Early voting has only just begun, and it’s already a record breaking year for turnout. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says the 2012 election set voting records in Louisiana, but the turnout yesterday even topped that:
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The early voting period for the November 8th election runs through Tuesday, with the exception of Sunday.

A man wanted by the Baton Rouge Police Department for allegedly setting a woman on fire with hairspray and a flame is now in custody, according to authorities. They say 28 year old John Harleaux is booked on one count of domestic abuse battery by burning, which is a felony. BRPD Sgt. Don Coppola says the woman was badly injured in the September incident…:
cut 4 (07) “his actions”
He says thanks to Crimestoppers they were able to put Harleaux behind bars Tuesday.

The National Flood Insurance Program says they’ve been able to close out 48 percent of the over 29,000 claims submitted three months after historic flooding. Spokesman Wayne Berggren (Berg-gren) says flood victims have received over one billion dollars in payments. He says an event like this should serve as a reminder about the importance of being insured…:
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For more information about flood insurance, homeowners can visit flood-smart-dot-gov (floodsmart.gov).

The Ponchatoula man accused of murdering his ex-wife at her Hammond home turned himself in last night according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. Jerry Williams Jr is accused of shooting 50-year-old Linda Williams in the head. He was charged with second-degree murder, convicted felon in possession of a firearm and a protection order violation.

A Baton Rouge man who set his wife on fire in September is finally behind bars. Sgt. Don Coppola with the Baton Rouge Police Department says 28-year-old John Harleaux got into an argument with his wife on September 24th. He says things turned violent when the woman called for her mother to come pick her up….
cut 3 (10) “…to ignite”
The woman suffered second and third degree burns to her arm, shoulder and back.

Two drug suspects that have the names Monroe Myers and Winter Flowers are off the streets after they were arrested on drug and gun charges. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office Captain Daniel Seuzeneua says when deputies pulled their vehicle over, they discovered a sawed off shotgun that was made to look like a toy guy…
cut 15 (09) “…they belong”
The gun was wrapped in the popular children’s character “The Mininions” duct tape.

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center is providing over 200-thousand dollars in grant money for non-profit and faith-based groups who are assisting individuals trying to recover from the August flood. Executive Director Cashauna Hill says the groups will then use the funds at their discretion to assist flood victims in any way they need…
cut 11 (11) “….management services”

LSU Heath New Orleans researchers are offering free well water tests to Louisiana homeowners impacted by the August flooding. Professor Adrienne Katner says 150 test kits will be handed out Thursday and Friday at two churches in French Settlement…
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Any homeowner with a private well in the flood-area is eligible.

Flood victims in Louisiana have received over a billion dollars in flood insurance payments in less than three months. That’s according to Wayne Berggren (Berg-gren) with the National Flood Insurance Program. He expects when all claims are reviewed, flood victims will have received a little over two billion dollars…:
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For more information about flood insurance, homeowners can visit flood-smart-dot-gov (floodsmart.gov).

Two former high ranking employees at Angola are slated to turn themselves in today on warrants accusing them of stealing at least $160,000 from funds meant to benefit employees of the prison. An audit found that one of the woman spent nearly $70,000 in personal purchases including on items from Amazon and Paypal. Former Col. Shirley Whittington and her alleged co-conspirator, Deborah Leonard are charged with felony theft over $25,000,

A traffic stop in Covington led to disturbing discoveries and two arrests. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center is making donations to community groups assisting with flood relief efforts in south Louisiana. Executive Director Cashauna Hill says they’re thrilled to be able to help people and extremely grateful for the work these organizations have been doing since the flood in August…:
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She says $200-thousand dollars from their Baton Rouge Revitalization Fund will be distributed among faith-based and nonprofit organizations.

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center announces a $200-thousand donation to Baton Rouge groups assisting with flood relief efforts. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A man wanted by the Baton Rouge Police Department for allegedly setting a woman on fire with hairspray and a flame is now in custody, according to authorities. They say 28 year old John Harleaux is booked on one count of domestic abuse battery by burning, which is a felony. Investigators report the woman suffered second and third degree burns on her left arm, shoulder and back.

LSU Health New Orleans is offering free well water testing in areas affected by the historic flooding in August. Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Adrienne Katner says a contaminated well can be cleaned through shock chlorination. She says bad water has been a concern to flood affected residents…:
Cut 5 (10) “their well”
Katner says their free well water testing program will start in Livingston Parish, but they’ll also visit other affected parishes over the next several months.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says he wants to fight for the state’s law that mandates strippers be at least 21 to work as an exotic dancer. Three unidentified strippers filed suit, and the AG said as Louisiana’s chief legal officer, he should defend the constitutionality of statutes passed by the Legislature. ATC is the agency set to enforce the Louisiana law that said a stripper has to be 21 years old.

The National Flood Insurance Program has issued over one billion dollars to help Louisiana policyholders impacted by the historic August flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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A record number of Louisianians turned out to early vote in the November 8th election Tuesday — at just over 87,000, a 58% increase over the 2012 Presidential race. The top three early voting parishes were Orleans , East Baton Rouge, and St Tammany. You can cast your ballot now through November 1st except on Sunday, and get voter information including polling location online at geauxvote.com.

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center is making donations to community groups assisting with flood relief efforts in south Louisiana. Executive Director Cashauna Hill says $200-thousand dollars from their Baton Rouge Revitalization Fund will be distributed among faith-based and nonprofit organizations…:
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Hill says organizations in the greater Baton Rouge area will receive a portion of these grants.

A traffic stop in Covington led deputies to a disturbing discovery that alarmed law enforcement authorities, and netted a couple behind bars. Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says Monroe Myers and his girlfriend, Winter Flowers, had heroin, methamphetamine, a large amount of cash, and drug paraphernalia — and a sawed off 20 gauge shotgun disguised as a children’s toy…:
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The couple was residing in a Covington area hotel, and each face many charges.

Louisiana flood victims have received over one billion dollars in flood insurance payments in less than three months after the historic flooding. Wayne Berggren (Berg-gren) with the National Flood Insurance Program says they’ve seen over 29-thousand claims submitted for review and payment and of that 48-percent have been closed out…:
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Berggren says the average payment a homeowner covered under the National Flood Insurance Program is about $68,000.

A dangerous couple is behind bars following a traffic stop in Covington that led to a disturbing discovery. Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says Monroe Myers and his girlfriend, Winter Flowers, were pulled over for a missing taillight…:
Cut 13 (07) “drug paraphernalia”
He says deputies also discovered a sawed off 20 gauge shotgun disguised as a children’s toy. The two face several charges.

LSU Health New Orleans is offering free well water testing in areas affected by the historic flooding in August. Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Adrienne Katner says test kits that could be used to analyze for metals and bacteria will be distributed to French Settlement in Livingston Parish this week…:
cut 4 (10) “the well”
To learn more about the study email well-testing-at-L-S-U-H-S-C-dot-edu.

Two former high ranking officials at Angola are expected to turn themselves in today amid allegations they stole at least $160,000 dollars from a fund intended to benefit employees at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Col. Shirley Whittington and former Lt. Col. Deborah Leonard, are each wanted on warrants of felony theft over $25,000.

Research from the American Cancer Society finds Louisiana ranks fifth in the nation for the number of smoking-related cancer deaths. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A dangerous couple is behind bars following a traffic stop in Covington that led to a disturbing discovery. Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says Monroe Myers and his girlfriend, Winter Flowers, were pulled over for a missing taillight. He says detectives discovered methamphetamine, heroin, and paraphernalia, as well as a gun that was disguised as a children’s toy.

Voters around the state are exercised their right to vote on this first day of early voting. Charles and Kathleen Gendusa were among those that cast their vote on the first day the polls opened. They were so eager to vote, they even showed up a day early.

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Early voting will be open every day but Sunday until November 1.

There is serious conversation about an east-west interstate that would cross central Louisiana through Alexandria, connecting western Texas to Georgia. Malcom Morris with the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, says they’re working on getting a federal designation and Texas has already been issued one.

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Morris says I-14 is probably 10 years out from being constructed.

Early voting for the November eighth election started today at locations around the state. This displaced flood victim traveled a long way so she can vote where she is registered…
cut 14 (09) “…get it done’
Early voting is 8:30 to 6 PM through November 1st except on Sunday.

Party leaders on both sides in Louisiana seem to agree that US Senate candidate & former KKK leader David Duke should be allowed to participate in the debate if he polled high enough. Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party Stephen Handwerk says they also share the same opinion on whether or not they would like to hear what Duke has to say…:
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Duke is one of six candidates who will participate in a November 2nd debate at Dillard University in New Orleans.

Louisiana ranks fifth in the country when it comes to the percentage of cancer deaths that are attributable to smoking. The percentage is 33-percent and it’s higher for men. Chronic disease director with the Louisiana Department of Health, Melissa Martin, says the state is doing what it can to decrease exposure of second hand smoke…
cut 10 (09) “…or restaurants”
Martin says the state also offers a free comprehensive quit line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

There’s talk about building an interstate that would run east and west through central Louisiana. Malcolm Morris of Leesville, who is with the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, says they are awaiting for a possible route to receive a federal designation…
cut 4 (09) “…Mississippi” .
Morris says once a corridor is selected, it could take another 10 years before construction starts.