Today is the final day of qualifying for the upcoming November elections. So far, no surprises have popped up during the qualifying period. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that’s because to run for political office today, you’ve got to lay the groundwork for your campaign early…:
CUT 13 (06) “do very well”
Qualifying ends at 4:30 this afternoon.

Lottery scratch-off tickets seem to be more popular than ever. The Louisiana Lottery is reporting an increase in the sale of scratch-off tickets which helped them add a near record amount of money to the state treasury this year. Louisiana lottery spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says lottery scratch-off sales grew by 10%…:
CUT 10 (14) “last fiscal year”

A Delegation of anti-Common Core state lawmakers are headed to Oklahoma today to hear how leaders there were able to successfully repeal the education standards. Among them will be Lake Charles Rep. Brett Geymann who says they’ll be meeting with legislators who passed bills that reassert state control over standards and tests:
CUT 4 (12) “in the next session”
Geymann says they feel Common Core standards are a form of federal government intrusion into something that should be a state matter..

The member of Louisiana’s US House delegation that has the most clout qualified for re-election this afternoon. Republican Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish is seeking his fourth term…

cut 13 (12) “southeast Louisiana”

Scalise was recently elected as the House Majority Whip, the third highest ranking office in the House.

The Shreveport Police Department says two men are behind bars for allegedly beating up a 91-year-old World War II veteran to rob him of his casino winnings. Corporal Marcus Hines says the victim had just won a small jackpot at a casino…

cut 10 (13) “in the process”

39-year-old John Perkins and 60-year-old Gary Smith are each charged with second degree robbery.

So far, five candidates have signed up to challenge Fifth District Congressman Vance McAllister this fall. Jeff Palermo reports…

cut 2 (30) “reporting”

The Baton Rouge Police Department says the 5-year-old child who was taken to the hospital this week after allegedly being beaten by his father, died last night. Corporal Don Coppola says Jay’v’une Bergin was in critical condition when he was first examined by doctors…

cut 4 (08) “signs of abuse”

36-year-old Varnell Day Jr. is charged with first degree murder due to the suspected abuse which resulted in the death of his son.

In the fifth Congressional District Race, a total of five men so far are on the ballot. And as of this afternoon, Incumbent Republican Congressman Vance McAllister is there, facing competition from 3 well-funded Republicans, and a Democrat–Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo…:
cut 9 (10) Q: “the case”
In last year’s special election, Mayo finished 3rd in the open primary.

Shreveport Police say two men are in jail for allegedly beating up an World War Two veteran, after they tried to rob him of his casino winnings…:
cut 12 (06) Q: “the whole ordeal”
That’s Police Corporal Marcus Hines who says 39 year-old John Perkins and 60 year-old Gary Smith are charged with second-degree robbery. He says the 91 year old victim actually was able to injure one of the attackers.

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One of the most influential members of the Louisiana delegation in Congress announced today he will seek his fourth term in the House. Jefferson Parish Republican Congressman Steve Scalise made that official, as well as his support for Congressman Bill Cassidy to unseat Mary Landrieu in the Senate. He says a Republican Party majority will help get things done…:
cut 15 (10) Q: “solved”
Scalise was recently elected as Majority Whip.

To help ease the backlog of medical treatment of veterans, Congressman Charles Boustany from Lafayette announced today that the VA will complete 2 southwest Louisiana clinics. The Lake Charles facility should be ready next summer, and the Lafayette Clinic, by the end of next year, or early 2016. He says -quote – it’s time to put shovel to dirt and finally get this done.

As of now, five candidates have signed up at Secretary of State’s office to challenge Fifth District Congressman Vance McAllister this fall. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The Belle Chasse (chase) man accused of the Bourbon Street shooting that killed a tourist last month has been indicted on one count of manslaughter and another count of attempted second-degree murder. Twenty-one year old Trung Le was indicted today. His bond was set a $1.5 million dollars.

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The 5-year-old Baton Rouge child who was taken to the hospital this week after allegedly being beaten by his father, died last night. BRPD Corporal Don Coppola says the little boy suffered multiple brain bleeds, bruises in various stages of healing, contusions to the forehead and malnourishment…:
CUT 3 (08) “in the evening”
Coppola says the father of the child, 36-year-old Varnell Day Jr., is now charged with first degree murder.

This afternoon at the Secretary of State’s Office in Baton Rouge, U.S. Republican Congressman Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish made it official. He will seek his fourth term in the US House. Today, he talked about his goals…:
cut 14 :11 sec. Q: “president’s desk”
He says the best way to do that is to see the Republican Party take control of both the House and Senate.

Five candidates have signed up so far to challenge US Representative Vance McAllister in the fifth Congressional District race. One of the main Republican challengers is Zach Dasher, who is the nephew of Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson. He says he understands his connection to the Robertson family…
CUT 7 (10) “18 trillion dollar debt”

The member of Louisiana’s US House delegation that has most the clout, qualified for re-election today at the Secretary of State’s office in Baton Rouge. Republican Steve Scalise of Jefferson Parish is seeking his fourth term..:
CUT 13 (12) “southeast Louisiana”
Scalise was recently elected as the House Marjority Whip.

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The 5-year-old child who was taken to the hospital this week after being allegedly brutally beaten by his father, has died according to the Baton Rouge Police Department. Michelle Southern reports.
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

Northeast Louisiana commuters trying to get to Vicksburg this morning had a mess to deal with, as both directions of I-20 were closed due to a fiery crash of two 18 wheelers just across the Mississippi River in Warren County. The two drivers were reportedly injured. I 20 is now open for travel.

As of this afternoon, five candidates have signed up to challenge US Representative Vance McAllister in the fifth Congressional District. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo is the only democrat who has qualified, so far. Mayo ran in last year’s special election and finished third in the open primary…

cut 8 (11) “focused on”

Mayo says if elected he’ll worry more about the people of the 5th district, than national issues.

The Baton Rouge Police Department says the 5-year-old child who was taken to the hospital this week after allegedly being beaten by his father, died last night. Corporal Don Coppola says the dad, 36-year-old Varnell Day Jr., initially stated that the child had fallen off the bed but that story didn’t add up. He says initially Day was charged with attempted first degree murder…:

cut 5 (08) “first degree murder charge”

Jay’v’une Bergin was hospitalized suffering multiple brain bleeds, bruises in various stages of healing, contusions to the forehead, and malnourishment.

The Shreveport Police Department says two men are behind bars for allegedly beating up a 91-year-old man after they tried to rob him of casino winnings. Corporal Marcus Hines says 39-year-old John Perkins and 60-year-old Gary Smith are each charged with second degree robbery. He says the elderly man was transported to a hospital with minor injuries…

cut 11 (08) “just ridiculous”

Hines says the victim was able to injure one of his attackers during the incident.

Louisiana’s ACT scores were down slightly from last year. Louisiana student’s average score on the test is 19.2, compared to 19.5 last year. But State education officials say that more students are taking the college prep test which affects the average and more of them are scoring well enough to qualify for TOPS. The national average is a score of 21, while a perfect score for the test is 36.

As of this afternoon, five candidates have signed up to challenge US Representative Vance McAllister in the fifth Congressional District, one being Republican Zach Dasher, a businessman and nephew of “Duck Dynasty” TV star Phil Robertson. Dasher says if elected, he’ll do what the voters want…

cut 6 (10) “what we’re doing”

Support from the “Duck Dynasty” family helped McAllister get elected last year. This time, they are throwing their weight behind Dasher.

The Shreveport Police Department says two men are behind bars for allegedly beating up a 91-year-old World War II veteran to rob him of his casino winnings. Corporal Marcus Hines says the victim had just won a small jackpot at a casino…

cut 10 (13) “in the process”

39-year-old John Perkins and 60-year-old Gary Smith are each charged with second degree robbery.

The Baton Rouge Police Department says the 5-year-old child who was taken to the hospital this week after allegedly being beaten by his father, died last night. Corporal Don Coppola says little Jay’v’une Bergin was in critical condition when he was first examined by doctors…

cut 4 (08) “signs of abuse”

The father of the child, 36-year-old Varnell Day Jr., is now charged with first degree murder due to the suspected abuse which resulted in the death of his son.

The Department of Agriculture and Forestry says the former volunteer firefighter from Longville pleaded guilty to three counts of arson for setting wildfires on purpose in woods near the fire station where he worked. According to a release Brandon Lee Harris is sentenced to five years of hard labor.

The Baton Rouge Police Department says the 5-year-old child who was taken to the hospital this week after allegedly being beaten by his father, died last night. Corporal Don Coppola says the little boy was brought in Monday suffering multiple brain bleeds, bruises in various stages of healing, contusions to the forehead, and malnourishment…

cut 3 (08) “in the evening”

He says the father of the child, 36-year-old Varnell Day, is charged with first degree murder due to the suspected abuse which resulted in the death.

So far, eight candidates have qualified for November’s 6th District Congressional election, former governor Edwin Edwards among them. He says he was first in Congress in 1965 and is anxious to go back…

cut 10 (12) “make it better”

Republicans Dan Claitor, Paul Dietzel and Garret Graves are among those who also qualified for the race.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office has released a picture of the vehicle that was involved in last weekend’s fatal shooting of a seven-year-old boy in Baton Rouge. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux hopes the reward money and the seriousness of the crime will lead someone to provide an important tip in the case…

cut 16 (08) “forward with it”

He says through private donations, a 10-thousand dollar reward is being offered, along with the 25-hundred dollar reward from Crime Stoppers, for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the gunman.

Data published by the New York Times shows Lousiana has the most native-born residents in the country. The newspaper found nearly four out of five Louisiana citizens were born in Louisiana. Demographer Elliott Stonecipher says one reason for that is there are many people here who simply don’t ever want to live outside of Louisiana…

cut 6 (08) “people are still here”

He says many people born here are instilled with no desire to leave.

Eight candidates have qualified so far in the 6th District Congressional election. This race is highlighted by Democratic former governor Edwin Edwards and Republicans Dan Claitor, Paul Dietzel, and Garret Graves. The candidate field is expected to be very crowded. Graves says with a field like this, candidates will have to distinguish themselves…

cut 13 (07) “and personal attacks”

Qualifying ends tomorrow.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office has released a picture of the vehicle that was involved in last weekend’s fatal shooting of a seven-year-old boy in Baton Rouge. Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says through private donations, a 10-thousand dollar reward is being offered, along with the 25-hundred dollar reward from Crime Stoppers, for information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the gunman…

cut 15 (09) “since it occurred”

Gautreaux says at this time his detectives believe this was a random act of violence.

The National Weather Service is keeping their eye on a tropical disturbance forming in the Atlantic. Meteorologist Danielle Manning says the system is fighting a little wind shear and dry air…

cut 7 (10) “tropical cyclone”

As far as where this system will go, Manning says it’s too early to tell.

According to data published by the New York Times, Louisiana has the most native-born residents in the country. The newspaper found nearly four out of five Louisiana citizens were born in Louisiana. Demographer Elliott Stonecipher says this is due, in large part, to the fact that we have high out-migration numbers…

cut 4 (11) “native born”

Last month the Wall Street Journal published a study that found the top five happiest cities are all in the Bayou State.