A report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities finds that no other state in the country has reduced funding to higher education more than Louisiana since 2008. There’s been more than a 40-percent decline in state dollars going towards Louisiana colleges. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed is hopeful the budget has been stabilized, so the cuts can stop….
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The cuts in state funding has resulted in a five-thousand dollar increase in tuition per student.

The Legislative Auditor’s office says the department of education is not meeting all of the national best practices when it comes to child care licensing standards. Auditors say Louisiana is one of eight states that allow family and in-home providers to care for more than six children without requiring a license. The D-O-E says they are discussing this issue with elected officials and stakeholders.

An unbelieveable win for the LSU Tigers on Saturday as they trounced Georgia 36-16 knocking them from the list of unbeaten teams. It was quite the performance for the Bayou Bengals, who were coming off a loss to Florida. Coach Ed Orgeron says the defeat in the Swamp inspired them..
cut 11 (12) “…their shoulder”
Now LSU gets ready for 22nd ranked Mississippi State. The Bulldogs are coming off a bye week and they are allowing just 13 points a game.

There’s a new twist in the saga of the Fort Polk wild horses: a Texas A&M professor says a genetic test has indicated they may be a rare breed of horses. Professor Gus Cothran says they tested 20, and found…that you
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Fort Polk has been trying to have the herd of four to five hundred horses removed from the base, because of safety reasons.

The 5th ranked LSU Tigers are once again national title contenders after a convincing 36-16 victory over the previously unbeaten Georgia Bulldogs. The Bayou Bengals were four-for-four on 4th down chances. Head Coach Ed Orgeron…
Cut 10 (11) “…for it“
LSU hosts 22nd ranked Mississippi State on Saturday.

Social Security recipients will receive a cost of living increase starting next year that will result in a 39-dollar on average monthly increase. Andrew Muhl with Louisiana AARP says the increase comes at a time when inflation and rising medical costs have put a financial strain on many seniors…
cut 15 (10) “….themselves”

A new report finds college access may be at risk for low income students in Louisiana as state funding for higher education has dropped more than 40 percent in the last decade. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says he’ll look to see if a grand jury should determine if a former Baton Rouge Police officer should face charges after shooting at a motorist during a traffic stop in August. Yuseff Hamadeh was fired last week after an investigation found no evidence to support the officer’s story that he was shot at first.

A new Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report finds Louisiana cut more state funding from higher education than any other state since 2008. Researchers determined the cut amounts to a five-thousand dollar decline in state funding per student. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says the additional burden put on students, because of rising tuition costs, have kept many individuals from continuing their education…
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Only six other states charge more for tuition and fees than Louisiana.

But there is good news for those on Social Security, they will see about a 39-dollar increase in benefits starting next year. Andrew Muhl, with Louisiana AARP, says the cost of living increase will impact thousands…
cut 14 (10) “…dollars”

The tale of the removal of Wild Horses on the Fort Polk military base has taken a new twist, this time courtesy of a Texas A&M professor….
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We hope to get more information today on a fatal shooting that resulted in the deaths of two people at a bar in Marksville early Sunday morning. Police responded to Borrel’s at 1:15 in the morning and one person was taken into custody. No other information is available.

The Sunshine Bridge in Donaldsonville remains closed after a barge accident on Friday morning. The damage is worse than previously thought.

LSU is once again ranked 5th in the country after an electrifying 36-16 victory over previously unbeaten Georgia. The biggest win in Tiger Stadium in years improved LSU’s record to 6-1. But Quarterback Joe Burrow reminds everyone that is just one win…
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LSU hosts 22nd ranked Mississippi State on Saturday at 6 PM.

A Texas A-and-M professor says hundreds of wild horses at Fort Polk could be descendants of horses brought by Spanish explorers and colonists. The Army has removed over 100 of the horses and placed them with nonprofit groups, because they say the animals are a safety risk. But Professor Gus Cothran…
cut 6 (07) “….for them’

AARP recipients are getting an extra 39 dollars a month on average starting next year in social security benefits. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Sunshine bridge in Donaldsonville remains closed indefinitely and state transportation officials say damaged caused by a barge collision Friday morning is more extensive then they originally thought. A timeline on when repairs will be completed has not been determined.

There is absolute devastation along the Florida panhandle and a large team of first responders from Louisiana are there to help victims of Hurricane Michael. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says their mission is a difficult one…
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Browning says they are helping those find shelter and also checking structures for bodies in Mexico Beach, Florida.

A Corps of Engineers reform bill is awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature that’s considered a major win for Louisiana. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says America’s Water Infrastructure Act will get long delayed flood control and coastal restoration projects moving…
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Graves says there are tens of billions of dollars in authorized Corps of Engineers projects.

State Police arrest a Baton Rouge man after he threatened to kill troopers and other law enforcement officers.
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LSU is advising fans to arrive early for the Tigers matchup against second ranked Georgia as the school is expecting one of the largest game day crowds on campus. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says it might take awhile to get the stadium for a 2:30 kick off…
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Louisiana’s delegation of first responders is helping the city of Mexico Beach get back on it’s feet after a devastating hit from Hurricane Michael…
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The Associated Press reports Louisiana paid 149-thousand dollars to settle the sexual harassment lawsuit against former Secretary of State Tom Schedler. Schedler is also paying 18-thousand dollars in damages. He resigned in May after his former secretary claimed she was a victim of unwanted sexual advances and stalking.

Louisiana State Police have arrested a Baton Rouge man after he threatened to kill troopers and other law enforcement officers during a traffic stop. Trooper Bryan Lee says 42-year-old Melvin Amar, Jr. was pulled over when he was observed driving a pickup truck with no license plate
Cut 13 (08) “…with his hand.”
Lee says Amar also made references to the 2016 Baton Rouge police shooting that killed three officers.

Over 100-thousand people are expected on LSU’s campus tomorrow for the big matchup with second-ranked Georgia. LSU fans have the reputation of leaving at halftime to beat the traffic, but Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says plan on making a long day of it on campus…
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Kick-off on Saturday is at 2:30.

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….
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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.
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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…
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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.