The state department of transportation has reopened the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Basin bridge after it was closed for a couple of days because of a fiery fatal chain-reaction crash that involved three chemical tanker trucks, two cargo trucks, and a passenger vehicle. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says the bridge underwent a thorough evaluation following the cleanup effort…
cut 13 (09) “…cause any cracks”

For the first time in three decades, participation in high school sports has dropped at the national level. The data comes from a study by the National Federation of State High School Associations. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says the national trend is not reflected in Louisiana.
Cut 4 (08) “increase for us.”
The sports that saw the biggest declines nationwide were football and basketball.

The Louisiana Board of Regents has approved a new master plan that sets the goal of 60-percent of working-adults possessing a college degree or other employment credential beyond a high school diploma by 2030. Currently, less than half of Louisiana adults have achieved that benchmark. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says it will take more teachers, bigger schools and more money invested into public colleges, but she says the pieces are in place to pull that off…
cut 12 (12) “…there”
The master plan does not include a cost on how much money it will take to achieve this goal.

Interstate 10 Westbound over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is still closed this morning following Monday’s fiery multiple-vehicle crash that killed an out of state truck driver. The speed limit for passenger vehicles is 60-miles per hour, while 55-miles for an 18-wheeler. One state senator says maybe the speed limit should be lowered, but State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson is hesitant to embrace that…
cut 6 (10) “….back”
There’s been no timeline on when the Basin Bridge westbound lanes will be re-opened. DOTD crews need to inspect the bridge once clean-up is finally completed.

About 35-hundred Louisiana A-T-and-T workers on strike earlier this week have returned to work. Technicians, customer service reps and others who install and maintain A-T-and-T’s resident and business wireline telecommunications network were off the job for four days over claims the company was not bargaining a new labor contract in good faith. There’s still no new labor deal, but both sides say negotiations continue.

Ruston High School finalizes a new logo after a trademark dispute with Rutgers University
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

LSU has set its beer and wine prices at eight and nine dollars for fans in the general seating areas who for the first time can purchase the adult beverages in Tiger Stadium for football games. Senitor Associate Athletics Director Robert Munson says they are not anticipating more unruly behavior just because the booze is floowing…
cut 9 (07) “…top of that”

A fiery, deadly crash on the I-10 Atchafalaya Basin Bridge has prompted calls for a new look at the speed limit, along with other possible changes. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says it’s too early in the process to propose changes. He adds we’re still not exactly sure what caused the chain-reaction pileup.
Cut 4 (08) “…accident.”
The westbound lanes of I-10 over the Basin Bridge remain closed as clean-up continues and the bridge still needs to be inspected.

DeRidder Police arrest a school bus driver for suspected DWI and child endangerment. Deputy Chief Christopher Rudy says police were first alerted at 7 AM on Tuesday by a 15-year-old student on the bus who dialed 911.
Cut 13 (07) “…running stop signs.”
Calls also came from concerned parents and the driver, 60-year-old Tammy Gibson, was eventually arrested and charged with a DWI.

Puerto Rico is bracing for Tropical Storm Dorian this morning. The National Hurricane Center predicts the storm will reach hurricane strength on Friday and eye a potential landfall along the eastern Florida coastline on Monday.

Popeyes says they expect to run out of their popular chicken sandwich by the end of the week. The Fast Food chain founded in Louisiana says they will work tirelessly to bring the new sandwich back as soon as possible.

LSU kicks off a new season on Saturday and for the first time, fans who sit in the stands can purchase beer or wine for either eight or nine dollars. LSU Senior Associate Athletics Director Robert Munson says they estimate 45-thousand adult beverages could be sold per game and they ask fans to be patient…
cut 8 (12) “…through”
SEC rules state that all drinks must be poured out of the can or small win bottle and into plastic cups by the server.

The Interstate 10 westbound lanes over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge remain closed this morning as DOTD crews still need to inspect the bridge following Monday’s fiery fatal crash that killed a truck driver from Florida. This year, three people have been killed in crashes on that bridge and Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says a variety of factors go into those fatalities…
cut 5 (08) “….distraction”
Wilson says lower speed limits on the bridge might not be the answer.

A 15-year-old on a DeRidder school bus called 9-1-1 yesterday morning to report that the bus driver was swerving and blowing through stop signs. Authorities also received calls from concerned parents. DeRidder Deputy Chief Christopher Rudy says they were able to pull the bus over safely and charged 60-year-old Tammy Gibson with a D-W-I…
cut 14 (08) “…the situation”

Saturday’s season opener against Georgia Southern will mark the first time Tiger Stadium general admission ticket holders can purchase beer or wine…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

After receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Rutgers University, Ruston High School has produced a new logo to replace the block “R” which is identical to Rutgers’ logo. Ruston High Principal Dan Gressett says it will take a while to phase out the old logo, but you’ll see the new one when the football team opens the season against Neville next week…
cut 12 (09) “…it’ll be seen”

A deadly chain-reaction crash on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge has some calling for slower speed limits on the heavily trafficked stretch of I-10.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

I-10 westbound over the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge remains closed this morning as D-O-T-D workers still need to inspect the bridge.

Meanwhile in Breaux Bridge, State Police report a nine-year-old boy from St. Martinville was killed in a three-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 31. .

LSU will sell eight dollar domestic, nine dollar premium beers at Tiger Stadium this season in its first year selling alcohol in the general seating areas. Senior Associate Athletic Director Robert Munson says you won’t find folks hawking adult beverages up and down the aisles, but it should only be a short walk from your seat to the nearest vendor.
Cut 7 (11)“…little bit”

Parents in DeRidder might be a little uneasy sending their kids on a school bus today that’s because a school bus driver in that southwest Louisiana town was arrested yesterday morning on a D-W-I charge. DeRidder Deputy Chief Christopher Rudy says 60-year-old Tammy Gibson was taken into custody after a 15-year-old on the bus called 9-1-1 and said the bus driver was swerving and running stop signs…
cut 15 (09) “….of a motor vehicle”
An estimated 25 children were on the school bus during the eratic driving.