Louisiana Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson a higher state gasoline tax is gaining traction as he meets with residents and those concerned about our roads and highways. Wilson says in order to address a 13 billion dollar backlog a higher tax is likely needed…
cut 5 (11) “…possibly inflation”
Wilson says it’s been almost 29 years since the state has adjusted the gasoline tax.

A poll by Raycom Media has Republican and former KKK leader David Duke polling at five-percent, which means he’ll get an invite to a televised debate on November second. ULM political science professor John Sutherlin says Duke, who ran for US Senate and Governor in the early 90s, still has good support in rural areas…
cut 10 (06) “….right now”
But Sutherlin doesn’t anticipate Duke making the run-off.

Governor John Bel Edwards is now asking for four-billion dollars in disaster relief funding from the federal government. His previous request was 2-point-8 billion dollars. In a statement, the governor says FEMA now estimates that the state’s unmet needs from historic floods in March and August are greater than the initial request.

The National Retail Federation says a record 84-million dollars will be spent across the country on Halloween costumes, decorations and candy. Spokesperson Ana Serafin Smith says the Presidential election is driving up costume sales as Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton masks are popular…
cut 13 (09) “…political characters”

A much anticipated cool front has made its way through the state and temperatures are much more fall-like. Freddie Ziegler, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says we can expect high temperatures in the 70s this weekend and we’ll see the lows dip into the 40s for the northern part of the state…:
Cut 15 (06) “below normal”
He says rain is out of the forecast this weekend and much of next week.

Louisiana Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says there’s growing support to increase the state’s gasoline tax. Wilson says that’s based on conversations with residents during meetings around the state. He anticipates several different proposals to increase the gasoline tax will be discussed during next year’s legislative session…
cut 4 (09) “…transportation”
It’s been almost 29 years since the state has adjusted the gas tax, and Wilson says it’s lost almost 50% of its value.
A Raycom Media Poll on the US Senate race has Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy and Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell leading the large field of candidates. Democrat Caroline Fayard finished third followed by Republican Congressmen Charles Boustany and John Fleming. ULM political Science Professor John Sutherlin…
cut 11 (11) “…Kennedy Campbell runoff”
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is trying to figure out how a 23 foot whale washed up on Little Florida Beach in Cameron Parish. Marine Biologist Mandy Tomlin says they did an extensive evaluation of the whale in the hopes of finding out how this happened…
cut 7 (11) …worked on”

Louisiana’s Attorney General is asking a judge to declare Governor John Bel Edwards executive order that attempts to protect LGBT individuals from workplace discrimination to be unconstitutional. Landry argues the state legislature has rejected several proposed laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity…
cut 8 (07) “…objecting to”
Edwards says Landry is putting his own political interests ahead of the needs of our state.

State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says, after meeting with residents in each region of the state, there seems to be growing support for increasing the state’s gasoline tax. He says the public realizes a bigger financial investment is needed on our roads and bridges…:
Cut 3 (09) “and improving infrastructure”
Wilson says there is a $13 billion dollar plus backlog in transportation projects.

A new Gallup poll finds that 60-percent of Americans support the legalization of recreational marijuana. David Brown is the director of Sensible Marijuana Policy for Louisiana and says it will be a long time before recreational pot use is legal in this state. But he says Louisiana lawmakers are approaching the matter with more of an open mind and the passage of medical marijuana legislation is a good example…
cut 6 (10) “…patients themselves”

Louisiana is looking at several days of beautiful fall weather. Freddie Ziegler, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says the temps are about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than they were the day before…:
cut 14 (11) “upper 50s”
He no rain is in the forecast for the weekend and much of next week.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a lawsuit that seeks to have a state judge declare Governor John Bel Edwards’ executive order that protects L-G-B-T individuals from discrimination in the workplace as unconstitutional. Landry believes the governor is circumventing the Legislature to create his own law…
cut 7 (07) “…of language”
The executive order says state employees can not be fired or harassed at work if they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The order extends to businesses that have state contracts and Landry has already refused to sign legal contracts with the anti-discrimination clause. Edwards believes he has the authority to issue such an order…
Cut 9 (08) “executive order”

A new poll on the US Senate race has Republican John Kennedy and Democrat Foster Campbell leading the large field of candidates. The poll was paid for by Raycom Media. Republican David Duke received five-percent in the survey and that will allow him to participate in a televised debate at Dillard University on November 2nd.

Louisiana travelers will have even more options next year because of an exciting announcement from British Airways. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The head of the Louisiana NAACP spoke before the House Judiciary Committee and provided recommendations on how law enforcement and the public can work better together. Ernest Johnson believes officers should be more familiar with citizens in the areas they patrol…:
Cut 8 (10) “the community”
Chairman Katrina Jackson plans to hold more meetings to come up with a universal community policing policy.

A new nonstop flight connecting London and New Orleans is coming soon. British Airways Senior Vice President Simon Brooks says starting in March, they will have flights leaving four times a week from Louis Armstrong to Heathrow Aiport…
CUT 5 (10) “and beyond”
New Orleans businessman and US Senate candidate Abhay Patel has dropped out of the US Senate race. Patel’s name will still appear on the ballot along with 23 other names running for US Senate. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says if any other minor candidates drop out, it won’t have a huge impact….
cut 13 (08) “….those five”
Patel has endorsed one of those five major canidates, Republican Charles Boustany.

LSU’s student paper, The Reveille, will end daily print editions in 2017, but expand it’s online efforts. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

It’s an exciting day for Louisiana travelers looking to go overseas, as British Airways announces there will be non-stop flights from New Orleans to London. Senior Vice President Simon Brooks says the flights will leave four times a week beginning March 27, 2017…
cut 3 (11) “…wonderful place”

The head of the Louisiana NAACP spoke before a House Committee to provide suggestions on how law enforcement and the public can work better together. Ernest Johnson says right now there is no policy where officers become involved as part of the community…:
Cut 10 (08) “certain communities”
The House Judiciary Committee wrapped up two days of hearings on interaction between law enforcement and citizens.

LSU’s school newspaper has made the decision to cut back from a daily newspaper to a once-a-week publication starting next semester. Reveillie editor in chief Quint Forgey says the decision was not easy, but the future is still bright for the newspaper and the students involved…
cut 16 (11) “…Baton Rouge”
Forgey says you also expect more of a digital presence at l-s-u-now-dot-com.

US Senate Republican candidate Abhay Patel has dropped out of the race and endorsed one of the G-O-P front-runners, Congressman Charles Boustany. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat…
cut 12 (10) “…little attention”
Patel struggled to gain much support in a crowded field.

Louisiana’s Attorney General Jeff Landry is asking a state judge to determine if Governor John Bel Edwards executive order that seeks to protect LGBT workers from discrimination in the workplace is constitutional. Landry claims it’s an executive overreach, while Edwards criticizes Landry for giving businesses the right to discriminate.

Louisiana travelers will have even more options next year because of an exciting announcement from British Airways. Halen Doughty has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The head of the Louisiana NAACP offered a state legislative committee some suggestions when it comes to improve relations between the community and police. Ernest Johnson says police officers should be required to go to church in the area they patrol and attend town hall meetings in plain closthes. He says it’s important for the officers to know the people they serve to protect…
cut 9 (10) ‘…desclate”

LSU’s school newspaper has decided that it will go from a daily publication to a weekly in effort to save costs. But Reveille editor in chief Quint Forgey says they will boost their on-line content and the once a week paper will be a good read….
cut 15 (08) “…be exciting”
The change will take place in January