Southwest Louisiana Republicans held a straw poll in the town of Iowa and Congressman Ralph Abraham is the preferred choice over fellow republican Eddie Rispone in the governor’s race. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputy sustains deep lacerations and punctures to his arm after being bit by an alligator on Monday in Luling. Deputies and animal control were attempting to relocate the five-foot gator out of a backyard when things went south. The deputy has since been treated and released from a medical facility and is expected to make a full recovery. No word on the condition of the gator.

Former Avoyelles Correctional Center warden, Nate Cain receives 38 months behind bars and his ex-wife, Tonia Bandy-Cain, who also served as the former business manager at the prison, receives an 8-month sentence to federal prison in a corruption case.  US Attorney for Louisiana’s Western District David Joseph says the punishment shows that combating corruption is a priority.
Cut 4 (10) “…better watch out.”
Joseph says the duo spent more than $150k on personal expenses.
Louisiana officials are optimistic that 2016 flood victims who did not get RESTORE grant money due to receiving SBA loans will see a check in the near future. All households below 120 percent of the Area Median Income of the area that they live in will be cleared to receive their check shortly. State Office of Community Development Executive Director Pat Forbes says if you make over that amount, HUD will have to take a closer look at your need for the funds.
Cut 8 (09) “…basis”

Congressman Ralph Abraham grabbed 180 votes and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone had 94 votes in a straw poll of southwest Louisiana Republicans. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Abraham says it appears the U-S Representative is solidifying his frontrunner status among GOP voters.
Cut 13 (06) “wants.”
The gubernatorial primary is for October 12th and Abraham and Rispone is seeking to get in a November runoff against Governor Edwards.

Former Avoyelles Correctional Center Warden Nathan Cain has been sentenced to 38 months in prison, while his ex-wife Tonia Bandy Cain has received an eight-month prison sentence. U-S Attorney David Joseph says the duo admitted to stealing taxpayer money for personal benefit…
cut 6 (08) “…in this case’
The defendants have also been ordered to pay over 42-thousand dollars in restitution.

The leader of the Louisiana State Troopers Association is facing charges after he allegedly shot at his daughter’s boyfriend on Father’s Day. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office booked 71-year-old David Young with false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon. Young told investigators he only shot a warning shot into the air, but video from a witness shows the handgun was fired toward the boyfriend.

Diverted Mississippi River water into Lake Ponchartrain has resulted in trouble for marine life and financial damage to fishermen. Kevin Barnhart has more on the governor’s request for a federal disaster declaration…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A federal judge sentences Nate Cain, the former warden of the Avoyelles Correctional Center, to 38-months to federal prison, and his ex-wife Tonia Bandy was given an eight-month sentence for spending more than 150-thousand dollars in public funds on personal expenses. U-S Attorney David Joseph…
cut 5 (10) “…personal things”
The duo has been ordered to pay more than $42,000 in restitution.

Louisiana officials are optimistic that 2016 flood victims who did not get RESTORE grant money due to receiving SBA loans will see a check in the near future. State Office of Community Development Executive Director Pat Forbes says the state is working to get final guidelines approved by HUD. After that happens…
Cut 7 (08) “…from HUD”
Households below 120 percent of the Area Median Income will receive checks first and if you make over that amount, HUD will have to take a closer look at your need.

Governor Edwards has requested a federal disaster declaration for fisheries impacted by low salinity levels as a result of the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Operation of the Bonnet Carre has diverted fresh water from the Mississippi River into Lake Ponchartrain and east toward the Mississippi Sound and marshes of St. Bernard. Assistant state fisheries secretary Patrick Banks says it has resulted in troubling mortality rates among oysters and declining fish catches….
cut 11 (08) “…since December”
Banks says the amount of federal aid remains unclear as the spring flood fight continues.

Baton Rouge businessman and gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone did not perform well in a straw poll of Republican voters in southwest Louisiana. Fellow GOP candidate Ralph Abraham had nearly twice as many votes. Rispone has 10-million dollars in his campaign war chest, but UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross wonders if Risponse will spend it…
cut 15 (08) “….on that”
The gubernatorial primary is October 12th.

Former Avoyelles Correctional Center warden, Nate Cain, will spend 38 months behind bars and his ex-wife, Tonia Bandy-Cain, a former business manager at the prison, was sentenced to eight months to federal prison for spending public dollars on personal purchases. US Attorney for Louisiana’s Western District David Joseph…
Cut 4 (10) “…better watch out.”
Joseph says the duo spent prison funds, more than $150,000, on personal expenses.

Congressman Ralph Abraham grabbed 180 votes, while fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone received 94 votes in a straw poll of southwest Louisiana Republican voters. It’s a small sample size, but UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the almost two-to-one margin in favor of Abraham is a red flag to the Rispone campaign.
Cut 14 (10) “…problem.”

A state official says 2016 flood victims who were barred from RESTORE grants due to receiving SBA loans should get their checks in the next month or so. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed legislation that puts restrictions on food labeling, which means Louisiana companies can not label a food product as vegan bacon, cauliflower rice or market a sugar alternative as sugar. The restrictions will begin in October 2020 and Louisiana’s Agriculture Commissioner will enforce the law.

Louisiana is seeking federal assistance for the state’s fishing industry. Assistant Secretary of Fisheries Patrick Banks says mortality rates for oysters are high and fish catches are down because of fresh water entering Lake Ponchatrain and eventually the gulf because of the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Banks says the amount of federal aid needed is unclear and will remain so until the Bonnet Carre closes…
cut 12 (09) “…make that determination”
An Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson says it could be another month before the spillway is closed.

The ball is in the state’s court when it comes to getting Louisiana Restore Grant money to 2016 flood victims who were initially denied federal aid because they received an S-B-A loan. HUD has approved the guidelines and State Office of Community Development Executive Director Pat Forbes says Louisiana has to write the final rules and get them approved…
cut 9 (09) “….very shortly”

Southwest Louisiana Republicans held a straw poll in the town of Iowa and Congressman Ralph Abraham is the preferred choice over fellow republican Eddie Rispone in the governor’s race….
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A state official says 2016 flood victims who’ve were barred from RESTORE grants due to receiving SBA loans should get their checks in the next month or so. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Diverted Mississippi River water into Lake Ponchartrain has resulted in trouble for marine life and financial damage to the livelihoods of those in the fishing industry.  Now the Governor is making a disaster declaration.  Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

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Southwest Louisiana Republicans held a straw poll in the town of Iowa and Congressman Ralph Abraham is the preferred choice over fellow republican Eddie Rispone in the governor’s race. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Former Avoyelles Correctional Center warden, Nate Cain receives 38 months behind bars and his ex-wife, Tonia Bandy-Cain, who also served as the former business manager at the prison, receives an 8-month sentence to federal prison in a corruption case.  US Attorney for Louisiana’s Western District David Joseph says the punishment shows that combating corruption is a priority.

Cut 4 (10) “…better watch out.”

Joseph says the duo spent prison funds, more than $150,000, on personal expenses.

Cut 5 (10) “…for personal things.”

The judge has ordered the two to pay back more than $42,000 in restitution to the state.  Joseph is tight-lipped about the current state of the investigation and whether to expect other arrests in connection to the case.

Cut 6 (06) “…the end of it.”
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Louisiana officials are optimistic that 2016 flood victims who did not get RESTORE grant money due to receiving SBA loans will see a check in the near future. State Office of Community Development Executive Director Pat Forbes says the state is getting final guidelines approved by HUD. After that happens, they will contact remaining flood victims…

Cut 7 (12) “…from HUD”

This action should end the “duplication of benefits” loophole.

All households below 120 percent of the Area Median Income of the area that they live in will be cleared to receive their check shortly. Forbes says if you make over that amount, HUD will have to take a closer look at your need for the funds.

Cut 8 (09) “…basis”

Forbes says the state is writing guidelines, that must be approved by HUD, for the “hardship waivers” in a way that will hopefully allow most families above the 120 AMI level to still receive their checks.

Forbes says for the most part, there will be very little, if anything, that most RESTORE applicants will need to do, other than wait just a little while longer…

Cut 9 (09) “…shortly.”

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Governor Edwards requests federal disaster declaration for flooded fisheries due to high river levels.  The Bonnet Carre Spillway has been opened twice so far this year and it currently open.  Assistant Secretary for the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Office of Fisheries Patrick Banks says the excessive fresh water is causing many issues.

Cut 10 (09) “…folks are catching.”

Banks says the fresh water from the Bonnet Carre flows through Lake Pontchartrain and east toward the Mississippi Sound and the marshes of St. Bernard Parish and has resulted in troubling mortality rates among oysters, declining fish catches and financial damage to the livelihoods of those in the fishing industry.

Cut 11 (08) “high since December.”

The spillway is opened in an effort to protect people and property in New Orleans from flooding due to the breaching of levees.  Banks says the amount of federal aid for those industries impacted right now is unclear and will remain so until the disaster event ends.

Cut 12 (09) “…make that determination.”

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Congressman Ralph Abraham grabbed 180 votes and Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone grabbed 94 votes at Saturday’s Southwest Louisiana Republican’s “Iowa Governor’s race (I-oh-way) straw poll”.

UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Abraham has to be feeling good about the results, and it appears the Congressman is solidifying his frontrunner status.

Cut 13 (06) “wants.”

The 25 dollar a head event was hosted by the Calcasieu Republican Party Executive Committee and the Republican Women of Southwest Louisiana.

It’s a small sample size, but Cross says the almost two-to-one margin in favor of Abraham amongst some of the most engaged Republicans in the state is a red flag to the Rispone campaign.

Cut 14 (10) “…problem.”

Rispone is reporting a war chest of over 10 million dollars, but it’s thought that a significant portion of that is the millionaire candidate’s own cash. Cross says the disappointing results may deter Rispone from going all in…

Cut 15 (08) “on that”

The gubernatorial primary is set for October 12^th. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff will be set for November 16^th.

Auto insurance rates for Progressive and Louisiana Farm Bureau customers are going down later this summer. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards has requested a federal fisheries disaster declaration for Louisiana. Edwards says diverting Mississippi River water into Lake Ponchartrain has resulted in troubling mortality rates among oysters, declining fish catches and financial damage to the livelihoods of those in the fishing industry. The Bonnet Carre Spillway has been operated twice this year because of high levels on the Mississippi River.

State Police say an impaired driver is to blame for a wreck that sent three victims flying off the elevated Westbank Expressway in Harvey. All three people died after a fall of about 100 feet. Trooper Monroe Dillon says the three victims were working on a disabled vehicle in the roadway…
cut 8 (11) “…in the lane of travel”
Dillon says they arrested 40-year-old Todd Williams of New Orleans and he’s facing numerous charges including three counts of vehicular homicide.

A Houma woman is sentenced to 23 years in prison for stabbing another woman to death in a dispute stemming from relationships going sour.  The altercation took place in July 2017 resulting in Miranda Gilley being charged with second-degree murder.  Terrebonne Parish Assistant DA Chris Erny says after the two wrestled around, a tactical knife got involved in the deadly dispute.
Cut 9 (08) “…couple of times”
The jury later decided on a lesser charge of manslaughter.

A deadly dispute over a man between a woman and her ex’s new love interest results in a 23 year prison sentence. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (29) I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The former warden of the Avoyelles Correctional Center in Cottonport, Nate Cain was sentenced today to 38-months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in March to two counts of federal wire fraud. His ex-wife, Tonia Bandy, received an eight month sentence. Prosecutors say the duo made fraudulent pruchases with public dollars, including gun parts.

Progressive and Louisiana Farm Bureau are dropping their auto insurance rates on the heels of the state’s largest insurer, State Farm, also lowering their rates.  Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the three insurers combined account for just over 50 percent of all Louisiana auto policies…

Cut 3 (08) “…point four”

A 15-year-old is dead and two other minors are in critical condition after they were ejected from an SUV in a rollover crash south of Ponchatoula on I-55 last night. None of the children involved appear to have been buckled up, and State Trooper Dustin Dwight says it’s a good reminder that you can get into a lot of trouble for driving kids around who are not clicked in…

Cut 13 (07) “…restrained”  

15-year-old Solomon Short died from his injuries at a local hospital.