Conservatives in the US Senate are signaling they may not support a new trade deal with Mexico and Canada that is backed by Democrats in the House and President Trump. The US Trade Representative is briefing Senate Republicans today, hoping to allay concerns that the deal is too liberal after it won the backing of a major labor union, and Senator John Kennedy says the bill is now stuffed.

Cut 10 (08) “…Mexico.”

Most of the rest of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation and Ag Commissioner Mike Strain support the USMCA deal.

Only a quarter of healthy adults in Louisiana have received a flu vaccine this year. Immunization medical director, Doctor Frank Welch, says that’s dangerous considering how much flu activity the state is currently seeing…

Cut 12 (06) “the flu” 

Welch says Louisiana is already close to matching the peak of last year’s flu season and that was one of the worst in years. 

Swing by Alexandria this weekend for Alex Winter Fete, a huge festival celebrating the holidays with craft vendors, gumbo cook-off, ugly sweater 5K, and more.  Interim Director of Community Services TJ Nash, Sr. says several popular attractions are returning this year adding visitors are coming from as far away as the North Pole for the festivities.

Cut 4 (08) “…for our youngsters.”

Festivities kick off today and run through Sunday. 

At 7PM tonight Louisiana Public Broadcasting takes a deep dive into the world and history of Bayou State duck hunting with In the Blind. The program interviews hunters from around the state, and was created by New Orleans based producer Emma Lou Reid who went on her first duck hunt in Caplan three years ago.

Cut 6 (11) “…be told”

The state Office of Public Health is concerned that only 25-percent of healthy adults have received a flu shot. Immunization Medical Director Doctor Frank Welch says Louisiana is already close to matching the peak of last year’s flu season and that was one of the worst in years. He says the B strain of flu is going around Louisiana, while the rest of the country is getting sick from the more severe A-strain…
Cut 13 (09) “…flu shot”
During the 2018-19 flu season, 15-thousand Louisiana residents were hospitalized by the flu, while 15-hundred died from the virus.

If you are a duck hunter then you’ll need to check out tonight’s documentary on L-P-B called In the Blind. Producer Emma Lou Reid of New Orleans says the show traces the evolution of duck hunting from a do or die way of life to a highly popular, and highly regulated sport.
Cut 8 (10) “…hunting.”
The program airs at 7 PM and 11:30 tonight and will re-air 6:30 Sunday.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow has been named Associated Press College Football Player of the Year. Burrow received 50 of 53 first-place votes. On Saturday, Burrow is expected to win the Heisman Trophy and Governor John Bel Edwards will be on hand in person to see it. The governor’s office says Edwards will leave for New York tomorrow.

The award-winning Alex Winter Fete kicks off today in Downtown Alexandria. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 1(27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

With the holidays coming up, the state Office of Public Health is concerned only 25-percent of healthy adults in the state have received a flu shot.
cut 2 (31) “.Jeff Palermo.”

Former Saints wide receiver Joe Horn is among a group of NFL retired players involved in an alleged scheme to defraud an NFL health care benefit program. Prosecutors say these former players submitted false claims to the plan and received money for expensive medical equipment never purchased. Horn could be charged with fraud.

Most of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation supports a new North American trade deal that the President and Democrats have agreed on and still needs approval from Congress. But Republican Senator John Kennedy is reserving judgement…
cut 11 (09) “…for it”
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Strain says the U-S-M-C-A will bring unparalleled growth to the ag economy.

A big winter festival gets underway this afternoon. It’s known as Alex Winter Fete and one of the big attractions is an ice skating rink. There will also be an ugly sweater Five-K run on Saturday, a cookie eating contest, food vendors and of course live music….
cut 5 (10) “….approximately 2 PM.
That’s Interim Director of Community Services T-J Nash Senior who says more details can be found at alex-winter-fete-dot-com.

The White House is scrambling today to sure up Senate support for a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada amid growing concerns by conservatives over the House-backed bill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Democratic House support for the USMCA earlier this week after a compromise was reached, but Senator John Kennedy says the new changes may have gone too far…

Cut 9 (09) “…weakended.”

Louisiana Delegation members Senator Bill Cassidy, and Congressmen Ralph Abraham and Garret Graves have announced their support for the USMCA deal, along with Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain.

Only a quarter of healthy Louisiana adults have received a flu vaccine this year despite the more active than usual flu season we’re experiencing. Immunization medical director, Doctor Frank Welch…

Cut 14 (08) “flu shot”

At 7PM tonight Louisiana Public Broadcasting takes a deep dive into the world and history of Bayou State duck hunting with In the Blind. The program takes a look at just what makes a good duck hunter, and New Orleans based producer and Minnesota native Emma Lou Reid says having good aim is just one small part of the package…

Cut 7 (10) “…natural landscape.”

The program will reair at 11:30 tonight, and 6:30 Sunday.

The state Office of Public Health says only 25-percent of healthy adults have received a flu shot this year. Immunization medical director, Doctor Frank Welch, says that percentage needs to increase since flu activity is widespread in the state, with almost three times as much activity as the regional baseline

Cut 12 (06) “the flu” 

Welch says Louisiana is already close to matching the peak of last year’s flu season and that was one of the worst in years.

At 7PM tonight Louisiana Public Broadcasting takes a deep dive into the world and history of Bayou State duck hunting with In the Blind. The program interviews hunters from around the state, and was created by New Orleans based producer Emma Lou Reid who went on her first duck hunt in Caplan three years ago.

Cut 6 (11) “…be told”

The AP reports nearly all of Louisiana’s legislators are utilizing perk of the job that allows them to buy rare Tigers postseason tickets at face value. The LSU policy is paying off big this year, with lawmakers saving nearly a grand for end zone tickets relative to the secondary market. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a long-standing tradition.

Cut 10 (10) “request”

Lawmakers are offered a range of tickets reportedly running 425 dollars a pop to 875 dollars for end zone tickets to the national championship in New Orleans.

Downtown Alexandria is the focal point of holiday spirit this weekend in Rapides Parish with the Alex Winter Fete.  There is no shortage of arts and craft vendors for holiday shopping, a gumbo cook-off, and Interim Director of Community Services TJ Nash, Sr. says for those feeling they need to burn holiday calories, an ugly sweater 5k.

Cut 3 (08) “…their ugly sweaters.”

Festivities kick off today and run through Sunday.

Louisiana’s three largest cities all feature in the top 25 of Wallethub’s cities most in need of charity for the holidays. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

China Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Grambling has been destroyed by an overnight fire. The church has been considered a historical landmark in the community. Firefighting crews and authorities with the State Fire Marshal’s office are still on the scene. The cause of the blaze is unclear.

State Treasurer John Schroder is backing federal legislation that would raise the age individuals can participate in the ABLE program, which enables people with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses. The current age limit is 26, but Schroder says data has emerged showing where improvements can be made to reach more participants by raising the age to 46.

Cut 8 (08) “…to do that.”

Schroder says if they raise the age, more disabled vets can participate.

The AP reports nearly all of Louisiana’s legislators are utilizing perk of the job that allows them to buy rare Tigers postseason tickets at face value. The LSU policy is paying off big this year, with lawmakers saving nearly 1,000 dollars for end zone tickets relative to the secondary market. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the obvious attempt by LSU to buy Legislative influence using taxpayer money shouldn’t be allowed, but somehow continues to survive.

Cut 11 (10) “home”

Louisiana is preparing a lawsuit to block the implementation of a California law passed 50 years ago that will finally go into effect January first banning the sale of alligator products. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 3 (30) “ I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A state DOTD worker died when the amphibious vehicle he was riding in, overturned in Bayou Ramos in St. Mary Parish. Two other workers were able to swim to safety, but divers recovered 22-year-old Jeffrey Curry of Arnaudville’s body about three hours later. The U-S Coast Guard is investigating the incident.

Three Louisiana cities are listed in Wallethub’s Top 25 ranking for cities most in need of charitable giving this holiday season. New Orleans is third, Shreveport 19th and Baton Rouge is ranked 21st. Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzales says New Orleans ranks high for food insecurity, while Shreveport has a lot of people sleeping on the streets…
cut 6 (08) “…people”

State Treasurer John Schroder is backing federal legislation that would raise the age individuals can participate in the ABLE program, which enables people with disabilities to save for and pay for disability-related expenses. The current age limit is 26, but Schroder says there’s an effort in Congress to increase the age to 46…
cut 9 (10) “….100,000”
Schroder says if they raise the age, more disabled vets can participate.

Louisiana is preparing to sue California over a new law that goes into effect on January 1st that bans the sale of alligator skins. The law has actually been on the books since the 1970s, but exemptions were put in place, but the latest exemption sunsets on January 1st. So Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says they are ready to go to court…
cut 15 (11) “….an adverse approach to”
The law was originally passed at a time when the alligator population was low.

New Orleans, Shreveport, and Baton Rouge make Wallethub’s list of top 25 cities most in need of charitable giving this holiday season. The Crescent city came in at three, and mainly because of food insecurity. Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzales says it’s a persistent issue in New Orleans…
Cut 4 (09) “…should be”

The AP reports nearly all of Louisiana’s legislators are utilizing a perk of the job that allows them to buy postseason tickets for LSU football games at face value. The LSU policy is paying off big this year, with lawmakers saving nearly 1,000 dollars for end zone tickets relative to the secondary market. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a long-standing tradition.
Cut 10 (10) “request”
Legislators have the option to buy end zone seats to either the national semifinal in Atlanta or the national championship game on January 13th.

For five years, the Achieving a Better Life Experience program, known as ABLE, has helped parents who have children with disabilities, to save money without being penalized or losing benefits and services. The cutoff age is 26, but State Treasurer John Schroder supports legislation to raise the age to 46 to help disabled vets.
Cut 7 (06) “…in the program.”
There are currently 221 ABLE saving accounts in the state.

The state is preparing to file a lawsuit against California because of a new law that goes into effect January first which will ban the sale of alligator and crocodile skins. The law was actually put on the books decades ago, at a time the alligator population was not doing so hot, but Attorney General Jeff Landry says since then effective conservation efforts have been put in place…
Cut 13 (09) “…of that law.”
Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet says California is 30-percent of the alligator market in the world and if Louisiana alligators hunters lose that they’ll be in trouble.

It’s a story that comes up every time LSU football gets ready to play a big postseason game. State lawmakers getting the opportunity to buy tickets that are not available to the public. Several lawmakers say it is one of the few perks of a job that offers low pay and long hours. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says…
cut 12 (07) “…job”

Louisiana’s three largest cities are ranked in the top 25 of Wallethub’s cities most in need of charity for the holidays. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

U-S Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy say FEMA is committed to getting the U-S Virgin Islands to pay Louisiana contractors who provided immediate aid after hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Kennedy and Cassidy say many Louisiana contractors are still waiting on millions in past due payments for their work and have begun laying off Louisiana workers.

Louisiana is preparing to sue California over a new law that prohibits the importation of alligator and crocodile products into California. Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet says California is 30-percent of the alligator market as alligator is used to make shoes, wallets, and handbags. California legislators passed the law in an effort to curb animal cruelty and trafficking of endangered species. But Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says California lawmakers are unaware of the booming alligator population in Louisiana or they just don’t care…
cut 14 (10) “…program”
Landry has told the California Attorney General that a lawsuit is coming.

The East Baton Rouge Metro Council voted along party lines against a legal settlement with the family of Alton Sterling. Sterling, a black man, was fatally shot during an encounter with two white police officers in July of 2016. The wrongful death lawsuit is set to go to trial in April.

The LSU football team’s SEC Championship season allows legislators to take advantage of a perk that gives them direct access to postseason end zone seats. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Three Louisiana cities made Wallethub’s Top 25 ranking for most in need of charitable giving this holiday season. New Orleans is third, Shreveport 19th and Baton Rouge is 21st. Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzales says the state’s high, high school dropout rate contributes to the need…
cut 5 (06) “…homelessness”