14:30 08-20-14

State Education Superintendent John White says plans to implement Common Core in public schools are moving forward. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

Shreveport Police detectives are investigating a shooting at Shreveport Regional Airport late last night. The initial investigation showed that this was based on a disput between a cab driver and a security officer. No one was injured.

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In the Louisiana US Senate race, the political sparring has just started to heat up in statements and on TV ads. Republican Bill Cassidy has accused incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu of having strong ties to President Obama, while Landrieu says this is just a diversion from the real issues in the campaign…;
CUT 10 (11). Q: “continue to hear that”

But Cassidy says his main message to voters is that can do better than we’re doing right now…:

CUT 12 (13) “97% of the time”

Today is the first day of qualifying for candidates, which runs through Friday.

13:30 Newscall August 20, 2014

Incumbent US Senator Mary Lanrdrieu and her main challenger, Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy, have both officially signed up for the November Senate election. Cassidy says most people agree that this country is going in the wrong direction under President Obama and Landrieu is part of the problem for supporting the President 97% of the time..

cut 11 (09) “clearly we differ“

Landrieu says Cassidy is doing everything he can to avoid talking about the real issues of this campaign.
Despite a judge’s ruling that lifts the Jindal administration’s suspension of contracts for the tests tied to Common Core, Commissioner of Administration Kristi Nichols is still concerned a legal contract is not in place to give out the exam known as PARCC…

cut 14 (07) “of those tests”

After Nichols spoke, State Education Superintendent John White said Judge Todd Hernandez’s ruling is clear and it says the current contract can be used to provide tests tied to Common Core.

A former LSU tight end has pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder in a 2011 shooting at a truck stop casino in Port Allen. Demetri Robinson, a member of LSU’s 2003 National Championship team, shot a cashier and fired at two others after being asked to leave the establishment. Assistant District Attorney Tony Clayton says Robinson is facing a lengthy stay behind bars…

cut 8 (08) “150 years”

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 5th.

The National Hurricane Center is watching a disturbance in the Atlantic. That tropical wave is given a medium chance of developing into a named storm in the next 48 hours. State climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll need to start keeping a close eye on the tropics as we are heading into the busy part of the season…

cut 4 (09) “week period”

He says it’s not a surprise to see tropics starting to get active.

12:30 Newscast August 20, 2014

State Education Superintendent John White says public schools are moving forward with Common Core education standards after a judge lifts the Jindal administration’s suspension of the contracts for the tests tied to Common Core. White says it’s time that we focus on the welfare of the student…

cut 13 (09) “people of Louisiana”

Despite the ruling, Commissioner of Administration Kristi Nichols is still concerned a legal contract is not in place to give out the PARCC exam.

Incumbent US Senator Mary Landrieu and her main challenger, Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy, have officially signed up for the US Senate race during the first day of the three-day qualifying period. Landrieu, who’s been in office for 18 years, says this campaign is about leadership…

cut 9 (08) “that have helped our state”

Cassidy says it’s important to remove Senator Landrieu from Congress so the GOP can regain control.

A former LSU football player awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to three counts of attempted second degree murder in a 2011 shooting at a truck stop casino in Port Allen. Demetri Robinson, a tight end on LSU’s 2003 National Championship team, entered his plea yesterday. Assistant District Attorney Tony Clayton his office offered no deal to Robinson for his guilty plea…

cut 6 (09) “charged him with”

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 5th.

The National Hurricane Center is watching two disturbances in the Atlantic. Forecasters give one of the tropical waves a medium chance of developing into a named storm in the next 48 hours and models show that area of low pressure heading towards the Caribbean. State climatologist Barry Keim says a developing El Nino weather pattern has suppressed tropical activity…

cut 5 (05) “wind shear”

NOAA has predicted there’s a good chance we’ll see a below normal season.

11:30 Newscast August 20, 2014

Judge Todd Hernandez has sided with Common Core proponents Tuesday and lifted the Jindal administration’s suspension of testing contracts tied to the controversial education standards. This lawsuit was filed by teachers and parents who claim Governor Jindal overstepped his Constitutional authority when he halted the implementation of Common Core. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Stephen Kupperman, says they’re obviously pleased with the ruling…

cut 10 (10) “thing to do”

The governor’s office says they will appeal the ruling.

Shreveport Police are investigating a shooting involving a security officer at the Shreveport Regional Airport. Authorities believe there was some kind of dispute between the officer and a cab driver. As the cab driver tried to leave, the security officer fired his weapon striking a tire on the vehicle. The cab driver is not being charged at this time. The security officer is on administrative leave while the investigation continues.

Qualifying is underway for November’s congressional elections. The sixth district features former Governor Edwin Edwards vying for the seat against a host of Republican candidates. In the fifth district, incumbent Vance McAllister faces some stiff competition for re-election. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says there is one key issue for both of these races…

cut 9 (10) “on election day”

Election day is November 4th.

The National Hurricane Center is watching two disturbances in the Atlantic. Forecasters give one of the tropical waves a medium chance of developing into a named storm in the next 48 hours and models show that area of low pressure heading towards the Caribbean. State climatologist Barry Keim says it’s not a surprise to see tropics starting to get active…

CUT 3 (06) “take place”

Keim says we’ll need to start keeping a close eye on the tropics as we are heading into the busy part of hurricane season.

10:30 Newscast August 20, 2014

Qualifying is underway for the November elections. The fifth and sixth congressional districts appear to be competitive. Scott Carwile reports…

cut 2 (32) “reporting”

In the Senate race, Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu and Republican challenger Bill Cassidy have qualified. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this race will come down to who can get the vote out…

cut 6 (12) “to vote early”

Judge Todd Hernandez sided with Common Core proponents yesterday and lifted the Jindal administration’s suspension of testing contracts tied to the controversial education standards. The governor’s office plans to file an appeal. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Stephen Kupperman, says although it’s early in the process, he believes the Common Core aligned testing will be used at the end of this school year…

cut 12 (09) “in 2012″

A statement from Governor Jindal’s office says that they believe the judge is wrong on the facts and the law and hopes he will reconsider this ruling at the full trial.

Louisiana State Police have arrested 66-year-old Ernest Kickle Jr. of Leesville on rape and human trafficking charges. Vernon Parish officials received information that Kickle was attempting to buy a 10-year-old child for sex. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says Kickle was booked into the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Department Detention Center…

cut 15 (09) “for sexual purposes”

Kickle is being held on a 1.5 million dollar bond.

09:30 Newscast August 20th, 2014

Qualifying for the November 4th election got under way at 8 this morning in Baton Rouge. In one of the more competitive high profile races this fall is in the fifth district with Congressman Vance McAllister whose challengers include Democratic Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and Republicans Ralph Abraham, Harris Brown, and Zach Dasher. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan feels McAllister is facing an uphill battle…:
CUT 8 (12) “any credible way”
In the US Senate race, political analyst Clandy Dubos says tea party favorite Rob Maness will have a significant impact on the Landrieu/Cassidy battle…:
CUT 5 (12) “in December”
Qualifying ends Friday.

Common Core got another victory on Monday as a judge ruled in favor of parents who said Governor Bobby Jindal is outside his authority when he suspended the test associated with the education standards.
An attorney for the plaintiffs, Stephen Kupperman, says three of his clients took the stand…:
CUT 11 (07) “of the testimony”
Jindal’s office says they plan to appeal.

State Police arrest a Leesville man who allegedly was planning to purchase a 10-year-old child for sexual reasons. Spokesman Scott Moreau says an investigation garnered a search warrant at the home of 66-year-old Ernest Kickel Jr…:
CUT 14 (09) “a minor child”
Kickle is charged with attempted aggravated rape and trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

08:30 Newscast August 20th, 2014

Qualifying gets underway today for November’s congressional elections. The sixth district race is headlined by Democratic former governor Edwin Edwards against Republicans including Dan Claitor, Paul Dietzel, Garrett Graves, and Lenar Whitney among others. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says while it’s likely Edwards will make the runoff, the other slot is up for grabs…:
CUT 7 (11) “to the runoff”
Election day is November 4th. In the US Senate race, the incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu is expected to qualify at the Secretary of State’s office this morning in Baton Rouge at 9:30.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says three men are under arrested following a sting operation at the Lake Charles Civic Center near the kids’ water fountain and I-10 beach targeting people who frequent the public restroom areas for sexual activity. The men aged 74, 53 and 35 were booked on charges of obscenity.

Judge Todd Hernandez sided with Common Core proponents, Tuesday, and lifted the Jindal administration’s suspension of testing contracts tied to the Common Core education standards. Eric Gill has the story…:
CUT 3 (32) “reporting”

Governor Bobby Jindal and Graphic Packaging International Inc announced Tuesday the company is making a $41.5 million investment in its paper mill in West Monday. They say the move will help Graphic Packaging retain 1,340 employees at its three Louisiana sites. The company makes products used for beverage and other consumer-based packaging.

 

 

07:30 Newscast August 20th, 2014

Louisiana State Police arrest a 66-year-old Leesville man on rape and human trafficking charges. Ernest Kickel Jr. is being held on a 1.5 million dollar bond. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office task force contacted the State Police’s Special Victim’s Unit Monday…:
CUT 13 (09) “for sexual purposes”
Kickle is charged with attempted aggravated rape and trafficking of children for sexual purposes.

LSP Troop C says shortly before 5:30 pm yesterday afternoon, a 29-year-old Kenner man was killed when the vehicle he was riding in traveld off the road and struck a tree in Lafourche Parish. The investigation revealed the driver is suspected of being when the crash that took the life of his passenger occurred. 53-year-old Manuel Mejia had minor injuries and in in jail for vehicular homicide, improper lane usage and no drivers license.

The St. Tammany District Attorney says he won’t be the one who decides how to proceed in the felony sexual battery case against his brother. The suspect, Richard Reed, was arrested for allegedly assaulting a drunk woman at the Chimes in Covington. DA Walter Reed says he recuses his office regarding the issue which now heads to the Louisiana AG’s office.

The three day qualifying period for the November election begins today. Jeff Palermo reports on the US Senate race…:
CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

06:45 Sportscast August 20th, 2014

In the second full-scale scrimmage of the preseason, LSU says Kenny Hilliard shined as he rushed for 100 yards. The Tigers open their 10th season under Les Miles on August 30th when 13th ranked LSU faces 14th ranked Wisconsin in Houston at NRG Stadium. The Bayou Bengals are off today then return to practice Thursday. Head Coach Les Miles said of the scrimmage that it was a good day of work with no injuries and progress was made.

As for the big question on the minds of purple and gold fans, Miles says he will not name a starting quarterback to the media before the Tigers’ season opener, but The Mad Hatter said he will make the announcement the Thursday before the game. In the close battle for the job of starting QB for LSU is sophomore Anthony Jennings and freshman Brandon Harris.

In Ruston, Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz says he hopes to name a starting quarterback by Friday.

The Northwestern State Football team announces they’ve gotten a major boost defensively with the addition of New Orleans native Lyn Clark, a linebacker transferring from Louisville. Clark, a 6-2, 244 pound redshirt freshman practiced Tuesday for his first time with the Demons who are continuing their transition from preseason camp to pregame work for next Thursday’s opener in Turpin Stadium against Missouri State.

First year Southeastern men’s basketball head Coach Jay Ladner announced non-conference games in Florida, Hawaii and Washington highlight the team’s schedule for the 2014-2015 season. The Lions will play an all Division I schedule this coming season along with a pair of exhibition games against local schools. After a November 6th exhibition game against Loyola, the Lions will play 13 of their next 15 regular-season games on the road.

06:30 Newscast August 20th, 2014

Judge Todd Hernandez sided with Common Core proponents, Tuesday, and lifted the Jindal administration’s suspension of testing contracts tied to the controversial education standards. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Stephen Kupperman, says they’re obviously pleased with the ruling…:
CUT 10 (10) “thing to do”
The suit was filed by teachers and parents who claim Jindal overstepped his Constitutional authority when he halted the implementation of Common Core. The governor’s office says they will appeal the ruling.

The Baton Rouge Police Department says a father of a 5-year-old boy is under arrested after the child was hospitalized Tuesday with multiple injuries and is in critical condition. They say 36-year-old Varnell Day is accused of abusing his 5-year-old who in suffering bleeding from the brain, bruising in various stages of healing and contusions to the forehead. The suspect is charged with attempted first degree murder and felon in possession of a firearm.

The three day qualifying period for the November election begins today. The “big one” of course is the US Senate race between major players the incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu and Republican challenger Bill Cassidy. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this race has been seesawing back and forth and that will continue…:
CUT 4 (13) “herself”
Dubos says even though a lot of money will be spent on this race, ultimately voter turnout with be the deciding factor in the election.