In the most recent televised gubernatorial debate, the three major candidates discussed Louisiana’s budget problems. Emelie Gunn has more..

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Internationally-known Louisiana superstar chef Paul Prudhomme has died following a brief illness. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of its deputy who was killed in an off-duty crash involving a juvenile driver. 32-year-old Deputy Troy Verheyden was killed in the Tuesday night crash in Deville.  Lt. Tommy Carnline says State Police conducted the investigation into the crash…

CUT 3 (11)  “the intersection”

Authorities say a car, driven by a 16-year-old juvenile, ran a stop sign and collided with a truck driven by Deputy Verheyden. Verheyden was pronounced dead at the scene. Carnline says Verheyden had been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2013…

CUT 4 (09)  “2006 to 2010″

The two juveniles in the car received moderate injuries and were transported to local hospitals. Deputy Verheyden leaves behind a wife, a daughter, and a son. Carnline says the public outpouring of support is appreciated by the Verheyden family and the Sheriff’s Office…

CUT 5 (10) “tragedy like this”

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In the latest televised gubernatorial debate, three of the candidates discussed how they would solve the state’s budget problems. Republican Jay Dardenne says he would consider an income tax increase on residents but also look at other options as well…

CUT 6 (11) “options are” 

Democrat John Bel Edwards says he will not raise personal income tax because we don’t have to do that to tackle our budget problems. He says he will expand the Medicaid programs to create more money and lower tax rates.

CUT 7 (09)  “dollars home”

Republican David Vitter did not attend the debate because he was attending to business in Washington D.C. Republican Scott Angelle says we don’t have a revenue problem in Louisiana, we have a priority problem and he plans to create a commission to look at the various tax breaks the state gives out.

CUT 8 (08)  “to Louisiana”

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State Police say a 5-year-old child was struck and killed by a passing vehicle on LA 83 in St. Mary Parish. Master Trooper Brooks David said the child was outside chasing his dog when the animal ran into the road…:

CUT 9 (09)  “in time”

David says the driver of the vehicle traveling on the road at the time, 38-year-old James Hopkins III of Baldwin, hit the dog and the child…:

cut 10 (05)  “into angry people”

David says the crash took place when it was dark outside, around 7:30pm Wednesday. He says Hopkins was properly restrained and is not suspected of being impaired so he will not be cited in this incident…:

Cut 11 (11)  “was unable to”

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Internationally-known Louisiana superstar chef Paul Prudhomme has died following a brief illness. Prudohmme’s New Orleans restaurant, K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, confirmed the news this morning. Wendy Waren, Vice-President of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, says this is a tremendous loss for the Louisiana restaurant family…

cut 12 (13)  “John Folse”

The Opelousas native was 75-years-old. Prudhomme first gained fame as a chef at Commander’s Palace where he became executive chef in 1975. In 1979, he opened K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen and introduced the blackened redfish craze. Waren says part of Prudhomme’s popularity was his personable, relatable personality, but it was the food kept people coming back…

cut 13 (10)  “and produce”

Over the years Prudhomme authored nine cookbooks and hosted five nationally televised cooking shows on PBS. In 2013 Prudhomme was inducted into the Culinary Hall of Fame. Waren says Chef Paul was one of the first people to promote Louisiana cuisine to the world…

cut 14 (07)  “contact with”

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The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness sends personnel to South Carolina in response to the devastating floods. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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 A U-L Lafayette grad student took an alternate route when it came to developing her thesis project and it benefits women who love the water. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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LSU is getting ready to host a football game on Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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With the unexpected change of venue to Baton Rouge for the LSU-South Carolina game the Capital City is getting a little extra tourism. President of Visit Baton Rouge Paul Arrigo says they’re excited to welcome the fans from all over and hope everyone has enough time to make plans and attend the game.

cut 4  (09)  “positive impact”

Arrigo says although Baton Rouge is hosting a soccer tournament, a major business conference and a beer festival this weekend, the city is able to handle an unexpected increase in visitors.

Cut 5  (10)  “again and again”

Since the South Carolina game was originally a road game for LSU, Arrigo says many people already have plans for this weekend, and that includes weddings, but he hopes people can adjust their schedules to go to the games.

Cut 6 (11)  “to them”

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The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is sending personnel to South Carolina in response to the devastating floods impacting the state. Director Kevin Davis says South Carolina sent his office a request for assistance…

CUT 7 (06)  “South Carolina”

He says personnel from his office will work with South Carolina officials in conducting damage assessments. Davis says South Carolina requested aid through the federal Emergency Management Assistance Compact…

Cut 8  (09)  “relief efforts”

He says GOHSEP stands ready to help those in other states who face disasters such as this one. Davis says damage assessment can be exhausting work and our friends in South Carolina definitely need support…

Cut 9 (07) “on the ground” 

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U-L Lafayette industrial design graduate student Kate Brown decided to take an alternative route for her senior thesis project. Brown entered the Innovations in Life Jacket Design Competition where she designed a comfortable and form fitting life preserver, made especially for women. She says growing up on the water in Basile, she found regular life jackets didn’t let her move comfortably.

Cut 10 (09) “connection with”

Brown says her live jacket is different from traditional vests because it’s specially designed to fit a more feminine body form. She says the Comfort Flex Life Vest has a relief cut under the arms so it won’t ride up over your shoulders while in the water.

cut 11 (10) “to it”

 Brown came in third place and won two-thousand dollars in the competition. She says she’s now working to get a patent and wants to ensure the life vest meets Coast Guard approval.

Cut 12 (08) “safety requirements”

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LSU football season ticket holders have until 5 PM Thursday night to purchase tickets for Saturday’s game against South Carolina in Tiger Stadium. At six PM Thursday, tickets will be available to the general public. LSU Athletics Director Joe Alleva says since they only had a short time to prepare for Saturday’s game, lines at concession stands could be longer than usual

Cut 13 (09)  “normally do”

A decision was made Wednesday morning to re-locate the game from Columbia, South Carolina, because of severe flooding in the Palmetto state. Alleva says they will attempt to make South Carolina feel at home, but they are NOT painting the field in Gamecock colors

Cut 14 (11) “LSU game”

Alleva says at this time they are not anticipating a crowd of 100-thousand for Saturday’s 2:30 kickoff, but they hope to have a great atmosphere inside Tiger Stadium….

Cut 15  (10)  “both teams”

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The UL Lafayette football team is getting ready for its first Sun Belt game of the year as they host Texas State on Saturday. The Cajuns are a disappointing 1-3 and coming off two straight blowout losses. But Coach Mark Hudspeth says a new season starts this Saturday…

Cut 16  (15)  “five years”

Turnovers are one reason for the Cajuns slow start. They’ve turned it over eight times and only forced three turnovers. Hudspeth says that trend needs to change…

Cut 17 (13) “field position” 

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Undefeated McNeese State is getting ready to host two-time Southland conference champion, Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday. The Cowboys are 4-0 and have allowed only 27 points this season. McNeese Coach Matt Viator says his defense is playing with a lot of confidence, but the Lions offense presents some big challenges

Cut 18 (18) “they do”

The Lions are 3-and-1 overall, coming off a 30-27 win over Lamar. S-L-U quarterback D’Shaie Landor threw for 283 yards in that game and his coach, Ron Roberts, says Landor is healthy now and ready to perform at a high level…

Cut 19 (19) “to stop”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards’ newest campaign ad spotlights his anti-abortion position by sharing a personal story. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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The LSU Faculty Senate has voted to censure LSU President F. King Alexander for firing a tenured professor. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The newest campaign ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Bel Edwards spotlights his anti-abortion position by sharing a personal story. In the commercial, Edwards’ wife Donna tells of how the couple decided to carry their first child to term after being advised by a doctor to abort the pregnancy. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says Edwards is sending a strong message…

CUT 3 (07)  “powerful advertisement”

Donna says they were advised to end the pregnancy after it was discovered the unborn child had spina bifida. The commercial features family photos that include pictures from Edwards’ time in the Army. Stockley says this is a way for Edwards to remind voters of his background…

CUT 4 (08)  “in this race”

Samantha Edwards is now 20-years-old and, according to the commercial, is getting married next spring. Stockley feels the final line in the ad, “John Bel Edwards lives his values every day”, is a subtle shot at Republican candidate David Vitter…

CUT 5 (10) “on his record”

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This Saturday’s LSU-South Carolina football game has been moved to Baton Rouge because of the catastrophic flooding in the Columbia, South Carolina area. The announcement was made just after 10:30 this morning, shortly after Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier appeared on the SEC Coaches teleconference

CUT 6 (12) “against LSU” 

LSU Coach Les Miles says the uncertainty on where the game will be played has not been a distraction for his team…

CUT 7 (09)  “in play”

In 2005, LSU had to move one of its scheduled home game against Arizona State to Tempe, Arizona because of Hurricane Katrina. So Miles understands what Spurrier and the Gamecocks are going through. LSU won that game in 2005 and Miles credits the players…

CUT 8 (09)  “great leadership”

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In a blog post following the mass shooting at an Oregon community college, Governor Bobby Jindal says the gunman’s father is partly to blame for the deadly incident. Jindal says the killer’s father was never in his son’s life and failed to raise his son. LSU Health Sciences Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Kristopher Kaliebe (ka-LEE-bee) says the governor does have a point.

CUT 9 (10)  “within their family”

The gunman’s father says he had not seen his son in the two years since he moved to Oregon with his mother. Kaliebe says it’s true that when children are not raised in warm loving households, bad results can happen…

cut 10 (09)  “into angry people”

The gunman killed nine people and wounded nine others before turning a gun on himself. Kaliebe says lack of parental guidance is just part of the issue… (The mother of the shooter told investigators that her son was struggling with mental health issues.)

Cut 11 (11)  “parental involvement”

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The LSU Faculty Senate has voted to censure LSU President F. King Alexander and two other individuals for the firing of a teacher who is accused of using profanity and sexual content that allegedly made students feel comfortable. Early childhood education teacher Teresa Buchanan was a tenured professor and dismissed in June. LSU Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope says they’re disappointed how Alexander handled the situation…

cut 12 (09)  “the future”

In a statement from F. King Alexander, he says students have the right to learn in an environment free of sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Cope says they’re not talking about the guilt or innocence of the teacher, just the process by which she was fired.

cut 13 (11)  “was inflicted”

Alexander says LSU firmly supports tenure but when the rare exception occurs, action must be taken to prevent the continuation of the damaging and counterproductive environments. Cope says the censure is a signal from the academic community that Alexander isn’t providing the kind of leadership needed at LSU.

cut 14 (10)  “great university”

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As we enter deer mating and hunting season, the chances for drivers hitting a deer go up. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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We’re expecting a decision today on whether the LSU football game against South Carolina will be played in Columbia on Saturday. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Louisiana’s Bayou Rum is partnering with the Stoli Group so it can grow nationally. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (26) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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We’re in the peak months where drivers are most likely to collide with deer now that mating and hunting season are here. State Farm Spokesperson Roszell Gadson says their found Louisiana is ranked number 41^st in the country for car crashes involving deer.

cut 4  (09)  “in 335”

Gadson says it’s interesting that neighboring Mississippi actually ranks 8^th in the country. He says Louisiana could rank so low for a variety of reasons.

Cut 5  (10)  “being developed”

Gadson says not only is it dangerous when a deer hits your car but it’s very expensive with costs up to almost 4-thousand dollars for repairs. He advises drivers to always pay attention while on the road and limit distractions while driving.

Cut 6 (11)  “the road”

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We’re expecting a decision today on whether the LSU football game against South Carolina will be played in Columbia on Saturday. Officials said Tuesday that Williams Brice Stadium was spared significant damage from rain and flooding, but the city remains in response mode. Paul Cannell, with Alpha Media in Columbia, says he drives by the stadium everyday…:

CUT 7 (10)  “to go to the game”

USC Athletic Director Ray Tanner said the concerns about keeping the game as scheduled include the amount of law enforcement they use around the Midlands for such an event. Cannell says the areas where USC opposing teams and their fans usually stay for games were not heavily impacted by this event…:

Cut 8  (10)  “fine there”

Tanner also said the field conditions at Williams-Brice are good despite the heavy rain. Cannell says LSU fans always bring in a lot of money to the city’s hotels, restaurants and bars..and that’s something they look forward to when USC hosts the Tigers. He also says the game would be a nice morale boost for the community…:

Cut 9 (06) “this is important” 

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 Louisiana’s very own Bayou Rum is now partnering with the New York-based Stoli Group to nationally distribute their liquor made from sugarcane. Co-founder and President of Louisiana Spirits, the producer of Bayou Rum, Trey Litel says this is really big for their company based in Lacassine because the partnership will help the company expand throughout the country and eventually internationally.

Cut 10 (12) “by 2017”

 Litel says Stoli Group decided to join up with Bayou Rum because they were looking for a company that understands the importance for a good quality product and superior craftsmanship.

cut 11 (10) “our future”

 Litel says the partnership with Stoli Group will begin in January of 2016 and until then, their distributors will keep selling Bayou Rum in the seven states where it’s currently sold. He says over the past two years they’ve won more than 65 awards and are on their way to being the leading American rum on the market.

Cut 12 (08) “Americas rum

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 McDonald’s is now selling breakfast items 24 hours a day. Officials with the fast-food chain say they came to this decision after listening to customer requests. LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice says they’re hoping to bring in customers who normally don’t eat lunch or dinner at McDonalds.

Cut 13 (08)  “the day”

 Rice says the downside, people who usually buy burgers and more expensive items, might be tempted to purchase cheaper breakfast foods.

Cut 14 (06) “who knows”

 McDonald’s became a worldwide business because of its hamburger. But Rice says it’s a positive PR move by McDonald’s for listening to what the customers want, after recently having a bad reputation doing that….

Cut 15  (10)  “the heritage”

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LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says the Tigers are in a wait-and-see mode when it comes to where Saturday’s game against South Carolina will be played. Massive flooding in the Columbia, South Carolina, area may result in the relocation of the game and Tiger Stadium is one option under consideration. Bonnette says the logistical issues are greater, if the game is played at a neutral site

Cut 16  (13)  “come here”

The comments were made on W-W-L Radio in New Orleans. Bonnette expects a final decision on Wednesday and he says it’s not impossible for LSU to have Tiger Stadium ready for a game on Saturday…

Cut 17 (08) “certainly do” 

Bonnette says if LSU is asked to host the game on Saturday, they will make it like a regularly scheduled home game as much as possible and that means tickets would be available to season ticket holders first…

Cut 18 (07) “is made”

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ULM football team will attend the memorial service this morning of quarterback Daniel Fitzwater who died on Saturday at the age of 20. Warhawks Football Coach Todd Berry says Fitzwater was a great young man and teammate. He says it was very emotional to tell the players about his unexpected death prior to their homecoming game

Cut 19 (10) “play the game”

Fitzwater was a walk-on quarterback. The memorial services will be held at Calvary Baptist Church in Shreveport. Berry says an autopsy later this week will determine Fitzwater’s death. He says at this point it appears to be natural causes, but it’s hard for the players to comprehend

Cut 20 (18) “some of this”

The Louisiana Congressional Delegation has sent a letter to the US Department of Homeland Security asking for a delay in the state’s compliance to the REAL ID act. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Officials at the University of South Carolina say the LSU/USC game may not be played in Columbia this weekend. Emelie Gunn reports…:

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Louisiana Congressional Delegation has sent a letter to the US Department of Homeland Security asking for a delay in the state’s compliance to the REAL ID act. Louisiana is one of four states who are not in compliance with the new federal identification standards. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany says the state needs more time to comply…

CUT 3 (10)  “deal with it”

The REAL ID act sets standards for state drivers’ licences to be acceptable for entry into federal buildings and institutions or for air travel. He says without this extension, Louisiana residents face a real headache beginning next week…

CUT 4 (12)  “federal standards”

Without a REAL ID, Louisiana residents would need a second form of identification, such as a US Passport, to enter federal buildings or pass through airport security. Boustany says the state legislature passed a bill in 2014 allowing REAL IDs to be issued in Louisiana, but it was vetoed by Governor Jindal. He’s hopeful they receive a response before the deadline of October 11th…

CUT 5 (07) “federal facilities”

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The state Department of Transportation begins taking public input today on the proposed I-49 Lafayette Connector project. The proposed 5.5 mile stretch of highway would start at I-10 and run through Lafayette. This is a critical piece of roadway needed to connect I-49 to New Orleans. DOTD spokesperson Diedra Druilhet says this is part of their $3 billion “Geaux South” program…

CUT 6 (07) “grade facility” 

The “Geaux South” program will convert approximately 160 miles of the US 90 corridor to I-49 South. Druilhet says, over the next 18 months, the public and other stakeholders will be invited to participate in a collaborative decision-making process to complete the planning and design of the roadway. She says public input is very important…

CUT 7 (06)  “get involved”

The connector would run through downtown Lafayette and continue to Lafayette Regional Airport. DOTD says this connector will cost up to $850 million to construct. Druilhet says this roadway will have some local benefits as well…

CUT 8 (09)  “spilling the oil”

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The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested the Principal and a coach at Beau Chene High School following a disciplinary incident involving a juvenile student. Lt. Clay Higgins says their investigation began when the mother of the student contacted detectives…

CUT 9 (10)  “a principal”

Principal Anthony James is charged with simple battery and basketball coach Lorenso Williams is charged with cruelty to a juvenile. Higgins says the two men maintain they were attempting discipline and control of the student, but the student had a different story…

cut 10 (11)  “been released”

He says the investigation found probable cause existed for arrest and the two men turned themselves in willingly. They have since been released. Higgins says this is now a matter for the courts to decide…

Cut 11 (12)  “beyond that”

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Officials at the University of South Carolina say it’s possible that the LSU/USC game will not be played in Columbia this weekend and a move to Baton Rouge is not out of the question. The area has been dealing with catastrophic flooding and record rainfall. USC AD Ray Tanner says they are not 100% sure that the game will be held at Williams Brice…:

cut 12 (05)  “play here”

The SEC confirms the first priority is to play the game in Columbia but they are exploring other location options. Tanner says as of right now they have every intention of keeping the game as scheduled, but conversations are underway about holding it in another city…:

cut 13 (09)  “as well”

The South Carolina-LSU game is currently scheduled for 11am Saturday in Columbia. All classes at USC have been cancelled this week. 14 deaths are so far blamed on weather related incidents in the Carolinas and though the rain has stopped, authorities say the flooding is far from over. Tanner says the stadium was spared, but there are other concerns…:

cut 14 (11)  “various counties”

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Louisiana State Police says a Mississippi woman was killed in a fatal wreck during the overnight hours on I-55 in Hammond. Trooper Dustin Dwight says the victim was not buckled up and heading the wrong way.

cut 15 (07)  “head on”

Dwight says they have yet to publicly release the name of the person who was killed. The driver of the other vehicle is 23-year-old Kaden Ezell of Mississippi, who was taken to the hospital for moderate injuries. He says currently impairment isn’t believed to be a factor in the crash but they’re trying to figure out why the fatal victim was going the wrong way.

cut 16 (04)  “exactly why”

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Louisiana volunteers are joining the Red Cross response in South Carolina as the East Coast state deals with severe flooding. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A new NBC/Marist poll on the presidential race in Iowa shows Governor Bobby Jindal now has 6-percent of the vote. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”

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A Louisiana company announces plans to build a huge liquefied natural gas facility in Cameron Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana volunteers are joining the Red Cross response in South Carolina as the state deals with severe flooding. Spokeswoman Nancy Malone says they’ll be helping families stay safe and dry by opening shelters and bringing in meals…:

cut 4  (11)  “in Louisiana”

Malone says another big part of the volunteers’ job is to provide emotional support to people going through this disaster. She says people in other areas know that Louisiana is all too familiar with what this feels like…:

Cut 5  (09)  “recovery”

Malone says flooding in the Carolinas has destroyed homes, forced evacuations and left thousands without water or power. She says not everyone can dedicate time to volunteer on the ground, but anyone can make a donation to the Red Cross to help people affected by this disaster…:

Cut 6 (08)  “those things”

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A new NBC/Marist poll on the presidential race in Iowa shows Governor Bobby Jindal now has 6-percent of the vote. That’s a two-percent increase from their previous poll. Radio Iowa News Director Kay Henderson says Jindal’s campaign efforts may be getting some traction…

CUT 7 (09)  “in this poll”

Jindal’s 6-percent has him tied for fifth place, along with Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, among Republican presidential hopefuls. Donald Trump leads the poll with 24-percent, followed by Ben Carson with 19-percent. Henderson says there are visible signs that the governor is gaining support…

Cut 8  (10)  “Catholic church” 

She feels the Jindal campaign is hoping for the kind of miracle that propelled Mike Huckabee to victory in Iowa in 2008 and Rick Santorum in 2012. Henderson says it will be interesting to see if Jindal’s “boots on the ground” campaign strategy will succeed…

Cut 9 (07) “pay off” 

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The Thibodaux Police Department says five people are under arrest after a toddler and 17 dogs had to be removed from a home that was in deplorable conditions. Spokesman David Melancon says they got a report that one of the dogs was loose and trying to attack people. He says animal control initially responded…:

Cut 10 (10) “the conditions”

The suspects, including the parents of the child, range in age from 17 to 73 and face various counts of animal cruelty and child desertion charges. Melancon says when the officers got out of their car to make contact with the homeowner during the dog attack investigation, they immediately smelled urine and feces…:

cut 11 (10) “got worse”

The 17 dogs were brought to the Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter. The Department of Child and Family Services has the child. Melancon says the floors of the home were caked with feces, the smell of urine was overpowering and there was molding food spread throughout the house…:

Cut 12 (08) “as well”

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A Louisiana based company announces plans to build an 11-billion dollar facility in Cameron Parish that will export liquefied natural gas. Former Governor and now chairman of G-2, L-N-G, Buddy Roemer, says it’s the fourth largest investment project in the state’s history, creating thousands of construction jobs

Cut 13 (11)  “four years”

Roemer says the project still needs approval from federal agencies. The company hopes to break ground in two years. He says once completed, the plant will have 250 permanent workers and it will export liquefied natural gas across the globe

Cut 14 (10) “China”

Thomas Hudson, president of G-2, L-N-G, is glad they can announced a significant economic development project in Cameron Parish on the ten year anniversary of Hurricane Rita

Cut 15  (10)  “this parish”

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LSU’s passing game took a step backwards in its progession during the Tigers 44-22 win over Eastern Michigan. The Tigers only completed four passes for 80 yards. Coach Les Miles says there were more plays to be had, if they didn’t have several dropped passes…

Cut 16  (14)  “dropping those balls”

The Tigers are ranked 124th in the nation in passing, one of just five teams in the country averaging less than 100 passing yards a game. Miles says the the drops last Saturday were uncharacteristic and the wide receivers expect more of themselves…

Cut 17 (17) “game week” 

The Tigers are 4-0 and ranked fifth in the latest coaches poll. But Miles says there’s room for improvement as his team heads back into SEC play this Saturday…

Cut 18 (14) “play best”

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A new statewide poll on Louisiana’s governor’s race shows Democrat John Bel Edwards has jumped out to a 9-point lead over Republican David Vitter. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Louisiana’s landmark $6.8 billion settlement with BP over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster has been finalized. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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A new statewide poll on Louisiana’s governor’s race shows Democrat John Bel Edwards has jumped out to a 9-point lead over Republican David Vitter. The JMC Analytics survey finds Edwards on top with 28-percent  followed by Vitter’s 19-percent. Pollster John Couvillon says Edwards is catching a wave right now…

CUT 3 (11)  “a Democrat” 2X

He believes Edwards is benefiting from the three Republican candidates attacking each other in this race. The poll of 500 likely voters shows that 55-percent said that prostitution allegations from Vitter’s past will impact their vote this month. Couvillon says it appears Vitter’s campaign is rubbing voters the wrong way…

CUT 4 (11)  “Senator Vitter”

This is the first survey on the governor’s race to show significant separation between Edwards and Vitter. Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne polled at 8-percent and 7-percent respectively. Couvillon says it’s probably time for them to shift their focus from Vitter to Edwards…

CUT 5 (11) “the runoff”

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Louisiana’s landmark $6.8 billion settlement with BP over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster has been finalized. This clears the way for the state to begin receiving billions of dollars for coastal restoration and economic recovery. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says it’s time to bring this situation to a close…

CUT 6 (08) “for the state” 

This is part of an overall $20 billion settlement with BP among five Gulf Coast states. $5 billion is earmarked for natural resources damages in the state. Graves, former state head of coastal protection, says this will have a significant impact on Louisiana’s coast…

CUT 7 (06)  “every year”

$1 billion of the settlement will be used for economic damages. Graves says Congress needs to look as changing laws so the federal government has more leverage in cases like this…

CUT 8 (09)  “spilling the oil”

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Minden Congressman John Fleming has thrown his support behind Metairie Representative Steve Scalise in his bid to become House Majority Leader. Fleming says electing Scalise would be good for the country and good for Louisiana. LaPolitics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says there were questions whether Fleming would support Scalise’s bid to move up in the House leadership…

CUT 9 (11)  “conservative leadership”

Scalise, the current House Majority Whip, looks to move into the number two leadership position in the US House. Alford says the timing of Fleming’s endorsement is interesting since Scalise stated last week that he had enough votes secured to win the election…

cut 10 (10)  “know right now”

The election to select the new House Majority Leader is scheduled for Thursday. Fleming is the last state Congressman to support Scalise’s effort. Alford says this is a big plus for Scalise…

Cut 11 (06)  “behind him”

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The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking for a vehicle of interest in connection with the triple shooting in LaPlace that claimed the life of one man and injured two others. Sheriff Mike Tregre says 23-year-old Travis Gregoire died and and another 23-year-old man is recovering at a hospital. He says the third shooting victim is an 18-year-old female…:

cut 12 (05)  “is critical”

Tregre says they are still interviewing people to try to determine suspects or motive in the deadly shooting. He says their crime cameras captured an image of a vehicle described as a white four door extended cab truck…:

cut 13 (07)  “this homicide”

Tregre says they want to find the truck, its owner and any other possible occupants of the vehicle when the shooting took place. They aren’t releasing how many people could be involved, but Tregre says it appears as though the victims had just arrived in a vehicle of their own…:

cut 14 (07)  “opened fire”

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Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal to his conviction on fraud charges is heard in a federal courtroom today. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

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The multi-state Powerball lottery game has a new matrix, which will lead to bigger jackpots and the rules have changed so more money can be won from lower-tier prizes. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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About 280-thousand dollars has been raised for the victims and those who lost their lives in the Lafayette theater shooting in July. Jeff Palermo has more….

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal to his conviction on fraud charges is heard in a federal courtroom in New Orleans today. Nagin was convicted on 20 counts last year and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Nagin is arguing that the jury was incorrectly instructed on laws regarding honest services fraud…

cut 4  (06)  “the evidence”

He says, on appeal, the best argument any defendant has is that there was a flaw in the jury instructions. Ciolino says Nagin claims that the city would have awarded the contracts in question regardless of whether or not he received any kind of payment from the contractors…

Cut 5  (10)  “awarded anyway”

He says Nagin’s appeal only covers nine of his 20 convictions. Ciolino says, although Nagin is taking his best shot, it’s difficult in any criminal case to prevail on appeal…

Cut 6 (10)  “other errors”

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New changes are in place for the Powerball multi-state lottery game which will make it more difficult for players to win the grand prize, but more money could be won in other ways. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says the matrix changes will increase the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 175 million to 1 and 292 million….

CUT 7 (06)  “really love”

To produce the added player benefits, ten numbers will be added to the field of white-ball numbers for a total of 69 and nine Powerball numbers will be removed for a total of 26. Chopin says this allows them to increase the prize for matching four white balls plus a red Powerball number from 10-thousand to 50-thousand dollars

Cut 8  (12)  “prize levels” 

Chopin says for players who add the one-dollar power play option, they can now multiply their nonjackpot prize up to ten times….

Cut 9 (12) “40 bucks” 

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About 280-thousand dollars has been raised for the 11 victims and the families of the two women killed in July’s Lafayette theater shooting. CEO of Pixus Digital Printing Todd Landry says the company raised the majority of the money by selling signs, t-shirts, car deals. He says he never dreamed they’d have this kind of impact.

Cut 10 (09) “a rewarding thing”

Landry says even though it’s been a little over two months since the tragedy, they’re still receiving orders. He says they’ve come out with a new Lafayette Strong commemorative wooden sign with all the proceeds going to the victims and their families.

cut 11 (10) “60 days”

The United Way says an initial payment of five-thousand dollarxs has been sent to each of the victim families. He says people interested in purchasing items can visit Louisiana Hot Stuff–dot-com.

Cut 12 (09) “as well”

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The Department of Children and Family Services announces changes coming to child support direct payment card clients when it comes to paying and receiving money. D-C-F-S Secretary Suzy Sonnier says Louisiana is in the process of moving towards a new stored value card for child support clients. She says this means all clients using the card need to update their address as soon as possible.

Cut 13 (10)  “is successful”

Sonnier says as D-C-F-S switches vendors, all clients will be getting a new value card in the mail. She says to change your address visit D-C-F-S-dot-L-A-dot-G-O-V-backslash-cafe. (www.dcfs.la.gov/cafe)

Cut 14 (08) “their address”

Sonnier is strongly encouraging her child support clients to start using direct deposit.

Cut 15  (11)  “value card”

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It wasn’t the blowout people were expecting on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. LSU only led by six points halftime and eventually defeated Eastern Michigan 44-22. Star running back Leonard Fournette admits they underestimated the Eagles…

Cut 16  (08)  “stay on everybody”

Fournette rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns. The Tigers needed a big game from the Heisman Trophy candidate, because LSU only threw for 80 yards as quarterback Brandon Harris completed just four passes. It wasn’t all Harris’ fault as there were plenty of drops. Coach Les Miles says they’ll continue to work on the passing game…

Cut 17 (20) “South Carolina” 

Fournette made history on Saturday, becoming the first SEC running back to rush for over 200 yards in three consecutive games…

Cut 18 (10) “for me”

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For the second straight year, Louisiana Tech easily defeated UL Lafayette. The Bulldogs scored 22 points in the 2nd quarter and went on to win 43-13. The Cajuns scored first, a 49-yard touchdown pass to Elijah McGuire. But the Bulldogs scored the next 36 points. Coach Skip Holtz liked how his team responded to that early score…

Cut 19 (22) “they have”

Last year Tech beat the Cajuns 48-20. Holtz says it’s nice to beat your in-state rivals by wide margins two years in a row…

Cut 20 (10) “care of business”

In a recent poll ranking Louisiana’s six most recent governors, 31-percent of respondents view former four-term Governor Edwin Edwards as the best. Michelle Southern reports…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The convicted killer that was accidentally released from prison on September 22 in East Feliciana Parish has been caught. Don Molino has more….

CUT 2 (23)  “I’m Don Molino”

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In a recent poll ranking Louisiana’s six most recent governors, former four-term Governor Edwin Edwards came in at number one among respondents. 31-percent thought “The Cajun Prince” was the best governor, followed by former two-term Governor Mike Foster with 21-percent. Edwards feels he earned this honor by serving the people…

CUT 3 (11)  “care of people”

Edwards says he appreciates this support shown by Louisianians. The poll was conducted by Clarus Research Group on behalf of The Advocate and WWL-TV. Edwards admits his gubernatorial terms were a bit controversial, but says he took care of business, even though some may not have liked the way he did it…

CUT 4 (11)  “doing that”

Current Governor Bobby Jindal ranked third with 14-percent. But when asked who was the worst governor, 42-percent of respondents picked Jindal. Edwards says this didn’t come as a surprise to him…

CUT 5 (10) “in Louisiana”

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The convicted killer who was accidentally released from prison in East Feliciana Parish has been captured in Atlanta. Middle District of Louisiana US Marshal Kevin Harrison says they spoke with Marshals in Georgia after receiving a tip that 32-year-old Benjuiel Johnson was staying in an Atlanta Motel 6.

CUT 6 (08) “the arrest” 

Harrison says they spoke to a number of people in Iberville Parish and developed leads that Johnson had connections in Georgia.

CUT 7 (09)  “him there”

Harrison says Johnson is awaiting extradition back to Louisiana. He credits the catch to the great efforts of all law enforcement involved.

CUT 8 (10)  “this guy”

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Louisiana State Police is investigating a triple fatality crash out of Concordia Parish which claimed the lives of three unrestrained people, including two teenagers. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says the crash involved a fully loaded Peterbilt 18 wheeler log truck driven by 28-year-old Mark Gordon of Jonesville…:

CUT 9 (09)  “eastbound lane”

Moreau says the log truck crossed into the opposite lane of traffic just as a Dodge pickup, driven by 49-year-old Richard Stewart Jr. of Vidalia, was approaching. He says Stewart Jr. attempted to take evasive action and serve into the shoulder..:

cut 10 (06)  “eastbound shoulder”

Moreau says the log truck hit the Dodge head on and three of the occupants, including Stewart Jr. and a 15 year old and 17 year old, were not buckled up and died after begin ejected. Charges are pending against Gordon. Moreau says there was also a 51-year-old passenger in the Dodge who was buckled up and sustained moderate injuries…:

Cut 11 (08)  “to point out”

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The Baton Rouge Police Department has arrested a 19-year-old man after he allegedly accidentally shot his pregnant girlfriend in the stomach. Cpl. Ljean McKneely says Jason Williams claims he was removing a handgun from a dresser when it accidentally discharged, striking his 19-year-old girlfriend who is four months pregnant. McKneely says the victim was rushed to a local hospital…

cut 12 (07)  “very critical”

At last report, the woman is in critical but stable condition and the unborn child’s condition is listed as very critical. McKneely says Williams fled the scene after the shooting…

cut 13 (10)  “what happened”

He says Williams was apprehended when he went to the hospital to check on the woman. McKneely says Williams was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison… (Williams is charged with negligent injuring and Illegal Use of a Weapon.)

cut 14 (05)  “a weapon”

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A well known Louisiana tradition kicks off this weekend as the 2015 Angola Prison Rodeo gets underway. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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The statewide average price for gasoline in Louisiana has seen a slight rise over the week. Could this mean the end to falling prices? Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Department of Children and Family Services announces changes to the food assistance program to encourage able-bodied recipients without children to move into the workforce. Jeff Palermo reports…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A well known Louisiana tradition kicks off this weekend as the 2015 Angola Prison Rodeo gets underway. The annual event runs every Sunday in October at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Warden Burl Cain says this is an event the entire family can enjoy. He says, in addition to the rodeo, there are arts and crafts, food, and events the kids will enjoy…

cut 4  (06)  “our carousel”

Tickets are just $15 each and can be purchased online at angolarodeo-dot-com or by calling (225) 655-2030. Cain says proceeds from the event are put to good use…

Cut 5  (06)  “the inmates”

The event draws more than 70,000 spectators to the prison annually. Cain says this is the only prison rodeo in the United States and if you plan to attend, you should get your tickets in advance…

Cut 6 (05)  “it’s amazing”

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Analysts have been telling us that gas prices would drop during the fall, but according to the American Automobile Association the statewide average price for a regular gallon of gasoline has gone up a few pennies over the week to $2.03. Triple-A Fuel Analyst Don Redman says prices are leveling off now that refineries are transitioning into the winter blend of gasoline…

CUT 7 (11)  “come down”

Redman says refineries shutting down for maintenance is putting a little dent in the supply of gasoline. He says this slight uptick in the price per gallon is typical during this time of year.

Cut 8  (07)  “by November” 

Redman predicts gas prices to drop to about $1.80 per gallon in December, but Russia entering the Middle East could dramatically affect the price of crude oil.

Cut 9 (08) “in prices” 

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In last night’s gubernatorial debate hosted by WDSU-TV in New Orleans, each of the four major candidates took shots at each other on a couple of different subjects. On the topic of defunding Planned Parenthood, Republican David Vitter criticized both Democrat John Bel Edwards and fellow Republican Jay Dardenne. In reference to Edwards, Vitter equates his support of President Obama to support for Planned Parenthood…

Cut 10 (07) “means anything”

Vitter supports defunding the organization. Edwards says while he supports the Commander in Chief, he does have issues with many positions taken by the President…

cut 11 (07) “David Vitter”

On the same topic, Vitter called out Dardenne claiming that the Lt. Governor voted in favor of abortion six times. In response, Dardenne called Vitter a liar…

Cut 12 (10) “rate up”

On the topic of Common Core, Republican Scott Angelle took the opportunity slam Vitter’s inconsistency on the issue…

Cut 13 (10)  “Common Core”

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The Department of Children and Family Services announces changes to the food assistance program to encourage able-bodied recipients without children to move into the workforce. Secretary Suzy Sonnier says a federal waiver was allowed to expire that creates changes in an able-bodied person’s SNAP eligibility…

Cut 14 (10) “SNAP benefits”

Sonnier says now, able-bodied adults without dependents must work at least 20 hours a week or be enrolled in a federally-approved job training program to qualify for SNAP benefits. She says there are approximately 62,000 able-bodied SNAP recipients in the state with no dependents. Sonnier says there is a single goal in this effort…

Cut 15  (07)  “in the workforce”

Recipients who do not comply with the requirement changes will only receive benefits for three months over a three year period. Sonnier says there are opportunities across the state for recipients to engage in some form of work activity…

Cut 16  (08)  “working with”

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The Saints are 0-3 heading into Sunday night’s game with Dallas. But Coach Sean Payton says no one has their head down or is feeling sorry for themself….

Cut 17 (06) “to work” 

The Saints seem optimistic that Quarterback Drew Brees will return to the field this Sunday after missing last week’s loss to Carolina. Payton says Brees and the rest of the team are working hard and hopefully it results in a win against the Cowboys…

Cut 18 (10) “from winning”

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The LSU Tigers are big favorites to beat Eastern Michigan on Saturday night. Coach Les Miles says he wants to see a penalty free game after his team was flagged 14 times last weekend. Right guard Will Clapp says it’s been a point of emphasis in practice

Cut 19 (06) “stuff happens”

Running back Leonard Fournette will go for his third consecutive 200-yard game. Clapp says they enjoy blocking Fournette, because he’s a great teammate…

Cut 20 (14) “class act”