Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has announced the arrest of five individuals who fraudulently received COVID-19 unemployment claims. Landry says this is just the beginning of a crackdown on those who attempt to scam the state in trying to collect unemployment benefits…
cut 8 (09) “…trust fund”
Landry says the suspects stole more than 300-thousand dollars since the pandemic began in March.

LSU is imposing self-penalties on its football program after a two-year investigation revealed a booster paid the father of a former player for a no-show job. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the penalties include a reduction of eight scholarships over two years, plus eliminating a percentage of official and unofficial recruiting visits.
Cut 14 (08) “…is a killer”

Legislation allowing lawmakers to strip state construction funds from municipalities that cut their police budget in an attempt to “Defund the Police” advances to the Senate floor. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

An LSU fraternity is under investigation for an alleged hazing incident and East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore says it’s reminiscent of Max Gruver in 2017. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (31) “ I’m Brooke Thorington”

The LSU football program is reportedly self-imposing a reduction of eight scholarships over the next two years because of payments to the family of a former football player. The school is also banning former wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior for two years after handing out cash to players following the national championship game.

A driver of a pickup truck died this morning when he crashed head-on into a school bus in Terrebonne. Two children on the bus suffered minor injuries, but State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says 43-year-old Troy Lyons of Schriever was killed despite wearing a seat belt…
cut 15 (12)”…did not survive”
The crash remains under investigation.

The Saints will be allowed to play in front of fans after the team reached an agreement with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Beginning this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, 3,000 fans will be allowed inside the Superdome. Coach Sean Payton is glad the two sides worked out a resolution
Cut 3 (07) “…schedule”
And the Pelicans apparently have a new coach as there are reports the team has agreed to a four-year deal with Stan Van Gundy.

The Saints will be allowed to play in front of fans after the team reached an agreement with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. Beginning this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, 3,000 fans will be allowed inside the Superdome. Coach Sean Payton is glad the two sides worked out a resolution…
Cut 3 (07) “…schedule”
The phased plan will begin with 3,000 fans this Sunday, before increasing to 6,000 fans for November games and as much as 15,000 fans for games in December.

To reduce the state’s carbon footprint a Louisiana company applies for an EPA Permit to create a deep underground carbon sequestration site. It’s described as “the largest geologic carbon capture sequestration project in the U.S.” Department of Natural Resources Spokesperson Patrick Courreges explains the process.
Cut 13 (11) “like wastewater.”
Courreges says the site will be located 10-thousand feet beneath a cattle ranch in southwest Louisiana.

The Senate Finance Committee is set to hear a bill today that would allow the state legislature to take state construction dollars away from local governments if they defund their police departments by ten percent or more. Louisiana Municipal Association President John Gallagher says he’s worried a budget cut could be misconstrued by lawmakers…
cut 11 (08) “…Department”

Amendment Three on the November ballot proposes changes to access the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Public Affairs Research Council President, Robert Travis Scott, says currently the fund can only be accessed if the economy is in peril or projected state income is insufficient. Amendment Three would allow for another provision.
Cut 4 (13) “…happen a lot”
Scott says an argument against the amendment would be that the Rainy Day Fund could be tapped even if the state isn’t facing a suddent shortfall in revenue.

For the first time since 1998, there will not be a televised U-S Senate debate prior to the November 3rd primary election. Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy says he will not participate in a debate unless his 14 challengers attend. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the only way we could see Cassidy attend a debate if the race heads to a run-off…
cut 9 (04) “….to occur”
A potential run-off would take place on December 5th.

Amendment Three on the November third ballot asks voters if state lawmakers should have the ability to access the rainy day fund when there is a federally declared disaster. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says opponents of the amendment say the fund is already accessible under a federally declared disaster, but only if the state’s economy is in jeopardy.
Cut 6 (09) “…not affected”

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the Saints agree on a plan to bring fans back into the Superdome. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Senate Finance committee is expected to take up a House-approved bill this afternoon that would allow the state legislature to take state construction dollars away from local governments that decide to defund their police department by ten-percent or more. Louisiana Municipal Association President John Gallagher says the legislation is unnecessary…
cut 12 (06) “….opposite”

The House has given final legislative approval to a bill that would give lawmakers the ability to remove parts of Governor John Bel Edwards coronavirus restrictions. Most Republicans voted for the measure, while Democrats voted against it and Governor Edwards can veto the legislation.

The Louisiana Municipal Association is fighting legislation that could strip state construction dollars from municipalities that reduce police budgets by ten percent or more. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

There will be no televised US Senate debate before November 3rd, the first time Louisianans will not have a pre-vote debate in a Senate contest since 1998. Senator Bill Cassidy says he won’t participate in any debate unless all 14 of his challengers are there. Political analyst Bernie Pisnonat says Cassidy dodging the debate is smart politics.
Cut 7 (08) “to do”
Cassidy’s main Democratic opponent, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, says Cassidy is afraid and ashamed of his record.

A Lake Charles company called Gulf Coast Sequestration is planning to build a deep repository that can store up to 80 million tons of carbon gas that is currently being released into the air by the state’s industrial plants. Louisiana Department of National Resources spokesperson Patrick Courreges says the project would help reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which is important for Louisiana…
cut 15 (06) “….our coastline”
Gulf Coast Sequestration is working to get a permit from the EPA.

Louisiana voters will not see the US Senate candidates debate before the November 3rd election after Senator Bill Cassidy says he won’t agree to debate unless all of his challengers are invited. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “ I’m Matt Doyle”

Perkins has released a new television ad. It criticizes Cassidy for voting to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Cassidy’s campaign spokesperson says the Senator has always worked to improve health care.

A bill that could strip municipalities of state construction funds should they reduce their police budget faces opposition from the Louisiana Municipal Association. The legislation is in response to the “Defund the Police” movement, but LMA President John Gallagher says these kinds of issues should be left up to local leaders…
Cut 10 (10) “…day”
The legislation has been approved by the House and it will be heard today in Senate Finance.

Gulf Coast Sequestration, which is a Lake Charles company, is seeking permits to build a deep underground repository in southwest Louisiana that would store up to 80 million tons of carbon gas. Louisiana Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Patrick Courreges says the site will be located 10-thousand feet beneath the earth’s surface…
cut 14 (12) “….atmosphere”
Governor Edwards has set a goal of reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 28-percent by 2025.