LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab and the Cook Political Report combined to do a poll that shows Democrats have around a double digit average advantage in races that will determine the control of the U-S House of Representatives. Public Policy Lab Director Mike Henderson says President Trump is weighing down Republican prospects for House seats…
cut 6 (07) “….the President”
The survey found that 42-percent of voters will cast ballots in the mid-term election to show opposition to the President, while 23-percent will go to the polls to show support.

A southwest Louisiana woman has been arrested after she allegedly went next door to do drugs, when a fire started killing her 11-year-old son, who was sleeping. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says 41-year-old Jenny Stafford of Singer faces one count of negligent homicide…
cut 14 (04) “…infuriating”

The state’s top higher education board will request an additional $172 million in state funding for public colleges next year to help lower the costs for students. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

There were some tense moments at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital as authorities responded to an active shooter situation. The Lake Charles Police Department received a call in reference to a man with a gun, heading to the sixth floor. The suspect was located and detained, but it turns out a gun was never found.

The state fire marshal’s office has charged a 41-year-old woman with negligent homicide after her 11-year-old child died in a camper fire during the overnight hours in Beauregard Parish. State fire marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says Jenny Stafford of Singer admitted to not being home when the fire started…

Cut 12 (12)   “…smoke and flames”
Firefighters discovered the body of the child in a bedroom.

The FDA has approved a new drug that can reduce the severity of the flu, and it works against drug-resistant strains. Xofluza has been found to reduce flu symptoms if the patient has been sick for less than 48 hours. LSU Health New Orleans Professor and Infectious Disease Specialist Fred Lopez says because Xofluza targets different systems than treatments like Tamiflu, it’s less likely to be shrugged off…

Cut 10 (07)  “…those viruses.”

The Board of Regents will ask for a $172 million increase in state funding for public colleges next year. The request would push state funding for higher ed to $1.2 billion for the budget year that begins July 1. A significant amount of the money would be used toward keeping schools from raising fees next year.  Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says they also want to use some of the funds towards future-proofing the educational system.

Cut 4 (10) “…evolve the system.″

The Regents say charges on students increased 107% over the last 11 years.

Authorities have apprehended a subject on the 6th floor of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, ending a situation that law enforcement was treating as a possible active shooter.  Witnesses say they saw the suspect walking in with a blanket believed to have had a gun in it.
Here’s a look at your commodities.

There’s a heavy police presence at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital after authorities say a man with a gun walked into the hospital and made his way up to the sixth floor. A SWAT team has detained that man and no shots were fired. The sixth floor of the hospital has been evacuated.

The FDA has approved a new flu drug that can reduce the severity of the flu, and it can work against drug-resistant strains. Studies indicate Xofluza, which is an oral pill, can reduce symptoms if the patient has been sick with the flu for less than 48 hours. LSU Health New Orleans Professor and Infectious Disease Specialist Fred Lopez says it compares favorably to TamiFlu.
Cut 9 (12) “two days.”
But Lopez stressed it’s still no replacement for getting a flu shot and flu shots are now available.

The Board of Regents will will ask for a $172 million increase in state funding for public colleges next year. The request would push state funding for higher ed to $1.2 billion for the 2019-20 budget year that begins July 1. Higher Ed Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says the additional funding will help students who are struggling with the rising cost of education.
Cut 3 (11) “…students to participate”
Reed says Louisiana students have seen their costs to attend college increase 107-percent over the last 11 years.

The State Fair of Louisiana gets underway today. General gate admission is 12-dollars, with discounts on the weekdays. Fair spokesperson Russell Adams says if live music is what you are looking for, the fair has you covered….
cut 11 (06) “…your gate admission”
Adams says the live entertainment is a good mix of country and rock.

Kenner Senator Danny Martiny told a Senate Committee he plans to bring back a bill next legislative session that would ask Louisiana residents if they want to legalize sports betting. Martiny made the statement after hearing testimony from Louisiana State Police Audit Director Jeff Taylor, who provided estimates from the American Gaming Association on how much revenue legalized sports betting can create…
cut 13 (12) “…could be high”
Martiny says there are more lawmakers who support sports betting now that the Supreme Court legalized it outside of Nevada in May.

Louisiana is receiving a $3 million grant over the next three years from Youth Villages, which has a program to help transition-aged foster youth. The money will pay for the nonprofit organization to train DCFS staff on making sure foster children become successful adults
Cut 7 (08) “…exiting foster care.”

That’s the state’s Child Welfare Manager Christy Tate.

The East Baton Rouge District Attorney’s office has dismissed at least seven felony cases in the past week following the firing of a Baton Rouge officer. B-R-P-D dismissed Yuseff Hamadeh after an investigation determined he lied about getting shot at it during an officer involved shooting. D-A Hillar Moore says Hamadeh was involved in the arrests of the cases dropped and his testimony would probably not hold up in court.

The 112th Annual State Fair gets kicked off today in Shreveport…
Voicer 2 (29) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says he’ll make another push in the next legislative session to legalize sports betting in Louisiana. Martiny made the statement after hearing from Mississippi Gaming Commission Executive Director Allen Godfrey, who described how Mississippi casinos are seeing an increase in business since the first sports bets were made last month…
cut 14 (10) “…long time”
Nine states have legalized sports betting.

The remnants of Hurricane Willa is producing heaving rain in southeast Louisiana. Willa hit the western coast of Mexico as a Category 3 storm and the remnants of that storm has traveled thousands of miles to impact our weather today. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 6 (10) “…on occassion”
The rain should move out today and the weekend weather looks great.

Federal drug enforcement agents raided a home and business office associated with the father of Saints and LSU superfan Jarrius Robertson, who lives in St. John the Baptist Parish. The 16-year-old has received national attention for his battle against a rare liver condition and his mother says the investigation has to with the father’s foundation called It Takes Lives to Save Lives.

Louisiana is receiving a $3 million dollar grant from a national nonprofit called Youth Villages to help youths aging out of foster care….
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Metairie Senator Danny Martiny plans to file legislation next year that would get the ball rolling on Louisiana legalizing sports betting. Martiny made the statement after hearing from the executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission, who says legalized sports betting has generated 650-thousand dollars in state revenue in the last two months. Martiny says legalized sports betting can help Louisiana’s budget issues…
cut 15 (05) “…we can do it”
Nine states have legalized sports betting.

In Shreveport, the 112th annual State Fair of Louisiana gets underway today. Spokesperson Russell Adams says they’ll have nightly free concerts, livestock shows and a large collection of animals will be on hand, including a petting zoo…
cut 12 (09) “…feed the giraffes”
The fair is closed on Monday and Tuesday, with exception of election day November sixth as schools will be out that day.

Louisiana has received a three-million dollar grant from a national nonprofit called Youth Villages, which works to make sure foster children who age of the system have successful adult lives. Department of Children and Family Services Child Welfare Manager Chrsty Tate says the funding comes at a great time…
cut 8 (12) “…of the same”
Louisiana passed legislation earlier this year that allows some foster kids to stay in the system until they are 21.

We’re seeing heavy rainfall this morning in southeast Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 4 (07) “….an inch”
Keim says the rain will move out later today and we are looking at an excellent weekend weather wise.

A state senate committee hears from a Mississippi gaming official on how the Mangolia State is reaping the financial benefits of legalized sports betting. Matt Doyle files this report….
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Louisiana’s top higher education board is seeking an additional 172-million dollars in state funding for public colleges next year. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says the extra money can help students afford college after seeing tuition and fees rise to offset state budget cuts.

Louisiana is receiving funding to help young adults successfully transition out of the state’s foster care system. The money from Youth Villages seeks to prevent former foster kids from becoming homeless, unemployed or incarcerated after they age out of the system. Louisiana’s Child Welfare Manager Christy Tate says they are appreciative of the grant….
cut 9 (11) “….three million dollars”
Tate says they are excited to implement the program as part of Louisiana’s efforts to extend foster care through age 21.

The 112th Annual State Fair gets kicked off today in Shreveport. With about sixty carnival rides, rodeo events, parades and more, there is plenty to do for every member of the family. The event first took place in 1906 and State Fair spokesperson Russell Adams says it has grown into a tradition for many families.
Cut 10 (09) “…years ago.“
The fair features nightly free concerts, livestock shows and you can eat cricket pizza.

Heavy rain is moving across southeast Louisiana this morning and the rest of the state is seeing spotty showers and cool weather. But State Climatologist Barry Keim says this wet weather should be out of the state by the end of today….
cut 5 (10) “…the weekend”
High temperatures today range from the mid-60s to the mid-70s.

Kenner Senator Danny Martiny told a Senate Judiciary Committee that he plans to bring back a bill next legislative session that would ask Louisiana residents if they want to legalize sports betting. Martiny made the statement after hearing testimony from Louisiana State Police Audit Director Jeff Taylor, who provided estimates from the American Gaming Association on how much revenue legalized sports betting can create…
cut 13 (12) “…could be high”

Governor John Bel Edwards says the Sunshine Bridge in St. James Parish will not re-open until January 2019 as crews will attempt to work around the clock to fix the structure after it was hit by large crane. Edwards says Marquette Transportation which was towing the crane barge should pay for the five-million dollars in repairs.

The 112th Annual State Fair gets kicked off today in Shreveport…
Voicer 2 (29) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart.”