Governor John Bel Edwards along with DHL and Graphic Packaging International broke ground today on a 1.27 million-square-foot folding carton plant and logistics center outside of Monroe. Edwards says the companies will make a compined capital investment of 274 million dollars.
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The project will create 93 new direct jobs. Graphic Packaging will continue to employ more than 800 people.

There’s a chance for severe weather this weekend. The National Weather Service says tomorrow we could see a tornado or two in north Louisiana and then the severe weather threat moves to southeast Louisiana on Sunday. Forecaster C-S Ross says heavy rainfall is also possible…
cut 9 (09) “….four inches”
But the forecast looks good for tonight for the big music festivals in Lafayette and New Orleans.

A measure heading to the Senate floor would require higher ed institutions to put together an action plan for preventing unplanned pregnancies. Michelle Southern has more…
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Polls will open at 7 AM tomorrow in 46 parishes for municipal general elections and there’s a couple of spots in the state legislature up for grabs. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says he’s not expecting a great turnout…
cut 12 (11) “…17-18″
Go to Geaux Vote dot com to find out if there’s anything on ballot at your precinct.

Many voters aren’t aware, but tomorrow is an election day in Louisiana for 46 parishes. Voters will be deciding on vacancies in the state House, the the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal and the Lake Charles Mayor’s office. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says there is also a big Senate race:
CUT 10 (08) “it touches”
He says if you aren’t sure there’s an election in your area tomorrow, check out the GeauxVote app.

The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s investigating after a body was found in a burning car in DeSoto Parish Friday morning. The victim has been identified as Kelly Jo Brunettin of Frierson. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says her vehicle was the only one at the scene and the investigation is ongoing…:
Cut 7 (10) “is involved”
He says the discovery was made around 2 a.m. this morning on Interstate 49 near Stonewall.

A synthetic drug called ‘pink’ has made its way to Bayou State and is more potent than heroin. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (24) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Hundreds of thousands of people will pack out the New Orleans Fair Grounds beginning this weekend for Jazzfest. How does the event get bigger and attract more people and big name artists every year? Festival producer Quint Davis says the secret is keeping it family friendly…:
Cut 11 (09) “to go too”
Hitting the big stages this weekend are Harry Connick Junior, Maroon 5 and Tom Petty.

The Storm Prediction Center is calling for an enhanced risk of severe weather for northwest Louisiana tomorrow. C.S. Ross with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says a cold front will bring the potential for severe weather as early as Saturday afternoon…:
Cut 8 (08) “or two”
Forecasters say the severe weather threat will shift to the eastern side of the state after midnight on Saturday.

Universities would be required to make an action plan to prevent unplanned teen pregnancies, under a proposal approved by the Senate Education Committee. New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop, who spent over two decades working in higher ed, says only 40 percent of teen mothers finish high school, and just two percent complete college by age 30…:
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The proposal now heads to the full Senate.

Jazz Fest is back beginning today at the New Orleans Fairgrounds. This year’s acts include Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, Maroon 5, Dave Matthews, Harry Connick Jr, and first timers Lorde and Snoop Dog. Festival Producer Quint Davis says the festival at the Fairgrounds Race Track really is like a mini version of the Big Easy…:
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Davis says the two-weekend festival has a $300 million annual economic impact.

Gov. John Bel Edwards joined President and CEO Michael Doss of Graphic Packaging International Inc. and CEO Scott Sureddin of DHL Supply Chain, North America, to announce the companies will make a combined $274 million capital investment in Northeast Louisiana and develop a 1.27 million-square-foot folding carton plant and logistics center in Monroe. In West Monroe, Graphic Packaging will continue to reinvest in its paper manufacturing location, including upgrades to the mill’s paper machines.

Universities would be required to implement an action plan to address unplanned teen pregnancies under a proposal approved by the Senate Education Committee. New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop spent decades working in higher education and says many young women dropped out of school for so-called medical reasons…:
Cut 3 (09) “happens a lot”
SB 106 now heads to the full Senate.

The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating a burning car in DeSoto Parish where the body of a woman was found inside. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they responded to a call from the Sheriff’s Office at 2 a.m. reporting a vehicle fire on Interstate 49 near Stonewall…:
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Browning says the victim has been identified and they are notifying next of kin before releasing her name to the public.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is underway in The Big Easy.
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Governor John Bel Edwards today announced Graphic Packaging International will make a combined $274 million dollar capital investment in Northeast Louisiana and develop a folding carton plant and logistics center in Monroe. He says the company will continue to invest in its paper mill in West Monroe, retaining over 800 jobs and the new project creating 93 new jobs.

A new drug called ‘pink’ is hitting the streets in Louisiana and is more deadly than heroin. East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says pink is a synthetic opioid combined with Fentanyl. He says this drug has all of the same effects as heroin…:
Cut 7 (09) “Baton Rouge area”
Pink originally gained media attention when a child overdosed from the drug in Colorado.

The state House approves legislation that says public school students can bring sunscreen to school and apply it with no prescription needed. State Representative Patricia Smith voted “no”, because she raised concerns about younger kids having to apply the sunscreen themselves, but Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey says that shouldn’t be a concern, because if they can use a smart phone, they can put on sun screen…
cut 14 (09) “…five years old”
The bill heads to the senate for more discussion.

The University of Louisiana Monroe is looking to bring a new medical school to northeast Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…
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Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Monroe this morning at 11 AM for an economic development announcement and then he’ll attend a luncheon at the Mt Zion Baptist Church Family Life Center.

And the state announces that Louisiana Cat is expanding its New Iberia operations and they plan to add 60 jobs over the next five years.

Officials are sending out warnings about a dangerous drug that is making appearances in Louisiana. It’s known as Pink — a synthetic opioid much stronger than heroin or prescription pain meds. That’s according to East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark who say access to these illicit drugs needs to stop sooner than later…:
Cut 9 (10) “overdose”
Pink originally gained media attention when a child overdosed from the drug in Colorado.

Hundreds of thousands of people will pack out the New Orleans Fair Grounds beginning this weekend for Jazzfest. How does the event get bigger and attract more people and big name artists every year? Festival producer Quint Davis says the secret is keeping it family friendly…:
Cut 11 (09) “to go too”
Hitting the big stages this weekend are Harry Connick Junior, Maroon 5 and Tom Petty.

It looks like ULM will soon be getting a new medical school in a deal with a private New York based institution. The College of Osteopathic medicine would start accepting up to 110 students for the 2019 fall semester. But first, ULM President Nick Bruno says they still have to work out a lot of details….:
Cut 4 (10) “school’s demand”
The school would have about 200 students on campus after two years, with 200 more doing clinical rotations in the community.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette was taken as the 4th pick in the NFL draft last night, going to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He becomes the highest sleeted player from LSU since 1963 when West Monroe’s Jerry Stovall was selected number 2 in the first round. LSU safety Jamal Adams was picked with the sixth selection of the first round by the New York Jets. The Saints used their first pick in the first round to take the top cornerback, Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore.

A synthetic drug called ‘pink’ has made its way to Bayou State and is more potent than heroin. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (24) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Public school students could apply sunscreen on themselves — and their teachers would be allowed to help under a House approved measure that’s headed to the Senate. It’s currently on a list of items not allowed and Baton Rouge Representative Barry Ivey was upset a bill like this was even necessary…:
Cut 15 (08) “on sunscreen”
But Baton Rouge Representative Patricia Smith doesn’t think it’s a good idea for teachers to apply sunscreen to students. The vote was 99-1.

Jazz Fest is back beginning today at the New Orleans Fairgrounds. This year’s acts include Stevie Wonder, Tom Petty, Maroon 5, Dave Matthews, Harry Connick Jr, and first timers Lorde and Snoop Dog. Festival Producer Quint Davis says the festival at the Fairgrounds Race Track really is like a mini version of the Big Easy…:
Cut 12 (08) “pumping away”
Davis says the two-weekend festival has a $300 million annual economic impact.

A jury hands down a unanimous guilty verdict against a Homer man accused of fatally shooting a Webster Parish Sheriff’s Deputy in 2016. It took the jury nearly an hour to find Andrew Critton at fault in the death of 69-year-old Sulyn Prince, who prosecutors say was buried in a shallow grave after Critton used a fire extinguisher to bludgeon her in the head.

Nicholls State University says they’ve received a very generous pledge from longtime supporter Tommy Meyer to enhance several Colonel athletic facilities.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival gets underway today in the Big Easy…:
Cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says a drug more deadly than heroin is hitting the streets in Louisiana. He says it’s called pink and wants the public to be aware that drug dealers aren’t concerned with what they are selling when it comes to this drug’s potency…:
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He says pink is a synthetic opioid combined with Fentanyl.

North Louisiana is reportedly getting a new medical school at ULM, and it’s expected that enrollment would begin in the fall semester of 2019. Word is that the school signed with a New York based institution for the The College of Osteopathic medicine. ULM President Dr. Nick Bruno says this new med school could offer a lot of opportunities to students…:
Cut 5 (08) “their preference”
He says this partnership could help improve the health sciences programs already offered at ULM.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have drafted former LSU running back Leonard Fournette with the 4th pick of the first round. The New Orleans native left LSU as one of the all-time greats in the program, rushing for 3,380 yards, a 6.2 yard per carry average and 40 touchdowns. Two picks later, the New York Jets took safety Jamal Adams. It’s the first time since 2007 that two LSU players were selected within the first six picks of the NFL draft.