A recent Pew Research Center study finds more people are choosing to use their smartphones for internet access at home instead of hooking up costly broadband services. Senior Researcher John Horrigan says they are seeing this happen mostly among low income Americans, but they also found a number of incidents of this pattern among lower-middle income users…

cut 9 (10) “as well”

The study looked at home broadband adoption between 2013 and 2015.

Winter has officially arrived. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this winter will bring cooler and wetter than normal conditions to Louisiana. Keim says, despite a forecast for cooler temperatures, you shouldn’t expect a lot of freezes across Louisiana this winter…

cut 5 (10) “months or so”

Keim says El Nino will keep many arctic air intrusions into Louisiana at bay this winter.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the fatal fire of a camper trailer in Pineville. They say fire fighters found the body of the trailer’s owner, 58-year-old Neida Reeves in the bedroom. A second occupant, 56-year-old Kenneth Ashworth, was transported to an area hospital with second and third degree burns to two-thirds of his body. At last report, Ashworth was listed in critical condition. Investigators believe the fire began in the bedroom where Reeves was found. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

An alcoholic version of the famous Abita Root Beer is hitting stores this week. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is taking steps so low-income adults do not lose food stamp benefits in January. Edwards spokesperson Julie Baxter Payer says Edwards wants to provide food stamp benefits for abled bodied adults for at least one-year, until they improve state worker training programs. She says until that time, these individuals should continue to receive this federal assistance…

cut 11 (10) “to employment”

Governor Jindal’s spokesperson, Mike Reed, says the best way to break the cycle of poverty is for individuals to get a job and get off of government assistance.

Today is the first full day of winter. Winter officially began at 10:49PM last night with the winter solstice. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the seasonal forecast is kind of gloomy…

cut 4 (06) “an El Nino”

But he says those who enjoy frigid temperatures during this time of year will be disappointed for much of the season.

Fewer people are choosing to hook up costly broadband to their homes for internet and are instead only using their smartphones, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. Senior Researcher John Horrigan says smartphone only people rely solely on their cellular devices for online access…

cut 8 (09) “2015″

Horrigan says more consumers are becoming “smartphone only” mainly because residential broadband service is becoming more expensive.

The Abita Brewing Company is releasing Bayou Bootlegger Hard Root Beer in stores this week. Brewmaster Mark Wilson says the flavors in the Abita Root Beer deliver aromas of wintergreen, vanilla, and sassafras with hints of clove and anise…

cut 14 (07) “version of it”

He says the hard root beer will be the first product in its line of “Bayou Bootlegger” hard sodas.

Governor elect John Bel Edwards is taking steps so low-income adults do not lose food stamp benefits in January. The Jindal administration took action to prevent certain able bodied adults from receiving food stamps. But Julie Baxter Payer, spokesperson for Governor-elect Edwards, says he will seek to remove the work requirement, so an estimated 31-thousand adults can still access food stamps…

cut 10 (08) “that back”

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, fewer people are choosing to hook up costly broadband to their homes for internet and are instead only using their smartphones. Senior Researcher John Horrigan says, today, 67% of Americans have broadband at home…

cut 7 (10) “couple of years”

An alcoholic version of the famous Abita Root Beer arrives in stores this week. Abita Brewing Company Brewmaster Mark Wilson says the hard root beer will be the first product in its line of “Bayou Bootlegger” hard sodas. He says it only made sense to come up with an adult take on the same old-fashioned Abita Root Beer recipe made with pure Louisiana cane sugar…

cut 13 (09) “of that process”

Wilson says the Bayou Bootlegger Hard Root Beer is brewed to achieve a 5.9 percent alcohol by volume and is all natural and gluten free.

As the fall shrimp season comes to a close, many shrimpers and seafood dealers say this has been a terrible year for the industry. Louisiana Shrimp Association President Clint Guidry agrees, but says there are reasons to be hopeful. He says a resurgence of imported shrimp led to some of the lowest prices ever seen at the dock…
CUT 9 (08) “white shrimp season”
He says recently passed legislation to better control the importing of shrimp should help.

Warm and active weather patterns are in the forecast for the days leading up to Christmas. Temperatures are expected to be well above normal with near record warmth for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Severe weather could become an issue over the next three days according to the National Weather Service with the possibility for flash flooding, tornadoes and damaging winds.

A maintenance worker at a horse farm in Bossier Parish is in jail after he allegedly set off a bomb underneath a home located on the property. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson, Lt. Bill Davis, says 54-year-old Douglas Holley of Benton is facing two counts of attempted first degree murder and one count of manufacturing a bomb. He says investigators found incriminating evidence at Holley’s home…:
CUT 4 (08) “explosive scene”
He says apparently Holley was upset at one of the vet’s who lived at that home. Nobody was seriously injured.

A cause of a fire in Pineville that claimed the life of a resident and critically injured a second is being examined by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. They say the blaze claimed the life of the homeowner 58-year-old Neida Reeves and a critically burned a second occupant, 56-year-old Kenneth Ashworth who had second and third degree burns over 2/3 of his body. The investigation into this tragic fire is continuing.

We’re facing some nasty weather in the days leading up to Christmas. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s a busy week for many and this weather system will also bring the potential of damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash flooding…:
CUT 7 (09) “umbrellas handy”
He says up to five inches of rain could fall in areas across the state over the next three days.

Many shrimpers and seafood dealers say this has been a terrible year for the industry. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

17 arrest warrants have been issued in an attempt to stop criminal activity by the Gremlins Gang through four parishes in South Central Louisiana. State Police spokesperson Brooks David says a lengthy, multi-agency investigation led cops to suspect the Gremlins Gang is possibly linked to homicides, intimidation and widespread narcotics distribution…:
CUT 14 (11) “feels safe”
He says all of them, 10 in custody and 7 at large, face several charges, including racketeering, which carries a long prison sentence if convicted.

Former LSU Tiger Odell Beckham Junior has been suspended for one game for his actions against Carolina cornerback Josh Norman. Beckham was flagged three times for unnecessary roughness. He was reportedly upset that a member of the Panthers was walking around on the field with a bat in his hands before the game. The Giants star wideout plans to appeal the suspension.

Shrimpers say they had one of the worst fall seasons in years, but there is hope things will start to turn around at the dock. Louisiana Shrimp Association President Clint Guidry says new FDA guidelines calling for 100% screening of imported shrimp before it enters the country should close the competition gap with the foreign shrimp. He says prices were starting to pick up toward the end of the fall season which is a good sign for 2016:
CUT 11 (07) “in mid-September”
He says the federal controlling of the imports of shrimp should help local producers.

Louisiana is in for a rainy week leading up to Christmas. There’s even a potential for severe weather including damaging winds, tornadoes, up to five inches of rain, and flash flooding over the next three days. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this system should start to clear Thursday then be gone Christmas day:
CUT 8 (07) “this year”

A maintenance worker at a horse farm in Bossier Parish is in jail after he allegedly set off a bomb underneath a home located at that same horse farm. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Bill Davis, says 54-year-old Douglas Holley of Benton was employed at the horse farm for four months and was apparently upset with a veterinarian who lived on the property…
cut 3 (10) “it exploded”
No one was seriously injured in the incident. Holley faces two counts of attempted first degree murder and one count of manufacturing a bomb.

Governor Bobby Jindal and his family have reportedly closed on their new home at the University Club in Baton Rouge. Filings with the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court’s Office show the Jindals bought their house for $817,500. Governor-elect John Bel Edwards takes office January 11th.

In sports, the Honey Badger is done for the year. Arizona team officials confirm that former LSU star Tyrann Mathieu tore his ACL in the Cardinals win over the Eagles last night.

The Bayou State is in for some wet and possibly severe weather over the next few days. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll be seeing rain due to a slow moving cold front settling over Louisiana today….:
CUT 6 (10) “southeastern Louisiana”
He says this weather system will also bring the potential of damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash flooding.

A suspected crime organization operating in South Central Louisiana called the Germlins gang has been busted by authorities. State Police spokesperson Brooks David says 17 arrest warrants have been issued and 10 members of the Gremlins gang are in custody. He they all face charges including racketeering, which carries severe penalties…:
cut 13 (05) “in prison”
He says many involved with this gang live in Abbeville and are suspected of engaging in drug and violent crime activity throughout four parishes.

The word at the dock is that this has been one of the worst fall shrimping seasons many have seen in years. Louisiana Shrimp Association President Clint Guidry says the cheap imports have been hurting local shrimpers, but new FDA guidelines calling for 100% screening of imported shrimp before it enters the country should even the playing field…:
cut 10 (10) “traded unfairly”
Guidry says he’s looking forward to working with the new legislature and governor.

A couple got knocked out of their bed at a horse farm in Bossier Parish after an apparent disgruntled employee allegedly tried to blow up the home. Bossier Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson, Lt. Bill Davis, says 54-year-old Douglas Holley of Benton is facing two counts of attempted first degree murder and one count of manufacturing a bomb. He says the two victims are counting their blessings..:
CUT 5 (08) “radical explosion”
No one was seriously injured.