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.

The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man shot and killed his 7-year-old daughter, then turned the gun on himself in an apparent murder/suicide. Sheriff Doug Anderson says they got a 911 call around 8:50pm Wednesday evening in reference to two bodies laying in a field in the Vick area…:
CUT 6 (08) “shot to death”
Many questions still remain as to why Ryan Recktenwald would even do this.

Even though 388 soldiers from Fort Polk have been cut, resulting from the Army’s nation-wide troop reduction, officials are relieved that the base will not be touched by the reductions. He says their main concern was cuts to the depolyable combat brigade, there will be no loses there…
cut 13 (08) “that value”
That’s Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese.
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Public comments are coming in about Common Core, after the State Department of Education set up an online portal fo feedback on the curriculum. This is part of the review process supported by Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann. Those comments will be reviewed next month by educators and other experts, who will provide BESE with possible changes to Common Core….
CUT 4 (11) “moving forward”
To make your comments, visit louisiana-dot-state standards-dot-com.

The investigation continues in Zachary following a discovery of the body of a sex offender. Authorities found 47-year-old Robert Noce had been stabbed, strangled and stuffed in a plastic drum at his home. A 21-year-old man and 17-year-old woman-have been charged in his murder. The woman is listed in court documents as one of Doce’s victims.

The State Department of Education has set up an online portal to accept comments from the public about Common Core. It’s part of the extensive review process of the controversial English and math standards. Lake Charles Rep. Brett Geymann helped set up this up…
CUT 3 (10) “development”
The online comments are being accepted at louisiana-dot-statestandards-dot-com.

An Avoyelles Parish man has shot and killed his 7 year-old daughter, and then turned the gun on himself…
CUT 7 (09) Q: “only 7 years old”
That’s Sheriff Doug Anderson, who says they have no idea why 28 year-old Ryan Recktenwald would do this. He says investigators are interviewing people that knew the father.
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The Army announce 388 soldiers will be cut from Fort Polk…
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has outlined his proposal to relocate prominent Confederate monuments-including the Robert E Lee statue at Lee Circle and the Jefferson Davis statue on Jefferson Davis Parkway; a roadway he says that also needs to be renamed. After some rather heated discussion in a city council meeting today, Landrieu says there should be a 60-day discussion period to begin the process of removing the Confederate symbols.

The investigation continues in East Baton Rouge Parish into the stabbing and strangling of a sex offender in Zachary. Authorities found 47-year-old Robert Noce’s body in a plastic drum. Noce was serving probation for a sex crime involving a child. A 21-year-old man and 17-year-old woman -have been charged in his murder. The woman is listed in court documents as one of Doce’s victims.

An online portal to accept comments from the public about Common Core has been set up by the State Department of Education. Lake Charles Rep. Brett Geymann helped set it up, and – as part of the review process- he says the new governor, legislature and BESE will have a say on what changes could be made…
CUT 5 (10) Q: ‘their opinion’
He says you can provide public comments at louisiana.statestandards.com.
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A Reeves man has died after he tried to steal copper from a utility pole in Jeff Davis Parish. Chris Ivey with the sheriff’s office criminal investigations division, says 51-year-old Jesse Jones III was electrocuted while trying to yank down copper wire from poles near Highway 165…
CUT 10 (07) Q: “of utilities”
Three other men were involved in the attempt and were arrested on theft charges.

The 388 solider reduction at Fort Polk has been announced by the US Army, which is implementing a nation-wide troop reduction of 40-thousand at bases around the nation. While Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese is relieve the Vernon Parish base was spared major cuts, he wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again….
CUT 14 (11) Q: “of service”

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 (31) “….reporting”

Court documents show that one of the two individuals charged with murder in East Baton Rouge Parish was a sex crime victim of the man who was killed. Robert Noce of Zachary was found stuffed in a drum at his home. He was indicted for aggravated rape and court records list the 17-year-old arrested for his murder as the victim.

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.

In nearby Jefferson Davis Parish, authorities say 51-year-old Jesse Jones the third of Reeves was electroecuted while trying to steal copper from utility polls. Chris Ivey, with the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s office, says three men who were also involved in the stealing of the copper wire, were the ones that alerted the authorities about the electrocution…
cut 11 (10) “…the ground”
Jones was pronounced dead at a Lake Charles hospital and the three others were arrested on theft charges.

The US Army has confirmed that Fort Polk in Vernon Parish will lose 388 soldiers and other personnel over the next two years as part of a reduction plan that will reduce the number of troops nationally by 40-thousand. Fort Polk officials say this is actually good news, because there was a concern that the cuts would be worse.

Parents, teachers and students who want to provide public comments about Common Core can now so at an online portal set up by the state department of education. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymman says the comments will be used as part of the review process for the controversial educational standards…
cut 4 (11) “…moving forward”
As part of the review process, Geymann says the new governor, legislature and BESE will have a say on what changes could be made.

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.

The investigation continues in East Baton Rouge Parish into the stabbing and strangling of a sex offender in Zachary. Authorities found 47-year-old Robert Noce in a plastic drum. Noce was serving probation for a sex crime involving a child. A 21-year-old man and 17-year-old woman have been charged in his murder. Authorities are not commenting on whether the slaying is connected to the conviction.