The big story making national news today is the announcement by officials in 5 Gulf States that they have reached a settlement with BP for $18.7 billion dollars which resolves litigation over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says this is the largest environmental settlement in history…:
CUT 3 (08) “billion dollars”
Caldwell says the exact details of the agreement will be released in the coming weeks in the form of a consent decree.

A federal district judge says Louisiana must let gay couples get married, file joint income tax returns and put both parents’ names on their children’s birth certificates. A Baton Rouge newspaper is reporting that every parish in Louisiana is now issuing same-sex marrige licenses. State Police also says any newly married gay couples can have their name changes on their driver’s licenses starting Monday.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled over campaign kicks off today and cops are all over the place. Louisiana Highway Safety Deputy Director Ken Trull says grants have been given to agencies statewide to increase patrols…:
CUT 7 (08) “off the roadway”
He says during last year’s 4th of July holiday period, there were 374 fatal and injury crashes in Louisiana.

Lockport Police say a man is under arrest after stabbing a dog and setting a house on fire. Chief Warren Vedros says the incident started with a verbal altercation between 24-year-old Duane Ryan, Jr. and some friends. He says Ryan became irritated and grabbed a couple of knives from the kitchen to confront the men who fled…:
CUT 12 (11) “of the house”
Ryan is charged with simple arson and cruelty to animals.

State officials announce Louisiana is getting $6.8 billion dollars of a combined $18.7 billion dollar settlement with BP over the 2010 Gulf Oil spill. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says this creates immediate action in what would have otherwise likely taken years of litigation in the courts to provide needed restoration to the Gulf…:
CUT 5 (08) “spill’s impact”
He says this is the largest environmental fine in US history.

Fishing begins today for the 67th Annual Tarpon Rodeo at Moran’s Marina in Fourchon. The rodeo starts today and ends on the 4th. Rodeo Admiral Eddie Callais says this year there will be more than 15-thousand dollars worth of prizes…:
CUT 9 (08) “are available”
You can get more information at fourchontarponrodeo.com.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission announces their 4th of July “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign begins today. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

The Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s office says a man from DeRidder was fatally shot by his 85-year-old father during an altercation. They say no criminal charges have been filed.

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announces BP has settled up with Gulf States for the 2010 Gulf Oil spill for $18.7 billion dollars. He says Louisiana gets a total of $6.8 billion dollars going toward natural resource damage, economic losses and Clean Water penalties…:
CUT 4 (10) “16 years”
Caldwell says this finally and fairly resolves all issues associated with the disaster.

Shreveport Police say a 3-year-old is in critical condition after shooting himself in the head. They believe the boy was playing with the gun when it went off. Authorities say both parents were home at the time of the incident and rushed the child to a local hospital. Police think the toddler got the gun from a holster hanging on the parent’s bed. The investigation is ongoing.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission announces their Independence Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign begins today. Deputy Director Ken Trull says their goal is to remove impaired drivers from the roadway and save lives. He says during last year’s 4th of July holiday period, there were 374 fatal and injury crashes in Louisiana…:
CUT 6 (08) “alcohol related”
He says if you’re going to drink, choose a designated driver because essentially cops will be everywhere.

The Reelz cable network has announced that they will televise the Miss USA Pageant live from Baton Rouge on July 12th. NBC pulled the pageant from their schedule over objections to pageant co-owner Donald Trump’s controversial comments on Mexican immigrants. Reelz CEO Stan Hubbard says they acquired the rights because they believe the pageant is an integral part of American tradition.

Officials in 5 Gulf States, including Louisiana, announce they have reached a settlement agreement with BP for $18.7 billion dollars which resolves litigation over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says this is the largest environmental settlement in history…

cut 3 (08) “billion dollars”

Caldwell says this finally and farily resolves all issues associated with the disaster.

GasBuddy-dot-com says Independence Day travelers will be seeing the lowest gas prices for the holiday in years. And Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski says prices will steadily fall for the rest of the summer. He says its unusual for prices to peak before Memorial Day and continue to decline, but this happened two out of the past three years…

cut 9 (05) “declining”

Laskoski says motorists will pay about 95 cents a gallon less than last year.

The Louisiana Chemical Association filed a lawsuit challenging a measure passed in the legislative session that imposes a 1 percent sales tax on business utilities and natural gas. Michelle Southern reports…

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Shreveport Police say a 3-year-old is in critical condition after shooting himself in the head. They believe the boy was playing with the gun when it went off. Authorities say both parents were home at the time of the incident and rushed the child to a local hospital. Police think the toddler got the gun from a holster hanging on the parent’s bed. The investigation is ongoing.

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announces that US authorities have reached an $18.7 billion agreement with BP on the settlement of the 2010 Gulf oil spill. Caldwell says Louisiana will receive $6.8 billion for natural resource damages, Clean Water Act civil penalties, and state economic damages. Caldwell says this settlement avoids a trial and allows for more immediate reaction. He stated that the settlement will be paid over the next 16 years.

The four candidates for Governor were asked how they felt about the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling legalizing same sex marriage nationwide. Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says the Supreme Court is the body that determines the constitution that is the law of the land and this issue is resolved and it’s time to move on…

cut 13 (12) “as well”

The question was posed during a debate at the Farm Bureau Convention.

Gas prices are at an all time low for the first time in years around the 4th of July Holiday. Emelie Gunn fills us in on how much we’re saving…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Reelz cable network has announced that they will televise the Miss USA Pageant live from Baton Rouge on July 12th. NBC pulled the pageant from their schedule over objections to pageant co-owner Donald Trump’s controversial comments on Mexican immigrants. Reelz CEO Stan Hubbard says they acquired the rights because they believe the pageant is an integral part of American tradition.

During a morning press conference, Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announces that US authorities have reached an agreement with BP on the settlement of the 2010 Gulf oil spill. Caldwell says Louisiana will receive $6.8 billion of the $18.7 billion total settlement. We’ll have more details in future newscasts.

The Louisiana Federation for Children has found that 91 percent of parents are satisfied with their child’s scholarship school. Scott Carwile reports.

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During a debate at the Farm Bureau Convention the four major gubernatorial candidates were asked how they felt about the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same sex marriage nationwide. Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says most legal experts would tell you that this ruling did not come as a surprise…

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The gubernatorial primary is October 24th.

GasBuddy.com says holiday travelers will see the lowest gas prices for the Independence Day holiday in years. Petroleum analyst Gregg Laskoski says we’ll be paying about 95 cents a gallon less than last year. He says prices are going down because of the decline in the price of crude oil…

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Laskoski says we’ll see a steady decrease from now until the end of the summer as long as we are without any weather event that could disrupt the pattern.

A lawsuit has been filed by the Louisiana Chemical Association challenging a measure passed in the legislative session which would impose a 1 percent sales tax on business utilities and natural gas. LCA spokesman Rob Landry says their plants depend heavily on purchased power and natural gas to generate steam, heat and electricity…

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Landry says the Louisiana Constitution says tax measures must pass both houses by a two-thirds vote and this measure fell short of 70 “yeas” two times.

A recent survey by the Louisiana Federation for Children finds that 91 percent of those parents participating in the Louisiana Scholarship Program are satisfied with their child’s scholarship school. President Ann Duplessis says this means the program is working…

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Duplessis says the scholarship program also benefits the personal and social lives of students.

The four candidates for Governor were asked during a debate at the Farm Bureau Convention how they felt about the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same sex marriage nationwide. Senator David Vitter says this flies in the face of what the citizens of Louisiana said they wanted in the state constitution which is that marriage should be between a man and a woman…

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Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary is October 24th.

As many travelers hit the road today, they’ll be seeing the lowest gas prices for the Independence Day holiday in years. Gregg Laskoski with GasBuddy.com says when drivers pull up to the pump, they’ll be paying about 95 cents a gallon less than last year.

cut 7 (06) “year ago”

Laskoski says we’ll see a steady decrease from now until the end of the summer as long as we are without any weather event that could disrupt the pattern.