Governor elect John Bel Edwards has named Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne has his commissioner of administration. Dardenne will serve as Edwards chief budget advisor…
cut 30 (12) “…on the budget”
Edwards also named Kimberly Robinson as his revenue secretary.

US Representative John Fleming officially entered next year’s US Senate race. Fleming will be seeking the seat that will soon be vacated by David Vitter. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley expects a large field of candidates to run…
cut 16 (13) “….John Kennedy”
Fleming promises to bring conservative principals to the US Senate.

If you plan on giving a “hoverboard” as a gift this holiday season, be aware that these self-balancing, motorized scooters have been known to burst into flames. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the highest risk of fire is when the device is charging…
cut 22 (09) “the battery”
Browning says if you purchase one, make sure it was tested by a recognized testing laboratory.

Nominations for the 58th Grammy Awards went out today and Louisiana is well represented. Eric Gill has more…
voicer 1 (29) “…I’m Eric Gill”

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards makes it official as he names Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne the incoming commissioner of administration. Edwards also announced today that Kimberly Robinson will be the new Secretary at the Department of Revenue.

DHH Secretary Kathy Kliebert says her staff is meeting with Edwards health care transition team today to discuss Medicaid expansion. State Treasurer John Kennedy says it would cost about 1.5 billion dollars to add 300-thousand new people to Medicaid. He sugessest keeping the cost down by doing things like requiing a small doctor’s office co-pay…:
CUT 11 (10) “or hospital”
He also suggests offering incentives to folks who committ to healthier lifestyles by not smoking or losing weight. Edwards takes office January 11th.

While talking with reporters about the bowl match-up between LSU and Texas Tech, Head Coach Les Miles was asked if offensive coordinator Cam Cameron would return next season and Miles says he’s not contemplating any changes to his coaching staff.

US Representative John Fleming has made it official. The republican from Minden has announced his candidacy for US Senate, seeing the seat being vacated by David Vitter. In a YouTube video, Fleming sys he expects to be one of several prominent republicans on the ballot next fall…:
CUT 14 (07) “is possible”
Fleming says he wants to work on legislation to fight terrorism, remove Obamacare and help small businesses grow.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a recent rash of heroin overdose deaths. Captain Dawn Foret says four recent fatal ODs are open cases. She says an arrest warrant is out for 27-year-old Shantelle White in connection with the overdose death of 35-year-old Christy Hurst. And 28-year-old Terry Braud of Shriever was found dead of an apparent heroin overdose Thursday…:
CUT 6 (07) “contact with”
Anyone with information on these cases is urged to contact authorities.

While talking with reporters about the bowl match-up between LSU and Texas Tech, Head Coach Les Miles was asked if offensive coordinator Cam Cameron would return next season and Miles says he’s not contemplating any changes to his coaching staff…
cut 18 (14) “…execute it”
Cameron’s contract expires early next year. He’s in the third and final year of his current contract.

McNeese State’s Matt Viator has finished third in voting for 2015 STATS FCS National Coach of the Year honors. Viator led the Cowboys to a perfect 10-0 regular season record. Portland State’s Bruce Barnum was named coach of the year.

LSU’s Ben Simmons has been SEC player of the week. Simmons had 43 points in a win over North Florida last week.

The Saints are now four and eight on the year after a tough 41-38 loss to Carolina. With four more games left in the regular season, Quarterback Drew Brees wants the team to forget about its record…
cut 20 (21) “…playing at”
The Saints are at Tampa Bay this Sunday.

Louisiana Tech will be in the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Saturday December 19th to take on Arkansas State in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Coach Skip Holtz says to represent Tech in only its eighth bowl game in school history is certainly something the players are excited about…
cut 9 (09) “…in New Orleans.

Republican US Representative John Fleming has officially announced he will run for the US Senate seat that’s being vacated by David Vitter. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man wanted in connection with the death of his girlfriend on November 29th was arrested in Colorado today. They say 27-year-old Miles Guidry was being sought on second degree murder charges in the death of 26-year-old Claire Walley. Guidry has been on the run since the victim’s body was found in Duson.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is promising to expand Medicaid in Louisiana and has formed the health care transition committee to begin looking at Louisiana’s medical issues. State Treasurer John Kennedy estimates it will cost about 1.5 billion dollars to add 300-thousand new people to Medicaid. He’s making suggestions to the administration to keep costs down…:
CUT 12 (10) “anything else”
He feels things like charging small co-pay for doctor visits or requiring people on Medicaid to get jobs are just some suggestions.

For only the 8th time in school history, Louisiana Tech is headed to a bowl game. The Bulldogs will face Arkansas State December 19th in the R and L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Coach Skip Holtz says the team is really excited
CUT 9 (09) “in New Orleans”
The game kicks off next Saturday at 8pm.

Republican Minden Congressman John Fleming officially announces he’ll be running for US Senate next year — the seat David Vitter is vacating. ULM political science professor Joshua Stockley says Fleming is a strong candidate that will have a good chance at replacing Vitter..:
cut 15 (10) “if you will”
Fleming is expected to be one of several prominent republicans to be on the ballot next fall.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate last week’s murder of a 56-year-old woman in Bourg. Capt. Dawn Foret says they believe the Pamela Johnson was shot in front of two girls in her care who were then left inside a vehicle a week ago during a busy traffic time. She says they are hoping someone saw the Buick Enclave and can help…:
CUT 4 (10) “contact us”

Nominations for the 58th Grammy Awards have been announced and Louisiana is well represented. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

A judge in Baton Rouge this morning said there will be no bond for a man accused in the killings and kidnapping of the Duplantiers in October. 42-year-old Ernesto Alonso is charged with two counts each of first degree murder and second degree kidnapping. A second suspect, 48-year-old Frank Garcia remains in Florida awaiting extradition on the same charges. 71-year-old Denis and 70-year-old Suzanne Duplantier were murdered October 17th.

US Representative John Fleming has made it official. The republican from Minden has announced his candidacy for US Senate, as he’ll seek the seat that David Vitter is giving up. Fleming made his announcement with a posting on YouTube…:
cut 13 (13) “United States Senate”
Fleming says he wants to work on legislation to fight terrorism, remove Obamacare and help small businesses grow.

Multiple sources are reporting that Governor-elect John Bel Edwards will announce today he’s selected Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne as the incoming commissioner of administration. Edwards takes office January 11th. Dardenne had recently confirmed that he’s considering joining Edwards’ administration in an important roll.

For only the second time in school history, Louisiana Tech will appear in back-to-back bowl games as they head to the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl to take on Arkansas State on December 19th. The Bulldogs bring an 8-4 record to the bowl game, while Arkansas State has won its last eight games. Coach Skip Holtz says he’s impressed with what he’s seen from the Red Wolves…:
CUT 8 (11) “football games”
This is Tech’s first appearance in the New Orleans Bowl.

The LSU Tigers are set to face Texas Tech in the AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl in Houston on December 29th at NRG Stadium. Both games will be broadcast on ESPN and kickoff at 8pm.

If your kids are asking for a “hoverboard” for Christmas, the State Fire Marshal’s Office is putting out a warning. They say some reports around the country, including Louisiana, say the motorized scooters catch fire and explode in some cases. They urge parents to read up on these devices before buying one.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards announced his transition committee for healthcare today and says expanding Medicare is one of his top priorities. State Treasurer John Kennedy estimates it will cost about 1.5 billion dollars to add 300-thousand new people to Medicaid and he hopes the state will negotiate some terms that other states have in place…:
cut 10 (06) “percent of it”
He suggests offering incentives to patients who quit smoking or lose weight — and require able-bodied recipients to take job training or get a job.

This afternoon, Edwards is expected to announce the appointment of Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne as his incoming commissioner of administration — the governor’s chief budget officer. Dardenne crossed party lines to endorse Edwards in the runoff and there were some in the GOP who called him a traitor for doing so. Edwards has promised a bipartisan cabinet when he takes office on January 11th.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating four recent heroin overdoses in the parish that have resulted in two deaths. Captain Dawn Foret says an arrest warrant is out for 27-year-old Shantelle White in connection with the overdose death of 35-year-old Christy Hurst…:
CUT 5 (11) “overdose deaths”
She says investigators are also looking into the death of 28-year-old Terry Braud of Shriever who died of an apparent overdose Thursday.

Motorists continue to enjoy falling gas prices as we get further into December. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $1.83 according to GasBuddy.com.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate murder of a 56-year-old woman in Bourg. Capt. Dawn Foret says Pamela Johnson was found dead of a gunshot wound last Tuesday and the two children she was caring for were kidnapped by the shooter. Foret says they now have a description of the suspect…:
CUT 3 (09) “years of age”
They believe the murder took place Monday night and the young girls, age 7 and 10, were left in a vehicle overnight where they asked a stranger to contact police the following morning. Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to contact authorities.

The East Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office is reportedly investigating the case of two people, a man and a woman, who were found dead near Clinton. Detectives have said there is foul play suspected and the case is being treated as a homicide. No other details on this incident have been released at this time.

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is holding a news conference at LSU this afternoon where it’s expected he’ll announce that Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne will be appointed commissioner of administration. The event is scheduled for 3:30.

Louisiana Tech is heading to the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl where the Bulldogs will play Arkansas State. It’s only the second time in school history that Tech will appear in back-to-back bowl games and its the Bulldogs first appearance in the New Orleans Bowl. Coach Skip Holtz is looking forward to the game…:
CUT 7 (06) “get too”
The R and L Carriers New Orleans bowl takes place Saturday December 19th at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Kickoff is 8pm.

The 20th ranked LSU Tigers will play Texas Tech in the 10th annual Advocare V-100 Texas Bowl on December 29th in Houston. Both bowls will be televised on ESPN.

Many kids and teens have a “hoverboard” on their Christmas lists this year, but the self balancing scooter has been linked to fires because some of them explode. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning encourages folks to read up on these devices before purchasing one…:
CUT 10 (10) “laboratory”
Browning says in November, a Lafitte resident was harmed by a fire started from an exploding “hoverboard,” but events like this are happening all over the country.

Governor-Elect John Bel Edwards is holding a news conference this afternoon at LSU to make what he calls a “personal announcement.” It’s wildly reported that Edwards will say he’s naming Republican Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne as his commissioner of administration. The two have not confirmed this…the news conference is set for 3:30. Dardenne crossed party lines to endorse Edwards in the runoff election.

A UNO Philosophy Professor has received a grant to study alternatives to incarceration. Eric Gill reports…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

The 2016 Grammy Award nominations were announced this morning, and several artists from Louisiana received nods. Those include Lafayette’s “The Revelers Band” and New Orleans singer Jon Cleary who were each nominated in the best regional roots music album. North Louisiana native Tim McGraw’s recording of “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools, is up for best country song.

It looks like a stiff competition is brewing in the race to be Louisiana’s next Speaker of the House. Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is backing New Orleans Democratic Representative Walt Leger, while conservatives are working to drum up support for Republican Representative Cameron Henry of Metairie. LaPolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the House votes on their choice for speaker, but they have never gone against the governor’s pick…

cut 15 (06) “historic”

That election takes place January 11th.

If you plan on giving a “hoverboard” as a gift this holiday season, you should be aware that these self-balancing, motorized scooters have been known to burst into flames. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the highest risk of fire is when the device is charging…

cut 12 (09) “the battery”

He suggests reading up on these devices before purchasing one.

A possible double homicide investigation is underway in East Feliciana Parish after two people were found dead Sunday afternoon. Sheriff’s Office officials say the victims, a man and a woman, were found dead in their home just east of Clinton. Authorities have released no further details about the victims or their manner of death, but they do suspect foul play.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has received 11 new whooping cranes to be released into the wild in a couple of weeks. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”