To the surprise of some LSU fans, the Tigers are not number one in the first college football playoff ranking for the 2019 season. The selection committee ranked Ohio State ahead of LSU and Alabama is third. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says he’s not surprised with the Buckeyes getting the top spot…
Cut 3 (12) “…and defense”

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will reportedly play Saturday after undergoing surgery two and a half weeks ago on a high ankle sprain. Tigers linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson says they assume Tua will be fully healthy…
Cut 17 (16) do it”
LSU safety Grant Delpit missed practice again yesterday with an ankle injury, but he’s expected to play Saturday.

At 7-and-1, the Saints are in a good position to make the NFL playoffs as they get ready to host the Altanta Falcons, who are just one and seven. New Orleans Coach Sean Payton says a team’s play in the red zone will determine how far they go.

We are about a month away from the select championships taking place in high school football and it’s unclear where the games will be played. The top seed left standing before the championship game can decide where the game will be played. But the possibility of Tulane or the Ragin Cajuns hosting Conference championship games, means the games might not be able to happen in Yulman Stadium or Cajun Field.

A new college basetball season is underway, last night the Ragin Cajuns defeated Loyola of New Orleans 94-41, ULM defeated Louisiana College 95-57, Northwestern State crushed Centenary 84-51 and Nicholls lost to Illinois in overtime 78-70.

In action tonight, Louisiana Tech is at Texas A-and-M Corpus Christi, Northwestern State visits Texas A-and-M, McNeese visits Western Michigan and Tulane faces Southeastern Louisiana. It’s the first game for new Lions head coach David Kiefer.

President Donald Trump will arrive in Monroe today to urge Republicans to vote for Eddie Rispone for governor. Expect the President to say Governor Edwards is bad for Louisiana and it’s time to bring a business person into the governor’s office. Spokesperson for the Edwards campaign, Eric Holl, says the President and Edwards have a great working relationship and expects that resume after the election…
cut 7 (08) “…criminal justice reform”
Edwards is also making a campaign stop in Monroe today.

After numerous delays, the new one-billion dollar terminal is finally open at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport…
cut 15 (11) “…a surface”
That’s the Director of Aviation Kevin Dolliole who says travelers will feel the spirit of the region, with over 40 different retail and food and beverage outlets.

The high cost of medical marijuana has advocates concerned it’s becoming a treatment exclusively for the rich. Matt Doyle has the story.
voicer 3 (29) “…Matt Doyle”

In the first college football playoff rankings, LSU is not the number one team in the country. Instead the committee ranked Ohio State over the Tigers, who are ranked second. LSU’s opponent this Saturday, Alabama is ranked third.

And acclaimed author Ernest Gaines has passed away at the age of 86 at his home near New Roads. Gaines 1993 novel “A Lesson Before Dying” was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

President Donald Trump is set to visit Monroe tonight as he’ll host a rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone at the Monroe Civic Center. Ripsone says the man he edged out in the runoff, Congressman Ralph Abraham, will be in attendance as well…
cut 5 (09) “…jobs and opportunity”
Before the president’s visit. Governor Edwards will have a campaign stop at a local park. Edwards campaign spokesperson Eric Holl says the governor’s visit in Monroe highlights a different campaign strategy…
cut 6 (09) “….has been bipartisan”
The last sitting president to visit Monroe was in 1983. President Ronald Regan came to see the damage from a significant flood. President Trump is expected to return to Louisiana next Thursday for another rally at the Century Link Center in Bossier City.

Medical Marijuana advocates are raising concerns about the sky-high cost of the treatment in Louisiana. Healing Clinics CEO Kathryn Thomas says a bottle of the average THC rich product costs 180 to 220 dollars a pop, and that can add up quickly…
Cut 11 (10) “…range.”
As of now the treatment is not covered by insurance.

A new era of travel is underway in southeast Louisiana as today is the first full day of flights for the new terminal at the Louis Armstrong International Airport. Director of Aviation Kevin Dolliele says the new one-billion dollar facility features 40 different retail and food outlets, over eight-thousand parking spots, a new system for rideshare services and new technology that the 21st centruy air traveler is looking for…
cut 16 (09) “….repeat that fast”

Monroe is an election battleground today as both sides of the Governor’s race are making appearances in the area..
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The new Louis Armstrong International Airport Terminal is open and Director of Aviation Kevin Dolliole says it’s a significant upgrade from the old terminal…
cut 14 (11) “…set MSY apart”
So far the reviews from the first passengers through the new airport are great.

Medical marijuana has been available in Louisiana for three months now, but many eligible patients can not afford the treatment. Healing Clinics C-E-O Kathyrn Thomas says a prescription for therapeutic cannabis is not covered by insurance..
cut 13 (11) “…affordable’
An estimated 3,500 people have purchased medical marijuana since the product became available to the public in August.

Louisiana continues to lead the nation when it comes to flu activity and people are expected to gather this weekend for the big football games. State Immunization Director Doctor Frank Welch says it normally takes seven to nine days for a flu shot to become fully effective, but…
cut 10 (10) “…less”
Welch says nearly six in 100 visits to doctors’ offices are for flu-like symptoms.

Monroe is the epicenter of the Governor’s race today with visits from both campaigns, including President Trump stumping for Eddie Rispone. Rispone says the President’s trip emphasizes the need to turn the state around and it starts with the November 16th runoff election.
Cut 4 (09) “…Louisiana as well.”
Governor Edwards is also in Monroe today as he’ll discuss the President’s visit at Charles Johnson Children’s Park. Edwards plans to discuss that Rispone is refusing to detail his plans for Louisiana.

Louisiana leads the nation in flu activity according to data collected by the C-D-C. State Immunization Director, Doctor Frank Welch, says thankfully most of the cases do not appear to be the more serious A-strain of the flu…
cut 9 (05) “….Louisiana”
Welch says if you get the flu shot today, it takes about a week before it becomes fully effective.

After numerous delays, the new one-billion dollar terminal is finally open at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport…
cut 15 (11) “…a surface”
That’s the Director of Aviation Kevin Dolliole who says travelers will feel the spirit of the region, with over 40 different retail and food and beverage outlets. And the new terminal is off to a good start as the first flight this morning left on time.

The first college football playoff rankings for the 2019 season were released last night and LSU is ranked second behind Ohio State. The Fighting Tigers will visit third-ranked Alabama this Saturday.

GOP gubernatorial challenger Eddie Rispone lashes out over a radio ad paid for by a New Orleans based political organization that compares Eddie Rispone with former KKK leader David Duke. Rispone says the ad is offensive and says Governor Edwards needs to demand it to be retracted.
Cut 7 (10) “path.”
Edwards campaign says they have nothing to do with the ad. New Orleans Councilman Jay Banks, who also heads a group called Black Organization for Leadership Development, says Rispone and Duke are similar, they both are anti-New Orleans, anti-Medicaid and anti-anything that helps people who are rich, which is why they produced the ad…
cut 10 (08) “…we’ll correct it”
Rispone has released a television ad today that says Edwards and his allies are playing the race card.

Donald Trump visits Monroe tomorrow in support of GOP gubernatorial challenger Eddie Rispone. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Trump’s popularity is high in the state and could be a big motivating factor to get the Republican voters to the polls, especially those that supported Congressman Ralph Abraham in the primary.
`Cut 3 (12) “…deal for him”

The Ukraine Scandal whistleblower wants to avoid a public hearing and submit answers in writing, but many Republicans say that’s not acceptable….
Cut 1 (24) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

An anti-Eddie Rispone radio ad compares Republican gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone to former KKK leader David Duke. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says since the governor’s race is close, expect the ads to only get dirtier…
cut 16 (12) “…bets are off”

The whistleblower who came forward that’s led to an impeachment inquiry by House Democrats into President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine will answer questions in writing from House Republicans. Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s already had access to previous classified hearings in the Ukraine investigation and says none of the information kept secret so far was worth this level of secrecy….
cut 6 (06) “….pissed”

Bayou Teche Brewing and Tony Chachere’s have combined forces to release Gumbo Stout, a craft beer aimed at capturing the spirit of the signature Louisiana dish. Brewery founder Karlos Knott says the beer was brewed around the flavor of a chicken and sausage gumbo.
Cut 11 (06) “…work together.”
And Knott says it gives the beer a roasted and smoky flavor from both the roux and barley. He says those flavors are accentuated by the salt, cayenne, and black pepper.