A West Monroe lawmaker filed a lawsuit this week seeking to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because two days were lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (25) “reporting”

The Saints lost their third consecutive home game last night as they fell to the Baltimore Ravens 34-20. The Saints defense gave up 215 yards on the ground, as well as two rushing touchdowns. This is the first time the Black & Gold have dropped three in a row at the Dome since 2001. Overall, the Saints fall to 4-7 on the season, but they are still tied for first place in the NFC South.

An LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center study shows the rate of diabetes continuing to rise and the disease now costs Louisiana five-billion dollars a year. The study shows the cost of prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes grew as much as 82-percent since 2007. Pennington Executive Director, Dr. William Cefalu, says previous studies show that prediabetes can be controlled…

cut 6 (09) “to diabetes”

He says increased awareness and action to stem the disease is needed to cut down the cost.

The state continues to set new employment records. The number of people who are employed is going up, along with the state’s unemployment rate. The unemployment rate for October was six-point-two percent, up four-percentage points from last year. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says it’s an indicator people are responding to the state’s strong job growth…

cut 12 (08) “we have”

Total non-farm employment in Louisiana reached 1,988,900 in October, which is a new record high.

Louisiana continues to set records when it comes to the number of people who are working in the state. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

A Pennsylvania man has pleaded guilty in federal court of trying to entice a Lake Charles child to engage in sexual activity. Evidence shows that 40-year-old Timothy Kelly sent explicit images of himself to her, asked her to have sex with him, and talked of traveling to Louisiana for that purpose. Kelly faces 10 years to life in prison.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards took part in a 6th Congressional District race debate yesterday where his opponent, Garret Graves, did not show up. During the course of events, Edwards was asked if he thought Senator Mary Landrieu was affecting his campaign. The former governor joked that it’s The President hurting them both…

cut 9 (14) “in this district”

The election is December 6th, early voting is underway.

A study by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows as the rate of diabetes continues to rise, the disease is costing Louisiana’s five-billion dollars a year. Pennington Executive Director, Dr. William Cefalu, says diabetes is becoming an economic burden for the entire country…

cut 5 (05) “this condition”

He says increased awareness and action to stem the disease is needed to cut down the cost.

A lawsuit filed this week by West Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter seeks to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because of the two days lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Hunter says he hopes a judge will add those two extra days back…

cut 14 (12) “Friday and Monday”

But Secretary of State Tom Schedler says this is not the first time that polls have been closed during the early voting period when state offices are closed…

cut 16 (11) “challenged in court”

Hunter says this election, with the US-Senate race at the top of the ballot, is too important to shorten the amount of time someone is given the opportunity to vote.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards took several shots at his 6th Congressional District opponent in a debate where Garret Graves did not show up. While Graves was head of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Edwards says Graves’ father was awarded $130 million dollars in state contracts and he bought coastal restoration office space then made his brother-in-law the leasing agent…

cut 8 (13) “all that time”

Edwards also accuses Graves of playing dirty politics.

As the rate of diabetes continues to rise, new numbers show the disease costs Louisiana five-billion dollars a year. The study was conducted by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the facility’s executive director, Dr. William Cefalu, says the cost of pre- and undiagnosed diabetes grew as much as 82-percent since 2007…

cut 4 (06) “number of cases”

Nationally, the cost of diabetes has grown to $322 billion per year.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards took several shots at his opponent in the 6th Congressional District race in a debate where Garret Graves did not show up. Edwards accuses Graves of playing dirty politics in a flyer he sent out before the November 4th election that may lead voters to believe Paul Deitzel is gay…

cut 7 (10) “really do hurt”

Edwards is also accusing Graves of helping his family profit from Government contracts when he was the head of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

The state continues to set new employment records. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eysink says total nonfarm employment in Louisiana reached 1,988,900 in October, which is a new record high…

cut 10 (09) “in Louisiana”

Eysink says the number of private employment jobs has grown by 31-thousand over the last year.

A West Monroe lawmaker filed a lawsuit this week seeking to extend the early voting period for the December 6th runoff because two days were lost this time due to the Thanksgiving Holidays. Governor Bobby Jindal declared this Friday a state holiday, Acadian Day, and polls are closed. Representative Marcus Hunter says he hopes the court knows the will of the legislature when it comes to voting…

cut 13 (05) “to vote”

Hunter says it’s the responsibility of Secretary of State Tom Schedler to make sure voter turnout in Louisiana is as high as it can possibly be. But Schedler says the law is the law…

cut 15 (09) “filed the suit”

Hunter says he hopes his case will be heard either today or tomorrow before the judges take off for Thanksgiving.

Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Hardman Family who lost five in a crash in Ouachita Parish while on their way to their dream Disney World vacation last week. According to the site, the money, now reaching almost $30,000, will be used for the five funeral expenses. Trudi and Michael Hardman died in a crash along with three juveniles age 15, 7 and 4.

The famous Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights is officially underway. The 300,000+ lights were turned on for the first time on Saturday and will twinkle every night at dusk through January 6th of next year. Madi Ackel is this year’s Miss Merry Christmas. She says Natchitoches is always special, but this is the highlight of the year…:
CUT 9 (10) “special here”
You can get more information on the festival online at christmasfestival.com.

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. This is the largest individual contribution in the Hall’s 51 year history. Vice President of Communications Pete Fierle (FEAR-ly) says Hall President David Baker approached Benson earlier this season…:
CUT 6 (07) “very very quickly”
$10 million of Benson’s donation will be used to renovate Fawcett Stadium, which will now be called Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state, and will run through this Saturday, excluding Thursday and Friday. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voter turnout for the kickoff this past Saturday was brisk, and when compared to early voting for the primary…
cut 12 (10) “almost 45,000″
He expects the voter tunrout to be around 35 percent.

State Police are investigating a single vehicle accident involving an alleged drunk driver in the Hammond area last night that claimed the life of the driver’s father. Forty-five-year-old Douglas Hoyt of Holden was not restrained and was later pronoucned dead. As for the driver, 22 year-old Amber Hoyt,…
CUT 4 (08) Q: “vehicular homicide”
That’s Master Trooper Greg Marchand.

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New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. Here’s Eric Gill with more…
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

A report from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness in Louisiana has declined nearly 12 percent since last year and roughly 63 percent since 2010. Louisiana Housing Corporation Executive Director Fred Tombar says one of the key factors has been the $146 million dollar Permanent Supportive Housing Program in the state.

Saturday was the early voting kick-off for the December 6th runoff election, and Secretary of State Tom Schedler says nearly 45 thousand voters cast their ballots. That’s a pretty big number, but Schedler says he’s not surprised…
CUT 13 (06) Q: “was very nice”
Early voting continues through this Saturday, except Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

A Tangipahoa Parish single vehicle crash involving an alleged drunk driver last night has taken the life of the of the driver’s father. 22 year-old Amber Hoyt has been charged with DWI, careless operation and vehicular homicide. Forty-five year-old Douglas Hoyt of Holden – who was not restrained -died at the scene…
CUT 5 (08) Q: ‘into tragedy”
That’s State Police master Trooper Greg Marchand.

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New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame with 10 million dollars in renovations for the football stadium. The Hall’s Vice-President of Communications Pete Fierle (FEAR-lee) says Benson also is giving one million dollars to help construct a “Legends Landing.”
CUT 7 (11) “to literally land”
By the way, Benson’s Saints are on Monday night football tonight taking on the Baltimore Ravens.

As of Saturday, the lights are up and lit on the Cane River for the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights…
CUT 11 (06) Q: “as possible here”
That’s Miss Merry Christmas Madi Ackel, who says the lights will twinkle every night through January the 6th. You can get more info at christmasfestival.com.

Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

It looks like your Thanksgiving meal on Thursday will cost a little more this year, according to an informal survey by the American Farm Bureau Association. The average price for a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost $49.41; thirty-seven cents more than last year. But, that’s cheaper than it was in 2012.

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State Police are investigating a single vehicle accident involving an alleged drunk driver in Tangipahoa Parish that claimed the life of the driver’s father. Master Trooper Greg Marchand says they call the call about the crash in the Hammond area last night…
CUT 3 (12) “a pine tree”
Twenty-two year-old Amber Holden was charged with DWI and vehicular homicide. Forty-five year-old Douglas Hoyt was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Natchitoches Christmas Fesitval of Lights is now underway, with thousands of lights were turned on Saturday, and they’re expecting big crowds over Thanksgiving weekend…
CUT 10 (08) Q: “at the lake”
That’s Madi Ackel, this year’s Miss Merry Christmas who also says the 88th Annual Natchitoches Christmas Parade is December 6th.

The early voting period for the December 6th runoff election began Saturday and Secretary of State Tom Schedler says turnout on day one was good. He says on the first day of early voting for the November 4th election, about 28,000 voters came out but this past Saturday they had almost 45,000….:
CUT 1 (12) “was very nice”
He predicts about a 35% overall voter turnout. The last day to early vote is this Saturday but polls are closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Governor Bobby Jindal announce ClearEdge Wholesale Glass will invest $2.65 million dollars to renovate a 41,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge and relocate their current smaller operations in New Orleans. He says ClearEdge will create 120 new direct jobs at the new facility with an average salary of nearly $40,000 a year plus benefits.

The famous Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights is officially underway. The 300,000+ lights were turned on for the first time on Saturday and will twinkle every night at dusk through January 6th of next year. Madi Ackel is this year’s Miss Merry Christmas. She says Natchitoches is always special, but this is the highlight of the year…:
CUT 9 (10) “special here”
Downtown attractions include carriage tours through the historic district and all shops and restaurants will be open late. The 88th Annual Christmas Festival and parade happens December 6th.

Sports fans are still buzzing over former LSU Tiger Odell Beckham’s one-handed touchdown grab in last night’s game between the Giants and Cowboys. But it wasn’t enough as Dallas won to move into a tie into first place with Philadelphia.

State Police say a 22-year-old woman behind the wheel when she crashed into a tree in the Hammond area last night which caused the death of her father will be charged with vehicular homicide when she gets out of the hospital. Trooper Greg Marchand says 22-year-old Amber Hoyt was driving and her dad, 45-year-old Douglas Hoyt wasn’t buckled up and died on scene. He says it’s vital to be restrained in a vehicle and never drink and drive…:
CUT 5 (08) “into tragedy”

A GoFundMe account has been set up for the Hardman Family who lost five in a crash in Ouachita Parish while on their way to their dream Disney World vacation last week. According to the site, the money will be used for the five funeral expenses. Trudi and Michael Hardman died in a crash along with three juveniles age 15, 7 and 4.

New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson has pledged two gifts to the Pro Football Hall of Fame totaling $11 million. This is the largest individual contribution in the Hall’s 51 year history. Vice President of Communications Pete Fierle (FEAR-ly) says Hall President David Baker approached Benson earlier this season…:
CUT 6 (07) “very very quickly”
$10 million of Benson’s donation will be used to renovate Fawcett Stadium, which will now be called Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Thanksgiving will cost a little more this year. An informal survey by the American Farm Bureau Association shows the average price for a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost $49.41. That’s 37 cents more than last year.