It’s Cyber Monday a chance for consumers to find great deals on the internet. Southeast Louisiana Better Business Bureau spokesperson Cynthia Albert says before you purchase any item on the internet, make sure you know who you are dealing with first, because there are a lot of fake websites out there
Cut 4 (10) “…bbb.org″
Albert also says read up on the return policy, because a return policy is NOT required, unless the item is defected.

An announcement is expected this week from Senator John Kennedy, who has said he’ll make a decision prior to December first on whether he’ll run for governor in 2019. Southeastern Louisiana Professor Dayne Sherman expects Kennedy will get into the race as it’s a position he’s sought for many years….
cut 8 (07) “…mansion”
Sherman made the comments on Talk Louisiana.

An LSU Manship School Assistant Professor says his research shows the loss of local media can make towns a lot more partisan. Joshua Darr says the study was a joint effort with researchers from Colorado State and Texas A&M, where they analyzed the rate of voters who turned in ballots supporting candidates from more than one party.
Cut 10 (12) “…that newspaper.”
Darr says that’s because when local media dies, the community relies more heavily on partisan national outlets to fill the gap.

LSU fans are still in disbelief over the seven overtime loss to Texas A-and-M. Several close calls went against the Tigers. It seemed like they won the contest on several occasions, including when Jace Sternberger fumbled the ball away after catching a pass and LSU recovered. But it was ruled an incomplete pass and Coach Ed Orgeron said the officials never asked for a formal video replay review…
cut 14 (05) “…it wasn’t”
LSU finishes the regular season 9-3 and will find out their bowl destination on Sunday.

We are expecting an announcement this week from Senator John Kennedy, who has said he’ll make a decision before December 1st on next year’s governor’s race….
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Will charges be filed against Cole Fisher, who allegedly threw a punch and hit LSU analyst Steve Kragthrophe in his pacemaker following the wild seven overtime contest in College Station? Fisher is a nephew of Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher and he was credentialed to be on the sideline.

LSU Manship School of Mass Communications Professor Joshua Darr has participated in research that has found the loss of local media worsens political polarization….
cut 11 (10) “…is thriving”
And Darr says local newspapers and radio stations shields people from turning to more partisan sources.

It’s Cyber Monday as consumers will spend time today to looking for deals on the internet today. Southeast Louisiana Better Business Bureau spokesperson Cynthina Albert urges all consumers, whether buying gifts on-line or in a brick-and-mortar store, to do some comparative shopping…
cut 6 (12) “…of what”
When shopping online, make sure to use only legitimate websites, watch out for U-R-L’s that use the names of well-known brands along with extra words.

LSU fans are still outraged over the officiating in the Texas A-and-M game as several controversial calls went against the Tigers in a seven overtime loss. The defeat prevented Coach Ed Orgeron’s team from winning 10 regular season games….
cut 15 (10) “…approach it”
And Texas A-and-M officials are said to be reviewing video after the game as the nephew of Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher allegedly punched LSU analyst Steve Kragthoprhe. Kragthorpe has Parkinson’s and has a pacemaker.

LSU Manship professor Joshua Darr assisted in research that found the loss of local media is helping to worsen political polarization. Darr says that’s because voters are more than ever turning to partisan national outlets to get their information. He says local radio stations and papers inform residents on the issues, instead of the party line message
cut 12 (10) “…local options”

An announcement is expected this week from Republican Senator John Kennedy on whether he’ll challenge Democrat John Bel Edwards in next year’s governor’s race. Louisiana GOP executive committee member Vincent Bruno explains why Kennedy would want to leave Washington D-C…
cut 9 (10) “…of Louisiana”

The Better Business Bureau has these tips on this Cyber Monday to make sure you are not a victim of a holiday scam…
Voicer 1 (29) “I’m Michael Farrar”

Senator John Kennedy is expected to announce this week on whether he’ll run for Governor in 2019 against John Bel Edwards. Earlier this year, Edwards reported five-million dollars in his campaign war chest. Southeastern Louisiana Professor Dayne Sherman says Kennedy will do well in fundraising and one of the reasons is because he’s a US Senator…
Cut 7 (09) “…good graces.”

LSU fans believe they were robbed on Saturday night in College Station as the Tigers lost a seven-overtime thriller to Texas A-and-M. Coach Ed Orgeron believes the game should have never made it to overtime, as A-and-M should not have received another second to run the play that resulted in a game-tying touchdown…
cut 13 (09) “…in my opinion”

An LSU Manship School Assistant Professor says his research shows the loss of local media can make towns a lot more partisan. Joshua Darr says the study was a joint effort with researchers from Colorado State and Texas A&M, where they analyzed the rate of voters who turned in ballots supporting candidates from more than one party.
Cut 10 (12) “…that newspaper.”
Darr says that’s because when local media dies, the community relies more heavily on partisan national outlets to fill the gap.

The Better Business Bureau has these tips on this Cyber Monday to make sure you are not a victim of a holiday scam. Michael Farrar has the story…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Michael Farrar”

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 Analysts expect Senator John Kennedy to join the 2019 Governor’s race this week. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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The Ragin Cajuns will play in the first ever Sun Belt Championship game in football this Saturday as UL-Lafayette defeated ULM 31-28 to win the Western Division. The Cajuns jumped out to a 14-0 lead and won the game when the Warhawks missed a potential game-tying field goal as time expired. Running back Trey Ragas says the culture instilled by first year coach Billy Napier helped them pull out the win…

Cut 19 (14)   “…keep fighting”

Ragas had a big game on Saturday in Monroe as he rushed for 115 yards. The Cajuns will play in the Sun Belt Championship game on Saturday against Appalachian State. Ragas says it’s an unbelievable feeling…

Cut 20 (09) “…feel awesome”

Today kicks of early voting for the December 8th election. The Secretary of State’s office says there are 134 candidate runoffs in 47 parishes.

John Couvillon of JCM Analytics says the Shreveport mayoral race is one high profile election heading to a run-off, plus there are other local races…

Cut 9 (11) “being sought.”

A judge handed down a 105 year prison sentence to a man convicted of putting a pipe bomb that detonated under a couple’s bed.

56 year old Douglas Holley would be over 160 years old if he manages to live long enough to serve the 105 year sentence issued by Bossier Judge Parker Self on Friday.

Holley turned down a plea bargain of 40 years imprisonment after conviction in August for two counts of attempted first degree murder of Tracy and Robert Hewlett and other charges.

According to the Associated Press, Holley planned vengeance on Robert Hewlett, a veterinarian, for the death of Holley’s horse due to a terminal case of colic.

The Hewlett’s own the Holly Hill Farm Equestrian Center.

The couple may have escaped the 2015 explosion because of the husband, Robert Hewlett getting out of bed extra early due to him being jet lagged from his trip to Australia.

Thousands of 2016 Louisiana flood victims continue to wait for President Donald Trump to sign a waiver so they can be eligible for disaster aid.

Flooded homeowners who took out Small Business Administration disaster loans remain ineligible for grant dollars, because of the federal government’s duplication of benefits policy.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says he’s heard from the White House that this issue should be resolved shortly.

He hopes so, because it’s incredibly frustrating.

Cut 13 (06) “…issue resolved.”

Tonight marks the 45th anniversary of the Bayou Classic football game set to take place on the Super Dome.

The annual sports event has Grambling State University Tigers going head to head with the Southern University Jaguars.

Although these two historically black college and universities are based in Louisiana, they have a world wide fan base.

The ‘2018 Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands’ presents a dynamic half time showdown between the marching bands with a fierce rivalry among the musicians, dancers and associated performers that take the field when the teams pause for half time.

The  scheduled kick off today at 4 pm.

A trio of women were arrested in Baton Rouge on Thanksgiving for allegedly attempting to take clothing worth over two thousand dollars from stores without paying for the items.

Baton Rouge police identified Kimaijah Aclise, age 17, Ashley Knighten, age 27, and 20 year old Brandi D. Binson in the arrest at the Seigan Lane Marketplace shopping area on Thursday evening.

Authorities believe the three women were working together as a team and that two others managed to avoid being arrested.

Communities throughout Louisiana have many happy holiday events going on. For those living in or traveling through the 3-3-7 area code, there’s the “Safari of Lights” at Zoosiana (Zoo-see-ann-uh), the Zoo of Acadiana along highway 30 east in Broussard.

The “Safari of Lights” features larger than life illuminated displays with animal themes from 5 pm to 9 pm on the Zoosiana grounds.

However, folks in northwest Louisiana should look to the skies for their holiday lights during Saturday night’s “Rockets Over The Red Fireworks Festival.”

The free event features two prominent viewing areas: Shreveport’s Riverview Park, as well as the Louisiana Boardwalk outlets in Bossier City.

A wide variety of unique holiday events are listed on the Louisiana Travel (dot) com website.

For those on the lookout for a real tree, one Louisiana farmer says this year’s crop is good. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Saints roasted the Atlanta Falcons on Thanksgiving night, defeating them 31 to 17, and the guys who caught Drew Brees’ four touchdown passes were all undrafted players.

Cut 6 (11) “…stuff happen.”

It’s the 10th straight win for the New Orleans Saints.

And LSU also goes after its 10th win of the year tonight when the Tigers take on Texas A-and-M at 6:30pm in Texas.

Early voting begins today for the December 8th election. Featured on the ballot are the run off candidates for the secretary of state’s office.

Voters had a high turnout for the November 6th election with voter participation just over 50-percent.

Despite that, pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics expects a much lower turnout for this election.

Cut 8 (11) “…the primary”

Early voting continues through December 1st, except for Sunday.

A movie that began filming in Louisiana a year ago, opened nationwide this week. “Green Book” stars Mahershala (MUH-HER-SHALL-UH) Ali who won the 2016 best actor Academy Award for his role in “Moonlight.”  Viggo Mortensen also co-starred in the film.

The movie had a limited release in mid November, it expanded to a national release on November 21st.

The drama is set in the 1962 but was filmed in Orleans parish locations that include the McAlister Auditorium on Tulane’s campus and the Rosevelt Hotel in the French Quarter according an Advocate newspaper article.

The Thanksgiving holiday has been changed forever for two southwest Louisiana families as a result of an alleged drunk and driving wreck. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (22) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The federal government’s duplication of benefits policy is complicating disaster aid for many homeowners devastated by the 2016 flood.

The problem is that flooded homeowners who received a Small Business Administration disaster loan were deemed ineligible for grants.

Yet in October, Congress approved a law to allow Louisiana flood victims who got an S-B-A loan to also be eligible for federal grants through the Restore Louisiana program.

However there’s a disagreement among bureaucrats over whether the president also needs to sign a waiver.

Congressman Garret Graves took up the issue.

Cut 12 (06) “…this fixed”

Early voting begins Saturday at 8:30 AM for the December 8th election, which features the secretary of state’s runoff election involving Democrat Gwen-Collins Greenup, a Minister, and Republican Kyle Ardoin, the Interim Secretary. Early voting will continue, except on Sunday, through December 1st. pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics expects Ardoin to win the race easily…

Cut 10 (09)   “…for Kyle

The Secretary of State’s office says there are 134 candidate runoffs in 47 parishes.

Christmas tree farms are generally seeing a fair crop this year.  And it is looking much better than the last couple of years.  That’s according to Gray Anderson of Grant Farms in Grant, Louisiana, who says weather has had an effect on the crop in previous years.

Cut 3 (07) “…two years really hard”

Anderson says his farm sells between 2,500 and 3,000 trees each year.

Thousands of 2016 Louisiana flood victims continue to wait for President Donald Trump to sign a waiver so they can be eligible for disaster aid. Flooded homeowners who took out Small Business Administration disaster loans remain ineligible for grant dollars, because of the federal government’s duplication of benefits policy. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves  says he’s heard from the White House that this issue should be resolved shortly. He hopes so, because it’s incredibly frustrating…

Cut 13 (06) “…issue resolved”

Congress approved a law in October to allow Louisiana flood victims who got an S-B-A loan to also be eligible for federal grants through the Restore Louisiana program.

A convicted child rapist, and former Catholic Priest has died in prison while serving out his life sentence. Corrections says 82-year-old Robert Lester Melancon died of natural causes. Melancon was convicted in 1996 for raping an altar boy from 1985 to 1991 was the priest served in Terrebonne Parish.

The Saints roasted some bird last night in the dome smashing Atlanta 31-17. The defense was dominant as they forced four turnovers, three fumbles in Atlanta’s red zone and Falcons QB Matt Ryan was sacked six times. Linebacker DeMario Davis had five hits on the quarterback and two tackles for a loss…

Cut 7 (09) “…their Instagram.”

The offense shined as well, with four undrafted players catching touchdowns.

Early voting begins Saturday at 8:30 AM for the December 8th election, which features the secretary of state’s runoff election. Early voting will continue, except on Sunday, through December 1st. pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics says the Shreveport mayoral race is one high profile election heading to a run-off, plus there are other local races…

Cut 9 (11) “being sought.”

Eight parishes have just the secretary of state race on the ballot.

The Thanksgiving holiday has been changed forever for two southwest Louisiana families as a result of an alleged drunk and driving wreck. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (22) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Thousands of 2016 Louisiana flood victims who fell into the “Duplication of Benefits” loophole continue to wait for President Donald Trump to sign a waiver so they can be eligible for disaster aid. Congress approved a law in October to allow Louisiana flood victims who got an S-B-A loan to also be eligible for federal grants through the Restore Louisiana program, But Congressman Garret Graves says it’s gotten bogged down in DC.

Cut 12 (06)   “…this fixed”