Tomorrow is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says there are some good deals to be had in the final shopping days before Christmas. But he says do a little research beforehand to make sure you are truly getting a great deal…
cut 5 (08) “…smartphone”
Rice says expect to see a lot of men and younger consumers at the store, they tend to be the holiday shopping procrastinators.

St Tammany Parish is about to see major job growth. Medline Industries will build a distribution center that will create more than 460 new jobs near Covington. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the $53-million-dollar medical supply facility will be a major boon.
Cut 12 (11) “…facility”
And Ampirical Solutions announces it will build new headquarters near Covington.

Isle of Capri gets approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to be the first riverboat casino to crawl up out of the water and set up shop on land. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

State Police say charges are pending against the driver involved in a fatal wreck in Grant Parish that killed 18-year-old Jessie Andrew Richards. The Pineville teen died from his injuries sustained in the Tuesday night wreck. The driver, 18-year-old Matthew Molan of Pineville, lost control and hit a tree. None of the teens in the vehicle were buckled up.

148 million American shoppers are expected to hit the stores Saturday, up from 134 million last year. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says on this final weekend before the Christmas holiday, retailers do a good job marketing themselves to procrastinators

Cut 4 (11) “…more male”

“Super Saturday” has become the single biggest shopping day of the year.

The Isle of Capri riverboat casino in Lake Charles gets approval from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board to expand onto land and shutter their old water-based facility. L-G-C-B Chairman Ronnie Jones says the 112.7 million dollar project is a significant investment for the company even as gaming revenues have stayed flat in Louisiana. He says this shows the Legislature’s decision is paying off.

Cut 10 (09) “…running”

Capri is just off I-10 west of Lake Charles.

According to AAA a third of the country will be in transit over the holidays, either by plane, trains or automobiles.  AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says that’s the most ever predicted in the last twenty years by the association and the majority of travelers will take to the roadways.

Cut 6 (07) “…patience.”

Redman says the top three reasons AAA tows during the holidays are flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts, so have your car checked before you leave and take an extra set of keys.

Former Saints WR Joe Horn pleads guilty to defrauding the NFL and it’s retiree healthcare plan. Horn admitted to engaging in a scheme with 10 other former players to place fraudulent claims against the program in order to rip it off. The defendants admitted to filing 3.4 million dollars’ worth of fraudulent claims to Ciga Health, involving fake invoices for expensive equipment they never received.

Triple-A estimates that nearly a third of Americans will travel during the Christmas and New Year’s Holiday. Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says that equals 115-million people. Redman says 105-million travelers will hit the road and…
cut 8 (05) “….the holidays”
Redman says the busiest travel day in the skies will be December 26th.

The state’s Gaming Control Board approves a plan for Lake Charles based Isle of Capri riverboat casino to move on land, the first facility to make the jump 18 months after the Legislature ok’d such moves. The plan is to shutter the riverboat and build a 112-million dollar facility nearby. Chairman Ronnie Jones says the facility will have more than just gambling…
cut 9 (10) “…steakhouse”
The new facility will have 72,000 square feet of gaming space.

The National Retail Federation Estimates nearly 148-million U-S consumers will shop on super Saturday. That’s up from 134-million last year. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says the last Saturday before Christmas has become the biggest shopping day of the year
Cut 3 (11) “…retailer.”
Rice says men and younger consumers tend to be the biggest procrastinators.

A rash of stories about dangerous counterfeit toys has inspired Senator Bill Cassidy to co-author the SANTA Act, which demands online retailers to detail exactly where children’s products come from. Currently, online retailers only have to provide the name of their company, and little else, but Cassidy wants them to reveal more…
Cut 5 (11) “…counterfeit”

According to AAA four million more people will take to the roadways for the holidays, so make sure your vehicle is prepped for the trip. AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says the top three reasons AAA tows during the holidays are flat tires, dead batteries, and lockouts. Also, pad your wallet before you leave too.

Cut 7 (07) “…several days”

However, after Christmas, Redman says gas prices should drop going into the New Year.

Harvard researchers predict nearly half of all Americans will be obese by 2030. LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is seeking ways to combat obesity and Doctor Steven Heymsfield says the best way to stop the epidemic from progressing is making sure children don’t develop habits that lead to obesity…

Cut 15 (11) “…ways”

Obesity is defined as an individual with a body mass index of 30 or higher.

Senator Bill Cassidy is introducing the SANTA Act, which aims to keep dangerous counterfeit toys out of the hands of children. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A Carnival cruise ship based out of New Orleans crashed into another cruise ship while trying to dock in Cozumel, Mexico early this morning. The crash happened when the Carnival Glory collided with the Carnival Legend. Only one minor injury has been reported according to The Advocate. New Orleans became the home port for Carnival Glory this year.

The state’s biggest energy producers say the need for increased capacity and replacement of aging power plants will require substantial rate hikes, potentially up to 50 percent. Some have suggested having industrial groups foot a larger share of the bill for future capacity expansions, considering they’re the ones driving the need for more capacity. Public Service Commissioner Dr. Craig Greene says whatever the solution…

Cut 9 (09) “…work”

According to AAA a third of the country will be in transit over the holidays, either by plane, trains or automobiles.  AAA Spokesperson Don Redman says that’s the most ever predicted in the last twenty years by the association and the majority of travelers will take to the roadways.

Cut 6 (13) “…patience.”

The official traffic season begins this weekend and ends January 1^st.

A New England Journal of Medicine study predicts nearly half of all Americans will be obese by the end of the decade.  Pennington Biomedical director of the Metabolism-Body Composition Lab, Steven Heymsfield, says those numbers are disproportionately high in people making under 50,000 dollars a year, and…

Cut 13 (12) “…Hispanics”

The study was conducted by Harvard researchers.

A rash of stories about dangerous counterfeit toys has inspired Senator Bill Cassidy to introduce the SANTA Act, which demands online retailers to detail exactly where children’s products come from. Currently, online retailers only have to provide the name of their company, and little else, but Cassidy wants them to reveal more…

Cut 5 (11) “…counterfeit”

Harvard researchers estimate that by 2030 half of all Americans will be obese. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “ I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board has given approval to Eldorado Resorts to build an 113-million dollar casino in Westlake where slots, blackjack tables and other gaming operations will take place on land. It’s the first riverboat casino that’s been given permission to move on land as a result of legislation passed 18 months ago.

A Zachary man who is an Army veteran and employee with the Louisiana Department of Health is seeking donations to help pay for a double-lung transplant needed to save his life. Keith Phillips suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and he needs to raise 50-thousand dollars to cover his expenses, which includes a chartered flight to Cleveland for the transplant…
cut 12 (10) “…in time”
To make a donation you can visit transplants.org and click on “Find an NFT Patient” and search for Keith Phillips.

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy is co-authoring legislation called the SANTA Act which would protect children from dangerous online products. The SANTA Act would require websites to show where toys come from, the name of the business and contact information. Cassidy says this legislation would also protect the American worker…
cut 6 (10) “….as well”

Entergy has told the Public Service Commission that it will need to spend 10 to 12 billion dollars to replace aging power generating units, which will likely mean higher rates. Industrial companies suggest rates could rise as much as 50-percent. P-S-C- member Doctor Craig Greene says a study has been launched to see if it would be smart to let large industrial customers produce their own power…
cut 8 (11) “…their own”

Nearly one out of four adults in Louisiana is considered obese and a new study out of Harvard predicts that nearly half of all Americans will be obese by 2030. Doctor Steven Heymsfield with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says the nation’s obesity problem will send healthcare costs spiraling out of control,,,
cut 14 (07) “…today”

A 55- year old Zachary man who’s has lost numerous family members to pulmonary fibrosis is waiting on a transplant. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

State Police say charges are pending against the driver involved in a fatal wreck in Grant Parish that killed 18-year-old Jessie Andrew Richards. The Pineville teen died from his injuries sustained in the Tuesday night wreck on Bob Frazier Road. The driver, 18-year-old Matthew Molan of Pineville, lost control and hit a tree. None of the teens in the vehicle were buckled up.

Senator Bill Cassidy is the co-author of the SANTA Act, which aims to keep dangerous counterfeit toys out of the hands of children. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Supreme Rice has announced a 20-million dollar expansion of its facilities in Crowley. Supreme Rice is the state’s leading rice processor and they are adding 25-thousand square feet of manufacturing space. Supreme Rice employs 150 workers in Louisiana.

Harvard researchers predict nearly half of all Americans will be obese by 2030. LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is seeking ways to combat obesity and Doctor Steven Heymsfield says the best way to stop the epidemic from progressing is making sure children don’t develop habits that lead to obesity…
cut 15 (11) “…ways”

L-D-H employee and Army veteran Keith Phillips of Zachary needs a double lung transplant to survive as he suffers from pulmonary fibrosis. His father died from the disease nearly three decades ago and pulmonary fibrosis also killed his grandmother and aunt. Phillips sister is Cynthia Griffin…
cut 11 (12) “….in that”
For more on Keith’s story go to Louisiana Radio Network’s website.

A group comprised of the largest energy producers in the state estimates rates may need to increase by 50 percent to properly replace Louisiana’s aging power plants and grid. Public Service Commissioner Dr. Craig Greene says the Commission will ultimately decide if that’s needed, but it is true our energy infrastructure is getting old.
Cut 7 (11) “…those.”
The P-S-C launched a study to see how to best handle potential rising electricity prices.

Reports of dangerous counterfeit toys have inspired Senator Bill Cassidy to co-author the SANTA Act, which demands online retailers to detail exactly where children’s products come from. Cassidy says the SANTA Act is about protecting children from toys not made by reputable toy manufacturers…
Cut 4 (10) “flames”

55-year old Army Veteran, Keith Phillips of Zachary, helps the state prepare for hurricanes and other disasters as a program manager with the Louisiana Health Department, but right now he’s fighting for his life. Phillips suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and the only cure is a double- lung transplant. He watched his father succumb to the disease almost three decades ago.
Cut 10 (12) “…a cure”
The average double-lung transplant costs more than one million dollars. To make a donation you can visit transplants.org and click on “Find an NFT Patient” and search for Keith Phillips.

Former Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Perkins and his teacher wife Cynthia Perkins each entered a not guilty plea to charges that alleged they were involved in child rape, sexual battery, video voyeurism, and child pornography. Cynthia Perkins has also filed for divorce. Court documents say she’s fearful of Dennis Perkins.