Governor John Bel Edwards boarded a plane this morning for Cuba. He’ll spend the week talking with leaders of the island country about trade opportunities. Edwards says before the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Louisiana had a long standing relationship with Cuba and was a strong trade partner and they want to rebuild that relationship, but they face competition from other states…
cut 12 (09) “….bit behind”
Louisiana’s delgation will meet with the Cuban ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Foreign Investment, as well as the National Port Administration of Cuba.

The state office of Motor Vehicles begins issuing Real ID driver’s licenses today. OMV Commissioner Karen St. Germain says you’ll need this type of identification in order to fly domestically without a passport beginning in October 2020…
cut 4 (09) “…entire country”

LSU Ag Center President Bill Richardson says they’ll meet with third-party investors later this month about investing in the production of medical marijuana that will be available to some Louisiana residents. Richardson says they are also having ongoing talks with law enforcement officials…
cut 9 (10) “….medical marijuana”
Richardson says they hope to start growing the medicinal weed early next year.

And ULM Professor, Doctor Karen Briski, has received the largest grant in school history ever awarded to a single faculty member for her research on the treatment of Type-1 diabetes. Briski hopes her research can protect the brain during strict insulin therapy…
cut 14 (06) “…hypoglycemia”
Briski says she is humbled by this honor and happy to have a chance to improve a diabetic’s quality of life.

The state is getting closer and closer to getting medical marijuana into the hands of patients in need. LSU AgCenter President Dr. Bill Richardson says they hope to get started growing in 2017. He says legislation passed this year helped them move forward with the process and gave them exclusive rights to produce the drug…:
cut 8 (08) “those things”
Richardson says no students and no one under 21 will be able to work in the growing facility.

Police in New Orleans are investigation a tow truck crash that claimed the lives of three pedestrians and injured two others. They say the truck was traveling in Mid-City when it left the road and hit four people on the sidewalk. It then went through a fence into a parking lot and hit several parked cars. Three pedestrians died, and a fourth and the two truck driver were sent to an area hospital. The investigation is ongoing. No other details have been released at this time.

According to a report by CNBC, Bass Pro Shops is going to purchase Cabela’s in a deal worth $5.5 billion dollars. There are three of the outdoor equipment stores in Louisiana. Bass Pro has locations in Denham Springs and Bossier City, and there’s a Cabela’s in Gonzales.

Several state leaders, including the governor, are headed to Cuba today to continue trade and other talks. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the island nation will import up to $2 billion dollars worth of food next year, and as much as $1 billion of that could be from the US…:
CUT 11 (10) “part of it”

For the second straight week, LSU remains unranked in both major polls released Sunday, but the Tigers are getting more votes following a thrilling 42-7 victory over Missouri in interim coach Ed Orgeron’s debut. The Bayou Bengals faces their next test against Florida at 11am Saturday in Gainesville.

The LSU AgCenter is making progress with plans to grow and produce medical marijuana. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Powerful Hurricane Matthew is moving northward over the central Caribbean Sea this morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. On the forecast track, the center of the category 4 storm will approach Jamaica and southwestern Haiti tonight, and eastern Cuba on Tuesday. Although the official forecast continues to show a track east of Florida, it is still too soon to rule out possible hurricane impacts there.

A group of scientists conducted a study of the effects of the BP oil spill on coastal marshlands, and found the threshold at 90-100% of oiling means erosion is irreversible. Marine conservation biology professor at Duke University, Brian Silliman, on the importance of such a study:
CUT 6 (09) “in those areas”
He says knowing this helps determine how best to restore those ecosystems.

A ULM professor receives a 5 year, 1.7 million dollar grant that could possibly lead to a new treatment of Type-1 diabetes. Dr. Karen Briski is working to improve the quality of life of diabetics, by reducing harmful effects of hypoglycemia. She is researching how to protect the brain during strict insulin therapy..:

Cut 13 (05) “glucose levels”
This grant is the biggest single grant awarded to a faculty member in ULM’s history.

The LSU AgCenter is continuing with plans to grow medical marijuana and hopes to have seeds in the ground early next year. AgCenter President Dr. Bill Richardson says they should have a business plan in place this month and they are working closely with law enforcement to ensure they are comfortable with every aspect…:
CUT 7 (10) “exactly right”
Richardson says security is their number one priority.

What a win for the LSU Tigers Saturday night in Death Valley. In Ed Orgeron’s first game as interim head Coach, The Bayou Bengals pounded Missouri 42-7. Orgeron on what changed with him at the helm..:
Cut 1 (09) “middle of the season”
And the New Orleans Saints barely got their first win of the season Sunday after beating the Chargers 35-34.

State officials will be in Cuba today to discuss trade options between island nation and Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

State Police is mourning the loss of Bobby Smith, the trooper that lost his sight in 1986 when he was shot in the face by an assailant on a traffic stop. Smith did not let several tragedies in his life stop him. He later earned a PhD before writing several books setting on a path to help others. To learn more about Smith’s legacy, visit visionsofcourage.com. Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming.

Governor John Bel Edwards, Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain, and other state officials will be in Cuba today on a trade mission. Strain says representatives from LSU will also join them, because they want to trade more than just commodities…:
Cut 10 (10) “work on”
Strain says Cuba will import up to $2 billion worth of food next year, and as much as $1 billion of that could be from the US.

Deepwater Horizon was a success at the box office this weekend and just in time for the release of the movie is a new study looking at how coastal marshland recovered from the 2010 environmental disaster. Marine conservation biology professor at Duke University, Brian Silliman, says patches of marsh grass nearly covered by oil never recovered..:
cut 4 (09) “erosion occurring”
Silliman says environmentalists are interested in understanding thresholds because it helps them determine how to restore these ecosystems.

It was a successful debut for Ed Orgeron as interim coach of the LSU Tigers. Jeff Palermo has a recap of Saturday’s 42-7 win over Missouri:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards has filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Jeff Landry because he’s blocked at least 40 state contracts because they contain language that attempts to protect gays, bisexuals and transgender indiviudals from discrimination in the workplace. Edwards says Landry is over stepping his constitutional authorty, but Landry says the legislature has refused on several occasions to protect this group of citizens…
cut 14 (05) “…their wishes”
A court date has been set for October 17th.

Starting Monday, the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles will begin issuing REAL ID compliant driver’s licens and identification cards. A real ID is not needed for domestic air travel until 2020, but offering the option now will give OMV four years to assist residents requesting a REAL ID compliant credential.

What will we see from the LSU Tigers tonight when they take the field to host Missouri? Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron has promised to open up the playbook on offense, but star running back Leonard Fournette might not play, because of an ankle injury. Kick-off is at 6:30.

It’s also gameday in Ruston tonight as the Bulldogs are 22-point favorites to beat UTEP. Both teams have a 1-and-3 record.

State officials will be in Cuba next week to discuss trade options between the island nation and Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The political feud between Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry is not over, even after the two elected officials met. In fact, Edwards has filed a lawsuit against Landry for his refusal to accept state contracts that has clauses protecting gays and lesbians from workplace discrimination. But Landry says he’s protecting the will of the legislature, who has refused to approve legislation that would provide protections for LGBT individuals.

Four hundred million dollars in flood recovery aid is coming to Louisiana. Executive Director of the state Office of Community Development, Pat Forbes says Congress is expected to approve another relief package in December.
Cut 8 (10) “get that”
Forbes says it will take a couple of months to get the first installment of money in the hands of flood victims, because a federal agency has to sign off on the plans.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is concerned about the rising number of deaths from prescription opioid overdoses in Louisiana. Donelon says for the first time since the Vietnam War, the life expectancy has gone down for white males ages 25 to 35, and he says that’s due in part to the opioid epidemic in the US…:
cut 10 (09) “white males”
Donelon says in 2014, 750 people died of opioid overdoses in Louisiana.

Terrebonne Parish authorities spent time this week investigating a couple of creepy clown sightings. Major Malcolm Wolfe…
Cut 5 (12) “light on”
Wolfe says they have not identified the persons behind the masks in those sightings.

Governor John Bel Edwards has filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Jeff Landry in state district court. Edwards is upset Landry has refused to approve state contracts that contained protections for gays and lesbians from workplace discrimination. The governor says the A-G is over stepping his constitutional authority…
cut 13 (10) “…his own”
But Landry says he’s trying to protect the taxpayer…
cut 16 (10) “…the state”
Landry’s office has rejected at least 40 contracts because it contains non-discrimination wording.

There’s a sense of excitement for tonight’s LSU’s game. Fans are eager to see if interim head coach Ed Orgeron can spark a football team that’s underachieved. Kick-off against Missouri is at 6:30.

$400 million in federal disaster aid is coming to Louisiana, but it could still be months before we see the “down payment.” The federal government needs to make rules on how that money can be spent, then state and local leaders need to assign how it plans to use the dollars. State Office of Community Development head Pat Forbes says this first shot of money is a sure sign we can expect more help from Washington moving forward…:
CUT 9 (10) “in their homes”
Congress is expected to approve another relief package in December.

State fire marshal investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances of a fatal fire in Ferriday that killed 65-year-old Valeri Prosser. Her body was found early Friday morning in a bedroom of the residence. A cause of the fire is uknown, but investigators believe it started in the bedroom.