The Red Cross is making a strong presence on the LSU campus today collecting donations ahead of the South Carolina game in Tiger Stadium. The contest came to Baton Rouge as Columbia continues to deal with devastation due to historic flooding in the state. Nancy Malone with the Red Cross in Louisiana says LSU fans are all too familiar with flood waters and destruction that goes with it…:
CUT 10 (11) “directly to them”
Tickets for the game will be sold up until the 2:30 kickoff online and on campus.

Early voting for the October 24th election began today and runs through October 17th excluding Sunday. You can early vote on those days from 8:30am to 6pm at registrar of voters offices across the state and other select locations. You go can visit geauxvote.com to get a sample ballot.

Louisianians that don’t have a passport won’t be turned away from federal buildings Monday or stopped from boarding a plane next year after the US Department of Homeland Security granted the state another extension from being in compliance with the REAL ID law. State Police Col Mike Edmonson says this gives the Legislature time to address the issue next year.

A television ad targeting Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards has been released by the Republican Governors Association. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Early voting kicks off today. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

There are still plenty of tickets left for the LSU/South Carolina game today in Tiger Stadium. The displaced Gamecocks are getting a warm welcome in Baton Rouge and the contest today is actually a home game for them — so after LSU’s expenses, USC will get the ticket proceeds. The game kicks off at 2:30 and if you’d like the opportunity at a rare seat, you can log on to print out your tickets at lsusports.net. There will also be trailers set up around campus today selling tickets in addition to the box office.

State Police says Louisiana has been given an extension in being in compliance with the federal REAL ID Act which goes into effect this weekend. This means citizens here will be able to enter federal buildings using their state drivers license.

Less than half the cases of the West Nile virus have been reported this year compared to 2014 according to the Department of Health and Hospitals. They say there have been 55 confirmed cases and 4 deaths. DHH attributes the drop to Louisiana’s cool spring.

The Republican Governor’s Association has released an ad which targets Democratic Gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards by tying him with President Barack Obama. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this tactic has been working for Republicans and feels Edwards’ ratings will go down the more people see this commercial…:
CUT 7 (09) “about him”
In a statement, Edwards calls this a distracting desperation tactic by the GOP and he’s staying focused on issues facing Louisiana.

The Red Cross will be set up at Tiger Stadium for the LSU/USC game collecting donations for South Carolina flood relief efforts. Eric Gill reports..:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Lamar Advertising says eight digital billboards in Baton Rouge will display the messages “Geaux Gamecocks, We Stand Strong with you! Make yourself at home!” throughout the day Saturday. The game is technically a home game for South Carolina and LSU says once expenses for holding the game are covered, the remainder of the ticket sales will go to South Carolina. Ticket sales are struggling to get out of the 40,000 mark. The ESPN game kicks off at 2:30.

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary has stepped down amid probes looking at conditions and oversight at nursing homes. David La Certe did not provide a reason and neither did the governor’s office. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says they are still investigating the Department…:
CUT 5 (06) “some of the homes”
It’s been reported there have been complaints about physical and sexual abuse inside the Veterans homes, and excessive drinking by some of the residents.

After a lengthy investigation, authorities in St. Martin Parish have busted a cockfighting ring in Breaux Bridge. Major Ginny Higgins says 30-year-old Dallas Grossie of Butte La Rose and 28-year old Brandon Cormier of Breaux Bridge are both charged with 24 counts of Cruelty to Animals and 24 counts of Cockfighting. She says 50-year-old Patrick Stelly of Washington is charged with 48 counts of Cruelty to Animals and 48 counts of Cockfighting…:
cut 14 (08) “his possession”

LSU ticket sales are not nearly what was hoped and athletic officials are
encouraging fans to pick up a seat to the game in Tiger Stadium tomorrow against USC. Due to continuing flood relief efforts in Columbia, the game had to be moved to Baton Rouge — but it’s still technically a Gamecock home game which means they get proceeds after game expenses are covered. The Red Cross will also be at the game and spokeswoman Nancy Malone says Tiger fans have always stepped up when our friends need help
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The game kicks off at 2:30pm.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has confirmed one new case of West Nile Virus in the state this week and two additional deaths attributed to the disease. This brings the total number of cases of West Nile in Louisiana to 55 and the number of deaths this year to four.

A television ad targeting Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards has been released by the Republican Governors Association. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Two of the victims killed in the fatal natural gas pipeline explosion at the Williams Partners’ facility in Terrebonne Parish have been identified. They are 40-year-old Samuel Brinlee of Berwick and 36-year-old Casey Ordoyne of Larose. State Police say three workers died and two others were seriously injured while performing maintenance at the plant in Gibson on Thursday.

Ads are out targeting Democratic Gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards which tie him to President Barack Obama. They are funded by the Republican Governors Association which reportedly spent $1 million dollars to spread the message. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says tying Democratic candidates to the president has worked for Republicans and Edwards will likely fight the ads by focusing on his own agenda in Louisiana…:
CUT 8 (11) “national Democrats”
The spot claims Edwards has always supported the president. But Edwards says this is simply a tactic to divert from the real issues in Louisiana.

Visitation for chef Paul Prudhomme will take place this Sunday and Monday in New Orleans. Mourners can pay their final respects Sunday at Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home on Canal Street from 6pm-9pm. The funeral takes place Monday morning at 9am at St. Louis Cathedral.

David LaCerte has resigned as the state secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs. LaCerte did not provide a reason and neither did the governor’s office. Legislative Auditor Daryl Pupera says his office has investigated the department’s handling of the state’s five nursing homes for vets and discovered some problems…:
cut 3 (11) “on that”
Governor Jindal has named Thomas Enright interim secretary.

LSU is encouraging fans in Baton Rouge to pick up a ticket to the last minute planned South Carolina game tomorrow in Tiger Stadium. They say it’s an opportunity for folks to sit in a seat they normally wouldn’t get to and a way to show support for the Gamecocks since it’s technically their home game. LSU AD Joe Alleva said on local radio they’ve only sold 38,000 tickets as of Friday afternoon. You can get them at lsusports.net.

The Red Cross will be set up at Tiger Stadium for the LSU/USC game collecting donations for South Carolina flood relief efforts. Eric Gill reports..:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

The State Department of Health and Hospitals says there have now been four West Nile deaths in Louisiana this year, bringing the total number of cases to 55. The reported deaths are from the Acadiana Region, the Capital Area Region, the Florida Parishes Region and the Northwest Louisiana Region. DHH says even though the weather is getting cooler, people should continue to protect themselves from mosquitoes.

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says they’ve busted a cockfighting ring in Breaux Bridge which resulted in the arrest of three men on various counts of the crime as well as cruelty to animals. Major Ginny Higgins says they also confiscated 48 roosters and over 300 hens and chicks from the property…:
CUT 13 (05) “animal control”
She says the suspects are 30-year-old Dallas Grossie of Butte La Rose, 28-year-old Brandon Cormier of Breaux Bridge and 50-year-old Patrick Stelly of Washington.

The Republican Governor’s Association has released an ad which targets Democratic Gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards by tying him with President Barack Obama. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this tactic has been working for Republicans and feels Edwards’ ratings will go down the more people see this commercial…:
CUT 7 (09) “about him”
In a statement, Edwards says this is a last ditch effort to stop the only candidate for governor that will expose Governor Jindal’s broken policies.

A television ad targeting Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards has been released by the Republican Governors Association. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

State Police say the investigation into the deadly explosion at a gas pipeline facility in Gibson Thursday, which claimed the lives of three workers and seriously injured two, is ongoing. Two of the men killed have been identified as 40-year-old Sam Brinlee of Berwick and 36-year-old Casey Ordoyne of Larose.

The Red Cross will be set up at Tiger Stadium tomorrow for the LSU/USC game collecting donations for flood relief efforts in South Carolina. The contest was moved to Baton Rouge due to ongoing restoration in Columbia. Red Cross spokeswoman Nancy Malone says devastation like this is personal to LSU fans, who are all too familiar with natural disasters…:
cut 10 (11) “directly to them”
The game kicks off at 2:30pm. LSU announced today that the game-by-game parking areas will be free this weekend.

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary has stepped down amid probes looking at conditions and oversight at nursing homes. David La Certe did not provide a reason and neither did the governor’s office. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera says they are still investigating the Department…:
CUT 5 (06) “some of the homes”
It’s been reported there have been complaints about physical and sexual abuse inside the Veterans homes, and excessive drinking by some of the residents.