Secretary of State Tom Schedler says 46% of candidates who signed up for offices in the October 24th primary will run unopposed. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office say four teenagers are arrested accused of kidnapping and raping an underage girl. Authorities say the girl was lured to a parked car, forced inside, and driven to an abandoned home where the rape occurred. 17-year-old Marlon Grady, 19-year-olds D’Kevin Cleveland and Montrell Davis, and a juvenile, whose name is being withheld, are charged with kidnapping and aggravated rape.

The US House Natural Resources Committee will hold a field hearing in New Orleans today to discuss how current federal policies impact oil and natural gas development in the Gulf. Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, says if the US wants to remain a world leader in energy production, we need to increase production on more than just state and private land…

cut 6 (11) “Coast shores”

The hearing will also touch on the crude oil export debate.

Just how low will will gas prices go? The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is hovering just above $2.00 a gallon and American Automobile Association spokesperson Don Redman says we could see prices near $1.80 by the end of the year. Redman says you’d have to go back to early 2009 to find gas prices that low…

cut 8 (08) “a gallon”

He says these low prices have caused demand to rise about three-percent from last year when prices were roughly $1.10 more per gallon.