A We Ask America poll of the governor’s race has Governor Edwards at 47 percent, Eddie Rispone at 23 percent, and Ralph Abraham at 17 percent. Pollster Andrew Weissert says Edwards continues to linger in the upper 40s because while he has a 56 percent approval rating, voters still aren’t confident he’s righted the ship.

Cut 6, 8 seconds, right direction

The poll did have one encouraging bit of news for Edwards, 61 percent of independents have a favorable view of him.

Voters casting their ballots early can expect to do so with new voting equipment.  Lafayette Parish Registrar of Voters Charlene Meaux-Menard says participants will receive a voter card to insert into the machines that will pull up their ballot on a touchscreen.

Cut 3 (09) “…on the background.”

Each location will have an assistant to help out voters if needed.

A Legislative Fiscal Office analysis of the estimated 500-million-dollar state budget surplus credits most of the higher-than-expected revenue to the 2017 federal tax reform. Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the state’s economy is improving, but it’s not the biggest reason for the huge surplus…

Cut 7 (10) “changes” 

Albrecht says part of the reason revenue exceeded their forecast this year is because the Revenue Estimating Conference is trying to be conservative with their estimates.

Governor Edwards announces Fibrebond will remain in Minden following indications from the company that it may leave due to the poor condition of bridges in north Louisiana that forced them to take a 247-mile detour to ship products west.  Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson…

Cut 10 (10) “…have to ship.”

Governor Edwards announces Fibrebond will remain in Minden after an earlier scare that the company may leave for east Texas. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the company is a huge economic driver for the rural Webster Parish.

Cut 12 (12) “…in northwest Louisiana.”

The state helped Fibrebond find a shorter route for the huge structures that it ships around the country. Previously their route was hindered by failing bridges.

A Legislative Fiscal Office analysis of the estimated 500-million-dollar state budget surplus credits most of the higher-than-expected revenue to the 2017 federal tax reform. Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says Louisiana’s tax code is structured so that federal rate reductions generate more state revenue.

Cut 8 (10) “rates”

Early voting starts tomorrow morning. Kevin Barnhart has more details from Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

We Ask America polled likely voters in Louisiana and found Governor Edwards just shy of avoiding a run-off at 47 percent. It’s also the second poll to show Eddie Rispone as the top polling Republican, beating Ralph Abraham 23 to 17. The poll says it’s clear that Rispone’s ad blitz for himself, and against Abraham has paid off. 13 percent of respondents in the poll remain undecided.

Governor John Bel Edwards found himself defending his record again last night during the second televised gubernatorial debate. Republican challenger Eddie Rispone says Louisiana is the only state in the country losing jobs…
cut 28 (10) “..Louisiana home”
But Edwards says Rispone has the facts…
cut 29 (13) “….12-year low”
Rispone has criticized fellow GOP challenger Ralph Abraham for voting with Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Congressman defended his voting record…
cut 30 (10) “…ever see”
Early voting starts tomorrow morning for the October 12th election, which includes the gubernatorial primary. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says early ballots can be cast until October 5th.
Cut 4 (09) “…a good experience.”
New voting machines will be used during the early voting period. It will be a touchscreen voting machine that will be less vulnerable to tampering and hacking.

Governor Edwards announces Fibrebond, Webster Parish’s largest private employer, will remain in Minden. Fibrebond threatened to relocate to Texas because of poor bridge condition in north Louisiana that forced them to take a 247-mile detour to ship products west. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson…
Cut 10 (10) “…have to ship.”
Governor Edwards and others will sign a Memorandum of Understanding in early October that will identify specific improvements the state will provide.

Tensions boiled over between Republican gubernatorial candidates Eddie Rispone and Ralph Abraham at last night’s debate over Rispone’s recent string of attack ads. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The funeral is today for fallen Mandeville Police Captain Vincent Liberto who was fatally shot in the line of duty last week. Visitation begins at 9 AM at the Castine Center in Pelican Park and the funeral will begin at noon. A 21-year-old Covington man has been charged with killing Liberto and shooting another officer, who has reportedly made a full recovery.

A Legislative Fiscal Office analysis of the estimated 500-million-dollar state budget surplus credits most of the higher-than-expected revenue to the 2017 federal tax reform. Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the state’s economy is improving, but it’s not the biggest reason for the huge surplus…
Cut 7 (10) “changes”
Louisiana’s tax code is partially tied to federal tax levels, which means a federal cut is always partially offset by state tax liability increases.

Voters can cast their ballot for the October 12th election starting tomorrow as the week-long early voting period begins at 8:30 at select locations…
cut 6 (10) “…early voting site”
That’s Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin who says early voting typically represents to 20-to-25 percent of all votes cast.

cut 14 (12) “…applause”
That’s Governor Edwards going after Republican challenger Ralph Abraham during last night’s gubernatorial debate. Edwards has criticized Abraham for missing the most votes out of any Congressman. The two GOP candidates attacked each other as well, Eddie Ripsone said he’s the true conservative in the race, while Abraham says he’s not a career politician and pointed out Rispone has been involved in politics for a long time.

Early voting for the October 12th election begins tomorrow. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says there’s a big football game on October 12th, so take advantage of the week-long early voting period…
cut 5 (10) “…the LSU game”
Early voting will conclude next Saturday, except on Sunday. Geaux-vote-dot com has polling locations.

During the governor’s race, Governor Edwards has touted a 500-million dollar surplus caused by an improving economy. But Chief Economist of the Legislative Fiscal Office, Greg Albrecht, says changes to federal tax laws, which led to higher state taxes and conservative estimates from the Revenue Estimating Conference has led to the extra cash…
cut 9 (11) “…shortfall”
The legislature will determine how the 500-million dollar surplus will be spent.

The governor’s office announces that Fibrebond, Webster Parish’s largest employer, will retain its operations in Minden. Fibrebond was looking to relocate to Texas, because of poor roads. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the governor and others will sign a Memorandum of Understanding next month that will identify specific improvements the state will provide…
cut 11 (10) “….product to market”

The gubernatorial candidates asked each other questions at last night’s debate and they did not hold back. Eddie Rispone continued his attack against fellow Republican Ralph Abraham over what he says is disloyalty to President Trump before he was elected. Abraham responded…
Cut 13 (13) “are lies”
Governor Edwards highlighted Rispone’s past financial support for former Governor Bobby Jindal, saying a Rispone Administration would be Jindal 2.0. Rispone wasn’t taking it.
Cut 15 (11) “…statement”
Early voting for the October 12th election begins tomorrow and will run through the following Saturday, except on Sunday. Check geaux-vote-dot-com for a polling site near you.

The Legislative Fiscal Office says most of the 500 million dollar projected budget surplus from last fiscal year is due to federal tax law changes. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Early voting starts tomorrow morning. Kevin Barnhart has more details from Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Legislative Fiscal Office says most of the 500 million dollar projected budget surplus for last fiscal year is due to federal tax law changes. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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 Tensions boiled over between Republicans Eddie Rispone and Ralph Abraham at last night’s debate over Rispone’s recent string of attack ads. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Early voting locations open tomorrow morning for the gubernatorial primary.  Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says location hours are 8:30am until 6pm and early ballots can be cast until October 5^th.

Cut 4 (09) “…a good experience.”

Election Day falls on October 12^th, which is also the day of an SEC matchup at Tiger Stadium, so Ardoin encourages voters to take care of voting early so more attention can be put on football.

Cut 5 (10) “…the LSU game.”

Early voting typically represents 20-25% of all votes cast.  Voters will need to have photo ID or the LA Wallet app.  Ardoin says if you need to know where to go for early voting, they’ve got all the info you need online.

Cut 6 (10) “…early voting site.”

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A Legislative Fiscal Office analysis of the estimated 500-million-dollar state budget surplus credits most of the higher-than-expected revenue to the 2017 federal tax reform. Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the state’s economy is improving, but it’s not the biggest reason for the huge surplus…

Cut 7 (10) “changes” 

Louisiana’s tax code is tied in parts to federal tax levels, which means a federal cut is always partially offset by state tax liability increases. Albrecht says that’s how federal reforms can bolster state coffers.

Cut 8 (10) “rates”

Senate President John Alario was quoted by the AP as saying that Louisiana’s tax code relation to federal taxes is not the case in some other states.

Albrecht says part of the reason revenue exceeded their forecast this year is because the Revenue Estimating Conference is trying to be conservative with their estimates.

Cut 9 (11)  “shortfall”

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Governor Edwards announces Fibrebond will remain in Minden following indications from the company that it may leave due to the poor condition of bridges in north Louisiana that forced them to take a 247-mile detour to ship products west.  Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson…

Cut 10 (10) “…have to ship.”

Fibrebond builds huge structures that can measure 16 by 75 feet and weigh 150,000 pounds, making them ineligible to cross de-rated bridges.  Pierson says the details of the agreement will be announced soon.

Cut 11 (10) “…product to market.” 

Pierson says the company is a huge economic driver for the rural Webster Parish.

Cut 12 (12) “…in northwest Louisiana.”

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The gubernatorial candidates got a chance to ask each other questions at last night’s debate and they did not hold back.

Eddie Rispone continued his attack against fellow Republican Ralph Abraham over what he says is disloyalty to President Trump. Abraham responded…

Cut 13 (13) “are lies”

The attack is based on comments Abraham made in 2016 after the Access Hollywood tapes were released, where Abraham said Trump should drop out of the race.

Abraham said Governor Edwards wasn’t doing his job, attacking him for questionable staff hirings, and other sordid allegations. Edwards shot back that Abraham doesn’t show up to Congress for votes.

Cut 14 (12) “…applause” 

Governor Edwards highlighted Eddie Rispone’s past financial support for Governor Bobby Jindal, saying a Rispone Administration would be Jindal 2.0. Rispone wasn’t taking it.

Cut 15 (11) “…statement”

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Two Super Bowl contenders meet in the Superdome on Sunday night as Cowboys visit the Saints. Dallas is 3-and-0 and Louisiana native and  Q-B Dak Prescott has thrown nine touchdown passes. New Orleans linebacker DeMario Davis says Prescott is not an easy quarterback to defend

Cut 16  (19) “…ball around”

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will make his second straight start for the injured Drew Brees. Davis says the Saints have Bridgewater’s back

cut 17  (19) “…to the table” 

Could Sunday’s matchup be a preview of a future NFC Championship game? Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence says that storyline doesn’t mean anything to him

Cut 18 (10) our job” 

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Northwestern State hopes to break into the win column on Saturday night when they host Southeastern Louisiana. The Demons dropped their Southland opener last week in a 48-21 loss to Houston Baptist. Second-year head coach Brad Laird says even though they didn’t get a win last week, they need some things well

cut 19 (13)   “this week”   

The Lions are ranked 19th in one poll and 22nd in another F-C-S poll. S-L-U is 2-and-1. Laird says they have a playmaker on offense by the name of Devonte Williams and the defense is led by former McNeese Coach Lance Guidry

cut 20 (24) “they play 

Twenty-five years after a newborn baby was found dead in Jeanerette, Iberia Parish Sheriff deputies arrested a 50-year-old woman in the death of Baby Jane Doe. Major Wendell Raborn says DNA from the infant matched a family member of Sonia Charles and follow up police work led to deputies getting a DNA sample from Charles

Cut 3 (09) “…Sonia Charles.”

Charles was booked into the Iberia Jail for First Degree Murder.

Census Bureau numbers show Louisiana’s poverty rate dropped from 19.7 percent in 2017 to 18.6 percent last year. That’s dropped Louisiana from the 2^nd most impoverished state in the nation to the 3^rd. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says it’s a great improvement, but we have a long way to go.

Cut 6 (07) “…news”

Louisiana is one of seven states under a federally declared fishing disaster, which makes state anglers and businesses eligible to request assistance from a 165 million dollar Congressionally approved fund. LDWF Biologist Administrator Jason Froeba says the state was included due to the devastating impact of the Bonnet Carre’s prolonged opening resulting from record high Mississippi River levels.

Cut 9 (10) “…salt water”

Mississippi and Alabama were the only other southern states to receive the declaration.

The US drought monitor currently lists five percent of the state in severe drought and 13-percent in moderate drought.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says hopefully a cold front will bring in more fall-like temps and some rain, but not too much at once.

Cut 14 (10) “…what we need.”

Keim says there is very little rain in the forecast for the next week.