State GOP operative Scott Wilfong says there is an effort to find a more competitive candidate to take on the governor in the October 12th primary. Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards is currently lapping his two Republican opponents in fundraising and name recognition…
Cut 13 (05) “…don’t know.”
Edwards’ two main republican challengers Eddie Rispone and Ralph Abraham failed to collect over a million dollars in donations combined in 2018, while the governor has eight-point-four million in the bank.

The Louisiana Department of Health is asking doctors to be on the alert for measles cases. Assistant state health officer, Doctor Joseph Kanter, says the CDC has documented 101 cases in 10 states, including Georgia and Texas….
cut 11 (10) “…those cases down”
Kanter says the good news is that most Louisiana residents are vaccinated against measles.

A one million dollar winning lotto ticket sold in New Orleans from August is set to expire on Thursday. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A 41-year-old Prairieville woman is lucky to be alive after State Police say a suspected drunk driver hit her vehicle in Garyville on Monday morning causing it to erupt in flames. Cell phone video shows four good Samaritans dragging her out of the driver’s side door as flames shot out of the back of the car. Police say 22-year-old Richard Preston hit her vehicle and he’s been arrested.

There are currently two Republican challengers to Governor John Bel Edwards in this year’s governor’s race, but state GOP operative Scott Wilfong hopes there’s just one main GOP opponent to Edwards when qualifying takes place in early August….
cut 15 (10) “…one candidate”
Wilfong appeared as a guest on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster and he says there’s also a movement to get another candidate in the race as Eddie Rispone and Ralph Abraham’s fundraising lags behind Edwards.

We’re seeing some strong thunderstorms across north Louisiana this morning as a wet pattern begins across the Bayou State. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is a marginal risk of severe weather for a good portion of Louisiana today and tomorrow…
cut 9 (11) “…state of Louisiana”

The Louisiana Department of Health is on high alert for measles. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Meanwhile, state health officials are also encouraging Louisiana residents to take precautions from catching the flu as the carnival season begins to ramp up. The Louisiana Department of Health says flu activity has spiked in the state over the last week. Officials say a flu shot is your best defense against influenza.

The candidates in the governor’s race have submitted their campaign finance report for 2018 and it shows Governor John Bel Edwards with eight-four-million dollars in his account, while Republican challenger Eddie Rispone raised a half-a-million dollars and the other five-million dollars is his own money. GOP Congressman Ralph Abraham only has 350-thousand dollars. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the poor fundraising totals by the two Republican candidates suggests Edwards is getting money from some GOP donors…
cut 8 (09) “…is weak”
The election is October 12th.

An aide to Congressman Clay Higgins has been charged with pandering. Lafayette Parish Sheriff deputies say 47-year-old Jerod Prunty was one of eight arrested as part of an investigation looking into human sex trafficking and prostitution at massage parlors.

Authorities arrested a 14-year-old today after he allegedly stabbed a woman and the family dog at a home in Vivian. Caddo Sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says the boy fled on a four-wheeler…
cut 14 (08) “….to authorities”
K-T-B-S says the victim is the mother of the suspect.

Waitr is expanding its operations in Acadiana, which means 200 new jobs and new offices in downtown Lafayette. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says Louisiana flood control and prevention project funding will not be effected by the President’s declaration of a national emergency. The declaration allows funds to be redirected from military construction projects towards building up the southern border wall. Graves says they convinced the White House to take money from other projects.
Cut 13 (11) “…these projects.”

An aide to Congressman Clay Higgins was arrested over the weekend on pandering charges. According to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office, 47-year-old Jerod Prunty was one of eight arrested as part of an investigation looking into human sex trafficking and prostitution at massage parlors. Higgins’ office says they are shocked and saddened by the accusations and Prunty has been placed on administrative leave.

The recent high profile hazing case that resulted in the arrest of 9 LSU students has many wondering what it will take to end the hazing culture on college campuses. Founder of HazingPrevention.org Tracy Maxwell says the elimination of hazing will take time.
Cut 10 (12) “…doesn’t change overnight.”
But she says last week’s high profile arrests is a step towards eradicating hazing.

Intermittent lane closures will begin on Wednesday on the Texas Street Bridge which crosses over the Red River in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchanan says work will continue until the summer of 2020 and the contractor will begin bringing construction equipment to the site on Wednesday…
cut 5 (09) “…start on Wednesday”
The bridge was built in 1934 and it’s been decades since the roadway underwent a major rehabilitation project.

When Congress returns to session next week, expect a resolution that attempts to block President Donald Trump’s national emergency along the U-S Mexico border. The president is expected to veto that legislation and Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says there’s enough votes to override a veto, because many believe that the situation at the southern border needs to be addressed…
cut 15 (11) “…a crisis”
Legal challenges are also likely.

By calling the national emergency, the president intends to use military construction project dollars to pay for the wall. Senator Bill Cassidy says the White House also intends to use his idea of using money seized from Mexican drug cartels to pay for steel barriers along the southern border…
cut 8 (10) “…one step”

An armed robbery suspect is dead and five others wounded following a shootout with police in downtown New Orleans last night. Authorities say bullets began flying after undercover NOPD cops tried to question a person of interest in an armed robbery. Police says the suspect pulled out a gun at Canal Street and Elk Place and began firing at two officers. The suspect was gunned down, but innocent bystanders at the bus stop were struck.

Work begins on Wednesday to improve the Texas Street Bridge that connects downtown Shreveport to Bossier Parish. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

There’s a concern the National Emergency called by President Donald Trump will result in dollars going away from flood control projects in order to pay for the border wall. But Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the Comite River Diverson and other vital flood protection efforts will proceed as usual despite the national emergency…
cut 14 (12) “…..with haste”
And Senator Bill Cassidy says the Trump Administration plans to use hundreds of million of dollars that’s been seized from Mexican drug traffickers to help pay for the wall. It’s a proposal that Cassidy first brought up last year and he says with improved protection along the border, more cash will be collected that can fund even more wall construction….
cut 9 (09) “….we confiscate”

Despite tougher laws and more awareness, why do we still see hazing on college campuses? Nine LSU frat members were arrested on hazing accusations last week. Founder of Hazing Prevention dot-org, Tracy Maxwell, says she used to think those that commit acts of hazing are horrible people, but has since come to the conclusion they were also hazed…
cut 12 (08) “….repeat the cycle”
Maxwell says it will take a years long effort to rid hazing from college campuses.

Drivers in the Shreveport-Bossier City area can expect intermittent lane closures for both the eastbound and westbound lanes of the Texas Street Bridge starting Wednesday. DOTD spokesperson Erin Buchanan says the bridge which is part of US 80 was built in the 1930s and needs rehabilitation.
Cut 4 (12) “…bridge as well.”
Construction will last through the summer of 2020.