Several stores are once again opening their doors tonight to get a jump start on the Holiday shopping season. Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Sears and Target are just some of the retailers who will cut their Thanksgiving holiday short in the hopes of increasing revenues. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice is not sure this relatively new tradition will continue…

cut 3 (05) “an advantage”

Some retail analysts say opening on Thanksgiving Day doesn’t lead to an increase in sales.

More and more restaurants are opening on Thanksgiving day giving people an additional dining option for their holiday festivities. Erica Burns, with the Louisiana Restaurant Association, says last year 33 million Americans went to a restaurant for all or part of their Thanksgiving meal. She thinks restaurants are open on Thanksgiving because of public demand…

cut 6 (10) “restaurant as well”

Burns says this is a trend that’s been growing over the last several years.

Construction will begin next month on a mobile pet shelter that will be used for the 2015 hurricane season and beyond. The state department of agriculture is responsible for pet evacuations and Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says storm victims in the past have refused assistance unless their pets were accommodated…

cut 12 (08) “piece of equipment” (2x)

Strain says they received a 40-thousand dollar donation which will go towards the construction of the mobile pet shelter.

The LSU Tigers take on Texas A-and-M tonight looking to avoid ending the regular season on a three-game losing streak. 1999 was the last time the Tigers lost three games in a row and Coach Les Miles says the players are committed to getting a win tonight…

cut 9 (09) “and achieving”

Both of these teams enter tonight’s contest with identical records, seven and four overall, 3-and-4 in the SEC.

This evening kicks off the beginning of the long Thanksgiving weekend, and State Police are reminding everyone that they are actively participating in the “Click it or Ticket” campaign. Trooper Jared Sandifer says…
CUT 14 (06) Q: “while impaired”

Replicas of the Christoper Columbus’ ships, the Nina and Pinta, are on display in Houma. Scott Carwile has more…
voicer 5 (30) “…reporting”

Governor Jindal’s office announced today that a new canning plant will be built in Lake Providence. Which is great news for an area struggling with unemployment and poverty. The manufacturing facility will produce tomatoes, relishes and other sauces and employ 24 full-time workers. Census data shows that 45-percent of the people in East Carroll Parish live below the poverty line.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning hopes safety is on your mind during the Thanksgiving holdiay. Browning says one specific hazard where they see a lot of house fires is the outdoor frying of turkeys. He says a main factor in fires involving fried turkeys is having your cooking apparatus too close to your home…
cut 5 (07) “evacuate the area”
If you really want fried turkey, Browning suggests you buy a fried turkey from a commercial kitchen.

As of yesterday, Arkansas and Mississippi are the latest states to have a federal judge rule gay marriage bans violate the US Constitution. But Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says Louisiana’s ban on same sex marriages is safe for now…
CUT 6 (09) “was constitutional”
He says it’s likely that appellate court will rule against same-sex couples.

If you’re cooking at home for Thanksgiving, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says it’s important that your stove and oven are cleaned and properly maintained before you start, and keep an eye on things when you are cooking…
CUT 3 (09) “on the stove”
And he says keep an eye on the kids if they’re in the kitchen.

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Right now, Louisiana highways are filling up with holiday travelers, shoppers or football fans on their way to their specific games. State Police Trooper Jared Sandifer is reminding everyone to make smart decisions behind the wheel…
cut 12 (10) “holiday season”
State Police and local law enforcement have already investigated about a dozen fatalities this past weekend.

Cleco is now offering its customers an energy efficiency program to help reduce their monthly energy use.
CUT 9 (12) “their electricity bill”
That’s spokesperson Robbyn Cooper, who says the program is available to all Cleco customers.

Two rulings by federal judges in neighboring states have ruled the gay marriage bans in Mississippi and Arkansas are unconstitutional. Here in Louisiana, a judge upheld the same-sex marriage ban, but it’s very likely the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans will eventually hear and rule on all three states.
CUT 8 (11) Q: ‘conservative bent’
That’s Loyola University Law professor Dane Ciolino.

This evening kicks off the beginning of the long Thanksgiving weekend, and State Police are reminding everyone that they are actively participating in the “Click it or Ticket” campaign…
CUT 14 (06) Q: “while impaired”
In other words, Sandifer says make smart decisions for driving.
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As you get the kitchen ready to cook the family Thanksgiving feast, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning hopes safety is on your mind as well. Jeff Palermo has more…
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

The Moreauville woman who was facing haivng to give up her pet pitbull because of a town ordinance ban on vicious dogs, has collected almost 300 thousand signatures on a petition to keep him. Backlash from Joanna Armand’s “Save Zeus” campaign has prompted aldermen to put the ban deadline on hold, with a special meeting scheduled December 1st.

Federal judges ruled this week that same sex marriage bans in Arkansas and Mississippi are unconstitutional…
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

A request from Monroe Representative Marcus Hunter to extend early voting because of the Thanksgiving Holiday has been denied by a state judge. Judge Todd Hernandez refused to issue a temporary restraining order, and set a trial date for December 4th. Even though that date won’t help for this early period, Hernandez says it could bring a change for future elections.

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With more people on the road this Thanksgiving, State Police and local law enforcement are out looking out for impaired and unrestrained drivers in the Click or Ticket campaign. Trooper Jared Sandifer says there’s already been about a dozen traffic fatalities just this past weekend…
CUt 13 (07) Q: “Thanksgiving Holiday”
So if you’re not buckled, ploice won’t cut you any slack.

Cleco is now offering its customers an energy efficiency program to help reduce their monthly energy use. Spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says if you need to have work done to improve your home’s energy efficiency, you can save by using one of Cleco’s approved contractors…
CUT 11 (07) Q: ‘is being done’
And that applies to all Cleco customers in the state of Louisiana.

The latest states to have a federal judge rule their gay marriage bans violated the US Constitution are Mississippi and Arkansas. Both rulings came down yesterday. But Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says because there are conflicting rulings from various federal judges and appellate courts, the Supreme Court will be forced to make a ruling..

cut 7 (08) “resolve this”

U-S District Judge Martin Feldman upheld Louisiana’s gay marriage ban with a ruling he made in September.

This weekend Louisiana highways will be filled with holiday travelers, shoppers or those heading to or returning from big college and high school football games. State Police Trooper Jared Sandifer is reminding motorists to make smart decisions behind the wheel…

cut 12 (10) “holiday season”

Unfortunately, Sandifer says State Police has already investigated about a dozen fatal crashes since last weekend.

In an effort to help reduce customer’s monthly energy use, Cleco is now offering an energy efficiency program. Spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says says there are many features to this program and more information can be found on Cleco’s website. She says the process will start with a free energy assessment…

cut 10 (05) “and save energy”

The program is available to all of Cleco’s 284,000 customers in Louisiana.

State Fire Marshal Butch Browning hopes safety is on your mind as you get ready to cook the family Thanksgiving feast. Browning says one specific hazard where they see a lot of house fires is the outdoor frying of turkeys. He says a main factor in fires involving fried turkeys is having your cooking apparatus too close to your home…

cut 5 (07) “evacuate the area”

If you are really wanting a fried turkey and don’t want to accidentally cause a fire, Browning suggests you buy a fried turkey from a commercial kitchen.

Mississippi and Arkansas are the latest states to have a federal judge rule their gay marriage bans violated the US Constitution. Those two rulings came down yesterday. But Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says Louisiana’s ban on same sex marriages is safe for now…

cut 6 (09) “was constitutional”

Ciolino says because there are conflicting rulings from various federal judges and appellate courts, the Supreme Court will be forced to make a ruling.

As you prepare to cook the family Thanksgiving feast, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning hopes you also have safety is in mind. He says, as friends and family gather, make sure you pay attention to kids playing in the kitchen…

cut 4 (07) “in these pots”

Browning says if you plan to fry a turkey, make sure you do that as far away from your home as possible where there is nothing around that can burn.

Cleco is now offering its customers an energy efficiency program to help reduce their monthly energy use. Spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says the best way to manage your bill is to manage your energy consumption…

cut 9 (12) “their electricity bill”

The program is available to all of Cleco’s 284,000 customers in Louisiana. More information is available on Cleco’s website.

Early voting for the December 6th runoff election continues across the state. Early voting will be closed tomorrow and Friday, and re-open for its final day Saturday.