A report on Louisiana voter registration finds a decline in white Democrats and steady gain of Republican and Independent voters. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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A Kenner teen has been arrested for allegedly beating an elderly couple with a hammer in their home. Emelie Gunn has more…
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There’s been a large decline in the number of whites registered as Democrats since 2001. JMC Analytics and Polling analyst John Couvillon says when President George W. Bush took office in 2001, white Democrats comprised 35-percent of the Louisiana electorate or 951-thousand voters. Today, the percentage of white Democrats is 18-percent…
Cut 3 (05) “registered Democrats”
Couvillon says there’s been a steady gain in registered Republicans and Independents. 22-percent of the electorate consisted of registered Republicans in 2001, now the percentage is up to 30-percent. He says the percentage of registered Independents is also up eight-percent since 2001…
Couvillon says Louisiana’s electorate has also become more diverse since 2001. He says Black voter registration comprised 29-percent of the electorate at the beginning of the Bush administration and is 31-percent today and there are substantial gains with other race groups…
Of those currently registered to vote in Louisiana, 44-percent are Democrat, 30-percent Republican and 26-percent Independent.
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A 16-year-old has been arrested after allegedly beating an elderly couple with a hammer inside their Kenner home. Police responded after a 70-year-old woman walked to her neighbor’s home covered in blood asking for help for she and her 89-year-old husband. Kenner Police Lt. Brian McGregor says the teen also stole the victims’ vehicle and they learned he drove to Baton Rouge…
McGregor says the juvenile was arrested in Baton Rouge. He says the brutal attack happened Sunday afternoon after a petty argument between the juvenile and the elderly couple.
The hammer used to beat the senior citizens was found inside the home with blood and hair on it. McGregor says the 16-year-old did odd jobs around the victims’ home. He says the couple remains in critical condition.
McGregor says the juvenile’s name has not been released and he faces charges of two counts of attempted first degree murder, theft of a motor vehicle, and aggravated burglary.
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The number of high school seniors filling out financial aid forms for post-secondary education is up 7 percent over last year. Senior Educational Technology consultant, with the state department of education, Stephanie Marcum says they have made a big push to let students know that FAFSA isn’t just for students going to traditional college…:
65% of students are submitting FAFSA paperwork this year compared to 58% last year, an increase of 3100 kids. Marcum says when people hear “financial aid” they think loans, but she says that’s a very small aspect of what you find out through FAFSA…:
Marcum says they also saw an increase in financial aid applications when TOPS wasn’t fully funded last year. She says they expect the numbers to continue to go up when filling out FAFSA becomes a requirement for seniors next year…:
Cut 11 (05) “they’re eligible”
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Governor Bobby Jindal’s ex-budget chief, Angele Davis, joins the pool of candidates running for state treasurer. Republican state senator Neil Riser, Republican former state representative John Schroder and Democratic attorney Derrick Edwards are the others seeking the post vacated by U.S. Senator John Kennedy. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says none of the candidates are known statewide.
State Representative Julie Stokes dropped out of the race after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Pinsonat says Davis has the experience to successfully fill this position…
Both Schroder and Riser also have budget experience, because of their time in the state legislature. The election is October 14th and qualifying begins Wednesday. Pinsonat says it’s a wide open race.