State Fire Marshal Butch Browning reminds the public to watch out for potential fire hazards while dressing up and decorating for Halloween. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Hundreds of non-violent inmates at parish jails are set to be released later this week as part of the state’s criminal justice reform effort. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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There is a new material being developed in Louisiana that can keep homes drier when flooded.

Cut 3   (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”  

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Halloween is a time for celebration, but State Fire Marshal Butch Browning reminds the public some costumes and decorations are highly flammable. Browning says costumes should have a fire retardant coating, so they don’t easily burn. He also says nearly half of all home fires during Halloween are a result of decorations too close to a heat source.

Cut 4  (11) “your home “

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are over 10-thousand fires in American each year in the days leading up to and following Halloween. Browning says when cooking outside, make sure to keep grills and fire pits away from the home and wooden decks.

Cut 5  (08)  “messages”

Browning says fire around Halloween results in about 25 deaths and 125 injuries. He says jack-o-lanterns, paper spiders and dried cornstalks are very common decorations but are highly flammable.

Cut 6 (10) “be controlled”

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Changes have been made to Mega Millions. It will result in larger multi-state jackpot prizes, but the price of a ticket has increased from one to two dollars. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kimberly Chopin says the higher ticket price will mean the starting jackpot starts at 40 million, instead of 15 million dollars.  Chopin says the odds of winning of the jackpot will increase, but other enhancements to the game will lead to more winners for the smaller prizes.

Cut 7 (05)  “more millionaires”

Chopin says they anticipate the average jackpot to be 371-million dollars…

Cut 8 (11) “jackpots”

Chopin says the first drawing for the revised Mega Millions game is tomorrow night. She says they know larger jackpots will lead to more players for Mega Millions.

Cut 9 (07)  “similar”

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Prison reform measures go into effect Wednesday when some 14-hundred non-violent offenders will be released as a result of changes to the state’s sentencing laws.  It’s an effort led by Governor John Bel Edwards to lower the state’s incarceration rate which is considered the highest in the world.  State Corrections Secretary Jimmy LeBlanc says most of these prisoners set free this week were nearing their release…

Cut 10 (07)  “get out.”

Caddo Parrish Sheriff Steve Prator was critical of the reform effort.  Prator said he learned of one man that was arrested 52 times under 34 different names would be released this week.  LeBlanc says Prator was using bad information and the sheriff has realized his error…

Cut 11 (07) “justice reform.”

Lowering the incarceration rate is estimated to save the state 262-million-dollars over ten years, most of the savings will go towards rehabilitation programs…

Cut 12 (06) “these guys.”

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Whether we like it or not, flooding is a disaster that happens in Louisiana.   An LSU AgCenter building science instructor has found an effective way to repair flooded homes at a quicker pace.  Bill Robinson calls it wet-proofing by using glass faced drywall.  He says it’s easy to dry out these walls if they get damaged…

Cut 13 (10) “it’s done.”

There are some downsides.  The first question that comes up is the cost.  There is about a 25 percent increase in construction costs, but Robinson says the long term benefits are worth it…

Cut 14 (07) “me later.”

The paperless drywall is being used as an experiment at Louisiana House on LSU’s campus and is also being installed in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans 12 years after Hurricane Katrina.  He says he is finding those homeowners are willing to upgrade to his method once they see the benefits…

Cut 15 (11) “do it.”

Robinson has posted some of his instructional videos on You Tube and hopes to further his findings by meeting with West Monroe officials this week.

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The Saints are on a five game winning streak after beating the Chicago Bears 20-12. New Orleans did a lot of things well, the defense gave up just one touchdown, quarterback Drew Brees threw for 299 yards, Will Lutz kicked two field goals and running back Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara each had rushing touchdowns. But Ingram also fumbled twice in the 4th quarter, which almost led to a come from behind win for the Bears…

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Brees it’s encouraging the Saints are winning football games, even though they have yet to play their best football…

Cut 17 (11)  “come together”

The Saints are now 5-2 and host 2-5 Tampa Bay this Sunday. New Orleans is in first place in the NFC South a half-a-game ahead of Carolina. Brees says they have to keep their foot on the gas, because they have lofty goals to accomplish this season…

Cut 18 (22) “on that ” 

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Louisiana Tech snapped a two-game losing streak by beating Rice 42-28. The game was tied at 28 late in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs mounted a 11-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Boston Scott. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz…

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Quarterback J’Mar Smith bounced back from a bad performance in a loss to Southern Miss. Smith threw for 237 yards and a touchdown and also big-time nine-yard run on the game winning drive. Holtz on the play of signal caller…

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A survey from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission finds pickup truck drivers still aren’t buckling up as much as those in other vehicles. Jeff Palermo has more…

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The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office says they arrested a suspect in Grambling State University’s deadly shooting…

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Some of the coldest air we’ve seen in some time is descending on Louisiana.  A cold front is moving through which will drop temperatures to near freezing in some northern areas.  Heavy rain is possible with the cold front, which state climatologist Barry Keim says could affect some high school games…

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This will be just the start of what is to be a very cold weekend.  Keim says the cold Canadian air will affect the entire state…

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Keim says to expect sub normal temperatures for Halloween trick or treating…

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The last time temperatures were this cold were in north Louisiana was in mid-March.

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A survey from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission finds Louisianans are buckling up but drivers and passengers in pickup trucks are not doing so as often. Executive Director Dr. Katara Williams says the seat belt usage rate has consistently increased annually in the Bayou State since 2009. But she says many residents in our state drive trucks, so we must convince them to buckle up.

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Drivers in Lake Charles and New Orleans had the highest overall seat belt usage rates at 92-percent and 90-percent. Williams says drivers and riders in pickup trucks buckle up at a rate of 82-percent compared to cars which is 89-percent.

Cut 7 (10) “the highway”

Alexandria and Baton Rouge drivers and passengers had the lowest rates when it comes to wearing seat belts at nearly 83-percent and 85-percent. Williams says there is an upward trend across the state with more African American drivers and passengers wearing their seat belts. She says in 2015, there was a 10-percent gap between black and white drivers who buckled up.

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National Prescription Drug Takeback day is Saturday.  State Police are helping bring awareness to the potential for medication abuse by offering a way to get rid of unused prescriptions.  A Journal of the American Medical Association study recently revealed 42 percent of prescribed medicine for post surgical pain was not used and 67 percent of patients had leftover medicine. State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says these drugs are commonly taken from people they know…

Cut 9 (07)     “family members.” 

900-thousand pounds worth of prescription drugs were turned in during last year’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.  Lee says the number could go higher if others become aware of the kinds of prescriptions they forgot about…

Cut 10 (07) “not using.”

The Centers for Disease Control say over 33-thousand people died in 2015 from overdoses on opioids.  Even if you can’t participate Saturday, Lee says there are locations available any time…

Cut 11 (11) “off locations.” 

All nine State Police Troops will participate Saturday from 10am to 2pm.  The service is free and anonymous.

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The 14^th annual Louisiana Book Festival is tomorrow in Baton Rouge. The event brings in about 30-thousand people to the State Library and State Capital. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser expects a great crowd, despite the projected cool temperatures. He says the free festival has music along with great books.

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The festival features over 250 authors and panelists. Nungesser says it’s a festival like no other and well worth the drive to Baton Rouge. He says they just challenged the state’s high school students to redesign the Louisiana Seafood logo.

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A federal judge agrees with Alton Sterling protesters in a class action lawsuit against Baton Rouge law enforcement agencies. A hearing was held Friday morning involving about 80 protesters who were arrested last year. The ACLU of Louisiana filed a similar lawsuit but one that did not seek damages. Executive Director Marjorie Esman applauds the ruling…:

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The plaintiffs will receive a combined total of about $136,000, which amounts to individual payments ranging from $500-$1000. Esman says she hopes law enforcement in Baton Rouge has learned a lesson…:

Cut 15 (04) “why they are protesting”

Someone in Eunice bought a Powerball ticket last night that’s worth 191 million dollars. Emelie Gunn has more…

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The 111th State Fair of Louisiana begins a 14-day run in Shreveport today, with shows, rides and livestock. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

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A 191 million dollar Powerball jackpot ticket was sold last night at a gas station in Eunice. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says the last time the Bayou State saw a Powerball jackpot winner was in May of 2013. She says the previous Powerball jackpot record was 97-million dollars in 2008.

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Chopin says if the winner decides to take the cash value of the jackpot, they will receive 119-million dollars. She says the lucky winner has 180 days from the drawing to claim their prize, but they should take their time before coming forward.

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Chopin says the winning ticket was sold at Brownie’s on West Maple Ave. She says the Louisiana Lottery gives the store a bonus for selling jackpot winning tickets.

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The 111^th State Fair of Louisiana starts a 14-day run in Shreveport today with shows, rides and livestock.  Fair president and general manager Chris Giordano says there’s also a lot of food vendors, with a few putting a special focus on a particular fan favorite…

Cut 6 (09)  “with bacon.”

A special tribute band will perform this weekend during their Southern Soul series.  Giordano says some musical greats will be impersonated by Bobby Miller Sunday…

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The fair has expanded their entertainment venue this year.  Giordano says the fair not only has the state’s largest horse and livestock shows, they are adding exotic animals for entertainment…

Cut 8 (08) “this year.”

All entertainment is included in the price of gate admission for ten-dollars.  Carnival ride armbands are sold separately at 30-dollars.  The fair will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

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Authorities say the man who murdered a woman whose body was found in Pineville last week, is also the person that allegedly killed two people, who were burned in a ditch on Old Boyce Highway that same morning. Rapides Sheriff William Hilton says Matthew Sonnier now faces three counts of first-degree murder…

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The bodies in the ditch have been identified as Kendrick Horn and Jeremy Norris, both men were in Alexandria. Hilton says they also arrested Sonnier’s sister, Ebony Sonnier and she’s facing charges that could result in the death penalty for the murder of the two men found in the burned out ditch…

Cut 10 (10) “criminal conspiracy”

Pineville Police have upgraded the murder charge of Matthew Sonnier to first-degree murder and his sister is also facing the same charge for the stabbing death of Latish White. Pineville Police Chief Don Weatherford…

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Good news for Louisiana’s tourism industry. Nearly 25 percent of the new jobs in the state were related to tourism.  Over six-thousand new travel related jobs were created in the last 12 months, based on data from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says not only is the industry creating jobs, but it’s bringing in a large portion of the state’s tax revenue…

Cut 12 (10) “on investment.”

Nungesser says this is one industry that has huge growth potential in all corners of Louisiana…

Cut 13 (12)  “their communities.”

Nungesser says tourism is ripe for employee growth and promotion within already established business.  He has talked with several who have moved up the chain…

Cut 14 (09) “them grow.”

The expanding tourism market has helped to decrease the state’s unemployment rate to 5-point-1-percent in September, a full percent lower from the same month in 2016.