The Reason Foundation ranks Louisiana’s highway system 34th in the nation in overall cost-effectiveness and condition. In the annual report, the Bayou State receives poor marks for urban interstate pavement condition and bridge quality but received good marks for administrative disbursements per mile. Lead author Baruch Feigenbaum (Bar-ook Fee-gan-baum)…
Cut 4 (12) “…efficient.”

The Edwards administration has committed 85-million dollars in state funding to get the process started on a new I-10 Calcasieu Bridge in Lake Charles. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says this in response to President Trump’s promise made earlier this year to replace the bridge if he’s re-elected…
cut 13 (11) “…soon as possible”

For the first time ever a team from Louisiana has won the Little League World Series. Matt Doyle has more on the squad from suburban New Orleans…

cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt doyle”

And the team has received an invite from the President.

Research out of LSU calls into question the prevailing opinion that river diversions actually help restore wetlands. Matt Doyle spoke with the author…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Deputies charge two teenagers with terrorizing for alleged threats made towards two Lafayette Parish middle schools. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office began its investigation after receiving a 9-1-1 call from a concerned parent yesterday morning. David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy and Edgar Martin Middle School were targeted in the threats.

Baton Rouge Police have arrested a teenager in the fatal shooting of his mother’s boyfriend during a domestic dispute. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 36-year-old Michael Allen was found dead in his Scotlandville home earlier this month and during the investigation, authorities brought in the 16-year-old suspect for questioning.
Cut 12 (05) “…Mr. Allen’s death”
The suspect’s identity is being concealed since he’s a minor.

The CBS Sunday Morning Show will air a segment on Sunday on Louisiana Key Academy’s success in educating students who suffer from dyslexia. The public charter school in Baton Rouge has been recognized by the Yale Medical School for their work. Academy Principal Heather Bourgeois says it all starts with diagnosing dyslexia early in an effort to spearhead stigmas and ensure better outcomes…
cut 5 (11) “…great big world”
The show airs at 8 AM.

Louisiana’s only female governor returned to the state capitol yesterday as the late Kathleen Babineaux Blanco lied in state. Brooke Thorington was there…
voicer 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Another public visitation is today in Lafayette and the funeral is tomorrow,

And mourners have poured into Xavier University’s Convocation Center in New Orleans to celebrate the life and legacy of Fox 8 news anchor Nancy Parker, who died last week in a plane crash while shooting a news piece on a stunt pilot.

If you’re doing any traveling this weekend, you’ll notice gas prices continue to fall. The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.22, about 40-cents cheaper than a year ago. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says gas prices should continue to fall, thanks to low crude oil prices…
cut 14 (07) “….under that”
Redman says that could mean gas prices at some stations below a $1.90.

State attorney general Jeff Landry and other attorneys general are planning an antitrust investigation into Big-Tech companies like Facebook and Google. There is a concern these companies use their marketplace powers to stifle competition. Landry says he’s been ringing the alarm bell, but cooperation has been low…
cut 11 (11) “….very dangerous space”

A public visitation will be held today in former Governor Kathleen Blanco’s hometown of Lafayette. Services were held in Baton Rouge Thursday to honor the state’s first and only female governor. Department of Children and Family Services spokesperson and former Blanco Staffer Catherine Heitman remembers Blanco for her tenacity.
Cut 4 (09) “…our leader.”
The funeral is tomorrow in Lafayette.

A study involving LSU finds that two Mississippi River diversions that were done to help rebuild the state’s disappearing coast actually led to land loss. Coastal Sciences Professor Gene Turner says the negative impact may be due to the increased nutrient availability…
cut 8 (12) …wider area”
The study raises concerns about the five billion dollars’ worth of proposed diversion projects.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is launching an antitrust probe into big tech companies. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

LSU will hold an active shooter response exercise today on campus from 9:30 AM to 11 AM. The university says there will be a large police presence and firing of blank rounds from guns, so there should not be a cause for concern. A report of an armed intruder in Coates Hall on Tuesday led to a big scare. It turned out to be a false alarm.

Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Jeff Palermo….
cut 5 (08) “….she gave us”
That’s Ceci Neustrom a close friend of former Governor Kathleen Blanco. Neustrom was among the hundreds of mourners who visited Blanco’s casket as she lied in state at the Louisiana capitol. The memorial services continue today with a public visitation in Lafayette from 12:30 to 8 PM at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral. The funeral is tomorrow morning.

AAA says we should see cheap gas prices this fall, because of cheap crude oil prices. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says those projections are based on the idea that production will remain uninterrupted in the Mideast and along the Gulf Coast…
Cut 15 (11) “…very quickly.”
The current statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.22 that’s about 40-cents cheaper than a year ago.

A peer-reviewed paper out of LSU calls into question the prevailing opinion that river diversions actually help restore wetlands. Matt Doyle spoke with the author…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A surge of tropical moisture is expected to give the Bayou State plenty of rain this weekend. So far no flood watches are in place, but forecasters are predicting we’ll see several downpours.

And the Eastbank Little League Team from River Ridge has advanced to the U-S Finals in the Little League World Series after 10-0 win over a team from Virginia. The Louisiana team will play Hawaii tomorrow for the U-S title.

Louisiana’s only female governor returned to the state capitol yesterday as the late Kathleen Babineaux Blanco lied in state. Brooke Thorington was there…
voicer 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Memorial services for Blanco continue today in her hometown of Lafayette. A public visitation will take place from 12:30 to 8 PM tonight at St. John the Evangelist Cathedral. Another two-hour public visitation is set for tomorrow at 8 AM and the funeral will follow.

Cheap crude prices may be foreshadowing incredibly cheap gas prices in Louisiana for the fall. A barrel of crude oil is sitting at just above 55 dollars today after a summer that saw few interruptions with production. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says he does not expect the price to change much over the next few months.
Cut 13 (11) “…cheaper barrel.”
The current statewide average is $2.22, which is nearly 40-cents cheaper than a year ago.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is launching an antitrust probe of big tech companies. Among the concerns, Landry says companies may be stifling competition in the digital ad space, content suppression, and data mining of consumers.
Cut 10 (09) “…don’t even want.”

The first of several memorial services for late Governor Kathleen Blanco happens this morning with an interfaith ceremony at St. Joseph Cathedral in Downtown Baton Rouge. State Police will escort her body from Lafayette to Baton Rouge. Once inside St. Joseph Cathedral, Diocese of Baton Rouge spokesperson Deacon Dan Borne (Bor-nay), says the Louisiana flag will be draped over the casket an opening prayer will be given and there will be three scripture readings.
Cut 4 (10) “…John Bel Edwards.”
After the service at St. Joseph Cathedral. Blanco’s casket will be taken a short distance to the Louisiana State Capitol where she’ll lie in state from 1 until 6 PM. Higher Ed Commissioner and former Blanco aide Kim Hunter Reed says the state’s only female governor is getting a fitting send-off…
cut 7 (08) “….in state”
Another public viewing and the funeral will take place Friday and Saturday in Lafayette.

Slidell police arrest two people after a kindergartner is found with a bag of blow and two baggies of crack at school…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

St. Landry parish authorities suspect foul play in the death of a woman found in a ditch on Sunday night near Washington. No identity on the victim, but on her possession was a Texas State University graduate school lanyard.