Early voting ended yesterday. According to the Secretary of State’s Office 520-thousand votes have been casted, 448-thousand in person and 72-thousand absentee votes. During the last midterm election, there were 377-thousand votes during the early voting portion. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s hard to predict what the overall turnout will be…

Cut 5 (13) “…more free time”

Election Day is Tuesday, polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM.

FMOL Health is helping those who can’t easily get to a clinic to get screened for breast cancer by unveiling its new mobile mammography unit. Dr. Chris Funes (FOO-nez), the medical director for ambulatory quality for FMOL Health, says it will help increase the availability for this essential preventative screening.

Cut 11 (09) “…saving potentially screening.”

In coming months, the mobile mammography unit will travel to FMOL Health markets in Acadiana and north Louisiana.

Yesterday, we heard from three of the six Republicans vying for the open seat in the fifth congressional district. Today, we’re hearing from two of the three Democrats in that race.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

October comes to an end this weekend and in recorded history Louisiana has never experienced a tropical storm or hurricane landfall in November. …

Cut 8 (11) “…juncture”

LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim.

During a Baton Rouge Press Club forum featuring the candidates running for Congress in the 5^th Congressional district, the three Republicans who attended, Michael Echols, Gabe Firment, and Austin Magee all said they support a national abortion ban. There were two Democratic candidates at the forum. Dan McKay says he opposes a national abortion ban…

Cut 5 (05) “…address that subject”

And the other Democrat at the forum, Pat Moore, noted that her own birth was the result of a rape, and she expressed gratitude that her mother did not abort her. She said it’s her duty as a state representative to protect babies while they’re in the womb, and that “pro life” should not end at childbirth.

Cut 6 (11) “…will do that.”

Global credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has upgraded Louisiana’s state credit rating from Double-A negative (AA-) to Double-A (AA), with a stable outlook. State Treasurer John Fleming says  an improved bond rating is more than a number on a financial report. He says it sends a positive signal about Louisiana’s creditworthiness and ability to meet financial obligations.

Cut 16 (09) “…for everyone concerned.”

Fleming says a stronger credit rating can help access capital markets on more favorable terms, potentially reducing borrowing costs.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are spending a little more on Halloween this year. N-R-F Senior Analyst Lea Grgich says 74-percent of those surveyed plan to celebrate Halloween, with many expecting to spend more than 100 dollars on the spooky holiday.

Cut 8 (07) “…year’s spending level.”

Grgich says shoppers are expected to spend two-billion dollars on adult Halloween costumes.

We’re not even in November, and flu activity is ramping up in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office says they detained 18 undocumented adults in Ferriday yesterday. Authorities say they were riding in a large passenger van that was towing a utility trailer that became disabled on the side of the road on Highway 84. The undocumented adults were in the van and the trailer was loaded with luggage.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested two 19-year-olds who were involved in an accidental shooting on Southern University’s campus late yesterday afternoon. Corporal Saundra Watts says one of the teens arrested was handing the gun to the other teen when the gun went off…

Cut 10 (10) “…firearm on campus”

Watts says the shooting took place in the parking lot at University Apartments  and the victim is expected to survive his injuries.

The Shreveport Regional Airport is offering daily nonstop flights to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport for the first time in 18 years. The new United Airlines service began Sunday, and airport spokesperson Mark Crawford says Monday’s flight was nearly full…

Cut 6 (11) “…out and about.”

Crawford says the Chicago once-daily flight leaves between seven AM and nine AM and takes about two hours to arrive at O’Hare.

The Baton Rouge Press Club held a Fifth District Congressional forum on Monday and three of the Republican candidates attended. In the last newscast, we heard from state representative Gabe Firment. In this newscast, let’s hear from small business owner Austin Magee, who says the federal government can make sure Social Security does not become insolvent, by reducing spending that does not benefit the United States…

Cut 11 (12) “….Africa”

In the next newscast, we’ll from state representative Michael Echols.

We are looking at another dry work week, but rain chances increase on Saturday….

Cut 13 (10)  “…some scattered showers.”

LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim.

We’re not even in November, and flu activity is ramping up in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office says they detained 18 undocumented adults in Ferriday yesterday. Authorities say they were riding in a large passenger van that was towing a utility trailer that became disabled on the side of the road on Highway 84. The undocumented adults were in the van and the trailer was loaded with luggage.

The Baton Rouge Press Club held a Fifth District Congressional forum on Monday and three of the Republican candidates attended. So we will hear from them over the next few newscasts. Starting with State Representative Gabe Firment, who says he supports the Medicaid work requirement provision in the Big Beautiful Bill…

Cut 10 (08) “….a productive citizen”

In the next two newscasts, we’ll hear from small business owner Austin Magee and state representative Michael Echols.

According to the CDC, Louisiana has the highest rate of flu activity of any state in the Continental United States –. Dr. Fred Lopez, a professor of medicine at LSU Health New Orleans, says this is a relatively early start to flu season.

Cut 3 (12) “…time of year.”

Dr. Lopez says the prevailing subtype this year is H1N1.

The Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership says the Capital Region leads comparable metro areas in job growth. Andrew Fitzgerald, the senior vice president of strategy and research, says the region added 13,700 jobs over the past year, with construction accounting for much of the growth.

Cut 7 (04) “…the Capital Region.”

Fitzgerald says the Capital Region now has more than 58-thousand construction jobs.

The Shreveport Regional Airport is offering daily non-stop flights to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. It’s been 18 years since you could fly directly from Shreveport to one of the busiest airports in the world. Shreveport Airport spokesperson Mark Crawford says the service started Sunday and the United Airlines flight leaving yesterday was nearly full….

Cut 6 (11) “…out and about”

Crawford says if demand is high, a second daily flight could be added, as they’ve seen with flights to Charlotte and Denver.

Today is the last day of early voting, and Election Day is one week from today. Yesterday, candidates vying for the open seat in the Fifth District met for a one-hour forum in Baton Rouge. Kace Kieschnick reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has accused Mangham Police Chief, Perry Fleming and assistant police chief Dakota McKinney of allegedly stealing funds for the family Mangham Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty in October 2020.

A lawsuit has been filed against the Vermilion Parish Policy Jury and the Vermilion Parish Industrial Development Board that seeks to void the massive tax deal Space X received from the parish to build its 100-billion dollar spaceport. Attorney William Most says the public never had a chance to give its input, because the police jury used the code name “Project Osprey” on the agenda of the board meetings…

Cut 6 (11) “…the law requires”

Vermilion Parish Police Jury president Chad Vallo declined to comment on the litigation.

The Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership says the Capital Region leads comparable metro areas in job growth, adding 13, 700 jobs over the past year. Andrew Fitzgerald, the senior vice president of strategy and research, workers are moving to the Baton Rouge area to fill some of the 58-thousand construction jobs in the area and locals are also getting the training needed to join the workforce.

Cut 8 (13) “…trades and construction.”

Three Vermilion Parish residents and a non-profit are suing the parish government, claiming it used deceptive methods to approve the SpaceX deal. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Today is the final day of early voting. Polls will close at 6 PM tonight. The number of registered voters who have already cast a ballot is 433-thousand. So far more registered Democrats have voted than Republicans, 186-thousand to 170-thousand.

A new report from the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership finds that the Capital Region leads all peer metros in annual job growth, adding 13-thousand,-seven-hundred jobs over the past year. Andrew Fitzgerald, the senior vice president of strategy and research, says the region also has an affordability advantage. Since 2019, home values and rents have increased less in the Baton Rouge area than in comparable metro areas.

Cut 9 (09)  “…and groceries too.”

The next decent chance for rain in Louisiana could come on Halloween. Until then, LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says drought conditions will continue to worsen…

Cut 15 (09) “….seriously in sight”

Keim says 89-percent of Louisiana is in drought, and 41-percent of the state is in either extreme or exceptional drought.