President Biden pardoned thousands of persons convicted of federal marijuana possession last week, and challenged state governors to follow suit. It took no time for Governor John Bel Edwards to be asked the question, and he says Mr. Biden made the right call…:

CUT 10(09)      “…actually legal.”

Edwards says, however, that he does not have sole authority to grant state pardons. They must first be applied for then go through the state parole board before they are referred to him.

Louisiana has received $270 million in federal cash to repair local bridges. The money comes from the bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  DOTD closed 25 of them last year and 31 so far this year. Most are in rural areas. Spokesman Rodney Mallet says bridges that are too weak to carry full loads are already causing headaches…:

CUT 07(11)      “…and time.”

For the first time in the Louisiana Lottery’s 31-year history, a $20 scratch-off game is part of a multiplier-themed family of games. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the new option goes on sale today they‘re called 5X, 10X, 20X, 50X, and 100X and they sell respectively for one, two, five, ten, and twenty dollars…:

CUT 04(10)      “…to win.”

The New Orleans Saints all-purpose player Taysom Hill ran for three touchdowns and THREW for a fourth as the Saints broke their losing streak with a 39-32 win over Seattle yesterday. Hill says, statistically, it was big best NFL game ever..:

CUT 16(12)      “…when it came up.”

The Saints host Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals next Sunday.

Louisiana’s winningest college basketball coach ever, Coach Mike McConathy, is considering running for public office. McConathy won 682 games in 39 years as coach at Northwestern State for 23 seasons and at Bossier Community College before that. He’s looking at the District 31 state Senate seat, which covers ten parishes in northwest and central Louisiana. McConathy says he has a good feel for the people and what they want & need…:

CUT 10  (09)        “…possibly can.”

Shreveport state Representative Alan Seabaugh – a fellow Republican – has already announced he will run for that Senate seat as well.

LSU fans may be a bit concerned that starting Left Tackle Will Campbell is out for today’s game against Tennessee. Campbell shared a picture of himself in a hospital bed on social media with the caption, “Appreciate all the prayers. I’ll be back.” We have no word on what’s wrong with him. Kickoff is at 11 in Tiger Stadium.

A 14-year-old student at East Ouachita Parish Middle School was taken into custody, after he allegedly distributed homemade treats – laced with some kind of drug – to classmates. At least three kids got sick and were taken to the hospital. They will be OK. Ouachita Sheriff’s spokesman Glenn Springfield says the suspect was taken to Green Oaks Detention Center…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…being the school.”
The crime lab will determine exactly what was in the treats.

State Wildlife & Fisheries proposes reducing the limit on speckled trout from 25 to 15 per person, while increasing the max size by an inch and a half. Kevin Ford, host of the “Let’s Geaux Fishing” TV show, says many anglers can live with the reduced number, but the size limit is another matter…:

CUT 03  (09)        “…happen to it.”

Three kids at East Ouachita Middle School had to be taken to a hospital, after falling sick from homemade candy; laced with some kid of drug and given to them by a fellow student. Ouachita Sheriff’s spokesman Glenn Springfield says deputies investigated and located a 14-year-old student still in possession of some of the cagey confections…:

CUT 12  (10)        “…similar narcotic.”

The crime lab will determine exactly WHAT was in the candy. The sick kids will all be OK.

Tropical Storm Julia has formed in the Caribbean Sea between the coasts of Colombia and Nicaragua. It’s maximum winds are at about 50 miles-an-hour and it’s moving quickly – about 18 miles-an-hour to the west. It should be near the Pacific coast of Guatemala by Monday. Will it turn north and head for the Gulf? At this time that is unclear.

The number of wildlife rehab centers in Louisiana has dwindled to only four, and they are feeling the pinch as their patient loads increase…:

CUT 02(33)      …Thorington.”

The family of a 17-year-old girl who was found dead Monday at the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville is speaking out and wanting answers. The Avoyelles Parish coroner says Giah Barrere was not stabbed or shot, but that is all. Tunica Biloxi Tribal Police says they are investigating and once they have information, they will share it. Giah was known to have some mental health issues and problems with substance abuse.

You may be headed out to catch some fish this morning. You’ll probably want to know that Wildlife & Fisheries is proposing lowering your limit on speckled trout, in an effort to conserve the species…:

CUT 01  (30)        “…Golsby”

Going to the LSU – Tennessee game this morning? Know that a film crew will also be there filming scenes for the upcoming feature, “The Mascot.” They’ll be getting crowd shots for the full-length feature to be released in 2023. So you might end up in a movie. Kickoff is at 11am

Louisiana’s all-time winningest college basketball coach, Mike McConathy, is considering a run for political office. The former Northwestern State and Bossier Parish Community College coach says he’s looking at running for the District 31 state senate seat, which covers ten parishes in northwest and central Louisiana…:

CUT 09(10)      “…to people.”

McConathy won 682 games in 39 seasons as a head coach. He retired as the head coach at Northwestern State earlier this year after 23 seasons.

With attorney General Jeff Landry’s early announcement that he will run for Governor in 2023, we now also have three candidates declared to run to replace Landry as the state’s top prosecutor. Current solicitor general Liz Murrill, Landry’s “First Officer” of sorts…Crowley state Representative John Stefanski, and John Belton, the District attorney for Louisiana’s 3^rd Judicial District, which covers Lincoln and Union Parishes. Belton has been handling the case of Ronald Greene, who died in 2019 while in State Police Custody.

Sheriff’s deputies in St. Tammany Parish says they have identified the victim in a 2016 homicide. The man’s remains were found badly decomposed, with both arms and a leg missing. A foot was found in Biloxi in 2019, and used to make a DNA match with Kleanthis Konstantinidis. However, this does not solve his murder. That case is ongoing.

In a move that will almost certainly upset sport fishermen, the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries is strongly considering reducing the limit on speckled trout; from 25 to 15 fish per person. The move is to head off reducing numbers of trout, as coastal lands erode and sea levels rise – threatening their habitat. Kevin Ford hosts the “Let’s Geaux Fishing” TV show. He says fishermen will get used to the change, but “specks” aren’t the only species under threat…:

CUT 05(08)      “…in 2023.”

The state’s all-time winningest college basketball coach may be entering politics. Retired Northwestern State coach Mike McConathy won 682 games in 39 seasons – both there and at Bossier Community College. Now he’s thinking of the District 31 state Senate seat. He says he should be making an announcement soon…”

CUT 11(11)      “…get after it.”

McConathy is 66 and a Republican.

Three kids at East Ouachita Middle School got sick from eating homemade candy; likely laced with some kind of drug and given to them by a classmate. Ouachita Sheriff’s spokesman Glenn Springfield says they located and arrested a 14-year-old, who was still in possession of some of the candy…:

CUT 12(10)      “…similar narcotic.”

The state crime lab will analyze the candy to see what is in it.

Biologists say coastal erosion and rising sea levels are shrinking the habitats for some of Louisiana’s favorite fish—so the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries is proposing big changes to speckled trout limits. Marsanne Golsby reports.

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Marsanne Golsby.”

______________________________________

The number of wildlife rehab centers in Louisiana has dwindled to four and they are feeling the pinch as their patient loads increase.

Cut 2 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologists are recommending big changes on limits affecting speckled trout fishing. Right now the limit is 25 fish per person, with a 13-and-a-half-inch size limit instead of 12 inches.  Kevin Ford is the host of Let’s Go Fishing. He says the 15-fish limit isn’t controversial, but the size limit is.

Cut 3 (09) “..happen to it.” 

Ford believes the proposed changes will be approved and go into effect early next year. The current 25-fish limit is the most liberal in the country. He says Louisiana’s fishing tourism industry is strong and the changes probably won’t hurt it. He says people who come from out of state come for the whole experience. He says Louisiana fishers might not like the changes but they will adjust.

Cut 4 (08) “…at fifteen.” 

Biologists say the speckled trout and other fish are losing some of their habitats due to coastal erosion and rising sea levels. Ford says the speckled trout population is not the only one in trouble.

Cut 5 (08) “…in 2023.” 

___________________________________________________

Now that the state has only four centers accepting injured or orphaned wildlife, Acadiana Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Director Letitia Labbie (La-bay) says they’ve seen a drastic increase among birds of prey and the arrival is steady.

Cut 6 (12)  “…into the wild.” 

She says her average patient load increased by 200 this year at their Youngsville facility and they need donations to help offset costs. Labbie says they are regulated by State Wildlife so they must have specialized cages and more birds mean more food.

Cut 7 (08) “…recently.”

And that’s just owls, food expenses are close to $65,000 annually.

Assisting with the preservation of birds, Labbie says is important for the environment and it’s also extremely helpful with eradicating pests. For example, one owl depending on the species can consume up to five mice nightly.

Cut 8 (11)  “…themselves.”

To make a donation visit AcadianaWildlife-dot-org-slash-donate.

__________________________________________

Louisiana’s all-time winningest college basketball coach, Mike McConathy, is considering a run at political office. The former Northwestern State and Bossier Parish Community College coach says he’s looking at running for the District 31 state senate seat, which covers ten parishes in northwest and central Louisiana…

Cut 9 (10)  “…to people.”

McConathy won 682 games in 39 seasons as a head coach. He retired as the head coach at Northwestern State earlier this season after 23 seasons. His first 16 seasons as a head coach were at Bossier Parish Community College. McConathy believes he has a good feeling for the needs of the area…

Cut 10 (09) “…possibly can” 

McConathy is 66-years-old and is a Republican who lives in Natchitoches. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh has already announced he’s running for the seat and McConathy expects to make an official announcement soon…

Cut 11 (11)  “…get after it”

___________________________________

After three students got ill from consuming homemade candy at East Ouachita Middle School on Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office was called to look into the matter. Glenn Springfield spokesperson for the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says deputies also located a 14-year-old suspect with the candy in his possession.

Cut 12 (10) “…similar narcotic.”

Three students who consumed the laced candy have been released from the hospital and Springfield says the suspect was taken to Green Oaks Detention Center

Cut 13 (12) “…being the school.” 

And with colorful fentanyl pills making headlines warning parents to check their children’s Halloween candy, Springfield says the laced candy incident in East Ouachita Middle School is another example of why parents should discuss the topic with their children.

Cut 14 (10)  “…from happening.” 

The candy from East Ouachita Middle School has been turned over to the state crime lab for analysis.

Next Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in-person or by mail in Louisiana before the November 8^th election. Register in-person at any Registrar of Voter’s Office, DMV, WIC or Food Stamp Office, or Medicaid Office. You’ll have to bring your license or your birth certificate and a utility bill or paycheck that proves where you live.

Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrest a 14-year-old for handing out homemade candy laced with some kind of drug; possibly cannabis or meth. At least three students got sick from it. They’ve been treated and released from the hospital. OPSO’s Glenn Springfield says this is the kind of stuff parents need to discuss with their kids…:

CUT 14(10)      “…from happening.”

There is growing concern about so-called Rainbow Fentanyl, which looks like candy but can easily be fatal.

A Bossier Parish mother says she will sue the local school system to get answers and action, after her 2^nd-grade child came home badly bruised and limping in mid-September. The 7-year-old says he was bullied, then attacked by a classmate. The school system says there’s little they can do because the perpetrator is too young to be held criminally culpable.

The number of wildlife rehab centers in Louisiana has dwindled to four and they are feeling the pinch as their patient loads of orphaned or injured critters increase…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington”

A Ouachita Parish teen has been arrested for distributing homemade candy laced with narcotics, which made at least three middle school students sick. OPSO spokesman Glenn Springfield says deputies investigating located a 14-year-old who still had some of candy in his possession. That youth is now in Green Oaks Detention Center…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…being the school”

The candy will be analyzed by the state crime lab.

Now that the state has only four centers accepting injured or orphaned wildlife, Acadiana Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Director Letitia Labbie says they’ve seen a drastic increase among birds of prey and the arrival is steady…:

CUT 06(12)      “…into the wild.”

Biologists with the state Department of wildlife & Fisheries proposes changes to your limit on speckled trout. Right now, the limit is 25 per person. They want to reduce that limit to 15. Kevin Ford hosts a weekly “Let’s Go Fishing” radio program,. He says no one will like that change, but they’ll adjust…:

CUT 04(08)      “…at fifteen.”

Biologists says coastal erosion is threatening the trout’s habitat.

Louisiana’s all-time winningest college basketball coach, Mike McConathy, is considering a run at political office. The former Northwestern State and Bossier Parish Community College coach says he’s looking at running for the District 31 state senate seat, which covers ten parishes in northwest and central Louisiana…:

CUT 09(10)      “…to people.”

The 66-year-old is a Republican.

Louisiana is expected to see major job growth over the next two years even amid a predicted national recession. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(34)      “…Thorington.”

Lafayette High was placed on lockdown for some time today, as cops checked up on social media threats of violence. At least two students were taken into custody. In St. Martin Parish, St. Martinville Junior High was evacuated to investigate a reported bomb on the campus. After a thorough search, no bomb was found. The “all clear” was given at about 1:30. Just kids having fun…?

Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture Mike Strain says he’s been meeting with USDA officials on how to create a better mechanism for farmers to receive assistance when they are impacted by natural disasters. He’s hoping revisions will be added to the new farm bill and he says they may look at having “ag” added to the Stafford Act…:

CUT 09(08)      “…separate appropriation.”

Strain says there’s no standard on how natural disaster funding is handled when they lobby congress for assistance for farmers. Each time he says it’s processed differently, which isn’t good.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is off to a perky start of a year of campaigning for Governor. Landry says he wants to get Louisiana off the bottom of by-state rankings…:

CUT 05(09)      “…put up with that.”

Though many names are mentioned as being interested in running, Landry is first to make it official.

State Attorney General Jeff Landry is now officially a candidate for Governor in 2023, and he certainly sounds like one. He says, as the governor, he’ll focus on reducing crime, improving education and the state’s economy. Landry says he’ll get out there and spend some time with voters and then release a detailed plan on addressing those…:

CUT 04(11)      “…being last.”

Landry is expected to gather a LOT of company in the race to be the state’s next governor next year.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the feds need a standard procedure for doling out disaster aid for farmers, and he’ll go to Washington soon to discuss getting that done. Strain says natural disasters can set farmers back badly, as with Hurricane Ian last week in Florida…:

CUT 11(12)      “…pay that bill.”

Louisiana will get a pot of federal dollars to help promote the bayou state in other countries, like Spain, Italy and India. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says we were growing internationally as a tourist destination, and then COVID hit…:

CUT 06(09)      “…breaking numbers.”

Nungesser plans a promotional trip to Australia soon to invite the Aussies to enjoy what Louisiana has to offer.

Federal and local authorities have busted an international drug ring that was operating out of a lavish sprawling home on the banks of Baton Rouge’s LSU lakes. Five men and a woman were arrested; some of them foreign nationals. Hundreds of thousands in illegal drug cash was stashed in the home; inside air vents, nooks, crannies and even in the center of a large decorative column. They also found loaded guns stowed all over the home.