54-year-old Ronald Gasser has been arrested and booked on a charge of manslaughter. Jefferson Parish authorities say Gasser has admitted to fatally shooting former NFL player and John Curtis star Joe McKnight during an apparent road rage incident at an intersection in Terrytown.

Also this morning in New Orleans, opening statements are underway in the Will Smith murder trial. Saints players Roman Harper and Jahri Evans are at the courtroom to support the family of the former Saints star.

A new television ad in the US Senate race has Governor John Bel Edwards urging voters to vote for Democrat Foster Campbell. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the ad is a nice gesture, but it’s unlikely Campbell can beat the favorite, Republican John Kennedy…
cut 10 (07) “…upset victory”
The election is Saturday.

New Orleans will be featured during Dick Clark’s Rockin New Year’s Eve show as host Ryan Seacrest will toss it to the Crescent City to see how the Big Easy is celebrating the New Year. Gary Solomon with Dick Clark Productions says viewers will feel like they’re a part of the New Orleans culture…
cut 15 (10) “….Brewery drop”
Solomon says there will be musical acts performing in the French Quarter that will be shown on the show as well.

The state’s efforts to rebuild its whooping crane population got another lift as 21 more large birds were brought to south Louisiana, where they once dominated the landscape over 65 years ago. Wildlife and fisheries biologist Sara Zimorski says once these birds are released, the birds are encouraged to stay by being fed….
cut 6 (09) “…natural foods”

Ronald Gasser has been arrested and charged with manslaughter in the killing of former NFL and John Curtis star, Joe McKnight. Police say Gasser shot McKnight last week in Jefferson Parish after a road rage incident. Detectives found that Gasser fired three shots from inside his car, killing McKnight. Sheriff Newell Normand is slated to give an update this hour.

Can we expect to see any Louisiana leaders serving in the Trump Administration. Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, who led the president elect’s campaign in Louisiana, says the Louisiana delegation is working hard to push figures from the Bayou State and even he’s thrown his hat into the ring for available positions in the new administration…:
cut 12 (09) “in Louisiana”
Skrmetta says Mr. Trump has chosen strong leaders for the positions he’s filled so far, including appointing Dr. Ben Carson as the Secretary for the Department of Housing.

The Crescent City will be featured as the Central time zone location for Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve nationally televised show. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

NFL Draft Analyst Mike Detillier believes LSU running back Leonard Fournette, who announced he’d be going pro Monday, will be a top five pick in the 2017 NFL draft….:
CUT 16 (10) “Johnathan Allen”

A new campaign ad for Democrat Foster Campbell features Governor John Bel Edwards urging residents to vote for the Public Service Commissioner in the US Senate runoff. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

According to online inmate records in Jefferson Parish, the man accused of killing former NFL and John Curtis football star Joe McKnight has been arrested and charged with manslaughter. Ronald Gasser was released following the apparent road rage incident pending further investigation. Sheriff Newell Norman is slated to give an update this morning at 10am.

Senator David Vitter gave his farewell speech on the Senate floor Monday, as he will leave the office he’s held since January 2005. The outgoing Senator thanked members of his team, his colleagues, and friends in Washington. But he says he owes the most to his wife, Wendy:
Cut 8 (11) “fireball shots”

Opening statements are expected to begin this morning in the trial of the man accused of shooting and killing former Saint Will Smith. A jury selection process lasted well into Monday night. Cardell Hayes faces life in prison if convicted on the 2nd degree murder charge.

More whooping cranes have arrived in Louisiana as the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries continues years of work to restore the population. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski:
CUT 5 (08) “here again”
A total of 25 whooping cranes have been delivered to Louisiana this year.

Set to leave after 12-years in Congress, US Senator David Vitter said goodbye on the Senate floor Monday. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (26) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

We can expect to see some Louisiana leaders working in the Trump Administration, according to Public Service Commissioner Eric Skrmetta, who led the president elect’s campaign in Louisiana…:
cut 11 (10) “in Louisiana”
Skirmetta doesn’t think it’s likely to see former Governor Bobby Jindal working for Mr. Trump in Washington come January.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has received 21 whooping cranes from Maryland in the last week, giving the Bayou State a total of 25 large birds that have been delivered to the state in 2016. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski…:
cut 4 (10) “those locations”
For the last six years LDWF has been working to restore a solid population of the whooping crane in Louisiana.

He made it official on Twitter Monday. Star LSU running back Leonard Fournette will forego his senior season with the Tigers and enter the 2017 NFL draft after the Citrus Bowl. NFL Draft Analyst Mike Detillier believes he has a shot to be the top overall pick…:
Cut 18 (15) “ Texas A&M”

US Senator David Vitter gave his farewell speech on the Senate floor Monday. Vitter says as a Louisiana state legislator he worked to impose term limits here, and also authored similar legislation for Congress. He says that’s why he’s imposing one on himself…:
CUT 7 (11) “term limits”
The outgoing Senator thanked members of his team, his colleagues, and friends in Washington.

In a new ad, Governor John Bel Edwards asks residents to vote for Democrat Foster Campbell in Saturday’s US Senate race. ULM political science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says as popular as the governor is, this ad likely won’t do much to help Campbell…:
Cut 9 (08) “this race”
In the 30-second spot, Edwards says Campbell could be the deciding vote against substantial cuts to social security and Medicare.

New Orleans will be featured as part of the 2017 Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest; marking the first time in the show’s history there will be a central time zone countdown. Local Representative for Dick Clark Productions Gary Solomon says this is a real game changer for the Crescent City…:
Cut 13 (10) “parade”
He says the huge talent lineup for the New Orleans portion of the show will be announced in the coming weeks.

The jury in the murder trial of the man accused of shooting and killing former Saints player will Smith has been selected. Jurors, who will remain sequestered, were seated Monday night. Lawyers say the trial of Cardell Hayes, who is charged with second degree murder, could last 7-10 days.

A new survey from Tulane finds Republican John Kennedy still has a strong lead over Democrat Foster Campbell just days before the runoff. Political science professor Brian Brox says many voters feel that voting for a Democrat means choosing the minority in a Republican-dominated Senate.

Cut 15 (04) “of power”

Brox says supporters of candidates who did not make the runoff are splitting along party lines.

Only 171-thousand Louisiana voters went to the polls during the early voting period. Pollster John Couvillion with JMC Analytics says Democratic enthusiasm is lacking, with a lower percentage of black voters than in the primary. He says East Baton Rouge Parish was the only exception because of the competitive mayoral race.

Cut 11 (12) “Weston Broome”

Former-Democratic State Senator Broome is facing Republican State Senator Bodi White in the race.

Senator David Vitter gave his farewell speech today on the Senate floor before he leaves office next year. The outgoing Senator thanked members of his team and his colleagues. But he says he owes the most to his wife, Wendy.

Cut 23 (11) “fireball shots”

The senior senator took office in 2005.

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are excited about facing 25^th ranked Navy on December 23^rd in the Armed Forced Bowl. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland expects this will be a high scoring game and predicts tons of fans will attend.

Cut 8 (09) “large crowd”

He expects between 500 and 1,000 students to attend the game in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Only 171-thousand of the state’s 3 million registered voters cast their ballots during the early voting period. Pollster John Couvillion, with JMC Analytics, predicts turnout for the runoff to be 35-percent, at the most. He says a runoff during the holiday season has always been bad for turnout, plus this Senate race isn’t exciting voters…:
Cut 10 (08) “this one”

A new survey out of Tulane reveals US Senate candidate Republican John Kennedy has a healthy lead in the race against Democrat Foster Campbell in the runoff. Brian Brox, associate professor of Political Science, says they found 59% of respondents said they would vote for Kennedy, while 40% said Campbell is their choice. He says the Republican has always been favored in Saturday’s race…:
Cut 13 (07) “characteristics”
The election will be held this Saturday.

Senator David Vitter gave his farewell speech on the Senate floor today, as he will leave the office he’s held since January 2005. Vitter says as a Louisiana state legislator he worked to impose term limits here, as well as authoring a term limits measure for Congress. He says that’s why he’s imposing one on himself….
cut 7 (11) “…term limits”
It’s unclear what Senator Vitter will do once his term ends at the end of the year.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette took to Twitter today to say goodbye to Tigers fans. Fournette says he’ll enter the NFL draft following the team’s appearance in the Citrus Bowl. The New Orleans native has battled an ankle injury all season long, but still hopes to play in the bowl game.

Attorneys met with potential jurors as they look for 12 individuals who will sit on a panel to determine if 29-year-old Cardale Hayes should be found guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of former Saints star Will Smith.

Tulane has published an online survey that found 59-percent of the respondents are supporting Republican John Kennedy in the U.S. Senate run-off. Democrat Foster Campbell, received 40-percent. Tulane political science professor Brian Brox says the survey also found that 31-percent of the residents who voted for Hillary Clinton in the Presidential election, will not vote for Campbell in this runoff…
cut 14 (09) “…in the runoff”

171-thousand ballots were cast during the early voting period which ended last Saturday. John Couvillion, with JMC Analytics, says the early voting totals were impressive for the November election, but not so much this time…
cut 12 (10) “…turnout”
Polls are open this Saturday from 7 AM to 8 PM.

Officials with the Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport are excited about their December 26th contest that pits North Carolina State versus Vanderbilt. Bowl Spokesperson Stefan Nolet says the ACC and SEC matchup marks the second time in three seasons the two conferences have played each other in this bowl…:
Cut 6 (10) “game here”
Kick off for the Independence Bowl is at 4 p.m.

This non-stop rain has many flood weary folks in the Bayou State feeling nervous, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says the wet weather will finally leave today and then we can get ready for our real dose of cold weather before the weekend arrives…:
Cut 5 (10) “and Friday”

LSU running back Leonard Fournette announced today that he will enter the NFL draft after the Tiger’s Citrus Bowl game on December 31. The announcement came on twitter, where Fournette also stated that he does plan to play in the game against Louisville, despite an ankle injury. Fournette has 3,755 yards for his career, which is the fourth highest in LSU history.

Only 171-thousand registered voters hit the polls for early voting for the runoff election, which is six percent of the state’s registered voters. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

In the final days before the US Senate runoff, a Tulane survey finds Republican John Kennedy still has a strong lead over Democrat Foster Campbell. Political science professor Brian Brox says many voters feel that voting for a Democrat means choosing the minority party in a Republican-controlled senate.

Cut 15 (04) “of power”

Brox says voters whose candidate did not make the runoff are splitting along party lines.

Louisiana Tech is heading to the Armed Forces Bowl to take on 25^th ranked Navy on December 23. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland says they were offered the option to play Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl or the top 25 team. He says they chose the game that would give players a new experience.

Cut 9 (09) “three years”

McClelland expects between 500 and a thousand students will attend the game.

A new survey out of Tulane reveals US Senate candidate Republican John Kennedy has a healthy lead in the race against Democrat Foster Campbell in the runoff. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The jury selection in the Cardell Hayes trial is underway in New Orleans Criminal District Court. Hayes is accused of killing former Saints defensive end Will Smith during a road rage incident in April. It was made know today that prosecutors will no longer charge Hayes with aggravated assault with a firearm. Over 100 jurors were brought in today for questioning and that number be narrowed down to 12 jurors and four alternates.

 
Out of the state’s 3 million registered voters, only 171-thousand voters went to the polls during the early voting period. Pollster John Couvillion with JMC Analytics says data showed Democratic enthusiasm is lacking, with the percentage of black voters lower than in the primary. He says the only exception was in East Baton Rouge Parish, because of the competitive mayoral race.
cut 11 (12) “Weston-Broome”

The Camping World Independence Bowl in Shreveport will host North Carolina State and Vanderbilt for a December 26th match-up. Bowl Spokesperson Stefan Nolet expects Vanderbilt fans will travel to the game because they haven’t been to a bowl since 2013. But he says traveling on the day after Christmas can be tough, but…
CUT 7 (07) “federal holiday”

Kick-off is at 4 p.m.