A new protocol has been implemented to 911 operators in Louisiana which has them screen callers for Ebola symptoms. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Kevin Davis says the caller will be asked a series of questions about illnesses, particularly fever and recent travel. He says that will help EMS responding…

cut 6 (10) “a suspected case”

Davis says the callers answers would determine whether more questions would follow and whether the emergency responder would need to wear protective gear to the call.

An LSU employee, who returned home after training Liberian police in the use of protective clothing to combat the Ebola outbreak in Africa, has been asked to stay off campus for three weeks. The Department of Health and Hospitals say the man is not at risk for Ebola since he did not have any contact with infected people, but he is being monitored.

The LSU Police Department is seeking the public’s help in their investigation of an alleged rape that occurred on campus. Capt. Corey Lalonde says The incident happened October 7th along West Lakeshore Drive. He says there is normally a considerable amount of traffic in that area…

cut 4 (13) “our investigation”

LaLonde says LSUPD has no information to indicate that this is anything other than an isolated incident.

Many homes and businesses in Monroe and West Monroe remain powerless as a result of a tornado that moved through the area Monday. Entergy spokesman Roderick Worthy says at the height of the storm, about 38,000 customers were without power in the Ouachita Parish area…

cut 12 (06) “and tomorrow”

He says Entergy’s goal is to have power fully restored tomorrow.

Residents in Ouachita Parish continue to clean up after Monday’s EF-2 tornado ripped through the area. Scott Carwile reports…

cut 1 (30) “reporting”

The Shreveport Police Department has closed the playground area of a local park after an apparent suicide. The body of a woman was found at Betty Virginia Park. A portion of the park has been closed while the authorities investigate the incident. The name of the woman has not been released.

The LSU Police Department is seeking the public’s help in their investigation of an alleged rape that occurred on campus. Capt. Corey Lalond says the victim reported she was walking along West Lakeshore Drive on October 7th when she was approached by a group of male subjects…

cut 03 (11) “incident took place”

They are asking anyone who may have seen something unusual in the area on that day to please contact LSU Police or Crime Stoppers.

A local chocolate maker doesn’t think the Ebola outbreak in West Africa will have an effect on the price we pay for chocolate. Michael Nelson, with the Elmer Candy Corporation in Ponchatoula, says he doesn’t see evidence, at this point, that the Ebola outbreak is moving the price of cocoa…

cut 12 (13) “thirty one hundred”

He says the concern among some market analysts is that the Ebola crisis could spread into Ghana, where almost two-thirds of the world’s cocoa beans are sourced.

Republican challenger Bill Cassidy has one million dollars more in cash on hand than Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu, according to the latest campaign finance totals in the US Senate race. Political analyst Clancy Dubos points out Landrieu raised more money than Cassidy in the third quarter…

cut 7 (09) “close that gap”

Landrieu raised two-hundred thousand dollars more than Cassidy in the third quarter.

Louisiana is projected to surpass 2 million overall jobs by 2015, according to the latest economic projection numbers by LSU Economists Loren Scott & Jim Richardson. Dr. Scott says Lafayette and Houma will see big gains but the big winner will be Lake Charles…

cut 15 (12) “a way to ship”

He says the Baton Rouge area is expected to see 2.4 percent growth over the next two years.

The Northwestern State University sophomore from Baton Rouge, who was reported missing by her parents, has been found and authorities say she’s doing fine. University Police say Laura Larisey was found last night with friends in good spirits and good health.

Could the Ebola outbreak in West Africa be having an effect on the price we pay for chocolate? A local chocolate maker doesn’t think so. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

According to the latest economic projection numbers by LSU Economists Loren Scott & Jim Richardson, Louisiana is projected to surpass 2 million overall jobs by 2015. Jeff Palermo reports.

cut 3 (26) “reporting”

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved emergency rules giving local superintendents new authority to deal with a possible Ebola threat. The new guidelines give a local school superintendent the power to close schools early for a crisis that now includes “any actual or imminent threat to public health or safety, which may result in loss of life, disease or injury.”

The latest campaign finance totals in the US Senate race show Republican challenger Bill Cassidy with four-point-four million dollars in cash on hand, while Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu has three-point-four million. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says fundraising will continue up until the November fourth election and beyond…

cut 9 (10) “each”

The third major candidate in the race, retired Air Force Colonel Rob Maness, reports he has 388-thousand dollars in his account.

Ouachita Parish continues to clean up after Monday’s tornado ripped through the area. An EF-2 tornado tore through Monroe and West Monroe causing widespread damage. Despite the destruction the storm left behind, Ouachita Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Neil Brown says all the news from Ouachita Parish isn’t bad…

cut 6 (11) “anything like that”

He says the biggest challenges facing residents now are debris and power.

The latest US Senate race campaign finance totals show Republican challenger Bill Cassidy with one million dollars more in cash on hand than Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu. However, Landrieu raised two-hundred thousand dollars more than Cassidy in the third quarter. Political analyst Clancy Dubos expects Landrieu to spend more of her campaign funds than her main GOP challenger

cut 8 (07) “for the runoff”

Cassidy has four-point-four million on hand, while Landrieu has three-point-four million.

According to the latest economic projection numbers for Louisiana by Loren Scott & Jim Richardson, The Bayou State is projected to surpass 2 million overall jobs by 2015. Dr. Scott says there has been this incredible industrial expansion and it’s due in part to the huge drop in the price of natural gas…

cut 14 (11) “really picked up”

He says areas north of I-10 will see growth but not nearly what the southern region will.

Residents in Ouachita Parish continue to clean up damage after an EF-2 tornado ripped through Monroe and West Monroe Monday. Ouachita Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Neil Brown says, as of now, he can’t set a monetary figure to the amount of damage the tornado has caused, but is is significant…

cut 5 (12) “lot of damage”

He says preliminary damage assessment teams will be coming to the area in the next few days.

Will we pay more for chocolate because of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa? A local chocolate maker doesn’t think so. Michael Nelson with Elmer Candy Corporation in Ponchatoula says chocolate is trading above what he would consider a fundamental level in terms of supply and demand, but he says that’s as much the Ebola scare as it is speculative traders in the market…

cut 11 (10) “financial speculators”

Nelson says you should know there is no way to contract Ebola from chocolate.

Residents in Ouachita Parish continue to clean up after Monday’s EF-2 tornado ripped through the area. Ouachita Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Neil Brown says the biggest challenges facing residents now are debris and power…

cut 4 (10) “on the debris”

Brown says many residents, including himself, may not get power restored to their home until Friday.

The latest campaign finance totals in the US Senate race show Republican challenger Bill Cassidy with one million dollars more in cash on hand than Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu. Political analyst Clancy Dubos points out Landrieu raised more money than Cassidy in the third quarter…

cut 7 (09) “close that gap”

Cassidy has four-point-four million on hand, while Landrieu has three-point-four million.

Could the Ebola outbreak in West Africa have an effect on the price we pay for chocolate? Michael Nelson with Elmer Candy Corporation in Ponchatoula doesn’t thinks so. He says the concern among some market analysts is that the Ebola crisis could spread from Liberia to Ghana, where almost two-thirds of the world’s cocoa beans are sourced…

cut 10 (11) “in that region”

Nelson says you should know there is no way to contract Ebola from chocolate.

According to the latest economic projection numbers for Louisiana by Loren Scott & Jim Richardson, The Bayou State is projected to surpass 2 million overall jobs by 2015. Dr. Scott says there’s an industrial boom going on right now that is completely off the charts…

Cut 13 (13) “in the state”

Louisiana’s Economic Outlook projects the state to add 34,100 jobs next year.

Two nurses in Texas now have Ebola. Are Louisiana hospitals prepared to treat someone with the virus? Jeff Palermo reports..:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The LSU Police Department is investigating an alleged rape that reportedly happened on Tuesday night October 7th on West Lakeshore Drive in an area north of the Lod Cook Alumni Center. The victim said she was approached by a group of males in that location and one grabbed her and raped her while the others watched. Anyone with information regarding this alleged assault is asked to contact LSUPD at 225-578-3231.

Louisianians are talking about the US Senate Debate last night. We spoke with political analysts who say there really wasn’t a winner or loser. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says a lot of people were focusing less on Senator Mary Landrieu and Col Rob Maness and More on Bill Cassidy because it was the Congressman’s first debate…:
CUT 4 (08) “at this point 2X”
Hogan and others don’t think this debate will change voter’s minds.

Now we know what those horrible storms were all about in Monroe/West Monroe Monday as the National Weather Service confirms a tornado did indeed hit Ouachita Parish. NWS Meteorologist Bill Parker says an EF2 went right through the cities of Monroe and West Monroe…:
CUT 14 (06) “snapped, uprooted”
ULM says all classes will remain closed until 11am tomorrow morning as Entergy’s plan to restore power to campus was delayed.

Northwestern State University Police are looking for a missing student from Baton Rouge. They are asking for the public’s help in locating Laura Larisey.