New research shows rough, congested, and unsafe roads are costing Louisiana motorists around $6.9 billion annually, which could cost up to almost $2,300 per driver. Spokesperson for the transportation research group TRIP, Rocky Moretti, says safety alone costs a total of $2.3 billion.
Cut 11 (09) “…in traffic safety.”
The TRIP report finds that 25-percent of major locally and state-maintained roads in Louisiana are in poor condition.

The final televised gubernatorial debate before Saturday’s election is tonight in Shreveport. Governor Edwards is sure to be questioned about the sexual harassment allegations involving his former deputy chief of staff Johnny Anderson. LSU Shreveport Poli Sci professor Jeff Sadow says Edwards’ previous concise deflections on the question have been effective.
Cut 4 (07) “…circumstance.”
The debate airs at 7 PM on Gray TV stations.

Juanita Washington, who appears in a TV commercial telling her story of being a victim of sexual harassment that came from a former top aide to Governor Edwards, accuses the governor of ignoring victims of sexual harassment…
cut 8 (11) “…like me”
Washington, with the help of lawyers from Truth in Politics, filed a lawsuit seeking documents from the governor’s office related to Johnny Anderson’s tenure. Governor Edwards says the TV ad that claims Washington lost her job because she spoke up about sexual harassment is false and misleading.

An Emerson College gubernatorial poll puts Governor Edwards at 48 percent, Eddie Rispone at 25 percent, and Ralph Abraham at 19 percent. Polling Director Spencer Kimball says Edwards is a popular figure in the state, nearly as popular as the President.
Cut 9 (12) “approval”
Another statewide poll paid for by several TV stations in Louisiana found that 51-percent of Louisiana voters would vote to re-elect Mr. Trump if the election were held today. 57-percent of those surveyed also say they do not support impeaching the President. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says impeachment is viewed as a partisan attack…
cut 5 (10) “…things”

The National Federation of Independent Business says the small business optimism index fell slightly in September but remains historically high. NFIB state director Dawn Starns says on the national level, the trade war with China has increased uncertainty and locally, many small business owners are waiting on the election to pass before making major spending commitments…
cut 7 (11) “…make an impact”

Governor John Bel Edwards was on hand for a groundbreaking ceremony for the third phase of the I-10 widening project in St. Martin Parish. Edwards says this phase is part of a larger project to widen and provide nearly 15 miles of new pavement from I-49 to the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge…
Cut 13 (09) “…of Louisiana”
Construction on I-10 from I-49 to the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge started in 2017 and is expected to be completed next year.

In a statewide poll paid for by six TV stations in Louisiana, 51-percent of the respondents say they would vote for Donald Trump if the presidential election was held today. 43-percent say they would replace him with a Democrat. The survey also found that 58-percent of men support the President, while only 45-percent of women support the Commander in Chief. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan…
cut 4 (11) “…the vote”
48-percent fo the women said they would like to see a Democrat as president.

Uncertainty among small business owners rose slightly in September sending the small business Optimism index down to 101.8. NFIB State Director Dawn Starns says higher tariffs are a factor…
Cut 6 (06) “…negative effects”.
Starns says optimism is still at a historically high level.

Accidental poisonings have surpassed car crashes as the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the state. LSU Health New Orleans Medical Toxicologist Doctor James Diaz blames the opioid epidemic and says the problem is prevalent throughout the southeast…
cut 14 (07) “…problem in Louisiana”

Saturday’s LSU-Florida is officially sold out and the only way to get into Tiger Stadium is to buy tickets on the secondary market. StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli says if you’re looking to buy tickets, don’t hesitate.
Cut 11 (10) “…as Saturday approaches.”
The average ticket price is $234, while the cheapest is just over $100.

A head-to-head poll shows Governor Edwards besting either Eddie Rispone or Ralph Abraham in a potential run-off, but one political analyst says it’s too early to start polling that hypothetical contest…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

In a statewide poll paid for by six television stations in Louisiana, 51-percent of the respondents say they would vote for Donald Trump if the presidential election was held today. 43-percent say they would replace him with a Democrat.

Governor Edwards’ suggestion the closure of Bayou Steel in LaPlace could be linked to the ongoing trade war with China sparked a fierce rebuttal from the Trump Administration. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says it’s unlikely the closure is tariff-related because tariffs on imported steel are to protect domestic companies not to make things worse.
Cut 7 (08) “for them”
Scott points to the recent growth of Benteler Steel in Shreveport as a counter to the argument that the tariffs have hurt local steel plants.

Accidental poisonings surpass car crashes as the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the state. LSU Health New Orleans Medical Toxicologist Dr. James Diaz says the stats are alarming.
Cut 13 (06) “…vehicle accident deaths.”
Diaz blames the opioid crisis.

Two new polls on the governor’s race find that 45-percent of respondents are voting for Governor John Bel Edwards in the gubernatorial primary, which means the race is more than likely headed to a runoff. In both surveys, Republican Eddie Rispone leads GOP Congressman Ralph Abraham for the second spot in a runoff.

The top ten matchup between the Gators and Tigers on Saturday is sold out, so the only way to buy tickets in on the secondary market, where the average ticket price is $234 on StubHub. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor John Bel Edwards has said the trade war with China that’s led to higher tariffs may have something to do with the recent sudden closure of Bayou Steel in LaPlace. LSU economist Doctor Loren Scott disagrees. He says the shuttering of the plant has more to do with Bayou Steele, but he says the tariffs could be a reason why some chemical companies are not moving forward with new construction….
cut 9 (11) “…pause”
Scott says there are roughly 100 billion dollars of announced major construction projects that have yet to break ground in the state.

Accidental poisonings has surpassed car crashes as the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the state. LSU Health New Orleans Medical Toxicologist Doctor James Diaz blames the opioid epidemic and says the problem is prevalent throughout the southeast…
cut 14 (07( “…problem in Louisiana”

Governor Edwards has suggested the closure of Bayou Steel in LaPlace may be tariff-related, but an LSU Economist says that’s highly unlikely. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

In a statewide poll paid for by six television stations in Louisiana, 51-percent of the respondents say they would vote for Donald Trump if the presidential election was held today. 43-percent say they would replace him with a Democrat. Also, 57-percent of Louisiana voters oppose impeachment.

President Donald Trump will be in Lake Charles on Friday night where he’ll speak at a rally to encourage Louisiana voters to vote Republican in Saturday’s election. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says expect the Commander in Chief to take a more active role if the races goes into a run-off…
cut 6 (07) “….of him”
Recent independent polls show Governor Edwards is close to winning without the need of a runoff, but he’ll need a large percentage of the undecideds to vote for him to win re-election on Saturday.

Accidental poisonings are now the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the state, surpassing car crashes. LSU Health New Orleans Medical Toxicologist Doctor James Diaz says blames opioid abuse and Louisiana is having a hard time escaping the epidemic…
cut 15 (08) “…across I-10”

A Mason-Dixon poll shows Governor Edwards topping Eddie Rispone 51-43 and Ralph Abraham 53-38 percent in a potential post primary run-off. Independent pollster Bernie Pinsonat says it’s too early to trust any run-off polling. He says given the poor track record of incumbent Louisiana governors in run-offs, Edwards should do all he can to avoid one.
Cut 4 (11) “…red state.”
No Louisiana Governor has won a run-off since the state adopted the jungle primary system in the 70s.

Accidental poisonings surpass car crashes as the number one cause of unintentional deaths in the state. LSU Health New Orleans Medical Toxicologist Dr. James Diaz says the stats are alarming.
Cut 13 (06) “…vehicle accident deaths.”
Diaz blames the opioid crisis.

Governor Edwards has suggested the recent closure of Bayou Steele in LaPlace could be the result of higher tariffs imposed as part of the trade war with China. The Bayou Steel announcement comes on the heels of Wanhua Chemical’s decision not to move forward with a one-point-two billion-dollar plant in Convent. But LSU Economist Loren Scott says neither appear to be tariff-related…
cut 8 (09) “….externally”
Bayou Steel imported scrap metal, specifically steel from China, but the Trump Administration says that import is not under the new tariffs.

Tickets are in high demand for the Top 10 matchup between the Florida Gators and the LSU Tigers. The game is sold out. StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli says there are about 44-hundred tickets up for grabs on their website
Cut 10 (06) “…$234 right now.”
The cheapest ticket is still just over one-hundred dollars.