A new poll on the governor’s race shows Republican David Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards in a statistical tie…
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

If you’re traveling I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, expect delays from lane closures on the Mississippi River Bridge, and I-10 Westbound around Grosse Tete (tate) will be closed until 6 am Monday morning. DOTD suggests 190 as an alternate to sitting in the heat and heavy traffic.
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The lawsuit many thought would be filed by the The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association, challenging the law recently passed that caps the state’s film tax credit program, will not be filed. L-F-E-A President Will French says they will now have a more pro-active approach…
CUT 8 (10) Q: “endorse it”

DCFC policy changes have been made after a 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy was found in a home weighing just 47 pounds and with insect bites. DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier says they are adding medical experts to case examinations to determine allegations of abuse and neglect, then decide more quickly and more efficiently what actions to take during a follow up with a special needs child.
cut 14 (07) “do that”

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association announces they will no longer pursue a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the cap that was placed on the film tax incentive program. LFEA president Will French says instead of engaging in a legal battle, they believe their efforts are better served working with state agencies to make sure the film industry can still thrive…
cut 7 (08) “…new law”

Mississippi-based Triumph Campaigns conducted an automated survey on the governor’s race. Based on 16-hundred responses, Republcian David Vitter received 31-percent, Democrat John Bel Edwards had 30-percent and Republican Scott Angelle had 14-percent. Jeremy Alford of la-politics-dot-com, says it appears Angelle’s TV commercials are working, because he previously polled in the single digits…
cut 4 (06) “…to folks”
Republican Jay Dardenne received 11-percent in this poll.

The Department of Children and Family Services is implementing policy changes after a 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy was found in a home weighing just 47 pounds and with insect bites. DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier says children who are not able to speak and living in terrible conditions will now be assessed by a group of medical professionals….
cut 12 (12) “….the child’
The child’s mother was arrested and her bond was set at 115-thousand dollars today.

State Police has issued a traffic advisory for those motorists who plan on traveling on I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette this week. Trooper Bryan Lee says there will be lane closures for road work just west of the Mississippi River bridge….
cut 10 (07) “….Baton Rouge”

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association drops plans to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new law that capped the film tax credit program. Michelle Southern has the story…
cut 1 (30) “…reporting”

The longtime secretary of former Lafayette Parish District Attorney Mike Harson has been sentenced to 18 months in a federal prison. Sixty-one-year-old Barna Haynes pleaded guility in 2013 for her role in a bribery scheme that involved DWI offenders. She’s been ordered to report to prison by August 20th.

An automated telphone survey conducted by Mississippi-based Triumph Campaigns finds Republican US Senator David Vitter and Democratic State representative John Bel Edwards neck and neck in the governor’s race. Vitter received 31-percent of the vote, while Edwards had 30-percent in a poll of 16-hundred voters. Jeremy Alford of la-politics-dot-com says this poll resembeles similar surveys…
cut 3 (06) “…for a run-off”
The automated poll did not reach cell phone users and it did not ask voters who they would vote for in a run-off.

State Police has issued a traffic advisory as the result of lane closures that will take place this weekend in Grosse Tete, just west of the I-10 Mississippi Bridge. Trooper Bryan Lee says the lane closure is for road improvement work. He says construction crews will be present so use caution…
cut 11 (11) “…distractions”

The Louisiana Film Entertainment Association announces they will not move forward with a lawsuit challenging the law recently passed that caps the state’s film tax credit program. L-F-E-A President Will French says a constitutional challenge is not needed, because they are pleased with how the Jindal administration is interpreting the new law..:
CUT 6 (05) “doing that”
But he says some of the reforms made to the film tax credit program remain concerning for Hollywood and they’ll propose changes for the next governor.

In the wake of a disturbing case this week out of Baton Rouge in which a 15-year-old boy was found by cops having a seizure in his home, stuck to a cot and weighing just 47 pounds, the Department of Children and Family Services says policy changes are going to happen immediately. Secretary Suzy Sonnier…:
CUT 1 (09) “and I own it”

Louisiana State Police is alerting motorists to expect delays when traveling between Lafayette and Baton Rouge on Interstate 10 this weekend. Heavy backups are anticipated as a result of lane closures on the Mississippi River bridge. Trooper Bryan Lee says construction will begin at 8 o’clock tonight…:
CUT 9 (11) “afternoon”
I-10 westbound at Grosse Tete will remain closed until 6:00 am Monday morning.

If you’d like to attend the Miss USA pageant in Baton Rouge Sunday there are still plenty of tickets available. River Center officials said as of the close of Thursday they still had about 1/3 of the seats yet to be filled. The event will air on the Reelz channel at 7pm which isn’t carried by Cox. Tickets available range from $75 to $250. IF you’d like some you can contact the Baton Rouge River Center Box Office.

Presidential campaigning is hitting Louisiana this weekend as Republican nomination contender Jeb Bush visits the Ruston area for a fundraiser. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Bush’s visit means that Governor Bobby Jindal does not hold the support of many Louisiana residents, including prominent Republican supporters…:
CUT 5 (09) “positive thing”
Because of his family name and financial strengths, Stockey considers the former Florida governor to be one of the top Republican candidates.

Country music fans are covering the Big Easy this weekend as Garth Brooks comes back for 4 shows for his first appearance in Louisiana in nearly 2 decades. New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Kristian Sonnier…:
CUT 12 (07) “gone anywhere”

The Louisiana High School Officials Association executive committee meets on Sunday as referees plan to strike over pay and other work conditions. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 3 (30) “reporting”

The Department of Children and Family Services says they are putting new policies in place after a 47 pound malnourished 15-year-old was found in a Baton Rouge home this week living in deplorable conditions. DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier says now case workers will consult with medical professionals in the case of a child who is nonverbal and has special needs.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush is scheduled to visit the Ruston area on Saturday. Scott Carwile has the story…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

Former Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints quarterback Ken Stabler has died as a result of complications associated with colon cancer. He was 69. Nicknamed “The Snake,” Stabler spent the final three years of his career with the Saints between 1982–1984. He led the the Oakland Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory in the 1976 season.

In addition to all of the controversy surrounding the Miss USA pageant in Baton Rouge on Sunday, the event ticket sales are lagging. River Center officials say there are about one-third of the seats still available. NBC dropped out and the pageant will air on the Reelz channel. Lt Governor Jay Dardenne says they haven’t decided if the state will still pay the pageant $50,000 for national exposure..:
CUT 8 (05) “completed”
He says the girls are still having a good time and that’s important.

High School sports could be in jeopardy in the fall as Louisiana High School Officials Association meets Sunday to plan a referee strike. They say they want a pay increase and contracts with schools that stipulate pay and other conditions. But a frustrated LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine schools can not legally enter into a contract with officials and he’s asking for more time…:
CUT 15 (08) “on this”
Bonine says he’ll be at the meeting Sunday.

Many people are asking if there was more that could have been done for the 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy who was found by cops having a seizure, starving and weighing only 47 pounds. The Department of Children and Family Services says they are putting new policies in place to help prevent such deplorable neglect. She also urges more community involvement…:
CUT 2 (13) “I will love them”
Sonnier said the boy is doing much better since being rescued.

State Police is trying to identify a man who was killed in a fatal crash last night in Denham Springs. They say the unidentified male crossed the center line on LA 16 and hit the vehicle of 24-year-old John Bedford of St. Amant head-on. The unidentified male was restrained but suffered fatal injuries. Bedford and his passenger suffered serious injuries. Troopers urge anyone with information regarding the unidentified male to call State Police.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne is hopeful the Miss USA Pageant will still be a success even after the Donald Trump controversy.
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are in New Orleans as are tons of fans gearing up for the four performances this weekend. New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Kristian Sonnier says they have lots going on in the Big Easy to compliment the shows…:
CUT 11 (08) “running of the bulls”
These are Brooks’ first performances in Louisiana in 18 years.

Republican presidential contender Jeb Bush is scheduled to visit the Ruston area this weekend for a fundraiser. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says this visit is not surprising, as many candidates are using this time to travel the nation to receive endorsements and financial backing…:
CUT 4 (09) “in Louisiana”
He believes this is a sign Republican supporters in Louisiana aren’t pulling for Governor Bobby Jindal.

One of the suspects in the murder of a man from Zachary claims she was repeatedly raped by him since she was four years old according to court documents. 17-year-old Brittany Monk and her boyfriend, Jace Crehan, are accused of strangling and stabbing Robert Noce in his home where he was discovered in a plastic drum on Saturday. Noce had recently begun serving probation after a no contest plea to carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Authorities aren’t confirming whether Monk is the girl Noce was convicted of sexually abusing.

Despite all the controversy surrounding Donald Trump, his Miss USA pageant goes on as scheduled this Sunday night in Baton Rouge. It won’t be shown on NBC as previously scheduled but it will be shown on the Reelz network and locally in Baton Rouge. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says the ladies are still enjoying their time in the Capitol City and around Louisiana…:
CUT 7 (07) “in Baton Rouge”
Trump is taking alot of heat over comments he made about Mexican immigrants.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man was killed in a house fire and they believe it was because he was smoking while he was in bed. They say 62-year-old George Welch of Luling perished in the blaze and his wife told investigators she attempted to extinguish the fire on a mattress where her unresponsive husband lay. Fire officials found an ashtray near where the fire began.

In the wake of a disturbing case this week out of Baton Rouge in which a 15-year-old boy was found by cops having a seizure in his home, stuck to a cot covered in bug bites and weighing just 47 pounds, the Department of Children and Family Services says policy changes are going to happen immediately. Secretary Suzy Sonnier…:
CUT 1 (09) “and I own it”
She says case workers will now work with medical professionals to determine whether caretakers are capable of caring for children with special needs.

The executive committee of the Louisiana High School Officials Association meets on Sunday as referees plan to strike. The association’s president Paul LaRosa says officials are not only looking for a pay increase…:
Cut 13 (08) “trying to fix”
The LHSAA is asking for more time to figure out a compromise.

Country music superstar Garth Brooks and wife Trisha Yearwood arrive today to start the first of four World Tour shows in New Orleans this weekend. New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Kristian Sonnier says this tour should bring in large numbers of visitors…:
Cut 10 (03) “here in town”
Brooks hasn’t been in Louisiana for nearly two decades.

Former Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints quarterback Ken Stabler has died as a result of complications associated with colon cancer. According to his family, Stabler died in Gulfport, Miss. He was 69. Nicknamed “The Snake,” Stabler spent the final three years of his career with the Saints between 1982–1984. He led the Oakland Raiders to their first Super Bowl victory in the 1976 season.

The US Army has announced a soldier reduction of 388 at Fort Polk. It’s part of a troop reduction of 40-thousand that’s impacting Army bases across the country. Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese is glad the Army spared major cuts to the Vernon Parish military base…
cut 12 (10) “…6,500″
Reese says their main focus now is to prevent future reductions.

Tragic story out of Avoyelles Parish as authorities say a seven-year-old was the victim in an apparent murder-suicide. Sheriff Doug Anderson says they believe 28-year-old Ryan Recktenwald killed his young daughter and then turned the gun on himself…
cut 8 (10) “…week or so”
Anderson says the two bodies were found laying in a field in the Vick area.

An online portal set up by the Department of Education is accepting public comments about Common Core. Emelie Gunn spoke with a state lawmaker about the review process…
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s office says a man has died after he tried to steal copper from a utility pole. Spokesman Chris Ivey says 51-year-old Jesse Jones III of Reeves was electrocuted while trying to yank down copper wire from poles near US Highway 165…:
CUT 9 (09) “your heart”
Jones was pronounced dead and three others were arrested on theft charges.