The Jindal administration announces that GPS tracking devices will be installed on over 10,000 vehicles owned by state government agencies. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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A statewide survey finds few Louisiana voters are paying attention to the governor’s race. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Jindal administration has begun installing GPS tracking devices on over 10,000 vehicles owned by state government agencies. The devices will follow routes, monitor speeds, and chart driving habits in state vehicles. Jan Cassidy, assistant commissioner for procurement, believes the program will result in big cost savings for the state…

CUT 3 (08)  “with the fleet”

The program is expected to save the state $30 million over the next five years in fuel, maintenance, and insurance cost reductions. The installation of the devices is expected to be complete by November. Cassidy says other states use GPS tracking devices on vehicles, but on a much smaller scale…

CUT 4 (05)  “at this time”

The Department of Agriculture has used GPS tracking on their vehicles since 2010 and saw a nearly 29-percent drop in fuel usage in the first year. The installation of the devices is expected to be complete by November. Cassidy believes these GPS devices will make state workers more responsible drivers…

CUT 5 (08) “premiums go down”

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The Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s revenue is up for the 5^th consecutive year as it ended its 2015 fiscal year with 453 million dollars in revenue which is more than 3 million dollars from the prior year. Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says they’re excited about this progress because it benefits the state.

CUT 6 (08)  “million dollars”

Chopin credits the increase in part due to scratch offs that have offset slow Powerball sales. She says the big games are less popular because the number of players has grown throughout the country and jackpots are getting hit faster and more frequently.

CUT 7 (07)  “big jackpots”

Chopin says scratch offs do so well because they’re now using their unclaimed prize fund to bump out payouts and when people win more, they want to play more. She hopes with future changes to Powerball and Mega Millions, revenue will go up even more next year.

CUT 8 (09)  “forward to that”

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According to a survey conducted by LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab, less than one third of voters in Louisiana are paying attention to the governor’s race. The poll, was conducted between July 7th and August 3rd, shows just 29% of citizens in the state are following news related to the election. Research Director Mike Henderson…:

CUT 9 (11)  “not crunch time”

Henderson says their survey also found that Republican US Senator David Vitter is the most well-known, as he has the highest favorable and unfavorable ratings in the race…

cut 10 (11)  “Edwards yet”

Henderson says interest in the race is only slightly up as 25% of voters said they were following about five months ago.He says Jay Dardenne leads in net favorability at plus 21, followed by Vitter with plus 15…

cut 11 (08)  “they are”

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The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is warning against telling women to arm themselves as a form of protection from abuse. In response to the recent Geismar murder of Monica Johnson allegedly at the hands of her estranged husband, some have advocated that battered women get guns. LCADV Executive Director Beth Meeks says that raises risk…:

cut 12 (10)  “the woman”

Meeks says studies have found that over 70% of battered women had been threatened with a gun, while only 7% had used a gun successfully in self-defense. She says as many as 90% of women that are in prison are there for killing their intimate partner…:

cut 13 (06)  “never works”

Meeks says communities across the nation have seen dramatic reductions in domestic homicide rates through practices like  intensive monitoring of offenders and greater risk assessment. She says beyond statistics, even when necessary, taking another life creates deep emotional trauma with long lasting effects…:

cut 14 (09)  “all homicide”

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A 3 million dollar oyster hatchery opened its doors in Grand Isle. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

GOP gubernatorial candidate David Vitter is the latest to strike in the fued between he and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. The US Senator has issue with Landrieu’s public hearings today on Confederate statues. Michelle Southern reports..:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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In a CNN/ORC survey conducted after last week’s debates of Republican voters in Iowa, just 2% said they’d choose Governor Bobby Jindal as the GOP presidential candidate. Scott Carwile reports…:

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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Louisiana shrimpers continue to show their anger over a lack of federal regulations that is flooding the market with cheap imported shrimp and damaging the industry in the US. The Louisiana Shrimp Association led a protest in New Orleans outside the venue where the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is holding meetings this week. President Clint Guidry says the future of the shrimp industry hangs in the balance…

cut 4  (07)  “more restrictions”

He says the US government is doing a poor job inspecting imported shrimp and that in turn means millions of pounds are coming into the country driving prices down. The group has seen nearly a two-thirds drop in dockside shrimp revenue so far this year. Guidry says, unless the federal government steps in, an industry that has thrived for generations will be destroyed…

Cut 5  (07)  “thousands of jobs”

The group led a protest in New Orleans outside the venue where the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is holding meetings this week. Guidry says the public can help by contacting their congressman about the problem and making sure they aren’t purchasing imported shrimp…

Cut 6 (09)  “demand it”

______________________________________

The State Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has cut the ribbon on a new 3 million dollar oyster hatchery in Grand Isle that will more than double production of the larvae used to seed oyster grounds. Statewide Oyster Program Manager Patrick Banks says they’ve seen major decreases in oysters since the BP oil spill and this will be an important component to boosting the oyster population.

CUT 7 (09)  “of Louisiana”

Banks says the money came as part of the BP oil spill settlement. He says the facility will build back up the oyster industry by providing young oysters to damaged reefs and will help mimic the natural reproduction process.

Cut 8  (09)  “heal herself” 

Banks says the primary purpose of the hatchery is a rehabilitation strategy to get more oysters on public grounds. He says they’re not sure how many will survive once released but the facility is capable of producing one billion oyster larvae per year.

Cut 9 (05) “those reefs”

______________________________________

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is holding public hearings today on the removal of Confederate statues in the city, but Senator David Vitter says Landrieu should be more concerned about murder than monuments. Vitter says this is a response to Landrieu’s criticism of his performance in Washington when it comes to federal aid for cops…:

Cut 10 (11) “in history”

Vitter, who is running for governor, said during a State Police forum last weekend he feels there should be a whole new troop in New Orleans focused on the French Quarter and funded by local revenue and tourism pledges. He says there is a crisis in the Crescent City and New Orleans needs a leader focused on the crime problem instead of monuments…:

cut 11 (08) “not monuments” 

Landrieu says our state needs a governor who will unite citizens and focus on solutions to move us forward and not Washington rhetoric. But Vitter says the crime problem in New Orleans is personal to him…:

cut 12 (08) “priorities”

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In a CNN/ORC survey conducted after last week’s debates of Republican voters in Iowa, just 2% said they’d choose Governor Bobby Jindal as the GOP Presidential candidate. The Donald still leads at 22% followed by Ben Carson at 14%. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says this isn’t good news for Jindal..:

Cut 13 (07)  “setback”

Cross says Jindal has been snubbing his nose at national polls saying that he’s doing well where it counts, including Iowa, so this latest survey can’t be good for the campaign. He says even though most people say Jindal did well in the debate a week ago, it didn’t get a lot of national recognition…:

Cut 14 (08) “much traction”

The poll was conducted among 544 Republican likely Iowa caucus voters from August 7th to 11th and 66% said they are still trying to decide who they would vote for. Cross says Donald Trump could flake out at any moment and that 22% support would have to go somewhere. He says Jindal is not going to give up based on this poll…:

Cut 15  (07)  “anytime soon”

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Tonight the Saints will face the Baltimore Ravens in the preseason opener. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the coaches are looking for a cleanly played game that doesn’t feature a lot of mental mistakes or penalties, especially with your first unit

Cut 16  (10)  “at the Greenbrier”

Detillier says for players on the bubble to make the roster, they’ll need to make plays on special teams

Cut 17 (17) “return game” 

A big position battle in camp is at wide receiver as their are 12 pass catchers trying to make the team. Brandin Cooks and Marques Colston are the starters. Detillier says Brandon Coleman is trying to be that number three wide out…

Cut 18 (13) “impressive”

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Louisiana’s insurance market is stronger and more competitive today than it was before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (31)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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BESE approves a plan to increase funding to send more children of low income families to daycare. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

===================

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Louisiana’s insurance market is stronger and more competitive today than it was before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Donelon says one indicator is the number of insurance companies active in Louisiana…

CUT 3 (09)  “in 2005”

He credits the creation of a mandatory statewide building code and the legislature passed incentives encouraging homeowners to strengthen their properties against storms in helping the insurance market recover. In fact, Donelon says in 2014 Louisiana homeowner’s rates rose by just 2.8-percent on average…

CUT 4 (10)  “or five years”

He says that’s the lowest average rate increase since 2005. Many major insurers pulled out of coastal regions after the storms, allowing smaller, more regional insurance companies to move in. Donelon says the tripling of the state’s Guaranty Fund Protection has given consumers confidence to purchase coverage from these smaller companies…

CUT 5 (07) “five hundred thousand dollars”

============================

State Police say they are looking for a driver they believe is at fault in a fatal hit and run crash in St. Mary Parish Tuesday evening in Bayou Vista. Trooper Dustin Dwight says the preliminary investigation revealed 31-year-old Mark Montie Jr. of Pineville was pulling out of the Wal-Mart on US 90 and failed to yeild to an oncoming motorcycle…:

CUT 6 (06)  “the crash”

Dwight says after the crash, Montie stopped at the scene and then fled on foot. He is being sought by law enforcement throughout the state at this time. He says the deceased motorcyclist is identified as 22-year-old Jerome Rudolph Jr. of Patterson…:

CUT 7 (08)  “in this case”

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State Police say a suspect who was shot by a Union Parish Sheriff’s Deputy and a trooper Tuesday night is in serious condition. Troop F spokesman Michael Reichardt says the sheriff’s office was called out to a disturbance around 10:30pm in Downsville regarding a man who was apparently threatening family members with a firearm…:

CUT 8 (11)  “all their commands”

Reichardt says charges are pending against the suspect pending his release from a Shreveport hospital where he is now in serious condition. He says they believe the man did not listen to cops when they told him to put his weapon down…:

CUT 9 (10)  “by air”

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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a plan that will help more low income families receive federal assistance so they can send their young children to daycare. State Superintendent of Education John White says today’s action provides 10 million dollars in subsidies to assist impoverished parents….

cut 10 (06)  “good things”

The program is called the Child Care Assistance Program. At one time there were about 40-thousand children enrolled, now there are only 15-thousand. White says hopefully this federal assistance can get more kids in daycare…

cut 11 (08)  “working families”

White says because of the additional 10-million dollars, the maximum annual subsidy to send a child to day care will increase from 17-hundred dollars to four-thousand dollars…

cut 12 (05)  “for families”

============================

A Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s deputy is being called a hero today after rescuing three people who were sleeping inside a burning home in Lacassine. Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Chris Ivey says Deputy Josh Bienvenu used his quick thinking after driving by the burning house at around 3:40 Tuesday morning while on duty.

cut 13 (08)  “the family up”

Ivey says when Deputy Bienvenu arrived on the scene, the front of the residence was completely engulfed in flames up to the roof. He says Bienvenu was able to enter the home and locate three occupants sleeping.

cut 14 (05)  “any injury”

============================

A state panel continues to look at the cost of the death penalty in Louisiana. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

______________________________________

Those who love spicy foods are in luck, a study finds spicy foods can add more years to your life. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

According to United Way of Acadiana, nearly $250,000 collected for the victims of the tragic Lafayette Theater shooting last month. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’mScott Carwile”

______________________________________

A state panel continues to look at the cost of the death penalty in Louisiana. New Orleans Senator JP Morrell says the purpose of the Capital Punishment Fiscal Impact Commission is to determine whether the public believes that enforcing the death penalty is worth the cost. Morrell says the legislature has noticed that it takes several years to implement capital punishment…

cut 4  (07)  “a single person”

Morrell says some say it could cost tens of millions of dollars to execute a single person, especially when you factor in the cost of the numerous appeals that are associated with the process. He says a big problem they are having is determining what costs should be included in the overall figure…

Cut 5  (09)  “near there, yet”

He says the commission report is due to the legislature during the next legislative session. Morrell says the ultimate goal is to present these figures to the public and let them decide if it is worth having the death penalty in Louisiana…

Cut 6 (09)  “higher education”

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Southerners are in luck, a new study claims eating spicy foods can add more time to your life. The study conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and the Chinese Academy of Medical Science found people consuming spicy foods six to seven times a week lived longer than those eating spicy foods just once a week. Dr. Herbert Muncie, Professor of Family Medicine at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans says these benefits could be due to a couple reasons.

CUT 7 (05)  “fewer calories”

Muncie says capsaicin, which is an ingredient in chili peppers, has been associated with health benefits and is an anti-inflammatory often used with arthritis. He says it’s helpful for people to know this information but more research needs to be done on the topic.

Cut 8  (06)  “this point” 

Muncie says it makes those who eat spicy foods frequently feel a little better about their diet and advises patients to go ahead and add more spices to their meals.

Cut 9 (06) “like that”

______________________________________

According to the United Way of Acadiana, about $250,000 has been raised for the 11 victims of last month’s Lafayette theater shooting. President and CEO Margaret Trahan says most of the money was raised by businesses and retailers who have sold t-shirts, yard signs and jewelry.

Cut 10 (12) “or injured”

Pixus Printing raised the most significant amount of money, about $215,000, to be donated to the victims. Trahan says after those injured are taken care of, they want also create funds for those in the theater who suffered mental and emotional trauma from witnessing the massacre.

cut 11 (09) “for that” 

Trahan says she’s extremely proud of the donations, which were mostly raised locally. She says the funding would be to defray costs and help with immediate expenses, like income losses, medical bills and funeral costs, that resulted from this incident.

cut 12 (10) “this tragedy”

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A 54-year-old man from East Feliciana Parish charged with a hate crime, now faces a felony cruelty charge for allegedly pulling at the pants of a 12-year-old boy and using a racial slur. The incident was caught on video inside a gas station last month. District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says the victim was not physically injured, but…

Cut 13 (09)  “pain and suffering”

A grand jury in East Felicana Parish handed down the cruelty indictment against Ronnie Barnes of Clinton. The felony charge has been added to the simple battery and hate crime charges the East Feliciana Sheriff’s office issued at the time of the incident. D’Aquilla says he plans on prosecuting Barnes on all three charges

Cut 14 (06) “2015”

According to authorities, the victim’s pants were sagging a little bit and the child also wore dread locks. D’Aquilla says they believe a factor into why the incident started is because the 12-year-old is black

Cut 15  (10)  “may have”

___________________________

No practice today for the Saints. That’s because they are getting ready for tomorrow night’s preaseason game at Baltimore. It’s the first of four exhibition games and Coach Sean Payton is glad they have four preseason games before it starts for real

Cut 16  (15)  “four is perfect”

Many NFL fans have suggested that there should only be two preseason games. But Payton says guys like, former Saints running back Pierre Thomas, may not have made the team, if there were only two preseason games

Cut 17 (20) “two game exposures” 

Thursday’s preseason game is important for players like safety Vinnie Sunseri, who is on the bubble to make the team. Sunseri has been able to get more reps because fellow safety Jairus Byrd remains on the physically unable to perform list…

Cut 18 (19) “really easy”

Cut 19 (09) “good portion of them”

______________________________

A family cat was found sliced in half on a golf course in Covington. Emelie Gunn has more on this gruesome dismemberment…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

=================

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announce that they issued over 800 citations to Louisiana establishments for selling alcohol and tobacco to minors during their 2015 Summer Crackdown. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

===================

A beloved family cat was found mutilated on a golf course in Covington. Charlie was a friendly, 2-year-old cat, adopted last year from the St. Tammany Humane Society by the Worthington family. The family contacted the police but are still unsure of who committed this crime. Becky Worthington says they’re positive Charlie wasn’t killed by another animal.

CUT 3 (12)  “innocent animal”

Cat slicing has become an epidemic around the country, not just in St. Tammany Parish, according to the Louisiana Humane Society. Executive Director Jeff Dorson says they’re concerned this crime is being copied and shared around social media. He believes this is a bigger problem than authorities think it is.

CUT 4 (10)  “a felony”

Dorson says they’re turning to social media to get animal rights activists to take a stand against cruelty and call the sheriff’s office. He says these cases should be fully investigated to ensure it stops and doesn’t become a gateway to bigger crimes.

CUT 5 (06) “other violence”

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State Police say an unrestrained infant is dead after a single vehicle crash in Morehouse Parish. Trooper Michael Reichardt says 23-year-old Shatora Hall of Bastrop lost control of her vehicle, ran off the roadway, and struck a tree…

CUT 6 (09)  “of her injuries”

He says 1-year-old Aniyia Worsham, who was riding in the lap of a front seat passenger, was ejected from the vehicle and died from her injuries. Worsham was the only person in the vehicle who was not restrained. The five other people in the car survived the crash with only minor injuries. Reichardt says the vehicle was overcrowded…

CUT 7 (09)  “in that car”

He says Hall has been charged with reckless operation and a no child restraint violation. Reichardt says this is a terrible situation that could have been easily averted…

CUT 8 (06)  “child restraint”

============================

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announce that they issued over 800 citations to Louisiana establishments for selling alcohol and tobacco to minors as a result of their 2015 Summer Crackdown operation. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert says nearly 5,500 compliance checks resulted in 821 citations statewide. He says these numbers are consistent with previous years…

CUT 9 (11)  “underage operatives”

The summer initiative is an attempt by ATC to prevent access of alcohol and tobacco to underage persons. Violators face fines up to $5,000 and are subject to criminal and/or administrative charges. Hebert says, more importantly, it jeopardizes a business’s ability to sell tobacco and alcohol in the state…

cut 10 (09)  “doing so responsibly”

Of the citations issued, 460 were issued for alcohol sales to a minor and 361 for tobacco sales. Hebert says they will continue to educate businesses across the state to get the compliance rate higher. He says nothing good can come out of selling alcohol and tobacco to someone underage…

cut 11 (09)  “somebody else”

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Slidell Police released video today of a 50-year-old motorcyclist who survives a horrific accident with an 18-wheeler.  Public Information Officer Daniel Seuzeneau says usually when you hear of an accident like this you assume the worst but it’s a miracle he survived.

cut 12 (12)  “the ditch”

Seuzeneau says the driver of the 18-wheeler, 56-year-old Timothy Duimstra of Michigan, apparently passed out at the wheel when he made a hard right hitting the motorcycle waiting to turn onto the main road. He says Duimstra was found to be under the influence of both drugs and alcohol during the incident.

cut 13 (07)  “motor vehicle”

To view the video of the crash, visit louisianaradionetwork.com. Seuzeneau says the entire accident was caught on surveillance video by a local business. He says the driver of the motorcycle is still in serious condition but is expected to survive.

cut 14 (10)  “full recovery”

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A report by the Centers for Disease Control shows Louisiana’s average school start time of 7:40AM is the earliest in the country. Is it too early? Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

______________________________________

The Calcasieu Parish town of DeQuincy was named the safest place to live in Louisiana by an online study released recently.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Souther”

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The Louisiana Department of Education collected about 30,000 comments from an online portal about wanted changes to Common Core in the state. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Are Louisiana schools starting too early in the morning? According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control, early start times contribute to lack of sleep in teens, which negatively impacts their health and academic performance. Sleep expert, Dr. David Thomas of the Neuromedical Center, says this information is nothing new…

cut 4  (07)  “and-a-half”

Louisiana’s average school start time for public middle and high schools, 7:40AM, is the earliest in the country. The report states the national average is 8:03AM. Thomas says that extra sleep could have a positive effect on kids…

Cut 5  (09)  “to an hour”

The CDC recommends schools start their day at 8:30AM or later. Thomas says technology, like cell phones, is keeping people up later these days. He says it’s important for parents to ensure kids get the proper amount of sleep…

Cut 6 (07)  “for a teenager”

(Teenagers should get between 8.5 and 9.5 hours of sleep daily according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.)

______________________________________

In an online study conducted by Only in Your State, the Calcasieu Parish town of DeQuincy was named the safest place to live in Louisiana. DeQuincy Mayor Lawrence Henagan says he is happy that his town of nearly 3,200 residents is a place with no violent crimes…

CUT 7 (05)  “very dedicated”

The study took statistics from the FBI crime reports in 2013 to rank the top 11 safest places to live in Louisiana. The statistics reported that DeQuincy had the highest population in the state with zero violent crimes. Mayor Henagan also credits the residents for this success…

Cut 8  (05)  “living here” 

Blanchard, Golden Meadow, Berwick and Haughton round out the top five in the online list of safest cities in the state. Henagan says that extra patrols at night help contribute to the safety of the people in the town on a larger scale.

Cut 9 (04) “at night”

______________________________________

It’s much cheaper for teens to stay on their parent’s car insurance, rather than going out on their own. According to InsuranceQuotes.com, it costs 26 percent more for young adults to get their own car insurance policy in Louisiana than staying on their parent’s. Senior analyst Laura Adams says this number is eight percent higher than the national average.

Cut 10 (11) “own policy”

Adams says there are some advantages that mom and dad can pass on to their young driver, like having discounts because of multiple vehicles or good credit. She knows many parents want to push their teens to be on their own when it comes to insurance but suggests making an agreement.

cut 11 (08) “lower rate” 

Adams says even if a teen goes on their own policy, there are some ways to save on the cost of a young driver. She says young adults can qualify for a good student discount by keeping around a “B” average and staying proactive with sending in their results.

cut 12 (10) “best deal”

_____________________________________________

The State Department of Education says they’ve collected nearly 30,000 comments on its online portal from people about possible changes to Common Core in Louisiana. The comments came from 723 people and 23 percent were parents. Regina Sanford, the chairperson of the standards review committee, says these opinions were collected from July 8^th through August 5^th.

Cut 13 (11)  “recommendations”

Sanford says the first public hearing on possible Common Core revisions is set for August 19^th. She says the work they’re going to do is very important for the students and faculty in the state.

Cut 14 (11) “move forward”

Sanford says BESE will make recommendations in March, which will then get legislative review and have to be approved by the next governor. Public comments will continue to be collected through the fall online at louisianabelieves.com.

Cut 15  (08)  “Louisiana students”

___________________________

The New Orleans Saints final practice of the week is today then they’ll fly out Wednesday to Baltimore for Thursday’s preseason game against the Ravens. They started the second week of training camp with a full pads practice at the Greenbrier in West Virginia and worked for a little over two hours. Coach Sean Payton says he likes what he’s seeing

Cut 16  (14)  “pretty well”

Payton says these first two weeks of training camp are about getting everyone up to speed…:

Cut 17 (13) “being Baltimore” 

LSU went through the first full squad practice of the fall and the battle for the starting quarterback position is far from over. Coach Les Miles said that sophomore Brandon Harris continues to get the first snaps, but if it will be he or Anthony Jennings that will start on September 5th against McNeese has not been decided.

Cut 18 (09) “to evolve”

Jennings started 12 games for the Tigers a year ago, passing for 1,611 yards and 11 touchdowns. Harris played in nine games with one start last year as a true freshman. He threw for 452 yards and six touchdowns and added another 159 yards and three scores on the ground. Miles says both guys continue to show improvement every day and there is not a certain person he has in his mind that will start at QB…:

Cut 19 (09) “good portion of them”

In a recent survey by pollster Verne Kennedy, Republican Scott Angelle has moved ahead of fellow GOP candidate David Vitter in the race for governor. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Baton Rouge food blogger and radio host Jay Ducote finds himself in the top three of the Food Network Star competition as the finale airs this Sunday. The top prize is your own show on Food Network. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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In a recent survey by pollster Verne Kennedy, Republican Scott Angelle has moved ahead of fellow GOP candidate David Vitter in the race for governor. The poll of 600 residents, conducted between July 27th-31st, shows Angelle with 25-percent of the vote and Vitter with 22-percent. But ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley notes that previous polls have consistently showed Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards on top…

CUT 3 (06)  “is perplexing”

The poll shows Edwards at 20-percent and Republican Jay Dardenne at 12-percent with 21-percent undecided. Stockley say he is skeptical about the results of this poll, but says it is possible that Angelle has increased support over the last few months…

CUT 4 (06)  “of the summer”

He says Angelle is the only gubernatorial candidate, thus far, to spend any real money on advertising and it could be paying off. Stockley says it may be time for the other candidates to take notice…

CUT 5 (10) “and appearances”

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Baton Rouge food blogger and radio host Jay Ducote will be competing in the finale of Food Network’s Star on August 16 to win his own show on the network. Three finalists made their own pilot for a cooking show in last night’s episode. Ducote prepared fried catfish topped with crawfish etoufee as his showcase dish. He says he has enjoyed the experience and the unique opportunities the show has offered:

CUT 6 (07)  “with Rachael Ray”

In Ducote’s pilot, he filmed an episode of Deep-Fried America which explores the best versions of fried food all across the country. Ducote says if he wins, his show will remain Louisiana focused the way he’s competed throughout the season…:

CUT 7 (05) ” fried food master”

Ducote says there will be a viewing party for the show’s finale, which begins at 8pm, at the Varsity near LSU’s campus in Baton Rouge. He is still quiet about what his plans are for the future until Sunday’s episode is aired, but he says he is excited about his progress through the season…

CUT 8 (10)  “show on Food Network”

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The largest public company headquartered in Louisiana, CenturyLink, says its estimating the elimination of 1000 jobs company-wide. Spokeswoman Annmarie Sarter says it’s unclear how the layoffs will impact the company’s corporate headquarters in Monroe…:

CUT 9 (09)  “couple of weeks”

CenturyLink has already committed to expanding in northeast Louisiana and create 800 new jobs by next summer. Sarter says that deal is still on track…:

cut 10 (04)  “in Monroe”

CenturyLink said in a prepared statement that results for the second quarter were below forecast primarily due to pressure on wholesale revenue and higher employee and benefit costs. Sarter says in addition to the layoffs, they are working on other ways to reduce expenses such as minimizing the number of contractors they work with and reducing travel expenses…:

cut 11 (08)  “for us”

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Just in time for the much anticipated start of football season, the Louisiana Lottery is back with its popular “Saints Fever” scratch-off which launched today. Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Chopin says this is their 7th Saints-branded scratch off game…:

cut 12 (08)  “pleased with it”

Chopin says the $5 “Saints Fever” ticket features four top prizes of $100,000 plus the opportunity to enter non-winning tickets into a series of second chance drawings. She says Who Dat fans love this game because it also offers prizes that are once in a lifetime opportunities…:

cut 13 (09)  “drawings”

Chopin says complete game and second chance drawing entry rules can be found online at louisianalottery.com. She says Louisiana Lottery’s long standing partnership with the Saints is a good one as they love supporting all things Louisiana…:

cut 14 (12)  “Saints too”

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Now that school is back in session, authorities are urging drivers to be more cautious on the roads. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The Department of Children and Family Services is spreading the word about Louisiana’s safe haven law. Emelie Gunn has more on what this means…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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New research suggests that disturbed sleep may cause an increase in the chances of getting Alzheimer’s Disease. Scott Carwile reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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Now that school is back in session, authorities are urging drivers to be more cautious on the roads. Don Redman with the American Automobile Association says now that summer is over, motorists should be on alert as kids will be walking along roads before and after school…:

cut 4  (08)  “precautions”

Redman says the first step drivers can take is to slow down in school and residential zones. He says drivers also need to take special care to keep their hands on the wheel on not on their phone…:

Cut 5  (11)  “situation”

The use of any handheld device in a school zone is prohibited even to engage in a phone call. “Hands-free zone” signs have been posted throughout the state. Redman says fines are doubled when in a school zone and cops will be out there. He says parents need to talk to their teen drivers about being vigilant and watch out for children walking and riding bicycles…:

Cut 6 (11)  “teen driver”

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Under legislation approved in the last session, more information is being distributed to the public about Louisiana’s safe haven law, which allows parents to legally give up a baby until they’re two months old. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Suzy Sonnier says she wants people who feel like they’re in a crisis to know this law exists.

CUT 7 (09)  “of prosecution”

Sonnier says a mom or dad can give their infant to an individual at a number of safe haven locations. But they cannot leave the baby unattended.

Cut 8  (08)  “centers” 

Sonnier says they’re doing everything they can to get the word out to parents that this is an alternative. She says D-C-F-S has seen more abandonments than people using safe havens and the goal is to keep babies safe and find them  loving homes.

Cut 9 (09) “wonderful life”

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Researchers have discovered there may be a link between poor sleep and the increased risk for Alzheimer’s Disease. Director of Imaging from LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center Owen Carmichael says those with the disease generally have disturbed sleep. He says the question of whether sleep issues cause Alzheimer’s has long been something scientists have wondered…

Cut 10 (08) “Alzheimer’s Disease”

A protein is produced throughout a person’s life that Carmichael calls the “garbage of the brain.” He says that Alzheimer’s is caused when there is too much of this protein stored up and not emptied out…

cut 11 (10) “during sleep” 

People who do not sleep well at night are often diagnosed with other medical problems because of their poor sleeping habits. Carmichael says this research shows that not getting adequate, undisturbed sleep can mean the protein isn’t cleaned out properly…

cut 12 (08) “steadily over time”

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Today marks the first official day of football practice for Louisiana High School Athletic Association schools and temperatures continue to rise. Director of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association Terrence Williams says when possible, practice times are adjusted to avoid peak heat hours…:

Cut 13 (14)  “times of the day”

The LHSAA has issued an extreme heat warning to remind parents, coaches and student athletes of the dangers of heat related illnesses. Williams says teams are given “best practice guidelines” as steps to take to avoid heat stroke…:

Cut 14 (12) “in their body”

Williams says it’s extremely important for student athletes to be hydrated before, during and after practice or any type of physical activity. He says their coaches use common sense and know that it’s important to keep talking to the kids during practice…:

Cut 15  (18)  “hydrated”

The National Federation of Independent Business is encouraging people to shop local during Friday and Saturday’s sales-tax holiday. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (28)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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With his first presidential debate behind him, the question is how did Governor Bobby Jindal do? Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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The National Federation of Independent Business is encouraging people to shop local as the annual state sales tax holiday is expected to give small businesses a much needed shot in the arm. Retail items are exempt from the 4 percent state sales tax, up to 25-hundred dollars Friday and Saturday. N-F-I-B State director Dawn Starns says this is great timing because the last few months a lot of small businesses have been suffering.

CUT 3 (11)  “floated around”

Starns says this is a great way for customers to give back to those who create jobs and do so much to improve the economy in their community. She asks back to school shoppers to consider giving their business to local business.

CUT 4 (05)  “to offer”

Starns says this sales-tax holiday gives people more bang for their buck. She says if more individuals shop at smaller stores, more jobs will be saved and the economy will bounce back quicker.

CUT 5 (11) “create jobs”

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Now that Governor Bobby Jindal has his first presidential debate behind him, how did he do? Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the governor did okay during the forum. Pinsonat says he would give Jindal a B-plus on his performance…

CUT 6 (09)  “than his”

Political pundits ranked Jindal’s performance second, behind former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina. Pinsonat says Jindal showed a lot of poise on stage, slowing down his normally rapid fire speech and giving good answers to the questions. He says there was a definite high point in Jindal’s performance…

CUT 7 (08) ” want to hear”

He says the governor definitely did not hurt his chances at the Republican nomination in the debate and may have even helped his cause, somewhat. Pinsonat says, moving forward, Jindal will continue to target his message to smaller groups of Republican voters…

CUT 8 (08)  “speaks about”

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Sweltering temperatures are expected across the state this weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim says dangerous heat levels are expected into the first part of next week. Keim says afternoon high temps will be in the triple digits across Louisiana…

CUT 9 (06)  “in Baton Rouge”

The National Weather Service says record high temperatures are possible in some areas of the state. Keim says an area of high pressure in the central Gulf is severely limiting clouds and thunderstorms. He says humidity levels will remain high, driving the heat index way up…

cut 10 (05)  “state of Louisiana”

Keim says heat indices could reach up to 120 degrees in some areas this weekend. He suggests limiting your time in the direct sun, especially during the hottest part of the day, and keeping yourself well hydrated. Keim says some slight relief is in sight as a cold front is expected to roll across the state Tuesday night into Wednesday..

cut 11 (09)  “upper 90s”

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The State Department of Education launches a new web portal which outlines Louisiana’s career education options. The program Jump Start now has an online site called “All things Jump Start.” State Superintendent of Education John White says Jump Start allows high school graduates to enter the workforce with an industry credential:

cut 12 (10)  “how to do that”

He says all Jump Start resources are now at the touch of a button on the department’s website: louisianabelieves.com. Traditional high school diplomas require 23 course credits and under Jump Start, at least 9 of those have to be selected in a certain career field. White says the portal provides more than 200 valuable resources for students who are interested in going down the Jump Start Path..:

cut 13 (12)  “industry partners”

White says the portal and the Jump Start program are part of the department’s effort to overhaul Louisiana’s career education options. He says the new site simplifies the entire process…:

cut 14 (12)  “ready to work”

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Louisiana’s Annual Sales Tax Holiday happens today and tomorrow. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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A memorial service for slain Shreveport Police Officer Thomas LaValley will take place this afternoon. The suspected shooter is behind bars. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The four gubernatorial candidates discuss the steps they’ll take to cut down the poverty rate in Louisiana. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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Louisiana’s Annual Sales Tax Holiday happens today and tomorrow. During the holiday, the 4% state sales tax on the first 25 hundred dollars of each item a customer buys will be waived. Department of Revenue spokesperson Kizzy Payton says this is a good opportunity for parents to save as they shop for the new school year…

cut 4  (08)  “back to school”

The tax exemption only applies to the state sales tax of 4%. Local sales taxes will still apply to purchases unless the local taxing authority has created its own exemption. Payton says shoppers should keep in mind that not all items and services qualify for the tax holiday…

Cut 5  (08)  “the full list”

You can go to revenue-dot-louisiana-dot-gov-slash-taxholiday for more information. Payton adds that you may want to hold on to your back-to-school shopping receipts…

Cut 6 (10)  “those receipts”

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The Jindal Administration announces Moody’s Investors Service affirms Louisiana will keep its same credit rating for an upcoming bond sale that will be used to finance work on I-49 South. State Treasurer John Kennedy says we remain on negative credit watch which is good news for Louisiana tax payers because Moody’s could have downgraded us…:

CUT 7 (12)  “fix the problem”

Kennedy says he plans to go to market soon to sell Unclaimed Property bonds that will finance portions of I-49 South. He says he asked Moody not to downgrade Louisiana to give the next governor and Legislature time to fix our state’s serious budget issues…:

Cut 8  (09)  “has agreed” 

Kennedy said Moody had noticed that Louisiana was budgeting too much nonrecurring money and not doing anything about future liability…:

Cut 9 (12) “will go up”

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Although Governor Bobby Jindal did not take part in the prime-time Republican presidential debate, he did participate in the consolidated debate earlier Thursday afternoon. In the first question Jindal answered, he defended himself against the low popularity numbers here at home. Jindal says he ran for office to make a difference and be a leader for Louisiana…

Cut 10 (07) “mess we’re in”

When asked about the war against ISIS, Jindal says that as president, he would call the group by the name of “radical Islam,” unlike President Obama. Jindal criticized the president for apologizing to the world rather than taking action against what Jindal calls the enemy…

cut 11 (05) “murderous, evil terrorists” 

One of the questions of the evening involved whether to defund Planned Parenthood, particularly over the recent videos that show aborted babies’ organs being sold. Jindal was passionate in his answer, going against candidate Carly Fiorina who said the government should not be shut down over the issue. However, Jindal expressed his distaste in the group…

cut 12 (06) “Planned Parenthood”

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The four candidates for governor say they want to take steps to reduce the number of people who live below the federal poverty line because Louisiana’s poverty rate is one of the highest in the country. Republican David Vitter says one way to tackle this issue is by dramatically improving education for the children of Louisiana.

Cut 13 (09)  “Start program”

Republican Jay Dardenne says education and job opportunities are essential to raise the embarrassing poverty rate in the state.

Cut 14 (10) “employment”

Republican Scott Angelle says in order to rid the state of poverty we need to ramp up our technical and community college programs, strengthen the Louisiana family and increase job creation.

Cut 15  (10)  “job creation”

Democrat John Bel Edwards says he wants to call on Congress to raise the minimum wage up from $7.25. He says he will also work toward equal pay to reduce the poverty rate in Louisiana.

Cut 16  (11)  “legislation”

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The first day of LSU fall football practice is in the books and five freshman got to work out with the veterans. All rookies the coaches allowed in were defenders: defensive backs Kevin Toliver II, Donte Jackson and Xavier Lewis and defensive ends Arden Key and Isiah Washington. Senior linebacker Lamar Louis on new DC Kevin Steele…:

Cut 17 (10) “all said and done” 

Brandon Harris, Anthony Jennings and Brad Kragthorpe were the only quarterbacks working out in the morning group. Harris got the first rep with Leonard Fournette and J.D. Moore during play-action drills. Sophomore Wide Receiver Malachi Dupre says Harris still has a strong arm but he’s becoming more consistent with it…:

Cut 18 (14) “no matter what”

Coach Les Miles awarded junior Tre’Davious White with the team’s prestigious No. 18 team meeting this week and the junior cornerback wore it for the first time Thursday. No. 18 typically goes to a team leader who “displays a selfless attitude while representing the Tigers. White says it’s a great feeling…:

Cut 19 (13) “voting me as it”

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