3:30 LRN Newscast August 18

Another wildfire has broken out in Sabine Parish and it’s resulted in authorities evacuating residents in the town of Zwolle.

In Washington Parish, a 72-year-old Franklinton man was killed in a house fire that investigators believe started from burning piles outside of the home. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says the investigation into the death of the individual and what may have caused the fire continues.
Cut 15 (07) “…this instance.”
A statewide burn ban remains in effect.

And the National Hurricane Center says there’s now a medium chance of tropical development in the central or western Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the best case scenario is that the system provides a little break from the heat…
cut 10 (12) “…triple digits”
But for this weekend, expect temps above 100-degrees.

Louisiana pollster John Couvillon has surveyed over one-thousand likely Republican voters and has found support remains strong for former President Donald Trump, despite multiple federal indictments. But support has declined for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. But is on the rise for entrepreneur and investment manager Vivek Ramaswamy (vuh-Vake RAH-muh-SWAH-mee)…
cut 8 (08) “…more scrutiny”
Couvillon says in a poll he conducted in July, three-percent supported Ramaswamy, now it’s up to five percent.

The state has put another 20-million dollars towards a proposed passenger rail service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…
cut 4 (11) “…to happen”
The 20-million dollars is left over from the Road Home Program, which closed in February. The federal government is allowing the state to use the money for the train, because it could help in future evacuation efforts.