The Tigers are in Atlanta ahead of Saturday’s Peach Bowl matchup against the second best offense in the nation, Oklahoma. LSU’s defense finally looked like it’s old dominant self in the regular-season finale and in the SEC championship after an up and down year. Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda says a key was building up depth in the secondary, which allowed Grant Delpit and Jacoby Stevens to make plays…

Cut 16  (20)  …lately” 

There were reports after the SEC Championship game that Aranda was interested in a head coaching job at UNLV. Aranda admits that one day he would like to take over his own team, but that talks with UNLV were just preliminary and he is not planning on leaving LSU imminently.

La. Tech is in Shreveport right now playing Miami in the Independence Bowl.

The Pels shocked the bastketball world last night with a big win over the 2^nd seed in the West, Denver. New Orleans ended up winning that game 112-100 on the back of their strong 4^th quarter, bucking a trend of folding in the late periods of a game. Forward Brandon Ingram continued his scoring tear, dropping 31 points, while Jrue Holiday chipped in with 20 and 8. A finally healthly Derrick Favors nabbed 13 boards, with 8 assists and points as well.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says there are no plans to rest the starters for the regular-season finale at Carolina. Payton says they are still playing for a chance to get the first seed in the N-F-C playoffs or at least a bye. The team had a walk-thru practice on Christmas Day and Drew Brees, Michael Thomas, CJ Gardner Johnson and Vonn Bell were among a large group of players listed as limited because of injuries.

A domestic dispute between two men involving a machete and a gun leaves one dead and the other in jail. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, rumored as a favorite to replace outgoing LSU President F. King Alexander, admits to having interest in the position after previously backing away from reports that linked him to the job. Dardenne told reporters “The only job in government that I would be interested, other than this one, (his current position), would be that Presidency”.

The FBI is now involved in the investigation into a string of church vandalisms in Crowley after the perpetrator strikes again Christmas Eve. This marks seven church vandalisms since July, all in predominantly black neighborhoods. Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says it hasn’t been officially deemed a hate crime yet, but even if it does get upgraded…

Cut 14 (10) “…unfortunately.”

A Deacon reported someone had thrown two bricks through the front glass door at Jerusalem Baptist Church Christmas Eve Morning as he was heading in to prepare for services.

If you’re out holiday shopping today, Ochsner primary care physician Edith Mbagu has some tips for you to escape the crowds as healthy as you walked in.

Cut 3 (11) “…dress either.”

She adds retail shopping is a good opportunity to get some exercise in. 

Staying healthy and sticking to a budget are some resolutions people make for the new year, Brooke Thorington spoke with a local physician to get some tips on how you can get a head start.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington 

Following the passage of 2017 criminal justice reform, Louisiana shed its distinction of having the highest incarceration rate with Oklahoma taking that top spot. Oklahoma has since began a pursuit of similar reforms, putting Louisiana back into the top spot once again.

The FBI is now involved in the investigation into a string of church vandalisms in Crowley after the perpetrator strikes again Christmas Eve. A Decon reported someone had thrown two bricks through the front glass door of at Jerusalem Baptist Church Christmas Eve Morning as he was heading in to prepare for services that day. Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says it’s incredibly offensive.

Cut 12 (07) “…Christians” 

This marks 7 church vandalisms since July.

A Christmas night domestic dispute between two men in Madisonville leaves one dead and his romantic partner in jail facing a manslaughter charge. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Lee says the suspect, 57-year-old Harry Cleland claims he fired multiple shots at the victim after the victim threatened him with a machete. Lee says this is the second incident of domestic violence that has ended in death in the parish in the last two days.

Cut 10 (07) “…it’s just very unfortunate.”

Staying healthy and sticking to a budget are some resolutions people make for the new year, Brooke Thorington spoke with a local physician to get some tips on how you can get a head start.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington 

_____________________

A domestic dispute between two men involving a machete and a gun leaves one dead and the other in jail. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

___________________________

This is the time of year when people gather to spend time with friends and family and gather at shopping centers to get bargains. Unfortunately, it’s also a prime opportunity to share germs. Ochsner primary care physician Edith Mbagu (M-bag-woo) says there ways to be a healthy shopper.

Cut 3 (11) “…dress either.”

Mbagu says it’s not too late to get a flu shot if you haven’t already gotten one.

Shopping via brick and mortar vs online is also a good way to get in some cardio, Mbagu says even if you choose not to spend any money it’s great exercise.

Cut 4 (12) “…online shopping”

To stay focused, reduce stress, and make walking more enjoyable, Mbagu advises taking along earbuds and listening to your favorite music while shopping.

Cut 5 (09) “much lower”

Retailers often use scents to manipulate you into spending more so use a mint or gum to block out smells.

_______________________

A newborn child is dead following a Christmas night wreck in Sulphur.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Commander James McGee says the SUV carrying the child, the driver and two other passengers was traveling west on High Hope Road around 10:30 last night when the crash occurred.

Cut 6 (08) “…on the scene”

All others in the vehicle were treated for minor injuries.  McGee says investigators do not expect impairment to be a factor in the crash.

Cut 7 (08) “…to the hospital.”

McGee says a loss of this nature has left the department and community shaken.

Cut 8 (07) “…devastates our community.”

_________________________________

A Christmas night domestic dispute between two men in Madisonville leaves one dead and his romantic partner in jail facing a manslaughter charge. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Lee says the suspect, 57-year-old Harry Cleland claims he fired multiple shots at the victim after the victim threatened him with a machete.

Cut 9 (11) “…investigation like this.”

Cleland called 911 after firing multiple shots at the victim. Lee says this is the second incident of domestic violence that has ended in death in the parish in the last two days.

Cut 10 (07) “…it’s just very unfortunate.”

Lee says it appears that Cleland has previously had minimal run-ins with the law, with the exception of a gun-related incident in 2012.

Cut 11 (08) “…into the ground.”

______________________

The FBI is now involved in the investigation into a string of church vandalisms in Crowley after the perpetrator strikes again Christmas Eve.

A Deacon reported someone had thrown two bricks through the front glass door at Jerusalem Baptist Church Christmas Eve Morning as he was heading in to prepare for services. Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says it’s incredibly offensive.

Cut 12 (07) “…Christians” 

Broussard says the FBI has kept an eye on the situation, and now deems it serious enough to actively involve itself in the process.

Cut 13 (10) “  is    

This marks seven church vandalisms since July, all in predominantly black neighborhoods. Broussard says it hasn’t been officially deemed a hate crime yet, but even if it does get upgraded…

Cut 14 (10) “…unfortunately.”

A Christmas night domestic dispute between two men in Madisonville leaves one dead and his romantic partner in jail facing a manslaughter charge. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Capt. Scott Lee says the suspect, 57-year-old Harry Cleland claims he fired multiple shots at the victim after the victim threatened him with a machete.

Cut 9 (11) “…investigation like this.”

Cleland called 911 after firing multiple shots at the victim.

Crowds are swarming retail stores in the post-Christmas rush to find any deal they can while their gift cards are still active, and Ochsner primary care physician Edith Mbagu says that can make for a highly stressful environment. To stay focused, reduce stress, and make walking more enjoyable, Mbagu advises taking along earbuds and listening to your favorite music while shopping.

Cut 5 (09) “much lower”

A newborn child is dead following a Christmas night wreck in Sulphur. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Commander James McGee says three adults were also in the vehicle at the time of the wreck, but survived with minor injuries. McGee says a loss of this nature has left the department and community shaken.

Cut 8 (07) “…devastates our community.”

600 more children up to the age of three will be in early childhood education centers in 2020 thanks to a three year grant from the feds. Louisiana Department of Education Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian says it’s not just about giving young kids a strong educational foundation, investing in early childhood education has a reported return of seven to 13 dollars per dollar spent.

Cut 14 (10) “…care”

A newborn child is dead following a Christmas night wreck in Sulphur.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Commander James McGee says the SUV carrying the child, flipped and the child was dead on the scene.  All others in the vehicle were treated for minor injuries.  McGee says investigators do not expect impairment to be a factor in the crash.

Cut 7 (08) “…to the hospital.”

McGee says a loss of this nature has left the department and community shaken.

This is the time of year when people gather to spend time with friends and family and gather at shopping centers to get bargains. Ochsner primary care physician Edith Mbagu (M-bag-woo) says shopping via brick and mortar vs online is also a good way to get in some cardio, even if you choose not to spend any money.

Cut 4 (12) “…online shopping”

Jeff Palermo spoke with LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice for some tips on what to look for in the post-Christmas shopping season…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

This is the time of year when people gather to spend time with friends and family and gather at shopping centers to get bargains. Unfortunately, it’s also a prime opportunity to share germs. Ochsner primary care physician Edit Mbagu (M-bag-woo) says there ways to be a healthy shopper.

Cut 3 (11) “…dress either.”

Mbagu says it’s not too late to get a flu shot if you haven’t already gotten one.

A newborn child is dead following a Christmas night wreck in Sulphur.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Commander James McGee says the SUV carrying the child, the driver and two other passengers was traveling west on High Hope Road around 10:30 last night when the crash occurred.

Cut 6 (08) “…on the scene”

All others in the vehicle were treated for minor injuries. 

Parishioners in Cow Island had their small Vermillion Parish community blessed Sunday by 100 gallons of holy water dispersed from a crop-dusting plane courtesy of St. Anne Catholic Church. St. Anne Reverend Matthew Barzare says the idea came from a congregant who wanted to pull the community together with a millennia-old tradition.

Cut 10 (09) “…harvest”

Cow Island is an unincorporated territory about 40 miles south of Lafayette and is within the Lafayette Archdiocese.

600 more children up to the age of three will be in early childhood education centers in 2020 thanks to a three year grant from the feds. Louisiana Department of Education Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian says the state will receive 11 million a year during that period to help fix a long-running problem for Louisiana’s youngest…

Cut 13 (08) “…care”

Louisiana wins a three year, 11 million dollar a year federal grant to expand early childhood education. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 3 (28) I’m Matt Doyle”

The Bayou State will end the holiday week with unseasonably warm temps for this time of year. State Climatologist Barry Keim says expect temperatures in the morning in the mid-50s to lower 60s across the state and rising into the mid-70s as we finish out the week.
Cut 8 (06) “…time of year”

Deputies with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office say when a man broke up with his girlfriend on Christmas Eve, she assaulted him and then crashed her vehicle into an assisted living facility. According to police, 19-year old Yesnia Guzman put her two children into her vehicle left at a high rate of speed then crashed through a fence, and drove right into an assisted living facility, hitting two beds where residents were sleeping. Guzman was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

You may be loaded up with Christmas gift cards right now, and if you are, you’re in luck because LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says the post-Christmas shopping season is a great opportunity for deals. Rice says popular, big-ticket items may not have major price reductions, but seasonal items, in particular, will likely be sporting major sales as retailers try to make room for spring stock.
Cut 4 (08) “through that”

You might be prepping to hit the stores today for some post-Christmas bargains, LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says expect to see seasonal items on sale today but be warned…  understand that if an item is seeing a major sale right now, it’s likely because it didn’t sell as well as expected so…

Cut 6 (06) “…want”

600 more children up to the age of three will be in early childhood education centers in 2020 thanks to a three-year grant from the feds. Louisiana Department of Education Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian says it’s not just about giving young kids a strong educational foundation, investing in early childhood education has a reported return of seven to 13 dollars per dollar spent.

Cut 14 (10) “…care”

Republicans made Louisiana’s high car insurance rates a campaign issue this year, so lawmakers are predicting efforts to try to limit damages awarded in car accident lawsuits in the 2020 legislative session. Business groups are pushing the “tort reform” proposals, saying Louisiana’s legal climate encourages people in accidents to sue insurance companies, thus driving up insurance rates. Critics counter there’s no such proof a change would lower rates.

The Vermillion Parish community of Cow Island was blessed by holy water dropped from a crop-dusting plane.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

600 more children up to the age of three will be in early childhood education centers in 2020 thanks to a three-year grant from the feds. Louisiana Department of Education Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian says the state will receive 11 million a year during that period to help fix a long-running problem for Louisiana’s youngest…

Cut 13 (08) “…care”

It’s unseasonably warm for the state, what we should expect going into the new year? State Climatologist Barry Keim says it should remain warmer than usual with normal precipitation.

Cut 9 (12) “range forecast”

For the rest of the week expect morning temps in the mid-50s to lower 60s and rising into the mid-70s.

Jeff Palermo spoke with LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice for some tips on what to look for in the post-Christmas shopping season…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The LSU Tigers are in Atlanta prepping for the Peach Bowl against Oklahoma but today Louisiana Tech is in the spotlight as they play the Miami Hurricanes in Shreveport in the Independence Bowl. The Bulldogs are technically the visiting team but with a such a short road trip plenty of fans should be there for support. Kickoff is today at 3pm, on ESPN.