Uncertainty among small business owners is at an all-time high. NFIB State Director Leah Long says inflation remains the top issue for almost a quarter of all small business owners.

Cut 11 (09) …a lot of purchases.”

Long says small business owners remain cautious about future conditions, with uncertainty dampening investment and hiring decisions, despite some optimism around the upcoming holiday season.

This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Oncologist Dr. Melanie Sheen with Ochsner/MD Anderson Cancer Center in New Orleans says early detection, treatment, and survival have dramatically improved and advances continue with game-changing medications coming out in the last five years… 

Cut 7 (09) “…fatal disease..”

Louisiana is joining more than a dozen other states in a lawsuit against TikTok. State Attorney General Liz Murrill’s office says TikTok is exploiting young people and has deceived the public about the dangers of its app. A national investigation shows that certain features of the app are specifically designed to addict kids.

If you play Mega Millions, get ready for some changes next spring. The price for each ticket is increasing from two dollars to five dollars. Kimberly Chopin (show-PAN) with the Louisiana Lottery says that will lead to bigger jackpots, with all other prizes going up as well.

Cut 14 (12) “…non-jackpot prizes.”

That’ll be on top of other changes to distinguish Mega Millions from Powerball. The odds of hitting the jackpot will be slightly improved, but they will still pale in comparison to you starting at quarterback for the Saints this Sunday.

A ten-year-old Webster Parish girl who went viral for sleepwalking from home late one night last month disappeared from her home again Monday night. Pat Culverhouse with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office says like the last time, the girl was found safe in the woods.

Cut 5 (08) “…her so quickly.”

The girl was checked by medical personnel at the scene and appears to be okay. Culverhouse says it’s unclear what will happen now that this has happened twice.

This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Medical Oncologist Dr. Melanie Sheen with Ochsner/MD Anderson Cancer Center in New Orleans says early breast cancer often has no signs or symptoms and certain changes may or may not signal cancer, but you should make your doctor aware of them immediately.

Cut 8 (10) “…you can feel.”

Sheen says women should begin yearly mammograms at age 40.

Small business owners are feeling more uncertain than ever, as the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index points in September was 91.5, marking the 33rd consecutive month below the 50-year average of 98.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Sticker shock at the gas pump – gas prices shot up five cents overnight. The average for a gallon of regular unleaded in Louisiana is now $2.82 a gallon. All this as Hurricane Milton bears down on the Florida peninsula.

GOHSEP is pitching to help states impacted by severe storms. Nearly 100 personnel have been deployed to Virginia and the Carolinas following Hurricane Helene, and another 77 are headed to Florida as Milton bears down on that state. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says states often turn to Louisiana to help out in the wake of severe weather.

Cut 3 (16) “…and help out.”

Speaking of Milton, the time for people in the Tampa area to evacuate is now. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says job one is to move away from the coast and onto higher land.

Cut 8 (06) “…on the coast.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser is back from India promoting tourism in Louisiana.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Sean Richardson. ”

The Public Affairs Research Council releases its Guide to the 2024 Constitutional Amendments, outlining the impact of five constitutional amendments appearing on the Nov. 5 and Dec. 7 ballots. PAR President Dr. Steven Procopio says these amendments are somewhat hyperboring and not considered controversial…

Cut 10 (07) “…functioning of government.”

Two men are arrested in the shooting deaths of an innocent 11-year-old girl and her 50-year-old uncle in LaPlace Friday night. St. John Parish Sheriff Michael Tregre (Traag) says Cartez Foster and Patrick Maxon were plotting revenge at the Sugar Ridge Subdivision – they had been beaten up after they attacked a woman.

Cut 8 (10) “…verbal confrontation.”

Sa’Miya McClain and Ron Tate and their family were unaware of what was unfolding, and they ended up getting caught in the crossfire.

New Orleans is inviting you to wear blue today in support of law enforcement. Today is New Orleans Law Enforcement Day. Melanie Talia (TAAL-ee-uh), the president and CEO of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, says they chose this date for a specific reason.

Cut 5 (09) “…in blue.”

Several iconic buildings, including the Superdome, will be illuminated in blue this evening.

In the aftermath of hurricanes Francine and Helene, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says Louisiana needs to have stronger building codes in coastal regions, suggesting it should be a legislative priority when lawmakers convene in 2025.

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Senator Bill Cassidy hosted a rural community funding summit in Monroe yesterday. Cassidy told those in attendance that through the bipartisan infrastructure bill, more than nine-million dollars have been doled out for projects throughout Louisiana. Cassidy says funding, though, is not restricted to rural areas.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says stronger building codes are needed in coastal regions to withstand major storms, saying they could prevent future displacement of these communities.

Cut 10 (09) “…more resilient homes.”

Homeowners who build to code can expect insurance discounts, but Temple says the benefits extend far beyond that.

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the Humane Society of Louisiana sent a caravan to Asheville, North Carolina, to help its counterpart there. Director Jeff Dorson says with another storm approaching, it could use some help in continuing its mission.

Cut 15 (10) “…and dog food.”

Three years ago, Asheville-based feline advocacy group Sister Kitten delivered much-needed supplies to Louisiana in the wake of severe storms here; Dorson says the Humane Society was able to return the favor following Helene.

St. John Parish announced arrests in the shooting deaths of an 11-year-old girl and her 50-year-old uncle. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

If you play Mega Millions, get ready to fork over more money for your chance at life-changing money. Starting in April, each Mega Millions ticket will go up from two dollars to five dollars. That’s just one of several changes the game will be undergoing, including increasing your odds of hitting the jackpot.

Two men are under arrest in the shooting deaths of an 11-year-old girl and her 50-year-old uncle in LaPlace last week. St. John Parish Sheriff Michael Tregre (Traag) says Sa’Miya McClain and Ron Tate and their family were unaware that Cartez Foster and Patrick Maxon were going to their subdivision to shoot the person who beat them.

Cut 9 (11)  “…both incidents.”

One other victim in the home was grazed in her leg.

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has emphasized the need for stronger building codes in coastal regions, saying reforms could strengthen coastal Louisiana’s resilience against future storms.

Cut 12 (10) “…after an event.”

Temple says strengthening building codes should be a legislative priority when lawmakers reconvene in Baton Rouge in 2025.

New Orleans is turning blue today, and not because the Saints lost last night. Today is New Orleans Law Enforcement Day; and Melanie Talia (TAAL-ee-uh), the president and CEO of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, says wearing blue or shining blue lights is a way for everyone to express appreciation for law enforcement.

Cut 6 (11) “…local law enforcement.”

They chose October 8th – 10/8 – to observe Go Blue Day because 10-8 is police code for “in service.”.

At the request of the National Football League, the CIty of New Orleans is establishing a “clean zone” in the city from one week before the Super Bowl and two days afterwards. During this time, street vendors will be barred from selling items or services using NFL-related branding without a permit. The clean zone includes the French Quarter, the Central Business District and other areas in the vicinity. Violators face fines of up to 500 dollars.

New Orleans will feel a little blue today – and, no, it’s not for bad things. Andrew Greenstein explains.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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St. John Parish announced arrests in the shooting deaths of an 11-year-old girl and her 50-year-old uncle. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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In the aftermath of hurricanes Francine and Helene, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says Louisiana needs to have stronger building codes in coastal regions, suggesting it should be a legislative priority when lawmakers convene in 2025.

Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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New Orleans is invited to go blue for New Orleans Law Enforcement Day. Melanie Talia (TAAL-ee-uh), the president and CEO of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, says the city will be awash in blue.

Cut 4 (17) “…of law enforcement.”

Furthermore, people are asked to wear blue to support law enforcement. Talia says they chose October 8th to observe Go Blue Day for a specific reason.

Cut 5 (09) “…in blue.”

Talia says wearing blue or shining blue lights is a way for everyone to express their appreciation for law enforcement.

Cut 6 (11) “…local law enforcement.”

This is the second year that the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation is inviting people to wear blue in support of law enforcement.

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Two men are in custody accused in the shooting deaths of an innocent 11-year-old girl and her 50-year-old uncle in LaPlace Friday night. St. John Parish Sheriff Michael Tregre (Traag) says Sa’Miya McClain and Ron Tate and their family were unaware that Cartez Foster and Patrick Maxon’s revenge plot was randomly unfolding outside their home.

Cut 7 (08) “…the three-year-old.”

Tregre says Foster and Maxon had been beaten up earlier in the evening after they attacked a woman.

Cut 8 (10) “…verbal confrontation.”

The two allegedly drove to Sugar Ridge Subdivision to shoot the person who beat them. Tregre says the investigation came together while at the hospital interviewing the victim who had been pistol whipped.

Cut 9 (11)  “…both incidents.”

Tregre says Foster and Maxon were arrested on the pistol-whipping case in Jefferson Parish Saturday morning while investigators continued to collect evidence in the murders. One other victim in the home received a graze wound to her leg.

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Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple has emphasized the need for stronger building codes in coastal regions, suggesting it should be a legislative priority when lawmakers convene in 2025. Temple noted that the state’s coastal areas have experienced a surge in new residents over recent decades. Enhancing building techniques to withstand Gulf of Mexico storms could prevent future displacement of these communities.

Cut 10 (09) “…more resilient homes.”

Temple pointed to Alabama as an example of a state that successfully implemented stricter building codes for its most at-risk areas. He stressed that balancing new regulations with the concerns of residents and builders will be crucial for successful adoption and implementation.

Cut 11 (10) “…here in Louisiana.”

Homeowners who build to code can expect insurance discounts, but Temple argues that the benefits extend far beyond savings. Temple believes reforms could strengthen coastal Louisiana’s resilience against future storms.

Cut 12 (10) “…after an event.”

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In the wake of Hurricane Helene, the Humane Society of Louisiana sent a caravan to Asheville, North Carolina, to help its counterpart there. Director Jeff Dorson says they delivered a lot of supplies for animals of all kinds.

Cut 13 (11)  “…affected as well.”

Dorson says Asheville isn’t the only city the Humane Society helped out following the storm.

Cut 14 (09) “…was adversely affected.”

With another major storm taking aim on the region – this time the Florida peninsula – Dorson says the Humane Society is ready to help any community that needs it. And there are ways you can help in its mission.

Cut 15 (10) “…and dog food.”

Three years ago, Asheville-based feline advocacy group Sister Kitten delivered much-needed supplies to Louisiana; Dorson says the Humane Society was able to return the favor following Helene.

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An LSU defense striving to improve faces its biggest test on Saturday night when the 13^th ranked Tigers take on ninth ranked Ole Miss. The Rebels rank second in the country in total offense, averaging 577 yards a game. LSU Coach Brian Kelly says one way to slow down Ole Miss, is to keep its offense off the field, which means LSU wants to win the time of possession

Cut 16 (16)   “…clear advantage.”

Last year’s game between these two teams, a track meet broke out as Ole Miss won 55-49 and the two teams combined for 1,343 yards. Kelly does not want to see another touchdown fest…

Cut 17 (17) “…score appropriately.”

The 706 yards allowed by LSU was a school record. Kelly remembers why it was a long day for his defense…

Cut 18 (18)  “…one dimensional.”

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There was no late lead to hold onto this time for the Saints. The Saints went into Arrowhead Stadium last night and got doubled up by the two-time defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, 26-13. After the game, Coach Dennis Allen was not happy with his team’s performance.

Cut 19 (24) “….disappointed in that.”  

Towards the end of the game, quarterback Derek Carr left the game with an oblique injury. Carr said it hurt not being able to be on the field to help his team late in the game with the game on the line.

Cut 20 (15) “…but I couldn’t” 

Before exiting the game with the injury, Carr threw for 185 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He will have an MRI today to evaluate the injury. Alvin Kamara was only able to muster 26 rushing yards on 11 carries. The Saints will try to right the ship Sunday against the Buccaneers at the Superdome.

The Florida peninsula is bracing for a hurricane that’s as strong as strong can be. Hurricane Milton is currently a Category Five hurricane – the highest level on the hurricane scale. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says even if the storm weakens before it makes landfall on Wednesday, the storm surge will still be very severe.

Cut 4 (13) “…it comes in.”

In honor of National Manufacturing Month, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is holding several events aimed at highlighting manufacturing opportunities throughout the state. Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Grant Development Lindsay Green says the manufacturing industry is very lucrative with several high-paying jobs.

Cut 14 (15) “…in Central Louisiana.”

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, just two weeks after Hurricane Francine hit southern Louisiana as a Category 2.  Will these storms impact the insurance landscape in Louisiana?  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson. ”

A deadly shooting at a concert in Bunkie over the weekend. The shooting happened at the Magnolia on Main shortly after 1:30 yesterday morning with hundreds gathered. One concertgoer was killed and another suffered life-threatening injuries.

If you thought Hurricane Helene was a doozy, that may be nothing compared to what’s bearing down on Florida. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, just two weeks after Hurricane Francine hit southern Louisiana as a Category 2.  Will these storms impact the insurance landscape in Louisiana?  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson. ”

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If you thought Hurricane Helene was bad, that could be nothing compared to what’s approaching the Florida Peninsula. Hurricane Milton is now a Category Five hurricane – the highest level on the hurricane scale – packing maximum sustained winds of 160 miles an hour. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says whether it makes landfall as a Category Five storm remains to be seen.

Cut 3 (08) “…it makes landfall”

Keim says even if the storm weakens before it makes landfall later this week, the storm surge will still be very severe.

Cut 4 (13) “…it comes in.”

This is the second major hurricane to bear down on Florida in just a couple weeks, and Keim says we may not be done with major storms this year.

Cut 5 (09) “…much more likely.”

All this comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, which left massive destruction in its wake, from the Big Bend area of Florida to North Carolina.

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Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm, just two weeks after Hurricane Francine hit southern Louisiana as a Category 2. This is the fourth hurricane to strike the Gulf Coast this season, and while the full extent of damage is still unknown, Insurance Information Institute spokesperson Mark Friedlander says that these storms rarely impact the insurance landscape alone.

Cut 6 (08) “…reinsurance cost.”

Insurance companies protect themselves through reinsurance, a practice where they purchase insurance for their policies.  The severity of a storm, rather than its frequency, is what drives insurance claims and premium adjustments. According to Friedlander, the storm’s loss activity in specific areas significantly impacts claims and rates.

Cut 7 (13) “…cost to all consumers.”

One way to mitigate insurance cost is a FORTIFIED roof with some insurance companies offering discounts.  Friedlander urges residents to get flood insurance and recommend getting quotes from the nation flood insurance program and from private flood insurers….

Cut 8 (12) “…year round storms.”

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Thanks to a new Louisiana law, 17-year-olds can now be tried as adults, down from 18. Governor Landry said the goal is to deter teens from committing crimes. Has it worked?

Cut 9 (09)  “…be the case.”

Richard Webster did a study on this for Veritae News, examining the arrests of 17-year-olds in three of the state’s biggest parishes – Orleans, Jefferson and East Baton Rouge. And he found that of the 203 arrested in those parishes since the law went into effect in April, 69-percent were arrested for non-violent crimes.

Cut 10 (06) “…the peace, et cetera.”

Webster says a relatively small percentage of crimes committed by 17-year-olds based on the study were violent in nature.

Cut 11 (11) “…not that serious.”

Webster notes that with teens being tried in adult court for non-violent crimes, that information is public, and that could prevent them from landing jobs or getting public assistance.

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In honor of National Manufacturing Month, Central Louisiana Technical Community College is holding several events aimed at highlighting manufacturing opportunities throughout the state. Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Grant Development Lindsay Green says one thing they’re doing is reaching out to young people to expose them to the world of manufacturing.

Cut 12 (17) “…the manufacturing space.”

Green says later this month, the school will be reaching out to the community as a whole to tout the manufacturing industry.

Cut 13 (12) “…open house feel.” 

Green says the manufacturing industry is very lucrative with several high-paying jobs.

Cut 14 (15) “…in Central Louisiana.”

The school is partnering with many local manufacturing companies as part of its outreach in raising awareness and recruiting future manufacturing professionals.

Following Hurricane Helene, election officials in North Carolina are turning to Louisiana for guidance on handling displaced voters. Louisiana Election Commissioner Sherri Wharton-Hadskey says North Carolina will have a special session next week to address emergency voting procedures, and it’s never an easy endeavor.

Cut 13 (08)  “…get it done.”

In 2020, Louisiana adapted its election processes after hurricanes Laura and Delta and introduced new protocols during the pandemic.

A Washington Parish School Board Member and candidate for Alderman in Franklinton was found dead in his car yesterday. Franklinton Police say they received a call about a “suspected death” yesterday and found the body of 67-year-old Frankie Crosby. Initially police said the department was investigating the death as a homicide but later announced there was no evidence that foul play was involved.

Is a flat tax a good idea or a bad idea? Colleen Crain reports it depends on who you ask.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

Big day for us here at the Louisiana Radio Network, as today marks our 50th anniversary. Our owner, Jim Engster, says no matter where in the state news is happening, LRN is there to cover it.

Cut 6 (11) “…and parts unknown.”