Many areas of the state reported record low temperatures last night as the winter weather hit Louisiana hard. The National Weather Service has once again issued freeze warnings for much of the state again tonight from 10pm to 9am tomorrow morning.

Open enrollment begins tomorrow for those seeking health insurance through the federal Affordable Care Act. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says 101-thousand residents are insured through Obamacare and that will likely go up with this second enrollment period, because the penalty is higher this year for those who go uninsured…:
CUT 6 (11) “or two-percent income”
He says many Louisianians will have up to six different insurance companies to choose from.

The possibility state government will have to implement a midyear budget cut will become more clear today as the Revenue Estimating Conference meets at this hour. Jeff Palermo has more..:
CUT 3 (29) “reporting”

Monroe Police say a 63-year-old doctor died in an accidental drowning in Bayou Desiard Thursday. They say Dr. Madura Rangaraj was located under his boat house yesterday evening. Officers indicated the wife said Rangaraj went to check pipes in the boat house because of the cold weather and called cops when he did not return. Dive teams discovered the body.

Louisiana woke up to freeze warnings statewide today and, with freezing temperatures expected across most of the state overnight tonight, we could see much of the same tomorrow. A freeze warning has already been issued for a large portion of southeast Louisiana from 10PM tonight until 9AM Saturday morning.

The Grand Isle Fire Chief and 19 others were arrested in an undercover drug operation. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (29) “reporting”

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin and Duck Dynasty Patriarch Phil Robertson will rally support for Congressman Bill Cassidy in the US-Senate runoff at an event in Monroe tomorrow. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says voter turnout is critical in the runoff and both Senator Mary Landrieu and Cassidy have got to remind their supporters to get out and vote if they want to win…

cut 15 (10) “to support him”

He says it would make Cassidy’s chances of winning this election easier if he picked up those 200,000 plus Rob Manness votes.

Ochsner Health System is hosting the first Alton Ochsner Conference on Tobacco today in New Orleans, commemorating the 75th anniversary of Dr. Alton Ochsner’s groundbreaking article linking smoking to lung cancer. Dr. John Ochsner, Alton’s son, will speak about his father’s breakthrough research on tobacco which was co-authored by Dr. Michael DeBakey…

cut 5 (09) “to public health”

That’s Ochsner International CEO Patrick Quinlan.

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today and it’s expected the state will receive bad news concerning the amount of revenue coming in. Senate President John Alario says the two main factors are low oil prices and income tax revenue that is down, even though employment is at an all-time high in Louisiana..

cut 12 (11) “this point”

He says a mid-year budget cut is possible.

20 people were arrested during an undercover operation aimed at the sale of illegal drugs and alcohol on Grand Isle, including Fire Chief Aubrey Chaisson. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says they are still searching for two others involved…

cut 9 (08) “initial information”

The Fire Chief was charged with possession of Marijuana.

Ochsner Health System is hosting the first Alton Ochsner Conference on Tobacco today in New Orleans. Scott Carwile has more…

cut 1 (31) “reporting”

This year’s Louisiana Tax Amnesty period ends tonight. The tax amnesty allows delinquent tax payers to settle their debt with the state by paying 100-percent of overdue taxes and only 50-percent of the interest owed. You can apply online at ldrtaxamnesty-dot-com. The deadline is 11:59PM.

An undercover operation aimed at the sale of illegal drugs and alcohol on Grand Isle has lead to the arrest Grand Isle Fire Chief Aubrey Chaisson and 19 others. Chaisson was charged with possession of Marijuana. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says says all of the arrests were the result of the extensive undercover operation….

cut 8 (13) “purchases of drugs “

He says they are still searching for two others involved.

It’s expected the state will receive bad news concerning the amount of revenue coming in when The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today. Lower than anticipated revenues could lead to a mid-year budget cut. Senate President John Alario says state government is aware and have taken steps to prevent deep cuts…

cut 11 (10) “some of that”

He says it’s likely the state will have less money to spend next fiscal year, which could lead to additional cuts.

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will visit Louisiana this weekend to attend a rally for US Senate candidate Congressman Bill Cassidy. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it would make Cassidy’s chances of winning this election easier if he picked up those 200,000 plus Rob Manness votes. He says those voters are more likely to support the Congressman than they are the Democratic US Senator Mary Landrieu…

cut 14 (13) “opposed to Landrieu”

Phil Robertson, of Duck Dynasty fame, will also attend the rally tomorrow afternoon in Monroe.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested three men accused of an armed robbery of a fast food restaurant earlier this month in Albany. 19-year-old Trevor Smalls of Mobile, Alabama, 17-year-old Kelly Stewart, and 20-year-old Christopher, both of Slidell, were booked on counts of armed robbery with a firearm. The three are also wanted in the robbery of another fast food restaurant in Florida.

The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today where it’s expected the state will receive bad news concerning the amount of revenue coming in. Senate President John Alario says he’s bracing to hear there’s been a significant reduction in anticipated revenues…

cut 10 (12) “estimates were”

Lower than anticipated revenues means fewer dollars for the state to spend, which could lead to a mid-year budget cut.

Grand Isle Fire Chief Aubrey Chaisson is one of 20 people arrested during an undercover operation aimed at the sale of illegal drugs and alcohol on the island. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says he received confidential information claiming possible misconduct could be taking place.

cut 7 (12) “Patrick Santiny”

Chaisson was charged with possession of Marijuana.

Former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will visit Louisiana this weekend to attend a rally for Congressman Bill Cassidy. The national tea party favorite had supported Col Rob Maness in the US Senate race but now joins the retired Air Force Col in stumping for Cassidy. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley…

cut 13 (13) “200,000 votes”

Duck Dynasty Patriarch Phil Robertson will also attend the rally Saturday afternoon in Monroe.

Over 95-percent of ads on TV during the first week of campaigns in the US-Senate runoff in Louisiana were for Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy. That’s according to Bloomberg. The report shows, statewide, only 82 pro- incumbent Mary Landrieu ads aired compared to over 1900 pro-Cassidy commercials. But Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landrieu won’t be left out…:
CUT 4 (10) “for Mary Landrieu”

A Louisiana woman from Union Parish remains missing. 32-year-old Amanda McKinnie McPherson was last seen in a wooded area in Union County, Arkansas. Sheriff Mike McGough (Ma-GOO)…
cut 14 (11) “….deal with that”
McGough says they are not ruling out foul play at this point.

An LSU police officer who was injured in a crash following the Alabama game is in stable condition and the story is making national headlines, because it was team doctors from Alabama who quickly came to Sergeant Chris Greshman’s aid….
cut 30 (13) “…Sgt Gresham”
That’s LSU Police Captain Corey Lalande, who says Greshman suffered an injured knee, several broken bones and fractures.

Most of Louisiana is under a freeze warning tonight and tomorrow morning and parishes in southwest Louisiana are under a hard freeze warning. The National Weather Service forecasts freezing tempeatures for several hours.

Former Republican Vice-Presidential nominee Sarah Palin will be in Louisiana on Saturday. She’ll attend a campaign rally in Monroe for Congressman Bill Cassidy.

Freeze warnings and hard freeze warnings are posted across the state as low temperatures have the potential of reaching the mid-20s tomorrow morning…

CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy is hitting the campaign trail again the runoff race for the Senate, and this Saturday in Monroe, he will have some help from former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The campaign rally at 2:30 will also feature former Republican candidate Rob Maness.

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According to Bloomberg, 96-percent of television ads during the first week of the Louisiana Senate runoff election supported Republican challenger Bill Cassidy. Not surprising, since the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced they were cancelling ads for Senator Mary Landrieu…
CUT 3 (11) “money in Louisiana”
That’s Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat.

The search continues for a missing Louisiana woman in a wooded area of south Arkansas. thirty-two year-old Amanda McKinnie McPherson of Marion was last seen in the woods of Union County November 3rd. Sheriff Mike McGough (ma GOO) says McPherson and a male friend were driving in the area and got stuck…
cut 12 (11) “her cell phone”
Shortly after, her cell went dead.

According to Bloomberg, 96-percent of television ads during the first week of the Louisiana Senate runoff election supported Republican challenger Bill Cassidy. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

First Congressional District Congressman Republican Steve Scalise has been re-elected to the House Majority Whip for the 114th Congressman. That re-election announcement came from Washington today.

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An LSU police officer remains in stable condition after getting hit by a passing vehicle late Saturday night where University of Alabama team doctors rushed to his aid. The doctors were part of the team’s motorcade, according to LSUPD spokesman Captain Corey Lalonde:
CUT 6 (13) “the officer”
Thirty-three year-old Sgt. Christopher Gresham is an eight year veteran of the department.

An attorney for one of the three Baton Police officers charged in a sex case, says he is looking forward to their day in court. Two officers and a former cop are facing charges that they allegedly forced a woman to perform a sex act on one of the officers at a Baton Rouge park earlier this year.
CUT 11 (05) “five years in jail“
That’s East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore who says that charge is abuse in office.

The numbers from to Bloomberg are out, and during the primary election, Democrats outspent Republicans two-to-one; despite the majority of the polls on this race still have Congressman Bill Cassidy winning the runoff. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says you can expect even more spending…
CUT 5 (06) “to help Mary”
Ninety-six percent of television ads during the first week of runoff campaigning supported Republican Bill Cassidy.

The LSU police officer who was hit by a passing vehicle late Saturday night is in stable condition today, thanks mainly to Alabama team doctors who rushed to help 33-year-old Sgt. Christopher Gresham..
CUT 8 (10) Q: ‘could get there’
That’s LSUPD spokesman Captain Corey Lalonde.

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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says two Baton Rouge police officers and a former officer are facing charges in a sex case in which they allegedly forced a woman to perform a sexual act on one of the officers at a Baton Rouge park, where she was parked with aonther man. Two officers forced that man to leave…
CUT 10 (07) “three officers”
An attorney for one of the three men charged in this case, says they look forward to their day in court.

The search continues for a missing Louisiana woman believed to be in a wooded area of south Arkansas. 32-year-old Amanda McKinnie McPherson of Marion went missing and no one has heard from her since her phone went dead…
CUT 14 (11) “deal with that”
That’s Union County Sheriff Mike McGough (ma-GOO)

Over 95-percent of ads on TV during the first week of campaigns in the US-Senate runoff in Louisiana were for Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy. That’s according to Bloomberg. The report shows, statewide, only 82 pro- incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu ads aired compared to over 1900 pro-Cassidy commercials. But Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Landrieu won’t be left out…:
CUT 4 (10) “for Mary Landrieu”
He also says you can expect more money to be spent on Cassidy.

The LSU Police Officer who was helped by the Alabama team doctors Saturday night remains in stable condition. This story is making national headlines and LSUPD Captain Corey LaLonde says 33-year-old Sgt. Christopher Gresham sustained very serious injuries in the crash:
CUT 7 (13) “Sgt. Gresham”

The search continues for a missing Louisiana woman believed to be in a wooded area of south Arkansas. 32-year-old Amanda McKinnie McPherson of Marion was last seen in in Union County and Sheriff Mike McGough (ma GOO) says they are still in and out of the woods there looking…:
CUT 13 (11) “have found her”
McPherson had gotten in some vehicle trouble with a friend and hasn’t been heard from since she called family to let them know she was lost.

There are freeze warnings out for much of Louisiana starting tonight into tomorrow morning and many areas along I-10 in the Acadiana region are under a HARD freeze warning for that time. Temps could fall into the mid 20-s to low 30s overnight and last up to 8 hours according to the national weather service. Winter weather precautions should be taken.