The first of several memorial services for late Governor Kathleen Blanco happens this morning with an interfaith ceremony at St. Joseph Cathedral in Downtown Baton Rouge. State Police will escort her body from Lafayette to Baton Rouge. Once inside St. Joseph Cathedral, Diocese of Baton Rouge spokesperson Deacon Dan Borne (Bor-nay), says the Louisiana flag will be draped over the casket an opening prayer will be given and there will be three scripture readings.
Cut 4 (10) “…John Bel Edwards.”
After the service at St. Joseph Cathedral. Blanco’s casket will be taken a short distance to the Louisiana State Capitol where she’ll lie in state from 1 until 6 PM. Higher Ed Commissioner and former Blanco aide Kim Hunter Reed says the state’s only female governor is getting a fitting send-off…
cut 7 (08) “….in state”
Another public viewing and the funeral will take place Friday and Saturday in Lafayette.

Slidell police arrest two people after a kindergartner is found with a bag of blow and two baggies of crack at school…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

St. Landry parish authorities suspect foul play in the death of a woman found in a ditch on Sunday night near Washington. No identity on the victim, but on her possession was a Texas State University graduate school lanyard.

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco lies in state at the State Capitol Rotunda today starting at 1pm. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Eastbank Little League team from River Ridge is two wins away from competing in the Little League World Series championship game. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Two people are under arrest in Slidell after a kindergartner is found with a bag of blow and two baggies of crack at school. Matt Doyle has more.

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The first of several services for late Governor Kathleen Blanco happens this morning with an interfaith ceremony at St. Joseph Cathedral in Downtown Baton Rouge. Diocese of Baton Rouge spokesperson Deacon Dan Borne (Bor-nay) says a flag will be draped over the casket by Governor Edwards and State Police, an opening prayer, then three scripture readings.

Cut 4 (10) “…John Bel Edwards.”

About half of the cathedral is reserved for family, but Borne says the public seating will likely fill fast.

Cut 5 (11) “…and their cameras.”

Borne says for those that cannot make it to the cathedral, a telecast can be seen on affiliates of Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Cut 6 (10) “…begin until 10.”

Following the ceremony, the casket will be transported to the Capitol to lie in state.  The service will also be streamed on the CatholicLifeTV.org.

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The public will have an opportunity to pay their respect today to Former Governor Kathleen Blanco, who will lie in state starting at 1 pm at the State Capitol Rotunda.

Commissioner of Higher Ed and former Blanco Aide Kim Hunter Reed says the state’s first female Governor is getting a fitting send-off.

Cut 7 (08) “…in state”

The public viewing will be open through 6pm.

The viewing will give the public an opportunity to learn more about who Kathleen Blanco was, and what was most important to her.

Cut 8 (11) “…politics”

Reed says they’ve received interest in the public ceremonies from people young and old from across the state. They expect a lot of old friends to be in attendance, and even some students eager to learn about Blanco.

Cut 9 (11) “…heart.”

Governor Edwards has ordered flags be flown at half-staff until Blanco’s funeral ends Saturday night.

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The Eastbank Little League baseball team from River Ridge advances in the World Series after beating New Jersey 4-1 yesterday, putting them one win away from competing in the US final and two wins from the championship game against an international team. Coach Scott Frazier says the kids are staying focused despite possible distractions.

Cut 10 (10) “…thousands of people.”

This is the first team from the New Orleans area to play in the Little League World Series.  Frazier says the team has plenty of momentum, adding it began in the first game against Hawaii.

Cut 11 (09) “…in this tournament.”

Frazier says he foresees a path to clenching the championship, but more importantly, he sees the kids are having a blast while in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Cut 12 (07) “…sweet up here.”

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A five-year-old was found with a bag of cocaine and two bags of crack at a Slidell school yesterday and now two adults are under arrest as a result.

Detective Daniel Seuzeneau says a teacher spotted the kid with a bag of white powder and called a resource officer over to investigate. That’s when they discovered the Kindergartner was holding narcotics, but…

Cut 13 (07) “…no clue.”

Police then searched the child’s home and discovered additional narcotics at the scene, narcotics that were being hidden in the children’s clothing. Seuzeneau says there’s only one theory as to why…

Cut 14 (10) “their child”

51-year-old Ellis Cousin and 23-year-old Angelica Stanley were arrested and charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute, Paraphernalia, and Cruelty to a Juvenile.

The office says they have taken steps to ensure the child’s wellbeing, and Suezeneau says thankfully no one was exposed to the bag’s contents.

Cut 15 (10) “…the school.”

Public memorials for former Governor Kathleen Blanco begin tomorrow in Baton Rouge. The state’s first elected female governor died Sunday. Her leadership was questioned during Hurricane Katrina, but in an interview to mark the 10-year anniversary of the storm, Blanco told the Louisiana Radio Network the storm overwhelmed the state’s capabilities
Cut 3 (12) “…quickly.”
The first service happens tomorrow at 10AM at St. Joseph Cathedral.
Attorney General Jeff Landry says the reported armed intruder was actually one of his officers who was on campus to instruct students about social media responsibility. The alert message of “Run, Hide, Fight” left many people shaken. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says it’s encouraged by the federal Homeland Security department.
Cut 8 (10) “…isn’t a joke.”
A company that employs 750 people in Minden is threatening to relocate to east Texas if the state does not upgrade several bridges in the area that have structural problems. Fibrebond builds huge structures that can measure 16 by 75 feet and weigh 150,000 pounds, making them ineligible to cross de-rated bridges. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett…
Cut 9 (08) “area”
Fibrebond is a Louisiana owned and operated company that’s been open for the last 37 years.
St. Landry Parish Sheriffs are trying to identify a body they discovered left just off Highway 10 in the Beggs area. Authorities say it appears to be an African American female in her early 20s. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the cause of death is unknown at this time, but the body did have one specific identifying item.
Cut 13 (05) “…lanyard”
Foul play is suspected and hey believe he woman had been dead for four to five days.

Public memorials for former Governor Kathleen Blanco begin tomorrow in Baton Rouge. The state’s first elected female governor died Sunday. Her leadership was questioned during Hurricane Katrina. Blanco told Louisiana Radio Network in 2005 it was FEMA who failed to provide buses to get people out of the storm-stricken area
Cut 4 (12) “…anyone else”

The first service of several for Blanco happens tomorrow morning in Downtown Baton Rouge.
AG Jeff Landry says an armed law enforcement officer from his office to help educate students and protect them from online crime, may have triggered the armed intruder false alarm at LSU yesterday. University spokesperson Ernie Ballard says campus safety is a shared responsibility and if someone sees something, they should say something.

Cut 7 (12) “…have the problems.”

Minden’s largest employer, Fibrebond may re-locate to East Texas, because poor bridges in the area are making it too difficult to ship product. C-E-O Graham Walker spoke with our news partner 710 KEEL earlier today…
cut 12 (09) “…get out”
DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they are aware of the problem and there is money available to fix structurally deficient bridges…
cut 11 (11) “…there”
Fibrebond is a Louisiana owned and operated company that’s been open for the last 37 years.

Slidell police have arrested two people after a school resource officer found cocaine on a five-year-old. Authorities say the child didn’t know he had the drugs. 23-year-old Angelica Stanley and 51-year-old Ellis Cousin were taken into custody at their home and they are facing several charges.

Public memorials begin tomorrow in Baton Rouge for former Governor Kathleen Blanco. Her biggest challenge as an elected official was the response to Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo spoke to her about it in 2015…

Cut 1 (31) “..I’m Jeff Palermo”

West Monroe Police have arrested a man they say was in unlawful possession of an AR15-style rifle and body armor. 46-year-old Stewart Wayne Hayes was discovered in his vehicle in the armor, with the gun.

A company that employs 750 people in Minden is threatening to relocate to east Texas if the state does not upgrade several bridges in the area that have structural problems. Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker told KEEL the state is littered with de-rated bridges, and the only routes DOTD can find force his company to make a substantial detour to ship items west.

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The Louisiana Department of Economic Development says they will do everything they can to keep the company in state.

St. Landry Parish Sheriffs are trying to identify a body they discovered dumped in the Beggs area. Authorities say it appears to be an African American female in her early 20s. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says it was a shocking discovery, but a sensation that’s not all that unfamiliar to the region at this time.

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Former Governor Kathleen Blanco will lie in state at the Louisiana Capitol tomorrow. Since her death on Sunday, many have looked back at her one term as governor, which was highlighted by Hurricane Katrina. Blanco told L-R-N in 2015 that she hated political fingerpointing that took place…
cut 5 (11) “…political response”

AG Jeff Landry says yesterday an armed law enforcement officer from his office was on campus to help educate students and protect them from crime, which may have triggered the armed intruder false alarm. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says they are reviewing yesterday’s response, adding they have recently trained for a similar scenario.
Cut 6 (09) “…in a training.”
Ballard says campus safety is a shared responsibility and if someone sees something, they should say something.

A major employer in Minden is considering re-locating to Texas because of a several structurally deficient bridges in northwest Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

St. Landry Parish Sheriffs are trying to identify a body they discovered dumped in the Beggs area. Authorities say it appears to be a black female in her early 20s. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the cause of death is unknown and the body did have one specific identifying item.
Cut 13 (05) “…lanyard”
Guidroz says foul play is suspected.

It was about 24 hours ago that LSU sent out a text alert that told students about a possible armed intruder at Coates Hall and they should run, hide or fight. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says while that language may be alarming, it’s encouraged by the federal Homeland Security department.
Cut 8 (10) “…isn’t a joke.”
Attorney General Jeff Landry says the reported armed intruder was actually one of his officers who was on campus to instruct students about social media responsibility.

Public memorials begin tomorrow for former Governor Kathleen Blanco who died from cancer. She was the state’s governor during Hurricane Katrina and during an interview with Louisiana Radio Network in 2015 she recounted her frustration over how the storm overwhelmed the state…
cut 3 (12) “…quickly”

Minden’s largest employer, Fibrebond may re-locate to East Texas, because poor bridges in the area are making it to difficult to ship product. C-E-O Graham Walker spoke with our news partner 710 KEEL earlier today…
cut 12 (09) “…get out”
DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they are aware of the problem and there is money available to fix structurally deficient bridges…
cut 11 (11) “…there”
Fibrebond is a Louisiana owned and operated company that’s been open for the last 37 years.

Slidell police have arrested two people after a school resource officer found cocaine on a five-year-old. Authorities say the child didn’t know he had the drugs. 23-year-old Angelica Stanley and 51-year-old Ellis Cousin were taken into custody at their home and they are facing several charges.

Reports of an armed intruder on LSU’s campus yesterday thankfully turned out to be a non-threatening situation, but the school is still happy with the quick response from law enforcement, students, and staff. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard…

Cut 7 (12) “…have the problems.”

Just before 3pm the school sent out an alert telling students in the area to run, hide, or fight.

A major employer in Minden is threatening to take their operation to Texas if the state does not fix a series of structurally deficient bridges that force the company to take a substantial detour to ship their 150,000 pound products west.

Cut 10 (12) “…miles”

That’s Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker who spoke with KEEL this morning.

The Louisiana Department of Health announces nine human cases of West Nile Virus, the first reported cases of the year. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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