Louisiana’s unemployment rate has fallen slightly over the year to 4.7 percent as the state as a whole continues to add jobs…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The federal legal age to buy tobacco and vaping products is set to increase to 21-years-old as a result of legislation approved by Congress. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says any hurdle to keep tobacco products out of the hands of teens could prevent them from becoming smokers and save the state money in future medical care.
Cut 8 (05) “…these products.”

Gilead Sciences awards 245,000 dollars in grants to four Louisiana organizations to help combat HIV as part of 2.3 million dollars in grants administered across the south. Corporate Contributions Director Arun Skaria says HIV is still a serious problem in America, but we’re near epidemic levels in the south…
Cut 10 (10) “…right now”

The Saints rallied from a 14-0 deficit to beat the Titans 38 to 28 and Michael Thomas set the NFL record for catches in a single season. A record number of tickets have been bought for Saturday’s Peach Bowl between LSU and Oklahoma. Peach Bowl CEO Gary Stokan says fans are really excited about the matchups in the college football playoff…
cut 15 (11) “….two betters”
The winners will meet in New Orleans on January 15th in the national championship game.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate has fallen slightly over the year to 4.7 percent as the state as a whole continues to add jobs…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle

148 million American shoppers are expected to hit the stores today, up from 134 million last year. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says retailers do a good job marketing themselves to procrastinators
Cut 4 (11) “…more male”

Congress has raised the minimum smoking and vaping age to 21 nationwide. The provision was added to a year-end spending bill signed by President Trump. Louisiana Health Secretary Rebecca Gee says its welcomed news considering, many people get addicted to nicotine in their teens.
Cut 7 (06) “…the public.”
The new regulation is expected to go into effect in nine months.

LSU and Oklahoma leave for Atlanta tomorrow as they continue preparations for the semi-final contest in the Peach Bowl. LSU fans are expected to get to Atlanta after the Christmas holiday. Peach Bowl C-E-O Gary Stokan says there will be a fan night at the Georgia Aquarium on Friday and a fanfest Saturday, plus there are many other activities
Cut 14 (12) “…Olympic Park.”
The game is Saturday at 3 PM central time.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says total private employment has seen an increase in jobs over the year for 21 consecutive months. Also, seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment is at its highest level since 2015, and Workforce Commission Chief Economist Ali Bustamante says the state added 4,100 jobs from October to November.
Cut 4 (09) “year”

St Tammany Parish will see major job growth. Medline Industries will build a distribution center that will create more than 460 new jobs near Covington. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Interstates 12 and 55 make the location very attractive for industry.
Cut 14 (06) “…distribution.”

Calcasieu Parish-based Isle of Capri gets approval to be the first riverboat casino to move its gaming activities on land. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Quarterback Joe Burrow received his Master’s Degree in Liberal Arts from LSU today. His high school, Athens High in Ohio, will rename its football stadium after Burrow.

Tomorrow It will be the Saints and Titans in Nashville. Kiko Alonso, Larry Warford and Vonn Bell have been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Titans because of injuries.

The Calcasieu-Parish based Isle of Capri has received approval from the state to be the first riverboat to build a land-based casino as a result of a 2018 law that allows riverboats to conduct gaming activity on the land. The industry pushed hard for this legislation and Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Jones says more boats are likely to follow.
Cut 11 (12) “follow suit”
The 112-million dollar facility will have 72,000 square feet of gaming space.

A Benton mother is behind bars this morning facing a second-degree murder charge as a result of a two-month-long investigation into the death of her one-year-old child. 35-year-old Courtney Marie Seilhammer faces a 500-thousand dollar bound. Deputies arrested Seilhammer after an autopsy determined that her child died of renal failure because the child was poisoned.

AAA tows an average of 850-thousand motorists over the holiday season but there are steps you can take ahead of the drive to get to your destination without a hitch. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington

Medline Industries announces plans to build a new facility in Covington that will add 460 new jobs to the region. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Medline might not be a household name, but they do business in more than 90 countries.
Cut 13 (09) “…company.”

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board allows the Lake Charles based Isle of Capri riverboat casino to move on land, L-G-C-B Chairman Ronnie Jones says the 112 million dollar facility is proof that the Legislature made the right call allowing casinos to make the move back in 2017…

Cut 10 (09) “…running”

The new facility will have 72,000 square feet of gaming space.

St Tammany Parish is about to see major job growth. Medline Industries will build a distribution center that will create more than 460 new jobs near Covington. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the $53-million-dollar medical supply facility will be a major boon for the state.

Cut 12 (11) “…facility” 

The National Retail Federation Estimates nearly 148-million U-S consumers will shop on super Saturday, up from 134-million last year. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says here are some good deals to be had in the final shopping days before Christmas. But he says do a little research beforehand to make sure you are truly getting a great deal…

Cut 5 (08) “smart phone”

According to AAA a third of the country will be in transit over the holidays, either by plane, trains or automobiles.  AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says AAA estimates a 5 percent increase in air travelers this year, so show up to the airport ealier than you normally would.

Cut 8 (05) “the holidays.”

Redman says the busiest travel day in the skies will be December 26^th, and the official traffic season begins this weekend and ends January 1^st.

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board approves plans for Lake Charles based Isle of Capri riverboat casino to move on land, the first facility to make the jump 18 months after the Legislature ok’d such moves. The plan is to shutter the riverboat and build a 112.7 million dollar facility right nearby. L-G-C-B Chairman Ronnie Jones says the plan is a major expansion in food offerings…

Cut 9 (10) “…steakhouse”

Capri is just off I-10 west of Lake Charles.

According to AAA a third of the country will be in transit over the holidays, either by plane, trains or automobiles.  AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says be prepared to pay more at the pump this year if you’re traveling by car.

Cut 7 (07) “…several days”

Redman says gas prices should drop going into the New Year.

___________________

The National Retail Federation estimates nearly 148-million U-S consumers will shop on super Saturday. That’s up from 134-million last year. SU marketing professor Dan Rice says there are some good deals to be had in the final shopping days before Christmas. But he says do a little research beforehand to make sure you are truly getting a great deal…

Cut 5 (08) “smart phone”

St Tammany Parish is about to see major job growth. Medline Industries will build a distribution center that will create more than 460 new jobs near Covington. Economic Development Secretary Pierson says a strong workforce for companies to draw from and Interstates 12 and 55 near the area make the location very attractive for industry.

Cut 14 (06) “…distribution.”

Also in St Tammany, Ampirical, is expected to create 400 new jobs over the next decade with an average salary of $85-thousand, as they construction corporate headquarters in the parish.

AAA tows an average of 850-thousand motorists over the holiday season but there are steps you can take ahead of the drive to get your destination without a hitch. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington 

148-million U-S consumers will shop on super Saturday, up from 134-million last year. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says retailers have learned how to market to procrastinators.

Cut 3 (11) “…retailer.”

A Lake Charles riverboat casino is the first facility to make the jump from water to land following 2017’s Legislative decision to allow the boats to crawl out of the water. The industry pushed hard for the right to make the upgrades, and some are surprised it’s taken one this long to announce a move, but Jones says more are likely soon to follow.

Cut 11 (12) “follow suit”

The new facility will have 72,000 square feet of gaming space.

Medline Industries announces plans to build a new facility in Covington that will add 460 new jobs to the region. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Medline might not be a household name, but they do business in more than 90 countries.

Cut 13 (09) “…company.”

The company will invest 53-million-dollars to build the new 800,000 square foot distribution facility.

Tomorrow is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says there are some good deals to be had in the final shopping days before Christmas. But he says do a little research beforehand to make sure you are truly getting a great deal…
cut 5 (08) “…smartphone”
Rice says expect to see a lot of men and younger consumers at the store, they tend to be the holiday shopping procrastinators.

St Tammany Parish is about to see major job growth. Medline Industries will build a distribution center that will create more than 460 new jobs near Covington. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the $53-million-dollar medical supply facility will be a major boon.
Cut 12 (11) “…facility”
And Ampirical Solutions announces it will build new headquarters near Covington.

Isle of Capri gets approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to be the first riverboat casino to crawl up out of the water and set up shop on land. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

State Police say charges are pending against the driver involved in a fatal wreck in Grant Parish that killed 18-year-old Jessie Andrew Richards. The Pineville teen died from his injuries sustained in the Tuesday night wreck. The driver, 18-year-old Matthew Molan of Pineville, lost control and hit a tree. None of the teens in the vehicle were buckled up.

148 million American shoppers are expected to hit the stores Saturday, up from 134 million last year. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says on this final weekend before the Christmas holiday, retailers do a good job marketing themselves to procrastinators

Cut 4 (11) “…more male”

“Super Saturday” has become the single biggest shopping day of the year.

The Isle of Capri riverboat casino in Lake Charles gets approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to expand onto land and shutter their old water-based facility. L-G-C-B Chairman Ronnie Jones says the 112.7 million dollar project is a significant investment for the company even as gaming revenues have stayed flat in Louisiana. He says this shows the Legislature’s decision is paying off.

Cut 10 (09) “…running”

Capri is just off I-10 west of Lake Charles.

According to AAA a third of the country will be in transit over the holidays, either by plane, trains or automobiles.  AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says that’s the most ever predicted in the last twenty years by the association and the majority of travelers will take to the roadways.

Cut 6 (07) “…patience.”

Redman says the top three reasons AAA tows during the holidays are flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts, so have your car checked before you leave and take an extra set of keys.

Former Saints WR Joe Horn pleads guilty to defrauding the NFL and it’s retiree healthcare plan. Horn admitted to engaging in a scheme with 10 other former players to place fraudulent claims against the program in order to rip it off. The defendants admitted to filing 3.4 million dollars’ worth of fraudulent claims to Ciga Health, involving fake invoices for expensive equipment they never received.

Triple-A estimates that nearly a third of Americans will travel during the Christmas and New Year’s Holiday. Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says that equals 115-million people. Redman says 105-million travelers will hit the road and…
cut 8 (05) “….the holidays”
Redman says the busiest travel day in the skies will be December 26th.

The state’s Gaming Control Board approves a plan for Lake Charles based Isle of Capri riverboat casino to move on land, the first facility to make the jump 18 months after the Legislature ok’d such moves. The plan is to shutter the riverboat and build a 112-million dollar facility nearby. Chairman Ronnie Jones says the facility will have more than just gambling…
cut 9 (10) “…steakhouse”
The new facility will have 72,000 square feet of gaming space.

The National Retail Federation Estimates nearly 148-million U-S consumers will shop on super Saturday. That’s up from 134-million last year. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says the last Saturday before Christmas has become the biggest shopping day of the year
Cut 3 (11) “…retailer.”
Rice says men and younger consumers tend to be the biggest procrastinators.

A rash of stories about dangerous counterfeit toys has inspired Senator Bill Cassidy to co-author the SANTA Act, which demands online retailers to detail exactly where children’s products come from. Currently, online retailers only have to provide the name of their company, and little else, but Cassidy wants them to reveal more…
Cut 5 (11) “…counterfeit”