The Department of Children and Family Services has received federal approval for a second month of D-SNAP benefits. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn” (29

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The Department of Transportation is getting the message out to Louisiana motorists on how to navigate a roundabout, as the state is introducing these intersections on our roadways. Jeff Palermo has more…

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Secretary of State Tom Schedler has unveiled a new “I Voted” sticker featuring Louisiana’s Blue Dog in an effort to get more people to turn out on November 8. Halen Doughty has more…

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A new taskforce aims to address the epidemic of opioid abuse in Louisiana. Bob Johannessen with the Department of Health says the Commission on Preventing Opioid Abuse was established in the 2016 legislative session, and they just had their first meeting. He says Louisiana has the seventh highest rate of painkiller prescriptions in the country.

cut 4  (07)  “they treat”

Johannessen says the 38-member commission is made up of representatives from medical, law enforcement, and pharmaceutical communities. He says Louisiana has also received more than $2 million in federal dollars to assist with this effort.

Cut 5  (09)  “behavioral health”

Johannessen says the goal of the commission is to have recommendations ready for the legislature by February. He says they will look at how to improve communications between one physician and another to avoid over prescribing, as well as potential policies to address the issue.

Cut 6 (10) “lead to”

Johannessen says patients who are over prescribed these medications often build up a tolerance, which leads to addiction.

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The Department of Children and Family Services has received federal approval for a second month of disaster food assistance for the 11 parishes most heavily impacted by the August flooding. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says anyone who received aid last month will automatically have their card reloaded this month. She says recipients will have benefits loaded no later than October 18^th.

CUT 7 (10)  “benefits”

Garner Walters says there is a history of getting additional aid from their federal partners after really big disasters, but typically not this many parishes are included. There were originally 22 parishes covered for the first round of D-SNAP benefits.

Cut 8 (10) “so many”

Garner Walters says these disaster food stamps have really been a life saver for some families who lost everything in the floods. She says they are just trying to help people in any way they can during this difficult recovery process.

Cut 9 (12)  “to do”

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation has launched a campaign to promote roundabout safety tips. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says roundabouts are a one-way circular intersection that are designed to improve safety and efficiency. He says typically in the months following the installation of a roundabout, they receive a lot of positive feedback from motorists.

Cut 10 (08) “overall”

DOTD has instated about 30 roundabouts and 100 more have been proposed. Mallett says motorists slow down, but don’t stop when entering a roundabout so it helps with congestion.  He says this type of intersection is also much safer than a stop light.

cut 11 (09) “T-bone”

Mallett says the key to navigating roundabouts is to slow down, yield to traffic, proceed right, and follow signs. Roundabouts are found to reduce traffic related fatalities by 90-percent and injury crashes by 76-percent.

cut 12 (09) “severe accidents”

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The Secretary of State’s Office has come up with a creative way to get more people to vote in the November 8th election. Secretary of State Tom Schedler unveiled a new “I Voted” sticker featuring Louisiana’s own Blue Dog by artist George Rodrigue. He says Louisiana has not had “I Voted” stickers for several years because of cost, and this is a great way to bring them back.

Cut 13 (10) “very patriotic”

The sticker features the iconic Blue Dog in front of an American flag with the words “I Voted” across the top. The late artist’s wife, Wendy Rodrigue, says they wanted to get involved and they searched within what George had already designed. She says they found that he left them the solution within his art.

cut 14 (09)  “September 11″

Rodrigue’s son Jacques Rodrigue says the piece was released at the New Orleans Museum of Art. He says it’s also on display in an exhibit called “Blue Dog for President” at their gallery in New Orleans. Schedler says they have distributed 4 million stickers to precincts throughout the state, and everyone who votes will get a sticker, even early voters.

Cut 15 (11) “I don’t know”

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The postponement of the LSU-Florida game has many Tiger fans frustrated, but head coach Ed Orgeron says it was a productive “off” weekend for the football team. Orgeron says they got some good work in on the practice field and then hit the recruiting trail…

Cut 16  (11)  “was positive”

Orgeron says they also used the unexpected bye weekend to self scout their own players and team…

Cut 17 (19)  “on Saturday”

Quarterback Danny Etling says it’s disappointing they couldn’t play Florida, but they can’t get distracted with all the talk about making the game up at a later date…

Cut 18 (16) “here on that”

Senior center Ethan Pocic says they are getting ready to play Southern Miss on Saturday and letting others figure out the schedule…

Cut 19 (11)   “Southern Miss”

It’s a sad day for Tiger Nation, as the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine announces Mike VI has moved into hospice care. Jeff Palermo has more…

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LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva gave a scheduling update on the “post-poned” Florida away game, and it doesn’t look promising. Michelle Southern reports…:

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It appears Mike VI may be in his final days, as the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine announces the live mascot for the past 9 years has been transitioned into hospice care. Mike’s vet, Dr. David Baker, said during a press conference last week that they knew this was coming, and they have a plan to care for Mike as long as his health allows.

CUT 3 (11)  “yard anymore”

During the press conference, Baker said Mike has one to two months to live, and the tiger has been out in his yard for the past week to allow the LSU community to say their goodbyes. He says they want Mike to enjoy life as long as possible, but his well being is their primary concern.

CUT 4 (07)  “euthanasia”

Baker says they also have a plan for Mike VI when his time comes. He says they will perform a necropsy, which is an autopsy for animals, to allow them to learn as much as possible from the deadly tumors that spread through the tiger’s body. He says Mike’s remains will then be cremated like his predecessors.

CUT 5 (09)  “four and five”

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More than a dozen people are injured and four remain hospitalized following the collapse of an obstacle at the Warrior Dash in West Feliciana Parish. Deputy Chief with the State Fire Marshall’s Office, Brant Thompson, says a 20 foot tall climbing structure called the “Diesel Dome” came down while 20 people were on it. One of those injured was a 10-year-old who was taken to the Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. Thompson says investigators are working to determine exactly how this obstacle was constructed and why it collapsed.

CUT 6 (09) “in place”

Thompson says the Warrior Dash is a 5K with about a dozen obstacles throughout the course, and this is the fourth time the event has been held in St. Francisville. He says they are working to interview those who were injured, as well as other race participants.

CUT 7 (10) “the race”

Over 5,000 people were registered for the event, which is organized by Red Frog Events of Chicago. Thompson says they are trying to determine whether or not any event organizers were informed of the structure’s instability. He says no criminal charges have been filed yet, but the investigation is ongoing.

CUT 8 (09) “to whom”

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The Louisiana National Guard deployed eight helicopters for Hurricane Matthew response operations in Florida and South Carolina. The deadly storm has claimed the lives of at least 20 people in four states. LANG spokesman Patrick Bossetta says they have a number of missions…:

CUT 9 (09) “their property” 

Bossetta said included in the deployment are two UH-60 Blackhawks, two UH-72 Lakotas and 32 crew members, medics and maintenance support. He says that’s more than what they normally send to help out other states in times of crisis, but Matthew merited that type of support from Louisiana..:

cut 10 (08)  “long path”

Bossetta says four of the aircraft that went to Florida have already returned to Louisiana, and the other four are still in South Carolina for reconnaissance, search and rescue and resupply missions. He says they conduct missions like these for two reasons…one is because they are asked…:

Cut 11 (07) “are protected”

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It’s not looking good for the LSU/Florida game to be rescheduled. One of the options that has been mentioned was for The Tigers and Gators to play on November 19th. Athletic Director Joe Alleva said he’s been in contact with the SEC and it appears that making this game happen will be extremely difficult…:

cut 12 (09) “on November 19th”

LSU’s open day is the weekend before the Alabama game, but Alleva said he doesn’t want to have to play that day unless Alabama has to play that day. LSU is slated to play South Alabama on November 19th in Tiger Stadium and Alleva emphasized several times that there WILL be a home game that day..:

Cut 13 (10)  “division champions are”

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Tomorrow is the last day to register to vote for the November 8^th election. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says to register, or change your party affiliation or your address go to geaux-vote-dot-com(geauxvote.com). Schedler says typically the presidential election has the highest voter turnout…

cut 14 (10)  “low turnout”

Schedler says one of the challenges election officials are facing is that some precincts were damaged by the August flooding and they will have to set up alternative polling locations. He says in Livingston Parish, most precincts will be moved to a site at Juban Crossing.

cut 15 (08) “voters”

The two big items on the ballot are the Presidential and U.S. Senate races, but there are Congressional races, plenty of local elections and proposed changes to the state constitution…

cut 16 (09) “the voter”