The latest campaign finance numbers in the Louisiana’s governor’s race shows Republican David Vitter still has the most cash on hand with $4 million. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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The historic O-K Allen Bridge will be demolished this Saturday. Emelie Gunn has more on why…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The latest campaign finance numbers in the Louisiana’s governor’s race shows Republican David Vitter still has the most cash on hand with $4 million. Republican Jay Dardenne reports $1.6 million, Democrat John Bel Edwards has $1.4 million, and Republican Scott Angelle has about $1 million. LaPolitics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says, when you throw in cash from a pro-Vitter Super PAC, the senator has over $7 million available…

CUT 3 (09)  “to compete”

He says Super PAC money matters quite a bit as we enter the final four weeks of the campaign. Alford says, although Vitter dwarfs his competitors in the amount of cash on hand, it doesn’t mean they can’t compete…

CUT 4 (08)  “ground game”

Alford says Edwards raised the most money of any candidate in the last quarter. He says Vitter wants to face Edwards in the runoff, since no Democrat has won a statewide office in Louisiana in seven years. Alford says this does pose an intriguing question…

CUT 5 (07) “finance report”

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A significant piece of central Louisiana’s history will be removed with the demolition of the O-K Allen Bridge on Saturday. The new Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge is currently being built right next to the old one and will be closed to traffic during the destruction. D-O-T-D Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says….

CUT 6 (09) “to this”

Mallett says the O-K Allen Bridge, which has connected Alexandria to Pineville, has been in place for almost 80 year but its usefulness has come and gone. He says once motorists get used to all the perks of the using the Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge, they’ll be thankful.

CUT 7 (11)  “awful quick”

Mallett says the northbound side of the Curtis-Coleman Memorial Bridge is now open two ways until the southbound portion is completed. He says this bridge will help to fix many current traffic problems.

CUT 8 (07)  “as well” 

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Ohio Republican Congressman John Boehner has announced he will step down as Speaker of the House and resign his US House seat at the end of October. It’s reported that the announcement came after intense pressure from conservative Republicans for him to take a harder line on their causes. Minden Representative John Fleming feels Boehner made the appropriate decision…

CUT 9 (11)  “fresh ideas”

He says there’s been a ground swell among the GOP base that Boehner’s leadership in the House has not been effective. Fleming says he’ll keep an open mind on the selection of the next Speaker, but will be looking for certain traits…

cut 10 (08)  “in the past”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves appreciates the public service Boehner’s given over the past several years but feels a change in leadership is needed. He says voters clearly stated in last November’s election that they want change…

Cut 11 (09)  “didn’t see it”

He says, moving forward, they need to look for the best new leadership for the future and one that will be responsive to what voters want. Graves says with some big issues facing Louisiana, it’s important that we have a strong position on the new House leadership team…

cut 12 (06)  “shot for us”

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With more than 7-thousand LSU fans in upstate New York this weekend for the game, some are worried Syracuse might not have enough beer to accommodate The Tigers. Visit Syracuse Communications Manager Nikita Jankowski says they’ve partnered with Visit Baton Rouge to enhance LSU fan’s experience in the college town.

cut 13 (10)  “get here”

Jankowski seriously doubts they’ll run out of beer because they’re now one of the biggest craft breweries towns in the country. She says the people of Syracuse love their beer, just like Louisianans.

cut 14 (09)  “one here”

Jankowski says Syracuse is home to a variety of wineries, cideraries and breweries, as well as, some great shopping, with the biggest mall in the state. She says the entire town is excited to have LSU as guests and the people are eager to show off their region.

cut 15 (09) “you guys” 

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Saints Quarterback Drew Brees’ banged up throwing shoulder will not allow him to play Sunday against Carolina. Its the first time in Brees’ 15-year career that he’ll miss a game due to injury. Luke McCown will get the start and he says if he follows the game plan, they should be able to score some points…

cut 16 (11) “for you” 

McCown has been taking the reps with the first-team offense as Brees has watched during practice this week. The former Louisiana Tech standout has studied the game tape and he’s ready for the challenge of facing the Panthers…

cut 17 (11) “give you fits”

On the eve  of ten year Hurricane Rita anniversary. Eric Gill takes a look at the hardest hit area from the storm, Cameron Parish…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Two relatives of Breaux Bridge actress and model Ali Landry were attacked and killed in Mexico. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana Tech reports the highest enrollment it’s ever had for the 125-year history of the school. The headcount is at 12,414 students for the fall quarter, a 10-percent increase over last year. The previous record was just under 12-thousand in 2003. University spokesperson Dave Guerin says they are also seeing an increase in other key areas as well…

CUT 3 (08)  “graduation rate”

The school reported earlier this year that’s graduation rate went up four-percent to 54-percent, the second highest among all public universities. Guerin says a big key to the record enrollment is that 81-percent of first-time, full-time freshman in 2014 are back at Tech this year…

CUT 4 (06)  “graduate them”

Guerin says over 55-percent first-time freshmen at Louisiana Tech scored at over above 24 on their ACT. He says a strong student retention effort is helping to build a larger and stronger student body…

CUT 5 (08) “they graduate”

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Tomorrow marks the ten year anniversary of Hurricane Rita making landfall in Louisiana. Cameron Parish was the hardest hit area from the storm with farmland and pasture inundated with saltwater and numerous homes flooded or washed away. Kevin Savoie, LSU AgCenter agent in Cameron Parish, says recovery has been slow over the past decade, but there are positive signs…

CUT 6 (09) “tax base”

He says there are some big Liquid Natural Gas projects in the parish that will help the local economy. The seafood industry in Cameron Parish was decimated as a result of Rita with docks and the only ice house being destroyed. Savoie says a big project is nearly complete that will hopefully revitalize the industry…

CUT 7 (06)  “processing facility”

He is hopeful the LNG projects and the new seafood processing facility will help sustain Cameron Parish in the long run. Savoie says, ten years later, there is still an issue of people moving back to Cameron Parish…

CUT 8 (06)  “that number” 

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Pope Francis is in Washington DC today for first full day in the United States. During a speech at the White House, he  urged those in attendance that its time to combat climate change. Doctor Tom  Ryan, director of the Loyola Institute of Ministry, says Pope Francis was not making a political statement, but instead reminding Americans we have one Earth and have to protect it

CUT 9 (04)  “our very life”

Pope Francis also spoke about protecting religious freedom. Ryan says even though President Obama was present for the speech, it was not directed at him or even conservatives for that matter…

cut 10 (07)  “deep faith commitment”

Tomorrow, the US Senate and House will have a joint session to hear from Pope Francis as he’ll make his first-ever address to Congress. Ryan says after talking about climate change and religious freedom in front of the President, what will he say to legislative leaders???

Cut 11 (06)  “…challenging us”

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The Division of Administration has begun notifying legislative leaders that the state ended its most recent budget year, which ended on June 30th, with a deficit. An exact amount of the deficit has not been released. Political pundit CB Forgotston says he isn’t surprised there was a deficit, but is surprised that the Jindal administration has waited so long to release the information…

cut 12 (08)  “intelligent votes”

The size of the deficit is expected to be announced to the Legislature’s joint budget committee in mid-October. Each of the four major gubernatorial candidates have stated that they will call a special legislative session to deal with the state’s budget issues, once sworn into office. Forgotston doesn’t think much will be done in this special session…

cut 13 (07)  “raise taxes”

This deficit has to be closed within nine months and adds to the state’s long list of budget issues. Many of the same legislators who struggled with the state’s budget problems this year will return to the capital for next year’s legislative session. Forgotston doesn’t foresee many changes in how they will deal with the budget…

cut 14 (10)  “of both”

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