Early voting is over in Louisiana; and unlike in previous years, Republicans outnumbered Democrats in casting their ballots early. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says part of that is because of a strong desire to return Donald Trump to the White House.

Cut 3 (13) “…by 58 percent.”

DOTD launches the Buckle Up Phone Down High School Showdown pilot program in nine high schools. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says this program aims to promote safe driving habits by encouraging students to pledge to buckle up and to avoid using their phones while driving.

Cut 23 (10) “…save peoples lives.”

The school with the highest pledge participation will receive a $5,000 donation from Triple-A.

Little ghouls and goblins will be out in full force on a hunt for fun-sized treats tonight, so be especially on the lookout for them while driving. Lisa Freeman, the executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says since 2019, more than three-thousand people have been injured or killed in crashes on Halloween.

Cut 7 (12) “…Year’s Eve holidays.”

Will Mother Nature put a damper on trick-or-treating? LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says scattered showers and storms are expected during the day, but the weather is expected to improve in the nick of time.

Cut 13 (08)  “…down to about 30-percent.”

So that said, you should still make contingency plans just in case rain puts a damper on things.

Little ghouls and goblins will be roaming neighborhoods everywhere this evening, looking for some fun-sized treats. As they do, make sure they know how to stay safe. Lisa Freeman, the executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says if there’s a sidewalk, use it. If not, walk against the traffic. 

Cut 9 (16)  “…with oncoming vehicles.”

Since 2019, more than three-thousand people have been killed or hurt in crashes during Halloween.

As for what the weather holds in store for trick or treating, chances are it will be dry, despite what the weather may look like at this hour.

Cut 14 (08) “…that you could.”

So LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says families should make contingency plans just in case.

Nine high schools are participating in DOTD’s Buckle Up Phone Down High School Showdown pilot program. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says the program aims to reduce traffic fatalities by promoting lifelong safe driving practices among young Louisianans.

Cut 6 (05) “…for safety programs.”

The school with the highest participation receives a five-thousand dollar donation from Triple-A; the second-place school gets 25-hundred.

A new study by Bankrate shows that Americans on average spend just over 14-thousand dollars on infant care. Alex Gailey, an analyst with Bankrate who conducted the study, says one way for parents to offset some of those costs is to take advantage of tax credits.

Cut 12 (10) “…in your pocket.”

The state with the most affordable infant care by percentage of income is South Dakota at just under nine-percent. The least affordable, according to the study, is New Mexico at just over 20-percent.

Depending on where you’re at, the skies may be a little on the dark side with rain approaching. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says with a little luck, trick-or-treaters will be able to enjoy their Halloween festivities rain-free. Still, families should make contingency plans just in case.

Cut 15 (09) “…doing your thing.”

DOTD launches the Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) High School Showdown pilot program in nine high schools.  Spokesman Rodney Mallett says data from 2019-2023 shows a high risk among young drivers.

Cut 5 (11) “…wont wear their seatbelt.”

The program encourages students to pledge to buckle up and avoid using their phones while driving, with the highest participating school receiving a five-thousand-dollar donation from Triple-A for safety programs.

As most new parents know all too well, caring for infants can get very expensive. How much are Louisianians paying? For the answer, here’s Sean Richardson.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The high school graduation rate in Louisiana is on the rise. The State Department of Education says in the 2022-23 academic year, the graduation rate ticked up to 83.2-percent, up a half a point from 82.7 the previous year. National figures from 2022-23 are not yet available, but based on the previous year’s figures, Louisiana’s graduation rate ranks above the national average of 79-percent.

According to highway safety officials, three-thousand people have been killed or injured in vehicle crashes during Halloween since 2019. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman has this message for Trick or Treaters and motorists….

Cut 8 (08) “….just for Halloween”

And Freeman says if you consume alcohol, do not drive.

A study from Bankrate finds that infant care, costs nearly 10-thousand dollars a year per child in Louisiana that’s slightly below the national average. Bankrate’s Alex Galley encourages families to look into subsidy programs that can help pay for daycare…

Cut 11 (14) “,,,higher incomes”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation says nine Louisiana high schools are competing in the Buckle Up Phone Down High School Showdown. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged a 12-year-old girl with terrorizing-menacing after the child allegedly bragged about a ‘hit list” she produced. The girl was taken out of Leblanc Middle School in Sulphur.

And a 14-year-old in St. Tammany Parish was also taken into custody after sending threatening text messages to students at a private school in Covington.

Little ghouls and goblins will be roaming neighborhoods this evening, looking to fill their bags with treats. As they do, make sure they know how to stay safe. Lisa Freeman, the executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says Halloween is historically one of the deadliest nights of the year in terms of vehicle-pedestrian crashes.

Cut 7 (12) “…Year’s Eve holidays.”

Since 2019 in Louisiana, three-thousand people have been killed or injured in vehicle crashes during Halloween, according to data out of LSU.

Rain is in the forecast for today, but LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says scattered showers and thunderstorms are more likely during the daytime than trick or treat times…

Cut 14 (08) “….that you could”

The St. Tammany Parish coroner is warning you about a supplement that’s widely available but could be deadly. Over the summer, a 36-year-old woman died in part of an overdose of the legal drug Kratom. Dr. Christopher Tape says since it’s readily available, people might not realize that it’s lethal in excessive doses.

Cut 28 (07)  “…think it’s safe.”

Kratom is not regulated by the FDA, so there are no standards to ensure its safety.

Nine Louisiana high schools are participating in the Buckle Up Phone Down High School Showdown. State transportation spokesman Rodney Mallett says this competition encourages students to pledge to buckle up and avoid using their phones while driving.

Cut 4 (10) “…save peoples lives.”

The participating high schools are Berwick, LaGrange, Terrebonne, Plain Dealing, Plainview, Chalmette, Ponchatoula, Walker, and Neville.

Louisiana saw a record 849-thousand voters participate in early voting which ended Tuesday. Deputy Secretary for the Secretary of State, Joel Watson, says the next big deadline is absentee balloting. Watson says voters have until tomorrow afternoon to request an absentee ballot and it must be returned by Monday at 4:30…

Cut 26 (07) “….requests in right way”

So far more Republicans have voted compared to Democrats, 430-thousand to 344-thousand.

A new study by Bankrate shows that Americans on average spend just over 14-thousand dollars during the first year of their child’s life. Alex Gailey, an analyst with Bankrate who conducted the study, says on average, Louisianians pay slightly less.

Cut 10 (11) “…dollars per month.”

That translates to about 14-percent of a typical family’s income, which is slightly under the national average.

When your little ghouls and goblins are out casing the neighborhood for yummy treats, make sure they know the dos and don’ts about staying safe.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Rain is expected to develop across Louisiana today, But LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says most of the showers and thunderstorms should dissipate before Trick or Treat times…

Cut 13 (08) “.,.down to 30-percent”

It will be warm and dry through the weekend.

Destination Zero Death, AAA, and DOTD have launched the Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) High School Showdown pilot program in nine Louisiana high schools. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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When your little ghouls and goblins are out casing the neighborhood for some yummy treats, make sure they know the dos and don’ts about staying safe. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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As most new parents know all too well, caring for infants can get very expensive. How much are Louisianians paying? For the answer, here’s Sean Richardson.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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DOTD in partnership with Destination Zero Deaths and AAA, has launched the Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) High School Showdown pilot program in nine Louisiana high schools.  DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says this program aims to promote safe driving habits among students by encouraging them to pledge to buckle up and avoid using their phones while driving.

Cut 4 (10) “…save peoples lives.”

Participating high schools include Berwick, LaGrange, Terrebonne, Plain Dealing, Plainview, Chalmette, Ponchatoula, Walker, and Neville. Mallett says the Buckle UP Phone Down challenge between these schools is needed when recent statistics show unrestrained drivers and and passengers were involved in 34-percent of all fatalities…

Cut 5 (11) “…wont wear their seatbelt.”

Modeled after a successful Missouri initiative, the showdown rewards the top two schools with the highest pledge participation, offering $5,000 and $2,500 donations from AAA for safety programs. Schools are encouraged to use assemblies, classroom lessons, peer presentations, and other events to engage students. Mallett says the goal is to reduce traffic fatalities by promoting lifelong safe driving habits…

Cut 6 (05) “…for safety programs.”

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Little ghouls and goblins will be roaming neighborhoods everywhere this evening, looking for some fun-sized sweet things to enjoy after dinner each night until Thanksgiving. As they do, make sure they know how to stay safe. Lisa Freeman, the executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says Halloween is historically one of the deadliest nights of the year in terms of vehicle-pedestrian crashes.

Cut 7 (12) “…Year’s Eve holidays.”

Freeman says while your kids are out trick or treating, make sure they know the do’s and don’ts of walking around in the neighborhood.

Cut 8 (08) “…just for Halloween.”

And if there’s a sidewalk, make sure they use it. If not, be sure to walk against the traffic.

Cut 9 (16)  “…with oncoming vehicles.”

Furthermore, walking on the left side of the road makes it easier for drivers to make eye-contact with pedestrians.

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New parents know all too well how expensive it is to care for newborns. A new study by Bankrate shows that Americans on average spend just over 14-thousand dollars during the first year of their child’s life. Alex Gailey, an analyst with Bankrate who conducted the study, says on average, Louisianians pay slightly less.

Cut 10 (11) “…dollars per month.”

That translates to about 14-percent of a typical family’s income, which is slightly under the national average. Gailey says one thing that families can do to offset those costs is to do a little research on what child care subsidy programs they can take advantage of.

Cut 11 (14) …have nigher incomes.”

Gailey says families can also take advantage of tax credits.

Cut 12 (10) “…in your pocket.”

The state with the most affordable infant care by percentage of income is South Dakota at just under nine-percent. The least affordable, according to the study, is New Mexico at just over 20-percent.

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Louisiana may see some showers on Halloween, but trick-or-treaters can hopefully look forward to a clear evening, according to LSU Public Healt5h Climatologist Barry Keim. Keim says scattered showers and storms are expected during the day, but the weather is expected to improve for evening Halloween festivities.

Cut 13 (08)  “…down to about 30-percent.”

Communities across Louisiana are eagerly watching the forecast, as Halloween night brings neighborhood events, outdoor gatherings, and crowds of costumed children. Keim says families should make contingency plans for rain earlier in the day but stay optimistic

Cut 14 (11) “…that you could.”

For those preparing to head out, Keim suggests keeping an umbrella handy, but also staying tuned to updated forecasts. With a bit of luck, Louisiana trick-or-treaters will be able to enjoy their Halloween festivities rain-free by nightfall.

Cut 15 (09) “…doing your thing.”

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McNeese football coach Gary Goff says redshirt freshman Kamden Sixkiller will be the Cowboys starting quarterback the rest of the season as Clifton McDowell is done for the season with a hand injury. Sixkiller already has several starts under his belt and Goff is eager to see him keep developing…

Cut 16 (15)   “…twice.”

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Saints Quarterback Derek Carr says he hopes to return to action this Sunday against the Panthers in Carolina. Carr has been out since injuring his oblique October 7th late in their loss to the Chiefs. Carr says he had a great day of practice Wednesday and should be ready to go Sunday.

Cut 17 (15) “…it felt great.”

Carr says the injury is the most frustrating injury of his career, as it relegated him to the sidelines as he watched Spencer Rattler guide the team to three straight losses, the last of which he got benched. Carr says Rattler is getting too much of the blame.

Cut 18 (19)   “…team around him.”

The Saints will try to snap their six-game losing streak Sunday in Carolina. Kickoff is at noon.

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ULM is coming off its first Sun Belt defeat as the Warhawks were defeated by South Alabama 46 to 17. But Coach Bryan Vincent says his team is not dismayed

Cut 19 (11) “….success.”  

The Warhawks are back on the road this Saturday against the Marshall Thundering Herd. Marshall is 4-and-3 on the season, winning all four of its games at home. Vincent says his team is embracing the challenge…

Cut 20 (17) “..from any challenge.”

Kick-off is at 2:30 central time.

A 14-year-old boy is killed in a shooting in Terrebonne Parish. First Lieutenant Blake Tabor says the boy was breaking into the vehicles with two other juveniles, one of whom admitted to shooting the boy to death days later.

Cut 7 (11) “…14-year-old child.”

Tabor says while the investigation is still ongoing, they’re not looking for anyone else.

A supplement that’s widely available could be deadly. That’s the warning of St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape after a 36-year-old woman died in part of an overdose of Kratom. Dr. Tape says Kratom has been used for decades.

Cut 11 (16) “…you will overdose.”

Louisiana set a record for in-person early voting, beating its previous high set in 2020 by 32,000 votes. Sean Richardson has the numbers.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

An explosion near Camp Minden in Webster Parish. The LSP Hazardous Material Hotline got a notification from Goex Industries regarding an explosion that occurred at their facility. The facility was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. There is no indication of any threat to public safety and the incident has been contained.