A report from United Health Foundation finds Louisiana is no longer the unhealthiest state in the country. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Michelle Southern”

LSU’s Leonard Fournette has decided not to play in the Citrus Bowl, so that he give his injured ankle more time to heal and allow his body to get ready for the NFL draft. Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron supports the decision, but he’ll miss the dynamic running back…
Cut 16 (07) “great games”

With the state having problems fully funding the TOPS scholarship program, the idea is being kicked around to require TOPS recipients to take 30 credit hours a year, instead of 24. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says the idea is to encourage students to graduate in four years…
cut 7 (08) “…for four years”
There will likely be push back on this idea, as TOPS students are having to pay roughly 60-percent of their tuition for the spring semester, forcing many to work more hours, so they can continue college.

There’s the possiblity of severe weather tomorrow in the Monroe and Alexandria areas, along with a portion of south Louisiana….
cut 4 (04) “….a potential”
That’s Alex Tingler with the National Weather Service who says a strong cold front will push across the state tomorrow, dropping temperatures by at least 20 degrees.

With budget shortfalls still looming, higher education leaders are looking at more potential changes to the TOPS scholarship program. Lawmakers are hopeful they can find the necessary $89 million to fully fund the program next year, but Higher Ed Commissioner JOe Rallo says changes will likely come to TOPS whether or not it’s fully funded…:
Cut 8 (10) “on them”
One option being discussed is raising the hourly requirement.

Louisiana is no longer the least healthy state in the country, according to United Health Foundation. But the report found that funding for public health decreased by 28-percent over the last four years. State Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee hopes public health will become more of a spending priority, because money is used to protect against Zika outbreaks and flu epidemics…:
Cut 10 (09) “it is”

LSU running back Leonard Fournette’s college football career is over. The junior, who has already said he intends to enter the 2017 NFL Draft, announced today that he would not play in the Citrus Bowl with the Tigers. He and head coach Ed Orgeron broke the news on Friday…:
Cut 15 (11) “best for my future”
Fournette said he plans to rest and rehab the ankle injury that has limited him to seven games this season.

Get ready for another change in the weather. Andy Tingler, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says we warm up tomorrow and there’s potential for severe weather Saturday night, but Sunday might be a good day to stay inside..:
CUT 5 (12) “around 60”

More changes could be coming to the TOPS scholarship program. Don Molino has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

Get ready for another change in the weather. Andy Tingler, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says a strong cold front will move through the state Saturday and produce a big temperature drop..:
Cut 3 (12) “upper 30s”

Louisiana is no longer the least healthy state in the country, according to United Health Foundation. State Health Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee says this is great news, but unfortunately Louisiana still ranks 49th in the nation for overall health. She says the state has high rates of low birth weight, infant mortality, and obesity…:
Cut 9 (12) “in Medicaid”
Mississippi was the only state found to be less healthy than Louisiana.

R+L Carriers will continue to be the sponsor of the New Orleans Bowl through the 2021 season under a renewed deal. UL-Lafayette and Southern Miss face off in the contest tomorrow night at 8pm.

With budget shortfalls still looming, higher education leaders are looking at more potential changes to the TOPS scholarship program. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says one option being discussed is raising the hourly requirement for the scholarship from 24 credits per year to 30. He says the idea is to encourage students to graduate more quickly, as TOPS only covers 8 semesters…:
Cut 6 (11) “extra year”
Opponents of the change say it would add to students’ workload, especially for those who take time-consuming labs or play sports.

The FBI isn’t saying much about why they raided the Hammond Police Department and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Thursday. A spokesman with the Bureau said they conducted multiple “court authorized” searches and that there were more to come. Among items seized in the simultaneous inspections include computers, cellphones and case files.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center receives a 5.3 million dollar grant to study why some people benefit more or less from exercise. Associate executive director of clinical research and study investigator Dr. Eric Ravussin..:
CUT 12 (09) “of that”
You can learn more on Pennington’s website.

The Big Easy is gearing up for the big R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl tomorrow featuring the UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns taking on Southern Miss. Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero says they’ve never had two regional teams in the bowl game so they’re seeing tons of fans in town…:
CUT 12 (09) “for us”
He expects this year’s game to bring in as much as $30 million dollars for area businesses.

The National Institutes of Health grants LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center with 5.3 million dollars to study why certain people benefit more or less from exercise. Emelie Gunn has more…
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A State Trooper has been arrested on charges of aggravated burglary and malfeasance in office. Alexandria Police booked 43-year-old Jeffrey Covington of Alexandria after he allegedly entered a person home on Thursday morning and was confronted, but left without incident. .

Tickets to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20th have been very popular. Cole Avery is a spokesperson for Congressman Ralph Abraham’s office and says they don’t have enough tickets to meet the demand, but they are keeping a record of everyone who made requests…
cut 14 (09) “…to waste”
Avery says they had over 300 ticket requests and only 185 to give away.

Doctor Chris Carlton with LSU’s Entomology Department says we’ve seen a larger population of the Asian Lady Beetle this year. Carlton says there are many yards in Louisiana where we are seeing large swarms of this insect. He says they will bite a human, but they are not aggressive…
cut 6 (11) “….you’re food”
He says the best way to keep these ladbuy look-alikes out of your home is to make sure your windows and doors are closed and tightly sealed.

Three Louisiana cities rank as some of the highest in the US for losing the most jobs. According to 24/7 Wall St, Lafayette topped the list with 9400 losses in the past year. Houma/Thibodaux ranked third highest and Shreveport-Bossier came in at No. 4. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott blames the struggling oil and gas industry, but it’ll help if OPEC reduces production next year like they’ve said…:
Cut 9 (10) “right now”
Scott says it might be 2018 before these cities start seeing positive job growth.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards has been released from the hospital after battling pneumonia. Trina Edwards posted on Facebook that the former governor is on the mend. The 89 year old suffers from pneumonia on a recurring basis. He was hospitalized for the same issue in November of last year.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center receives a 5.3 million dollar grant to study why some people benefit more or less from exercise. Associate executive director of clinical research and study investigator Dr. Eric Ravussin says everyone knows exercise improves health, but they hope to determine which activity is the most effective on certain people and why…:
Cut 10 (11) “molecular changes”
For more information on the study, visit Pennington’s website.

Tiny beetles resembling ladybugs are swarming homes around Louisiana more than usual this year. Dr. Chris Carlton with LSU’s Entomology Department says there are so many of them because inspect species are known to go through dramatic population fluctuations from one year to the next…:
Cut 5 (11) “next year”

The struggling oil and gas industry is causing job losses across the state in massive numbers. 24/7 Wall St reports the Lafayette area had the largest employment decline over the past year with 9400 job losses. Houma/Thibodaux ranked third and Shreveport number 4. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says their forecast shows the declines in these three areas continuing into 2017, but at a slower rate…:
Cut 8 (10) “in 2017″
Scott says it might be 2018 before these cities start seeing positive job growth.

FEMA has once again extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program for flood victims by 30 days. TSA provides lodging for those displaced by the flood and cannot return to their homes.

Today Governor John Bel Edwards is in New Orleans to speak at the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council Meeting.

Swarms of small beetles resembling ladybugs are moving into yards around the state. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Tickets to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump are a hot item. US Congressman Ralph Abraham’s Office began handing some out, but had to take the link off of their website because requests flooded in. The Congressman’s spokesman is Cole Avery..:
CUT 13 (10) “notifying people”
Mr. Trump will be sworn into office on January 20th.

Three Louisiana cities rank as some of the highest in the US for losing the most jobs. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The FBI isn’t saying much about why they raided the Hammond Police Department and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Thursday. A spokesman with the Bureau said they conducted multiple “court authorized” searches and that there were more to come. Among items seized in the simultaneous inspections include computers, cellphones and case files.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center receives a 5.3 million dollar grant to study why some people benefit more or less from exercise. Associate executive director of clinical research and study investigator Dr. Eric Ravussin says they want to determine which activity is the most effective on certain people and why.
cut 11 (08) “of health”
Pennington’s website has additional information on the study.

Tiny beetles resembling ladybugs are swarming homes around Louisiana more than usual this year. Dr. Chris Carlton with LSU’s Entomology Department says the Asian Lady Beetle is not the typical ladybug we normally see, but they are in the same family…:
cut 4 (11) “in Louisiana”
He says the Asian Lady Beetle does bite because it likes to taste things it lands on, but nothing is injected.