A new poll on the governor’s race funded by the Nexstar Media Group has Governor Edwards receiving 41-percent of the vote, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham 24-percent and GOP businessman Eddie Rispone at 16-percent. John Couvillon  with JMC Analytics and Polling says the race appears headed to a run-off

Cut 3 (10) “…Omar Dantzler”

16-percent of those polled are undecided. The three major candidates for Governor have their first debate tonight at LSU.

The United Cajun Navy is headed to east Texas in response to flooding from Tropical Depression Imelda.  United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says thirteen boats were dispatched this morning prior to the interstate being shut down due to flooding, but he has lost track of the number of volunteers in the area.

Cut 14 (12) “…thousands by now.”

Governor Edwards says the estimated 500-million-dollar surplus for the last fiscal year is evidence state’s economy is doing well. Critics say the surplus is evidence that the .45 percent sale tax pushed by the governor in 2018 was not necessary, but Edwards countered, saying at the time estimates underrated the state economy, but that changed…

Cut 9 (12)  “Jindal”

A Webster Parish woman pleads guilty to stealing 1.1 million dollars from a federal program dedicated to feeding poor children. US Attorney David Joseph says 59-year-old Myrna Quarles of Cotton Valley set up a program claiming to feed disadvantaged children but instead, she loaded up the program’s credit card…

The Cajun Navy has volunteers heading to Texas as the remnants of Tropical Depression Imelda has forced numerous water rescues in an area east of Houston. United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says they are receiving frantic phone calls and Facebook messages from those that are stranded…
cut 13 (09) “….expecting more rain”
The heavy rainfall has also closed a part of I-10 in Texas.

A new poll on the governor’s race has Governor Edwards receiving 41-percent of the vote, Ralph Abraham at 24-percent and Eddie Rispone garnering 16-percent. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says two main questions in this governor’s race, can Edwards gain additional support from undecideds and can Rispone catch Abraham and get in a November run-off with the incumbent
Cut 5 (11) “…week away”

A Webster Parish woman who ran a non-profit that oversaw a program to help feed low-income children has admitted to stealing one-point-one million dollars from the federal government. 59-year-old Myrna Thomas Quarles of Cotton Valley faces up to 10 years in prison. U-S Attorney David Joseph says Quarles deposited checks from a federal feeding service program into her own banking account…
cut 8 (11) “…this lady”
Joseph says Quarles also used the Greater Horizons credit card to the tune of 370-thousand dollars on herself.

The Edwards administration is taking criticism for an estimated 500-million dollar surplus. Many Republicans say residents are getting taxed too much. But Edwards says the surplus is the result of an improving economy and the surplus dollars will be invested into long-overdue projects…
cut 10 (10) “…dollars”

A new poll on the governor’s race funded by the Nexstar Media Group has Governor Edwards receiving 41-percent of the vote, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham 24-percent and GOP businessman Eddie Rispone at 16-percent. John Couvillon with JMC Analytics and Polling polled the governor’s race in April and he says Rispone has seen his support grow because of an aggressive media campaign. He says Edwards has also seen his support increase among white Democrats, white Independents and even Republicans
Cut 4 (10) “…some voters”
The United Cajun Navy dispatches to east Texas in response to the catastrophic flooding from Tropical Depression Imelda.  United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says they’ve got boats out helping victims and first responders.

Cut 12 (09) “…do their job.”

With more intense rain in the forecast, some areas could see rain totals between 25 and 35 inches through Friday.

A Webster Parish woman pleads guilty to stealing over a million dollars from a program designed to feed poor, hungry children. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut  2 (30) “Matt Doyle”  

A new poll on the governor’s race shows that it’s more likely than not a November run-off will be needed. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
A Hackberry man is in jail after allegedly firing a shotgun at a Cameron Parish Sheriff’s deputy. 64-year-old Timothy Raffield was being pursued by the deputy last night when he crashed his vehicle. The crash was then followed by gunfire from the suspect. The deputy was not hurt and Raffield later surrendered.

A Cotton Valley woman has pleaded guilty to stealing 1.1 million dollars from a federal program dedicated to feeding poor children. US Attorney David Joseph says 59-year-old Myrna Quarles set up a program claiming to feed economically disadvantaged children during summer months when they were not at school.
Cut 6 (11) “…entitled to.”
Joseph says some meals were provided during the program’s two-year run, but the reported numbers were greatly inflated.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise rallied with other three other congressmen and shooting survivors to push back against a Democratic effort in the House to pass gun control in the upcoming session. Scalise says Democrats are politicizing mass shooting tragedies and grandstanding with their recent gun control offerings and should adopt a different tactic instead.
Cut 10 (07) “…pray.”
The rally was put on by the Tea Party Patriots.

A new poll on the governor’s race funded by the Nexstar Media Group has Governor Edwards receiving 41-percent of the vote, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham 24-percent and GOP businessman Eddie Rispone at 16-percent. John Couvillon with JMC Analytics and Polling says the race appears headed to a run-off
Cut 3 (10) “…Omar Dantzler”
16-percent of those polled are undecided and Couvillon says most of the undecided voters are African-Americans and Republicans.
The three major candidates for Governor square off tonight at LSU for the first gubernatorial debate of the race. Eddie Rispone has begun attacking fellow GOP candidate Ralph Abraham on TV over missed Congressional votes and comments about the President. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’ll be fascinating to see if he does it in front of a crowd, because…
Cut 6 (06) “…damage”
The next debate will be held at the Press Club on Monday.

According to the 2019 Lawsuit Climate Survey, Louisiana ranks second-worst in the nation in the eyes of business owners.  The study was released by the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform and COO Harold Kim says the results are important as many business decisions made by companies can hinge on the litigious environments.

Cut 8 (09) “…under complete assault.”

Kim says the environment is impacting insurance rates, adding the state needs to send a message to businesses that Louisiana is moving toward an environment not steered by trial lawyers.

As the election season heats up, candidates are looking for more ways to get their messages to potential voters.  Sending text messages to voters’ cell phones appears to be the medium of choice in getting to constituents. LSU Manship School of Mass Comm Professor Bob Mann says, don’t be surprised if these messages start burning through your phone battery.

Cut 13 (09) “…ruins text messages.”

The first televised debate featuring the three major candidates for governor is tonight at 7 PM at LSU’s Union Theatre. It will air on Nexstar TV stations. A poll funded by the Nexstar Media Group has Governor Edwards receiving 41-percent of the vote. Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham has 24-percent and GOP businessman Eddie Ripspone is receiving 16-percent.

Political campaigns are attempting to reach voters by phone, but it’s not with a phone call. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

According to the 2019 Lawsuit Climate Survey, Louisiana ranks second-worst in the nation in the eyes of business owners. The study was released by the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform and COO Harold Kim says there are two contributing factors that produce the state’s poor ranking.
Cut 7 (11) “…culture of litigation.”
Kim says the results are important as many business decisions made by companies can hinge on the legal environment.

Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise spoke at a second amendment rights rally on Capitol Hill. Scalise says there are some Democrats like presidential candidate Beto O’ Rourke, who want a mandatory buy-back of all assault weapons…
cut 11 (11) “…agenda”

LSU hosts the first televised gubernatorial debate of the governor’s race tonight at 7PM. Brooke Thorington has a preview…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Parishes along the Louisiana-Texas border are under a flash flood watch as a tropical depression continues to move through eastern Texas. The Shreveport area could see about two inches of rain through tomorrow night, while the Lake Charles area could see between two to four inches.

Several political campaigns are using text messages now to reach voters. If you are receiving the robo text messages and wondering how they got your number, they get them from third-party vendors, who get them when people place an order on Amazon or order food online. Many people who receiving these text messages are not happy, but LSU political communication professor Bob Mann says the messages can be effective…
cut 14 (10) “…to do that”
Mann says you should be able to set up your smart phone to block the messages.

Louisiana Republican Congressman Steve Scalise says the gun control legislatiion approved by the Democratic-controlled House earlier this year would not have prevented recent mass shootings. Scalise spoke at a second amendment rally on Capitol Hill….
cuit 12 (11) “…a friend”

The first televised debate in the governor’s race is tonight at 7 PM on LSU’s campus and you can watch on Nexstar television stations. Republican challengers Ralph Abraham and Eddie Rispone hope to dent Governor Edwards’ incumbent armor and force a November run-off. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s a big night for the GOP candidates…
cut 5 (10) “…themselves”
A new poll on the governor’s race was released yesterday and it has Edwards at 41-percent, Abraham 24-percent and Rispone 16-percent.

Some political candidates and groups are using text-ivism as a way to reach voters. LSU political communication professor Bob Mann says if the text messages are overwhelming, there’s technology to block them…
cut 15 (08) “….way around it”
Louisiana’s legal climate is ranked second-worst in the country according to a new survey….
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

U-S House Minority Whip Steve Scalise was one of the featured speakers at a second amendment rights rally outside of the U-S Capitol. Scalise says Democrats are politicizing mass shooting tragedies and grandstanding with their recent gun control offerings and should adopt a different tactic…
Cut 10 (07) “…pray.”
The rally was put on by the Tea Party Patriots.