When the new congress is seated in January, the Republican Party will have control of both the House and Senate and the Louisiana delegation says they are more ready than ever. Eric Gill has more…:
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Gas prices are a dime lower than they were this time last week in Louisiana. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $2.48 according to the American Automobile Association.

Louisiana’s newly elected Congressmen discuss Washington D.C. committee assignments. Congressman-elect Garret Graves, representing the 6th District, says he’s got a spot on the House Transportation and Natural Resources Committee. In the 5th District, Congressman-elect Ralph Abraham will likely be on the House Ag and Veterans’ Affairs committees. The GOP has already promised Senator-elect Bill Cassidy a seat on the Senate energy committee and Cassidy says he’ll also seek a spot on the Appropriations committee because he wants to see Congress change…:
CUT 12 (04) “work better”

The Jindal Administration says they are on track to reach the savings and efficiency goals in the state general fund to keep this year’s budget balanced as promised. They say Louisiana will save $75.7 million dollars by reducing spending in state agencies.

When the new congress is seated in January, the Republican Party will have control of both the House and Senate and the Louisiana delegation says they are more ready than ever. 4th District Congressman John Fleming of Leesville says the party discussion now turns to how they can make things right and rebuild the trust of the American people…:
CUT 3 (11) “they like Republicans”

This year’s elections are over and coming up next in Louisiana politics will be the 2015 Governor’s race. Among the candidates currently running are Republicans US Senator David Vitter, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, PSC member Scott Angelle and Democratic state Representative John Bel Edwards. UL-Lafayette Political Science professor Pearson Cross says Vitter is most likely to make the runoff.:
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Cross says it’ll likely be two Republicans in the runoff.

The Who Dat Nation is depressed today after the horrendous Saints 41-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers yesterday in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Saints Coach Sean Payton didn’t sugarcoat the performance when he spoke with reporters after the game…:
CUT 17 (10) “it was awful”
It’s the fourth straight loss at home and the largest margin of defeat for the franchise since 2007.

Bowl games were announced yesterday and the LSU football team will play Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday December 30th. Louisiana Tech has accepted an offer to play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against the University of Illinois. In December 20th’s New Orleans Bowl, UL-Lafayette will face Nevada.

Louisiana’s newly elected Congressman discuss Washington D.C. committee assignments. Congressman-elect Garret Graves would be the only Louisiana member sitting on the House Transportation Committee…:
CUT 9 (06) “energy pipelines”
Graves also says he is going to get a spot on the House Natural Resources committee. The GOP has already promised Senator-elect Bill Cassidy a seat on the Senate energy committee. He says now that Republicans have control of Congress, they will be able to pass legislation that will benefit the working public…:
CUT 11 (13) “for working families”
Cassidy says he is also seeking a spot on the Senate Appropriations committee.

State Police say an Opelousas man was killed Saturday evening when the bike he was riding was struck from behind by a pickup truck in St. Landry Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David says 55-year-old Joseph Norman was riding his bike with no lights on his bike and wearing dark clothing…:
CUT 13 (10) “from that crash”
David says it’s important for cyclists, especially at night, to have lights on their bikes and wear reflective clothing.

A Pointe Coupee Parish teenager who became prominent in Livonia after surviving a duck hunting accident two years ago, died overnight after being hit by a train. Authorities believe Brandt Torres, who is related to Sheriff Bud Torres, was putting coins on the tracks when he was struck. He died at the scene.

In January, Louisiana will have two Republican US Senators as a result of Billy Cassidy’s victory over Democrat Mary Landrieu in the US Senate race. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Former governor Edwin Edwards says, despite his loss in the 6th Congressional District election to Garret Graves, he’s happy and and feels like he’s fulfilled his role in life…

cut 7 (08) “not given up”

This is the first time the 87-year-old has ever lost a runoff election.

With all of the major Democratic candidates losing their elections this year, where does that leave the party going forward? Former Democratic staffer, LSU Media Professor Bob Mann, says many in the Democratic Party feel that the answer is to moderate its message and start leaning more conservative. He says that’s what Mary Landrieu tried to do and it’s one of the reasons she did so poorly in the election…

cut 5 (10) “here’s how we’re different”

Mann says the party needs to have some serious and honest reflection.

A Livonia teenager, who survived being shot in the head in a hunting accident two years ago, was killed over the weekend after being hit by a train. Authorities say Brandt Torres and some friends were putting coins on the tracks as a train approached at the Livonia Rail Yard. Torres was struck by the train and died at the scene.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards loses for the first time in a runoff election. Michelle Southern reports…

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Dr. Ralph Abraham easily won in the 5th Congressional District race over Democratic Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo. Abraham says he’s going to work on bringing more jobs and infrastructure to his district…

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Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy is Louisiana’s new Senator-elect after defeating Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu in the Senate runoff election. Cassidy had this message for supporters of Landrieu…

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Cassidy received 57-percent of the vote to Landrieu’s 43-percent. This is the first time a US Senator has lost a re-election bid in Louisiana in 82 years.

So what does the Democratic Party do now that all of their major candidates lost their elections this year? LSU Media Professor Bob Mann, who is a former Democratic staffer, says the party needs to have some serious and honest reflection…

cut 4 (09) “in the south”

He says there are many in the Democratic party who feel that the answer may be to moderate its message and start leaning more conservative.

Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy easily defeated three-term Democrat Mary Landrieu in Saturday’s Senate runoff election, 57 to 43-percent. Cassidy says the voters spoke loudly that they want less interference from the government

cut 9 (10) “to do”

Many political analysts say Landrieu’s vote for the Affordable Care Act played a significant role in her defeat. But Landrieu says she doesn’t regret that vote.

In the 6th District Congressional runoff, Republican Garret Graves defeated Democratic former four-term governor Edwin Edwards. Graves feels voters are not happy with how government is working and they want that to change…

cut 14 (12) “for this country”

Graves will fill the seat left vacant by now Senator-elect Bill Cassidy.

So now that all of the major Democratic candidates have lost their elections this year, where does that leave the party going forward? Michelle Southern reports…

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State Police say an Opelousas man was killed Saturday evening when the bike he was riding was struck from behind by a pickup truck in St. Landry Parish. Authorities say 55-year-old Joseph Norman was hit from behind by a vehicle driven by 69-year-old Joseph Thibodeaux of Prarieville. Norman was thrown from his bicycle and died from his injuries. Investigators say the victim was not wearing a helmet or reflective clothing and his bike had no lights. Impairment is not suspected in this crash.

Democratic incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu lost her bid for a fourth term as she was defeated by Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy in Saturday’s runoff election. Cassidy received 57-percent of the vote to Landrieu’s 43-percent and he had this message for those who have supported Landrieu throughout the years….

cut 10 (08) “applause”

Many political analysts say Landrieu’s vote for the Affordable Care Act, which is unpopular in Louisiana, played a significant role in her defeat. But Landrieu says she doesn’t regret that vote…

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This is the first time in 82-years that an incumbent US Senator has lost a re-election in Louisiana.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards says even though he lost the election to Republican Garret Graves, his campaign in the 6th Congressional District race was not run in vain. This is the first time the 87-year-old has ever lost in a runoff. Edwards says this doesn’t mean he’s going to retire…

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Edwards was defeated by Graves 62-38 percent. Edwards says he’s happy and he feels like he’s fulfilled his role in life.

Political newcomer, Republican Dr. Ralph Abraham, easily won in the 5th Congressional District race over Democratic Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo. The seat was lost last month by Republican Vance McAllister. Abraham says voters in his district know he’s one of them…:

cut 15 (09) “so to speak”

Abraham captured 64-percent of the vote compared to Mayo’s 36-percent.

For the first time in 82-years, an incumbent US Senator has lost a re-election in Louisiana. Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy easily defeated three-term Democrat Mary Landrieu. Cassidy says the voters spoke loudly that they want less interference from the government…

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Cassidy received 56-percent of the vote to Landrieu’s 44-percent. With Cassidy’s victory, Senator Mary Landrieu’s 18-year run as US Senator is over. Landrieu says it’s been a great honor to serve the state of Louisiana…

cut 11 (13) “so much”

Many political analysts say Landrieu’s vote for the Affordable Care Act, which is unpopular in Louisiana, played a significant role in her defeat.

Two new congressmen have been elected in the 5th and 6th Congressional Districts. In the 6th District, Republican Garret Graves defeated Democratic former four-term governor Edwin Edwards. Graves says this election result is an emphatic statement from the voters of Louisiana…

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Graves won the election with 62-percent of the vote.

And Dr. Ralph Abraham won the 5th District seat and says he’ll work to bring in more jobs and infrastructure…

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Abraham defeated Democratic Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo.

Polls will remain open until 8 o’clock tonight for Louisiana voters to cast their ballots in today’s election. Louisiana’s US Senate race will be decided between Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu and Republican challenger Bill Cassidy. There are also runoffs in the 5th and 6th District Congressional races.

6th District Congressional candidates Garret Graves and former governor Edwin Edwards continued their war of words leading up to election day. Michelle Southern reports…

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A Grand Isle businessman was sentenced to 25 weekends in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of federal civil rights violations. Josh Jambon admitted to using racial slurs and striking two black female crew members who were cleaning up on Grand Isle after Hurricane Isaac. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the judge was no doubt impressed with the one-hundred or so character letters on Jambon’s behalf requesting leniency…

cut 14 (06) “acknowledged actions”

Jambon was also fined $10,000. He faced a maximum sentence of two years in prison and $200,000 in fines.

Alexandria Police have arrested an Alexandria man on six counts of attempted first degree murder after a shooting incident. They say 18-year-old Dominique Jones of Alexandria apparently got into a fight with a few other near Bolton High School, when he pulled a gun and began firing. Luckily, no one was hit and there was no property damage done. Jones is also charged with possession of a firearm in a school zone.

It’s election day in Louisiana. Polls are open throughout the state until 8PM tonight.

6th Congressional District candidate Garret Graves disputes accusations from his opponent, Edwin Edwards, that his family gets special privileges because of Governor Bobby Jindal. The Edwards campaign has continued to tie Graves to Jindal and criticized his time as head of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority…

cut 3 (13) “and fish habitat”

Graves made the comments on The Jim Engster Show Thursday, then Edwards called in to reply. The former governor accuses Graves of refusing to admit he has a relationship with the current governor…

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Graves says Edwards accusations are baseless.

A shooting involving a West Monroe Police officer Thursday evening has left one man dead. The incident happened in front of a convenience store near West Monroe High School. The victim has been identified as 51-year-old Raymond Keith Martinez. The name of the officer, who was uninjured in the incident, has not been released. The officer has been placed on administrative leave while the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police are investigating the case.

A Grand Isle businessman was sentenced to 25 weekends in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of federal civil rights violations. Michelle Southern reports…

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