Researchers from the LSU Health Sciences Center are encouraged with a new drug that’s derived from sea moss which could be used to treat Alzheimer’s. Scott Carwile has the story…

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

Senator David Vitter announces he has raised $4 million dollars for his bid to become governor of Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

State Police is requesting a 30% increase for many of its troopers. Michelle Southern reporting.

Cut 3 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

A researcher at the L-S-U Health Sciences Center in Shreveport hopes sea moss found below the surface of the Pacific Ocean could be used to treat patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Doctor Steven Alexander and his team have tested a drug derived  from sea moss and it has a positive effect on mice who suffer from human Alzheimer’s disease

cut 4  (06)  “cognition”

Alexander says they are seeking FDA approval to begin clinical trials on humans and they believe that could happen because this drug, known as Byronstatin, (Bri-oh-stat-in) is effective in pill form…

Cut 5  (09)   “quite a long time”

Alexander says Byrostatin may not be able to cure a person who has Alzheimer’s, but he’s hopeful it could stop the memory loss…

Cut 6 (11)  “life quality”

______________________________________

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is excited about the opening of its brand new student union today. Garland “Chico” Rodriguez is the Assistant Director of building services for UL-Lafayette. He says the two year project now sees the bookstore, Cajun Card office, office of international affairs and much much more…:

CUT 7 (12)  “semester basis”

Rodriguez says the student government association and university program council will also be moving into the new building. He says one of the things they are most excited about is the brand new dining hall…:

Cut 8 (12)  “and the service” 

Rodriguez says there are multiple food stations in the new union and a large courtyard which overlooks the university’s Cypress Lakes. He says the $40 million dollar project was funded by student fees and anyone who’d like to take a look at it can log on to studentunion.louisiana.edu for all updates and hours of operation…:

Cut 9 (09)  “that’s available”

______________________________________

Senator David Vitter announces he’s raised $4 million dollars for his bid to become governor of Louisiana. According to his campaign, almost 90-percent of the contributions are from in-state donors. Lapolitics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says that’s impressive, but it’s not the whole story…

Cut 10 (12) “David Vitter’s campaign” 

Alford says the Vitter-friendly Super PAC, which will spend a lot money supporting Vitter’s gubernatorial bid, has raised another 3.9 million dollars. And he says Vitter is raising money through his Senate finance campaign account, which can’t be used directly on his gubernatorial campaign, but it can be donated to the Super PAC…

cut 11 (10) “it’s unprecedented”

He says Vitter is re-writing the book on campaign finance in Louisiana. Republican candidate Scott Angelle has reported raising $1.5 million and Democrat John Bel Edwards is reporting fundraising totals of $1 million. Alford reminds voters the election is still many months away and a lot could happen…

cut 12 (07)  “very well change”

______________________________________

State Police is requesting a 30% increase for many of its troopers. Col Mike Edmonson says the money is coming from a special fund approved in last year’s legislative session which collects fines from drivers with expired auto insurance and puts them in an account for LSP salaries. He says they were asked to find a mechanism that would fund a pay adjustment:

Cut 13 (10)  “spend those dollars”

Edmonson says he will make the request to spend the money in the account at the joint legislative budget committee on Friday when they will vote to approve it. Some have been critical of the timing of the increase as the state faces budget woes and the price of oil is so low, but Edmonson says this has been a long time coming…:

Cut 14 (10)  “they’ve done that”

If lawmakers approve the money shift, starting pay with benefits for troopers would go from about $35,600 a year to $46,600 a year. Edmonson expects this will be approved as he’s heard nothing negative from lawmakers on this matter…:(This will be the first raise for rank-and-file troopers since 2002.)

Cut 15  (10)  “decision”

______________________________________

LSU hires Alabama linebackers coach Kevin Steele as the next defensive coordinator for the Purple and Gold. Prior to coaching at Alabama, Steele served three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Clemson, helping Clemson win the A-C-C in 2011. He also served as the head football coach at Baylor from 1999-2002 compiling a record of 9-36 overall in the Big 12. Football analyst Mike Detillier…:

Cut 16  (19)  “ass off”  

Steele coached linebackers for the Carolina Panthers in the 1990s. Detillier says the defensive philosophy of Steele will be very different from former DC John Chavis…:

Cut 17 (18)  “a quarterback”

Coach Les Miles released a statement saying Steele has been very successful as a coach with a great defensive mind & an outstanding recruiter. The Mad Hatter says Steele knows the LSU players, the Tiger’s system and the SEC. Detillier says one of the areas LSU needs major improvement is with development of defensive lineman…:

Cut 18 (15) “defensive lineman’

Sad story out of Bastrop as two young children who authorities believe were left home alone while their mother was getting her hair done, died in a house fire. Michelle Southern reporting…:

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

==================

Nearly 400-thousand people in Louisiana have dealt with the flu bug during this influenza season. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

===================

Sad story out of Bastrop as two young children who authorities believe were left home alone while their mother was getting her hair done, died in a house fire. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the blaze, which ignited Monday afternoon, was likely started by a gas space heater inside the wood-framed home…:

CUT 3 (10)  “home alone”

Browning says investigators discovered the bodies of a 4-year-old girl and a 3-year-old boy at the Madison Parish home. He says criminal charges are anticipated if they confirm that there was nobody responsible for supervising the children when the fire started. Browning says investigators believe the young siblings never had a chance to get out…:

CUT 4 (12)  “require supervision”

The mother has been identified as 21-year-old Ciarra Johnson and her 4-year-old daughter is Tashae Johnson and 3-year-old son named Clifton Johnson. Browning says if they do find out that the mother didn’t ask anyone to supervise the children why she was gone, negligent homicide charges could be coming…:

CUT 5 (10)  “we’re gonna do that”

===================

It’s a bad flu season and the numbers prove it. Doctor Frank Welch, medical director for the state’s immunization program, says nearly an estimated 400-thousand people have come down with the flu during this flu season and influenza has hospitalized up to four-thousand people…

CUT 6 (11)  “as well”

Welch says they are still seeing an extraordinarily large number of cases reported each week, but

CUT 7 (10)  “anymore”

Welch says the strain of flu that’s most predominent is H-3-N-2….

(Even though the flu vaccine is not a direct match with the flu strain going around, Welch still advises getting an influenza shot.) 

CUT 8 (10) “of the flu”

===================

The Monroe Police Department says a stand off situation at an elderly assisted living complex has ended with one man dead. Detective Reggie Brown says a resident courtesy officer at Frances Towers reported shots fired from the apartment of 64-year-old Adam Spillman. Brown says the courtesy officer and a police officer went to make contact with Spillman…

CUT 9 (10)  “victim to safety”

Spillman shot the courtesy officer, 76-year-old Alton Sutter, in the leg. Brown says Spillman then barricaded himself in his apartment. He says SWAT teams were brought in and they were able to negotiate with Spillman to surrender peacefully…

cut 10 (09)  “local area hospital”

Sutter succumbed to his injuries at a local area hospital. Brown says Spillman is a military veteran, but he did not see any combat. The investigation is ongoing and it has not been determined what charges Spillman will face. Brown says, according to witness statements, there is a question in regard to Spillman’s state of mind at the time of the shooting…

cut 11 (10)  “is in question”

===================

State Treasurer John Kennedy announces that audits of life insurance companies have uncovered more than $31 million in unclaimed property for beneficiaries in the past eight years. He says the audit found that some insurance companies violated their life insurance contracts…

cut 12 (11)  “keep the money”

Kennedy says the audits are necessary because families are often unaware that an insurance policy exists and unless the insurance company tries to locate beneficiaries, the benefit will go unpaid. He says they’re already helping people receive life insurance payments…

cut 13 (11)  “her a check”

The audits are one component to the state’s Unclaimed Property Program. Kennedy says if you think you are owed money, you should search their website… (The website is latreasury-dot-com.)

cut 14 (08)  “at your leisure”

===================