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…:

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

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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.

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

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 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….

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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

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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. Eric Gill reports…

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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…:

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…:

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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…:

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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.

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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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