It’s a cold morning in Louisiana as we’re experiencing some of the coldest temperatures we’ve seen in nearly a year. State Climatologist Barry Keim says these temps are the result of another polar vortex bearing down on the state. He says not only is the air temperature colder than normal, but we are also seeing some bone chilling wind chill readings…

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Keim says freezing temperatures are expected for the next two nights, as well.

Festivities are underway commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says events include a Marine band concert, fireworks display, and battle reenactments…

cut 6 (09) “in Chalmette”

Dardenne says this is a great event to learn more about Louisiana history.

If you’d like to try to save money on your homeowners and auto insurance, the Department of Insurance has enhanced its online tool to help consumers find a better rate. Michelle Southern reports…

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Shreveport Police has arrested a teenager accused of a Wednesday night shooting that sent a teenage girl to the hospital. Investigators say it appears 17-year-old Carlton Jenkins mishandled a handgun and accidentally shot the 14-year-old victim in the abdomen. Her injuries are considered non life-threatening. Jenkins is charged with illegal use of a weapon. The investigation is ongoing.

It’s a very frosty start to the morning in Louisiana. Scott Carwile has more…

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The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking for the person responsible for knocking out a Monroe teacher’s aid and sending him to the hospital yesterday afternoon. In the incident caught on video, they say David Payne was trying to break up a fight between two teenage girls when someone came from behind and knocked him out cold. Payne suffered three facial fractures and bleeding on the brain and, at last report, was listed in stable condition. Authorities say the suspect will be charged with second degree aggravated battery.

If you want to save money on your homeowners and auto insurance, the Department of Insurance has enhanced its “Shop Your Rates” online tool to help consumers find a better rate. Commissioner Jim Donelon says there are substantial savings to be had by shopping around and comparing companies and rates…

cut 15 (09) “they are backed up”

You can shop around online at ldi-dot-la-dot-gov.

49-year-old Will Hayden, the former star of the now-cancelled reality TV series Sons of Guns, is set to be arraigned in Baton Rouge today. Hayden allegedly raped an 11-year-old girl sometime between March 2013 and August 2014 then again when she was 12. Legal analyst Tim Meche says this case will be largely based on what physical evidence is presented…

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Hayden also faces rape charges in Livingston Parish.

Freeze warnings remain in effect for all of Louisiana this morning. Temperatures are in the teens for the northern half of the state and not much warmer along the coast. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we are experiencing another polar vortex…

cut 8 (12) “Gulf coast”

Wind chill advisories are are also in effect for much of the state.

The former star of the now-cancelled reality TV series Sons of Guns is set to be arraigned in Baton Rouge today. 49-year-old Will Hayden of Greenwell Springs is accused of raping two preteen girls more that 20 years apart. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Hayden will likely plea not guilty…

cut 10 (12) “for the case”

Hayden also faces rape charges in Livingston Parish.

If you’re looking to save money on your homeowners and auto insurance, the Department of Insurance has upgraded its online tool to help you find a better rate. Commissioner Jim Donelon says Louisiana has done better than any state in the nation at replacing large insurance companies, with smaller regional carriers…

cut 14 (12) “substantial dollars”

The “Shop Your Rates” guides are online at ldi-dot-la-dot-gov.

Festivities begin today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says special events will last throughout the weekend. He says today’s festivities include a concert by the Marine band in Jackson Square at 7PM…

cut 5 (07) “commemorate the battle”

Dardenne says this battle marked the end to hostilities between the US and Great Britain and the British Ambassador to the United States will be on hand to commemorate the event.

Freezing temperatures across Louisiana as you get up and at ’em this morning. We’re seeing temperatures in the teens for the northern half of the state and it’s not much warmer along the coast. State Climatologist Barry Keim says be prepared for what will be a cold day…

cut 7 (05) “acting up again”

Freeze warnings remain in effect for all of Louisiana this morning.

If you’d like to try to save money on your homeowners and auto insurance, the Department of Insurance has enhanced its online tool to help consumers find a better rate. Commissioner Jim Donelon says you can enter specific information into the new website like your age, or how many miles you drive and other things that set rates for insurance…

cut 13 (09) “in their marketplace”

The “Shop Your Rates” guides can be accessed at ldi-dot-la-dot-gov.

Festivities begin today to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. As part of the War of 1812, the battle culminated in a US victory over the British in Chalmette on January 8, 1815. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says this was one of the most important battles fought on American soil…

cut 4 (11) “moment in history”

Dardenne says this victory enabled America to continue to expand westward and cemented Louisiana’s role as part of the United States. He says special events will last throughout the weekend.

Artic air is moving into Louisiana. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning urges residents not to use their stove or stove top as a way to heat your home…
cut 5 (10) “….for that”
And Browning says if you’re using a space heater, make sure it’s at least several feet away from anything that could catch on fire.

Republican Doctor Bill Cassidy is getting used to his new surroundings as a US Senator on Capitol Hill. Scott Carwile has more…
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The State Department of Transportation announces a plan to widen a portion of I-10 between Lafayette and St. Martin Parishes. DOTD spokesperson Diedra Druilhet says construction will take place where I-10 meets I-49 all the way to Breaux Bridge. She says the estimated cost of this project will be in the neighborhood of $125 million…:
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She says this is the first of three projects that will widen or improve I-10 from Lafayette to the Atchafalaya Basin.

An Abbeville High School teacher is in trouble over allegations he had sex with one of his female students. Cops say 36-year-old Nicholas Willis is the accused and Kaplan Police Chief Boyd Adams says they learned from Abbeville Police that the alleged incident occurred Willis’ home in Kaplan…
CUT 13 (09) “arrested Mr.s Willis”
Willis was charged with Felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

Tomorrow morning it’s coldest temperatures of the winter with low temperatures dipping into the teens in north Louisiana and low 20s in south Louisiana. That will mean a greater risk of fires as people try to keep their homes warm. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says make sure your detectors work…
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State Climatologist Barry Keim says we won’t see significant temperature moderation until the weekend.

Media reports indicate that Saints defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan, will remain with the team next season. The Black and Gold’s defense ranked 31st in the NFL in yards allowed, but Saints radio color analyst Hokie Gajan believes Ryan deserves a third year…
CUT 9 (08) “number four defense”
The Saints should be very active in the off-season.
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The Louisiana State Department of Transportation has announced a project that will widen a portion of Interstate 10 between Lafayette and St. Martin Parishes…
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The premiere of Duck Dynasty Season 7 is on A & E tonight at 8:30, and some media research experts are saying the show is losing it’s luster. The ratings projections show the premiere will have one fourth the audience they had for season 4, when Duck Dynasty attracted 12 million viewers. Still, they say 3 million is very strong for cable and for A & E.

The coldest temperatures of the winter are coming, as we will dip into the teens in north Louisiana and low 20’s in the south. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says to use caution with all heaters, and never use your oven or stove top as a heating source…
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And he adds check those smoke detectors.

According to media reports, the New Orleans Saints are reportedly going to keep Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan for next season. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says the defensive weakness of the Saints are more about the players than the coaches, so he says the Saints have some work to do in the off-season…
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The New Orleans Saints ranked 31st in the league for yards allowed.
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There are three road improvement projects are being planned by the Department of Transportation for Interstate 10, with the first on the stretch between Lafayette and the Atchafalaya Basin…
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That’s DOTD spokesperson Diedra Druilhet, who says the public comment period is open until until January 17th.

A Thibodaux High School teacher has been charged for having sexual contact with a student. The LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s Office says they learned of the alleged sexual incident between twenty-five year-old Celeste Bergeron and a 17 year-old student. Bergeron admitted to the sexual contact, and the LaFourche Parish School Board Superintent Jo Ann Mathews says Bergeron is no longer employed by the school system.

With the coldest night of the winter so far tonight, Louisianians will be looking at ways to keep warm for the hard freeze. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says this kind of very intense cold weather brings an increase in home fires, particularly because of space heaters…
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Browning adds never use a stove or stove top as a way to heat your home.

An Abbeville High School teacher is in jail accused of having sex with one of his female juvenile students. Thirty-six-year-old Nicholas Willis is accused of engaging in sexual relations with the juvenile which is a felony…
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That’s Kaplan Police Chief Boyd Adams, who says the alleged incident actually happened in Kaplan.

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Three highway projects from the Louisiana Department Of Transportation are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2016, with the first involving the widening a portion of Interstate 10 between I-49 to Breaux Bridge….
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That’s DOTD spokesperson Diedra Druilhet (drool yet), who says the price tag is about $125 million dollars.

News out of the Who Dat Nation, there are reports that Defensive Coordinator Rob Ryan will be remaining with the Saints. Even though the Saints ranked 31st in the league for yards allowed, NFL analyst Mike Detillier says he’s not surprised that the Saints held on to Ryan…
cut 10 (10) “have the players”
Ryan had recently said that this was his worst season in his 10 years as an NFL defensive coordinator.

Get ready to bundle up as the coldest air of the winter arrives in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
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The Monroe Police Department says they’ve recovered the body of a 38-year-old man from Rayville in a private pond. They say Clarence Dean Roy Jr. was reported missing after he left a construction site in western Ouachita Parish and was located Tuesday afternoon in the water near the work site. Foul play is not suspected. Cops believe Roy had a medical issue.

At Thibodaux High School the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office says a 25-year-old teacher admits she had sex with a 17-year-old student. Celeste Bergeron was issued a criminal summons this morning for Prohibited Sexual Conduct between an educator and student and school officials say she is no longer employed at the school.

Media reports indicate that Saints defensive coordinator, Rob Ryan, will remain with the team next season. The Black & Gold defense ranked 31st in the NFL in yards allowed this season during a disappointing 7-9 season. Saints radio color analyst Hokie Gajan believes Ryan deserves a third year at the helm…:
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Gajan says the teams defensive problems are more of a personnel issue than a coaching one and the Saints need to use this off-season getting quality players to shore up their defense.

Temperatures are expected to dip into the teens in north Louisiana and 20s in south Louisiana tomorrow morning and the National Weather Service has issued a hard freeze warning for most of the state this evening through mid-morning Thursday. State officials are urging residents to take proper precautions and be sure you’re heating your home in a safe manner.

Another Louisiana teacher is in trouble over allegations he had sex with one of his female juvenile students. Cops say 36-year-old Nicholas Willis is the accused and Kaplan Police Chief Boyd Adams says they learned from Abbeville Police the alleged incident occurred in their jurisdiction where the suspect lived…:
CUT 13 (09) “arrested Mr.s Willis”
Felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile is the charge and Willis is still in jail pending $200,000 bond.

The State Department of Transportation has announced a project that will widen a portion of Interstate 10 between Lafayette and St. Martin Parishes. Eric Gill reports…:
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Tonight’s Powerball jackpot is getting big at $146 million dollars. That’s a $95 million dollar cash value for the Wednesday drawing.