Many Louisiana residents spent time this afternoon watching the solar eclipse. On the LSU campus, hundreds of students gathered at the Parade grounds. This biological science major says college aged kids have never seen anything like this in their lifetime…
cut 13 (05) “…families’

The Department of Children and Family Services announces over half a million dollars of child support payments have been paid through MoneyGram in the first six months of the year. Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales says they’ve seen an increase in participation after allowing electronic payments…:
Cut 3 (13) “paying cash”
Payments for the first six months of the year totaled more than $530,000.

LSU students aren’t the only ones back on campus today, as the new Mike VII is greeting students from his habitat. Michelle Southern has more…
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of Metairie is telling his colleagues that he will wait until his doctors give him the okay, before he returns to the Capitol. A spokesperson for the Republican lawmaker says Scalise was on a conference call with GOP legislators today to discuss spending bills. Scalise was shot in June in the hip and is undergoing inpatient rehabilitation, after undergoing several surgeries.

Minden Police arrest a 25-year-old for allegedly taking a two-month old child from his home and leaving him underneath an I-20 overpass. Authorities are still trying to determine why 25-year-old Kyshaun Wilson kidnapped the toddler and left the infant under a bridge. Wilson is friends with the people who lived at the home taking care of the baby. Wilson reportedly told a homeless person he left a child under a bridge in Minden and the child was found sleeping under the Sibley exit.

Big day on the LSU campus, it’s the first day of classes and the new live mascot is wandering around in his habitat. A junior on campus says having a new Mike is a great way to kick off the new school year…
cut 11 (09) “…through the day”
The 11-month-old male tiger arrived last week in Baton Rouge was confined to his night house until this morning.

The Department of Children and Familhy Services says child support payments paid through Moneygram have totaled more than 530-thousand dollars. Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales says the electronic payments has led to an overall increase in child support collections, which benefits the child and everyone involved…
cut 5 (09) “…all parties’

A report by Caring.com finds Louisiana is the 32nd best state to grow old. Caring.com Vice President Tim Sullivan says the quality of Louisiana’s nursing homes could use some major improvement. But he says this doesn’t mean the elderly in the Bayou State will have to suffer….
cut 8 (10) “….your area”
The study incorporated statistics on senior living community reviews, nursing home costs, in-home care prices and elderly well-being assessments.

US Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is touring Denham Springs today, one year after the majority of the town was under water. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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An audit of the state’s foster care system uncovered shortcomings in the state program. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Quarterback Lindsey Scott is transferring from LSU. The redshirt-freshman quarterback from Zachary announced his decision on twitter this morning. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says Scott is behind starter Danny Etling and true freshman Myles Brennan on the depth chart…

Cut 3 (10) “too much”

Lowell Narcisse and Justin McMillan are the other scholarship quarterbacks on the roster. Scott signed with LSU in 2016 after helping Zachary win a state championship in football. Worsham says Scott faced long odds to get any serious playing time at LSU after Head Coach Ed Orgeron signed Narcisse and Brennan in his first recruiting class…

Cut 4  (05) “better way”

Head Coach Ed Orgeron said in a statement that Scott is a great young man and they wish him all of the best in the future. Scott is the 11th player to leave the LSU program since Orgeron took over and Worsham says you see that happen a lot when a new coach takes over…

Cut 5  (10)  “in roster”

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Today, a new boutique paddle wheeler cruise ship makes her maiden voyage from the Port of New Orleans. Port spokesperson Donnell Jackson says the American Duchess is an all-suite 166-guest ship offering inland cruises in the Lower Mississippi River.

Cut 6 (11) “loft suites”

Two dining venues on the shop offer open seating and regionally-inspired cuisine with complementary beer and wine at dinner. Jackson says the paddle wheeler will leave New Orleans and head up river, making stops at historic sites and attractions along the way.

Cut 7 (08)  “in Baton Rouge”

The American Duchess is the third vessel in the American Queen Steamboat Company’s fleet. Jackson says 2016 marked the third consecutive year that the Port of New Orleans saw more than a million cruise passengers, and they hope this new paddle wheeler cruise ship will help to continue that trend.

Cut 8 (11) “of New Orleans”

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US Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is touring Denham Springs today, one year after the majority of the city was under water in the August 2016 floods. He is slated to be with Mayor Gerard Landry who said on Talk Louisiana memories of the devastating event are something no resident in the Livingston Parish city will ever forget…:

Cut 9 (10)  “not a sprint”

Landry says a little over 77% of the structures in the city received 18 inches or more. He says, for the most part, businesses that were impacted have either rebuilt or relocated, but it’s the citizens that are having the hardest time in the recovery, especially those not insured…:

Cut 10 (10) “these folks”

Carson is expected to hold a news conference this afternoon at 4:15. Landry says what makes this historic event stand out most was how fast the water rose and essentially took everyone by surprise. He says City Hall itself got 52 inches of water within a matter of three hours, and during that time it was “all hands on deck” to head out and start saving people…:

Cut 11 (09) “to even think”

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An audit of the state’s foster care program unveiled some not-so-surprising shortcomings. Karen Leblanc with the legislative auditor’s office says they found not all foster care providers had the required criminal background checks. They either had no check, or they were not completed in a timely manner. She says that’s not the only shocking discovery they made.

Cut 12 (10) “foster care provider”

The audit also found that not all children who came into the program received the necessary physical and behavioral health services. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they’ve been trying to call attention to the problem after the department lost 2,000 workers under the previous administration. She says cases workers average 16 cases each, putting a heavy burden on vital employees.

Cut 13 (12) “of caseloads”

The maximum recommended case load is 10 per case worker. Walters blames a high turnover rate and increasing number of foster kids in the system. That’s why the legislative auditor recommended the department evaluate staffing levels and request additional funding. Leblanc says they’re also recommending DCFS take advantage of other services offered in the state.

Cut 14 (11) “help them”

Walters says the department has already taken steps to improve the foster care program, like taking extra steps to hire new workers and restructuring the system to decrease the work load. She says they’ve also launched new programs like the Quality Parenting Initiative, which is a new way for the staff to work with foster parents.

Cut 15 (08) “in this problem”

A newly formed PAC supporting cops in the state is trying to get the word out about who they are, and what they’re all about. Chris Stewart is the Executive Director of the Louisiana Law Enforcement PAC. He says their group plans to tackle matters that affect police officers statewide…:
Cut 13 (08) “that they have on them”
You can find out more online at LLEPAC.com.

It’s been two months since congressional leaders were the target of an attack at a Virginia ball park. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise continues to recover from a gunshot wound to the hip. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves.
Cut 7 (10) “that is amazing”
Graves believes Scalise will return to Capitol Hill when lawmakers re-convene following the August recess.

Health officials urge the public to protect themselves against mosquitos after an Alexandria man died from West Nile Virus. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Quarterback Lindsey Scott is transferring from the LSU program. The redshirt-freshman quarterback from Zachary announced his decision on twitter this morning. Head Coach Ed Orgeron said in a statement that Scott is a great young man and they wish him all of the best in the future. Scott was behind starter Danny Etling and true freshman Myles Brennan on the depth chart.

There is a new political action committee looking out for the best interests of police officers and deputies. Executive Director of the Louisiana Law Enforcement PAC, Chris Stewart, says they are supporting law enforcement by promoting policies and candidates for elected office that will help officers serve and protect communities more safely and effectively. Stewart says they also want to lure more people to the law enforcement profession….
cut 14 (10) “…to it”

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise could return to Capitol Hill soon. Here’s Congressman Garret Graves with an update….
cut 8 (10) “…very high”
Scalise has undergone several surgeries since he was shot in the hip two months ago. He’s currently undergoing intense rehabilition.

LSU researchers found the Gulf of Mexico has some of the highest concentrations of microplastics in the world. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A Mississippi man is in jail after he drove on to the runway of the Slidell Municipal Airport and started doing donuts. Police say 49-year-old John Robertson of Kilmichael, Mississippi, told officers he was just being stupid. He was charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle. Airport officials are trying to determine how Robertson gained access to the runway.