Fewer public schools received an “A” grade while the percentage of schools that received an “F” went up, as school performance scores were released today. State Education Superintendent John White says the decline in schools that received an “A” is because Louisiana has raised the bar for what it takes to earn the highest grade.

Voter turnout in Louisiana for the November 6th election was 48-percent. Matt Doyle reports that falls in line with previous federal mid-term elections…
voicer 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

For the third straight year, Louisiana has set a record for the number of children in foster care adopted by families. 912 kids in foster care found a home, up 18-percent from the last federal fiscal year. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters on whether they can break another record next year…
cut 11 (08) “…that last ”
D-C-F-S attributes the recent run of recored adoptions to extra support staff and more families adopting more than child.

Former All Pro wide receiver Dez Bryant is officially a New Orleans Saint after signing a one-year contract worth a reported 600-thousand dollars. Bryant at times was an off the field distraction in Dallas. But Saints Coach Sean Payton says…
cut 13 (10) “…help support you”
Payton says they’ll see how practice goes this week, before deciding if he’ll play Sunday at Cincinnati.

Voter participation was about 48 percent for the Louisiana midterms, just above the national estimated average of 47. Matt Doyle has more.

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The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is celebrating a record-breaking number of adoptions from foster care, with 631 families taking in 912 children in the Federal Fiscal Year of 2018.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “Im Kevin Barnhart.”  

Turnout for the midterm elections in Louisiana was 48 percent, a touch above early estimations that national turnout was 47 percent. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says it’s a notable number, considering Louisiana lacked any high profile statewide elections, but it’s only a bit higher than the last major midterm in 2014…

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Louisiana’s next statewide election is in December for the Secretary of State’s run-off.

Saints coach Sean Peyton says newly signed receiver Dez Bryant is a toss-up to start Sunday against the Bengal’s, as that the former Dallas All-Pro is about five pounds heavier than he used to be, but considering he’s sat out for a while that’s not too unexpected.

Cut 12 (08)   “…that process today.”

Dez is coming to New Orleans for 600K, and will be sorely needed after the Saints lost Cameron Meredith to IR.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is celebrating a record-breaking number of adoptions from foster care, with 631 families taking in 912 children in the Federal Fiscal Year of 2018.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “Im Kevin Barnhart.”  

A Gonzales woman was killed last night in an eleven vehicle pile-up on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. State Trooper Bryan Lee says 18-wheeler caused the chain reaction crash.

Cut 3 (08) “…people injured.”

Lee says the driver of the semi-truck, 56-year-old John White from Mississippi, has been booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.

A Gonzales woman was killed last night in an eleven vehicle pile up on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. State Trooper Bryan Lee says the driver of the semi-truck, 56-year-old John White from Mississippi, has been booked into the Ascension Parish Jail for Negligent Homicide and 18 counts of Negligent Injuring. Lee says 18 people were hurt along with the one fatality…

Cut 4 (10) “…major task″
The interstate re-opened at around four o’ clock this morning

Turnout for the midterm elections in Louisiana was 48 percent, a touch above early estimations that national turnout was 47 percent. Its tough to answer exactly why Louisianans have grown less engaged with state issues over the decades, but LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says it could be due to a media climate that’s increasingly focused on high profile races for federal seats.

Cut 8 (08) “…the papers”

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is celebrating a record-breaking number of adoptions from foster care, with 912 children finding homes in the Federal Fiscal Year of 2018.  It’s an 18% increase from the previous record set last year.  DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says the agency is seeking out families that will adopt groups of siblings over just one child at a time.

Cut 10 (11)   “…only want one.“

Voters in 47 of 64 parishes have decided online fantasy sports games should be legal in their parish. The opens the door for FanDuel and Draft Kings to operate in select areas. River Ridge Republican Representative Kirk Talbot, who triggered the ballot initiative, said he didn’t expect to get more than 40 parishes on board.

Cut 13 (05)   “…a decent showing.”

Turnout for the midterm elections in Louisiana was 48 percent, a touch above early estimations that national turnout was 47 percent. LSU Public Policy Research Lab Director Mike Henderson says it’s a part of a trend towards higher federal election turnout in the bayou, but…

Cut 7 (09) “…early 80s.”

Only 40 percent of eligible voters participated in the 2015 governor’s race run-off between David Vitter and now Governor Edwards.

DCFS saw an 18 percent increase in adoptions over last year, continuing a three year streak of record breaking adoption numbers. Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says the 912 adoptees were taken in by 631 families, indicating families are willing to take in more than one kid.

Cut 9 (08) “…a big chunk.”

Which is good considering single adoptions can separate siblings.

A Gonzales woman was killed last night in an eleven vehicle pile up on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. State Trooper Bryan Lee says she died in chain recation crash. Lee says 56-year-old John White’s 18-wheeler encounter traffic on Interstate 10 near Gonzales that was stopped because of a previous accident…

Cut 5 (05)  “…that crash.” 

White, who hails from Mississippi, has been booked into the Ascension Parish Jail for Negligent Homicide and 18 counts of Negligent Injuring.

And the details for Dez Bryant’s new contract with the Black and Gold are out. the veteran all-pro receiver will get 600K to finish out the year in New Orleans. He joins a depleted receiving core that’s lost Ted Ginn, Tommy Lee Lewis, and now Cameron Meredith for the year.

Turnout for the midterm elections in Louisiana was 48 percent, a touch above early estimations that national turnout was 47 percent. Manship School Professor Mike Henderson says it’s a notable number, considering Louisiana lacked any high profile statewide elections, but it’s only a bit higher than the last major midterm in 2014…

Cut 6 (09) “…midterm elections”

Louisiana’s next statewide election is in December for the Secretary of State’s run-off.

Six state legislators have been elected to other seats in the midterm election. Lapolitics.com Reporter Jeremy Alford says the legislature had a remarkably busy schedule, spending more consecutive days in session than any other dating back to 1812 and Alford says that wears out representatives…

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Forty-seven parishes have elected to receive legalized fantasy sports, while the remaining seventeen will sit on the sidelines.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the one-year contract between the Saints and wide receiver Dez Bryant will pay the former All-Pro wide out 600-thousand dollars. Dez was a staple in Dallas before he was released over of the summer, and had a tough time finding a new home.

And the Saints have placed wide receiver Cam Meredith on injured reserve. Coach Sean Payton says Meredith needs his knee scoped, so the free-agent signee in the offseason finishes with just nine catches on the season.

10:30 AM Newscast
Republicans dominate state elections once again this year, and one analyst says that’s unlikely to change any time soon.

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The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles says a computer system issue that prevented driver’s license transactions yesterday has been resolved.  The glitch was a statewide issue and OMV commissioner Karen St. Germain says work was done throughout the night to fix it. The computer issue prevented driver’s license transactions including reinstatements and renewals.

A Gonzales woman was killed last night in an eleven vehicle pile up on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. State Trooper Bryan Lee says the driver of the semi-truck, 56-year-old John White from Mississippi, has been booked into the Ascension Parish Jail for Negligent Homicide and 18 counts of Negligent Injuring. Lee says 18 people were hurt along with the one fatality…

Cut 4 (10) “…major task″

The state legislature has lost six lawmakers who were elected to other government positions. Eight state representatives chose to ran for another office and only Rick Edmonds and Julie Stokes failed in their bids to leave the legislature. Lapolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says there is a trend regarding the new jobs legislators are pursuing.
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Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins is very disappointed over the Democrats seizing control of the U.S. House. The former law enforcement officer says his mindset for his second term has changed…
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While a blue wave might be hitting other parts of the country, political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s unlikely to reach Louisiana. So how does that impact Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards’ re-election chances? Pinsonat says Edwards has beaten the odds before…
cut 6 (09) “….Louisiana”
Eddie Rispone is the only Republican currently in the 2019 governor’s race, but we’ll hear from Senator John Kennedy about his plans soon.

A Gonzales woman was killed last night in an eleven vehicle pile up on Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish. State Trooper Bryan Lee says 18-wheeler caused the chain reaction crash…
cut 3 (08) “…people injured”
Lee says the driver of the semi-truck, 56-year-old John White from Mississippi, has been booked into the Ascension Parish Jail for Negligent Homicide and 18 counts of Negligent Injuring.

Voters in 47 of 64 parishes have decided online fantasy sports games should be legal in their parish. It opens the door for FanDuel and Draft Kings to operate in select areas. River Ridge Representative Kirk Talbot, who triggered the ballot initiative, said he didn’t expect to get more than 40 parishes on board.
Cut 13 (05) “…a decent showing.”
Talbot says legislation that sets up rules and a tax structure will be filed for next year’s regular session.