Louisiana has seen a relatively strong growth in personal income in the second quarter of 2018. Kevin Barnhart has the details.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Ruston lawmaker Rob Shadoin announced today he’s resigning from the state House of Representatives to take a job in Baton Rouge as the deputy counsel for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Shadoin, who is in his second term, says 10 legislative sessions since 2016 made it difficult on his solo law practice.

Former soldier Ryan Taylor of New Llano has received a federal sentence of 11-plus years for creating a homemade bomb filled with chlorine gas and then detonating it on Fort Polk training grounds in the Kisatchie National Forest. The incident happened in April of 2017. U-S Attorney David Joseph says two responding soldiers suffered health effects that still cause problems today…
cut 11 (08) “…forever altered”
The chemical weapon created by Taylor is banned under international and national laws because of how it can impact a person’s body.

Governor John Bel Edwards was on hand in Lake Charles today when officials dedicated the 18-million dollar improvement made to Chennault International Airport’s two-mile runway. Edwards says this will enhance operations at the facility, which already houses major companies Northrop Grumman and Citadel Completions….
cut 13 (10) “…of companies”

The Louisiana Restore Homeowners Assistance program has reopened its application process for those who suffered damage in the floods of 2016, on the heels of reports that Congress is nearing a deal that would allow those who received SBA loans to be eligible for federal grant rebuilding money. Division of Administration Executive Director Pat Forbes says the change to “Duplication of Benefits” policy is incredibly meaningful.
Cut 7 (12) “…debt burden”
For more information go to restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

Traffic is backed up on I-10 West in St. Martin Parish, because a construction crane fell on an S-U-V. One person was reportedly airlifted to a nearby hospital. A second crane at the site will be used to remove the fallen crane.

Scaffolding used to restore limestone and mortar at the Louisiana Capitol building is gone, but the job isn’t quite done as it’s been put on hold until more funding becomes available…
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The Louisiana Health Department has received a 24-million dollar federal grant to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health, Doctor Janice Petersen, says the money will go towards prevention, increasing access to medication-assisted treatment and they’ll also use the dollars to help former addicts find work…
cut 12 (07) “….society”

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation expects legislation will be approved this week that removes the duplication of benefits provision that’s prevented thousands of 2016 flood victims from receiving additional assistance from the federal government. Executive director of the Division of Administration, Pat Forbes, says expanding the Restore Louisiana program to those who received SBA loans will result in an additional 215 million dollars in benefits making their way into flood victims’ hands.
Cut 8 (12) “…additional funds”
Louisiana has reopened the survey that must be completed to receive RESTORE grants, with a new deadline of October 19th. The deadline to finish completing the application for the funds has been pushed back to November 16th.

Louisiana receives a 24 million dollar grant from the feds to help fight the opioid epidemic. Matt Doyle has more.
Voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The front doors to the state capitol have been closed for nearly three years as a result work to repair the mortar and limestone on the first few floors of the 86-year-old building. But Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says they hope to re-open the doors soon, once a covered walkway is constructed…
cut 5 (07) “…to the tourist”
Berry says a covered walkway is needed, because old mortar from the upper floors could still fall to the ground.

Louisiana is the recipient of a 24-million dollar federal grant that will be used to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health Doctor Janice Petersen says half of the grant will go towards improving access to treatment and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths through prevention strategies…
cut 11 (09) “…provided”

The front doors to the State Capitol have been closed for nearly three years as workers repaired the mortar and limestone on the first few floors of the 86-year-old building. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says the work is still not done on the exterior, but they hope to open the front doors for visitors with the construction of a walkway to protect them from pieces of mortar that may fall of the structure…
cut 4 (11) “…top of the steps”

The application process for federal grant rebuilding dollars through the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program has has been reopened for 2016 flood victims…
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Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Lake Charles today. At 10 he’ll attend a dedication ceremony for the newly renovated runway at Chennault International Airport. After that event, the governor will welcome the Houston Rockets, who are holding a week-long training camp at McNeese.

The Louisiana Health Department has received a 24-million dollar grant from the federal government to combat the opioid epidemic. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health Dr. Janice Petersen says the money will fund a comprehensive recovery program for addicts…
Cut 10 (10) “support services.“
The CDC says over one-thousand Louisiana residents died from an opioid overdose in 2016.

The trust fund that covers unemployment benefits for the state is projected to hit one billion dollars this year. The trust fund, managed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, is the twelfth strongest in the nation. LWC executive director Ava Dejoie….
Cut 13 (10) “…at this mark.”
Dejoie says the fund also helps sustain the state’s Incumbent Worker Training Program.

The state has reopened its disaster assistance program for those impacted by the 2016 floods as it’s expected Congress will approve legislation to end the duplication of benefits ban, which has prevented thousands of flood victims from receiving additional assistance, because they received an S-B-A loan. Division of Administration Executive Director Pat Forbes says once the legislation is approved two additional hurdles will need to be cleared before the federal dollars become available…
cut 9 (10) “…that difficult”
2016 flood victims have until October 19th to complete the initial survey to secure federal grants through the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program and the application deadline is November 16th.

Congress is on the verge of addressing the duplication of benefits rule that’s prevented thousands of 2016 flood victims from receiving federal grants through the Louisiana Restore Homeowners Assistance Program. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the legislation should be sent to the President later this week….
cut 12 (10) “….ineligible”
The new deadline to fill out the homeowner survey at restore-dot-la-dot-gov is October 19th.

Governor Edwards and LSU President F King Alexander were in north Louisiana today to finalize the agreement for Oschner Health System to take over as the manager of safety-net hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe. Alexander says the deal should end the rumors that the LSU Medical School in Shreveport will close…
cut 5 (11) “…this state”

A 32-year-old Catahoula Parish man lost his life during a police chase. State Police spokesperson Michael Reichardt says 32-year-old Uel Beard of Jonesville didn’t pull over when an officer attempted a traffic stop on him Saturday morning on Highway 566…
cut 7 (07) “…this point why”
Reichardt says Beard’s motorcycle sideswiped a jeep and he died at the scene.

Sabine Parish Sheriff Ronny Richardson says 37-year-old Leo Mitchell of Many attempted to steal an ATM kiosk when he drove a stolen vehicle into a grocery store. The rear end of the vehicle ended up in the store, but Mitchell was unsuccessful in stealing the ATM machine. Richardson says Mitchell was caught a short time later and faces several charges…
cut 10 (12) “…ATM machine”
Mitchell already has an extensive criminal history.