06:30 Newscast August 25th, 2014

With election qualifying behind us, all eyes are turned toward November 4th. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat sees several races destined for a runoff election in December. In the US Senate race, Pinsonat says the picture is pretty clear…:

CUT 4 (12) “right now”
He says a December runoff between Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu and Republican Bill Cassidy could determine control of the US Senate.

Officials in Tensas Parish say a 13-year-old girl, who is the daughter of First United Methodist Church West Monroe’s pastor, was killed Sunday during a church trip to Lake Bruin. They say Sarah Grace Tellifero was swimming with some other girls when she was shocked by the laddder of a boat when trying to get out of the lake. A malfunction in the lift mechanism on the pontoon boat reportedly resulted in an electric charge to the ladder. Another girl was also shocked and she’s in a hospital said to be in ICU. The tragedy is under investigation.

A state law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital goes into a effect next Monday, but the Center for Reproductive Rights has filed lawsuit in federal court challenging the law. An attorney for the center, Julie Rikelman, says the courts have blocked similar laws around the country…:
CUT 10 (11) “in Louisiana”
But supporters of the new law say it closes a loophole that allows abortion facilities to operate at a lower standard than other surgical facilities.

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Cristobal formed early Sunday morning in the Caribbean. The third named storm of the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane season is projected to continue remaining offshore of Florida and the east coast and not be a threat to the US or Gulf.