As the fall shrimp season comes to a close, 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”

Governor-elect John Bel Edwards is urging the federal government and the state Department of Children and Family Services to avoid interruption in food stamps for able-bodied single adults on January 1st. The Jindal Administration said starting next year, single people who are able to work would only have their benefits continue if they had a job or were in a training program. Edwards says there are still 31,000 low-income adults who would lose their benefits next Friday without intervention.

17 arrest warrants have been issued in an attempt to stop criminal activity by the Gremlins Gang. State Police spokesperson Brooks David says many involved with this gang live in Abbeville and they are suspected of engaging in drug distribution and violence throughout four parishes in south Central Louisiana…:
cut 12 (07) “criminal gang activity”
David says 10 members of the Gremlins gang are in custody and they are searching for seven others.

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.

There were no jackpot winners in Saturday’s Powerball drawing. The prize goes to an estimated $227 million dollars on Wednesday.

Not what you wanted to hear, but 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, according to State Climatologist Barry Keim. He says this system should start to clear Thursday then be gone Christmas day:
CUT 8 (07) “this year”
He says the rain is due to a slow moving cold front settling over the state today.

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.

A Bossier Parish man faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder for allegedly trying to blow up a home in Benton. Jeff Palermo has the story..:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

In sports, 3 Louisiana college baseball teams are ranked in Collegiate Baseball’s preseason poll. UL Lafayette is 6th, LSU is 7th and Tulane is 19th.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s a busy week for many and in addition to rain, 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, especially in southeast Louisiana.

As of today, Blue Bell Ice Cream back is officially back in stores for the holidays and Louisiana consumers are thrilled. Blue Bell Spokesperson Joe Robertson says they are nearly done with all phases of the return of the product since the ice cream was linked to listeria cases in the spring…:
CUT 1 (09) “another phase”
He says they’ve made major changes to ensure that listeria is never a problem again in Blue Bell ice cream.

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 suspected organized violent gang operating throughout four parishes in South Central Louisiana has been busted according to authorities. State Police say a lengthy, multi-agency investigation led cops to suspect the Gremlins Gang is possibly linked to homicides, intimidation and widespread narcotics distribution. They say 10 members of the Gremlins gang are in custody with 7 members still at large.

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.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says Louisiana should brace for wet weather conditions leading up to Christmas. He says the rain is due to a slow moving cold front settling over the state today. Keim says this front is expected to stall before ever passing through the state…

cut 6 (10) “southeast Louisiana”

He says the entire state is vulnerable to heavy rainfall up to Christmas Eve.

A Ferriday woman was sentenced to five months in prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $100,000 in Veterans Affairs death benefits intended for her late aunt. 45-year-old Linda Bourgeois shared a joint account with her late aunt, who received payments through her husband’s military service. When the woman died in 2007, Bourgeois failed to notify the VA of her death. Bourgeois was also sentenced to five months of home confinement and ordered to pay restitution.

Blue Bell lovers in Louisiana are rejoicing as the ice cream is back in stores today across the state. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

In three weeks, Democrat John Bel Edwards will be sworn in as Louisiana’s 57th governor. He says one priority for his administration is the expansion of the Medicaid program. Edwards says without federal assistance, hospitals will close…

cut 15 (09) “for everybody”

Edwards says Medicaid expansion will result in additional federal tax dollars flowing into the state, helping Louisiana with its health care needs.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to ban tanning beds for anyone under the age of 18. Louisiana passed a law last year that prohibits anyone under 18 from using a commercial tanning bed. LSU Associate Clinical Professor and Dermatologist Dr. Sarah Jackson says this FDA regulation will also require adjustments to the beds themselves…

cut 12 (09) “bulbs”

Jackson says this regulation also requires adult tanning bed users to sign a consent form every six months.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says a Houma man is accused of terrorizing after displaying a handgun in a church Sunday. Authorities say 38-year-old Kevin Ledet did not point the gun at anyone, but his actions did raise concerns inside the church. They say Ledet was taken to a local hospital for treatment for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg sustained before he went to the church. Ledet was expected to be booked on terrorizing and other charges after his release from the hospital.

These low gas prices are a nice Christmas gift for motorists, but how long will it last? Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The FDA plans to ban tanning beds for anyone under 18. Jeff Palermo has more on the proposed regulations…

cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a maintenance worker at a Benton horse farm for allegedly setting off an explosive device in an attempt to kill the farm owners. They say 54-year-old Douglas Holley planted a homemade bomb under the bedroom window of the owner’s residence and set it off. No one was injured in the incident. Douglas is charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder and manufacturing a bomb.

Blue Bell ice cream makes it way back on shelves in Louisiana today. Blue Bell was forced to take their ice cream off the shelves last spring because its products were linked to 10 listeria cases, including three deaths in Kansas. Spokesperson Joe Robertson says they’ve made huge changes to ensure that listeria is never a problem again in Blue Bell ice cream…

cut 5 (10) “proven safe”

He says this is phase four of the five phase rollout and so far everything is going well.

As motorists prepare to hit the highways this holiday season, the price at the pump is around a $1.80 for a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana. Gas-Buddy-dot-com spokesperson Gregg Laskoski says some locations across the state are advertising gas prices as low as $1.57 a gallon…

cut 9 (09) “in Kansas”

He says we can expect to see these low prices into the first month of the new year.

The Food and Drug Administration plans to ban the use of tanning beds or sunlamps from anyone younger than 18. LSU Associate Clinical Professor and Dermatologist Dr. Sarah Jackson says there are countless cases of skin cancer related to tanning bed use. She says they’ve seen an increase in the amount of young women with melanoma since tanning beds became popular, but action is being taken….

cut 11 (09) “indoor tanning”

Louisiana passed a law last year that prohibits anyone under 18 from using a commercial tanning bed.

In just three weeks, Democrat John Bel Edwards will be sworn in as the state’s next governor. Edwards says tough budget decisions will be made and there are a lot of options on the table. He says one option not available is the continued reduction of state dollars for higher education…

cut 14 (10) “going forward”

He says another priority is the expansion of the Medicaid program.

As many get ready to travel the highways for the holiday season, they’ll see the price at the pump around a $1.80 for a gallon of regular gasoline. Gas-Buddy-dot-com spokesperson Gregg Laskoski says the downward pressure of the price of crude oil is what’s driving gas prices down. He says we can expect to see gas this low into the first month of the new year…

cut 8 (11) “new year”

He says prices haven’t been this low since March 2009.

Blue Bell lovers get an early Christmas present today as the ice cream makes it way back on shelves in Louisiana. Blue Bell Spokesperson Joe Robertson says seven different flavors will be available after originally thinking only four different kinds would make it to grocery stores…

cut 4 (09) “peppermint”

He says they’ll keep adding in new flavors until all are returned to shelves.