AM-Newscall October 24th, 2014

We’re now about halfway through the early voting period for the November 4th election and Secretary Of State Tom Schedler says there’s been good participation among voters. Michelle Southern reports.

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The Louisiana Gubernatorial Primary takes place one year from today. Jeff Palermo takes a look at the race…

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Authorities arrest the controversial former mayor of Sorrento on 40 counts of possessing child porn. Scott Carwile reports.

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We’re now about halfway through the early voting period for the November 4th election and Secretary Of State Tom Schedler says there’s been good participation among voters. He says so far the number of early votes is at 75% of what the state saw two years ago for the Presidential election. Scheduler says overall participation looks good:

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Schedler asks voters to visit the Public Affairs Research Council website at parlouisiana.org to study the constitutional amendments so you’re not trying to figure out what they mean in the booth. He says he hopes he’s wrong with his 50% voter turnout prediction…:

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The voting locations will be closed on Sunday and the last day to early vote will be Tuesday. Saturday will by far be the biggest day of the early voting period so you can expect long lines at the polls and Schedler encourages voters do take an important step to help move things a long…:

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We are now one year away from the gubernatorial primary election in Louisiana. Republicans Senator David Vitter, Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, as well as Democrat State Representative John Bel Edwards have announced their intent to run for Governor. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says, at this point, Vitter is the front runner…

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The biggest question mark at this point in the Governor’s race is whether or not Democrat New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu will join the field. Cross says Landrieu will probably wait until after the holiday season to make up his mind…

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He says it’s not surprising that this race is laying dormant since we’re in the middle of Senate and Congressional races across the state. Cross says you should really see the gubernatorial race kick off after Mardi Gras…

Cut 9 (12)  “probably mid-March” 

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With Halloween a week away you might be thinking about getting decorative contact lenses as part of your costume, but federal officials are sending out a warning. ICE Homeland Security Investigations spokesman Bryan Cox says it’s important for people to understand that contact lenses are regulated as a medical device…:

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Cox says under federal law, contact lenses can not be sold without a prescription…:

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Cox says these are unregulated and poorly constructed lenses sold without a medical doctor’s signature and pose serious held risks to consumers…:

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The controversial former Mayor of Sorrento was placed under arrest on Thursday after officials say they found child pornography inside his residence. Attorney General Criminal division director Kurt Wall says they obtained a search warrant for the home of 41-year-old Wilson Longanecker Jr….:

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Wall says this was a joint law enforcement effort by the AG’s Cyber Crime Unit, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security and State Police. He says Longanecker is charged with 40 counts of possessing pornography involving juveniles and obstruction of justice:

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Longanecker, who was elected mayor of Sorrento in 2011 and served until 2013, caused controversy when he was in office for taking extended leaves of absence and not being in contact with council members. Wall says the search of Longanecker’s home last several hours…:

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Kenny Henderson is out as executive director of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. Henderson led the L-H-S-A-A, which governs high school athletics, since 2007. His contract was set to expire next summer, but past-president of the LHSAA, Todd Guice, says both sides felt now was the time for a change…

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Guice would not sah why Henderson will not fill out the remainder of his contract. There’s a lot of unrest within the LHSAA about the recent split of public and private school football playoffs, but Guice says that one issue is not the reason for Henderson’s departure

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The search for Henderson’s replacement has already started. Guice will chair a committee that will seek out qualified candidates…

(Henderson says the LHSAA handbook says qualified candidates must be either a principal or a coach or an administrator within the LHSAA

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