A new statewide poll on the Louisiana gubernatorial election 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 of the vote followed by Vitter’s 19-percent. Pollster John Couvillon says Edwards is catching a wave right now…:
CUT 3 (11) “a Democrat” 2X
The poll of 500 likely voters shows that 55-percent said that prostitution allegations from Vitter’s past will impact their vote. The primary is October 24th.

ULM is grieving today over the loss of backup quarterback Daniel Fitzwater who passed away suddenly on Saturday. Warhawk Coach Todd Berry says he had to tell the players about the passing of their 20-year-old fellow teammate three hours before the homecoming game. He said they didn’t have all the details about Fitzwater’s death but it didn’t appear to be self-inflicted and foul play is not suspected.

Federal officials announced today that the terms of a record $20.8 billion dollar settlement with BP over the 2010 Gulf Oil spill have been finalized. A consent decree was filed in New Orleans this morning which outlines the details. In July, BP announced it would pay up to $19 billion for the five Gulf States impacted by the spill and local leaders said Louisiana would receive nearly $7 billion.

The New Orleans Saints finally got a win this season after defeating the Dallas Cowboys 26-20 in overtime last night in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Quarterback Drew Brees threw in a winning 80 yard touchdown pass to CJ Spiller in overtime. Head Coach Sean Payton…:
CUT 24 (15) “great play”
The game winner was also Brees’ 400th career touchdown pass. The Black & Gold will travel to face Philadelphia Sunday afternoon.

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”

The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s office says one man is dead and two others are injured after a triple shooting early this morning. They say deputies responded to a home in LaPlace to find an 18-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man suffering gunshot wounds while another 23-year-old, Travis Gregoire, had already been taken to the hospital where he died. A motive or suspects in the shooting is not known at this time.

More than $280,000 dollars has been raised for the 11 victims and families of the two women who were killed in the deadly Lafayette movie theater shooting in July. Pixus Digital Printing made Lafayatte Strong t-shirts, signs and car decals and donated 100% of the proceeds. CEO Todd Landry says the response from the community has been overwhelming. He says they are still selling the merchandise online at LouisianaHotStuff.com…:
CUT 12 (09) “as well”
The United Way also says an initial payment of five-thousand dollars has been sent to each of the victim’s families.

The Shreveport Police Department is investigating a fatal hit and run accident which claimed the life of an as yet unidentified pedestrian. They believe the man was walking along a roadway when he was run over by an unknown vehicle around 9pm Sunday evening. He died at a hospital. They are ask the public to contact authorities if you have any information on this incident.

One man is dead and two others injured after an early morning triple shooting in LaPlace. The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office says they found an 18-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man at a home suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to an area hospital, where their conditions are unknown. Before authorities arrived, a third victim, 23-year-old Travis Gregoire of LaPlace, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The investigation is in its early stages.

Over a quarter of a million dollars has been raised for the 11 victims and the families of the two women killed in July’s Lafayette theater shooting. Pixus Digital Printing CEO Todd Landry says the majority of the money was raised by selling signs, t-shirts, car decals. 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 dollars has been sent to each of the victim families.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says a Prairieville man is dead after an argument with his girlfriend turned violent. They say, during the altercation in the couple’s home, Jonqualya Benton allegedly retrieved a knife and stabbed 21-year-old Deshad Perry in the chest. Perry was transported to a local hospital where he later died. Benton is charged with one count of manslaughter among other charges. It’s reported the couple’s one-year-old child was with them at the time of the incident.

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”

State Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Suzy Sonnier says Louisiana is in the process of moving towards a new stored value card for child support clients, which means all clients will be getting a new value card in the mail. Sonnier is strongly encouraging her child support clients to start using direct deposit…

cut 15 (11) “value card”

She says all clients using the card need to update their address as soon as possible.

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 is arguing that the jury was incorrectly instructed on laws regarding honest services fraud. Loyola Law Professor Dane 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”

The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office says an early morning triple shooting in LaPlace has left one dead and two others injured. They say an 18-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were found at a home suffering from gunshot wounds. They were transported to an area hospital. Before authorities arrived, a third victim, 23-year-old Travis Gregoire of LaPlace, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The investigation is in its early stages.

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”

A federal court in New Orleans will hear former Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal to his conviction on fraud charges today. Loyola Law Professor Dane 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”

Nagin is arguing that the jury was incorrectly instructed on laws regarding honest services fraud.

The Department of Children and Family Services is in the process of moving towards a new stored value card for child support clients. Secretary Suzy Sonnier says this means all clients currently using the card need to update their address as soon as possible. She says to change your address visit D-C-F-S-dot-L-A-dot-G-O-V-backslash-cafe…

cut 14 (08) “their address”

Sonnier says as D-C-F-S switches vendors, all clients will receive a new value card in the mail.

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 decals. He says he never dreamed they’d have this kind of impact…

cut 10 (09) “a rewarding thing”

He says they’re still receiving orders, a little more than two months since the tragedy.

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 and nine Powerball numbers will be removed.

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”

She says all clients will be getting a new value card in the mail.

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”

Changes in the Powerball multi-state lottery game will make it harder for players to win the grand prize, but more money could be won in other ways. 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. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim 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”

The changes increase the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 175 million to 1 and 292 million.

The convicted killer who was accidentally released for prison on September 22 in East Feliciana Parish has been captured in Atlanta. Middle District of Louisiana US Marshal Kevin Harrison says they talked with Marshals in Georgia after getting a tip that 32-year-old Benjuiel Johnson was staying in a Motel 6 outside of Atlanta. He says developed leads after talking to people in Johnson’s hometown in Iberville Parish and determined he had connections in Georgia.
CUT 7 (09) “him there”

The Baton Rouge Police Department has arrested a man after he allegedly accidentally shot his 19-year-old pregnant girlfriend in the stomach. Cpl. Ljean McKneely says 19-year-old Jason Williams claims he was taking a handgun from a dresser when it accidentally went off striking his girlfriend who is four months pregnant. He says Williams was caught when visited the hospital to check on the woman.
cut 14 (05) “a weapon”

In a poll ranking the six most recent Louisiana governors, 31-percent of respondents believe former four-term Governor Edwin Edwards as the best. Michelle Southern has more….
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Louisiana State Police say a driver has been arrested in a four vehicle crash that killed a woman in Watson. 58-year-old Michael Farris of Denham Springs was driving northbound on LA 16 when his vehicle crossed the center line into the southbound lane and hit three vehicles. Farris sideswiped a pickup truck, then stuck 19-year-old Miranda Roberts head-on and then side wiped another vehicle. Roberts was unrestrained and was pronounced dead at the scene. Farris has been arrested for DWI.

The convicted killer who was mistakenly released from prison in East Feliciana Parish on September 22 has been captured in Georgia. Middle District of Louisiana US Marshal Kevin Harrison says they spoke with Marshals in Georgia after receiving information that 32-year-old Benjuiel Johnson was at an Atlanta Motel 6.
CUT 6 (08) “the arrest”
Harrison says they talked to people in Johnson’s hometown in Iberville Parish and developed leads the showed he had connections in Georgia.

The Baton Rouge Police Department has arrested a teenager after he allegedly accidentally shot his four month pregnant girlfriend in the stomach. Cpl. Ljean McKneely says 19-year-old Jason Williams claims he was taking a handgun from a dresser when it went off striking his 19-year-old girlfriend. He says Williams fled the scene after the incident.
cut 13 (10) “what happened”

Louisiana State Police say a motorcyclist has died after being involved in a two vehicle crash in Denham Springs. 20-year-old Patrick Dodson of Denham Springs was riding his 2013 Kawasaki motorcycle south on LA 1019 when he crossed the center line and went into a northbound lane during a curve. At the same time 49-year-old James Stutzman Jr. of Denham Springs was driving northbound when Dodson hit Stutzman’s vehicle head-on fatally throwing him from his motorcycle.

Louisiana State Police is investigating a fatal crash in Concordia Parish which took the lives of three unrestrained people. Master Trooper Scott Moreau says a fully loaded 18-wheeler driven by 28-year-old Mark Gordon of Jonesville crossed into the opposite lane of traffic at the same time as 49-year-old Richard Stewart Jr. of Vidalia. He says Stewart Jr. tried to avoid the collision and swerved into the shoulder.
cut 10 (06) “eastbound shoulder”