Attorney General Jeff Landry reacts to a state judge ruling in his favor in a lawsuit filed by Governor John Bel Edwards. Emelie Gunn…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A Louisiana man is suing the state over a law that prevents him from getting married because he doesn’t have a birth certificate. Michelle Southern has more…

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Attorney General Jeff Landry is pleased a Baton Rouge judge has ruled in his favor in a lawsuit filed against him by Governor John Bel Edwards. A judge says Landry does NOT have to sign off on state contracts that contain language to protect against LGBT discrimination in the workplace. Landry says the question of the power of the attorney general has been resolved but…

Cut 3 (09) “to bed”

In April, Governor Edwards issued an executive order that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity to be included in most state contracts. Landry has since blocked dozens of state contracts, because he says the state legislature on many occasions has refused to protect LGBT individuals from discrimination in state law.

cut 4  (08) “objecting to”

Governor Edwards’ spokesperson Richard Carbo says the governor is reviewing his legal option, but says ruling does not impact the merits of the executive order. But Landry is still concerned the executive order is too overreaching.

Cut 5  (10)  “respect that”

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With 24 candidates in the US Senate race, it may come as a surprise that many Louisiana voters struggle to name even one. We asked Louisiana residents if they knew any of the two dozen candidates.

Cut 6 (10) “after that no”

The sidewalk pop quiz comes just ahead of tonight’s first statewide televised debate, which airs at 7pm on LPB. Some respondents were familiar with one candidate, but more for his controversial past than his current campaign.

CUT 7 (07)  “anybody else”

Analysts have said that voters are paying much more attention to what’s happening with presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. This woman says it’s not surprising voters are not tuned into the Senate race.

Cut 8 (09) “some more”

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A Louisiana man is suing over a state law that requires couples seeking marriage licenses to present a birth certificate, which can pose a problem for those born outside the US. 31-year-old Victor Vo of Lafayette has lived in this country since he was 3 months old and became a U.S. citizen when he was eight and recently had his marriage license application rejected by a court clerk. Attorney Marley Ann Brumme is representing Vo and says the law is unconstitutional and discriminatory.

Cut 9 (10)  “born abroad”

Denham Springs Representative Valarie Hodges wrote the 2015 law in question. She says it’s an effort to prevent marriage fraud. But Brumme says the law is overstepping the state’s authority.

Cut 10 (08) “with Louisiana”

Hodges says no law is perfectly written, and she is committed to tweaking the language if necessary. But managing director of the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice, Audrey Stewart, says Louisiana has a long history of discriminating against immigrants.

cut 11 (11) “to rights”

Hodges says she is working with Attorney General Jeff Landry to ensure that those who are in this country legally are encouraged and able to get married in Louisiana, whether they are native born or legal immigrants.

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In the race for the 3rd Congressional District, it appears as though it’s GOP Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle’s race to lose, as he’s raised more than rest of the field combined. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says this goes along with how the race has been from the very beginning…:

cut 12 (08) “and money”

Third Quarter Federal Elections Commission records show Angelle has over $1 million dollars in receipts through the third quarter, followed by little known Gus Rantz with more $620,000. Cross says Clay Higgins, a former police captain with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, is arguably the second best-known candidate in the race….:

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Cross says also worth mentioning for a potential runoff spot is Democrat Larry Rader because many people in the district would never vote Republican. He says there’s also a former state Representative who is a favorite in the district’s western region…:

cut 14 (10) “constituency”

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PSC Chairman and former Congressman Clyde Holloway of Forrest Hill has passed away at 72. Emelie Gunn has more…

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Louisiana’s high school graduation rate has hit a new high, as has the overall US rate. Michelle Southern reports on today’s numbers released by the White House.

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Food prices at the grocery store are down 13-percent from last year. That’s based on a survey from the American Farm Bureau. Louisiana Farm Bureau specialist Neil Melancon says the quarterly survey looks at prices of sixteen different food items and the numbers look much better than they did this time last year.

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Steak prices are down 11-percent, while chicken breasts are down 16-pecent and bacon decreased by 3-percent. Melancon says there was a spike in meat prices a few years ago, because the demand outweighed the supply of livestock, but the like livestock supply has been rebuilt.

cut 4  (08) “are now”

Prices for eggs have plummeted a whopping 51-percent, and whole milk is down 10-percent. Melancon expects the next survey, which will be conducted before Thanksgiving, will continue to show lower prices at the grocery store..

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Melancon says of the 16 items on the survey, only three increased in price- bagged salad by 16-percent, apples by 10-percent, and potatoes by 3-percent.

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Chairman of the Public Service Commission and former Congressman Clyde Holloway of Forrest Hill has passed away at the age of 72. Former state representative and close friend of Holloway, Woody Jenkins, says Holloway was the type of man who took the initiative and didn’t wait for someone else to tell him what needed to be done.

Cut 6 (10) “mobilize people”

A cause of death was not given. Jenkins says Holloway was an honest man with traditional conservative principles. He says Holloway fought hard to help his hometown of Forrest Hill and wasn’t afraid to run for any political office.

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Holloway served as one of five members of the PSC since 2009, and served in the US House of Representatives from 1987-1993. Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere says Holloway was one of the founders of the conservative movement in the state.

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A new survey released by JMC Analytics finds democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell tops the poll, coming in at over 23-percent. Pollster John Couvillon says democratic voters are rallying behind Campbell. He says fellow Democrat Caroline Fayard polls at 9-percent, so Campbell’s message seems to be getting out to minority voters.

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Couvillon says it looks like it’s now a fight for the second spot in the runoff with Republicans John Kennedy, John Fleming, and Charles Boustany all on each other’s heels. He says right now Kennedy is leading Fleming by one point, but Fleming is well positioned to make the runoff.

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The poll was commissioned by the Fleming campaign. Couvillon says Campbell is essentially a lock for the runoff. But he says we can be expect to see a big ramp up in ads from the three major republican candidates.

cut 11 (07) “etcetera”

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The US graduation rate is at an all time high, and so is Louisiana’s. According to a report released by the White House, the Bayou State’s graduation rate for 2014-2015 is 77.5 percent, compared to 74.6 percent the prior year. Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White…:

cut 12 (09) “future for life”

The overall US graduation rate went up to 83- percent. White says years ago Louisiana committed that graduating from high school would be a part of our state’s high school rating system…:

Cut 13 (08) “to make sure it happens”

The numbers from Washington show Asian Americans had a 90.2 percent graduation rate, whites were 88-percent and African Americans at 75-percent. White says Louisiana also has unfortunate gaps between low income students and their peers. He says Louisiana outpaces the nation in terms of improvement, but there is still a long way to go…:

cut 14 (10) “here at home in Louisiana”

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