Federal, state, and local authorities held a news conference in New Orleans this morning to reassure residents that an attack similar to the one in Paris last week is not imminent in Louisiana. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says facts have been confused in the days following the Paris attacks…:
CUT 9 (10) “threats at all”
He says they are utilizing every effort to keep it that way.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a man perished in a blaze at his home in Slaughter last night. They say responders entered the structure once the fire was extinguished and found the lifeless body of the man lying on the floor at the residence which had no working utilities or running water. An autopsy is underway to determine identity of the victim and how he died. the investigation is ongoing.

Today is the Great American Smokeout, a day that has been designated for smokers to quit their habit. According to the CDC, 24-percent of Louisiana adults smoke – higher than the national percentage. Mike Rogers with the Smoking Cessation Trust says there are free products and services to help long time smokers put cigarettes down for good…:
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He says to qualify for the free products you must reside in Louisiana and started smoking before September 1988.

Gas prices keep dropping in Louisiana. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is now $1.91 according to GasBuddy with the lowest price in New Orleans at $1.58.

Baton Rouge Police report a second man has been arrested in the slaying of an elderly Baton Rouge couple whose bodies were discovered at a Hammond truck stop last month. Lt. Johnny Dunham says 48-year-old Frank Garcia was arrested in Hollywood, Florida Wednesday…:
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Denis and Suzy Duplantier were killed October 18th. 42-year-old Ernesto Alonso was previously arrested and charged in the deaths.

The former president of Northwestern State University Dr. Randall Webb has passed away at the age of 72. State Senator Gerald Long of Natchitoches knew Webb for almost 50 years and says many other university presidents looked up to him…:
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At 18 years, Webb was the longest serving president in the history of Northwestern State University.

The Voice of LSU, Jim Hawthorne, will return to his play-by-play calling duties for the first time since having a medical procedure last month during tonight’s basketball game at the PMAC. Hawthorne missed football games against Alabama and Arkansas and is expected to call the home Texas A&M game November 28th. He says the doctors gave him the green light…:
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The LSU men’s basketball team is 2-0 after a win over McNeese State on Friday and victory over Kennesaw State on Monday.

Governor Bobby Jindal’s Presidential campaign is over and during a news conference with reporters upon his return, he says he is NOT getting involved in the gubernatorial runoff election Saturday…:
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Jindal said he did early vote but did not disclose his selections. The governor and his family are preparing for life as private citizens.

Bobby Jindal says he has no specific political plans once his second term as governor ends in January. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Baton Rouge Police Department says a second person is under arrest in connection to the deaths of a Baton Rouge couple last month. Police in Florida took 48-year-old Frank Garcia in custody and he will be charged with two counts of first degree murder in the killings of of Denis and Suzanne Duplantier. 42-year-old Ernesto Alonso was the first suspect charged.

Tonight, the site of the deadly shooting in Lafayette over the summer, The Grand 16 movie theater, is reopening for the first time since the tragedy. 2 women were killed and 11 injured when a man opened fire during a movie on July 23rd. Lafayette Mayor-President Joey Durel says this is symbolic closure for the community. He says he’s also happy for the owner of the teater, George Solomon…:
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A small ceremony honoring the victims and first responders will take place before the box office opens at 6:45.

The Jindal administration releases its plan to solve a 487-million dollar budget deficit. It calls for 150-million dollars in cuts to state agencies, dipping into the state’s “rainy day” fund and using revenues from lawsuit settlements. The plan does NOT call for cuts to higher education or state worker layoffs.

The Jindal administration’s plan to solve a 487-million dollar budget deficit calls for 150-million dollars in cuts to state agencies, dipping into the state’s “rainy day” fund and using revenues from lawsuit settlements. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin says the entire legislature must approve the use of 28-million dollars from the rainy day fund…

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The joint legislative budget committee will review the plan Friday.

The Grand Theater in Lafayette reopens tonight for the first time since the tragic July 23rd shootings. 11 people were shot in the incident and Jillian Johnson and Mayci Breaux lost their lives. Lafayette Mayor-President Joey Durel said during a vigil following the incident, that he wanted to buy the first ticket when the theater reopened…

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Before the opening tonight, a dedication will take place honoring the victims of the gunfire and first responders.

The longest serving president in the history of Northwestern State University has passed away. Emelie Gunn has more on the life of Dr. Randall Webb….

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Shreveport Police say a man is under arrest after a domestic incident led to a stabbing. Authorities say 36-year-old Rolanda Davis was taken to a local hospital after allegedly being stabbed by her husband, 46-year-old Frank Davis during an altercation. Frank was arrested after arriving at a local hospital suffering from cuts believed to have been sustained in the incident. Investigators determined that Frank was the aggressor and he is charged with aggravated battery.

The Grand Theater in Lafayette will reopen tonight for the first time since the tragic summer shootings, and the community is thrilled. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A second man has been arrested in the slaying of an elderly Baton Rouge couple last month. Hollywood, Florida Police have arrested 48-year-old Frank Garcia in connection with the deaths of Denis and Suzanne Duplantier. The Duplantier’s were found dead at a truck stop in Hammond on October 18th. Garcia is charged with two counts of first degree murder. 42-year-old Ernesto Alonso was previously charged in the deaths of the couple.

Dr. Randall Webb, former president of Northwestern State University, has passed away at the age of 72. State Senator Gerald Long of Natchitoches says the former president focused greatly on enhancing the college experience for students and letting graduates leave the school feeling accomplished…

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Long says Webb was an incredible leader and model of integrity.

What does the future hold for Governor Bobby Jindal now that his presidential campaign is over? The governor and his family are currently preparing for life as private citizens. They are building a home in the Baton Rouge area that’s expected to be completed in early December. He says his wife, Supriya, has been working with the builder…

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He says one of his top priorities is to help the next governor prepare for their four-year term.

The Jindal administration releases its plan to solve a 487-million dollar budget deficit and it does NOT call for cuts to higher education or state worker layoffs. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin Erwin is glad to see Louisiana’s public colleges and universities spared…

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The plan calls for 150-million dollars in cuts to state agencies, dipping into the state’s “rainy day” fund, and using revenues from lawsuit settlements.

The Lafayette community is thrilled the Grand Theater in will reopen tonight for the first time since the tragic July 23rd shootings. Lafayette Mayor-President Joey Durel says he’s happy for the occasion and for theater owner, George Solomon…

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11 people were shot in the incident and Jillian Johnson and Mayci Breaux lost their lives.

Now that his presidential campaign is over, what’s next for Governor Bobby Jindal? Jindal says he’s already cast his ballot for governor, but says he does not want to get involved in Saturday’s election…

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Jindal still has a little over seven weeks left in his final term as Louisiana’s governor.

The former president of Northwestern State University Dr. Randall Webb has passed away at the age of 72. State Senator Gerald Long of Natchitoches knew Webb for almost 50 years and says he had a great love for the school and for life itself…

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Webb was the longest serving president in the history of the University, serving for 18 years, from 1996 to 2014.

The Jindal administration releases its plan to solve a 487-million dollar budget deficit. It calls for 150-million dollars in cuts to state agencies, dipping into the state’s “rainy day” fund and using revenues from lawsuit settlements. Council for a Better Louisiana president Barry Erwin says this is a short-term fix to the state’s budget woes…

cut 14 (09) “structural problem”

The plan does NOT call for cuts to higher education or state worker layoffs.

So what’s next for Governor Bobby Jindal now that his presidential campaign is over? He has a little over seven weeks left as Louisiana’s governor. Jindal says one of his top priorities is to help the next governor prepare for their four-year term….

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Jindal says he’s already voted, but would not tell reporters who for.

The Grand Theater in Lafayette will reopen tonight for the first time since the tragic summer shootings, and the community is thrilled. A man opened fire on a crowd during a movie on July 23rd, killing two women and injuring several others, and since then the parking lot at The Grand on Johnston Street has been empty. Bret Fruge, a former employee, will be there tonight

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Before the opening tonight, a dedication will take place honoring the victims of the gunfire and first responders. A small vigil will take place at 6pm, the ribbon cutting is at 6:25 then the newly renovated Grand 16 Theater box office will open at 6:45.