The Food and Drug Administration plans to ban the use of tanning beds or sunlamps from anyone younger than 18. LSU Associate Clinical Professor and Dermatologist Dr. Sarah Jackson says there are countless cases of skin cancer related to tanning bed use. She says they’ve seen an increase in the amount of young women with melanoma since tanning beds became popular, but action is being taken….

cut 11 (09) “indoor tanning”

Louisiana passed a law last year that prohibits anyone under 18 from using a commercial tanning bed.

In just three weeks, Democrat John Bel Edwards will be sworn in as the state’s next governor. Edwards says tough budget decisions will be made and there are a lot of options on the table. He says one option not available is the continued reduction of state dollars for higher education…

cut 14 (10) “going forward”

He says another priority is the expansion of the Medicaid program.

As many get ready to travel the highways for the holiday season, they’ll see the price at the pump around a $1.80 for a gallon of regular gasoline. Gas-Buddy-dot-com spokesperson Gregg Laskoski says the downward pressure of the price of crude oil is what’s driving gas prices down. He says we can expect to see gas this low into the first month of the new year…

cut 8 (11) “new year”

He says prices haven’t been this low since March 2009.

Blue Bell lovers get an early Christmas present today as the ice cream makes it way back on shelves in Louisiana. Blue Bell Spokesperson Joe Robertson says seven different flavors will be available after originally thinking only four different kinds would make it to grocery stores…

cut 4 (09) “peppermint”

He says they’ll keep adding in new flavors until all are returned to shelves.

Democrat John Bel Edwards is three weeks away from being sworn in as the state’s next governor. Edwards says the budget will be one of his biggest challenges. He says a revenue shortfall of one-point-two to one-point-six million dollars is possible next year and there’s no easy solutions…

cut 13 (05) “significant”

Edwards says tough budget decisions will be made and there are a lot of options on the table.

Many will travel on Louisiana highways during this holiday season and they’ll see the price at the pump around a $1.80 for a gallon of regular gasoline. Gas-Buddy-dot-com spokesperson Gregg Laskoski says prices haven’t been this low since March 2009. And He says gas prices are 50 cents lower than this time last year…

cut 7 (09) “last year”

Laskoski says some locations in the the state are advertising gas prices as low as $1.57 a gallon.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to ban anyone younger than 18 from using indoor tanning beds or sunlamps. LSU Associate Clinical Professor and Dermatologist Dr. Sarah Jackson says the American Academy of Dermatology is in full support of these regulations. Jackson says about 1.6 million minors use tanning beds every year…

cut 10 (09) “lifetime”

Jackson says there are countless cases of skin cancer related to tanning bed. Louisiana passed a law last year that prohibits anyone under 18 from using a commercial tanning bed.

Expanding the medicaid program remains a top priority for incoming governor John Bel Edwards. Edwards says this will result in additional federal tax dollars flowing into the state, helping Louisiana with its health care needs. He says without federal assistance, hospitals will close…
cut 15 (09) “..for everybody”
Edwards is sworn in on January 11th.

State authorities are looking into possible wrongdoing by outgoing Angola Warden Burl Cain. There’s been reports Cain violated department rules in real estate transactions with relatives of inmates, but officials say there are other allegations as well. Corrections Secretary James Leblanc wouldn’t elaborate…
cut 14 (11) :…that way”
Cain has said he’s done nothing wrong.

The latest installment of Star Wars is in theaters across Louisiana and the hype is everywhere you go…
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

Louisiana Tech faces Arkansas State tonight in the New Orleans Bowl. Bulldogs head coach Skip Holtz is looking forward to seeing a healthy Kenneth Dixon. Holtz says his star running back was limited in the second half of the season by a high ankle sprain…
cut 30 (08) “…of the season’
Kickoff is at 8 PM.

This is the last Christmas shopping weekend and folks are flocking to the mall. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says reports show consumers are spending a little less this year, but it’s not because there are less shoppers, it’s because they are paying lower prices…:
Cut 26 (10) “purchase basis”
He says online shopping gets bigger every year, but this weekend more people will head to the brick and mortar stores to ensure they have gifts in hand by Christmas.

State Police say stepped up patrols are underway in an effort to keep drunk drivers off the road this holiday. Sgt. Nick Manale says over the Thanksgiving holiday they saw a high number of traffic fatalities and want to prevent that from happening again…:
CUT 27 (09) “all safe”
During the 2014 holiday season, there were 671 fatal and injury crashes and 99 involved alcohol.

A former investigator with the DA’s Office in Washington Parish has been indicted by a grand jury amidst allegations he used his position to force women to have sex with him. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 66-year-old Michael Cotton of Bogalusa allegedly threatened a female drug offender to obtain sex. He says the victims assisted in the investigation…:
CUT 3 (10) “Mr. Cotton”
He says Cotton is being held with $75,000 bond on an extortion charge and $25,000 for public bribery.

The Star Wars craze has spread across Louisiana and we spoke with this fan who said he’s been waiting for years to see The Force Awakens…:
CUT 11 (11) “kinda crazy”
For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at box offices in the US.

Multiple state agencies are investigating outgoing Angola prison warden Burl Cain. The Department of Corrections, State Police and the Inspector General’s Offce are not providing specific allegations. Inspector General Stephen Street says they are trying to get to the facts in an efficient manner…
cut 12 (10) “…more efficiently”
Cain is resigning at the end of the month, but has denied any wrongdoing after reports surfaced about possible wrongdoing involving his private real estate dealings.

A 40-year-old ban that prevented the United States from exporting oil has been lifted. Both the US House and Senate approved legislation that will allow the US to send crude oil to other countries. Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise calls it a big win for Louisiana as the lifting of the ban could create as many as five-thousand jobs.

Matthew Dotson of Vernon Parish is in jail for first-degree murder after authorities determined he is responsible for the death of his finance and her nine year old son. Misty Marshall and the nine-year-old boy had not been seen since Thanksgiving, but authorities found their bodies this week. Sheriff Sam Craft says this tragic crime has rocked this rural area…
cut 8 (10) “…to dealing with”
Two other children belonging to Marshall were not harmed.

Chilly start to the morning. We’ve even seen a few below freezing lows. Slidell hit 30-degrees. But we will warm up today as high temperatures will be around 60-degrees.

It appears Pelicans Coach Alvin Gentry is fed up with the losing. After the team’s latest defeat to Phoenix last night, Gentry said the effort from his players was terrible. New Orleans is now 7-19 on the year.

And tonight Louisiana Tech faces Arkansas State in the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

Leaders of three different state agencies say they are investigating allegations of wrongdoing involving outgoing Angola warden Burl Cain. State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson says he sent a team of invesigators to Angola…
cut 13 (09) “…through those”
Cain has said he’s done nothing wrong, but is leaving his post on December 31st.

A former investigator with the Washington Parish District Attorney’s office is indicted on allegations he used his position to force women who were facing drug charges to have sex with him. Mike Haley, chief deputy with the Washington Parish Sheriff’s office, says 66-year-old Michael Cotton of Bogalusa faces serious charges…
cut 5 (08) “….bond (2x)
Cotton was fired from his job with the D-A’s office in August.

The latest Star Wars movie is generating a lot of buzz. This Louisiana boy went on opening day and he says he’s the biggest Star Wars fan you’ll ever meet…
CUT 9 (07) “everything”
For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at US box offices in one night.

There’s just one shopping weekend left until Christmas and folks that fell behind this year will be out and about Saturday and Sunday with list in hand. Saturday is known as “Super Saturday,” but LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice doesn’t think it’ll be as crazy as the day after Thanksgiving…:
cut 30 (10) “those numbers”
Rice says the good news for last minute shoppers is that they could be paying even less in stores as many sales have already kicked in.

A Vernon Parish man is in jail for first-degree murder after authorities determined he allegedly killed his finance and her nine year old son. Misty Marshall and the nine-year-old boy had not been seen since Thanksgiving. Sheriff Sam Craft says this tragic crime has rocked this rural area…
cut 8 (10) “…to dealing with”
Two other children belonging to Marshall were not harmed.

State Police and the State Inspector General confirm they are looking into possible wrongdoing by outgoing Angola Warden Burl Cain. There’s been reports Cain violated department rules in real estate transactions with relatives of inmates, but today officials said there’s other allegations they are looking into. Corrections Secretary James Leblanc couldn’t elaborate…
cut 14 (11) :…that way”
Cain has said he’s done nothing wrong.

A former investigator with the D-A’s office in Washington Parish is indicted by a grand jury amidst allegations he used his position to force women to have sex with him. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (29) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

Frost is likely overnight as low temperatures will be in the 30s when you wake up tomorrow. A section of southeast Louisiana is under a freeze warning.

Duck Dynasty has reached a syndication deal with the Outdoor channel. The first six-seasons of the Louisiana-based reality TV show will begin airing on the Outdoor channel next month.

Leaders of three different state agencies say they are investigating allegations of wrongdoing involving outgoing Angola warden Burl Cain. State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson says he sent a team of invesigators to Angola…
cut 13 (09) “…through those”
Cain has said he’s done nothing wrong, but is leaving his post on December 31st.

A Vernon parish man is in jail on a two-million dollar bond after the bodies of his finance and her son were found. Sheriff Sam Craft says Matthew Dotson has been charged with first-degree murder
cut 7 (11) “…assistance”
Craft is not saying how 32-year-old Misty Marshall and her nine-year-old son were killed.

The latest installment of Star Wars is in theaters across Louisiana and the hype is everywhere you go. Michelle Southern reports…
cut 2 (30) “…reporting”

Get ready for one of the coldest nights we’ve seen in awhile. In fact, a freeze warning is in effect for East Felciana, northern Tangipahoa, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Washington and West Feliciana Parishes. Low temperatures will be in the 30s tomorrow morning.

And the jackpot for Saturday night’s Powerball drawing is over 200-million dollars.

The bodies of a Vernon Parish woman and her 9-year-old son have been found, and authorities have placed the victim’s fiance under arrest. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says family members reported 32-year-old Misty Marshall and her three children missing on December 4th. He says they were able to locate two children safe, but later discovered Marshal and her son, dead:
CUT 6 (11) “woods road”
Craft says Marshal’s fiance, Matthew Dotson, was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder.

A man who crashed his vehicle in Thibodaux then was subdued by witnesses when he tried to flee, is charged with his 6th DWI according to police. Cops say when they arrived they suspected 29-year-old Mitchell Carrere was highly intoxicated and he ended up with a .196% BAC. He faces many charges including DUI number 6.

Outgoing Angola Warden Burl Cain is the subject of an investigation conducted by multiple agencies. The Department of Corrections, State Police and the Inspector General’s office didn’t provide many details at a press conference. Inspector General Stephen Street says they are trying to get to the facts in an efficient manner…:
cut 12 (10) “more efficiently”
There’s been a series of investigative reports by the Advocate newspaper that’s looked into questionable real estate dealings involving Cain.

The Star Wars craze has spread across Louisiana and we spoke with this fan today who said he’s been waiting for years to see The Force Awakens…:
CUT 11 (11) “kinda crazy”
For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at box offices in the US.

The latest installment of Star Wars opened Friday to an extremely eager audience and the hype is just about everywhere you go. For it’s preview showings alone, “The Force Awakens” brought in a record breaking $57 million dollars at box offices in the US. This Louisiana kid dressed up as his favorite character to wear to the movie on opening day…:
CUT 10 (06) “right here”

The Holiday Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign begins today with increased patrols throughout the state. State Police Sgt. Nick Manale says law enforcement will be on the lookout for drivers who are getting behind the wheel impaired…:
CUT  (10) “joyous time”
According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, during the 2014 holiday season, there were 671 fatal and injury crashes and 99 involved alcohol.

A former investigator with the DA’s Office in Washington Parish has been indicted on extortion charges by a grand jury amidst allegations he used his position to force women to have sex with him. Chief Deputy Mike Haley says 66-year-old Michael Cotton of Bogalusa allegedly helped a woman obtain drugs and use the influence of his position for sex with another woman…:
CUT 4 (08) “that they had”
22nd Judicial District DA Warren Montgomery says it greatly disturbs him that a member of the criminal justice system would deal drugs and prey on the vulnerable.

There’s a messy battle playing out between LSU and it’s former defensive coordinator John Chavis. Apparently the university made alterations to Chavis’ contract after he signed it, but LSU claims they were nominal and did not affect terms. A judge has also ordered Chavis to turn over his phone records. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it would probably be best for both sides to settle…:
CUT  (09) “very careful”