Seven Louisiana Community Colleges were ranked in the top 100 fastest growing programs in the nation between 2007 and 2017. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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 Brooke Thorington spoke with the LSU Traveling Tigers about this weekend’s big game in Austin…

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Drew Brees responds to the controversy over his appearance in an ad run by an organization with a history of anti-LGBTQ advocacy…

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Louisiana had seven of the top 100 fastest growing Community Colleges in the nation between 2007 and 2017 according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan says that’s because they’ve made a concerted effort to double down on job-ready degrees and certification programs.

Cut 4 (11) “…universities”

The survey looked at the growth rates of 1,100 different schools.

The growth is primarily in older students who are heading back to school to get post-secondary educations that can be applicable in their local economies.

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Northshore Technical and Community College was the seventh fastest-growing community college in the nation at 145.3 percent. Sullivan says everyone could learn a few things from NTCC.

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The other six community colleges ranked were Nunez, Louisiana Delta, L.E. Fletcher, South Louisiana, River Parishes, and Bossier Parish.

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Tonight, viewers across the country will get an inside look at life in Angola when Dateline airs a segment about NBC Anchor Lester Holt’s two-night stay at the maximum-security facility.

It’s part of an ongoing series about the effects of “Tough on Crime” bills that passed with bipartisan Congressional support in the 90s. Dateline Supervising Producer Dan Slepian…

Cut 7 (11)“…revealing”

Slepian says the program highlights the new rehabilitation practices put into effect under the Edwards Administration’s criminal justice reform.

The program features Henry Montgomery, who was sentenced to life when he was 17 for killing a cop. His appeal of juvenile life sentences led to the US Supreme Court overturning juvenile life without parole.

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Montgomery was convicted in 1963.

Slepian says it took some work to get the Department of Corrections to approve the idea…

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But he thinks they’ll be happy with the final portrayal of the facility.

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It’s a big match up this Saturday with Texas, and the LSU Traveling Tigers are making the trip to Austin to keep the Bayou Bengals on a winning streak. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke says this trip is extra special seeing as outside of Louisiana, Texas has the highest number of LSU alumni.

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The last time the Longhorns and the Tigers played each other in the regular season was 1954. With both teams currently in the top 10, the matchup is even more intense. LSU was only allotted three-thousand game tickets and Helmke says this trip for the Traveling Tigers sold out quickly for the two-hundred participants.

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Despite the lack of game tickets for Tiger fans, it’s not discouraging fans from making a trip to the Lone Star state. Helmke says LSU Alumni-dot-org has a whole line up for tiger fans in Austin this weekend.

Cut 12 (05) “…and gold.”

The next trip planned for the Traveling Tigers is in two weeks to Nashville for the Vanderbilt game.

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Drew Brees’ appearance in a Bring Your Bible to School ad sparks controversy when LGBTQ advocates point out the organization who ran the ad’s history of anti-gay campaigning.

Brees says he wasn’t aware of Focus on Family’s anti-gay lobbying and campaign efforts. Brees adds he lives by the Christian fundamental of love thy neighbor.

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The ad itself about LGBTQ rights, but concerns were raised about Focus on Family’s past contributions to gay conversion therapy campaigns and anti-gay marriage initiatives. Brees says he doesn’t support that.

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The appearance came as a surprise to many considering the QB’s past participation in anti-bullying campaigns aimed at promoting LGTBQ tolerance. He says accusations of anti-gay bias are not true.

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LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow has nothing but respect for Texas head coach Tom Herman. It was Herman, who was offensive coordinator at Ohio State at the time, who recruited Burrow to play for Buckeyes

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Herman left for the head coaching job at Houston during the recruitment process, but Burrow still signed at Ohio State in 2015. After three seasons in Columbus, Burrow transferred to LSU. Burrow will face a Longhorn defense that loves to blitz, but the Tigers Q-B is fired up for the challenge..

cut 17 (16) “…for it” 

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After beating Grambling last weekend, ULM heads to the Florida panhandle to face Florida State on Saturday. The Seminoles lost to Boise State in the season opener as the Broncos rallied to win Tallahassee. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says there’s no doubt that F-S-U has talent

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Viator says they don’t plan on changing their game plan, just because they are facing a Power Five school…

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State Farm is set to lower its auto insurance rates again. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut  2 (28) I’m Matt Doyle”  

 NBC News’ Lester Holt spent a couple of nights locked up at Angola for a segment set to air Friday night on Dateline. The segment will air as part of Dateline’s look at the long-lasting effects of the 90’s era “Tough on Crime” legislation that garnered bi-partisan support in Congress. Holt slept in Angola’s death row. The segment will repeat on Sunday on MSNBC.

Gubernatorial candidate, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham, spoke out against the Edwards Administration’s handling of Medicaid this morning. Abraham says despite a 14.8-billion-dollar Department of Health budget the state is still one of the least healthy in the nation.

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September is Airbag Recall Awareness Month and thousands of drivers in Louisiana are at risk because they’ve neglected to have the free repair completed. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles spokesperson Chris Freeman says a defective airbag can cause more harm than good.

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To find out if your airbags are under a recall go to Check-To-Protect-dot-org and enter your Vehicle Identification Number. Then schedule an appointment for a repair. All repairs are free.

Governor John Bel Edwards provided details today on the 52-million dollars in federal money that will go towards expanding I-12 in St. Tammany Parish from Highway 190 to Highway 59. Edwards says the state faces a 14-billion dollar backlog in highway projects, but they are using any available dollars wisely…

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Is your car one of the thousands in Louisiana that is under an airbag recall? The National Safety Council and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are all urging motorist to check and have them repaired immediately. FCA spokesperson Chris Freeman says Freeman the recall is of major concern in Louisiana due to the weather

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For more info go to Check-To-Protect-dot-org

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ralph Abraham lashed out at the Edwards administration’s handling of Medicaid. Abraham says he would save the state money and fix Medicaid by implementing a more detailed income analysis for the program, and removing people who make over the 16,764 dollars annually.

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State Farm announces the company is cutting its auto insurance rates by 2.6 percent effective November 25^th. State Farm Spokesperson Felicia Van Frank says the savings come down to improving their expense situation and lower loss numbers.

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The 2.6 percent decrease comes out to 36.6 million dollars in savings for State Farm customers.

Congressman Ralph Abraham attacked the Edwards Administration’s handling of Medicaid this morning on the steps of the Louisiana Department of Health. Abraham says despite a 14.8-billion-dollar Department of Health budget the state is still one of the least healthy in the nation.

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The Congressman adds the amount the state will have to spend to maintain the Medicaid expansion will increase further in 2020 after the federal match rate decreases.

State Farm announces the company is cutting it’s auto insurance rates by 2.6 percent effective November 25^th. State Farm Spokesperson Felicia Van Frank says there’s other ways you can lower your rate, and if you are a State Farm customer now would be a good time to check in with your insurance agent.

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September is airbag recall repair month. Are you one of the motorists that’s procrastinated about getting yours replaced? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “..I’m Brooke Thorington”

NBC News’ Lester Holt spent a couple of nights locked up at Angola for a segment set to air Friday night on Dateline. The segment will air as part of Dateline’s look at the long-lasting effects of the 90’s era “Tough on Crime” legislation that garnered bi-partisan support in Congress. Holt slept in Angola’s death row.

State Farm is set to lower it’s auto insurance rates again. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (28) I’m Matt Doyle”

Jefferson Parish authorities have arrested one person who they say was involved in a quadruple shooting last night in Marrero that resulted in two deaths and two others wounded. One of the deceased was a six-year-old girl.

A member of the Byrd High School football staff, 33-year-old James Allen Opie of Shreveport, has been arrested for child pornography.

There are reportedly 152-vehicles in Louisiana under recall because of an issue with the airbag. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles spokesperson Chris Freeman says the recall is of major concern in Louisiana because of the heat and humidity…
cut 5 (13) “….shrapnel”
Go to check-to-protect-dot-org and enter your VIN number to see if your vehicle is under a recall.

In St. Tammany Parish, 52-million dollars in federal money will be used to widen I-12 in between Highway 190 and Highway 59. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they’ll open the project up for bids in December…
Cut 8 (12) “…get budgeted”

Governor Edwards provided details today on the 52-million dollars in federal money that will go towards expanding I-12 in St. Tammany Parish from Highway 190 to Highway 59. Edwards says this investment will provide more economic opportunities and ease congestion for a three-mile stretch of I-12…

Cut 7 (08) “…every day.”

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ralph Abraham lashed out at the Edwards administration’s handling of Medicaid. Abraham says he would save the state money and fix Medicaid by implementing a more detailed income analysis for the program, and removing people who make over the 16,764 dollars annually.

Cut 11 (09) “…system.” 

State Farm announces the company is cutting its auto insurance rates by 2.6 percent effective November 25^th. State Farm Spokesperson Felicia Van Frank says the savings come down to improving their expense situation and lower loss numbers.

Cut 13 (10) “change”

September is Airbag Recall Repair Month. The National Safety Council and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are all urging motorist to have their airbags checked and repaired immediately. FCA spokesperson Chris Freeman says many motorists have ignored the recall and do not realize that defective airbags can cause more harm than good.

Cut 4 (11) “…device”  for more info go to Check-To-Protect-dot-org. All repairs are free.

Gubernatorial candidate, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham, spoke out against the Edwards Administration’s handling of Medicaid this morning. Abraham says despite a 14.8-billion-dollar Department of Health budget the state is still one of the least healthy in the nation. Abraham called out the Division of Administration, the LDH Secretary, and Governor for not being transparent about Medicaid and it’s increasing costs, but says he would not undo the expansion…

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State Farm announces the company is cutting its auto insurance rates by 2.6 percent effective November 25^th. State Farm Spokesperson Felicia Van Frank says their rates have been steadily dropping for several years as costs have decreased in Louisiana.

Cut 12 (09) “…percent”

The 2.6 percent decrease comes out to 36.6 million dollars in savings for State Farm customers.

Is your car one of the 152-thousand in Louisiana that has recalled airbag? The National Safety Council and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are urging motorist to have their air bags checked and repaired immediately. FCA spokesperson Chris Freeman says September is Recall Awareness Month.

Cut 3 (12) “…today.”

To see you need a replacement go to Check-To-Protect-dot-org, that’s Check-To-Protect-dot-Org and enter your Vehicle Identification Number. All repairs are free.

Gubernatorial candidate, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham spoke out against the Edwards Administration’s handling of Medicaid this morning on the steps of the Louisiana Department of Health. Abraham says despite a 14.8-billion-dollar Department of Health budget the state is still one of the least healthy in the nation.

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State Medicaid costs will increase in 2020 as a result of a declining federal match.

Governor John Bel Edwards provided details today on the 52-million dollars in federal money that will go towards expanding I-12 in St. Tammany Parish from Highway 190 to Highway 59. Edwards says the state faces a 14-billion dollar backlog in highway projects, but they are using any available dollars wisely

Cut 6 (06) “…previously”

Edwards says this investment will provide more economic opportunities for the region.

Gun control is expected to be a hot topic when Congress returns to session next week. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says he hasn’t had a chance to review any proposals, but he knows the Democrat-controlled House is planning on introducing a number of fixes that just won’t pass muster in the upper chamber.

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Polls show a majority of Americans are in favor of background checks for guns.

Southeast Louisiana is under a heat advisory today as heat indexes are expected to sit between 108 to 113. The blazing temperatures and dry weather are thanks to a high-pressure system that’s set up shop across the southeast US, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s not all bad news. He says without it Hurricane Dorian may have entered the Gulf.

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The same high-pressure system is keeping other storms like Fernand away from the region as well.