We are keeping an eye on a weather system that has the potential of bringing snow to some parts of our state on Friday. Right now the national weather service is calling for a slight chance of snow in north and central Louisiana and rain for south Louisiana that day. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the entire state should monitor this system because things could change quickly…
cut 13 (07) “…the precipitation”

The holidays aren’t always the most wonderful time of the year, which is why more couples get divorced in January than any other month. That’s according to New Orleans marriage and family therapist Dr. Eileen Palace, who says the holidays can put added strain on relationships…
cut 8 (10) “…in January”
She says that’s why January has been dubbed as “divorce month” by lawyers and family psychologists.

Healthcare and immigration are expected to be big issues for Louisiana’s congressional delegation this year. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

KTBS-TV in Shreveport reports Hyundai Glovis is planning to hire between 150 to 400 workers to assemble bumpers at the closed General Motors plant in Shreveport. No indication on when the company will hire. This is not related to Elio Motors, who leased part of the plant in the hopes of one day producing a fuel-efficient three-wheel vehicle.

Another cold snap is coming our way, and state climatologist Barry Keim says it will be the coldest one yet. He says a cold front moves through the state today, which will drastically cool things off in the Bayou State.
cut 11 (12) “the weekend”
And Keim says there’s a chance we could see snow on Friday in north and central Louisiana.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says rates for Workers’ Compensation policies have fallen for a fourth year in a row. Donelon says a lower rate can help attract new businesses to the Bayou State and….
cut 16 (07) “….even cheaper”
He says rates have had a cumulative drop of 34-percent over the last 10 years.

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is ready to get to work. Members were sworn in yesterday. US Representative Ralph Abraham from Richland Parish says he looks to get the state’s energy industry rolling again….
cut 5 (11) “…expound exponentially”
Abraham anticipates health care and securing the borders will be major topics during 2017.

A 25-hundred dollar reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the murder of a 22-year-old Hammond man. Darius Latin was fatally shot in the early morning hours of December 28th in an apartment building. A motive is not known.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is partnering with Dunkin Donuts franchisee Vik Patel to develop nearly 70 more donut shops in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport and Monroe. The first new store is expected to open this year. Five stores are currently open in Louisiana. Brees is also involved in the Jimmy John’s Franchise and co-owns Walk-On’s Enterprises.

A former LSU football player says his SEC championship ring was stolen. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

US Representative Cedric Richmond, who represents New Orleans, parts of the River Parishes and Baton Rouge, was sworn in as the new chairman of Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says the Caucus plans to affect change…
cut 8 (07) “….of today”
It’s expected that the Caucus will fight many of the policies that will come from the Trump administration. One piece of legislation the two sides could agree on is a funding bill for infrastructure projects.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is trying to end specualation he will coach in another NFL city next year. Here’s what he said during an interview on WWL radio when asked about the rumors he could leave New Orleans…
cut 11 (13) “…honoring that”
Payton signed a new five year deal last year.

A new Congress began its 2017 session today. It started with Louisiana’s newest U.S Senator John Kennedy taking the oath of office. There are two other new members to Louisiana’s Congressional delegation. Republicans Clay Higgins and Mike Johnson. All three were victorious in run-off elections last month.

The Congressional Black Caucus sworn in its new chairman today, Louisiana’s own US Representative Cedric Richmond. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Monday was a busy day for first responders in Marksville. A possible tornado caused damage at and near a Wal-Mart and the weather along with other events also caused power outages. Marksville Fire Chief Jerry Bordelon…
cut 4 (12) “…a blackout”
But no major injuries were reported.

Saints Coach Sean Payton says it’s his plan that he will definitely be back next season. Payton says he’s already started working on what the roster might look like in 2017…
cut 10 (07) “…I’m doing”
Payton made the comments on WWL Radio in New Orleans. There’s been speculation he could be traded to another team.

Today in Washington D.C, John Kennedy was sworn into the 115th Congress of the United States as Louisiana’s newest Senator. Michelle Southern reports…:
Voicer 5 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Two new members of Louisiana’s House delegation also took the oath of office today. Republican Congressman Clay Higgins will represent the third district, which covers southwest Louisiana. And Republican Mike Johnson moves from the state legislature to the seat representing the fourth congressional district.

US Representative Cedric Richmond was sworn in today as the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says they plan to stand up against any policies that disenfranchise African-Americans…
cut 9 (11) “…never will be”
New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries told Politico that the black community is counting on them as the last line of defense between Donald Trump and the worst America could offer.

Season two of the cold case series Killing Fields begins tonight on the Discovery Channel. Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi says the TV show will highlight to work of his deputies who helped solve a 1991 cold case murder and another case that made headlines last spring…
cut 12 (10) “…Whiskey Bay Bridge”
The show airs at 9 PM.

Strong winds laid a path of destruction in Avoyelles Parish. Marksville Fire Chief Jerry Bordelon says Walmart took the brunt of the damange with a semi truck flipping over behind the building.
Cut 3 (11) “buggies.”

Bordelon says it has not been confirmed if a tornado touched down.

Some areas in north and central Louisiana could see ice or snow this week. Patrick Omundson with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says Monroe and Alexandria are expected to see less than an inch of snow. He says right now, models show a 70-percent chance of icy precipitation in Monroe on Friday.
Cut 6 (11) “Friday evening”

The second season of, Killing Fields, the cold case series in Iberville Parish, airs tonight on the Discovery Channel. The show follows Detective Rodie Sanchez, who comes out of retirement, along with Detectives Aubrey St. Angelo, Leslie Bradford, and Major Ronnie Hebert. Sheriff Brett Stassi says through the television show, they were able to use forensic tools they typically wouldn’t have access to.
Cut 14 (10) “financial ability”

Episode one begins at 9 p.m.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is partnering with Dunkin Donuts franchisee Vik Patel to create 69 more donut shops throughout the state. The first new store is expected to open this year. Five stores are currently open in Louisiana. Brees is also involved in the Jimmy John’s Franchise and co-owns Walk-On’s Enterprises.

Republican John Kennedy was sworn in as a new U.S. Senator for Louisiana today. Kennedy occupies the seat once held by David Vitter, who decided not to run for re-election. Kennedy also resigned as state treasurer today. Ron Henson will lead the state agency. Voters will have the opportunity to elect a new treasurer in October.

US Representative Cedric Richmond, who represents New Orleans, parts of the River Parishes and Baton Rouge, was sworn in as the new chairman of Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says the Caucus plans to affect change…
cut 8 (07) “….of today”
It’s expected that the Caucus will fight many of the policies that will come from the Trump administration. One piece of legislation the two sides could agree on is a funding bill for infrastructure projects.

A former LSU football player says his SEC championship ring was stolen. Jeff Palermo has more…
Voicer 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Saints Coach Sean Payton it’s his plan that he will definitely be back next season. Payton says he’s already started working on what the roster might look like in 2017…
cut 10 (07) “…I’m doing”
Payton made the comments on WWL Radio in New Orleans. There’s been speculation he could be traded to another team.

US Representative Cedric Richmond from New Orleans officially took over today as the chairman of the Black Congressional Caucus. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Parts of north Louisiana could see snow this week. Patrick Omundson with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says cold air arrives tonight and precipitation is expected to arrive on Friday.
Cut 5 (12) “air mass”
There’s a 30-percent chance for snow Friday night in Monroe.

Saints Coach Sean Payton is trying to end specualation he will coach in another NFL city next year. Here’s what he said during an interview on WWL radio when asked about the rumors he could leave New Orleans…
cut 11 (13) “…honoring that”
Payton signed a new five year deal last year.

And season two of the Killing Fields airs tonight on the Discovery Channel. The cold case show follows detectives around from Iberville Parish. Sheriff Brett Stassi says this year’s season will feature the arrest of a cold case from 1991 and when a woman’s body from Texas ended up in Whiskey Bay…
cut 13 (05) “…guilty verdict”
Season one, focused on the 1997 murder of an LSU grad student. That case remains unsolved.

Today, US Representative Cedric Richmond of New Orleans was sworn in as the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. Richmond says in this new Congress, the CBC will confront those who seek to divide people, and they will be clear on their demands on behalf of black people across the country.
CUT 7 (09) “they worship”
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus tell Politico they are bracing for the worst from President-elect Donald Trump and they are concerned his presidency could set minorities back decades.

The United States Coast Guard is assisting in the clean-up of a diesel oil spill in the Mississippi River in St. Charles Parish. About 500 gallons spilled into the river during a fuel transfer.

Former LSU football player Seth Fruge an SEC championship ring and other football mementos was stolen from his Shreveport home over the Christmas break. Fruge played for the Tigers from 2009 to 2013.

Monday was a busy day for first responders in Marksville. A possible tornado caused damage at and near a Wal-Mart and the weather along with other events also caused power outages. Marksville Fire Chief Jerry Bordelon…
cut 4 (12) “…a blackout”
But no major injuries were reported.

And forecasters are keeping an eye on possible winter precipitation later in the week for north and central Louisiana. Patrick Omundson with the National Weather Service says possibly light snow and ice could occur in the Monroe and Alexandria areas on Friday…
cut 6 (11) “…Friday evening”
Cold air is expected to arrive in the state later today and high temperatures tomorrow will only be in the upper 40s into the mid 50s.

Strong winds blew through Avoyelles Parish leaving behind a trail of destruction. Marksville Fire Chief Jerry Bordelon says it hasn’t been confirmed yet if a tornado touched down. He says Walmart saw the most damage, as an 18-wheeler was flipped over behind the building.
Cut 3 (11) “buggies”

No injuries were reported.

Governor John Bel Edwards enters 2017 with a high favorability rating. That’s according to Southern Media and Opinion Research pollster Bernie Pinsonat. But Pinsonat says Edwards faces many challenges that could impact his popularity…
cut 5 (10) “…plummet again”

Pinsonat says there’s the possibility of yet another special session to address a $600 million deficit.

Southeastern Louisiana University is asking people to donate their Christmas trees to help prevent coastal erosion. Rob Moreau, manager of SLU’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station says when the trees are placed along the shoreline they help to trap sediment and eventually grass starts to grow inside the tree.
Cut 12 (09)

For drop off information, visit southeastern.edu/turtlecove.

The Smoking Cessation Trust is offering tips to help smokers quit for the New Year. CEO Mike Rogers says this is a great resolution for people to push for. He says many smokers who try to quit cold turkey are unsuccessful but they have a great program to help…
Cut 13 (09) “medication”

Visit smokefreela.org for more information.