PM Newscall September 29, 2014

A CNN poll on Louisiana’s US Senate race has Democrat Mary Landrieu as the leading vote getter in the primary, but three-percentage points behind republican Bill Cassidy in a runoff. Jeff Palermo has the story

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

===================

State and local officials are expressing displeasure over the fact that rape victims are getting large hospital bills for treatment. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

===================

A CNN poll on Louisiana’s US Senate race shows democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu winning the primary, but trailing by three-percentage points in a runoff with republican Congressman Bill Cassidy. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says this poll confirms what many analysts suspect

CUT 3 (12) “neck and neck”

Stockley says a closer look at the survey, which was conducted last week, also shows Landrieu will have to make sure registered democratic voters get to the polls and she needs more support from white voters

CUT 4 (08)  “that’s phenonmal”

Stockley says the poll shows Maness will take votes away from Cassidy on November fourth, but the US Representative from Baton Rouge should be pleased that the survey indicates he has a good shot at defeating Landrieu in the December runoff

CUT 5 (09) “President Obama”

=====================

There is a group of Louisiana lawmakers and other state leaders expressing outrage about Louisiana hospitals charging rape victims for care. Among them is Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson. He says it’s completely wrong that women who have reported sexual assault are getting these massive hospital bills…:

CUT 6 (09)  “for the crimes”

A standard rape kit at a hospital has to be free under federal law, but they can still charge for HIV testing, pregnancy testing or medication that could prevent a rape victim from getting an STD. Pearson says it would be terrible if a woman didn’t report assault because she’s scared of the hospital bill…:

CUT 7 (07) “should provide”

Pearson believes part of the reason this is happening is because Louisiana privatized state hospitals which previously covered all medical expenses for rape victims. He says rape separates itself from other types of violent crimes because they so very often go unreported…:

CUT 8 (14) “from the hospital for”

=============================================

Louisiana State Police report that two people were killed, including a Fort Polk soldier, in a fiery single vehicle accident in Vernon Parish. Trooper Scott Moreau says the crash occurred near US Highway 171 early Sunday morning…

CUT 9 (08)  “really, really bad”

He says the vehicle burst into flames upon impact. The passenger of the vehicle has not been identified at this time due to the severity of the burns incurred. Moreau says they have identified the driver…

CUT 10 (08)  “at Fort Polk”

The identity of the driver will not be released until notification of next of kin, but Moreau says he was a soldier at Fort Polk. He says authorities are working diligently to find out what exactly happened…

CUT 11 (08) “about the crash

___________________________________________________

State Police say a 38-year-old passenger from DeRidder is dead after a 13-year-old driver hit a cow. Sgt James Anderson says troopers responded to a crash on Highway 112 about 10 miles east of DeRidder last night around 9:20pm…:

CUT 12 (13) “as a result of the crash”

Anderson says the victim is identified as 38-year-old Jason Mitchell Brooks and he was pronounced dead at the scene. He says there was another 16-year-old passenger in the vehicle and nobody was buckled up. Anderson says the reason the 13-year-old was driving is still under investigation…:

CUT 13 (10) “vehicle you’re in”

Anderson says impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash and the condition of the cow is not known at this time. He says this incident is under investigation…:

cut 14 (07) “of travel”