Former Governor Kathleen Blanco announces she’s fighting an incurable form of liver cancer. Kelley Ray reports…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Gas prices in Louisiana are on a steady downward trend, as the current statewide average of $2.26 is 4 cents lower on the week. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says they expect gasoline demand to weaken throughout the winter:
CUT 7 (05) “Christmas Holidays”

The body of a Shreveport woman who was abducted was found in a St. Landry Parish lake this morning. Officials say a fisherman on Lake Dubuisson hooked a purse on his line, and called the sheriff’s office to report it. A search and rescue team were dispatched and later found the body. The woman was abducted in Alexandria. The investigation is ongoing.

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Richland Parish physician will need to boost his name recognition…:
Cut 26 (12) “support”
Abraham says he hasn’t made any decisions, but a number of people are asking him about it.

Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco has announced she is fighting an incurable form of liver cancer. It traveled from her eye after she was diagnosed in 2011 with ocular melanoma, a dangerous and rare cancer. Chief of Surgical Oncology at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Adam Riker says the key now is to get Blanco’s immune system strong to slow the cancer growth…:

Cut 3 (10) “tumor cells”
The native of New Iberia served as Louisiana’s first female governor from 2004 to 2008, and was criticized for her handling of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. BUt UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that has been muted after looking back at the magnitude of the storm.:
Cut 5 (06) “for them”
Blanco is 74.

The LSU AgCenter has developed a milk-based meal replacement powder to help consumers lose weight. Director of the AgCenter Food Incubator Gaye Sandoz says the powder shake comes in chocolate and vanilla flavors, plus a candy can be added to the meal replacement…:
Cut 5 (07) “special milk”
Studies show drinking meal replacement shakes for 12 weeks instead of meals is a safe way to drop pounds.

Multiple reports indicate NFL viewership is down this season. Kelley Ray spoke with a Baton Rouge ad agent about the impacts:
Cut 2 (22) “I’m Kelley Ray”

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Richland Parish lawmaker is very popular in north and central Louisiana, but…:
Cut 12 (10) “southern Louisiana”
Abraham says he hasn’t made any decisions about his political future.

The LSU AgCenter believes they have developed a milk-based meal replacement powder that can help individuals lose weight. Director of the AgCenter Food Incubator, Gaye Sandoz, says they will work with LSU’s Pennington Research Center to package and market the product…
cut 6 (10) “…the market”
Did you watch the NFL yesterday? Recent reports indicate fewer people are tuning in on Sunday to watch. With viewers scattering, Deborah Todd, owner of Baton Rouge-based Todd Advertising Agency foresees advertisers and networks alike renegotiating their contracts…
cut 9 (08) “…to give”
Fox, NBC and CBS have agreements with the NFL to televise their games through the 2022 season.

As part of Louisiana’s effort to rebuild the whooping crane population, another dozen juvenile whooping cranes have been released at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge…
cut 15 (12) “….in Louisiana”
That’s state wildlife and fisheries biologist Sara Zimorski who says the whooping crane population in Louisiana is up to 72.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco is asking for prayers in the fight for her own life against cancer. She said in a letter to Louisianians, friends and family that melanoma has invaded her liver and that no treatments have yet been identified to cure the type of illness. In a statement, Governor John Bel Edwards said Blanco is a strong woman of incredible faith, and asked the people of this state to join him in prayers for the former governor.

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley believes that at this point US Senator John Kennedy, AG Jeff Landry or Congressman Garret Graves have the better change to defeat Governor John Bel Edwards:
Cut 11 (10) “disadvantage”
Stockley says Abraham is popular in the top half of the state, but would need to campaign heavily in South Louisiana to have a chance. Abraham says he has yet to decide.

A dozen juvenile whooping cranes have been released in Vermilion Parish as part of an ongoing effort to protect them from extinction. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski says these are beautiful birds…:
Cut 14 (12) “in 1950″
She says the whooping crane population in Louisiana is now at 72.

WWL-TV is reporting that the winning Louisiana Lotto ticket from Saturday’s drawing was sold in St. Landry Parish. The jackpot was hit at $350,000.

The State Department of Transportation announces plans to help keep traffic at a minimum during the holidays. They say on December 25th and 26th, and on January 1st and 2nd, all oversize and overweight vehicle movement on all State highways will be prohibited.

The LSU AgCenter developed a milk-based meal replacement powder to help consumers lose weight. Emelie Gunn has more on the product that will be tested at LSU’s Pennington Research Center …
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco has disclosed that her previously diagnosed eye cancer has spread to her liver and says there’s no cure. She was elected as Louisiana’s first female governor and served from 2004 to 2008. Blanco revealed in 2011 that she had a rare eye cancer and in her letter, she said that cancer has now “invaded her liver,” and she has a difficult road ahead.

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Richland Parish physician will need to boost his name recognition…:
Cut 10 (12) “to support”
Abraham says he hasn’t made any decisions, but a number of people are asking him about it.

Did you watch the NFL games yesterday, the Saints game Thursday or are you planning to catch Monday Night Football? Reports indicate ratings for pro football have been slipping of late. Baton Rouge-based Todd Advertising Agency owner Deborah Todd says one reason could be cheap streaming services:
Cut 8 (08) “a month”
She also believes games being on multiple nights instead of just on Sunday hurts ratings.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco says she’s in the fight for her life as the 74-year-old is battling liver cancer. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

LaPolitics Weekly reports Congressman Ralph Abraham is considering a run for governor in 2019. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the Richland Parish lawmaker is very popular in north and central Louisiana, but…:
Cut 12 (10) “southern Louisiana”
Abraham says he hasn’t made any decisions, but a number of people are asking him about it.

Multiple reports indicate fewer people are watching as much pro football as they used too. Baton Rouge-based Todd Advertising Agency owner Deborah Todd says it’s not just national anthem protests, she says viewer fatigue has also set in, because of an over saturation of games…:
Cut 7 (10) “used to”
She also says a lot of people are getting rid of cable in favor of streaming services which further diverts attention away from pro sports.

A dozen juvenile whooping cranes have been released at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge as part of an ongoing effort to protect them from extinction. Biologist Sara Zimorski with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says they are joining eleven others released a couple of weeks ago in Vermilion Parish…:
Cut 13 (08) “72 birds”
In 2016, the first whooping crane chick hatched in the wild in Louisiana since 1939, a significant sign of recovery for the species.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco is asking for prayers in the fight for her own life against cancer. She said in a letter to Louisianians, friends and family that melanoma has invaded her liver and that no treatments have yet been identified to cure the type of illness. In a statement, Governor John Bel Edwards said Blanco is a strong woman of incredible faith, and asked the people of this state to join him in prayers for the former governor.

The LSU AgCenter has developed a milk-based meal replacement powder to help consumers lose weight. Director of the AgCenter Food Incubator Gaye Sandoz says they’ve developed the powder and now LSU’s Pennington Research Center will test the product.
Cut 4 (07) “to do”
Studies show drinking meal replacement shakes for 12 weeks instead of meals is a safe way to drop pounds.

Multiple reports indicate NFL viewership is down this season. Kelley Ray spoke with a Baton Rouge ad agent about the impacts…:
Cut 2 (22) “I’m Kelley Ray”

Congress has approved a short-term extension for the National Flood Insurance Program, ensuring it will operate as normal through December 22nd. But it’s unclear if a deal can be reached within two weeks, as Senators have voiced concerns over the NFIP re-authorization bill that cleared the House in November, citing the potential for rate increases for homeowners.