When the new Congress is seated in January, many experts say the Republican Party will have some work to do…
CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected BP’s challenge of the multi-billion dollar settlement set forth by lower courts in connection with the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill. Most legal experts suspect that there will not be any futher litigation in the matter, and BP will have to abide by the deal it made.

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This year’s elections are over and coming up next in Louisiana politics will be the 2015 Governor’s race. Republicans US Senator David Vitter, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, PSC member Scott Angelle are all running, with and the only Democrat State Representative John Bel Edwards. UL-Lafayette Political Science professor Pearson Cross says Vitter is most likely to make the runoff.:
CUT 6 (06) “political spectrum”
Cross says he is doubtful that New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will run after his sister lost.

Now to Congressional committee talk, with the GOP promising Senator-elect Bill Cassidy a seat on the Senate energy committee. Also, Sixth District Congressman-elect Garret Graves says, with Vance McAllister leaving, Graves says he will get Mcallister’s spot on the Senate Energy Committee…
CUT 10 (07) Q: “Louisiana’s economy”
Congressman-elect Ralph Abraham, representing the 5th District, will likely replace McAllister on the House Agriculture Committee.

As was predicted, the Republican party is about to have control of both the House and Senate, and 4th District Congressman John Fleming of Leesville says the party discussion now turns to how they can rebuild the trust of the American people…
CUT 3 (11) “they like Republicans”
Fleming says they will probably get the Keystone Pipeline on the floor fairly quickly.

State Police say an Opelousas man was killed Saturday evening when the bike on which he was riding was struck from behind by a pickup truck in St. Landry Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David says 55-year-old Joseph Norman was riding his bike when he was struck by 69 year-old Joseph Thibodeaux.
cut 13 (10) “from that crash”
He says Norman was wearing dark clothing.

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Louisiana Senator-elect Bill Cassidy says the Republican Party is ready to hit the ground running in Washington…
CUT 11 (13) Q: “working families”
Cassidy also says he is seeking a spot on the Senate Appropriations committee. The GOP has already promised him a seat on the Senate energy committee.

The Louisiana’s Governor’s race is now a political focal point, and we already know that Senator David Vitter and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne are the Republican front-runners. On the democratic side, there WAS some specultation that New Olreans Mayor Mitch Landrieu might run, but U-L-L Political Science Professor Peaerson Cross says that was before his sister suffered defeat….
CUT 7 (05) Q: “statewide office”
State Representative Jon Bel edwards is the only announced Democrat so far.

The Who Dat Nation is depressed today after the horrible, terrible 41-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Sunday. Carolina jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and the Saints didn’t do much to get back in the game. Coach Sean Payton calls it an embarassing performance…:
CUT 17 (10) “it was awful”
It’s the 4th straight loss at home and the largest margin of defeat for the franchise since 2007.

Anthony Davis scored 23 points and Jrue Holiday added 22 as the Pels blew past the Los Angeles Lakers 104-87.

The LSU football team will play Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday, December 30th. It’s the 15th straight season the Tigers will play in a bowl game and it’s their first meeting against the Fighting Irish since beating them 41-13 in the 2007 Sugar Bowl. It’s been a down season for Notre Dame as they are 7-and-5, but LSU defensive tackle Christian LaCouture (Lock-uh-chur) says it’s exciting to play one of the most recognizable names in college football…:
CUT 20 (16) “excited for the challenge”
Kick-off for the game is set for two PM in Nashville.

Louisiana Tech has accepted an offer to play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against the University of Illinois. On December 20th’s New Orleans Bowl, UL-Lafayette will face Nevada.

Now that the Republican Party has control of both the House and Senate in Washington, the bills will be moving at a much quicker pace than the last session. Fourth District Congressman John Fleming of Leesville says he has a pretty good idea of what bills will travel to the President’s desk…
CUT 5 (11) Q: “hand of government”
With regard to committee assignments, it appears that 6th District Congressmen-elect Garret Graves would be the only Louisiana member sitting on the House Transportation Committee…:
CUT 9 (06) “energy pipelines”
Sources say that 5th District Congressman Ralph Abraham is in line for a spot on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. The GOP has already promised Senator-elect Bill Cassidy a seat on the Senate energy committee.
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With Louisiana’s next political focus shifting to the 2015 Governor’s race, most polls indicate that Senator David Vitter is the front-runner, with Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne likely to make the run-off. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says…
CUT 8 (09) Q: “conservative”
The only Democrat so far in the race is State Representative Jon Bel Edwards.

An Opelousas bicyclist is dead after being struck from behind by a pickup truck in St. Landry Parish. Fifty-five year-old Joseph Norman was riding with no lights, and wearing dark clothing. The driver of the truck was 69 year-old Joseph Thibodeaux of Prairieville.
CUT 14 (08) Q: “Mr. Norman”
That’s State Police Master Trooper Brooks David (da-VEED).

This year’s elections are over and coming up next in Louisiana politics will be the 2015 Governor’s race…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

State Police are still investigation a single vehicle crash that has claimed the life of a Houma man this morning just after 6 am on Highway 316 in LaFourche Parish. Thirty seven-year-old Gustuvo Mexa-Andino left the roadway twice and eventually ended up in a drainage canal. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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When the new Congress convenes in January, the Republican Party will have control of both Houses of Congress, and it is anticipated that new bills will be cranked out a near-record pace. But 4th District Congressman John Fleming of Leesville says compromise will still play are part, particularly with Obama Care…
CUT 4 (06) Q: ‘may get through’
It says Republicans need to make things right and work to rebuild the trust of the American people.

Also in Washington, as 5th District Congressman Vance McAllister leaves his position on the House Natural Resources Committee, newly elected 6th District Congressman Garret Graves says he is going to get that spot….
CUT 10 (07) Q: ‘Louisiana economy’
Congressman-elect Ralph Abraham, representing the 5th District, will likely replace McAllister on the House Agriculture Committee.

When the new congress is seated in January, the Republican Party will have control of both the House and Senate and the Louisiana delegation says they are more ready than ever. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

Gas prices are a dime lower than they were this time last week in Louisiana. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $2.48 according to the American Automobile Association.

Louisiana’s newly elected Congressmen discuss Washington D.C. committee assignments. Congressman-elect Garret Graves, representing the 6th District, says he’s got a spot on the House Transportation and Natural Resources Committee. In the 5th District, Congressman-elect Ralph Abraham will likely be on the House Ag and Veterans’ Affairs committees. The GOP has already promised Senator-elect Bill Cassidy a seat on the Senate energy committee and Cassidy says he’ll also seek a spot on the Appropriations committee because he wants to see Congress change…:
CUT 12 (04) “work better”

The Jindal Administration says they are on track to reach the savings and efficiency goals in the state general fund to keep this year’s budget balanced as promised. They say Louisiana will save $75.7 million dollars by reducing spending in state agencies.

When the new congress is seated in January, the Republican Party will have control of both the House and Senate and the Louisiana delegation says they are more ready than ever. 4th District Congressman John Fleming of Leesville says the party discussion now turns to how they can make things right and rebuild the trust of the American people…:
CUT 3 (11) “they like Republicans”

This year’s elections are over and coming up next in Louisiana politics will be the 2015 Governor’s race. Among the candidates currently running are Republicans US Senator David Vitter, Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, PSC member Scott Angelle and Democratic state Representative John Bel Edwards. UL-Lafayette Political Science professor Pearson Cross says Vitter is most likely to make the runoff.:
CUT 6 (06) “political spectrum”
Cross says it’ll likely be two Republicans in the runoff.

The Who Dat Nation is depressed today after the horrendous Saints 41-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers yesterday in the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Saints Coach Sean Payton didn’t sugarcoat the performance when he spoke with reporters after the game…:
CUT 17 (10) “it was awful”
It’s the fourth straight loss at home and the largest margin of defeat for the franchise since 2007.

Bowl games were announced yesterday and the LSU football team will play Notre Dame in the Music City Bowl on Tuesday December 30th. Louisiana Tech has accepted an offer to play in the Heart of Dallas Bowl against the University of Illinois. In December 20th’s New Orleans Bowl, UL-Lafayette will face Nevada.

Louisiana’s newly elected Congressman discuss Washington D.C. committee assignments. Congressman-elect Garret Graves would be the only Louisiana member sitting on the House Transportation Committee…:
CUT 9 (06) “energy pipelines”
Graves also says he is going to get a spot on the House Natural Resources committee. The GOP has already promised Senator-elect Bill Cassidy a seat on the Senate energy committee. He says now that Republicans have control of Congress, they will be able to pass legislation that will benefit the working public…:
CUT 11 (13) “for working families”
Cassidy says he is also seeking a spot on the Senate Appropriations committee.

State Police say an Opelousas man was killed Saturday evening when the bike he was riding was struck from behind by a pickup truck in St. Landry Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David says 55-year-old Joseph Norman was riding his bike with no lights on his bike and wearing dark clothing…:
CUT 13 (10) “from that crash”
David says it’s important for cyclists, especially at night, to have lights on their bikes and wear reflective clothing.

A Pointe Coupee Parish teenager who became prominent in Livonia after surviving a duck hunting accident two years ago, died overnight after being hit by a train. Authorities believe Brandt Torres, who is related to Sheriff Bud Torres, was putting coins on the tracks when he was struck. He died at the scene.

In January, Louisiana will have two Republican US Senators as a result of Billy Cassidy’s victory over Democrat Mary Landrieu in the US Senate race. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

Former governor Edwin Edwards says, despite his loss in the 6th Congressional District election to Garret Graves, he’s happy and and feels like he’s fulfilled his role in life…

cut 7 (08) “not given up”

This is the first time the 87-year-old has ever lost a runoff election.

With all of the major Democratic candidates losing their elections this year, where does that leave the party going forward? Former Democratic staffer, LSU Media Professor Bob Mann, says many in the Democratic Party feel that the answer is to moderate its message and start leaning more conservative. He says that’s what Mary Landrieu tried to do and it’s one of the reasons she did so poorly in the election…

cut 5 (10) “here’s how we’re different”

Mann says the party needs to have some serious and honest reflection.

A Livonia teenager, who survived being shot in the head in a hunting accident two years ago, was killed over the weekend after being hit by a train. Authorities say Brandt Torres and some friends were putting coins on the tracks as a train approached at the Livonia Rail Yard. Torres was struck by the train and died at the scene.