DOTD is sending crews to Florida to help with the cleanup following Hurricane Milton. Andrew Greenstein has more.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Sean Payton returns to the Superdome tonight as the head coach of the Broncos, but for the Saints they are looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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DOTD is sending crews to Florida to help in the recovery following Hurricane Milton. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says crews will be sent from across the whole state.

Cut 3 (11) “…them remove debris.”

Mallett says this is a way for Louisiana to return the favor after crews from other states descended upon the Pelican State to help in the cleanup following Hurricane Laura.

Cut 4 (11) “…in and assist.”

Mallett says crews are bracing for a massive cleanup job.

Cut 5 (09) “…there as well.”

Mallett says the crews have a great deal of experience in removing vegetative debris, just like in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura.

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Rapper, TV producer, and businessman, Curtis “50 cent” Jackson met with Governor Jeff Landry on Wednesday. Jackson established a 985-thousand-square-foot-production studio in Shreveport and he’s also purchased several properties in downtown Shreveport. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson…

Cut 6 (09) “…come from it.”

In a social media post, Landry said Louisiana is lucky to have someone like Jackson investing in the state’s economy. 50-cent may have traveled to Baton Rouge to talk to Landry about the state’s film tax credit program that could be drastically changed or possibly eliminated because of the governor’s tax reform plan. Nelson says they are looking at all tax credits

Cut 7 (11) “…for the taxpayers”

Jackson opened G-Unit Studios in Shreveport last April and he’s invested over two million dollars in the city. State law allows for 180-million dollars in film tax credits to be claimed and each project can receive up to 40-percent of their overall in-state investment. But Nelson says studies show these types of programs are fiscally a net loss …

Cut 8 (12) “…changing the system.”

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Early voting in the presidential election begins tomorrow. Congresswoman Julia Letlow is urging you to do your civic duty.

Cut 9 (10)  “…exercise that right.”

Letlow says the right to vote is one of the most precious rights for us as Americans.

Cut 10 (05) “…on your ballot.”

Congressional districts have changed, so go to GeauxVote-dot-com to find out who’s on your ballot. Early voting in Louisiana lasts ten days, with no voting taking place on Sunday. Election Day is November 5th.

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The largest free fair in the country is underway. The Washington Parish Free Fair goes through Sunday in Franklinton. Jim Stringfield, who serves on the fair’s stage committee, says when they say free, they mean free.

Cut 11 (10) “…from the area.”

The fair routinely attracts some big name entertainers, and this year is no different.

Cut 12 (08) “…as well.”

And with absolutely no admission cost, people from all over flock to the small town of about 35-hundred in the northeast corner of South Louisiana.

Cut 13 (08) “…four-day gap.” 

And the weather this weekend is expected to be perfect; so you can expect the fair grounds to be bustling.

50 Cent met with Governor Landry yesterday to talk about the film industry’s tax credits that may be going away with Landry’s proposed tax reform plan. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson…

Cut 6 (09) “…come from it.”

The rapper, TV producer, and businessman, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, established a 985-thousand-square-foot-production studio in Shreveport and he’s also purchased several properties in downtown Shreveport.

DOTD is sending crews to Florida to help in the recovery following Hurricane Milton. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says crews will be sent from across the whole state.

Cut 3 (11) “…them remove debris.”

Mallett says this is a way for Louisiana to return the favor after crews from other states descended upon the Pelican State to help in the cleanup following Hurricane Laura.

Sean Payton makes his return to the Superdome tonight as his Denver Broncos face a struggling Saints team. Jeff Palermo has more on Payton’s return…

Cut 23 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Burn bans are now in effect for several parishes throughout Louisiana, as drought conditions persist. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says the one thing that would reduce the risk of wildfire is a good drenching.

Cut 9 (17)  “…at this juncture.”

The burn bans cover parishes in nearly every corner of the state.

Burn bans are now in effect for several parishes throughout Louisiana, as drought conditions persist. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says these tinder dry conditions will continue for the foreseeable future.

Cut 8 (05) “…in the forecast.”

Keim says the one thing that would reduce the risk of wildfire is a torrential rainstorm – preferably one without high winds.

Nicotine use among teens in Louisiana remains at an alarming rate. A statewide survey finds that one out of every three high schoolers and one out of every five middle schoolers vape. Chrishelle Stipe with the Louisiana Public Health Institute pins a good portion of the blame on manufacturers of vape products, saying they’re specifically marketing their products towards children.

Cut 5 (07) “…drawn to youth.”

Stipe says makers of vape products are intentionally trying to get kids hooked on their products to increase their profits.

A Baton Rouge-area serial killer is finally sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 drive-by murder.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

Sean Payton returns to the Superdome as his new team, the Denver Broncos, will battle the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night football. NFL analyst Mike Detillier (de-TILL-ee-ay) of WWL Radio expects Payton will receive a mixed reaction from Who Dat Nation….

Cut 13 (09)  “..forever.”

A Baton Rouge-area serial killer is sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 drive-by murder. Ryan Sharpe killed 48-year-old Brad DeFranceschi, a Boy Scout leader and father of two, while he was doing yard work in East Feliciana Parish. 20th Judicial District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla (dah-QUILL-uh) says he hopes the sentence finally brings closure.

Cut 12 (06) “…behind us now.”

Sharpe still has pending charges in Baton Rouge.

An alarming survey about youth nicotine use. It finds that one out of every three high schoolers and one out of every five middle schoolers in Louisiana vape. Chrishelle Stipe with the Louisiana Public Health Institute says makers of vape products are intentionally trying to get kids hooked on their products to increase their profits.

Cut 6 (11) “…to the youth.”

Sean Payton makes his return to the Superdome tonight as his Denver Broncos face a struggling Saints team. Jeff Palermo has more on Payton’s return…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

A St. Martin Parish deputy police chief is out of a job. The city council in St. Martinsville unanimously voted to fire Deputy Police Chief Cody Laperouse after he allegedly threatened to kill a resident. Laperouse’s firing comes almost a decade after he was convicted of using excessive force while serving as a deputy at the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Schools and public health officials fighting youth nicotine use find themselves going after the manufacturers. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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A Baton Rouge-area serial killer has finally been sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 drive-by murder.  Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Sean Payton makes his return to the Superdome tonight as his Denver Broncos face a struggling Saints team. Jeff Palermo has more on Payton’s return…

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Nicotine use among teens in Louisiana remains at an alarming rate. A statewide survey finds that one out of every three high schoolers and one out of every five middle schoolers vape. Chrishelle Stipe with the Louisiana Public Health Institute says schools need to ramp up their efforts to warn kids about the dangers of vaping.

Cut 4 (09) “…using vape products.”

Stipe is pinning a good portion of the blame on manufacturers of vape products, saying they’re specifically marketing their products towards children.

Cut 5 (07) “…drawn to youth.”

Stipe says makers of vape products are intentionally trying to get kids hooked on their products to increase their profits.

Cut 6 (11) “…to the youth.”

Under Louisiana law, you need to be 21 to buy any tobacco or nicotine product, including vaping devices. But Stipe says that’s not stopping parents from buying vape products for their kids, mistakenly thinking that those products are safer to use than cigarettes.

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Burn bans are now in effect for several parishes throughout Louisiana, as drought conditions persist. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says while October is traditionally the driest month in Louisiana, this October so far has been ridiculous.

Cut 7 (09) “…be considered normal.”

Keim says these tinder dry conditions will continue for the foreseeable future.

Cut 8 (05) “…in the forecast.”

Keim says the one thing that would reduce the risk of wildfire is a good drenching.

Cut 9 (17)  “…at this juncture.”

The burn bans cover parishes in nearly every corner of the state.

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A Baton Rouge-area serial killer has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 drive-by murder. Ryan Sharpe killed 48-year-old Brad DeFranceschi, a Boy Scout leader and father of two, while he was doing yard work at the Avondale Scout Reservation in East Feliciana Parish. 20th Judicial District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says the penalty for first-degree murder is life imprisonment or capital punishment…

Cut 10 (05) “…life imprisonment.”

Sharpe was found guilty of first-degree murder by an East Feliciana jury in August, which deliberated for less than an hour. D’Aquella says this follows a previous conviction in 2019 that was overturned in 2020 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled nonunanimous jury verdicts unconstitutional.

Cut 11 (11) …direct appeal.”

D’Aquilla says he hopes Sharpe’s life sentence brings closure to the families of his victims after years of legal proceedings.

Cut 12 (06) “…behind us now.”

He’s also accused in the shooting deaths of 62-year-old Tommy Bass of East Feliciana and 66-year-old Carroll Breeden, who was gunned down in front of East Baton Rouge Parish home. Sharpe also allegedly shot Buck Hornsby in East Feliciana, but he survived the shooting.

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Sean Payton returns to the Superdome as his new team, the Denver Broncos, will battle the New Orleans Saints in Thursday night football. NFL analyst Mike Detillier of WWL Radio expects Payton will receive a mixed reaction from Who Dat Nation….

Cut 13 (09)  “..forever.”

Payton was the head coach of the Saints for 15 years, guiding the team to its lone Super Bowl victory  to cap off the 2009 season. Detillier says Payton arrived following Hurricane Katrina, but he quickly got the right players around him…

Cut 14 (09) “…that train.”

Detillier says Payton is an excellent game planner, motivator and knew what buttons to push to produce 10 winning seasons in 15 years…

Cut 15 (10) “…motivated them.”

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The Saints will be short-handed tonight when they take on the Denver Broncos. Rookie Spencer Rattler gets a second consecutive start at quarterback, but the team’s top two receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed are out and Taysom Hill is doubtful. Denver has one of the best defenses in the NFL and Coach Dennis Allen explains why…

Cut 16 (17)   “…what they’ve done”

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Bradyn Swinson is having a breakout season for the eighth-ranked LSU Tigers. Last Saturday, the senior defensive end had a career-high eight tackles and two sacks and was named SEC defensive line player of the week.

Cut 17 (11) “…just play fast.”

Swinson says the huge win over Ole Miss is now in the rear-view mirror, and that the competition doesn’t get any easier from here on out.

Cut 18 (16)  “…making the expectation.”

Swinson says the team took time to celebrate the Ole Miss win; but now, the focus is on the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Cut 19 (12) “…a physical game.”  

Kickoff from Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville Saturday is six p-m.

A red flag warning is issued for the southern half of the state. You’re advised to avoid all fire-related activities, including campfires and burn piles. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says these precautions are essential to prevent uncontrolled fires.

Cut 13 (10) “…with open flames.” 

Louisiana is currently experiencing drought conditions, with no end in sight.

A Breaux Bridge man faces dozens of counts of trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Major Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says their deputies have been investigating 32-year-old Javien Demouchet (DEM-oo-shet) since July….

Cut 3 (08) “…juvenile victim.”

Higgins says Demouchet is accused of soliciting minors for sex in exchange for money and-or gifts. She says the investigation is ongoing regarding other juvenile victims.

2024 was a below average crawfish season, because of the historic drought in 2023. But the LSU AgCenter’s Todd Fontenot says early signs show a more normal 2025 crawfish season and he’s expecting crawfish acreage will go up….

Cut 7 (09) “…crawfish production.”

Fontenot says higher rainfall totals this year have improved field conditions.

New Orleans certainly knows how to throw a party, and that’s exactly what it will be doing the day before the Super Bowl with a Mardi Gras-style parade. The parade will feature marching bands, throws and about 20 floats, including signature floats from various krewes. Float-builder Barry Kern can’t wait.

Cut 10 (12) “…who we’re about.”

The parade will go along streets in the French Quarter and the Central Business District.

A Breaux Bridge man is facing more than 50 charges of trafficking children for sexual purposes. Major Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Javien Demouchet is accused of soliciting minors for sex in exchange for money and-or gifts. She says right now they know of just one victim, but the investigation is ongoing regarding other juvenile victims…

Cut 4 (05) “…the case.”

Authorities first began investigating Demouchet in July.

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for the southern half of the state. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says a red flag warning signals a heightened risk of wildfires, caused by a combination of low humidity and strong winds.

Cut 11 (08) “…spread of wildfires.”

Louisiana is currently experiencing drought conditions, which, according to Grymes, further increases the wildfire threat.

A severe drought and heat in South Louisiana caused major setbacks for crawfish farmers, with many crawfish and hatchlings perishing in 2023, but the 2025 season looks more promising. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

New Orleans certainly is throwing a Mardi Gras-style parade the day before the Super Bowl. The grand marshal is Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. He says this is a way to invite the whole city to the festivities surrounding the big game.

Cut 8 (08) “…are around it.”

A Breaux Bridge man is facing more than 50 charges of trafficking children for sexual purposes. Major Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says 32-year-old Javien Demouchet is accused of soliciting minors for sex in exchange for money and-or gifts. She says right now they know of just one victim, but the investigation is ongoing regarding other juvenile victims…

Cut 4 (05) “…the case.”

Authorities first began investigating Demouchet in July.

The National Weather Service in New Orleans has issued a red flag warning for southeast Louisiana until 7 p.m. today, due to critical fire weather conditions. State Climatologist Jay Grymes says a red flag warning signals a heightened risk of wildfires, caused by a combination of low humidity and strong winds.

Cut 11 (08) “…spread of wildfires.”

In 2023, heat and severe drought in South Louisiana caused major setbacks for crawfish farmers, with many crawfish and hatchlings perishing. But the 2025 season looks more promising. Colleen Crain has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

New Orleans will be throwing a Mardi Gras-style parade the day before the Super Bowl. The grand marshal is Todd Graves, the founder of Baton Rouge-based Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. He says this is a way to invite the whole city to the festivities surrounding the big game.

Cut 8 (08) “…are around it.”

A Breaux Bridge man faces dozens of counts of trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Major Ginny Higgins with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office says their deputies have been investigating 32-year-old Javien Demouchet (DEM-oo-shet) since July….

Cut 3 (08) “…juvenile victim.”

Higgins says Demouchet is accused of soliciting minors for sex in exchange for money and-or gifts. She says the investigation is ongoing regarding other juvenile victims

Former LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. is suing the school and Our Lady of the Lake hospital, alleging negligence in the treatment of a brain tumor that ended his football career. Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt says it’s too soon to tell if this is medical negligence.

Cut 6 (12) “…substantiate that or not.”

A new app will be coming in the town of Brusly (BROO-lee), near Baton Rouge, to notify drivers of an oncoming pursuit. This comes following the New Year’s Eve 2022 deaths of two Brusly High cheerleaders, Caroline Gill and Maggie Dunn, who were hit by a police officer who ran a red light during a pursuit. Caroline’s father, Jason Gill, says that real-time notification can mean the difference between life and death in these pursuits.

Cut 14 (08) “…off you’ll be.”

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month; and every October 15th families, communities, and health care providers gather for Global Wave of Light events. Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge held their event last evening. Manager of Social Services Whitney Craig:

Cut 12 (10) “…in silence.”

Former LSU defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. has filed a lawsuit against LSU and Our Lady of the Lake hospital, alleging negligence in the treatment of a brain tumor that ended his football career. Legal Analyst Franz Borghardt says it is too soon to tell if this is medical negligence.

Cut 6 (12) “…substantiate that or not.”

There will soon be an app near Baton Rouge to notify drivers of oncoming pursuits. The town council in Brusly (BROO-lee) has accepted a donation to launch an app to notify drivers of an oncoming pursuit. Jason Gill, whose daughter was killed in a pursuit-related crash almost two years ago, says real-time notification can mean the difference between life and death.

Cut 14 (08) “…off you’ll be.”

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. Last evening, families, friends, and healthcare providers gathered to honor the young lives. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

An 11-year-old boy is killed in an ATV crash in Calcasieu Parish. Deputies say he and another juvenile were operating the ATV when it tipped over. The boy, who was a passenger, died from his injuries; the driver was not hurt. Investigators say foul play is not a factor, and the death has been ruled accidental.