Was there a clear winner or loser in last night’s US-Senate debate between Senator Mary Landireu, Congressman Bill Cassidy and Col Rob Maness? UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross thinks both the incumbent and Maness helped themselves in the televised face-off. However, he doesn’t think it was a great night for Cassidy…:
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LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan didn’t think there was a single defining moment during the discussion that would shake things up in the race…:
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That debate will be October 28th.

A second Dallas hospital worker has test positive for Ebola. Both workers contracted the virus while providing care to Thomas Duncan who died from the disease a week ago today. So are Louisiana hospitals prepared to handle an Ebola patient? Louisiana Hospital Association Vice President Ken Alexander believes so, thanks to daily guidance provided by the CDC:
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Alexander says the health care industry needs to learn from what’s going on at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

Louisiana State Police say a man was killed in an early morning crash involving a drunk driver this morning in Jefferson Davis Parish. They say 21-year-old Taylor Pellerin of Lake Arthur was on I-10 near Roanoke when he drove off the road causing his vehicle to flip several times. His passenger, 22-year-old Jordan Gatte wasn’t buckled up and died at the scene. Pellerin was arrest and his charges include DWI and vehicular homicide.

The latest Louisiana Tax Amnesty program begins today giving delinquent tax payers a chance to settle up with the state Department of Revenue:
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The first meeting of a group seeking to change the way Louisiana’s colleges handle sexual assault investigating is being held today. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says universities have different policies from campus to campus:
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State Police are investigating a fatal hit and run involving a pedestrian on I-10 east on Highway 73 before 3am Wednesday in Ascension Parish. They say 21-year-old April Tasker of Gesimar was trying to cross both lanes of the interstate toward the median when she was struck and killed by an 18-wheeler in the left hand lane.

We know a little more about the three main candidates in the US Senate race after the televised debate in Shreveport last night. Senator Mary Landrieu came out early against Congressman Bill Cassidy…:
CUT 13 (16) “for his record”
Cassidy continued to tie Landrieu to President Obama throughout the debate and retired Air Force Col Rob Maness accused his opponents of not being fiscally responsible in Congress.

The three major candidates in the US Senate race appeared in a televised debate last night. Michelle Southern reports…

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Seven people have been arrested on felony racketeering charges associated with an online sales scam. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says the suspects are believed to be part of Romanian organized crime. They are accused of stealing about $1.4 million from people who were unknowingly redirected from online shopping websites like eBay and Craigslist.

The 2014 Louisiana Tax Amnesty period kicks off today. Over the next 30 days, tax payers can settle their debt by paying 100-percent of delinquent taxes and 50-percent of interest owed. Department of Revenue Deputy Secretary Jarrod Coniglio says this year’s amnesty is offering something new, an installment plan…

cut 5 (10) “by May first”

The tax amnesty period runs through November 14th.

A study by the Williams Institute at UCLA shows if same-sex couples were allowed to marry in Louisiana, the economic impact to the state over three years would be over $28 million. Forum for Equality chairman John Denison says this would add significant revenue to Louisiana’s bottom line…

cut 11 (12) “in our restaurants”

The study predicts over 4,000 in-state same-sex couples would get married in Louisiana within the first three years.

Last night’s televised US Senate race debate was the first to feature all three major candidates. Retired Air Force Col Rob Maness took shots at both Senator Mary Landrieu and Congressman Bill Cassidy and criticized President Obama in most of his answers…

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A second televised debate featuring all three candidates will take place October 29th.

Governor Bobby Jindal was in Ouachita Parish yesterday to survey damage to the area from severe weather that rolled through Monday. The governor said he wanted to get a first-hand assessment of the damage and see what the communities needed most. A line of severe weather damaged hundreds of homes and businesses in Monroe and West Monroe.

There’s a new study out by the Williams Institute at the University of California in Los Angeles which shows allowing same sex couples to marry in Louisiana would be a huge boost to the economy. Michelle Southern reports.

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New Orleans Police Department Interim Superintendent Lt. Michael Harrison has been named the new permanent Police Chief of the NOPD. The announcement came last night during the annual Night Out Against Crime. Harrison, a 23 year veteran of the department, has served as interim chief since the resignation of Ronal Serpas in August.

All three major candidates in Louisiana’s US Senate race appeared in a televised debate last night. Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy’s theme during the majority of the 1 hour debate was about Landrieu voting with President Barack Obama 97% of the time and his intention to vote to get rid of Obamacare if elected…

cut 14 (16) “then vote Bill Cassidy”

The next scheduled televised debate featuring all three candidates is October 29th.

A working group put together by state Senator JP Morrell to review sexual assault policies on Louisiana’s college campuses will meet today. Morrell says today’s meeting will be mostly introductory to try to figure out the key areas they would like colleges to address in implementing sexual assault policies for students…

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The 2014 Louisiana Tax Amnesty period begins today and runs through November 14. Louisiana Department of Revenue Deputy Secretary Jarrod Coniglio says this is a golden opportunity to get up-to-date on late taxes…

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Coniglio says this year’s amnesty is offering something new, an installment plan.

According to a study by the Williams Institute at the University of California in Los Angeles, if same-sex couples were allowed to marry in Louisiana, it would mean an economic boost of over $28 million to the state over three years. Forum for Equality chairman John Denison..

cut 10 (13) “basic civil right”

The study predicts over 4,000 in-state same-sex couples would get married in Louisiana within the first three years.

The three major candidates in the US Senate race appeared in a televised debate last night. Analysts’ have said that US Senator Mary Landrieu needed to take some shots as she’s trailing in the polls to Republican Challenger Bill Cassidy so she went after him early in the debate…

cut 13 (16) ” for his record”

The second televised debate featuring all three major candidates is scheduled for October 29th.

The 2014 Louisiana Tax Amnesty period begins today. During the amnesty period, delinquent tax payers can settle their debt by paying 100-percent of delinquent taxes and 50-percent of interest owed. The Department of Revenue will waive the remaining 50-percent of interest and 100-percent of the penalty that is due. For more information go online to ldrtaxamnesty-dot-com.

The first meeting of a working group put together by state Senator JP Morrell to review sexual assault policies on Louisiana’s college campuses takes place today. The New Orleans lawmaker wants to craft legislation that seeks to prevent sexual assault incidents at higher education institutions in the state. He says they will begin with education…

cut 7 (12) “so to speak”

Morrell says today’s meeting will be mostly introductory to try to figure out the key areas they would like colleges to address in implementing sexual assault policies for students.

Research is underway at Tulane into a finger-prick test which would identify whether or not someone had the Ebola Virus within minutes. Doctor Robert Garry says they are still in the testing phase but getting close with this…:
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Garry’s team received a two-point-nine million dollar grant last June to develop a speedy diagnostic test that health care workers could use.

Entergy reported thousands of customers remained without power Tuesday afternoon after a strong long of thunderstorms caused widespread damage Monday. Govenor Bobby Jindal, who declared a state of emergency yesterday, toured the Monroe/West Monroe area today to survey the damage. Jindal says they are working with affected areas and FEMA is sending preliminary teams to begin damage surveys.

Governor Bobby Jindal has sent a letter to the President seeking to restore funding that helps provide free funerals for military veterans. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David LaCerte says the Obama administration allocates the across the board cuts. He says the National Guard’s ability to perform honor detail for military veterans who have passed will be severely impaired…:
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In the letter Jindal states that 1,100 military funerals were performed by the Louisiana National Guard last year and the cuts would bring that number down below 300.

LSU Coach Les Miles says its his hope quarterback Brandon Harris will get a chance to play Saturday against Kentucky. Miles says they wanted to get Harris on the field against Florida, but the opportunity never presented itself. Anthony Jennings is expected to start against the Wildcats. The last time he played in Tiger Stadium, he was booed off the field after committing three turnovers.

Scientists at Tulane University are feverishly working to develop a finger-prick test that could be used to quickly diagnose whether someone has the Ebola virus. Doctor Robert Garry says using a finger stick is a safer way, and they can get an answer quickly…

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He says it’s still in the testing phase, but in a few weeks they should be ready to present to the Feds.

Fire officials are investigating an early morning trailer fire in Thibodaux that claimed the lives of two people. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the fire department responded to the fire at around one o’clock this morning…

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The names of the victims have not been released as of yet.

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People in the Monroe area are trying to pick up the pieces after severe thunderstorms rolled through the area Monday. Eric Gill has more…

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Seven people have been arrested today for participating in an online sales scam. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says the suspects are believed to be members and affiliates of Romanian organized crime. The suspects are charged with federal racketeering for stealing approximately $1.4 million dollars from more than 500 people.