Depending on where you’re at, the skies may be a little on the dark side with rain approaching. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says with a little luck, trick-or-treaters will be able to enjoy their Halloween festivities rain-free. Still, families should make contingency plans just in case.

Cut 15 (09) “…doing your thing.”

DOTD launches the Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) High School Showdown pilot program in nine high schools.  Spokesman Rodney Mallett says data from 2019-2023 shows a high risk among young drivers.

Cut 5 (11) “…wont wear their seatbelt.”

The program encourages students to pledge to buckle up and avoid using their phones while driving, with the highest participating school receiving a five-thousand-dollar donation from Triple-A for safety programs.

As most new parents know all too well, caring for infants can get very expensive. How much are Louisianians paying? For the answer, here’s Sean Richardson.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

The high school graduation rate in Louisiana is on the rise. The State Department of Education says in the 2022-23 academic year, the graduation rate ticked up to 83.2-percent, up a half a point from 82.7 the previous year. National figures from 2022-23 are not yet available, but based on the previous year’s figures, Louisiana’s graduation rate ranks above the national average of 79-percent.

Destination Zero Death, AAA, and DOTD have launched the Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) High School Showdown pilot program in nine Louisiana high schools. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

_____________________________________________

When your little ghouls and goblins are out casing the neighborhood for some yummy treats, make sure they know the dos and don’ts about staying safe. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

_____________________________________________

As most new parents know all too well, caring for infants can get very expensive. How much are Louisianians paying? For the answer, here’s Sean Richardson.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

_____________________________________________

DOTD in partnership with Destination Zero Deaths and AAA, has launched the Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) High School Showdown pilot program in nine Louisiana high schools.  DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says this program aims to promote safe driving habits among students by encouraging them to pledge to buckle up and avoid using their phones while driving.

Cut 4 (10) “…save peoples lives.”

Participating high schools include Berwick, LaGrange, Terrebonne, Plain Dealing, Plainview, Chalmette, Ponchatoula, Walker, and Neville. Mallett says the Buckle UP Phone Down challenge between these schools is needed when recent statistics show unrestrained drivers and and passengers were involved in 34-percent of all fatalities…

Cut 5 (11) “…wont wear their seatbelt.”

Modeled after a successful Missouri initiative, the showdown rewards the top two schools with the highest pledge participation, offering $5,000 and $2,500 donations from AAA for safety programs. Schools are encouraged to use assemblies, classroom lessons, peer presentations, and other events to engage students. Mallett says the goal is to reduce traffic fatalities by promoting lifelong safe driving habits…

Cut 6 (05) “…for safety programs.”

__________________________________________________

Little ghouls and goblins will be roaming neighborhoods everywhere this evening, looking for some fun-sized sweet things to enjoy after dinner each night until Thanksgiving. As they do, make sure they know how to stay safe. Lisa Freeman, the executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says Halloween is historically one of the deadliest nights of the year in terms of vehicle-pedestrian crashes.

Cut 7 (12) “…Year’s Eve holidays.”

Freeman says while your kids are out trick or treating, make sure they know the do’s and don’ts of walking around in the neighborhood.

Cut 8 (08) “…just for Halloween.”

And if there’s a sidewalk, make sure they use it. If not, be sure to walk against the traffic.

Cut 9 (16)  “…with oncoming vehicles.”

Furthermore, walking on the left side of the road makes it easier for drivers to make eye-contact with pedestrians.

______________________________________________________

New parents know all too well how expensive it is to care for newborns. A new study by Bankrate shows that Americans on average spend just over 14-thousand dollars during the first year of their child’s life. Alex Gailey, an analyst with Bankrate who conducted the study, says on average, Louisianians pay slightly less.

Cut 10 (11) “…dollars per month.”

That translates to about 14-percent of a typical family’s income, which is slightly under the national average. Gailey says one thing that families can do to offset those costs is to do a little research on what child care subsidy programs they can take advantage of.

Cut 11 (14) …have nigher incomes.”

Gailey says families can also take advantage of tax credits.

Cut 12 (10) “…in your pocket.”

The state with the most affordable infant care by percentage of income is South Dakota at just under nine-percent. The least affordable, according to the study, is New Mexico at just over 20-percent.

_______________________________________________

Louisiana may see some showers on Halloween, but trick-or-treaters can hopefully look forward to a clear evening, according to LSU Public Healt5h Climatologist Barry Keim. Keim says scattered showers and storms are expected during the day, but the weather is expected to improve for evening Halloween festivities.

Cut 13 (08)  “…down to about 30-percent.”

Communities across Louisiana are eagerly watching the forecast, as Halloween night brings neighborhood events, outdoor gatherings, and crowds of costumed children. Keim says families should make contingency plans for rain earlier in the day but stay optimistic

Cut 14 (11) “…that you could.”

For those preparing to head out, Keim suggests keeping an umbrella handy, but also staying tuned to updated forecasts. With a bit of luck, Louisiana trick-or-treaters will be able to enjoy their Halloween festivities rain-free by nightfall.

Cut 15 (09) “…doing your thing.”

________________________________________________________

McNeese football coach Gary Goff says redshirt freshman Kamden Sixkiller will be the Cowboys starting quarterback the rest of the season as Clifton McDowell is done for the season with a hand injury. Sixkiller already has several starts under his belt and Goff is eager to see him keep developing…

Cut 16 (15)   “…twice.”

_________________________________________________

Saints Quarterback Derek Carr says he hopes to return to action this Sunday against the Panthers in Carolina. Carr has been out since injuring his oblique October 7th late in their loss to the Chiefs. Carr says he had a great day of practice Wednesday and should be ready to go Sunday.

Cut 17 (15) “…it felt great.”

Carr says the injury is the most frustrating injury of his career, as it relegated him to the sidelines as he watched Spencer Rattler guide the team to three straight losses, the last of which he got benched. Carr says Rattler is getting too much of the blame.

Cut 18 (19)   “…team around him.”

The Saints will try to snap their six-game losing streak Sunday in Carolina. Kickoff is at noon.

________________________________________________________

ULM is coming off its first Sun Belt defeat as the Warhawks were defeated by South Alabama 46 to 17. But Coach Bryan Vincent says his team is not dismayed

Cut 19 (11) “….success.”  

The Warhawks are back on the road this Saturday against the Marshall Thundering Herd. Marshall is 4-and-3 on the season, winning all four of its games at home. Vincent says his team is embracing the challenge…

Cut 20 (17) “..from any challenge.”

Kick-off is at 2:30 central time.

A 14-year-old boy is killed in a shooting in Terrebonne Parish. First Lieutenant Blake Tabor says the boy was breaking into the vehicles with two other juveniles, one of whom admitted to shooting the boy to death days later.

Cut 7 (11) “…14-year-old child.”

Tabor says while the investigation is still ongoing, they’re not looking for anyone else.

A supplement that’s widely available could be deadly. That’s the warning of St. Tammany Parish Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape after a 36-year-old woman died in part of an overdose of Kratom. Dr. Tape says Kratom has been used for decades.

Cut 11 (16) “…you will overdose.”

Louisiana set a record for in-person early voting, beating its previous high set in 2020 by 32,000 votes. Sean Richardson has the numbers.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

An explosion near Camp Minden in Webster Parish. The LSP Hazardous Material Hotline got a notification from Goex Industries regarding an explosion that occurred at their facility. The facility was evacuated, and no injuries were reported. There is no indication of any threat to public safety and the incident has been contained.

Louisiana has set a record for in-person early voting, with 849,000 voters casting their ballots early in person, compared to 817,000 in 2020. Deputy Secretary of State Joel Watson says they also broke a single-day record on the final day.

Cut 4 (05) “…cast their vote.”

Including absentee ballots, 960,000 Louisianans voted ahead of the November 5 election.

The St. Tammany Parish coroner is warning you about a supplement that’s widely available but could be deadly. Over the summer, a 36-year-old woman died in part of an overdose of the legal drug Kratom. Coroner Dr. Christopher Tape says since it’s readily available, people might not realize that it’s lethal in excessive doses.

Cut 9 (07)  “…think it’s safe.”

Kratom is not regulated by the FDA, so there are no standards to ensure its safety.

A 14-year-old boy is killed in a shooting in Terrebonne Parish. The shooting happened last Friday in a neighborhood in Chauvin, and the boy’s body was found in a wooded area. First Lieutenant Blake Tabor says the boy’s identity, which the sheriff’s office is not releasing, led to another discovery.

Cut 6 (11) “…several days prior.”

Lieutenant Tabor says the 14-year-old was breaking into the vehicles with two other juveniles, one of whom admitted to shooting the boy to death.

The U-L Lafayette Ragin Cajuns improved to 7-and-1, 4-and-0 in the Sun Belt with a hard fought 23-17 victory at Texas State last night. The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs didn’t fare so well. They fell to Sam Houston in a defensive battle, 9-3. Tech falls to 3-and-5, 2-and-3 in Conference USA play.

The State Fair of Louisiana opens today in Shreveport. Marketing Manager Russell Adams says the fair has a new operator this year – Talley Amusements out of Fort Worth, Texas.

Cut 4 (09) “…are not, obviously.”

Adams says the State Fair will once again have the full complement of deep-fried, artery-clogging fair food.

And one week from today, state lawmakers will begin a tax reform special session. The governor says his plan will produce more jobs and put more money in the pockets of workers, but Senate President Cameron Henry says there are a lot of questions…

Cut 13 (13)  “…these bills.”

The special session must end by Monday, November 25th.

Police in Avoyelles Parish are looking for the driver who threw three German Shepherd puppies out of the window, killing them. Humane Society of Louisiana Director Jeff Dorson says there were many options available to that pickup truck driver for those puppies rather than killing them.

Cut 8 (09) “…intended to do.”

The Humane Society is offering a 500-dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer.

While in New Orleans entertaining hundreds of thousands of Swifties, Taylor Swift made a generous donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank that will make 75,000 meals possible for South Louisiana families. Chief Strategy Officer John Sillars says the food bank provides nutritious food to families in 23 parishes by distributing it to community food pantries…

Cut 12 (10) “…to those pantries.”

For more information, visit “No Dash Hunger Dot Org.”

A week from today state lawmakers will begin a tax reform special session. The Landry Administration is seeking to reduce corporate and income rates, while broadening the services subject to sales taxes. Senate President Cameron Henry says the nearly three-week long special session might not be enough time as legislators have a lot to consider…

Cut 14 (11) “…regular session.”

The State Fair of Louisiana opens today in Shreveport. Marketing Manager Russell Adams says the State Fair will once again have the full complement of deep-fried, artery-clogging fair food.

Cut 5 (14) “…are really good.”

The State Fair runs through November 17th and is closed November 4th, 11th and 12th.

The Humane Society of Louisiana is offering a 500-dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver who threw three German Shepherd puppies out of the window, killing them. HSLA Director Jeff Dorson says incidents like these underscore the importance of spaying or neutering your pets.

Cut 9 (20)  “…place these responsibly.”

Early voting in Louisiana is over, and this year was a record-breaker. The state not only broke the record for the highest single-day turnout with 99-thousand showing up yesterday, but it also broke the record for the highest overall turnout with almost 818-thousand casting votes early – and that doesn’t include the mail-in ballots.

The State Fair of Louisiana opens today in Shreveport. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

_____________________________________________

The City of New Orleans wasn’t the only part of Louisiana to benefit from Taylor Swift’s visit. She left a generous donation to The Second Harvest Food Bank. Colleen Crain reports…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

_____________________________________________

A special session on tax reform begins a week from today and lawmakers are doing their homework now, knowing that changing tax policy is complicated. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

_____________________________________________

The State Fair of Louisiana opens today in Shreveport. Marketing Manager Russell Adams says the fair has a new operator this year – Talley Amusements out of Fort Worth, Texas.

Cut 4 (14) “…is just superb.”

Adams says the State Fair will once again have the full complement of deep-fried, artery-clogging fair food.

Cut 5 (14) “…are really good.”

The fair will feature lots of live music, a livestock show and the LRCA Finals Rodeo.

Cut 6 (10) “…of the LRCA.”

The State Fair runs through November 17th and is closed November 4th, 11th and 12th.

__________________________________________________

The Humane Society of Louisiana is offering a 500-dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver who threw three German Shepherd puppies out of the window in Avoyelles Parish, killing them. HSLA Director Jeff Dorson says a driver observed what he thought was trash being thrown from the pickup truck on Highway 1185 between Mansula and Morauville, but it turned out to be something else entirely.

Cut 7 (13) “…on the pavement.”

Those two puppies ended up dying of their injuries at a veterinarian’s office. Dorson says there were many options available to that pickup truck driver for those puppies rather than killing them.

Cut 8 (09) “…intended to do.”

Dorson says this underscores the importance of spaying or neutering your pets.

Cut 9 (20)  “…place these responsibly.”

If you have any information, call the Humane Society of Louisiana.

______________________________________________________

The impact of Taylor Swift’s visit to New Orleans goes beyond her record-breaking Eras Tour. She made a generous donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank that will make 75,000 meals possible for South Louisiana families in need. Chief Strategy Officer, John Sillars…

Cut 10 (11) “…across the country.”

Swift recently made significant donations to areas impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton. Sillars says, Swift’s gift goes beyond monetary value, it brings attention to a serious issue in Louisiana…

Cut 11 (10) …one in four.”

More Louisiana children and seniors experience food insecurity than those in any other state. Sillars says Second Harvest Food Bank provides nutritious food to families in 23 parishes by distributing it to community food pantries…

Cut 12 (10) “…to those pantries.”

Families in need can reach out to their local food pantry. Information for those in need and for anyone wishing to donate or volunteer can be found at “No Dash Hunger Dot Org.”

_______________________________________________

A week from today state lawmakers will begin a tax reform special session. The Landry Administration is seeking to reduce corporate and income rates, while broadening the services subject to sales taxes. The governor says the plan will produce more jobs and put more money in the pockets of workers, but Senate President Cameron Henry says there are a lot of questions…

Cut 13 (13)  “…these bills.”

The special session must end by Monday, November 25th. Henry says the nearly three week long special session might not be enough time as legislators have a lot to consider…

Cut 14 (11) “…regular session.”

The Louisiana Senate did not go along with all of Landry’s proposals in the special sessions and the regular session that took place earlier this year. But Henry says the Louisiana Senate is eager to deliver meaningful tax reform…

Cut 15 (12) “…as well.”

________________________________________________________

After a tough loss to Texas A&M in College Station, the LSU Tigers have two weeks to prepare for their game against Alabama. After practice yesterday, Head Coach Brian Kelly talked about the team’s lack of running game against the Aggies.

Cut 16 (22)   “…the running game.”

Another thing that Kelly talked to his team about at practice today is the importance of playing a full 60-minute game, saying the A&M game only got out of hand late.

Cut 17 (14) “…finish a game.”

Of course, LSU’s passing game wasn’t up to snuff either, with Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier throwing three interceptions, including late in the game when they needed scoring drives to have a chance to win. Kelly says Nussmeier’s confidence is not cracked, nor can it be.

Cut 18 (16)   “…away from it.”

Nussmeier, the running game and the kicking game, which missed three field goal attempts last week, will have a week and a half to right the ship before facing the Alabama Crimson Tide at Death Valley. Kickoff next Saturday is at 6:30 p.m.

Today is the last day for early voting in the presidential election here in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (12)  “…been here for.”

John Couvillon (COO-vee-ahn) with JMC Analytics says while the early voting in polling places is up from four years ago, the mail-in ballots are considerably down from that time. He says he does not expect the state to reach the one-million early vote mark at the end of the day today.

The City of Tallulah, in Madison Parish, will be imposing a curfew starting Friday. The police chief is taking the action due to what he says are issues within the city. City spokeswoman Yvonne Lewis says the curfew will be in place indefinitely.

Cut 14 (07) “…will lift it.”

Days before the curfew was announced, the principal of Madison High School ordered students to leave backpacks at home this week.

Governor Landry is in South Korea for his first economic development mission trip as governor.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A 14-year-old boy is killed in a shooting in Terrebonne Parish. The shooting happened last Friday in a neighborhood in Chauvin, and the boy’s body was found in a wooded area. The sheriff says the shooting stemmed from a series of vehicle burglaries involving two other juvenile boys. The name of the teen killed has not yet been released.

Today is the last day for early voting in the presidential election here in Louisiana. John Couvillon (COO-vee-ahn) with JMC Analytics says just over 850-thousand have already voted, and Republicans represent the majority of them.

Cut 11 (15) “…seven-point lead.”

If you do not vote today, your last chance will be on Election Day one week from today at your assigned precinct.

Governor Landry is in South Korea on his first overseas economic development trip as governor. Economist Doctor Loren Scott says Landry is promoting Louisiana as an attractive place to invest in natural gas, just like Texas.

Cut 7 (12) “…world markets.”

The City of Tallulah, in Madison Parish, will be imposing a curfew later this week. Starting Friday, no one will be allowed on the streets between midnight and five a-m. City spokeswoman Yvonne Lewis says the police chief is taking the action with the blessing of the mayor and city council.

Cut 12 (10) “…during those times.”

The curfew will be in place indefinitely.

Following an all-day search that involved multiple agencies, a ten-year-old Livingston Parish boy who disappeared from his home is found safe. Sheriff Jason Ard says Brody Sturdivant ran away from home after being punished. He says even though the boy has been found safe, the investigation is ongoing.

Cut 5 (11) “…hard right now.”

The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted in the search.

Jeff Landry is in South Korea for his first economic development mission trip as governor. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

______________________________________

Later this week, people in one northeast Louisiana community will be told to be home by midnight. Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

______________________________________

Following an all-day search that involved multiple agencies, a ten-year-old Livingston Parish boy who disappeared from his home is found safe. Sheriff Jason Ard says ten-year-old Brody Sturdivant ran away from home after being punished, and this isn’t the first time this has happened.

Cut 3 (09) “…what he does.”

Sheriff Ard says Brody was found underneath a house in a neighborhood not too far from his own.

Cut 4 (07) “…to find him.”

Ard says even though the boy has been found safe, the investigation is ongoing.

Cut 5 (11) “…hard right now.”

The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted in the search.

______________________________________

Jeff Landry is conducting his first overseas economic development trip as governor as he’s in South Korea. The governor’s office says Landry is there to strengthen relationships with major South Korean companies currently doing business in Louisiana or considering future investment in the state. Economist Doctor Loren Scott says the cheap price of natural gas makes Louisiana an attractive place to invest…

Cut 6 (11) “…cheap molecules.”

Scott says the price of natural of gas is also cheap in south Texas so there’s competition in attracting companies from Asia who are looking to produce material using natural gas.

Cut 7 (12) “…world markets.”

According to the governor’s office, South Korea is Louisiana’s fourth largest import market and Korea is also the world’s third largest liquefied natural gas importer in the world, which includes exports from two different LNG facilities in south Louisiana.

Scott says these face to face visits in other countries can result in more jobs and investment in Louisiana…

Cut 8 (08) “…in person.”

The governor’s office did not say when Governor Landry will return to Louisiana.

________________________________________________________

Today is the last day for early voting in the presidential election here in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (12)  “…854,000.”

John Couvillon (COO-vee-ahn) with JMC Analytics says while the early voting in polling places is up from four years ago, the mail-in ballots are considerably down from that time. He says he does not expect the state to reach the one-million early vote mark at the end of the day today.

Cut 10 (11) “…than the other.”

Couvillon says in this case, the side more interested in early voting is the Republicans, which is highly unusual.

Cut 11 (15) “…seven-point lead.”

If you do not vote today, your last chance will be on Election Day one week from today at your assigned precinct.

________________________________________________________

The City of Tallulah, in Madison Parish, will be imposing a curfew later this week. Starting November 1st, no one will be allowed on the streets between midnight and five a-m. City spokeswoman Yvonne Lewis says the police chief is taking the action with the blessing of the mayor and city council.

Cut 12 (10) “…during those times.”

Lewis did not elaborate on what those issues are. Of course, if you have a reason to be out during those times, such as going to work or returning home from work, that’s okay. Lewis says they’re not looking to charge anyone with a crime for simply being out past curfew.

Cut 13 (09) “…where you’re going.” 

Lewis says the curfew will be in place indefinitely.

Cut 14 (07) “…will lift it.”

Days before the curfew was announced, the principal of Madison High School ordered students to leave backpacks at home this week. Lewis said this is so that any issues that are persisting in the city do not spill over into the school community.