Louisiana’s team of first responders are among the 500 emergency officials in Mexico City Beach, Florida, one of the hardest hit areas from Hurricane Michael. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the damage reminds him of Hurricane Katrina…
cut 5 (07) “….public establishments”
Browning says Mexico city Beach took on almost 14 feet of storm surge and they still are not done searching all of the damaged structures.

Later this month, Governor John Bel Edwards will lead a 24-person delegation to Israel on what’s being described by the governor’s office as an economic development mission. Edwards is also scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss partnering with Israel in oil and gas exploration and cybersecurity. The Louisiana delegation leaves on October 26th and returns a week later.

Legislation is on the president’s desk that will lead to some major changes in flood protection projects and the Corp of Engineers….
Voicer 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle.”

LSU is expecting one of its largest game day crowds for tomorrow’s matchup with second ranked Georgia. Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette advises fans to arrive early, car pool if you can and figure out where you’ll park before you get on campus…
cut 8 (06) “…Alex Box Stadium”
Kick-off is at 2:30.

Louisiana’s delegation of first responders are just east of Panama City, Florida, where the eyewall of Hurricane Michael came ashore, bringing untold amounts of devastation. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they spent much of Thursday getting hurricane victims out of their storm ravaged homes and into shelter.
Cut 4 (08) “…they need”
The team is working with a task force comprised of first responders from Mississippi and Florida.

Congress has approved legislation that begins the process of moving the Army Corps of Engineers out from the Department of Defense and turning it into a civilian agency tasked with administering massive domestic projects. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says nothing against the D-O-D, but they have a lot of overseas concerns these days…
cut 11 (08) “….deal with”
Graves believes this fundamental change will speed up construction on backlogged flood and coastal protection projects.

42-year-old Melvin Amar of Baton Rouge is in the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail after he allegedly threatened to kill Troopers and other law enforcement officers. State Police spokesperson Bryan Lee says during a traffic stop conducted by a Trooper, Amar referenced the 2016 ambush on police in Baton Rouge that resulted in the deaths of three officers…
cut 15 (08) “….safety of others”
Lee says Amar has a history of making threats towards law enforcement and now faces numerous charges.

Federal prosecutors accuse a US post office manager in Kenner of stealing 630-thousand dollars in stamps and selling them on eBay to support his gambling addiction. 46-year-old Ryan Cortez also allegedly stole 10-thousand dollars from a church where he served as a treasurer. It’s considered one of the largest internal postal thefts in Postal Service history.

The Office of State Procurement voids a multi-million dollar contract that would have replaced the state’s aging voting machines. Louisiana’s chief procurement officer found flaws in how interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin selected Dominion Voting Systems. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this could hurt Ardoin’s chances in the Secretary of State race…
Cut 9 (06) “…don’t know.”
Ardoin is one of nine candidates seeking election to the Secretary of State’s post.

A meter reader for Entergy has been fired after falsifying meter readings and now about four-thousand Entergy customers in southeast Louisiana are experiencing sticker shock with their latest bills. Entergy Vice President of Distribution Melonie Stewart…
Cut 6 (11) “…the normal bill .”
Stewart says customers will have to the pay the higher than normal bill, but will be given more time to do so.

The LSU President is defending the university’s decision to adopt a holistic admission policy. Matt Doyle has more.
Voicer 1 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone says he will run for governor next year. The founder of an industrial contracting company has long been a prominent state Republican donor, and Jeremy Alford of La-Politics-dot-com says around the state capitol, he’s shown great interest in education issues…
cut 11 (12) “….committee”
Rispone plans to make a full campaign announcement soon.

LSU President F. King Alexander is defending the university’s decision to use holistic admission standards, in the wake of reports that 7.5 percent of the freshman class did not meet traditional GPA or ACT requirements. On Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster, Alexander said sometimes scores don’t tell the full story about a prospective student’s aptitude.
Cut 3 (11) “…junior year”
Previously the Board of Regents allowed for four percent of students to fall below the 3.0 GPA and 22 ACT requirement.

The Golden Band from Tigerland is getting love from the cast of the Office for playing the hit show’s theme song at a recent halftime show. Matt Doyle has more.
Voicer 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle.”

State Climatologist Barry Keim says if you think the weather is nice today, wait until tomorrow…
cut 5 (12) “…fantastic”
Keim says the weather should be perfect for college football on Saturday.

Baton Rouge Businessman Eddie Rispone announces he will challenge John Bel Edwards in next year’s governor’s race. The wealthy Republican is the first to throw his hat in the ring for next year. LaPolitics.com Publisher Jeremy Alford says Rispone is a formidable challenger.
Cut 10 (11) “…world.“
And Alford says Rispone can donate millions of dollars of his own money into the campaign, something none of the other potential candidates can do.

New Medicare cards are on their way to Louisiana seniors who have Medicare. The new cards will better protect a beneficiary’s identity. Regional Administrator for C-M-S Jeff Hinson says when the new card arrives, the old card goes.
Cut 13 (09) “…that”
Hinson says while there’s a new card and number, medicare benefits stay the same.

The Associated Press is reporting Louisiana’s chief procurement officer has voided a multi-million dollar contract between the state and Dominion Voting Systems. The Secretary of State’s office picked Dominion Voting Systems as the contractor to replace the state’s voting machines, but the Office of State Procurement found flaws in the bidding process.

The Golden Band from Tigerland is getting love from the cast of the Office for playing the hit show’s theme song at a recent halftime show. Matt Doyle has more.
Voicer 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has his first announced challenger. Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone has filed paperwork that declares his candidacy for next year’s governor’s race. Rispone founded I-S-C Constructors and he plans on investing millions of his own money in the campaign. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says Rispone’s wealth gives him a unique advantage…
cut 12 (09) “…do that”
Recent reporting puts Governor Edwards war chest at five-million dollars.

Cooler air has finally arrived in Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the cold front swung through the state yesterday…
cut 6 (07) “…this front”
Keim says we’ll see cooler temperatures for the rest of the week.

The federal government is sending new Medicare cards to recipients. Each new card will have a unique new Medicare number, instead of a social security number in an effort to protect your identity. Jeff Hinson, regional administrator for C-M-S says while there’s a new card and number, Medicare benefits remain the same…
cut 15 (08) “….number”
Medicare recipienets should receive a new card by late November.

The Golden Band from Tigerland has invited cast members from the hit TV show “The Office” to the Mississippi State game after their performance of the “Offfice” theme song went viral last month. Drum major Beau Bujol says five other iconic series got some love from the LSU band during halftime of the Louisiana Tech game…
cut 9 (06) “…of Genie”
Bujol says they will perform the “Bingewatch Show” again at halftime of the Mississippi State game and hopefully actors from the Office will be there.