Because the rain has extinguished bonfires for “Christmas Eve” the River Parishes are going to get lit on Saturday instead. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
_______________________________________________
According to AAA, 115 million people are expected to travel for the holidays this year. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”
______________________________________________
Children’s Hospital New Orleans is raffling off tickets to hopeful Taylor Swift fans who want to catch The Eras Tour at the Ceasar’s Superdome in New Orleans. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”
_________________________________________________
With the heavy rainfall and windy conditions forecasted for Christmas Eve, Festival of the Bonfires organizers made the difficult decision to reschedule the event to Saturday. St. James Parish President Pete Dufresne says with the rain and south winds….
Cut 4 (09) “…that day.”
Fortunately, the change falls on the weekend but Dufresne understands the change is still inconvenient when so many have already made plans in advance.
Cut 5 (12) “…enjoy it.”
So instead of lighting the way for Papa Noel on Christmas Eve, Santa will get directions this year one night earlier on Saturday at 7 pm. Dufresne says it’s the safest thing to do for everyone involved…
Cut 6 (11) “…good so.”
Traffic in the area will still follow a contraflow pattern around the bonfire viewing area.
______________________________________________
Friday begins the start of a very busy travel holiday season. Nationwide, AAA Analyst Don Redman says more than 115 million people will pack roadways and airports.
Cut 7 (10) “…New Year’s.”
Redman says the number of people who will travel by car for the holidays is up two percent over last year.
Cut 8 (11) “…the road.”
The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is around $2.70 just a few cents cheaper than a year ago.
Redman says a record seven-point-five million are expected to travel by air, so give yourself a little extra time if you are heading to the airport
Cut 9 (12) “…about winter.”
_____________________________________________
Taylor Swift fans who were waitlisted have another chance to score a golden ticket to the upcoming Eras Tour performance. Children’s Hospital New Orleans is raffling tickets to help fund a new Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Unit. Director of Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapies Ben Watkins…
Cut 10 (13) “…and socialize.”
The hospital is raffling off 28 suite tickets to see Swift at the Ceasar’s Superdome on October 26. Watkins says there’s going to be seven winners of four tickets for Swifties to win.
Cut 11 (07) “…Taylor Swift.”
The hospital provides advanced treatments for children with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell, and other childhood cancers and blood disorders.
Watkins says this year’s raffle is part of the hospital’s annual Sugarplum Ball to raise money for its Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. He says winners will be drawn the morning of March 23rd and notified the same day.
Cut 12 (12) “…there too.”
Tickets can be purchased at chnola.org/taylor.
_____________________________________________
Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is skipping New Orleans this year and Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says it’s a lost opportunity to promote state tourism. Since his Office of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism gave up the project to New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell, he says the New Orleans segment has been poor, even humiliating…
Cut 13 (08) “my opinion.”
Nungesser says Cantrell’s people took over after they barred Lauren Daigle from the city in 2020 and she pressured show producers to block the Christian singer from the show. Nungesser says, after two years of poor showings with Cantrell’s people, he learned the show opted out of the Crescent City…
Cut 14 (08) “…of tourism”
Nungesser says when his office oversaw the New Orleans segment of the show, they highlighted the whole state, provided entertainment for Sugar Bowl fans, and made sure the return on investment was good for the state. He believes it was a great opportunity and would be willing to participate again…
Cut 15 (10) “…doing that”
______________________________________________________
After mostly watching during his first three seasons at LSU, quarterback Garrett Nussmeier finally gets a chance to start when the Tigers face Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on January 1st in Tampa Bay. 2020 was the last time Nussmeier started a football game and that was at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas…
Cut 16 (14) “…focused on”
Nussmeier has appeared in 17 games during his LSU career. He played the second half of the 2022 SEC Championship game because of an injury to Jayden Daniels. He played nearly the entire game as a freshman in 2021 in a loss to Arkansas. Nussmeier says he’s a more mature player now and gives a lot of credit to quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan…
Cut 17 (21) “….in this offense”
During his LSU career, Nussmeier has thrown 174 passes, completing 56% for 1,325 yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions. He’s been known as a gunslinger, but Nussmeier says he’s a smart gunslinger. The six-foot-two, 205-pounder also says he can make plays with his legs.
During the offseason, he’ll battle with Vanderbilt transfer AJ Swann for starting quarterback in 2024. Nussmeier says he doesn’t feel pressure to make a statement on New Year’s Day..
Cut 18 (17) “…I’m excited”
________________________________________________________
Cut 19 (19) “…accustomed to winning.”
Cut 20 (09) “…finding the football”