Who Dats woke up with a smile on their face this morning as the Black and Gold pulled out a 30-28 victory to open the season with a win for the first time since 2013. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

10 inmates playing flag football at David Wade Correctional Center in Homer are hospitalized this morning after they were struck by lightening last night at around 6 PM. The state Department of Corrections says the lightening strike came without warning as protocol calls for prison officials to clear the yard when potentially dangerous weather approaches. Nine prisoners are listed in stable condition, one in critical condition.

The national discussion over measures to stop gun violence heats up as lawmakers are back in Washington DC after the summer recess. Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says solutions need to be found that do not infringe on the second amendment rights of citizens.
Cut 13 (06) “…and the Senate.”
Democrats in the House are pushing legislation to limit access to high capacity gun magazines and prevent a person convicted of a hate crime from buying a firearm.

Today is the statistical peak of the hurricane season. So far there have been seven named storms and if we get seven more that’s right in the middle of NOAA’s projection. Hurricane Rita and Juan are big storms that hit Louisiana in the second half of the hurricane season. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Louisiana has not experienced a hurricane landfall after October…
cut 12 (10) “…news for us”

What a way to kick-off the season for the Black and Gold as the Saints topped the Texans 30-28 in a game that saw two lead changes in the final minute. New Orleans won it on Will Lutz’s 58-yard field goal with no time left. Lutz missed a 56-yard field goal at the end of the first half and was glad to have another chance…
cut 5 (10) “…for me”
The Saints will now look to avenge last year’s loss in the NFC Championship game when they travel to face the Los Angeles Rams.

Members of Congress are back in Washington D-C and Democrats are making a push for more gun control legislation. Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins says making religion more of a priority is a better solution…
cut 14 (08) “…Satan showed up”

Medical marijuana has been available in Louisiana for a little over a month and the program’s future is a major issue in the race for Agriculture Commissioner, the department in charge of regulation.

Incumbent Ag Commissioner, Republican Mike Strain, says 10,000 vials of the product have been created under his department’s watch, and he expects the program to continue to grow…
Cut 7 (07)“..session”
New Orleans Democrat Margee Green says medical legalization isn’t enough, and the state’s goal should be the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Cut 9 (07) “…to do”
Evangeline Parish Democrat Charlie Greer criticized Strain for the slow roll out of medical marijuana.

The number of cases of lung illnesses linked to vaping has ballooned since concerns were made public early last week. LSU Health New Orleans Pulmonary Expert Dr. Stephen Kantrow says there have been 450 cases from 33 states and five deaths reported…
Cut 10 (10) “…systems”
Health officials are urging people to stop vaping until they figure out why some vape users are suffering from serious breathing issues.

Ochsner Health System has reached a major milestone, 1,000 heart transplants, since they started performing the procedure nearly 50 years ago. Ochsner Surgical Director of heart transplants, Doctor Aditya Bansal, says their team has provided hundreds of patients with life-changing outcomes…
cut 6 (08) “…options left”
The late Doctor John Ochsner Senior performed the first heart transplant in the Gulf South in 1970.

LSU is up to four in the A-P Top 25 poll thanks to its thrilling 45-38 victory over the Texas Longhorns. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

NFL regular-season action returns to the Superdome tonight when the Saints host the Houston Texans in front of a sold-out crowd. Coach Sean Payton wants Who Dats to bring the noise…
cut 13 (09) “…playoff atmopshere”
Kick-off is at 6:10 PM.

Health officials now say at least five people have died from a mysterious lung illness that’s been tied to vaping. LSU Health New Orleans Pulmonary Expert, Doctor Stephen Kantrow, says the F-D-A is investigating whether vitamin E oil could be responsible and it’s becoming clear we just don’t know much about vaping side effects…
cut 11 (08) “…inhalation”
Many of the cases have been linked to off-brand vape usage.

The road to the Super Bowl really gets underway tonight for the Saints, who host the Houston Texans to kick off the 2019 regular season. The Superdome will be sold out and cornerback P-J Williams has expectations for the crowd noise…
cut 15 (10) “…playoff atmosphere”
Kick-off is at 6:10 PM.

Ochsner joins the ranks of 13 other prestigious hospitals in the nation in reaching a major milestone. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

LSU comes in at number 153 in U-S News and World Report’s 2020 edition of Best Colleges. It’s the 12th straight year LSU is ranked in the top tier and the undergraduate petroleum engineering program ranks 3rd overall.

And the Fighting Tigers football team is ranked fourth by the Associated Press and fifth in the coaches poll after their big win at Texas.

Hundreds of cases of vape related lung disease and other pulmonary problems are being linked to the use of marijuana-based oils in the electronic product. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…Matt Doyle”

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control says they’ve permitted 775 Louisiana businesses to sell CBD products. The state agency has received over one-thousand permit applications since legislation was approved that set up the regulatory structure. Retailers must follow a long list of requirements to receive a permit.

Two small children are dead following a house fire on Saturday night in Jackson Parish. Three children escaped the blaze and State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the lone adult inside the home couldn’t get to the two kids who died…
cut 8 (11) “….the scene”
Browning says investigators believe a child playing with a lighter started the fire.

After performing one of the first heart transplants in the Gulf South 50 years ago, Ochsner Health System sets a milestone of completing its 1,000th heart transplant, joining 13 other prestigious healthcare systems in the country to accomplish the feat. Dr. Aditya Bansel says it’s been a team effort.
Cut 4 (09) “…at Ochsner”

The C-D-C is warning people to stop vaping as the number of cases of lung disease linked to vaping continues to rise. There are now at least 450 cases in 33 states and three, possibly four deaths from pulmonary issues. LSU Health New Orleans Pulmonary expert, Doctor Stephen Kantrow, agrees with the C-D-C’s recommendation…
cut 12 (11) “…to stop”
Kantrow says T-H-C and C-B-D oil in the vape systems are possibly leading to lung illnesses.

Two young children were killed in a fatal house fire in Jackson Parish. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they believe a child playing with a lighter while sitting on the couch caused the blaze…
cut 9 (08) “…secure it”
Firefighters found a two-month-old girl and three-year-old boy dead in the master bedroom. Three other children and an adult escaped.

LSU has moved into the Top 5 in the two major college football polls. In the A-P poll the Tigers are ranked fourth, fifth in the coaches poll following their 45-38 win over Texas. LSU hosts Northwestern State this Saturday.

The Saints kickoff their season tonight by hosting the Houston Texans at 6:10 PM. Pro bowl Q-B Deshaun Watson and all-pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins lead the Texans’ offense. Saints defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth says the D-Line wants to force Watson to throw the ball….
cut 14 (12) “…get him down”
Stallworth is just one of three healthy and active interior defensive linemen. Sheldon Rankins and Mario Edwards are hurt, while David Onyemata is suspended for the season opener.