New data from the White House shows Louisiana is one of 15 states in the orange zone for new coronavirus cases per capita while most states in the country are in the red zone. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 5 (14) “….our tests”
And the number of COVID-19 patients has climbed past 600.

The Senate Finance Committee has narrowly approved a bill that would allow the Legislature to strip municipalities of state construction funds should they reduce their police budgets by 25 percent. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the bill is a response to the “Defund the Police” movement. He says the government’s most important function is providing for public safety…
Cut 10 (10) “…forefathers”
Opponents of the bill say the state legislature shouldn’t dictate how local governments spend their tax revenues.

Five people have been arrested for allegedly stealing money from the state unemployment trust fund via fraud and identity theft. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry…
Cut 7 (12) “,…million dollars”
Two of those arrested, Kayla Giles and Teri Thibodeaux allegedly ran a massive fraud scheme targeting unemployment programs in multiple states using 25 stolen identities to siphon off 300,000 dollars in total.

LSU has admitted its football program has committed rules violations and they are reducing the number of scholarships they hand out by eight over two years and Odell Beckham Junior has been banned from the facility for two years. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the self-imposed penalties are in hopes of reducing what the NCAA would impose for infractions…
cut 15 (14) “….pretty good actually”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announces the arrest of five people for allegedly receiving unemployment benefits they should not have received. Landry says more arrests are likely to come…
cut 9 (13) “…trust fund”
Landry says the fraudsters stole another person’s identity and filed for benefits on their behalf.

A House-approved bill that would allow legislators to take state construction dollars away from local governments that defund their police department has been approved by the Senate Finance Committee. But the threshold for when the legislation would kick in was raised from ten to 25-percent. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud supports the change in the proposed law…
cut 13 (11)”…standard”

The state reported 744 more coronavirus cases yesterday and deaths increased by 12 to 5,584. Also, the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized has increased by 22. But Governor Edwards says Louisiana is doing much better compared to other southern states and our mitigation efforts are working.
Cut 6 (13) “…the disease”

The LSU football program is reducing its number of available scholarships by eight over the next two years and it’s banned former star wide receiver, Odell Beckham Junior, for the next two years for handing out cash to players following the national championship game. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins…
cut 16 (11) “>…game too”
The school has also admitted a former booster made payments to a former player’s family.

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”