Three Louisiana cities rank as some of the highest in the US for losing the most jobs. According to 24/7 Wall St, Lafayette topped the list with 9400 losses in the past year. Houma/Thibodaux ranked third highest and Shreveport-Bossier came in at No. 4. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott blames the struggling oil and gas industry, but it’ll help if OPEC reduces production next year like they’ve said…:
Cut 9 (10) “right now”
Scott says it might be 2018 before these cities start seeing positive job growth.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards has been released from the hospital after battling pneumonia. Trina Edwards posted on Facebook that the former governor is on the mend. The 89 year old suffers from pneumonia on a recurring basis. He was hospitalized for the same issue in November of last year.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center receives a 5.3 million dollar grant to study why some people benefit more or less from exercise. Associate executive director of clinical research and study investigator Dr. Eric Ravussin says everyone knows exercise improves health, but they hope to determine which activity is the most effective on certain people and why…:
Cut 10 (11) “molecular changes”
For more information on the study, visit Pennington’s website.

Tiny beetles resembling ladybugs are swarming homes around Louisiana more than usual this year. Dr. Chris Carlton with LSU’s Entomology Department says there are so many of them because inspect species are known to go through dramatic population fluctuations from one year to the next…:
Cut 5 (11) “next year”

The struggling oil and gas industry is causing job losses across the state in massive numbers. 24/7 Wall St reports the Lafayette area had the largest employment decline over the past year with 9400 job losses. Houma/Thibodaux ranked third and Shreveport number 4. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says their forecast shows the declines in these three areas continuing into 2017, but at a slower rate…:
Cut 8 (10) “in 2017″
Scott says it might be 2018 before these cities start seeing positive job growth.

FEMA has once again extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program for flood victims by 30 days. TSA provides lodging for those displaced by the flood and cannot return to their homes.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards is in New Orleans to speak at the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Meeting.

Swarms of small beetles resembling ladybugs are moving into yards around the state. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Tickets to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump are a hot item. US Congressman Ralph Abraham’s Office began handing some out, but had to take the link off of their website because requests flooded in. The Congressman’s spokesman is Cole Avery..:
CUT 13 (10) “notifying people”
Mr. Trump will be sworn into office on January 20th.

Three Louisiana cities rank as some of the highest in the US for losing the most jobs. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The FBI isn’t saying much about why they raided the Hammond Police Department and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Thursday. A spokesman with the Bureau said they conducted multiple “court authorized” searches and that there were more to come. Among items seized in the simultaneous inspections include computers, cellphones and case files.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center receives a 5.3 million dollar grant to study why some people benefit more or less from exercise. Associate executive director of clinical research and study investigator Dr. Eric Ravussin says they want to determine which activity is the most effective on certain people and why.
cut 11 (08) “of health”
Pennington’s website has additional information on the study.

Tiny beetles resembling ladybugs are swarming homes around Louisiana more than usual this year. Dr. Chris Carlton with LSU’s Entomology Department says the Asian Lady Beetle is not the typical ladybug we normally see, but they are in the same family…:
cut 4 (11) “in Louisiana”
He says the Asian Lady Beetle does bite because it likes to taste things it lands on, but nothing is injected.

Three Louisiana cities rank as some of the highest in the US for losing the most jobs. According to 24/7 Wall St, the Lafayette area topped the list having accounted for 9400 losses in the past year. Houma/Thibodaux ranked third highest with an area employment decline of 3.7%, and Shreveport-Bossier came in at No. 4 with a loss of 4200 jobs…:
CUT 7 (08) “three areas”
That’s LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott.

U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham’s Office has begun handing out tickets to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration; but requests flooded in so quickly they had to remove the link on their site. Abraham’s spokesperson Cole Avery says if folks want to go to the January 20th event, there will be public viewing areas open in the National Mall in Washington, D.C…:
Cut 15 (09) “usually are”
Mr. Trump carried the Bayou State by a landslide over Secretary Hillary Clinton, 58 to 38-percent.

The National Institutes of Health grants LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center with 5.3 million dollars to study why certain people benefit more or less from exercise. Emelie Gunn has more..:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

89-year-old former Governor Edwin Edwards is out of the hospital after being diagnosed with a recurring bout of pneumonia. His wife Trina says doctors are working to improve an issue with Edwards’ lungs and he’s now doing much better.

Doctors at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston gave an update today on wounded East Baton Rouge Deputy Nick Tullier’s condition. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

FBI agents raided the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Hammond Police Department. An agency spokesperson says they are carrying out court ordered actions. The investigation reportedly stems from possible mishandling of evidence by a drug task force. The FBI has indicated this is a large scale investigation and there will be more raids.

Louisiana has one of the biggest wage gaps between its richest and poorest residents, according to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Director of the Louisiana Budget Project, Jan Moeller isn’t surprised because he says Louisiana has the fourth highest rate of income inequality in the country.

Cut 13 (09) “very richest”

Moeller says this large wage gap is a reason why Louisiana’s economy has trouble growing.

According to a report from Bankrate.com, Louisiana is the fourth worst state for drivers. Data Analyst Claes Bell says the high number of auto fatalities and longer than average commute times contributed to Louisiana’s ranking.

Cut 8 (10) “public transit”

New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, and California round out the bottom five states.

A new report finds Louisiana has the one of the largest wealth gaps in the nation. Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Moeller hopes the legislature addresses the large gap in wage earners. Moeller says it will take higher income individuals paying more taxes and a higher mininum wage to close the gap….
cut 15 (11) “…for everybody”

East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy Nick Tullier is making very good progress. That’s what doctors say at a Houston hospital where the wounded deputy continues to recover after getting shot last July during an ambush that killed three others. Doctor Katherine O’ Brien…
cut 11 (09) “…where he is”
And they say he can communicate nonverbally and move some parts of his body.

The House and Senate joint budget committee approved a plan today that will result in a 12-million dollar cut in state funding for public colleges. The cut to higher education was needed to address a 313-million dollar deficit. But Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne warned more cuts are coming, because another 300-million dollar shortfall could be recognized next month.

Increased beef production could mean consumers see lower prices, according to the National Cattleman’s Beef Association. Jeff Palermo has more…
voicer 5 (30) ” I’m Jeff Palermo

Doctors at a rehabilitation facility say wounded East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputy Nick Tullier has made progress during his time in Houston and is now fully conscious. Employees at the T-I-R-R Memoral Hermann also say Deputy Tullier can write his initials, strum a guitar and understand commands. But his recovery still has a long way to go. Tullier was one of six offiers shot last July.

Louisiana has one of the biggest wage gaps between its richest and poorest residents, according to a report.
voicer 2 (27) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

A report by Bankrate.com finds Louisiana is the fourth worst state for drivers. Spokesperson Claes Bell says the survey looked at a broad range of data to determine the ranking, like Louisiana being 49th in the nation for insurance cost…:
CUT 7 (11) “of accidents”
He says another thing attributing to the negative ranking is Louisiana’s above average commute time which is 25 minutes.

State Police say a West Carroll Parish woman has been arrested in the shooting death of her husband. A television report says the victim was killed a day after his birthday. Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says they responded to a call of a shooting in Epps shortly after midnight Tuesday…:
Cut 5 (08) “Larry Carroll”
Reichardt says Sollars has been charged with second degree murder.

Doctors at rehabilitation facility in Houston say wounded East Baton Rouge Deputy Nick Tullier’s condition is improving. Michelle Southern has more…
voicer 1 (30) “….I’m Michelle Southern”

FBI agents were seen entering and leaving the offices at the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office and the Hammond Police Department today. An FBI spokesperson says they are conducting multiple court-authorized actions. The Baton Rouge Advocate reports there’s a federal investigation looking into possible mishandling of evidence by a drug task force.

Louisiana has the fourth largest wealth gap between rich and poor according to a report compiled by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Louisiana Budget Project director Jan Moller says this large wage gap is another reason why the state’s economy has trouble growing…
cut 14 (11) “….for everybody”
Moller says higher taxes on the rich and a higher minimum wage can help close the gap.

A Bankrate-dot-com study finds Louisiana is the fourth worst state for driving. It’s based on the state’s high insurance costs, long commute times and high rate of fatal wrecks. But data analyst Claes Bell says there are some positives, like low repair costs and….
cut 9 (07) “…in general”

Doctors in Houston say East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputy Nick Tullier is making progress and is now fully conscious. Tullier, who was severely injured last July in a police ambush, is also able to give nonverbal signals and can respond to commands. Physical therapist Julie Welch says Tullier spends several hours a day in therapy….
cut 12 (08) “…as well”
It’s still unclear how much of a recovery Tullier will make.

We are trying to get more information on why FBI agents were combing through the offices today at the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s office and Hammond Police Department. According to the Baton Rouge Advocate, the FBI probe has to do with an investigation into possible wrongdoing involving a drug task force.

John Kennedy says his resignation as a state Treasurer will become effective on January 3rd when he’s sworn in as U.S. Senator.

A West Carroll Parish woman has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says 44-year-old April Sollars was booked into jail and the investigation is ongoing….
cut 6 (08) “…early stages”
The victim Larry Carroll was fatally shot a day after his 43rd birthday.

Alexandria Police has arrested two people in the stabbing death of another person. Corpoal Wade Bourgeois says their investigation led them to 54-year-old Daniel Mikkelson and 35-year-old Natarsha Meredit, who were taken into custody after questioning…
cut 4 (08) “…murder”
The victim’s name has not been released.

Mississippi four-star quarterback Myles Brennan has reaffirmed his commitment to LSU and plans to sign with the Tigers next year.

A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds Louisiana has one of the biggest wage gaps between its richest and poorest residents. Director of the Louisiana Budget Project Jan Moeller says the Bayou State has the fourth highest rate of income inequality in the country…:
Cut 13 (09) “very richest”
He hopes the legislature will look at ways to make Louisiana’s tax system a little more fair.

The Hammond Police Department and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office were raided by the FBI this morning. The reasons have not been released, but we have this statement from Craig Betbeze (Bet-Be-Zee) who is a spokesman for the FBI…:
CUT 20 (08) “at this time”
We’ll have more on this as it develops.

Doctors at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston announced today that wounded East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Tullier is fully conscious and doing well in recovery. Medical Director of the Disorders of Consciousness Program, Dr. Sunil Kothari, says they believed Tullier would be in a vegetative state when he arrived, but he was not…:
Cut 10 (11) “fully conscious”
Tullier’s father, James, celebrated the announcement with the doctors, saying Christmas has come early.

WWL-TV is reporting that New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is going to meet with President-elect Donald Trump today in New York. They say the mayor was invited under his title as vice president of the United States Conference of Mayors. The two will discuss public safety and infrastructure.