The first of three public meetings discussing the I-10 Corridor Expansion Project in Baton Rouge kicks off today at 530PM. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Louisiana Department of Health is reminding parents of the importance of kids getting the proper rest as it relates to health and well-being. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (27) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Is Joe Burrow the man to take the Tigers to the Promised Land? One Tiger says he’s made some strong impressions heading into the season opener against Miami on Sunday…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Department of Transportation will hold a series of three public meetings to discuss the 300 million dollar I-10 Corridor expansion project that’s set to break ground in the near future. The expansion will require building on 97 parcels of currently private land, which DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says is mostly vacant property, or tiny land plots, but acknowledges…

Cut 4 (07) “…be required”

The state slapped together the funds for the expansion by applying for GARVEY Bonds from the feds, which Louisiana will have to pay off over the next 12 years.

Baton Rouge traffic is notorious for being the worst in the State, and was ranked by the Texas Transportation Institute as the 13^th worst in the nation, and was by far the smallest population of any city in the top 15. Wilson says the people of BR are dying to have the problem addressed, which is why they are holding these public meetings.

Cut 5 (07) “…with that”

Wilson says estimates indicate without the expansion project, Baton Rouge’s current level of expansion would threaten to push rush hour wait times to even higher levels.

And for Baton Rouge residents terrified that the construction will exacerbate the city’s already tortuous traffic…

Cut 6 (09) “…lot better”

The first meeting will be held today at McKinley Middle School starting at 5:30PM, with the second meeting on Wednesday at the Addis Community Center, and the third meeting Thursday at the Baton Rouge Marriot.

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The summer break is in the rearview mirror as schools are back in session. The Louisiana Department of Health is reminding parents of the importance of kids getting the proper rest as it relates to health and well-being.  LDH Medical Director Administrator Dr. Martha Whyte says the lack of adequate sleep can have adverse effects.

Cut 7 (08) “…memory as well.”

Whyte says between the popularity of electronics, high caffeine beverages, and other factors, the age of children getting improper amounts of sleep is getting younger.

Cut 8 (11)  “…for their kids.”

Whyte says even on the weekends, the importance of the proper amount of sleep needs to be reinforced.

Cut 9 (08)  “…a little more flexible.”

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Louisiana Tech has received the top spot for 2018 for colleges in Louisiana from BestColleges.com.  For the rankings, the website analyzes admissions and retentions with data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator.  Executive Director of Communications, Tonya Oaks Smith says it’s an honor that reinforces the school’s commitment to it’s students.

Cut 10 (09)   “…for Louisiana Tech.“

Smith says she believes much of the value comes down to the value.

Cut 11 (11) “…and the nation.” 

Smith adds the website cited the school’s wealth of online offerings as a strong contributing factor for its favorable ranking.

Cut 12 (12) “…within their schedule.”

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After a summer long quarterback competition, the Tiger’s finally have a winner, and that man is Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow. Burrow was favored by most analysts to win the job the moment he announced he was putting on the Purple and Gold. Tigers’ tight end Foster Moreau says Burrow locked down the gig by being all business from day one.

Cut 13 (11) “…hard worker.”

Burrow, the former four star prospect, was fighting a reportedly losing battle for the OSU starting position before he transferred to LSU. During his time with the Buckeyes he had a sky high 78 percent competition rating on a fairly small sample size of only 74 attempts. Moreau says he shocked the team day one with his explosive athleticism.

Cut 14 (10) “…right way”

But Head Coach Ed Orgeron says if Burrow can’t hack it out the gate and stumbles early, he’ll have no hesitations putting in redshirt freshman Myles Brennan who he says came close to getting the job in final grading. Moreau says he’s confident Brennan could take the helm if he were to get called up.

Cut 15 (09) “…bad happened”

Joe Burrow is listed on the depth chart as the starting quarterback on Sunday night against eighth ranked Miami. Coach Ed Orgeron held off on publicly announcing a starter when he met with the media earlier today, because he wanted to tell the team first. Coach O says Burrow and Myles Brennan were told of the decision this morning

Cut 12 (11)   “second team quarterback”

O warned that any early stumbles will result in Burrow handing the reigns over to backup Myles Brennan.

Despite the digital revolution, the forestry industry continues to grow in Louisiana. A new report says forestry accounts for 13 billion dollars in economic output to the state, and one billion in inflation adjusted with state and local taxes. LSU Ag Center Professor Shaun Tanger says while paper is down, paper related products are up.

Cut 3 (11) “…middle class”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have issued a quarantine on the transportation and transplanting of Roseau Cane out of Southern Louisiana.  A small invasive insect known as the Roseau can scale was first discovered in the state in fall of 2016, and has destroyed wide swaths of the plant in coastal Louisiana.  LDWF Biologist Director Todd Baker says hunters often use the plant to build hunting blinds.

Cut 6 (05) “…cannot move cane.”

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season has delivered on its projections for below-average or near normal storm activity.  The season has only produced five named storms with two becoming hurricanes.  The hurricanes fizzled out in the Atlantic.  With nearly a month and a half without a hurricane, State Climatologist Berry Keim says we are currently in the often most-active portion of the season.  History will show late August hasn’t always been kind to the Bayou State.

Cut 10 (11) “…Isaac in 2012.”

Authorities say a Facebook post threat towards Louisiana Tech and Grambling State turned out to be fake. Don Molino has the story….

Cut 2 (26) “I’m Don Molino”  

Joe Burrow is listed on the depth chart as the starting quarterback on Sunday night against eighth ranked Miami. Coach Ed Orgeron told the team first today. Coach O says the battle to be LSU’s starting quarterback went right down to the end…

Cut 13 (06) “won out”

Despite the digital revolution, the forestry industry continues to grow in Louisiana. A new report says forestry accounts for 13 billion dollars in economic output to the state, and one billion in inflation adjusted with state and local taxes. LSU Ag Center Professor Shaun Tanger says  the industry accounts for roughly 50,000 jobs state wide through direct and indirect employment, and that it’s been on a statewide uptick for nearly a decade.

Cut 4 (09) “…upward trend”

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season has delivered on its projections for below-average or near normal storm activity.  The season has only produced five named storms with two becoming hurricanes.  The hurricanes fizzled out in the Atlantic.  With nearly a month and a half without a hurricane, State Climatologist Berry Keim says that’s a relief that doesn’t occur often.

Cut 9 (07) “…August the 27th.”

Keim says we are currently in the often most-active portion of the season.

The depth chart is in and Joe Burrow will start for the Tigers at quarterback on Sunday night against eighth ranked Miami. Coach Ed Orgeron held off on publicly announcing a starter when he met with the media earlier today, because he wanted to tell the team first. Coach O says after grading the two, they found a winner.

Cut 14 (08) “…deciding factor”

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season has delivered on its projections for below-average or near normal storm activity.  The season has only produced five named storms with two becoming hurricanes.  The hurricanes fizzled out in the Atlantic.  With nearly a month and a half without a hurricane, we could be in the clear, but State Climatologist Berry Keim says don’t celebrate just yet.

Cut 11 (05) “…with hurricane activity.”

Despite the rise of tablets and other digital screens, the Forestry Industry in Louisiana continues to grow since taking a dive in the 08’ recession. Jeff Palermo.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

18-year-old Louisiana Tech pilot Mason Andrews, who’s on his way to being the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the globe in a plane, is stuck in place at the moment. Intense monsoons have blanketed the region of India he’s parked in, grounding the young pilot for almost a week. His father, Jeb, says he’ll be on his way to Thailand after the weather clears up. Andrews left for his trip August 1^st, with an expected trip time of 40 days.

Authorities say a Facebook post threat towards Louisiana Tech and Grambling State turned out to be fake. Don Molino has the story….
voicer 2 (26) “…I’m Don Molino”

It remains very quiet in the tropics as we begin the final week of August. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Louisiana has seen it’s fair share of significant storms right before Labor Day….
cut 10 (11) “…Isaac in 2012″
There hasn’t been a hurricane to track since July 13th.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron knows who will start at quarterback versus Miami on Sunday night, but he’s holding off on telling the public until the team knows. Reports say it will be Ohio State grad transfer Joe Burrow. At his weekly in-season Monday press conference, Orgeron says the battle went right down to the end…
cut 13 (06) “…won out”
Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated says Orgeron went with Burrow over Myles, because of his experience and decision-making.

The state department of wildlife and fisheries is asking duck hunters and fishermen to make sure they are not transporting Roseau cane out of south Louisiana. A quarantine is in place, because a white insect from Asia known as the Roseau cane scale is killing Roseau cane and L-D-W-F biologist director Todd Baker says the scale may affect more than just Roseau cane…
cut 8 (06) “…into agriculture crops”
Healthy Roseau cane is important in the fight against coastal land loss.

Despite the digital revolution, the forestry industry continues to grow in Louisiana. A new report says forestry accounts for 13 billion dollars in economic output to the state, and one billion in inflation adjusted with state and local taxes. LSU Ag Center Professor Shaun Tanger says the increase in shipping needs from companies like Amazon has also helped buoy the industry, along with a rebounding housing market, but warns that there could be a bump in the road just ahead.

Cut 5 (10)  “or two” 

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have issued a quarantine on the transportation and transplanting of Roseau Cane out of Southern Louisiana.  A small invasive insect known as the Roseau can scale was first discovered in the state in fall of 2016, and has destroyed wide swaths of the plant in coastal Louisiana.  LDWF Biologist Director Todd Baker says hunters often use the plant to build hunting blinds.  Baker adds there is only one exception for moving cane.

Cut 7 (05) “…and move it.”

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season has been projected to have below average activity and so far, that forecast has delivered.  The season has only produced five named storms with two becoming hurricanes.  The two hurricanes fizzled out in the Atlantic.  With nearly a month and a half without a hurricane, State Climatologist Berry Keim says that’s a relief that doesn’t occur often.

Cut 9 (07) “…August the 27th.”

Joe Burrow and Myles Brennan know who will start at quarterback on Sunday night agaisnt eighth ranked Miami, but Coach Ed Orgeron is holding off on publicly announcing a starter. Orgeron says he wants to tell the team first, but Burrow and Brennan were told of the decision this morning

Cut 12 (11)   “second team quarterback”

Despite the digital revolution, the forestry industry continues to grow in Louisiana. A new report says forestry accounts for 13 billion dollars in economic output to the state, and one billion in inflation adjusted with state and local taxes. LSU Ag Center Professor Shaun Tanger says the industry accounts for roughly 50,000 jobs state wide through direct and indirect employment, and that it’s been on a statewide uptick for nearly a decade.

Cut 4 (09) “…upward trend”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have issued a quarantine on the transportation and transplanting of Roseau Cane out of Southern Louisiana.  A small invasive insect known as the Roseau can scale was first discovered in the state in fall of 2016, and has destroyed wide swaths of the plant in coastal Louisiana.  LDWF Biologist Director Todd Baker says hunters often use the plant to build hunting blinds.

Cut 6 (05) “…cannot move cane.”

It appears the issues that caused dangerous levels of lead to contaminate the water supply for Tensas Parish schools have been corrected. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

commodity time

Governor John Bel Edwards says the United States has lost a great statesman and an American hero. He’s of course talking about Arizona Senator John McCain, who passed away at the age of 81 from a battle with brain cancer. Political consultant Roy Fletcher of Baton Rouge was McCain’s Deputy National Campaign Manager when he ran for President in 2000. Fletcher ays McCain’s time as a P-O-W left him badly scarred…

Cut 14 (10) “…of thing”

Despite the digital revolution taking reading off the pages of paperbacks and onto the screens of tablet, the Forestry Industry continues to grow in Louisiana, according to a report that says in 2015 it accounted for 13 billion dollars in economic output, and one billion in inflation adjusted state and local taxes. LSU Ag Center Professor Shaun Tanger says while paper is down, paper related products are up.

Cut 3 (11) “…middle class”

An LSU professor has invented an asphalt sealant that he says can extend the lifespan of problematic roads by years, and keep the asphalt from constantly cracking. Engineering Professor Dr. Guoqiang (Go-Chung) Li says his invention has been in the works since a 2009 grant kick started the project, and is almost road ready. Li says the project has received several federal grants and a lot of interest from state agencies, and now that the sealant has demonstrated its functionality, they’ll have to figure out how to make it cost effective.

Cut 6 (09) “…viable”

LSU Football Head Coach Ed Orgeron is set to have a 1230 press conference where we anticipate that he will name his starting Quarterback for Sunday’s opening game against number 8. Miami in Dallas. Reports say Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow has locked up the position and will helm coach O’s new more spread out, quick passing game.