The state’s sales tax rate is 4.45-percent one of the highest in the country. During the first televised gubernatorial debate, the candidates were asked about reducing the state sales tax back to four-percent now that the state has a surplus of money. Governor Edwards says the additional .45 percent should remain for now…
cut 6 (06) “…came out of”
But Edwards’ republican challengers, Ralph Abraham and Eddie Rispone, say it’s time to lower the state’s sales tax rate.

In a recent TV ad, Rispone criticized the Edwards administration for the criminal justice reforms approved by the legislature in 2017. But Republican Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says the reforms have been good and cost-effective…
cut 8 (08) “…the jail”
The Department of Corrections reported nearly 18 million dollars in savings in the last fiscal year due to the reforms.

The state health department reports only a handful of human West Nile virus cases, 12 this year compared to 79 at this time last year. State Epidemiologist Raoult Ratard says heavy rainfall this past spring may have helped reduce the mosquito population.
Cut 10 (11) “…mosquitos.”
Ratard still urges residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

A hazing prevention summit takes place this afternoon in Baton Rouge. The event will feature a special message from the parents of Max Gruver, the LSU student who died as a result of fraternity hazing. Board of Regents spokesperson Meg Casper Sunstrom says since Gruver’s death anti-hazing policies have been put in place…
Cut 5 (11) “…to be interactive.”
Sunstrom says bringing awareness to the dangers of hazing is just the first step in the fight against the activity.

Governor John Bel Edwards spent last night’s gubernatorial debate defending his record. Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham blamed Edwards for the state’s struggling economy, .
Cut 14 (08) “…killed it.”
GOP businessman Eddie Rispone says the Edwards administration is chasing jobs away…
cut 30 (04) “…in Louisiana”
But Edwards says the reason why the state has a projected 500-million dollar surplus is because the state’s economy is strong…
cut 13 (10) “…is just false”
The next televised debate is next Thursday.

Severe weather from the remnants of tropical storm Imelda has led to power outages in northwest Louisiana. SWEPCO reports hundreds are without electricity in Natchitoches and Shreveport.

The Board of Regents hosts a hazing prevention summit today in downtown Baton Rouge. Higher ed leaders will learn about the state’s new anti-hazing laws, they’ll also hear from the founder of stop-hazing-dot-org. Board of Regents spokesperson Meg Casper Sunstrom says they are trying to put an end to the hazing culture…
cut 6 (09) “…our childhood”
Those attending the summit will also hear from the parents of former LSU student Max Gruver, who died from a hazing activity.

The state health department is reporting West Nile activity is down this year with only 12 reported human cases, compared to 79 at this time last year. State Epidemiologist Raoult Ratard says West Nile can produce a severe headache, fever, disorientation or sudden weakness, which require immediate medical attention….
cut 12 (11) “…season”

Governor John Bel Edwards and Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham exchange jabs at each other during the first gubernatorial televised debate. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

In a Nexstar Media Group poll, 47-percent of Louisiana voters surveyed say they support an increase in the gasoline tax, while 33-percent oppose. 58-percent support some limitations on the second amendment.

The criminal justice reform package pushed by Governor Edwards in 2017 has been a topic in the governor’s race, with Republican challenger Eddie Rispone claiming it has led to the release of violent criminals and it’s resulted in an increase in murders. But Republican Senator Danny Martiny points out that seven of the 10 bills that make up the criminal justice reform plan were authored by Republicans…
cut 9 (08) “…disingenuous”
The Edwards campaign says no violent criminals have been granted parole early and statistics show crime is actually down in Louisiana’s biggest cities.

The Board of Regents hosts a Hazing Prevention Summit today in Baton Rouge. Board spokesperson Meg Casper Sunstrom says the state’s higher ed leaders will continue the conversation about eliminating the hazing culture.
Cut 4 (11) “…but also solutions.”
The event will feature a special video message from Max Gruver’s parents. Gruver is the former LSU student who drank himself to death in a hazing incident.

Last night’s gubernatorial debate had Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards and Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham attacking each other. Abraham brought up the higher taxes passed during Edwards term, but the governor said he turned a budget deficit into a surplus. The third candidate, Republican Eddie Rispone sold himself as a businessman but did take a shot at Abraham for asking Donald Trump to withdraw from the presidential race…
cut 15 (10) “…Clinton”
There’s another televised debate next Thursday

It’s been a quiet West Nile season as the state has recorded only 12 cases, compared to 79 at this time last year. State Epidemiologist Doctor Raoult Ratard still reminds residents to protect themselves from mosquitos…
cut 11 (08) “…November”

Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says Republican gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone’s attacks on the 2017 Legislative criminal justice reform package are off-base, and not true. A Rispone TV ad claims“John Bel Edwards’” criminal justice reform put dangerous criminals back on the street, but Martiny, a Republican, says no inmates convicted of a violent crime got out early.
Cut 7 (12) “…offenders”
Martiny says thanks to the reform, Louisiana is no longer the top incarcerator in the world.

Next week is National Hazing Prevention week, but state leaders are in Baton getting an early start on the conversation with a summit to combat hazing today. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

_______________________________

A Republican Senator from Metairie calls GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone’s recent attacks on the 2017 criminal justice reform “disingenuous”…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

________________________

 The top three candidates for governor squared off for a mostly tame first debate night. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

________________________

The Board of Regents is hosting Hazing Prevention Summit today in Baton Rouge. Board spokesperson Meg Casper Sunstrom says the event is an opportunity for state’s highest-level leaders to continue the conversation about eliminating hazing culture.

Cut 4 (11) “…but also solutions.”

The event will feature a special message the parents of Max Gruver, the LSU student who died as a result of frat hazing. Sunstrom says since Gruver’s death, campuses have instituted education about hazing for students as well as leaders.

Cut 5 (11) “…to be interactive.”

Sunstrom says bringing awareness to the dangers of hazing is just the first step in the fight against the activity, but what is really important is seeing a culture shift.

Cut 6 (09) “…in our childhood.”

Next week is National Hazing Prevention week.

____________________

Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says Republican gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone’s attacks on the 2017 Legislative criminal justice reform package are off-base, and not true.

Rispone’s TV ads claim “John Bel Edwards’” criminal justice reform put dangerous criminals back on the street, but Martiny, A Republican, says no criminal convicted of a violent crime got out early.

Cut 7 (12) “…offenders” 

Martiny says thanks to the reform Louisiana is no longer the top incarcerator in the country, which did not make the state any safer.

Cut 8 (08) “…the jail.”

The Department of Corrections reported 17.8 million dollars in savings in the last fiscal year due to the reforms.

Martiny says Rispone’s attacks disrespect the bipartisan support for the reforms which were rolled out over ten different bills. He says seven of those bills were authored by Republicans.

Cut 9 (08)  “…disengenuos”

Similar reforms were supported in Washington by President Trump. Those reforms ultimately passed.

_______________________

Statewide West Nile virus cases are down from this same time last year.  So far, Department of Health stats have only recorded twelve cases, compared to seventy-nine, this week last year.  State Epidemiologist Raoult Ratard says the weather in the spring has proven to have lingering effects in mitigating impacts on the mosquito population.

Cut 10 (11) “…mosquitos.”

Ratard says regardless of a year’s infection rate, it is important to always safeguard yourself and other from mosquitos, because it takes just one bite to make it a bad West Nile season for you.

Cut 11 (08) “…november.” 

West Nile infections are divided into three categories with the first being an asymptomatic, the second being a flu-like West Nile fever which accounts for three cases this year, and the third is a dangerous neuroinvasive infection of the brain and spinal cord which accounts for six cases. Ratard says if you think you may have been infected, seek medical attention immediately.

Cut 12 (11) “…season.”

______________________________

The first gubernatorial debate of the race is in the books and the candidates took turns tearing at each other during an occasionally lively night of discussion, with one new revelation from the Governor.

Governor Edwards made news, saying he does not support abortion exceptions for rape or incest. He voiced his full support for every part of the abortion ban he passed last session.

Cut 13 (12) “…members.”

Top polling Republican Ralph Abraham spent most of the night swinging at the Governor over the state of the Louisiana economy. Abraham says Edwards went back on his word about not raising taxes.

Cut 14 (08) “…killed it.” 

Edwards shot back that Abraham’s contention was “absurd” saying the state economy is the biggest it’s been in state history.

Republican Eddie Rispone stayed mostly out of the fray, instead using his time to sell himself as a businessman and outsider but did take a shot at his fellow Republican over support for the President.

Cut 15 (10) “…Clinton”

Those comments were related to comments Abraham made in 2016 where he suggested President Trump withdraw after the Access Hollywood tape revelations.

________________________

Teddy Bridgewater is expected to get the start at quarterback on Sunday when the Saints visit the Seahawks. Bridgewater believes he shook some rust off by getting meaningful snaps last week…

Cut 16  (20) “…means” ”   

Bridgewater hopes the offense can be as prolific as it is when Drew Brees is on his game…

cut 17 (12) “…our teammates” 

Taysom Hill may also get some snaps at quarterback. Bridgewater trusts the coaching staff’s game plan…

Cut 18 (13) “it work” 

___________________________________________

Louisiana Tech plays a rare Friday night home game tonight against F-I-U. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz understands Friday is reserved for high school football, but he’ll take the national TV exposure they’ll get on the CBS Sports Network…

cut 19 (28)   “enthusiasm.”   

FIU won its first game of the season last week against New Hampshire. Holtz says they ran for a bunch of yards with backup QB Kaylan Wiggins…

cut 20 (15) “through the air 

The Cajun Navy has volunteers heading to Texas as the remnants of Tropical Depression Imelda has forced numerous water rescues in an area east of Houston. United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says they are receiving frantic phone calls and Facebook messages from those that are stranded…
Cut 13 (09) “…expecting more rain.”
The heavy rainfall has also closed a part of I-10 in Texas.

A new poll on the governor’s race has Governor Edwards receiving 41-percent of the vote, Ralph Abraham at 24-percent and Eddie Rispone garnering 16-percent. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillon says two main questions in this governor’s race, can Edwards gain additional support from undecideds and can Rispone catch Abraham and get in a November run-off with the incumbent
Cut 5 (11) “…week away”

A Webster Parish woman who ran a non-profit that oversaw a program to help feed low-income children has admitted to stealing one-point-one million dollars from the federal government. 59-year-old Myrna Thomas Quarles of Cotton Valley faces up to 10 years in prison. U-S Attorney David Joseph says Quarles deposited checks from a federal feeding service program into her own banking account…
Cut 8 (11) “this lady”
Joseph says Quarles also used the Greater Horizons credit card to the tune of 370-thousand dollars on herself.

Governor Edwards says the estimated 500-million-dollar surplus for the last fiscal year is evidence state’s economy is doing well. Critics say the surplus is evidence that the .45 percent sale tax pushed by the governor in 2018 was not necessary, but Edwards countered, saying at the time estimates underrated the state economy, but that changed…

Cut 9 (12)  “Jindal”

A Webster Parish woman pleads guilty to stealing over a million dollars from a program designed to feed poor, hungry children.

cut  2 (30) “Matt Doyle”  

The United Cajun Navy dispatches to east Texas in response to the catastrophic flooding from Tropical Depression Imelda.  United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says they’ve got boats out helping victims and first responders.

Cut 12 (09) “…do their job.”

The Edwards administration is taking criticism for an estimated 500-million dollar surplus. Many Republicans say residents are getting taxed too much. But Edwards says the surplus is the result of an improving economy and the surplus dollars will be invested into long-overdue projects…
Cut 10 (10) “dollars”

A new poll on the governor’s race funded by the Nexstar Media Group has Governor Edwards receiving 41-percent of the vote, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham 24-percent and GOP businessman Eddie Rispone at 16-percent. John Couvillon with JMC Analytics and Polling polled the governor’s race in April and he says Rispone has seen his support grow because of an aggressive media campaign. He says Edwards has also seen his support increase among white Democrats, white Independents and even Republicans.
Cut 4 (10) “…some voters”

A new poll on the governor’s race shows that it’s more likely than not a November run-off will be needed.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Bossier City man who was also a former high school band director has been arrested for “revenge porn.” Bossier Sherriff Julian Whittington says they arrested 43-year old Patrick Neff Wednesday on two separate charges of Obscenity and Unauthorized Disclosure of a Private Image. Whittington says their investigation found that Neff disclosed several nude photos his former dating partner with a student at Airline High School without the partner’s permission.

A Cotton Valley woman has pleaded guilty to stealing 1.1 million dollars from a federal program dedicated to feeding poor children. US Attorney David Joseph says 59-year-old Myrna Quarles set up a program claiming to feed economically disadvantaged children during summer months when they were not at school.

Cut 6 (11) “…entitled to.”

Joseph says some meals were provided during the program’s two-year run, but the reported numbers were greatly inflated.

Governor Edwards says the estimated 500-million-dollar surplus for the last fiscal year is evidence Louisiana’s economy is doing well. The Governor says another bonus of receiving a larger than expected surplus is that the state can begin replenishing the savings account that was drained in the Jindal years.

Cut 11 (12) “…Governor”