The flu season is ramping up in the Deep South with the highest number of cases in Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. State Health Department Flu Bug Expert Dr. Frank Welch says it’s rare to see this many flu cases in December.

Cut 12 (09) “high number”

Questions remain surrounding the death of two people found in a St. Landry Parish lake this week.  Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the initial autopsy finds that 21-year-old Lia Ali Kazan of Shreveport and 30-year-old Anthony Michael Murray of Rapides Parish drowned in Lake Dubbusion. Kazan was reported missing while visiting friends in Alexandria.  Guidroz says the investigation continues and they are waiting for the toxicology reports…

Cut 11 (06) “six weeks.”

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is featured in a viral video that shows him stumping one of President Trump’s nominees for a federal judgeship. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco spoke at the 2017 commencement of her alma mater, UL-Lafayette, Friday morning. Earlier this week, Blanco announced a rare form of eye cancer she faced six years ago had returned and spread to her liver. She addressed her diagnoses as she spoke to UL-Lafayette grads.:

Cut 15 (08) “but I’m hoping not”

Louisiana is one of a few states reporting widespread flu activity. State Health Department flu bug expert, Doctor Frank Welch, says the active flu season can be blamed on the Influenza A strain and the flu vaccine is only 30% effective. But he still strongly suggests getting the flu shot because it helps protect against four different strains of the virus.
cut 14 (11) “gather together”

When speaking at UL-Lafayette’s graduation ceremony today, former Governor Kathleen Blanco spoke about her battle against liver cancer. She said even though there are no known treatments to cure the type of melanoma she has, her hope remains alive…:
Cut 16 (09) “in God’s hands”
It was Blanco’s first public appearance since announcing that her eye cancer had spread to her liver.

Republican US Senator John Kennedy is receiving national attention for how he grilled a President Trump judicial nominee who had trouble answering basic questions regarding the law. Kennedy says he was just doing his job as he will not just blindly support Matthew Peterson, just because a Republican president nominated him….
cut 9 (12) “…the toughest”
A vote has not been taken on Peterson’s confirmation.

Today is the deadline to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. You’ll have until 10:59pm tonight to get enrolled, or face a penalty if you’re not insured. State Director of Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana Brian Burton says premiums have increased, but the government subsides are also up…:
Cut 3 (07) “buying power”
You can enroll at health care dot gov.

Flu cases in the Deep South are on the rise with the highest numbers in Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco spoke today at the 2017 Fall commencement of her alma mater, UL-Lafayette. It was Blanco’s first public appearance since announcing she was battling an incurable form of liver cancer. She told the crowd at the Cajundome that she hopes this was not her last public appearance, but is leaving everything up to God.
US Senator John Kennedy says he was just doing his job when he kept stumping one of President Trump’s judicial nominees with basic legal questions….
cut 8 (12) “….in court”
The video that shows the exchange between Kennedy and nominee, Matthew Peterson, has gone viral. The Senate Judiciary committee has yet to vote on his confirmation.

Today is the final day to sign up for health care through the Affordable Care Act. The State Director of Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana Brian Burton says if you waited until the last minute to purchase a policy through the federal exchange, get ready to wait a while…
Cut 5 (11) “the phone.”
The deadline is 10:59pm tonight.

Louisiana is one of the hardest hit states for flu cases. State health department flu bug expert, Doctor Frank Welch, says the Influenza A strain is very strong and making people extremely sick and it can even be fatal, as we’ve seen in previous flu seasons in the Bayou State…
cut 13 (08) “…taken lightly”
Health officials say the flu vaccine is only 30-percent effective against the Influenza A strain, but doctors still recommend you getting it, because the shot protects you from other strains.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco spoke at the 2017 Fall commencement ceremony of her alma mater, UL-Lafayette. Earlier this week, Blanco announced a rare form of eye cancer diagnosed six years ago had spread to her liver. She spoke about her difficult battle to today.:
CUT 15 (08) “but I’m hoping not”
Blanco, who served as governor during Hurricane Katrina, urged graduates to persevere even in the face of hopeless adversity.

If you don’t have health insurance, you have until 11 tonight to sign up on the federal exchange, or face paying a penalty. State Director of Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana Brian Burton says there are some 66-thousand Louisianians who qualify for coverage through the Affordable Care Act, but don’t use it…:
Cut 4 (09) “the assistance”
The website is healthcare.gov.

Questions remain surrounding the death of two people found in a St. Landry Parish lake this week. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the initial autopsy finds that 21-year-old Lia Ali Kazan of Shreveport and 30-year-old Anthony Michael Murray of Rapides Parish drowned. Guidroz says they know that Murray kidnapped Kazan in a parking lot of an Alexandria motel and her vehicle ended up in the lake…
cut 10 (06) “….don’t know”
Guidroz says the investigation continues and they are waiting for the toxicology reports.

Flu cases in the Deep South are on the rise with the highest numbers in Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco spoke at the 2017 commencement of her alma mater, UL-Lafayette, Friday morning. Earlier this week, Blanco announced a rare form of eye cancer she faced six years ago had returned and spread to her liver. She addressed her diagnoses as she spoke to UL-Lafayette grads, saying she hopes this was not her last public appearance but is leaving everything up to God…

Today is the final day to sign up for government health care.  The State Director of Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana Brian Burton says if you haven’t secured health insurance yet for 2018 and plan on using health care dot gov, get ready to wait a while…

Cut 5  (11)  “the phone.”

The deadline is 10:59pm tonight.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says autopsy reports determined the deaths of two people found this week in a lake as drowning.  21-year-old Lia Ali Kazan was reported missing while visiting friends in Alexandria.  Her body was found by dive teams while 30-year-old Anthony Michael Murray of Rapides Parish was found in her submerged vehicle.  Guidroz says the investigation continues and they are waiting for the toxicology reports…

Cut 11 (06) “six weeks.”

Guidroz says they still don’t know the relationship between the two…

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is featured in a viral video that shows him stumping one of President Trump’s judgeship nominees. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Flu cases in the Deep South are on the rise with the highest numbers in Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

________________________________________________________

Today is the deadline to sign up for health care through the Affordable Care Act.  If persons do not have health insurance for 2018, they have until 10:59pm tonight or pay a penalty.  The State Director of Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana Brian Burton says premiums have increased, but the government subsides are also up…

Cut 3 (07) “buying power.”

Burton says 144-thousand Louisianans have purchased a health care plan at health care dot gov, which is about a 20-percent increase of persons from 2017.  Burton says there are some 66-thousand in the state who qualify but don’t use it…

Cut 4  (09) “the assistance.” 

Burton says if you haven’t secured health insurance yet and plan on using health care dot gov, get ready to wait a while…

Cut 5  (11)  “the phone.”

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U.S. Senator John Kennedy is making headlines for his questioning of a President Donald Trump judgeship nominee. In the viral video, Matthew Spencer Peterson struggles to answer Kennedy’s legal questions while before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Here’s a snippet…

Cut 6 (09)  “okay”

Kennedy proceeds to ask Peterson about his experience with certain laws that would be necessary to understand if granted the position of federal judge.

Cut 7 (11)  “my disposal”

Kennedy says it was never his intention to bring this kind of attention to the situation but it’s his job to ask tough questions of those who could serve as a federal judge. He says the FBI vets all nominees but they don’t vet them on their knowledge of the laws.

Cut 8 (12) “in court.”

Kennedy says Trump’s advisers were wrong by allowing him to nominate Peterson. He says if Peterson became a federal district court judge…..

Cut 9 (12)  “the toughest”

A vote has not been taken yet on Peterson’s confirmation.

___________________________________________

Questions remain surrounding the death of two people found in a St. Landry Parish lake this week.  Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the initial autopsy finds that 21-year-old Lia Ali Kazan of Shreveport and 30-year-old Anthony Michael Murray of Rapides Parish drowned.  Guidroz says they know that Murray kidnapped Kazan in a parking lot of an Alexandria motel and her vehicle ended up in the lake…

Cut 12 (09) “high number”

Welch says Louisiana has already hit the CDCs highest criteria of widespread for flu activity. He says the Influenza A strain is very strong making people extremely sick and can even be fatal as we’ve seen in previous flu seasons in the Bayou State.

Cut 13 (08)  “taken lightly”

Welch says the active flu season can be blamed on the Influenza A strain and the flu vaccine is only 30% effective against it. But he still strongly suggests getting the flu shot because it helps protect against four different strains of the virus.

Cut 14 (11) “gather together”

_________________________________________________________

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco spoke at the 2017 commencement of her alma mater, UL-Lafayette, Friday morning. Earlier this week, Blanco announced a rare form of eye cancer she faced six years ago had returned and spread to her liver. She addressed her diagnoses as she spoke to UL-Lafayette grads.:

Cut 15 (08) “but I’m hoping not”

Blanco, who served as governor during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, urged graduates to persevere in the face of adversity. She says even though there are no known treatments to cure the type of melanoma she has, her hope remains alive…:

Cut 16  (09)  “in God’s hands”

The flu season is ramping up in the Deep South with the highest number of cases in Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. State Health Department Flu Bug Expert Dr. Frank Welch says it’s rare to see this many flu cases in December…:
Cut 12 (09) “high number”
Welch says Louisiana has already hit the CDCs highest criteria of widespread for flu activity.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is making headlines today after questioning one of President Donald Trump’s nominees for a federal judgeship in Washington D.C. Kennedy grilled Matthew Peterson about his experience with certain laws that would be necessary to understand if granted the position of federal judge..:
Cut 7 (11) “my disposal”
A vote has not been taken yet on Peterson’s confirmation.

There are still questions surrounding the deaths of two people found in Lake Dubbisson in St. Landry Parish this week. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the initial autopsy finds that 21-year-old Lia Kazan of Shreveport and 30-year-old Anthony Murray of Rapides Parish both drowned. Guidroz says they know that Murray kidnapped Kazan in a parking lot of an Alexandria motel and her vehicle ended up in the lake…:
Cut 10 (06) “don’t know”
The investigation is ongoing.

When speaking at UL-Lafayette’s graduation ceremony today, former Governor Kathleen Blanco talked about her recent cancer diagnosis in her liver. She said even though there are no known treatments to cure the type of melanoma she has, her hope remains alive…:
Cut 16 (09) “in God’s hands”
Blanco earned a bachelor’s degree in business education from the university in 1964.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is featured in a viral video that shows him stumping one of President Trump’s nominees for a federal judgeship..:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

If you don’t have health insurance, you have until just before 11 tonight to sign up on the federal exchange, or face paying a penalty. State Director of Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana Brian Burton says there are some 66-thousand Louisianians who qualify through the Affordable Care Act, but don’t use it…:
Cut 4 (09) “the assistance”
The website is healthcare.gov.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco spoke at the 2017 commencement of her alma mater, UL-Lafayette, Friday morning. Earlier this week, Blanco announced
a rare form of eye cancer she faced six years ago had returned and spread to her liver. She addressed her diagnoses as she spoke to UL-Lafayette grads.:
CUT 15 (08) “but I’m hoping not”
Blanco, who served as governor during Hurricane Katrina, urged graduates to persevere in even the face of seemingly hopeless adversity.

In its latest update on influenza activity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies seven states reporting widespread flu activity, including Louisiana.

Today is the deadline to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. You’ll have until 10:59pm tonight to get enrolled, or face a penalty if you’re not insured. State Director of Navigators for a Healthy Louisiana Brian Burton says premiums have increased, but the government subsides are also up…:
Cut 3 (07) “buying power”
You can enroll online at health care dot gov.

UL-Lafayette alum and former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco is at this hour speaking at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Fall 2017 Commencement ceremony. UL-Lafayette President Joe Savoie says the plans for Blanco to give the address were made before she announced she was fighting liver cancer…:
Cut 25 (06) “do it”
He says Blanco will also receive an honorary doctorate.

U.S. Senator John Kennedy is making headlines today after questioning one of President Donald Trump’s nominees for a federal judgeship in Washington D.C. Matthew Spencer Peterson struggles to answer Kennedy’s tough questions while before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Here’s a snippet…:
Cut 6 (09) “okay”
Kennedy says Trump’s advisers were wrong by allowing him to nominate Peterson. He says if Peterson became a federal district court judge…:
Cut 9 (12) “the toughest”
The exchange between Kennedy went viral after another member of the committee tweeted out the video calling the terms Petersen struggled with “basic questions of law.”

A State Legislative Audit into possible misuse of state funds by former State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson has been released.  Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo .”

The flu is hitting Louisiana hard this year.  Health officials say there are numerous reports of widespread flu activity.  There is concern that this flu season will be a rough one since more than 90 percent of flu specimens tested nationwide are type A.  Hospitalizations and deaths are higher when type A is dominant…

Republican U.S. Representative Mike Johnson along with Democratic Florida Representative Charlie Crist have established a bi-partisan Honor and Civility Caucus to restore trust and confidence in American politics. Johnson, who represents the northwestern parishes of Louisiana it’s sad that an issue has to be made about this topic to remind people to be polite.

Cut 8 (09) “pretty simple”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco will give the Commencement address at UL-Lafayette at 11am.   Blanco announced last week she is fighting liver cancer.  University President Joe Savoie (Savv-wah) says the plans for her to speak today were made before her latest diagnosis…

Cut 4  (06) “do it.” 

Blanco served as Governor from 2004 to 2008.  Savoie says she is a perfect fit for the speech as she led efforts to improve higher education funding during her term as governor.