
The National Weather Service says snow minor accumulations cannot be ruled out for Thursday afternoon and Thursday night for north Louisiana.

According to Tulane University’s Greater New Orleans Startup Report, area startups are feeling confident enough to add staff as the regional economy continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Emily Egan with Tulane’s Freeman School of Business says, they surveyed over 150 startups and small businesses across a ten-parish region…
cut 9 (08) “….doing this report”

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold his annual year-end press conference today. U.L.-Monroe political science professor Pearson Cross says he expects Edawrds to avoid talking about the recent failures and staff shake-ups at the Department of Children & Family Services. Likewise the State Police / Ronald Greene roadside death case. As for what to expect in his last year in office Cross says Edwards will do what he can to leave his mark despite his lame-duck status…:

CUT 12(08)      “…somewhat less.”

Cross feels Edwards will be judged overall as a good governor.

Illegal street racers were out again over the weekend in Baton Rouge. Videos posted online show them and their muscle cars blocking parts of Interstate 10 and doing burnouts and donuts in parking lots. In one case, they actually set the pavement in a parking lot on fire. Police issued a few tickets, but arrested no one.

It’s Christmas week and it’s just not Santa that’s coming to the Bayou State from the North Pole this week. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 03(31)      “…Palermo.”

The New Orleans Saints may be having a lousy season, but at least they beat the Atlanta Falcons Sunday – for a second time. The Black & Gold held on the win 21-18. QB Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes, and Taysom Hill threw a long 68-yard TD. The Saints are at Cleveland Christmas Eve.