Well we started the week with a massive chill, we’re getting a beautiful Friday…but the risk for severe weather is once again on it’s way for our weekend. Robert Ricks, Lead Forecaster with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says there’s a strong upper level disturbance moving into Louisiana from Texas….:
CUT 12 (11) “across the area”
He says along with torrential rain, damaging winds will be the main threat; so storms from Saturday afternoon into early Sunday morning will need to be watched closely.

There’s been an update on the rig explosion that left one man dead and another injured Thursday at an oil platform 12 miles off Louisiana’s coast. Fieldwood Energy said this morning in a statement that this was NOT a well explosion or well blowout but an “isolated pressure event.” There is no oil spill or pollution that resulted from the incident they say.

The teenager who was driving the vehicle that crashed in Ouachita Parish and killed 5 of the 8 family members on their way to Disney World was issued a citation for careless operation. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (29) “reporting”

The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office says a 72-year-old woman is dead after she was struck by a vehicle when trying to cross a road in New Iberia Thursday. They say the incident remains under investigation.

The teen who was driving the vehicle that crashed in Ouachita Parish and killed 5 of the 8 family members on their way to Disney World, was issued a citation for careless operation. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says the teen, who is NOT being identified, just got a ticket
CUT 6 (06) “not charged with a crime”
The family was on their way to Florida from Texas when the crash happened Wednesday night on I-20.

Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols announced the state plans to use amnesty money, eliminate 167 un-used positions and reduce spending as part of the plan to fill the state’s current $171 million dollar budget shortfall. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says this falls in line with Jindal’s promise higher ed would be spared mid-year cut:
CUT 9 (07) “no jobs were lost”
He says there will be another meeting in December by the Joint Budget Committee to review the plan more thourouly and make a final vote.

State Police say a man from Haughton is dead after crashing into a tree last night in Bossier Parish. They say 67-year-old J.C. Marshall was on Sligo Road when he drifted off to the side and struck a culvurt. Investigators determined Marshall was not wearing a seatbealt and impairment is also a suspected factor in the crash. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

As we near the Thanksgiving holiday, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is coordinating a statewide Click It or Ticket campaign aimed at saving lives. Executive Director Lt. Col. John Leblanc says last year’s Thanksgiving holiday was one of the most dangerous of the year on Louisiana roadways…:
CUT 3 (07) “689 injuries”
He says Louisiana law requires everyone in a vehicle to be buckled up at all times.

The teenager who was driving the vehicle that crashed and killed 5 of the 8 family member occupants on their way to Disney World was issued a citation for careless operation. State Police say the 16-year-old is NOT CHARGED with any crime, but it’s LSP policy that a ticket be issued regardless of the severity of the crash. This one happened in Ouachita Parish.

The early voting period for the December 6th runoff elections begins tomorrow. Scott Carwile reports…:
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

The Jindal Administration announced this morning that the state will eliminate 167 un-used positions as part of the mid-year budget cut plan to fill the $171 million dollar budget shortfall. They say that will save about $12 million and there was about $130 million in additional revenues they found and also reduced spending by $50 million.

There’s a new Rasmussen poll out on the December 6th US-Senate runoff and it shows incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu with 41% of the vote and Congressman Bill Cassidy with 56%. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says there are several factors working against Landrieu’s chances at re-election…:
CUT 10 (12) “Republican Party”
The survey also found that only 76% of registered Democrats in Louisiana would vote for Landrieu.

There’s a new Rasmussen poll out on Louisiana’s US-Senate runoff and it shows incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu with 41% of the vote and Congressman Bill Cassidy with 56%. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Shreveport Police are investigating the shooting death of a man who pulled a gun on two Centenary College police officers. Authorities say the man struggled with the officers while being escorted off campus and then pulled out a gun. He was then shot by one of the officers. The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.

Mid-year budget cuts will be announced today by the Jindal administration as Louisiana is facing a $171 million dollar revenue shortfall. Senate Finance chairman Jack Donahue says dollars seem to go as soon as they come in and Louisiana can’t get seem to get ahead…

cut 9 (13) “should be getting”

He says we’re dealing with a major revenue shortage and feels the the state gives away too much money in tax credits.

The early voting period for the December 6th runoff elections begins tomorrow. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says, even though control of the Senate has already been decided, it is still important hit your polling place, even if the US Senate race is the only item on your ballot…

cut 6 (05) “in November”

Early voting will run tomorrow through November 29th excluding Sunday, Thanksgiving, and the day after Thanksgiving.

Louisiana is facing a $171 million dollar revenue shortfall and the Jindal Administration is announcing mid-year budget cuts today. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

One person is dead and three injured after an oil platform explosion less than 20 miles off the Louisiana coast. The explosion happened on Fieldwood Energy’s Echo Platform which was not in production at the time of the explosion, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. The identity of the deceased has not been released. The injured are being treated at an offshore medical facility and all other personnel have been accounted for.

A new survey on the US-Senate runoff shows incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu with 41% of the vote and Congressman Bill Cassidy with 56%. The Rasmussen poll also found that only 76% of registered Democrats in Louisiana would vote for Landrieu. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s not good that the incumbent isn’t even getting good numbers from her own party…

cut 12 (09) “registration yet”

Early voting for the December 6th runoff election begins tomorrow.

President Barack Obama’s plans for immigration reform are leaving many people saying more needs to be done. Local business consultant Randy Hayden says fixing the nation’s current worker visa program could help…

cut 14 (12) “Louisiana”

He says making more working visas available could help with the state’s worker shortage.

There’s a new Rasmussen poll out on the December 6th US-Senate runoff and it shows Congressman Bill Cassidy with 56% of the vote and incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu with 41% . UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says a 15 point Landrieu deficit seems a bit high…

cut 11 (11) “margin of error”

The survey also found that only 76% of registered Democrats in Louisiana would vote for Landrieu.

The Jindal Administration will be announcing mid-year budget cuts today. Louisiana is facing a $171 million dollar revenue shortfall. Senate Finance chairman Jack Donahue says he’s all ears to see what the Jindal Administration has in mind…

cut 8 (12) “$10,000″

Jindal’s chief administrator has indicated that higher education will avoid any substantial cuts, but Donahue doesn’t see that being possible.

An oil platform explosion off the Louisiana coast has left one person dead and three injured. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement says the explosion happened on Fieldwood Energy’s Echo Platform which is less than 20 miles from the coast. The rig was not in production at the time of the accident. The injured are being treated at an offshore medical facility. The identity of the deceased has not been released. All other personnel have been accounted for.

Early voting period for the December 6th runoff elections begins tomorrow. Secretary of State Tom Schedler expects voter turnout in the 5th and 6th Congressional districts to outpace the rest of the state…

cut 5 (07) “Congressional races”

Schedler predicts a 30 to 35-percent voter turnout for the December 6th runoff election. Early voting will run through Saturday November 29th excluding Sunday, Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Thanksgiving.

McNeese State and Northwestern State wrap up their regular seasons tomorrow. Both teams still a shot at making the F-C-S playoffs. Northwestern State will go after it’s seventh win of the season when they visit Stephen F Austin. They winner of this game gets to keep seven-foot-six Chief Caddo, the largest trophy in college sports. Demons Coach Jay Thomas on the significance of this contest…

cut 18 (19) “those guys”

McNeese will also go after their seventh win of the season as they travel to Lamar.

Southeastern Louisiana wrapped up their regular season with a 62-3 trouncing of Nicholls State last night in Thibodaux. With the victory, the Lions have earned, at least, a share of the Southland Conference championship.

UL Lafayette has announced this Saturday’s football game against Appalachian State will kick-off at 1 PM. The start time has been moved up three hours, because the of potential of severe weather late Saturday afternoon and Saturday night. You can watch the game on ESPN 3.

Louisiana Tech leaves travels to Norfolk, Virginia where they’ll play Old Dominion tomorrow. The Bulldogs are undefeated in Conference USA play and can clinch the west division with a victory. Kick-off is at noon and the game can be seen on Fox College sports.

Lots of college hoops action last night: Purdue crushed Grambling State 82-30, UNO fell short against TCU 86-71, it was Northwestern State over LSU-Alexandria 89-79, Tulane beat Mississippi Valley State 100-61, Ole Miss defeated Southern 69-38, and UCLA blasted Nicholls State 107-74.

The Jindal Administration will be announcing mid-year budget cuts today, as the state faces a $171 million dollar revenue shortfall. Jindal’s chief administrator has indicated that higher education will avoid any substantial cuts, but Senate Finance chairman Jack Donahue doesn’t see that being possible…

cut 7 (11) “$340 million dollar cut”

There are many dedicated budget items that can’t be cut so typically higher education and heath care are hit hardest.

A new Rasmussen poll out on the US-Senate runoff shows incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu with 41% of the vote and Congressman Bill Cassidy with 56%. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says there are several factors working against Landrieu’s chances at re-election…

cut 10 (12) “Republican Party”

President Barack Obama announced his plans for immigration reform last night, but many people say more needs to be done. Local business consultant Randy Hayden says next year’s new Congress should look at making more working visas available, which could help with the state’s worker shortage

cut 13 (10) “our economy”

Hayden says with the state on the cusp of an economic boom, experts predict we’ll have trouble finding enough workers in the areas of science, technology and engineering and math.

The early voting period for the December 6th runoff elections begins tomorrow. Early voting will run through next Saturday November 29th with the exception of Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and the day after Thanksgiving.