A rally being held in Monroe on Saturday will help get guns off the streets. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Two are dead after an inmate at David Wade Correctional Center walked away from a work assignment and a wild episode ensued. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The Mermentau (Mer-men-tow) Chief of Police is behind bars on theft charges. Master Trooper Brooks David says in June, the Acadia Parish District Attorney’s Office contacted State Police in reference to a complaint about Chief Amos Crader making withdrawals from the police association’s bank account, which he opened.

Cut 3 (06) “personal gain”

David says they were able to secure an arrest warrant for Crader this month. He says the chief was taken into custody on multiple charges.

Cut 4  (09) “awaiting trial”

David says no matter who breaks the law, authorities will always hold them accountable.

Cut 5  (08)  “are filed”

A rare summer cold front is expected to move through the state tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this cool air coming in from Canada will bring an increased chance for thunderstorms but a brief break from the normal heat and humidity we feel in July.

Cut 6 (11) “on this”

Keim says Sunday into Monday we’re going to feel a significant reduction in humidity as drier air settles across the state. He says while the temperature will still be hot, there will be a noticeable difference.

Cut 7 (10)  “your garden”

________________________________________________

Community leaders in Monroe are hoping to clean up the streets with a Gun Buy-Back Rally at Charles Johnson Park on Saturday. Rally coordinator Pastor Vance Price says they’re hoping to reduce violence in the city, after three young people have died as a result of gun violence. He says if we can get these guns off the street, lives could be saved.

Cut 8 (10) “out of the way”

Price says from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., gun owners can drop off their legal weapons at the rally. No ID is required, but weapons must be securely wrapped in a package that is clearly visible when carrying. He says all attendees have to do is speak with one of the police officers at the rally, and they’ll start the process.

Cut 9 (08)  “gift card”

Price says this event is about starting a dialogue in the community about ending gun violence. He says there will be a safe, family friendly atmosphere at the rally. He says the theme is Family Fun: Save a Life, Turn in a Gun.

Cut 10 (08) “walks of life”

__________________________________________________________

Two people are dead after a trustee at David Wade Correctional Center walked away from a work assignment and kidnapped the assistant warden’s step daughter. Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey says 39-year-old Deltra Henderson stole a vehicle Thursday and abducted 19-year-old Amanda Carney on the prison grounds…

Cut 11 (09) “correctional center”

The Sheriff says Henderson wrecked the vehicle and stole another one before crashing it too. Bailey says the inmate’s life eventually ended during a standoff on prison property….

Cut 12 (09) “was killed”

Carney graduated in May from Summerfield High and planned to attend Southern Arkansas University. Summerfield principal Shane Lee says it’s a tough time for the entire community.

Cut 13 (08) “right now”

Henderson was sentenced for the convictions of attempted armed robbery, aggravated burglary and distribution of cocaine and was set to be released from prison in 2025.

__________________________________________________________

Southwest Electric Power Company is now in the wind business, as the company announces the Wind Catcher Energy Connection Project that will provide new wind energy to SWEPCO customers. Company spokesperson Scott McCloud says SWEPCO will own 1,400 megawatts of a 2,000 megawatt wind farm currently under construction in Oklahoma.

Cut 14 (10) “in the future”

McCloud says this is the largest single site wind project in the US. SWEPCO serves 230,000 customers in northwest and central Louisiana. He says this project will save all SWEPCO customers more than $5 billion over the 25 year life of the windfarm.

Cut 15 (08) “power cost”

The company will also save dollars through renewable energy tax credits and more cost-effective delivery of the wind energy through the new dedicated power line. McCloud say construction on the windfarm began in January, and customers will start to see savings in the years to come.

Cut 16  (08)  “in 2021”

__________________________________________________________

Cajun musicians mourn the loss of local legend D. L. Menard, who passed away today at the age of 85. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome calls comments made at yesterday’s Metro Council meeting hateful, offensive, and unacceptable. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

New ULM athletics director Nick Floyd laid out his vision for Warhawk athletics today during his introductory press conference. Floyd says his number one priority is to run an athletic program with the highest degree of integrity….

Cut 3 (12) “be accountable”

Floyd says takes over an athletic program that is known as the lowest funded in the country out of the 128 FBS schools. He says fiscal responsibility is just the nature of the business…

Cut 4  (12) “manner possible”

Floyd has 33 years in collegiate athletics management. Since 2004, he’s served as the executive associate director of athletics at East Carolina. Last school year ULM’s football, men’s basketball and baseball program all finished with losing records. Floyd says he wants to win at a high level…

Cut 5  (09)  “best experience possible”

The Cajun music community says goodbye to a legend, as D.L. Menard passed away at the age of 85. Executive Director of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, Mike Shepherd, says Menard was known as the Cajun Hank Williams. Menard even met the country music icon in 1951.

Cut 6 (11) “of him”

Born Doris Leon Menard, the zydeco music idol started playing music in the 40s. He picked up the guitar when he was 15 and began his professional career at 17. Shepherd says Menard’s 2010 album nominated for a Grammy for best Zydeco/Cajun album. He says Menard is best known for his hit song “The Back Door.”

Cut 7 (10)  “in 1952”

Shepherd says Menard is survived by his children. He says his son Larry plays in a Hall of Fame Band called Atchafalaya. He says Menard was always supportive of young artists and became a role model for many.

Cut 8 (10) “Cajun music”

________________________________________________

East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome condemns remarks made at a Metro Council meeting, where a community activist suggested the police ambush was justice for Alton Sterling. Arthur “Silky Slim” Reed told Mayor Pro-temp Scott Wilson justice has been served for Sterling.

Cut 9 (06)  “Gavin Long came”

Broome says these remarks in no way reflect the views of her administration or the people of Baton Rouge. Reed asserts no call was made to emergency services the night Sterling was fatally shot outside at Baton Rouge convenience store. He went on to say that Officer Blane Salamoni started the uproar when he shot Sterling.

Cut 10 (06) “officers killed”

Broome called Reed’s comments hateful, offensive, and unacceptable. She says the memories of the fallen officers should be honored and preserved. Reed says the justice system in Baton Rouge is being run by a bunch of criminals. He says he’s not anti-police, he’s anti-injustice.

Cut 11 (09) “to kill”

Wilson says several people had to be escorted out of last night’s heated meeting, and Reed was one of them. He says this was supposed to be a chance for members of the community to vent and express their frustrations, but things got out of hand.

Cut 12 (08) “that’s disrespectful”

__________________________________________________________

The state Department of Education announced today that for the 5^th straight year, advanced placement student results have increased dramatically in Louisiana. In 2017, there was a 10-percent jump from last year in high school students earning college credits. State Superintendent of Education John White says there is continuing pattern of significant academic progress.

Cut 13 (09) “five years”

White says African American students have also made great strides this year when it comes to Advanced Placement credits. He says the number of African Americans students earning college credits have increased 17-percent, earning a 3, 4, or 5 score.

Cut 14 (08) “accomplishment” 

White says the East Baton Rouge Parish School District has made the most noticeable gains when it comes to African American students receiving college credits. He says overall, these numbers show the dedication advanced placement teachers put in to teaching their students.

Cut 15 (09) “educators hold”

US Senator John Kennedy proposed an amendment to the healthcare bill that would require people to work in order to receive Medicaid. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The West Nile virus is ramping up in Louisiana as seven cases of the illness have been reported to the Office of Public Health. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The Public Service Commission votes to approve Entergy’s plan to install new meters at every Louisiana customer’s residence. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________________________

U.S. Senator John Kennedy proposes a new federal health care law should require abled bodied adults without children to work in order to receive Medicaid. That’s one of several amendments Kennedy filed as the debate continues over an effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He says he doesn’t want to take Medicaid away from those who need it. He just wants fewer people to need it.

Cut 4  (07) “a job”

Kennedy says the current Senate Health Care bill imposes a 20 hour a week work requirement for abled bodied adults without dependents. But it leaves it up to each governor’s discretion. Kennedy wants to remove the option for the governors.

Cut 5  (10)  “for Medicaid”

The amendment does exempt people under age 19, those in addiction treatment programs, and young adults in school or work training programs. Kennedy says he wants everyone to know the dignity of work, which is why he’s pushing for this nationwide requirement. He says this is about helping people transition off of welfare programs.

Cut 6 (10) “get a job”

________________________________________________________

West Nile activity is picking up in Louisiana as the state Office of Public Health says seven individuals have been diagnosed with the mosquito borne disease this month. Three cases have been reported in the Baton Rouge area and the others are in in Bossier, Ouachita, Rapides and Morehouse. OPH Assistant Secretary Dr. Parham Jaberi says each year we’re seeing a decrease in cases from the year before…

Cut 7 (10)  “can become”

Two deaths were reported from the West Nile Virus in 2016 and none have been reported this year. Jaberi says mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, which Louisiana has seen a lot of after recent rainfall.

Cut 8 (11) “mosquito”

Jaberi says 90-percent of West Nile cases are asymptomatic. But he says a very small percentage of individuals who contract the virus will develop the neuroinvasive disease.

Cut 9 (10)  “status”

________________________________________________________

A vote from the Public Service Commission means Entergy Louisiana customers will have upgraded meters at their homes by 2021. Entergy spokesperson Greg Guilbeau says customers will be notified when crews will change their meters, but they should not see a noticeable disruption in service.

Cut 10 (09) “the new meter”

Guilbeau says upgrading to these advanced meters will provide numerous benefits. He says customers will get more detailed information on energy use, so they can take control of their energy consumption.

Cut 11 (12) “run it today”

Guilbeau says Entergy will start installing the new meters in 2019. He says this new technology will also help with outage detection. He says the new system will allow the company to know right away if a customer loses power.

Cut 12 (10) “back on”

_________________________________________________

Can the Saints return to the playoffs this year? For the last three years, the Black and Gold have finished with a record of 7-and-9. Coach Sean Payton says he likes the additions they’ve made on defense and they are deep in the secondary, which should help out their offense….

Cut 13 (12) “equally as important”

Payton says there’s a lot of work ahead for this team, because they play in a tough division and the beginning of the schedule is difficult. He looks forward to progress they’ll make during training camp….

Cut 14 (09) “especially early”

Payton says some of the toughest position battles will take place along the defensive line….

Cut 15 (20) “battles shape up”

____________________________________________________