Via Link in New Orleans is the contact center for many people in Louisiana who call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, but the organization says it doesn’t have enough money to keep up with the increasing demand and may have to close in December. ViaLink CEO LaVondra Dobbs says if that happens, calls to the suicide prevention hotline will go to a backup center, which could result in a 45-minute wait time…
cut 6 (06) “….time on hold”
Via Link is accepting donations at Via-Link-dot-org.

A new study ranks Louisiana is the fifth least innovate state in the country. That’s because over the last five years, Louisiana was issued the fifth lowest number of patents, per state. Roxy Fata with Digital Third Coast says Louisiana could do better than that…
cut 12 (06) “…happen as well”
At least Mississippi has a beat again as they are ranked as the least innovative state.

A senior quarterback ruled ineligible to play at Hahnville High School has been given the okay to play tonight by a St. Charles Parish judge. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
A full court hearing will take place Wednesday.

Former UL Lafayette softball coach Michael Lotief has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the university. The suit claims a breach of contract, defamation and accuses the university of gender inequity. But the school says Lotief was dismissed for a physical and verbal attack of a female co-worker and the use of sexually violent language and physical abuse towards former players.

With funding not keeping up with call volume, Via Link, the answering program for the National Suicide Hotline in Louisiana, is in danger of closing….
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A man has told his story to a New Orleans TV station that he was sexually assaulted by a school janitor at Jesuit High School and a priest watched as the act unfolded in the 1970s. Richard Windmann says he was 12-years-old at the time. And 11 men have filed a suit against the Lafayette Diocese allegeding sex abuse from the late priest Kenneth Morvant in the 1970s.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office recently issued its 10 millionth patent. But, over the past five years, Louisiana was issued the fifth lowest number of patents per capita compared to other states. Content Strategist at Digital Third Coast Roxy Fata says that makes the Bayou State one of the least innovative states..
Cut 10 (10) “…nice baseline.“
Fata says several other southeastern states rank at the bottom of the list.

The Gueydan Duck Festival has kicked off, bringing sportsmen from around the world to the small town known as the Duck Capital of America. The Vermilion Parish town has been putting on the festival for 41 years. Festival President Jerrod Broussard says it’s the place to be for duck hunters.
Cut 7 (08) “…apparel.”
Broussard says it’s a family friendly event with food, music, and all kinds of other entertainment, like skeet shooting.

A New Orleans organization that provides crisis intervention for those in Louisiana who call the National Suicide Hotline could close in December, because of a lack of funding. Via LInk CEO LaVondra Dobbs…
cut 5 (07) “….30-per call”
The National Suicide Hotline receives about 40 calls every day from Louisiana and as the demand grows for help, so do the costs for Via Link.

A St. Charles Parish judge has issued a temporary restraining order that could allow Hahnville quarterback Andrew Robison to play tonight against rival Destrehan. The LHSAA has said Robison can’t play at Hahnville, after he transferred from Vandebilt Catholic in Houma. Attorney David Moyer says Robison never received due process from the LHSAA….
Cut 13 (08) “a case”
Hahnville has yet to say if Robison will play tonight.

A new study shows Louisiana is the fifth least innovative state in the country, but in the Southeast, we’re not alone at the bottom of the list…
Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Rain chances increase today and high temperatures will range from the low to mid 90s.

With funding not keeping up with call volume, Via Link, the answering program for the National Suicide Hotline in Louisiana, is in danger of closing up.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31)  “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

__________________________________

A new study shows Louisiana is the fifth least innovative state in the country, but in the Southeast, we’re not alone at the bottom of the list.  Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

__________________________________

A Hahnville quarterback who was suspended for the year by the LHSAA has had that suspension temporarily blocked by the courts until a hearing next week. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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New Orleans-based Via Link, which provides crisis intervention for many Louisiana residents who call the National Suicide Hotline, is on the verge of closing, as it can no longer rely on private donations to cover the costs of the service.  Via Link CEO LaVondra Dobbs says they receive very little funding from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Cut 4 (12) “…hotline for Louisiana.”

Dobbs says the program receives some grant money but really needs closer to $350,000 to cover its annual operating costs.

Cut 5 (07) “…$30 per call.”

Via Link also connects callers to local resources and performs follow-ups.  Dobbs says if Via Link goes away, the calls will then go to a backup center, where callers can spend around 45 minutes on hold before talking to a specialist.

Cut 6 (06) “…time on hold.”

Those that wish to make a donation to the program can do so at ViaLink.org.

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The Gueydan Duck Festival has kicked off, bringing sportsmen from around the world to the small town known as the Duck Capital of America. The town, south of Lafayette, has been putting on the festival for 41 years. Festival President Jerrod Broussard says it’s the place to be this weekend for duck hunters.

Cut 7 (08) “…apparel.”

Broussard says it’s a family friendly event with food, music, and all kinds of other entertainment, like shooting skeet.

Cut 8 (09)  “…to shoot”

If you hear duck and your first thought isn’t shooting them, but smoking them, then the festival has some options for you, but you might want to wait until the Sunday cook-off. While there will be food available today and Saturday, if you’re looking for duck, Broussard says come for the cookout.

Cut 9 (10)  “…cook off.”

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Over the summer, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued its 10 millionth patent.  But where are those patents being issued?  Over the past five years, Louisiana was issued the fifth lowest number of patents per capita compared to other states.  Content Strategist at Digital Third Coast Roxy Fata says the metrics shown by a recent study indicate the Bayou State is one of the least innovative states in the nation.

Cut 10 (10)   “…nice baseline.“

Fata says it’s a pretty steep climb to catch up with the number one most innovative state in the nation.

Cut 11 (07)   “…getting patent issues.”

Fata says there is potential for improvement with the industries that are present in the state.

Cut 12 (06)   “…happen as well.”

Fata says there is no shortage of Southeastern states at the bottom of the list with Arkansas just behind Louisiana and Mississippi coming in dead last.

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A court has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the LHSAA suspension of now Hahnville quarterback Andrew Robison until an appeals hearing, that would make the senior eligible to play tonight, but there’s still an open question as to whether or not his coach will play him. Robison Family Lawyer David Moyer says the whole process so far has been unfair.

Cut 13 (08) “a case”

Robison, and Hahnville head coach Nick Saltaformaggio were suspended after the LHSAA alleged the quarterback was illegally recruited by Hahnville from his old school, Vandebilt Catholic. Saltaformaggio received a four game ban, while Robison was barred from playing for his new school.

Moyer says the LHSAA has been mostly mum about the reasoning behind suspending the senior for his last year in high school. He alleges the LHSAA did not include crucial evidence supporting his client in the final report justifying the suspension.

Cut 14 (05) “…to them”

Robison says one of the primary reasons for his client wanting to transfer was his treatment by officials at Vandebilt Catholic, a point he says the LHSAA refuses to acknowledge.

Cut 15  (10) “…the report”

The stay sets the stage for a Wednesday appeals hearing where the Robison family will aim to have the suspension ended.

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LSU is 3-0 despite starting quarterback Joe Burrow completing only 46-percent of his passes so far. Burrow knows he can be better

Cut 16 (11) “…to improve” 

A lot of people are patting LSU on the back this week after upsetting Auburn last week. But Burrow says the players are blocking out the noise…

Cut 17 (20)  “really good” 

LSU has moved since the beginning of the season from 25th in the country to sixth. Linebacker Michael Divinity says the goal is to keep moving up in the polls

_____________________________________________________

A matchup to watch in Sunday’s Saints-Falcons game is Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones versus New Orleans cornerback  Marshon Lattimore. The second year defensive back knows he has his work cut out for him…

Cut 19 (12) “ my game” 

Saints defensive end Cam Jordan says if Lattimore and the Saints secondary can do their job, they hope to get pressure on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan…

Cut 20 (12) “ with this one” 

Governor John Bel Edwards says it’s a good sign Louisiana ended up with a 300-million dollar surplus from the budget year that ended June 30th. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades.  It’s quite the feat considering the popularity of at home video on demand services such as Netflix.  North American ticket sales will close out the summer season with more than a 14% increase.  Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says the weather might play a factor.

Cut 10 (08) “…and watch movies.”

The Public Service Commission launches an investigation into the spending habits of rural energy coops. Commissioner Foster Campbell highlighted what he says were completely unnecessary educational and lobbying trips to places like Las Vegas and Washington DC, where he says costs for expensive meals and hotels would end up back on customer bills. He says the co-op’s justifications don’t hold up.

Cut 8 (10) “…see them.”

But Claiborne Co-op General Manager Mark Brown says those accusations are not correct, and the trips are needed, as they give co-op leaders the opportunity to learn about new advancements in the electric industry. He says they take those new lessons home to provide better service to coop customers.

cut 9 (08) “…travel expenses”

Campbell criticized the salary being paid to brown, which he says is 195,000 dollars a year.

The Public Service Commission is investigating rural electric co-ops after discovering what they say are excessive expenses that are driving up electric costs. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana finished the fiscal year that ended June 30th with a budget surplus of approximately 300-million dollars. Critics of the Edwards administration say the surplus shows the legislature didn’t need to renew millions in temporary sales taxes earlier this year. But Edwards says…

Cut 4 (07) “…a deficit.”

A Denham Springs woman has been charged with D-W-I after she drove into a Baton Rouge Police cruiser. B-R-P-D Sergeant Don Coppola says after doctors checked on Jones injuries, she was then sent to the East Baton Rouge jail for booking on charges of D-W-I, careless operation and vehicular negligent injuring…

Cut 14 (09) “…the charges”
Coppola says the police unit suffered severe damage as a result of the wreck.

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades.  It’s quite the feat considering the popularity of Netflix.  North American ticket sales will close out the summer season with more than a 14% increase.  Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says offerings at theatres include more than just soda, popcorn, and a flip down seat as now the multiplexes are offering a deeper menu, and seeing much more comfortable plush reclining seats.
Cut 12 (10)   “…very good job.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana finished the fiscal year that ended June 30th with a budget surplus of approximately 300-million dollars. Edwards says the state’s economy is performing better than what the Revenue Estimating Conference predicted…

Cut 3 (10) “…improve.” 

Critics of the Edwards administration say the surplus shows the legislature didn’t need to renew millions of dollars in temporary sales taxes.

The Public Service Commission launches an investigation into the spending habits of rural energy coops. Commissioner Foster Campbell singled out Claiborne Electric Co-op for paying their GM 195,000 a year.

Cut 6 (06) “…sickening.”

The GM says his pay is based on national averages for the positions.

A Denham Springs woman has been charged with a D-W-I after she drove into a Baton Rouge Police cruiser. B-R-P-D Sergeant Don Coppola says 39-year-old Tia Jones attempted to make a left turn into a parking lot on Government Street last night when the collision happened…

Cut 13 (06) “non life threatening”

Coppola says the police unit suffered severe damage as a result of the wreck.

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades.  It’s quite the feat considering the popularity of at home video on demand services such as Netflix. .  Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says  the strong showing of support for historically popular franchises is a major contributing factor to the boom.

Cut 11 (09)“…a lot of fun”

North American ticket sales will close out the summer season with more than a 14% increase

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana finished the fiscal year that ended June 30th with a budget surplus of approximately 300-million dollars.Edwards says they can now use some of this money to fund long-awaited highway projects.

cut 5 (10)  “…state of Louisiana” 

The state constitution limits how state surplus dollars can be spent, but construction is one of the areas it can be spent in.

After seeing losses in 2017, movie theatres are experiencing their best summer in two decades. Entertainment columnist for the New Orleans Advocate Keith Spera says the weather might play a factor.

Cut 10 (08) “…and watch movies.”

North American summer ticket sales summer season increased more than a 14%.

The Public Service Commission launches an investigation into the spending habits of rural energy coops. Commissioner Foster Campbell highlighted what he says were completely unnecessary educational and lobbying trips to places like Las Vegas and Washington DC, where he says costs for expensive meals and hotels would end up back on customer bills. He says the co-op’s justifications don’t hold up.

Cut 8 (10) “…see them.”

But Claiborne Co-op General Manager Mark Brown says those accusations are not correct, and the trips are needed, as they give co-op leaders the opportunity to learn about new advancements in the electric industry. He says they take those new lessons home to provide better service to coop customers.

cut 9 (08) “…travel expenses”

Campbell criticized the salary being paid to brown, which he says is 195,000 dollars a year.