AM Newscall January 14,2016

Louisiana is the worst state in the US according to Politico Magazine. Jeff Palermo has more on why we fell to the bottom…

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President Barack Obama is in Baton Rouge this morning. Emelie Gunn tells us what the Commander in Chief is up to….

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The hand written journal of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser has been released. Jeff Palermo reports…

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Louisiana is the worst state in the country according to a report by Politico Magazine. The findings come from factors like education, health, crime and employment. Deputy Editor Margaret Slattery says Louisiana was second to last in 2015…

cut 4  (10)  “as well”

 Slattery says Louisiana can use this bottom ranking to try to improve and make positive changes.

Cut 5  (08)  “the line”

New Hampshire was ranked as the best state by Politico. Slattery says Louisiana often ranks low on lists like this. She says they’re measuring how each state ranks in areas like wealth, health, income equality, and employment to determine which is the best to live in.

Cut 6 (08)  “better off” 

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President Barack Obama speaks this morning at McKinley High School in Baton Rouge where he is expected to talk about health care, jobs and early childhood education. New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says it’s great that the president is visiting our state and we need to take advantage of this opportunity.

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Richmond says Obama will address the expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana and the importance of covering working individuals who typically wouldn’t qualify.

Cut 8  (10)  “tremendously”

The visit is part of the President’s annual trip to various cities after he gives the State of the Union Address. This is the 10th time he has visited the Bayou State since becoming President.  Richmond says he wasn’t surprised when President Obama chose to visit Louisiana in his final year of office.

Cut 9 (09)  “those things”

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The hand written journal of Lafayette theater shooter John Russell Houser has been released. Houser killed 2 and injured 9 others in the July shooting at Lafayette’s Grand 16 theater before turning his gun on himself. UL-Lafayette Criminal Justice instructor Paula Broussard says Houser’s journal is similar to what is found in a lot of mass murders communications…

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The journal seems to be a collection of random thoughts and offers few clues on why Houser went on the shooting rampage in July. Broussard says the writings of Houser show that he suffered from some mental issues…

cut 11 (10) “non-functioning”

Houser references accused South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof in his journal, thanking him for the “wake up call.” Broussard says it’s not unusual for mass murderers to admire and want to copy what a previous mass murderer did…

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After taking an aerial tour of from Vidalia to Morgan City, Governor John Bel Edwards is confident the rising Mississippi River will be contained within the state’s levee system. Edwards made stops in Vidalia, Morgan City, and Krotz Springs Wednesday. He says he’s confident the worst case scenario regarding Mississippi River flooding has been avoided…

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He praised the work of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana National Guard in keeping the flood threat at bay. The Mississippi is expected to crest at 56.5 feet in Vidalia Sunday, nearly 4 feet lower than earlier projections. Edwards says lessons learned during the Great Flood of 2011 are really paying off now…

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He says relief wells installed since 2011 are really working to prevent flooding. Edwards says important that we take lessons from this flood event and use them to aid future events…

Cut 15  (08) “to do that”

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The LSU football team is still waiting to hear if a couple of starters on its 2015 defense will return for their senior seasons. Starting middle linebacker Kendell Beckwith is still considering a jump to the pros, but NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Beckwith would not be drafted in the first or second round, so he should come back

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Underclassmen prospects in college have until January 18th to declare for the NFL draft. Detillier would be surprised if cornerback Tredavious White returned for his senior season…

Cut 17 (12) “pretty quickly”

Detillier says Beckwith would benefit by playing for new LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda…

Cut 18 (20) “draft stock”