Former President Bill Clinton was in Baton Rouge Monday and spoke at a Senator Mary Landrieu campaign rally. Landrieu’s main opponent, Bill Cassidy, constantly ties Landrieu and her voting record to policies supported by President Obama. But Clinton says Louisiana voters should not look at the Senate race as a chance to vote against Obama…

cut 14 (07) “crowd that’s right”

Clinton says Landrieu has a history of getting things done in the Senate.

Louisiana State Police and several other agencies will host a “Heroin Summit” today to educate the public about heroin use and address the recent rise in heroin deaths. Trooper Jared Sandifer says Col Mike Edmonson is going to be the keynote speaker and joined by several other people from around the state who know a lot about heroin…

cut 7 (11) “the area”

Sandifer says last year there were at least 310 heroin-related arrests made by LSP and law enforcement agencies across the state.

Early voting for the November 4th election kicks off today. This year’s election is highlighted by a hotly contested US Senate race. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voters should expect a lengthy ballot…

cut 5 (06) “available, statewide”

Early voting will take place through October 28th, excluding Sunday.

Two St. John the Baptist Parish utilities workers have been indicted in connection with an investigation into a deadly amoeba which was found in the parish’s drinking water in August. Kurt Wall with the state Attorney General’s office says the workers were reporting satisfactory chlorine levels, but DHH did random testing and discovered, instead, the amoeba. He says that’s when State Police stepped in and decided to check GPS coordinates on the employees’ vehicles…

cut 11 (13) “correctly”

Kevin Branch of LaPlace and Danielle Roussel of Pauline were each charged with one count of malfeasance in office and one count of filing and/or maintaining false public records.

Former President Bill Clinton tells a crowd of Mary Landrieu supporters he doesn’t see how the senior senator is not a clear favorite in Louisiana’s US Senate race over her republican challengers. Clinton says Landrieu has a history of getting things done…

cut 13 (15) “(loud cheers)”

Clinton spoke at a Landrieu rally in Baton Rouge Monday.

The early voting period for the November 4th election kicks off today. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says early voting will take place through October 28th from 8:30AM to 6PM, excluding Sunday. Schedler says early voter participation is on the rise…

cut 4 (08) “of early voting”

Schedler says, statewide, this is the biggest election in the state in decades.

A grand jury indicted two St. John the Baptist Parish utilities workers in connection with an investigation into a deadly amoeba which was found in the parish’s drinking water in August. Kurt Wall with the state Attorney General’s office says there was a question about whether or not samples being collected were accurate…:

cut 10 (13) “randomly testing”

Kevin Branch of LaPlace and Danielle Roussel of Pauline were each charged with one count of malfeasance in office and one count of filing and/or maintaining false public records.

Former President Bill Clinton tells a crowd of Mary Landrieu supporters he doesn’t see how the senior Senator is not a clear favorite in Louisiana’s US Senate Race over Republican Challengers Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness. Clinton says Landrieu has a history of getting things done…:
CUT 13 (15) “loud cheer”
Clinton spoke at a rally in Baton Rouge today.

The Department of Health and Hospitals says they plan to stop billing rape victims for exams and tests. Advocacy groups and lawmakers were critical of the fact that women who had been raped were getting big hospital bills after checking in to be treated for the assault. DHH says they now plan to seek reimbursement for such visits from the Crime Victim’s Reparation Board.

Cleanup crews are continuing to work a major crude oil spill in Caddo Parish that has killed dozens of fish and some reptiles. The oil leaked into Tete Bayou due to the rupture of a Mid-Valley pipeline. Workers were able to stop the spill from reaching into Caddo Lake. It’s estimated that approximately 4,000 barrels of crude oil flowed into the Bayou.

The Gonzales Police Department has released new information about the man who was found dead in his car in the Wal-Mart parking lot over the weekend. They say 26-year-old Lucas Sanchez of Pascagoula, Mississippi was seen on video purchasing computer keyboard cleaner at the store then returning to his car. Sgt. Stephen Nethken says foul play is not suspected in this case and they believe Sanchez died of a drug overdose…:
CUT 16 (13) “aerosol cans”
He says they are waiting on the coroner to determine official cause of death.

The Department of Health and Hospitals says they plan to stop billing sexual assault victims for exams and tests. DHH spokeswoman Olivia Watkins says they intend to work with the legislature to prohibit the cost of hospital visits by rape survivors to be charged to the victims for the care they receive:
CUT 12 (06) “of that nature”
She says, under the plan, hospitals would be able to seek reimbursement for such expenses from a fund that gets money from fines paid by violent criminals.

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is urging parents to set rules for their kids before they get the keys. Lt. Col John LeBlanc says parents should tell there teens the “5 to drive Rules” – No cell phones, no extra passengers, no speeding, not alcohol and EVERYONE must be buckled up. He says nobody has more of an impact on our children than their parents…:
CUT 8 (04) “some lives”
LeBlanc says according to a recent survey, only one in four parents had talked seriously with their teens about what it means to be a safe driver.

According to location marketing firm Development Counselors International, the business climate in Louisiana is the 10th best in the nation. Additionally DCI said the Louisiana Economic Development agency is the nation’s second best.

An investment group has agreed to buy Pineville based Cleco for a reported $3.4 billion. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

The Department of Health and Hospitals says they plan to stop billing sexual assault victims for exams and tests. DHH spokeswoman Olivia Watkins says they intend to work with the legislature to prohibit the cost of hospital visits by rape survivors to be charged to the victims for the care they receive:
CUT 12 (06) “of that nature”
She says, under the plan, hospitals would be able to seek reimbursement for such expenses from a fund that gets money from fines paid by violent criminals.

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is urging parents to set rules for their kids before they get the keys. Lt. Col John LeBlanc says parents should tell there teens the “5 to drive Rules” – No cell phones, no extra passengers, no speeding, not alcohol and EVERYONE must be buckled up. He says nobody has more of an impact on our children than their parents…:
CUT 8 (04) “some lives”
LeBlanc says according to a recent survey, only one in four parents had talked seriously with their teens about what it means to be a safe driver.

According to location marketing firm Development Counselors International, the business climate in Louisiana is the 10th best in the nation. Additionally DCI said the Louisiana Economic Development agency is the nation’s second best.

An investment group has agreed to buy Pineville based Cleco for a reported $3.4 billion. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “reporting”

The Department of Health and Hospitals says they plan to stop charging rape victims for care they receive at hospitals after an assault. DDH spokeswoman Olivia Watkins says they intend to work with the legislature to also do away with the provision that victims be sober in order to get money from the fund for hospital bills…:
CUT 14 (07) “we address”
The announcement comes after certain lawmakers were critical of the fact that women who had been raped were getting big hospital bills after checking in for tests and exams.

Two St. John Parish employees have been incited on two counts each of malfeasance in office and filing or maintaining false public records after a state police amoeba investigation & low chlorine levels. The accused are Kevin Branch and Danielle Roussel. DHH asked LSP to investigate after the state found no mandated chlorine residuals in the water system on August 12th but did find indications of the deadly amoeba. More on this as it develops.

An investment group has agreed to buy Pineville based Cleco for a reported $3.4 billion. Cleco Power has approximately 284,000 customers in Louisiana. President Darren O’Lages (O-lay-jes) says other than no longer being a publicly traded company, it will be business as usual under the new ownership…:
CUT 5 (11) “stay the same”
He says customers should not expect any change in utility rates or service as part of the sale.

Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order stating that state agencies and departments develop new policies and reporting mechanisms for certain individuals who travel to Ebola stricken countries as a result of educational or work related missions. Included in the order are public employees, students faculty and staff of higher education institutions who go to countries the CDC says have the threat of contracting the Ebola virus.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals announced today that the state plans to stop billing sexual assault victims for exams and tests. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

Candidates in the 6th Congressional District race took part in a forum today at the Baton Rouge Press Club. Just down the road former President Bill Clinton rallied for Senator Mary Landrieu in the US-Senate race against Congressman Bill Cassidy and retired Air Force Col. Rob Maness. Early voting for the November 4th election begins tomorrow.

The Gonzales Police Department is investigating the case of a man from Mississippi who was found dead in his car in the Wal-Mart parking lot over the weekend. Spokesman Sgt. Stephen Nethken says 26-year-old Lucas Sanchez of Pascagoula was seen on surveillance video walking into the store in the early morning hours of Saturday…:
CUT 15 (12) “his vehicle”
Nethken says there were several aerosol cans found in Sanchez’s vehicle and they believe he died of an overdose.

Crews are cleaning up a major crude oil spill in Caddo Parish that leaked into Tete Bayou after the Mid-Valley pipeline ruptured. DEQ spokesman Greg Landley says once Sunoco Logistics, who operate the pipeline, noticed a drop in pressure, they went to work…:
CUT 10 (08) “to repair it”
It’s estimated that approximately 4,000 barrels of crude oil spilled.