Ochsner joins the ranks of 13 other prestigious hospitals in the nations in reaching a major milestone. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

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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” 

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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”

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After performing one of the first heart transplants in the Gulf South fifty years ago, Ochsner Health System sets a milestone of completing their 1,000th heart transplant, joining 13 other prestigious healthcare systems in the country to accomplish the feat. Dr. Aditya Bansel (Ah dee tuy ah Ban-sel) lead physician of the historic transplant, says it’s been a team effort.

Cut 4 (09) “…at Ochsner”

Bansel says the patient is recovering well and extremely pleased with the team’s performance.

Before a transplant operation even begins there are several phases involved in the overall process. Bansel says in order to have a successful outcome they have to find a proper match.

Cut 5 (10) “…goes behind”

When a patient has to undergo a transplant due to heart disease, post-partum issues or either they were born with heart defects it can be overwhelming. But Bansel says the heart transplant team at Ochsner has a long dedicated history in providing life-changing outcomes.

Cut 6 (09) “…options left”

The late Dr. John Ochsner Sr. pioneered heart value and coronary bypass surgery. Completing one thousand heart transplants is now another accolade Ochsner Health System can celebrate.

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Investigators believe a child playing with a lighter led to a home fire in Jackson Parish that killed two kids, a two-month girl and a three-year-old boy who just celebrated a birthday. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says there were five children in the home when the blaze started

Cut 7 (05)“..  living room” 

Three kids were able to get out unharmed, but Browning says the lone adult at home at the time couldn’t get to the two kids who died

Cut 8 (11) “the scene ”

Saturday night’s fatal fire occurred in the town of Hodge. It’s the second fire in north Louisiana in two weeks that was started by a child using a lighter. Browning urges parents to keep lighters out of the reach of children

Cut 9 (08) “…secure it.”

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The number of cases of lung disease or other pulmonary issues linked to vaping has ballooned since concerns were made public early last week. LSU Health New Orleans Pulmonary Expert Dr. Stephen Kantrow says 450 cases from 33 states and three, possibly four deaths from pulmonary issues have been reported. So what’s happening here?

Cut 10 (10) “…systems”

Alongside a link to CBD and THC oil use, Vitamin E oil is another suspect in the rash of cases. Kantrow says these products have little testing, and it’s becoming clear we just don’t know much about their side effects…

Cut 11 (08) “inhalation” 

Many of the cases have been linked back to off-brand vape usage, or alteration of brand name vapes to facilitate the use of non-approved chemicals.

Kantrow says unless you’ve been using an unmodified name brand vape for smoking cessation purposes, you should put down the device.

Cut 12 (11) “…to stop.”

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The New Orleans Saints will face the Houston Texans tonight in the Superdome to kick off the season. The Saints will need all hands on deck to avoid their sixth consecutive Week 1 loss. The addition of pro bowl tight end Jared Cook will give Drew Brees another offensive weapon. Cook has lost practice time to a preseason injury but he says he is ready to get to work…

Cut 13 (09) “…to improve.”

The Texans dynamic duo of pro bowl QB Deshaun Watson and all-pro wide receiver Deandre Hopkins brought Houston to a playoff berth last season. Saints Defensive Tackle Taylor Stallworth says the D-Line wants to force Watson to throw the ball…

cut 14 (12) “…get him down.” 

The Saints were No. 2 in stopping the run last year and the Texans O-line gave up a league-worst 62 sacks.

The Superdome is sold out Cornerback PJ Williams has high expectations for the crowd noise…

Cut 15 (10) “…playoff atmosphere”

The matchup will start at 6:10 PM.

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LSU’s new spread offense is legit. The sixth ranked Tigers went into a hostile environment on Saturday night and left Texas with a 45-38 victory over the 9th ranked the Longhorns. Quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 471 yards, second-highest total in school history, and three receivers had more than 100 yards in a single game for the first time in program history. Justin Jefferson had nine catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns

Cut 16  (19) “…400 yards”   

LSU’s offense got off to a bit of a slow start, scoring just a field goal in the first quarter. But Burrow started to get in a rhythm in the second quarter and the Longhorns defense couldn’t stop him

cut 17 (18) “…a lot better” 

The Tigers offense had to keep scoring because the usually reliable Bayou Bengals defense couldn’t stop Sam Ehlinger and the Texas offense. Ehlinger threw for 401 yards and four touchdowns, even though he was sacked five times. Coach Ed Orgeron is not happy with how the defense played

Cut 18 (15) “…couldn’t stop em” 

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers leave today for a mission in Afghanistan. The troops are part of two companies that will provide aviation support. Colonel Ed Bush of the Louisiana National Guard says these soldiers are among the 700 who are in the Middle East…
Cut 9 (08) “…where safe.”
The anniversary of 9/11 is next week and Bush says in the 18 years since the tragic event Louisiana’s National Guard has had a substantial presence in the war on terror.

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says skyrocketing insurance costs on equipment are making difficult for those in the timber industry to stay in business…
cut 13 (12) “…a year”
Strain says it’s a significant issue that needs to be addressed in next year’s legislative session.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is defending himself after his appearance in a video produced by an organization with a history of anti-gay views. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 3 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

Tickets for tomorrow night’s top ten matchup between LSU and Texas are tough to get as its the first regular-season meeting between the two schools since 1954. Adam Budelli with StubHub says many of the tickets on their site are going for 300 to 400 dollars…
cut 5 (10) “…point”

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says skyrocketing insurance costs threaten the state’s 13-billion dollar timber industry. Strain says in some cases insuring equipment has quadrupled in the last year
Cut 12 (12) “…per truck”
The Forestry Association president in South Carolina says premiums are rising because there are only a few companies offering coverage for log trucks.

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers leave out of Esler Regional Airport in Pineville today for a deployment to Afghanistan. Colonel Ed Bush says these men and women will provide aviation support and all of them have been previously deployed multiple times…
cut 11 (07) “….deploying together”
The deployment is expected to last nine months.

LSU-Texas tickets are a hot commodity ahead of Saturday’s game in Austin. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (27) “..I’m Matt Doyle”

Over 100 Louisiana first responders are back in the Bayou State to catch the big game after a deployment to Florida. They were there to assist with search and rescue efforts, but Hurricane Dorian spared Florida from significant flooding.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring four tropical systems, but none of them are an immediate threat to the Gulf of Mexico.

Drew Brees’ appearance in a Bring Your Bible to School ad sparks controversy when LGBTQ advocates point out the organization who produced the spot has a history of anti-gay campaigning. Brees says he wasn’t aware of Focus on Family’s anti-gay position. Brees adds he lives by the Christian fundamental of love thy neighbor.
Cut 13 (08) “matter”
Brees says he recorded the video in order to encourage kids to live out their faith with confidence.

Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay (Do-gay) says the population of morning doves looks good for Louisiana hunters. Duguay says that prediction is based on their banding data…
cut 6 (12) “…other years”
Duguay says the extreme heat this weekend could make it difficult for hunters and their dogs, but it will not impact the doves.

Seven Louisiana Community Colleges were ranked in the top 100 fastest growing programs in the nation between 2007 and 2017. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Bayou Bengals have a big game tomorrow with Texas, and the LSU Traveling Tigers group will be there. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke….
Cut 10 (10) “…facets to it”
The last time the Longhorns and the Tigers played each other in the regular season was 1954.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is having to defend himself against those who believe he supports anti-gay views. The controversy stems from his appearance in a video promoting Bring Your Bible To School Day…
cut 14 (11) “…verses”
But the anti-LGBTQ group Focus on the Family produced the video, which has some saying why is Brees associating himself with that organization.

Seven Louisiana two-year colleges rank in the top 100 in the Chronicle of Higher Educations’ ranking of fastest-growing community colleges in the nation. Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan on the type of students they are attracting…
cut 5 (10) “…time”

LSU fans are invading Austin, Texas ahead of Saturday night’s big top 10 matchup with the Longhorns…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Hurricane Dorian made landfall this morning in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina bringing heavy rain, wind and storm surge. Louisiana’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, which is mostly comprised of firefighters from around the state, is returning home from Florida after that state was spared from Dorian’s wrath. An incident support team from Louisiana remains in South Carolina.

Drew Brees’ appearance in a Bring Your Bible to School ad sparks controversy when LGBTQ advocates point out the organization who produced the spot has a history of anti-gay campaigning. Brees says he wasn’t aware of Focus on Family’s anti-gay position. Brees adds he lives by the Christian fundamental of love thy neighbor.
Cut 13 (08) “matter”
Brees says he recorded the video in order to encourage kids to live out their faith with confidence.

LSU fans are confident about the Tigers Top 10 matchup with Texas on Saturday night. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke says their Traveling Tigers trip to Austin sold out quickly….
cut 11 (04) “….with us”
Because of ongoing renovations to Texas Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns only gave LSU three-thousand tickets to sell.

Seven Louisiana schools are listed in the top 100 fastest growing community colleges in the nation according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Leading the way is Northshore Technical and Community College as the school was ranked seventh with a 145-percent increase in growth from 2007 to 2017. LCTCS president Monty Sullivan…
cut 6 (09) “….there”
The other six community colleges ranked were Nunez, Louisiana Delta, L.E. Fletcher, South Louisiana, River Parishes, and Bossier Parish.

NBC anchor Lester Holt spent two nights at the Louisiana State Penitentiary and his experience will air tonight on Dateline. NBC says the show will focus on criminal justice reform and mass incarceration and producer Dan Slepian says at first Angola officials were reluctant…
cut 9 (11) “…and forth”
Slepian believes the Department of Corrections will be happy with their portrayal of the facility.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is defending himself after his appearance in a video produced by an organization with a history of anti-LGBTQ views. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 3 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

A member of the Byrd High School football staff has been arrested for child pornography. Police records indicate 33-year-old James Allen Opie of Shreveport was booked after a search of his home by local and federal investigators. Opie has been an employee with the Caddo Parish School System since 2010.

You can see how NBC’s Lester Holt spent two nights inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola as part of a look at criminal justice reform. Holt’s stay will be profiled on Dateline and during the show, Holt interviews Henry Montogmery, who has sentenced to life for a killing a cop when he was 17. His appeal of juvenile life sentences led to the US Supreme Court overturning life sentences for child killers without parole…
cut 8 (09) “…decision”
That’s Dateline producer Dan Slepian.

The Bayou Bengals have a big game tomorrow with Texas, and the LSU Traveling Tigers are making the trip to Austin. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke….
Cut 10 (10) “…facets to it”
The last time the Longhorns and the Tigers played each other in the regular season was 1954.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is having to defend himself against those who believe he supports anti-LGBTQ views. The controversy stems from his appearance in a video promoting Bring Your Bible To School Day…
cut 14 (11) “…verses”
But the anti-LGBTQ group Focus on the Family produced the video, which has some saying why is Brees associating himself with that organization.

Seven Louisiana community college and technical schools are ranked among the top 100 fastest growing two-year institutions in the nation according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan says it’s not by accident…
Cut 4 (11) “…universities”
The survey looked at the growth rates of 1,100 different schools.

Tonight, viewers across the country will get an inside look at life in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola when Dateline profiles NBC Anchor Lester Holt’s two-night stay at the maximum-security facility..
cut 7 (11) “…revealing”
That’s Dateline Producer Dan Slepian who says tonight’s episode is part of an ongoing series about the effects of “Tough on Crime” legislation passed by Congress in the 90s.

Thousands of LSU fans will spend the weekend in Austin, Texas for Saturday night’s top 10 matchup between the Tigers and the Longhorns. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke says even though Texas allotted just three-thousand tickets for LSU to sell, Fighting Tiger fans will be out in full force…
cut 12 (05) “….and gold”
There will be a big Tiger Nation Tailgate at Stubb’s tomorrow in Austin, beginning at 11 AM.