The Council for a Better Louisiana is hosting a televised gubernatorial debate tonight. CABL president Barry Erwin hopes the debate will provide clarity on what candidates will do to tackle the issues facing the state…
cut 5 (10) “…those things”
The debate airs at 7 PM on Louisiana Public Broadcasting.

Lafayette General signs a letter of intent to merge with Ochsner Health System which will create the largest healthcare provider in the Gulf South. Lafayette General Health System President David Callecod says the two medical providers have been working together since 2015…
cut 14 (10) “…value based arena”
Officials say the merger should be completed next spring.

Eight people were arrested, including two juveniles and 15 guns were seized after Baton Rouge police broke up the filming of a rap video. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Twenty-five years after the death of a newborn baby in Jeanerette, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 50-year-old woman and charged her with first-degree murder in the death of Baby Jane Doe. No bond has been set for Sonia Charles of New Iberia. Authorities say DNA evidence helped determined that Charles was the mother of an infant that was left to die outside of Bob’s Car Wash in January 1994.

The gubernatorial candidates will be on the UL-Lafayette campus tonight for a televised debate that will be shown on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The Council for a Better Louisiana organized tonight’s debate at 7 PM and CABL President Barry Erwin says the questions will come from a panel of reporters and the candidates will get to ask each other questions…
cut 6 (06) “…before they vote”
Erwin hopes the candidates will provide comprehensive answers on the issues facing the state.

Baton Rouge Police arrest eight individuals and seize 15 guns during the filming of a rap video on a neighborhood street. Sergent L’Jean Mckneely says terrified neighbors called authorities after seeing a large group of men waving assault rifles…
Cut 10 (10) “…the guns”
McKneely says they detained at least 15 individuals, arrested eight of them and seized five assault rifles, ten handguns and a small amount of narcotics.

Lafayette General Health is set to merge with Ochsner Health System…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has declared fishing disasters for seven states and Louisiana is one of them. This means people and businesses are eligible for NOAA fisheries disaster assistance. Congress has appropriated 165-million dollars. State officials say shrimpers, oyster farmers and fishermen suffered greatly from the lengthy opening of the Bonnet Carre spillway, which diverted freshwater into Lake Pontchartrain.

The second televised gubernatorial debate takes place tonight at 7 from the campus of UL Lafayette. Kevin Barnhart has a preview.
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Governor Edwards has said a strong economy is why the state ended up with a surplus of 500-million dollars for the fiscal year that ended June 30th. But economist Greg Albrecht, with the Legislative Fiscal Office, credits the increase in state revenues to changes to federal tax law that resulted in Louisiana taxpayers and businesses paying more state taxes.

Lafayette General Health and Ochsner Health System are merging to create the largest healthcare provider in the Gulf South. Lafayette General Health System President David Callecod says the merger means a big investment into the Acadiana area.
Cut 13 (13) “…in southwest Louisiana.”
Callecod says the merger, which should be completed in the spring of 2020, will lead to more jobs as well.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested eight people who were allegedly waving rifles in the air while filming a rap video on a residential street…
cut 12 (11) “…the area”
That’s Sergeant L’Jean McKneely who says the weapons were loaded and functional, but they are now in police custody.

The second televised gubernatorial debate takes place tonight at 7 from the campus of UL Lafayette. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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Eight people were arrested and 15 guns seized after Baton Rouge rappers decided to shoot an unpermitted music video on a residential street. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Lafayette General Health is set to merge with Ochsner Health System. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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Tonight is the second televised gubernatorial debate where candidates will try to sway voters as to why they should lead the state.  Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says tonight’s debate will focus on issues that may have gotten lost in the shuffle, adding a robust discussion with the candidates has not really occurred yet.

Cut 4 (08) “…as we can.”

Erwin hopes the debate will provide clarity on what candidates will do to tackle many of the issues that will impact the state’s future, if elected.

Cut 5 (10) “…of those things.”

The debate airs tonight at 7 on Louisiana Public Broadcasting from UL Lafayette.  Erwin says questioning will come from reporters, and the candidates will get to ask questions of each other.

Cut 6 (06) “…before they vote.”
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SeatGeek says Sunday night’s Saints/Cowboys showdown is the hottest selling ticket of the week, and one of the five hottest-selling tickets of the year.

Seatgeek Communications Manager Chris Leyden says the lowest ticket prices are hovering around 150 bucks a pop, but the average ticket is selling for significantly more.

Cut 7 (10) “change” 

New England at Buffalo is the next best selling game of the week.

If those prices seem out of your price range, Leyden recommends keeping an eye on the market for good opportunities, or if you’re in New Orleans, waiting until the last second.

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Ticket prices for this game have been a rollercoaster, high at the start of the year, plummeting after the Drew Brees injury, and rebounding after Teddy Bridgewater led the team to a win over the Seahawks…

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The cheapest Saints home game tickets this year are when the Cardinals roll into town October 27^th.

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Baton Rouge Police make eight arrests and 15 gun seizures at the scene of an unpermitted rap video that allegedly shut down a neighborhood street and scared the neighbors.

Sergent L’Jean Mckneely says they got a tip from East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s that a large group of men were gathered in the middle of a local street walking around waving assault rifles…

Cut 10 (10) “…the guns”

Five of the weapons were assault rifles, and ten were handguns.

Mckneely says if any other aspiring artists are interested in doing a music video shoot in Baton Rouge, there’s a legal, and safer way to do it.

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Two of the eight arrested were juveniles.

Mckneely says further investigation revealed the weapons were loaded and functional at the time they were being used, and a few of them were fully automatic, which is illegal.

Cut 12 (11) “…the area”

Arrests were made at the scene for drug possession, and possession of stolen firearms, while 24-year-old Michael Castillo was arrested on an active warrant for Home Invasion and Disturbing the Peace.

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Lafayette General Health is set to merge with Ochsner Health System, with the combination becoming the largest healthcare provider in the Gulf South.  Lafayette General Health System President David L. Callecod says the merger means a big investment into the southwest Louisiana area.

Cut 13 (10) “…in southwest Louisiana.”

Callecod says the merger comes as the result of a partnership formed in 2015 and the two systems have been working together since that time.

Cut 14 (10) “…value based arena.” 

Callecod says the merger will result in the construction of a new medical office building.

Cut 15 (12) “…in the market.”

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After giving up 72 points in a loss to Iowa State last Saturday, the Warhawks jump into Sun Belt Conference play this Saturday as they host South Alabama for their league opener. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says they can’t dwell on a poor performance in Ames, Iowa

Cut 16  (18) “…move forward”

Viator says a 52-point loss didn’t set well with him, but the Warhawks will look to make amends by winning their conference opener

cut 17 (20) “…we will” 

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The Saints will welcome an undefeated Dallas Cowboys team into the Superdome on Sunday night. Through three games, the Cowboys have allowed just 44 points. Coach Sean Payton says Big D looks strong on defense

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Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has the fifth-highest Q-B rating in the NFL. Payton says he sees a big improvement in Prescott compared to when he was a rookie in 2016…

cut 19 (16)   “good leader”   

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise says the transcript of President Trump’s call with Ukraine’s president proves no laws were broken. Scalise says the conversation was not about attacking political rivals, but it was a joint effort to clean up corruption in the country that was a home base for Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 election.
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House Democrats disagree and are moving forward with a formal impeachment inquiry.

DeRidder Police say they’ve had nine cases since last March where fake money used in movies was used as real currency. Chief Detective James Halbert says they are urging cashiers to take a hard look at the bills, before putting them in the cash register…
Cut 11 (11) “…to really look.” 
Halbert says one person has been arrested as part of their investigation.

The Department of Health releases the state’s first opioid response plan, aiming to reduce the state’s opioid crisis. Assistant secretary of the Office of Behavioral Health Karen Stubbs says they’re aiming to enhance interventions and the capacity for treatment.

Cut 4 (11) “…access and networks.”

Over 450 deaths were attributed to opioids in the state last year.

Members of a Texas motorcycle gang are under arrest for allegedly stealing two ATM machines, resulting in over 150,000 dollars stolen in Westlake.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says two ATM’s were ripped out of the ground by the gang who stole a number of other vehicles to pull off the heists.

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So far five people have been arrested and the search is on for two others.

The White House releases a partial transcript of a phone call where President Trump asks the Ukrainian President to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s son. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says the text shows no improper conduct, and the impeachment inquiry is just another partisan salvo from Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Cut 7 (05) “election” 

New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond is the only Louisiana delegation member calling for impeachment.

The Department of Health releases the state’s first opioid response plan, aiming to reduce the state’s opioid crisis. Assistant secretary of the Office of Behavioral Health Karen Stubbs says prevention is the first step in the right direction.

Cut 3 (08) “…to begin with.”

Over 450 deaths were attributed to opioids in the state last year.

DeRidder Police post a warning to social media saying they are seeing an uptick of instances where fake money used on movie sets is being used to purchase goods.  Chief Detective James Halbert says the movie money can be ordered on Amazon, and while it is legal to be in possession of it, it’s unlawful to use it like actual currency.

Cut 9 (09) “…out for it.”

Halbert says one person has been arrested as part of their investigation.

Members of a Texas motorcycle gang are under arrest for allegedly stealing two ATM machines, resulting in over 150,000 dollars stolen in Westlake. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says ays when the time came to make arrests, they had backup from the feds.

Cut 14 (10) “arrested.”

The gang is known as the Brother East Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, or B*EAST.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says a newly released transcript of a phone call between President Trump and the Ukrainian President clears President Trump of allegations of Presidential Malfeasance.  The transcript includes a back and forth where President Trump asks President Zelensky to investigate Joe Biden’s son’s business dealings in the country, but Scalise says that’s not illegal.
Cut 6 (12) “…quo”
Democrats say before the call was made, President Trump had frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the country.
The Department of Health releases the state’s first opioid response plan, aiming to reduce the state’s opioid crisis. Over 450 deaths were attributed to opioids in the state last year. Assistant secretary of the Office of Behavioral Health Karen Stubbs says effective recovery support services and improved real-time data analytics and surveillance of the opioid epidemic are part of the plan.

Cut 5 (06) “…of the problem.”

DeRidder Police post a warning to social media saying they are seeing an uptick of fake money used in movies circulating around the area.  Chief Detective James Halbert says the fake currency often originates from people using the bills to rip off drug dealers.

Cut 10 (11) “…in real money.”

Halbert says those passing off the fake bills will target new or busy cashiers who may not be paying close attention to the money they are being handed.

Members of a Texas motorcycle gang are under arrest for allegedly stealing two ATM machines, resulting in over 150,000 dollars stolen in Westlake.  Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says two ATM’s were ripped out of the ground by the gang who stole a number of other vehicles to pull off the heists.  Mancuso says the gang may have gotten away with 150,000 dollars, but they stole and destroyed tens of thousands of additional dollars in property to pull it off.

Cut 13 (08) “…amount.”