ESPN has named southeast Louisiana the center of the football universe this weekend with the two best games of the week being played in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Number three LSU takes on number one Alabama in Tiger Stadium, and President of Visit Baton Rouge Paul Arrigo says the hotels are packed.
Cut 10 (09) “…three team“
ESPN’s College Gameday is in Baton Rouge for tomorrow night’s SEC showdown in Tiger Stadium and on Sunday the Saints host the undefeated Rams. New Orleans and Company spokesperson Kristian Sonnier says they also have Alabama fans staying in their city and there’s also a lot of excitement about the big game against L-A…
Cut 13 (09) “…are coming”

March of Dimes gives Louisiana an F-grade in its annual report on pre-term births. In 2017, 13-percent of babies born in Louisiana were premature and that’s higher than the national rate, which is at 10-percent. March of Dimes President Stacy Stewart explains why Louisiana has more premature births than the rest of the nation….
cut 5 (09) “….pregnant ideally”
Stewart says there needs to be policy changes on all levels of government to improve the preterm birth rate.

Governor Edwards returns today from his week long trip to Israel. The governor met with business leaders in the areas of energy and cybersecurity. Edwards also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an effort to grow trade between Israel and Louisiana.

Louisiana has received an F-grade in the March of Dimes latest report which grades all 50 states on their rates of preterm birth.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30)  “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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Looking for an egg-cellent time this weekend?  The long running Giant Omelette Celebration in Abbeville may be just what you are looking for.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

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ESPN’s College GameDay will broadcast live from Baton Rouge tomorrow. Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

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Thousands are expected to attend the Giant Omelette Celebration in Abbeville this weekend.  The festival was started in the 1980s with the determination to bring the community closer to its French Heritage.  Celebration president Ray Trahan says the omelette starts with a twelve-foot skillet and 5000 eggs.

Cut 7 (07) “…5034 eggs.”

Trahan says the omelette gets served up to those in attendance.

Cut 8 (11) “…and help yourself.” 

Trahan says the history of the celebration dates back to Napoleon, the emperor of the French in the early 1880s, as he had an omelette following a battle and loved it.

Cut 9 (12) “…happened with Napoleon.”

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ESPN has named southeast Louisiana the center of the football universe this weekend with the two best games of the week being played in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Number four LSU takes on number one Alabama in Tiger Stadium, and President of Visit Baton Rouge Paul Arrigo says the hotels are packed.

Cut 10 (09)   “…three team“

Baton Rouge saw 87 percent occupancy in hotels for Georgia.

And to top things off in BR the College GameDay broadcast will be live on LSU’s campus Saturday for the big matchup. Arrigo says the iconic program will give the city a chance to show off to the rest of the nation, and hopefully inspire a few trips.

Cut 11 (09)   “…exposure”

LSU Bama kicks off at 7pm Saturday.

And New Orleans expects to see 92 percent occupancy for Saturday as the Tide floods the Big Easy looking for something fun to do before zooming up I-10 to watch their team lose in Baton Rouge. New Orleans and Company spokesperson Kristian Sonnier says with frequent trips to the Sugar Bowl and bi-annual trips to Baton Rouge, the city is used to seeing Crimson…

Cut 12 (10)  “…vacation”

And after that ESPN will be broadcasting live from New Orleans for the Saints Rams game that has huge implications for both teams playoff seeding. Los Angeles is a new fan base, so you never know what to expect but…

Cut 13 (09)   “…are coming”

Saints Rams kicks off at 325PM Sunday.

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The Saints are two point favorites against the only undefeated team in the league Sunday as the 8-0 Rams charge into the Dome to take on the 6-1 Saints. Drew Brees told reporters he’s never seen an interior pass rush duo as fearsome as LA’s Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh. Saints Analyst Mike Detillier says that might be the case, but…

Cut 14 (11)   “pass protection.”

The Rams are 2^nd best defense in football per Pro Football Focus.

Los Angeles comes to town behind the top rated rushing attack in all of football, and unlike most teams it’s no running back committee. Former Georgia Bulldog Todd Gurley is just off pace to break Ladainian Tomlinson’s TD rushing record, and Detillier says his dominance this year has been astounding.

Cut 15 (11)   “…receiver.”

But the Saint favored for a reason, with the dome at their back and possibly the most balanced roster in the league, Vegas likes them to take down LA. Mike Thomas and Alvin Kamara have been the featured guys this year, but Detillier says he expects this to be a different kind of game.

Cut 16 (11) “.Mark Ingram”

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Louisiana Tech gets another chance at Mississippi State tomorrow. Last year the two teams met in Ruston and State won 57-21 as Tech quarterback J’Mar Smith had a rough day. Smith fumbled a couple of times and threw an interception. Coach Skip Holtz says his quarterback learned a valuable lesson that day…

Cut 17 (13)  “winning football”

This year’s Mississippi State team has one of the best defensive lines in the country. Holtz says they’re talented and deep…

Cut 18 (19) “…for sure” 

Offensively, the 21st ranked Bulldogs are led by quarterback Nick Fitzgerald. When he rushes for over 100 yards, State is 15-and-3. But Holtz says holding Fitzgerald down is difficult to do…

Cut 19 (20) “.very elusive”

The Diocese of Lafayette announces Reverend Jody Simoneaux is on administrative leave because he allegedly engaged in improper behavior with minors while assigned to churches in Eunice and Youngsville 30 years ago. Simoneaux has been serving as a pastor at St. Jones the Evangelist Church in Jeanerette. The Diocese says the allegations have been turned over to law enforcement.

Not all DAs support the November amendment option that would require unanimous jury verdicts in felony trials, including the 21st Judicial District…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

As of Wednesday afternoon, over five-thousand Cleco customers are without power in central Louisiana as result of that wicked overnight storm. Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says they have outages in Rapides, Avoyelles and Grant parishes. Cahill says they are working as fast as they can to get the power to restored, but….
cut 14 (11) “…arrangements”
Strong winds are to blame for the knocked down power lines and trees. Captain Tommy Carnline with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office says in areas where they have a lot of destruction, they are asking for area residents to stay off the roads…
cut 9 (09) “…area”
There have been six reported injuries as a result of the storm, four in Concordia and two in Washington Parish. The injuries are not considered serious.

The overnight hours saw some wild weather pass through the Bayou State. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

There have been reports of minor injuries. Four people were hurt in Concorida Parish, and two others in Washington Parish. In both cases, strong winds flipped over mobile homes. Thousands are still without power. Cleco says they hope to have the power restored by the end of the day, but they are still assessing the situation.

There’s been very little vocal opposition to Constitutional Amendment Two on the November 6th ballot. That’s the one dealing with unanimous juries to secure a conviction in a felony case. During the legislative session, Baton Rouge Senator and former prosecutor Dan Claitor came out in support of the amendment saying he knows attorneys would game the system and seek harsher sentences because non-unanimous juries made them easier to try. But District Attorney Scott Perriloux says that’s not true.
cut 5 (09) “…that such”
Perrilloux is the D-A for Livingston, Tangiaphoa and St. Helena Parishes and is one of the few vocal opponents to Constitutional Amendment Two.

There’s one more month left in the hurricane season and State Climatologist Barry Keim says we are almost out of the woods…
cut 12 (08) “…east coast”
Ida in 2009 is one of the few examples of a Gulf hurricane in November.

The severe weather that rolled through injured at least six people, two in Washington Parish and four more in Concordia Parish. Officials say the victims did not sustain serious injuries when heavy wind flipped their mobile homes. Numerous trees are down, including in Rapides Parish…
cut 8 (09) “…any injuries”
That’s Captain Tommy Carnline with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office, who says a suspected tornado caused damage in Pineville.

Constitutional Amendment 2 on the November sixth ballot asks residents if felony trials should require an unanimous jury verdict for a conviction. Supporters of the amendment say current law requiring 10 of 12 jurists was designed so blacks on juries couldn’t prevent another black person from getting convicted. Livingston and Tangiaphoa District Attorney Scott Perrilloux opposes changing the minimum standard and reminds voters that racially rigging juries is illegal.

LSU warns fans to be aware of scammers offering to-good-to-be true deals to the biggest game of the year…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Denham Springs police continue to search for a person of interest in a double murder of an elderly couple. Chief Shannon Womack says 45-year-old Michael Collins may have something to do with the deaths of Frank and Patricia Gurley.

A strong line of thunderstorms has left behind numerous downed power lines and trees. The storm also produced multiple tornadoes. In Washington Parish, two people were reportedly injured when strong winds flipped over their mobile home. There’s also tornado damage in Rapides and LaSalle Parishes.

LSU is warning fans to be aware of sammers offering to-good-to-be true deals to the biggest game of the year. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A state Department of Public Safety and Corrections officer allegedly lied about getting shot at, during a traffic stop on Monday in Livingston Parish. State Police Sergeant Nick Manale says 22-year-old Chandler LeGrande was fired and charged with malfeasance in office and filing false public records. Manale says they don’t why LeGrange claimed a motorcyclist fired a weapon at him…
cut 15 (06) “…individuals actions”
The American Psychological Assocation says 91-percent of Generation Z—people between ages 15 and 21 report symptoms associated with depression and anxiety as a result of news reports on gun violence and sexual harassment. LSU New Orleans Health School pschologist Doctor Richard Costa says older generations are less stressed because of perceptions changing with age…
cut 9 (08) “…that are stressed”

Thousands are without power as a result of a strong line of thunderstorms that’s still making its way through southeast Louisiana. Numerous trees and power lines are down. Two people were reportedly hurt in Washington Parish when strong winds flipped over their mobile home. Tornado damage also reported in Rapides and LaSalle Parishes.

Entergy New Orleans has been slapped with a five million dollar fine for it’s role in an astroturfing scandal. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The American Psychological Association releases a study that finds Generation Z, those between the ages of 15 and 21-years-old–are stressed out over gun violence. Immigration and sexual harassment and assault reports are also contributing to their stress levels. Doctor Richard Costa, with LSU Health New Orleans, also points out this generation were young children during the recession….
cut 8 (07) “…10 years or so”
But this study also found that 18 to 21-year-olds were the least likely age group to vote.

If you’re looking to sell your LSU-Alabama ticket in an effort to receive a small fortune, LSU advises against taking a picture of the tickets and posting them online. Ticket manager Brian Broussard says if the photo shows the bar code on the ticket…
cut 6 (05) “….the ticket”
Broussard encourages fans to use StubHub to purchase and re-sell tickets.

An American Psychological Association report shows Generation Z, people from 15 to 21, have the worst mental health of any generation. 91% of Gen Z adults say they have felt physical or emotional symptoms, such as depression or anxiety associated with stress. Licensed Psychologist at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Dr. Richard Costa, says current events are creating the mental health issues.
Cut 7 (08) “…see the world.”

Entergy New Orleans is facing a five million dollar fine from the City Council for having a subcontractor hire actors to support its proposal to build a controversial New Orleans East power plant. An independent investigation confirmed Entergy officials were aware, or should have been aware of the “astroturfing.” Councilwoman Helena Moreno
Cut 10 (05) “…city council“
Entergy says they were not aware of the payments and the utility company has 30 days to respond to the fine.

A Deparment of Public Safety Police officer is out of a job after he allegedly lied about being in a shootout. On Monday, Officer Chandler LeGrange reported his involvement in a pursuit and shots fired by a motorcyclist on Juban Road in Livingston Parish. State Police looked into the case and found several inconsistencies with the officer’s report. LSP spokesperson Lt. Nick Manale…
Cut 13 (12) “…story was fabricated.”
Manale says LeGrange was charged with Malfeasance in Office and Filing False Public Records.

If you are still looking for tickets to Saturday’s LSU-Alabama game, LSU has this advice for you…
cut 5 (08) “…probably is”
LSU ticket manager Brian Broussard encourages fans to purchase tickets with their official reselling partner StubHub.