Tornado watches are posted throughout Louisiana today as a cold front moves in behind strong storms and high winds. The National Weather Service says up to five inches of rain could fall in some areas and many schools closed early today in anticipation of the severe weather. The Department of Transportation and Development  is urging extreme caution when traveling throughout the state. The rain should leave tomorrow and high temps will drop into the upper 60s, low 70s.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards and his Republican opponent David Vitter are going back and forth over the Syrian refugee situation. Vitter claims Edwards will work for them to come here while Edwards accused Vitter of missing votes on the matter. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says says Vitter is looking for an issue that will sway undecided voters in his favor Saturday…:
cut 14 (09) “something else”

The Mayor of Natchitoches says the Confederate battle flag can not fly during their annual Christmas Parade, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans float has decided not to ride for the first time in over 2 decades. Dakota Scoggins says he’ll be selling t-shirts displaying the Confederate battle flag and he’s not happy about this…:
CUT 8 (09) “hurts us”
But others feel Mayor Lee Posey has made the right decision because the flag has come to represent racism and hatred.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana ranked number two nationally for worker safety in 2014. The survey showed Louisiana improved to 2 incidents per 100 full time workers. The national average is 3.2. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eyesink says these results show that workplace safety has become a top priority…:
CUT 5 (08) “that seriously”

Nearly the entire state is under a tornado watch at least until 4pm this afternoon as a severe weather pattern moves through Louisiana today. There are many schools in central and north Louisiana that have decided to close early. Some officials at the local level are already passing out sandbags as up to 5 inches of rain is expected to fall in some areas. Flash flood watches are in effect through tomorrow and wind advisories are also posted.

Natchitoches Mayor Lee Posey has banned the Confederate flag from the city’s annual Christmas Parade. Emelie Gunn gets local reaction…
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The debate on whether or not to accept Syrian refugees has become an issue in Louisiana’s gubernatorial race. In a new TV commercial, Republican David Vitter claims Democrat John Bel Edwards has pledged to work with President Obama to bring Syrian refugees to Louisiana. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…:
cut 13 (10) “to be important”
Edwards has fired back at Vitter claiming the senator missed key votes regarding the Syrian refugee issue.

Fatal crashes in Louisiana are on the rise. The state Highway Safety Commission says in 2014, 739 people died on Louisiana’s roadways, up 2% from the prior year. Louisiana Highway Safety spokesperson Jessica Bedwell says, for the first time in five years, the number of 18-24 year olds dying in alcohol related crashes is up. She says we have to get drunk drivers off the road…:
cut 12 (04) “alcohol impaired”

Most of the central and western half of Louisiana remains under a tornado watch until 4pm today according to the National Weather Service. They say a massive weather system is moving through the state today and it could be worse than the other strong storms we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks. 2-3 inches of rain could fall and possibly 5 inches in some areas. Flash flood watches and wind advisories are also posted in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says, despite increased seat belt usage, the number of fatal crashes in Louisiana increased from 2013 to 2014. According to finalized data, there were 664 fatal crashes on Louisiana roadways killing 739 people last year. Spokesperson Jessica Bedwell says there was a 2-percent increase in fatal crashes in 2014…
CUT 10 (08) “over the years”
The number of crashes and fatalities are down about 26-percent since 2007.

The number of accidents happening in work places is going down in Louisiana. That’s according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics who say we ranked number 2 nationally for worker safety in 2014. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eyesink says the business community’s commitment to safety is leading to lower worker’s comp costs…
CUT 4 (09) “to the employees”
The survey showed Louisiana improved to 2 incidents per 100 full time workers. The national average is 3.2.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton says Rob Ryan is out, and Dennis Allen will take over as defensive coordinator. Ryan’s tenure in New Orleans lasted less than three seasons.

The National Weather Service has issued tornado watch for 27 parishes in the entire western and central portions of Louisiana until 4pm this afternoon as a strong line of storms moves in today. A large portion of Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until late tonight. Forecasters say heavy rainfall amounts of 2-3 inches are possible with locally higher amounts of up to 5 inches. The entire state is under a wind advisory.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana ranked number two nationally for worker safety in 2014. Eric Gill reports…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Natchitoches Mayor Lee Posey has banned the Confederate battle flag from their annual Christmas Parade. Every year The Sons of Confederate Veterans have participated in the parade for 20 years but aren’t going this year because of the exclusion of the flag. Holly Stave with Northwestern State University says she agrees with Mayor Posey…:
CUT 6 (09) “a symbol”
But a local shop owner, Dakota Scoggins, says this is a political move that is stomping on decades old heritage and should have never even been brought up.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is once again reminding people to make sure their record is clear if they’ve got an outstanding fine because they’ve let their auto insurance lapse at one point. State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says there are about a million cases that haven’t been resolved..
CUT 1 (05) “in there”
Edmonson says they’ve collected about 8.1-million dollars and cleared about 55 thousand notices.

A stormy day is expected across Louisiana. Jeff Palermo tells us what to expect…
CUT 1 (25) “I’m Eric Gill”

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles continues to notify drivers whose auto insurance lapsed at one point by sending out the last of three letters to alert people to pay their fines or be turned over to a collection agency. They say about 55 thousand notices have been cleared. To find out if State Police is looking for you, visit express-lane-dot-org.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana ranked number two nationally for worker safety in 2014. They survey showed Louisiana improved to 2 incidents per 100 full time workers. The national average is 3.2. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Curt Eyesink credits business and industry in the state as well as their employees…:
CUT 3 (09) “number of years”
He says Louisiana has improved to its rate of worker injury to its best level in 13 years.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson says they are asking the Federal Government for more information about the Syrian refugees that are in Louisiana. He says in the wake of the tragic deadly terrorists attack in Paris, there are more questions than answers about the people here who have fled the Syrian civil war…:
CUT 12 (09) “state of Louisiana”

The OMV has sent out the last of three letters alerting drivers with lapsed auto insurance to pay up or be turned over to a collection agency. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Department says a Monday night shooting in a Keithville mobile home park has left one man dead. KSLA-TV reports a witness told them the victim and suspect, 18-year-old Garrett Morgan, were involved in a discussion before Morgan pulled a gun and shot the victim. Morgan fled the scene, but surrendered to authorities a short time later. Morgan is charged with second degree murder.

In the wake of the Paris terror attacks, Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order Monday telling state agencies not to accept the resettlement of any more Syrian refugees. Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Kevin Davis says they’ve haven’t been told anything about the Syrian refugees or the process that they go through…

cut 11 (06) “vetting process”

The US State Department said 14 Syrian refugees had been resettled in the state this year.

There’s a good chance portions of Louisiana could see severe storms as a massive weather system moves through the Bayou State. A flash flood watch is in effect for much of the state today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s not unusual to see a storm system of this magnitude move through the state in November…

cut 6 (08) “this time”

A tornado watch is in effect until 4PM for the western part of Louisiana.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson says, in the wake of the Paris terror attacks, they would like more information about the refugees of the Syrian civil war who are in Louisiana. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Tensas Parish Sheriff’s Department says a St. Joseph man is behind bars accused of a Sunday fatal shooting. They say 26-year-old Ettrick Polk and 19-year-old George Smith were involved in an altercation when Smith pulled a gun and shot Polk twice. Polk was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Smith was booked in the Tensas Parish Jail on charges of second degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Much of the state is under a flash flood watch today and forecasters say there’s a possibility of severe storms as the result of a massive weather system that will move through Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve seen strong storm systems move through the state over the last couple of weeks, but this one has the greatest potential to produce damaging storms…

cut 5 (07) “the area”

He says November is the second highest month for tornadic activity in the state.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is sending out the last of three letters to notify drivers whose auto insurance lapsed at one point to pay their fines or be turned over to a collection agency. Over 300-thousand previous notices sent out went to the wrong address. State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says to find out if State Police is looking for you, visit expresslane-dot-org…

cut 8 (09) “correct that”

He says they have already cleared about 55-thousand notices.

In the final televised gubernatorial debate before the runoff, Democrat John Bel Edwards and Republican David Vitter, made their case as to why voters should cast their ballot for them in Saturday’s election. In Vitter’s latest television ad, he accuses Edwards of picking voters up from an adult night club in New Orleans on a party bus to early vote. In Edward’s response, he made a comment about Vitter’s sensitive past…

cut 15 (09) “senator”

All the polls are showing Vitter trailing in the final days leading up to the election. Vitter tried to make his case by pointing out that most of Edwards’ campaign money comes from trial lawyers…

cut 16 (10) “Louisiana jobs”
Saturday, polls will open at 7AM and will close at 8PM.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles continues to notify drivers whose auto insurance lapsed at one point by sending out the last of three letters to alert people to pay their fines or be turned over to a collection agency. State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says they’re working hard to resolve everyone’s cases and have already cleared about 55-thousand notices…

cut 7 (09) “the debt”

He says to find out if State Police is looking for you, visit expresslane-dot-org.

A flash flood watch is in effect for a good portion of Louisiana today and forecasters say there’s a good chance we could see severe storms because of a massive weather system that will move through the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says be ready for anything…

cut 4 (08) “the area”

Keim says it’s not unusual to see a storm system of this magnitude move through the state in November.