In his first TV campaign ad, Democrat Luke Mixon addresses the abortion issue. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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It’s been a calm hurricane season so far, but that might change. The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression is likely to form in the Caribbean this week. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Marsanne Golsby.”
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Luke Mixon releases his first TV ad for U.S Senate. In it, the pro-life Democrat says he supports codifying Roe v. Wade because Republican-backed abortion bans force rape victims to give birth. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the message is a political risk in such a conservative state
The Mixon campaign says it’s spending six figures on the TV ad in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Monroe. Stockley says running an ad in September is significant, it indicates his campaign has the financial backing to do so and he needs to boost his name recognition.
Incumbent Republican Senator John Kennedy has unveiled his second TV campaign ad highlighting his votes to cut taxes, increase paychecks, fight crime and stand up to China. Stockley says he expects Kennedy will not stray far from how he won his first senatorial campaign.
The other major Democrats in the race, Gary Chambers and Syrita Steib, have yet to release TV ads.
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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. National experts on the subject are sounding the alarm. Amy Wimpley Knight is president of the Children’s Hospital Association. She says the most recent numbers show a 31 percent increase in hospital admissions for children and teens—AND a frightening increase in suicide rates.
Cut 6 (07) “…alarming statistic.”
Knight says research shows that half of mental health conditions begin before the age of 14 and go unaddressed for 11 years or more. She says adult homelessness, addiction, and incarceration can be traced to childhood mental health issues.
She says there is a nationwide shortage of mental health care professionals, but not every child needs expensive treatment.
Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is co-author of a bill to reauthorize the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program for Children. The program supports mental health care teams diagnose, treat, and refer children who need help.
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The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical wave that’s moving towards the Caribbean and a tropical depression is likely to form within the next few days. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s very early, but forecast models show this potential storm getting into the Gulf of Mexico next week…
Keim says forecast models become more reliable once the storm actually forms. He says they will know more in about a week.
Cut 10 (09) “…towards the tropics”
If this tropical wave develops into a named storm, it will be called Hermine.
So far there have been six named storms this year and no major threats in the Gulf of Mexico. Keim says the statistical peak of the hurricane season was last Saturday, so we are not out of the woods yet…
Cut 11 (09) “…relates to Louisiana”
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Senator Bill Cassidy says a new report shows the veteran suicide rate fell nearly 10-percent from 2018 to 2020. Cassidy says veteran suicide is still too high, but they are making progress. Cassidy says the Senate recently passed his Solid Start Act, which would strengthen a V-A program that regularly contacts new veterans
Cut 12 (11) “.. .a taste of summer”
Cassidy says most suicides’ among veterans occurs within six months after getting out of the service. He says the Solid Start ACT requires the VA to contact every veteran three times by phone in the first year after leave active duty…
According to the report, in 2020, there were 6,146 veteran suicide deaths, down from 343 in 2019. Cassidy says veterans in crisis should dial 9-8-8. and then press 1 to be connected with the Veterans Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.