LSU announces the search has begun to find a new live mascot to replace the ailing Mike VI. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The new president of the University of Louisiana system has all but been selected, as there is only one candidate for the position. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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As Hurricane Mathew churns towards the Florida coast, University of Florida officials say they will not move Saturday’s LSU-Florida game out of Gainesville. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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In the wake of heartbreaking news that Mike the Tiger’s cancer is spreading, LSU announces the search is on for a new live mascot. Mike’s veterinarian Dr. David Baker says they intend to find a young male tiger in need of a good home. He says many times the government places animals in sanctuaries and doesn’t provide the fund for their care.

cut 4  (09)  “will take”

Baker says in 2007, it took about three months to find Mike VI, who was originally named Roscoe and living at the Great Cats of Indiana. He says they will focus on finding the tiger that’s best for LSU to become Mike VII.

Cut 5  (09)  “wildlife conservation”

But Manager of Captive Wildlife Protection with the Humane Society, Debra Leahy, says the university will be fueling the exotic animal trade, if they get a new tiger. She says no reputable facility would turn over a tiger to be used as a mascot.

Cut 6 (06) “somewhere”

Leahy says sanctuaries take in tigers for the purpose of giving them lifetime care, not to pass them along to someone else. She says the Humane Society has started a petition to end the live mascot program because it would be tragic, if LSU contributes to the cruel animal trade industry.

CUT 7 (10)  “deficient diet”

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Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson is expected to become the new president of the University of Louisiana System, as he is the only candidate that will go before the Board of Supervisors today. Henderson says if selected for the position, there are some obvious problems he plans to tackle.

Cut 8 (11) “address that”

Henderson says if the job didn’t allow him to continue to work with Northwestern, he wouldn’t even consider it. He says he has immense love for the Natchitoches school, as he and his wife, Tonia, both graduated from NSU, but he says he has ties to many Louisiana universities.

Cut 9 (11)  “Southeastern grad”

Henderson has been the Northwestern president since January of 2015. He says he wants to do what he can to provide more opportunities for students in Louisiana.

Cut 10 (07) “that direction”

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The federal government has set a goal for zero traffic fatalities within the next 30 years. The Transportation Department has outlined a plan that includes increasing seatbelt use and more rumble strips. Louisiana Highway Safety Commissioner Dr. Katara Williams says that’s the perfect ultimate goal, because even one traffic fatality is one too many.

cut 11 (08) “slight increases”

Williams says the first step to reducing these deaths is raising awareness about safe driving habits. She says drivers must put down their cellphones when they’re behind the wheel, buckle up, and never drive drunk.

cut 12 (09) “right choices”

The federal transportation department says self-driving cars and other new technologies could make zero fatal crashes possible. Williams believes autonomous vehicles could play a role in safer highways. But she says it’s too early to tell just yet, as many of these self-driving cars are still in the prototype phase.

Cut 13 (08) “our highways”

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The University of Florida announces that Saturday’s LSU-Florida game will not be moved out of Gainesville, even as Hurricane Matthew is approaches the Sunshine State. But it’s still up in the air on whether or not the 11am kickoff will have to be delayed. LSU’s Sports Information Director, Michael Bonnette, says they expect to have more information by noon today.

cut 14 (07)  “to do” 

Bonnette says they’re doing their best to keep Tiger fans in the loop about game decisions. He says they are looking at all of their options, but the safety of the fans and the players is most important.

Cut 15 (08) “in Gainesville”

Bonnette says delaying the kickoff could pose problems for airing the game on television. He says the Gators are not interested in playing the game in Tiger Stadium, but they may have to consider moving to a neutral location.

Cut 16  (09)  “into this”

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Louisiana Tech hosts Western Kentucky in a big Conference USA matchup at Joe Aillet Stadium tonight. The Hilltoppers are considered one of the favorites to win the league and they have won 12 straight conference games. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says it’s important Bulldog nation comes out tonight, because they need that homefield advantage…

Cut 17 (13)  “the belt”

The Bulldogs were the alst team to defeat the Hilltoppers in league play, when they defeated W-K-U in 2014. Western Kentucky comes into this game as one of the top passing teams in the league. Holtz says it’s impressive to see them move the football…

Cut 18 (16) “offensively”

This team features the top two wide receivers in the conference, Trent Taylor for Louisiana Tech adn Taywan Taylor for Western Kentucky. Holtz says Bulldogs running back Jarred Craft of Haughton could have a major impact in this game

Cut 19 (19)   “…really well”

LSU’s live mascot Mike VI’s cancer has spread throughout his body, according to his veterinarian Dr. David Baker. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Research by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity finds Louisiana has more opioid prescriptions than residents. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Mike the Tiger’s veterinarian announces the live mascot’s cancer has spread throughout his body. Dr. David Baker says based on a CT scan, they believe Mike has one to two months to live.

CUT 3 (11)  “radiation”

Baker says currently, Mike VI is behaving very normally and his appetite has returned after treatment for a sinus infection due to a tumor. He says their current plan gives the LSU community time to say their goodbyes to the beloved mascot.

CUT 4 (11)  “hospice care”

LSU has already instructed Baker to begin the search for a young tiger to become Mike VII. Baker says there is no way to know when Mike VI will permanently retire to his night house and assures they will not let him suffer. He says he’s been questioned about Mike’s radiation treatment and believes it did what it was supposed to do.

CUT 5 (08)  “its behavior”

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There are more opioid prescriptions in Louisiana than there are residents. That’s according to research by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity. Medical Director with the state Office of Public Health, Dr. David Holcombe, says it’s a problem in the Deep South, as Louisiana is one of 8 states with a high rate of prescriptions per resident. He says part of the problem is that it’s easier for doctors to write a prescription.

CUT 6 (07) “the math”

Louisiana’s opioid prescription rate was 1.03 per capita in 2015, and Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kentucky also had rates higher than 1. Holcombe says pharmaceutical companies push these pills as being safer than they really are. He says there’s also a problem with patient demand.

CUT 7 (09) “be tolerated”

Holcombe says when they crackdown on over prescribing these pills, many people who have become addicted will switch to heroin because it’s cheaper and more readily available. He says a simple solution would be for doctors to check their patients’ prescription history.

CUT 8 (09) “and so forth”

Holcombe doesn’t expect doctors to be eager to do these checks because it would be another hassle on their to-do list.

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Angry Jefferson Parish residents spoke out at a council meeting today urging Parish President Mike Yenni to resign. There are multiple allegations claiming while Yenni was the mayor of Kenner, he sent a 17-year-old boy sexually explicit texts and kissed the teen in a public bathroom then gave him designer underwear. Resident Richard Brown maintains Yenni offered that teen a job.

CUT 9 (06) “credit card” 

A spokesperson for Yenni said he would have something to say soon, but not today. Kenner resident and a mother of two boys, Stacy Alessandro, says she’s disappointed Yenni wasn’t at the meeting to refute these allegations. She says his silence speaks volumes.

cut 10 (07)  “in hiding”

Another Jefferson Parish resident says this is humiliating for the entire parish. She urges the council to take whatever action is need and hopes Yenni will speak out about these claims.

Cut 11 (10) “don’t hide”

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An unrestrained 19-year-old was killed in a single vehicle crash after her vehicle was split in half in Catahoula Parish. State Police Trooper Scott Moreau says police responded to a crash in Harrisonburg, yesterday morning involving, Reagan Rainey of Jonesville, who lost control of her vehicle and hit a tree.

cut 12 (11) “in half”

Moreau says State Police doesn’t see too many crashes were a vehicle is split in half, but when they do, speed is typically a factor.

Cut 13 (10)  “as well”

Moreau says police are out enforcing speed and seat belt laws because it can be a recipe for disaster like this.

cut 14 (07)  “correct way”

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