A twister outbreak results in widespread damage over various parishes and one death. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt will lead the Senate Republican caucus in the upcoming session, with the job of uniting the Upper Chambers’ GOP supermajority….

Cut 9, 9 seconds, caucus

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is the NFL’s new all-time touchdown passing leader. Brees surpassed Peyton Manning’s mark of 539 TD passes by tossing four touchdown passes in a 34-7 win over the Colts. Brees now has 541 touchdown passes and the 40-year-old appreciates what football has given to him…

Cut 4 (12) “…for ever”

With the win, the Saints improve to 11-3 as they are looking for a second Super Bowl championship, but have to win out for a realistic shot at home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Central and southwest Louisiana are picking up the pieces from a deadly tornado outbreak that killed a woman in Vernon Parish. The National Weather Service says one of the twisters went 63 miles from DeRidder to Alexandria. Rapides Parish GOHSEP Director Sonya Wiley-Gremillion (Grim Mee Yawn) says several homes are destroyed…
Cut 8 (10) “…homes are uninhabitable.”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is the NFL’s new all-time touchdown passing leader. Brees surpassed Peyton Manning’s mark of 539 TD passes by tossing four touchdown passes in a 34-7 win over the Colts. Brees says it was special to do it on a night the franchise honored the 2009 Super Bowl team

Cut 3 (12) “…as well.”

Brees now has 541 touchdown passes.

DOTD lays out plans for increased safety measures at a ceremony honoring Johnny Cole, an employee killed on the job when he was struck by an 18-wheeler this summer.  DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they will implement a spotter for two-person crews.

Cut 6 (08) “…are paying attention.”

Mallett says they will also implement brighter LED lighting for arrows and vehicle strobes.

Major General Glenn Curtis is stepping down as head of Louisiana’s National Guard, and will be replaced by Brigadier General Keith Wadell effective January 10th. Curtis was first appointed to the position by Governor Jindal in 2011 and was reappointed by Governor Edwards says the appointment of Wadell will continue to make the Louisiana Guard one of the best in the nation both in wars abroad and at home.

Cut 15 (12) “…of when.”

A twister outbreak results in widespread damage over various parishes and one death. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Cleco reports six-thousand of their customers are still without power this morning. The governor’s office says John Bel Edwards will tour damaged areas in Alexandria this afternoon. One area that the governor may visit is the Johnny Downs Sports Complex, which has been destroyed.

Last night was a special night for the Saints and Quarterback Drew Brees as the future hall of famer became the new career passing touchdown record holder, surpassing Peyton Manning in a 34-7 win over the Colts. Brees threw four touchdown passes on the night and has 541 for his career, but he says he can’t spend much time reflecting on his latest record…
cut 5 (12) “….so appreciative”
And the Athens County Food Pantry is appreciative of LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow. Burrow told the world during his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech about the poverty in his hometown in Ohio and it’s resulted in over 300-thousand dollars in donation to the pantry. Rob Szabo is with the Athens County Food Pantry and he says it comes at a good time…
cut 12 (07) “….this time now”

A mid-December tornado outbreak has resulted in one death. Governor John Bel Edwards says there’s extensive damage in southwest and central Louisiana…
cut 9 (12) “….that family”
The woman who died has been identified as 59-year-old Betty Patin. She died in her mobile home near Rosepine.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees feels blessed today after breaking the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a career last night. Brees surpassed Peyton Manning’s record of 539 TD passes…
cut 4 (12) “:..remember forever”
Brees had four touchdowns as the Saints crushed the Colts 34-7.

Joe Burrow’s Heisman acceptance speech inspires an outpouring of support for his hometown’s food pantry. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The town of Vidalia is being removed from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s list of “fiscally distressed municipalities. The Louisiana Legislative auditor’s office says there have been improvements in financial operations. Mayor Buz Craft told KNOE-TV they transferred money from one fund to another to get into a positive posture.

The cleanup can start today after a twister outbreak that killed a 59-year-old woman in Vernon Parish. The National Weather Service says they are also looking into a 63-mile twister that started in DeRidder. Beauregard Parish GOHSEP Deputy Director Scott Greenmun…
cut 7 (08) “….at this time”
Cleco reports 63-hundred customers in central Louisiana were without power as of six am.

Major General Glenn Curtis is stepping down as head of Louisiana’s National Guard, and will be replaced by Brigadier General Keith Wadell on January 10th. Curtis was first appointed to the position in 2011. Governor John Bel Edwards says Curtis has provided leadership during turbulent times…
cut 13 (12) “…leadership”
Curtis enlisted in the Louisiana National Guard in 1982.

Drew Brees broke Peyton Manning’s 539 career passing touchdown record as the Saints crushed the Colts 34-7 in the Dome last night. The record-breaking play came in the third quarter on a pass to tight end Josh Hill…
Cut 4 (08) “…thought”
Brees passed for four TDs and 307 yards and broke the single-game passing percentage record, going 29 of 30 through the air.

Over 300-thousand dollars has been raised for the Athens County Food Pantry since LSU quarterback Joe Burrow said that there are many kids in Athens who go home with not a lot of food on the table. Rob Szabo is the director of the Athens County Food Pantry and says the response has been overwhelming and much needed as they support over five-thousand households each year…
cut 11 (07) “….times of need”

Monday’s tornado outbreak in Louisiana and into Mississippi is to blame for at least one fatality in Vernon Parish and widespread damage and utility outages. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says his parish has a long path to recovery.
Cut 6 (04) “…take some time.”
The woman killed has been identified as 59-year-old Betty Patin. She died in her home near Rosepine.

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow’s Heisman acceptance speech has sparked a spirit of giving. Burrow referenced his upbringing in Athens, Ohio, an impoverished area where the poverty rate is almost two times the national average. Rob Szabo is with the Athens County Food Pantry and says the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.
Cut 10 (07) “…shock to us.”
A Facebook fundraising campaign has eclipsed 300-thousand dollars since Burrow’s acceptance speech.

The Louisiana National Guard will soon have a new leader. Major General Glenn Curtis will leave his position on January 10th after eight years as L-N-G’s leader. Curtis says Brigadier General Keith Waddell, an assistant principal at Westlake High School, will take his place…
cut 14 (11) “…preparedness”
Waddell is also a coach and has worked in education for 24 years.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is the NFL’s new all-time touchdown passing leader. Brees surpassed Peyton Manning’s mark of 539 TD passes by tossing four touchdown passes in a 34-7 win over the Colts. Brees says it was special to do it on a night the franchise honored the 2009 Super Bowl team…
cut 3 (12) “…as well”
The Saints are 11-and-3 and will visit Tennessee this Sunday.

Drew Brees breaks Peyton Manning’s 539 career passing touchdown record as the Saints crushed the Colts 34-7 in the Dome. Coach Sean Payton had a game plan to throw early and often with a chance to break the record in front of the home crowd. The record-breaking touchdown pass came in the third quarter on a pass to tight end Josh Hill…
Cut 4 (08) “…thought”
Brees passed for four TDs and 307 yards and broke the single-game passing percentage record, going 29 of 30 through the air. New Orleans is also 11-and-3 and still in a position to get the number one seed in the N-F-C playoffs. Up next a trip to Tennessee to face the Titans.

The Saints have reportedly claimed veteran cornerback Janoris Jenkins off waivers.

Over 300-thousand dollars has been raised for the Athens County Food Pantry since LSU quarterback Joe Burrow said that there are many kids in Athens who go home with not a lot of food on the table. Rob Szabo is the director of the Athens Food Pantry says the response has been overwhelming and much needed as they support over five-thousand households each year…
cut 11 (07) “….times of need”

The Pelicans take a 12-game losing streak into tonight’s home game against the Nets. Locked on Pelicans podcast host Jake Madison says fifth-year head coach Alvin Gentry is on the hot seat…
cut 17 (15) “….infect it all”
Tip-off is at 7 PM.

What a night for Drew Brees and the Saints as records fall in a 34-7 win over the Indianapolis Colts last night. Brees threw four touchdowns to pass Peyton Manning for the All-Time passing touchdown leader. Brees also set the single-game completion percentage record. The Saints are 11-and-3, giving them a shot at finishing with the best record in the N-F-C. Coach Sean Payton…
cut 5 (09) “…games”

Meanwhile, central and southwest Louisiana are picking up the pieces from a deadly tornado outbreak that killed a woman in Vernon Parish. The National Weather Service says one of the twisters went 63 miles from DeRidder to Alexandria. Rapides Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness manager Sonya Wiley-Gremillion says several homes are destroyed…
cut 8 (10) “…homes unhabitable

The Louisiana National Guard will have a new leader after Major General Glenn Curtis announces his retirement. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 3 (31) “ I’m Matt Doyle”

Joe Burrow’s Heisman acceptance speech inspires an outpouring of support for his hometown’s food pantry. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (33) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

________________________________________

A twister outbreak results in widespread damage over various parishes and one death. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

____________________________________________

The Louisiana National Guard will have a new leader after Major General Glenn Curtis announces his retirement. Kevin Barnhart has more…

Cut 3 (31) “ I’m Matt Doyle”

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Drew Brees breaks Peyton Manning’s 539 career passing touchdown record as the Saints crushed the Colts in the Dome 34-7.

It was clear from the start that coach Sean Payton had a game plan to throw early and often with a chance to break the record in front of the home crowd. Brees broke the record on a pass to tight end Josh Hill…

Cut 4 (08) “…thought”

Brees passed for four TDs and 307 yards.

Brees extended the record to 541 TDs, keeping him three ahead of Tom Brady who is hot on his heels, but Payton says there’s too much at stake to get distracted by records…

Cut 5 (09) “…games”

Brees also broke the single-game passing percentage record, going 29 of 30 through the air.

__________________________________________________

Monday’s tornado outbreak that spanned the state and into Mississippi is to blame for at least one fatality in Vernon Parish and widespread damage and utility outages.  Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft says just in the initial review of the havoc, his area has a long path to recovery.

Cut 6 (04) “…take some time.”

The deceased was in a mobile home at the time of the storm.  The tornado started in the De Ridder area and cut a 63 mile path to Alexandria.  Beauregard Parish GOHSEP Deputy Director Scott Greenmun…

Cut 7 (08) “…at this time.”

Rapides Parish GOHSEP Director Sonya Wiley-Gremillion says they are doing what they can to make sure everyone has shelter following the storm.

Cut 8 (10) “…homes are uninhabitable.”

Governor Edwards says he’s praying for those that were in harm’s way.

Cut 9 (12) “…for that family.”

Early estimates indicate the total number of twisters is around 18.

__________________________________________________

LSU QB Joe Burrow’s Heisman acceptance speech has sparked a spirit of giving.  Burrow referenced his upbringing in Athens, Ohio, an impoverished area where the poverty rate is almost two times the national average.  Rob Szabo is with the Athens County Food Pantry and says the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.

Cut 10 (07) “…shock to us.”

Szabo says food insecurity is a huge issue in the area.  The Athens County Food Pantry supports more than 5,000 households in the area each year.

Cut 11 (07) “…times of need.”

A Facebook fundraising campaign has eclipsed a quarter million dollars (updates here) in the time since Burrow’s acceptance speech.  Szabo says that will help with the extra need that comes with the holidays.

Cut  12 (07) “…this time now.” 

__________________________________________________

Major Glenn Curtis is stepping down as head of Louisiana’s National Guard, and will be replaced by Brigadier General Keith Wadell effective January 10th.

Curtis was first appointed to the position by Governor Jindal in 2011 and was reappointed by Governor Edwards four years ago. Edwards says Curtis has led the state’s forces through some remarkably turbulent times…

Cut 13 (12) “…leadership”

Curtis first joined the Guard in 1982.

Curtis’ second in command will step into the position after 25 years in the Guard. Curtis celebrated the soon-to-be top general…

Cut 14 (11) “…preparedness”

Wadell is currently the assistant principal of Westlake High School in Calcasieu Parish, where he also coaches.

Governor Edwards says the appointment of Wadell will continue to make the Louisiana Guard one of the best in the nation both in wars abroad and at home.

Cut 15 (12) “…of when.”

______________________________________________

The Pelicans hope to snap a franchise record 12 game losing streak tonight against the Nets at the Smoothie King Center.

Injuries have piled up, but Locked on Pelicans podcast host Jake Madison says there are two major culprits for this season’s failure, starting with the second-worst defense in the league…

Cut 16  (20)  …times” 

Offensively the team ranks 19th but has had reason to be optimistic about the future thanks to Lakers acquisition Brandon Ingram, who is averaging 25 points a game.

Coach Alvin Gentry is now firmly on the hot seat, but unlikely to be canned before Zion Williamson returns from the injury. That being said Madison says the team needs to seriously consider a change.

Cut 17  (15) “infect it all” 

Gentry now has a career .400 record as head coach of the Pels, with four of his five seasons sporting losing records.

The disastrous start to the season could be detrimental to the long-term growth of key young players, but Madison says short-term it could be even worse…

cut 18  (17)     have”  

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cut 19 (20)  26th ”  

cut 20 (18) “the ball”