Today marks the final day of the 2018 hurricane season, a season that was initially forecasted to be near normal. While the season only saw two major hurricanes, Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach, says both brought devastation to the areas they made landfall with Hurricane Florence having a death toll of 53 and Hurricane Michael with 43 and counting.

Cut 5 (07) “…of Florida respectively.”

The season saw 15 named storms, 7 of them hurricanes.

President Donald Trump’s approval is up to a clear majority of voters in Louisiana in a new poll from Bernie Pinsonat. He’s at 70 percent amoung whites, hut his popularity has tanked with black voters who make up nearly a third of the population. Those voters almost universally dislike Trump, with 86 percent disapproving of his job, Pinsonat says politically that may not matter…

Cut 12 (07)   “his corner.”

His total approval was 55 percent.

After being closed to repair damages sustained from a collision with a crane last month, the Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish will be partially reopening to traffic tomorrow, but it comes with some restrictions.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (21) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

Three are injured after a family trip to pick up a puppy ended in an ambush. Shereveport authorities say one juevenile and a man and women were hit by gunfire after agreeing to meet an unknown suspect that they planned to buy a puppy from, and upon arrival, the family says they were jumped by gunmen. The three victims were taken to Ochsner LSU Health with non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation into the ambush is still on going.

Donald Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana took a big jump this year, thanks to swelling support from his base…
Voicer 3 (31) “…Matt Doyle”

Congress has approved legislation that extends the National Flood Insurance Program for another week. It was set to expire today. Louisiana’s senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy are pushing for a six-month extension, so they can come back in the next Congress and approve a long-term deal for the program that billions of dollars in debt.

Good news for the estimated 25-thousand motorists who use the Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish, as two-lanes will re-open tomorrow. The bridge was closed last month for repairs after a crane barge hit the structure. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says this comes after crews have been working around the clock on repairs…
Cut 7 (06) “…main cords replaced.”
Mallett says the bridge will not fully re-open until January.

Louisiana is under the threat of severe weather today, especially for those north of Interstate 20. National Weather Service Shreveport Meteorologist Brandi Richardson says an upper-level trough will push rain into the area during the daylight hours.
Cut 13 (12) “…north of there.”

And don’t forget tomorrow is the last day to early vote in the December 8th runoff election that features the Secretary of State’s race.

All good things must come to an end and the Saints 10-game winning streak ended last night with a 13-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. New Orleans was held to 176 total yards of offense as Quarterback Drew Brees was under duress for much of the game…
cut 3 (12) “…what we were doing”
The Saints record falls to 10-2 and they now have the second best record in the NFC.

A new statewide poll shows President Donald Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana has increased by seven-percent over the last year and now a clear majority of voters support him. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says 2018 featured big issues important to white conservative voters which dominate the state’s electorate….
cut 10 (10) “…55% popular”
On the flip side, 86-percent of black voters gave Trump a negative rating.

A more active hurricane season than predicted comes to an end today with 15 named storms, two of the them developed into major hurricanes that caused wide spread damage in the Carolinas and Florida, plus killing dozens. Forecasters were anticipating a near normal season, which means a dozen named storms, but Colorado State Hurricane Forecast Researcher Doctor Phil Klotzbach says vertical wind shear never really developed in the eastern and central tropical Atlantic…
cut 6 (10) “…a hurricane”

There’s the potential for severe weather today, especially for the northern third of the state. Brandi Richardson with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says an upper level trough is making its way towards Louisiana and there’s a cold front behind this weather system…
cut 14 (07) “…force those thunderstorms”
There’s also slight chance for severe weather in southeast Louisiana.

A new statewide poll shows President Donald Trump’s approval rating in Louisiana has increased from 48-percent to 55-percent over the last year. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says over a quarter of the voters surveyed say Mr Trump is doing an excellent job…
cut 11 (07) “…percent”
Pinsonat says Senator John Kennedy’s overall positive job rating is 61-percent, while Governor Edwards approval rating fell from 65 to 60-percent.

The state department of transportation plans to open two lanes of traffic on the Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish tomorrow. The structure has been closed for seven weeks after it was hit by a crane barge. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says a main weight-supporting beam known as a chord has been replaced, which allows for two lanes of traffic, each going one way…
cut 8 (05) “…of feet”
25-thousand vehicles once used the bridge on a daily basis.

Today marks the end of a hurricane season that researchers under-predicted when it comes to the number of storms produced.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana is under the threat of severe weather today, especially for those north of Interstate 20. National Weather Service Shreveport Meteorologist Brandi Richardson says an upper-level trough will push rain into the area during the daylight hours.
Cut 13 (12) “…north of there.”

Today marks the final day fo the 2018 hurricane season, a season that was more active than predicted. Colorado State hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach says their final prediction before the season started called for 14 named storms and six hurricanes…
cut 4 (10) “…actually has three”
The 2018 season will be remembered for two destructive storms, Hurricane Florence and Michael, each causing over a billion dollars worth of damage.

There’s a chance for severe weather today in Louisiana, especially for the northern third of the state. Brandi Richardson, with the National Weather Service, says southeast Louisiana could also see some severe storms…
cut 15 (08) “…prepare for it”
Richardson says the main threat of severe storms will occur later in the afternoon and tonight possibly into the overnight hours.

Disappointing night in the Big D for the Black and Gold as the Saints 10-game win streak ended last night with a 13-10 defeat to the Cowboys. New Orleans explosive offense was held to 176 yards, the fewest yards produced in the game for New Orleans since 2001. And the Saints no longer own the top seed in the NFC.

After being closed to repair damages sustained from a collision with a crane last month, the Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish will be partially reopening to traffic tomorrow, but it comes with some restrictions. Kevin Barnhart has the story…
voicer 2 (21) “…Kevin Barnhart”

Senator John Kennedy is delaying his announcement on whether or not he’ll run for governor until Monday, siting travel issues. The 2019 race is now less than a year away, and only one Republican, Eddie Rispone, has declared against Governor Edwards. ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says the Senator’s repeated delays are beginning to look like non-interest.

Cut 3 (09) “indecisiveness”

Stockley says if Kennedy does not declare, he’s hurt the GOP cause in the race by boxing other candidates out of fundraising for the last few months.

The son of south Louisiana serial killer Derrick Todd Lee has been charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of a 16-year-old East Feliciana High School student. Sheriff Jeff Travis says Dedrick Lee’s father doesn’t have an impact in his case

Cut 8 (11) “…who he is”

Tangipahoa Parish authorities say they believe the 3 pound baby boy found in the back of a Tickfaw garbage truck was likely a stillborn. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they’re searching for the child’s mother, and have honed in on the likely dumping location after determining where the corpse was located relative to other trash in the truck that had been compacted.

Cut 12 (08)   “…been placed.”

The child was discovered by a Waste Management worker yesterday while he was loading trash cans into his vehicles compactor along Whiskey Lane.

A statewide poll of 500 Louisiana chronic voters finds that Republican US Senator John Kennedy leads Democratic incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards 49-to-45-percent in a head-to-head race for governor. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Kennedy has several advantages in his favor, including an increase in popularity

Cut 9 (12) “in Louisiana”

Senator John Kennedy has pushed back his decision on whether or not he’ll enter the 2019 governor’s race until Monday…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The candidates in the Secretary of State’s special election are seeing increases in fundraising ahead of the December 8^th run off.  Democrat candidate Gwen Collins-Greenup reportedly has $16,400 in her campaign account.  Meanwhile, Republican Kyle Ardoin has just under $136 thousand in the bank.

A statewide poll of 500 Louisiana chronic voters finds that Republican US Senator John Kennedy leads Democratic incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards 49-to-45-percent in a head-to-head race for governor. The poll indicates only six-percent of voters are undecided with the election just over 10 months away. Pinsonat says Edwards remains a popular governor, 60-percent of respondents approve of his job performance. But Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says the governor is a Democrat in a Red state…

Cut 11 (10) “…from him”

Tangipahoa Parish authorities say they believe the 3 pound baby boy found in the back of a Tickfaw garbage truck was likely a stillborn. Sheriff Daniel Edwards suspects the mother is from the Tickfaw area, and after searching records at local medical facilities, determined the birth was likely performed off-the-grid.

Cut 13 (12) “…like that.”

Tangipahoa Sheriff Daniel Edwards says the infant whose remains were found in a garbage truck yesterday was likely a stillborn. Edwards says detectives are still trying to find the boy’s mother to make sure she’s ok…
cut 14 (11) “…infections”
Edwards says the baby weighed about three pounds and it was not in the thrash very long. He says the coroner confirms the child was a stillborn, the mother would likely not face any charges.

The son of south Louisiana serial killer Derrick Todd Lee faces a negligent homicide charge in the shooting death of a 16-year-old East Feliciana High School student. East Feliciana Sheriff Jeff Travis says investigators reported in the warrant that Lee was remorseful for killing his friend…
Cut 7 (06) “…he was.” (2x)
Investigators say 19-year-old Dedrick Lee was playing with a gun when it went off in a home in Clinton.

Senator John Kennedy leads Governor John Bel Edwards in a poll that looks ahead to a potential 2019 run-off election for governor…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Edwards re-election campaign will likely attack Kennedy for running for governor, only a couple of years into his first term in the Senate. But ULM Political science professor Joshua Stockley says…
cut 5 (09) “…position”
A decision from Kennedy is expected Monday.

Senator John Kennedy has pushed back his decision on whether or not he’ll enter the 2019 governor’s race until Monday…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Republican US Senator John Kennedy leads Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards in a poll looking ahead to next year’s governor’s race. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Senator John Kennedy is delaying his announcement on whether or not he’ll run for governor until Monday, siting travel issues. The 2019 race is now less than a year away, and only one Republican, Eddie Rispone, has declared against Governor Edwards. ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says the Senator’s repeated delays are beginning to look like non-interest.

Cut 3 (09) “indecisiveness”

Stockley says if Kennedy does not declare, he’s hurt the GOP cause in the race by boxing other candidates out of fundraising for the last few months.

But, Stockley says despite the delays, the former Louisiana Treasurer has quite a few good reasons to jump in the race despite his growing national profile two years into his six year Senate term.

Cut 4 (10) “of money″

He’d also get to keep that Senate gig through 2022 even if he lost.

Kennedy’s opponents have already hinted that a major line of attack will be highlighting the brief nature of his stay in DC, but Stockley says the average voter likely wouldn’t care if the Senator jumped ship so early in his term.

Cut 5 (09)  “…position” 

Previously Kennedy said an announcement would be made by December 1^st.

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The son of south Louisiana serial killer Derrick Todd Lee has been charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of a 16-year-old East Feliciana High School student. East Feliciana Sheriff Jeff Travis says 19-year-old Dedrick Lee was playing with a gun when it went off killing Valentae Brooks

Cut 6 (08) “…negligent homicide.”

Travis says investigators reported in the warrant that Lee was remorseful for killing his friend…

Cut 7 (06) “…he was.” (2x)

Lee’s father, Derrick Todd Lee, has been linked to multiple murders across south Louisiana in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Derrick Todd Lee was sentenced to death and died of heart disease in prison in 2016. Travis says Dedrick Lee’s father doesn’t have an impact in his case

Cut 8 (11) “…who he is”

_______________________________

A statewide poll of 500 Louisiana chronic voters finds that Republican US Senator John Kennedy leads Democratic incumbent Governor John Bel Edwards 49-to-45-percent in a head-to-head race for governor. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says Kennedy has several advantages in his favor, including an increase in popularity

Cut 9 (12) “in Louisiana”

An announcement on whether Kennedy will run for governor is expected Monday. He’s currently completing the second-year of his six-year term as US Senator. Pinsonat says this survey is good news for Kennedy if he makes a run for the state’s highest elected office

Cut 10 (06)   “…start off with”

The poll indicates only six-percent of voters are undecided with the election just over 10 months away. Pinsonat says Edwards remains a popular governor, 60-percent of respondents approve of his job performance. But he says the governor is a Democrat in a Red state…

Cut 11 (10) “…from him”

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Tangipahoa Parish authorities say they believe the 3 pound baby boy found in the back of a Tickfaw garbage truck was likely a stillborn. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they’re searching for the child’s mother, and have honed in on the likely dumping location after determining where the corpse was located relative to other trash in the truck that had been compacted.

Cut 12 (08)   “…been placed.”

The child was discovered by a Waste Management worker yesterday while he was loading trash cans into his vehicles compactor along Whiskey Lane.

Edwards suspects the mother is from the Tickfaw area, and after searching records at local medical facilities, determined the birth was likely performed off-the-grid.

Cut 13 (12) “…like that.”

The Sherriff says someone in the public knows about this incident, and is asking anyone with information to come forward.

The brother of Governor John Bel Edwards says their number one priority at this time is trying to find her to make sure she’s safe.

Cut 14 (11) “…infections.”

Edwards says if they confirm the child was a stillborn, and a toxicology report on the body comes back clean, the mother likely won’t be facing felony charges.

Senator John Kennedy is delaying his announcement on whether or not he’ll run for governor until Monday, siting travel issues. ULM Poli Sci Professor Joshua Stockley says it’s suspicious that the Senator is waiting so late in the game to make a call, but if he does give the green light for a 2019 run, he’ll have quite a few reason to think he can win.

Cut 4 (10) “of money″

And those aren’t the only good reasons for taking a crack at the Governor’s Mansion. One, even if he loses, he’ll get to keep his Senate seat until he’s up for re-election, and two, there’s a new poll out showing Kennedy has an early lead over incumbent John Bel Edwards. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says the 49-45 percent lead in the poll of 500 of Louisiana’s frequent voters would put the Senator in a strong starting position.

Cut 10 (06)   “…start off with”

Pinsonat did mention that both candidates remain highly popular with Louisianans, both sporting over 60 percent approval ratings.

The son of south Louisiana serial killer Derrick Todd Lee has been charged with negligent homicide in the shooting death of a 16-year-old East Feliciana High School student. East Feliciana Sheriff Jeff Travis says 19-year-old Dedrick Lee was playing with a gun when it went off killing Valentae Brooks

Cut 6 (08) “…negligent homicide.”

Tangipahoa Parish authorities say they believe the 3 pound baby boy found in the back of a Tickfaw garbage truck was likely a stillborn. Sheriff Daniel Edwards says they’re searching for the child’s mother, and have honed in on the likely dumping location after determining where the corpse was located relative to other trash in the truck that had been compacted.

Cut 12 (09)   “…act that’s testimonial.”

The child was discovered by a Waste Management worker yesterday  while he was loading trash cans into his vehicles compactor along Whiskey Lane.