A record number of Louisiana students have achieved an ACT score of 18 or higher that will allow them to go to college. Halen Doughty reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The nationwide average for a gallon of gas is at a 12 year low, according to AAA. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Eddie Bonine remains the executive director of the LHSAA. Emelie Gunn has more details…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Disabled veterans will see an increase in their compensation beginning next year thanks to a bill by Congressman Ralph Abraham that has just been signed into law. Abraham says the bill will adjust the amount of compensation veterans receive for disability, dependents, and clothing allowance, as well as compensation for surviving spouses.

cut 4  (08)  “all together”

Abraham says the increase is tied to the social security increase, so we won’t know how much more money these vets will get until the end of November.

Cut 5  (09)  “adjustments”

Abraham has been an advocate for veterans since he was elected to Congress in 2014. He says veterans have been failed in a lot of areas by the Department of Veterans Affairs. He says the VA has got to get better.

Cut 6 (12) “really are”

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More students than ever have achieved ACT scores that allow them to go to college, according to State Superintendent John White, who says the state’s composite ACT score has increased nearly a half a point since 2013. He says over 25-thousand students in the Class of 2016 scored an 18 or higher on the ACT.

CUT 7 (08)  “since 2012″

White says he credits this to the 2012 “ACT for All” initiative that allows students to take the exam at no cost, which he says gives more students access to the test. He says they also saw a record number of students qualify for the TOPS scholarship.

Cut 8  (10)  “life opportunity”

Since 2012, over 4-thousand more students have qualified for the TOPS Opportunity scholarship, and more than 2-thousand more earned the TOPS Performance award. White says this growth is good news for Louisiana students.

Cut 9 (07)  “our state”

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According to AAA, nationwide gas prices are at a 12 year low. Spokesperson Don Redman says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular gas is about $1.98.

Cut 10 (08) “a gallon”

Redman says the price of oil is also down to around $40 a barrel. He says drivers could see prices at the pump go down even more before the end of the summer.

cut 11 (07) “$1.84”

Redman says abundant supply has driven prices down. He says refineries have kept up with the supply surprisingly well considering the high demand.

cut 12 (10) “summer travel”

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After a nearly 4-hour meeting, the LHSAA Executive Committee decided Eddie Bonine will remain the executive director of the organization. Bonine referred to the LHSAA as a “proverbial dumpster fire” in a report to the N-F-H-S, which led to the special meeting that went into executive session. LHSAA President Vic Bonnaffee couldn’t elaborate what went into the decision to keep Bonine.

Cut 13 (10) “no comment”

Bonine says moving forward, he will be the executive director of LHSAA until the remainder of his contract which is up in 2019. He says it will be a tough task mending fences with some of the executive members…

cut 14 (10)  “point further”

Before the meeting went behind closed doors, Bonine apologized for his dumpster fire comment. He also talked about his frustrations over not being able to come up with a solution to end the public-private playoff split.  Bonine says after the airing it out session, he believes the board is fully behind him.

Cut 15 (09) “at hand”

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UL Lafayette football coach Mark Hudspeth says he’s looking forward to the compeitition at quarterback when fall camp begins next month. Jordan Davis, who played in four games, will have a chance to start this season, but Hudspeth says he’ll need to beat out former LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings…

Cut 16  (25)  “each day”

Hudspeth says even though there’s uncertainty on who will start at quarterback, he believes the offense can still put up big numbers thanks to senior running back Elijah McGuire…

Cut 17 (12)  “make plays”

New Warhawks Head Football Coach Matt Viator made his first appearance at Sun Belt Media Day. He was asked if the rebuilding job he faces at ULM was similar to one he faced at McNeese when he took over as the Cowboys Head Coach ten years ago…

Cut 18 (20) “to do”  (2x)

ULM won just two games a season ago, but senior wide receiver AJalen Holley says the players are determined not to have another bad season….

Cut 19 (12) “get better”

According to House Transportation Committee chairman Kenny Havard, lawmakers will likely consider increasing the state’s gasoline tax during the 2017 session. Halen Doughty has more…

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The last of the final goodbyes to the three recently slain Baton Rouge Police officers took place today as Corporal Montrell Jackson is laid to rest. Michelle Southern reports..:

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Tragedy hit the Sabine River this weekend when a father and his two sons drowned in Beauregard Parish. Sheriff Rick Mosely says 51-year-old Harlin Powell’s 12-year-old son Dale Powell and stepson Robbie Merritt were swimming in the river when they began to struggle.

CUT 3 (09)  “unsuccessful”

Mosely says by the time his deputies arrived at the scene, it was already too late. He says they recovered Mr. Powel from the river, who was pronounced dead at the scene. He says search teams then began trying to locate the two boys.

CUT 4 (10)  “last night”

Mosely says it’s been about five years since anyone has drowned in that part of the river. He says the Sabine River is a popular swimming spot, but the current is stronger than it looks.

CUT 5 (11)  “safe spot”

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Lawmakers will likely consider a bill to increase the state’s gasoline tax, when they meet for the 2017 fiscal session. That’s according to Representative Kenny Havard, who serves as chairman of the House Transportation Committee and sits on the newly-formed Transportation Taskforce. Havard says the state’s gasoline tax has not been raised in over 20 years and there is not enough funds to address the $12 billion backlog for transportation maintenance, much less any new projects.

CUT 6 (10) “afloat”

Louisiana’s 20-cent gas tax ranks 41 in the nation, and only 16-cents of it goes to the transportation trust fund. Havard says he doesn’t really want to raise any taxes, but the state needs the revenue to address the problems with our roads and bridges.

CUT 7 (11) “pay for it”

The 18 member taskforce must come up with suggestions for the 2017 session by January 1. Havard says he is open to any other ideas to fund transportation projects, including tolls and public-private partnerships.

CUT 8 (09) “infrastructure”

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The final of the three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers slain in an ambush on cops was laid to rest Monday. Thousands turned out for the funeral of BRPD’s Corporal Montrell Jackson, a 32-year-old 10-year veteran of the department who leaves behind a wife and baby boy, Mason. Governor John Bel Edwards says we have to make this world a better place for Mason:

CUT 9 (10) “his father”

Edwards says Jackson was a pillar of this community and used God’s gifts to make a difference for Baton Rouge and Louisiana. Jackson’s younger brother, 24-year-old Kendrick Pitts, spoke to Montrell and said he was loved by everyone…:

cut 10 (10)  “the whole world loves you”

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden says law enforcement from throughout the country have been pained by the deaths of the three cops, but he’s confident they will come out of it stronger people…:

Cut 11 (12) “quality of life”

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LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye returns to New Iberia today after surviving a fatal wreck in Wisconsin. Nebraska punter Sam Foltz and former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler died in the one-vehicle crash, when the driver apparently lost control on wet pavement and struck a tree. Delahoussaye’s coach at New Iberia High, Rick Huston, says Delahoussaye suffered injuries that require more medical attention

cut 12 (09) “from the accident”

Delahoussaye was in the back seat of the car at the time of the accident. The kicker is heading into his senior season at LSU and has a chance to be the starting kicker after losing that job to Trent Domingue, who has since transferred to Texas. Hutson says Delahoussaye bleed purple and gold…

Cut 13 (04)  “played or not”

Delahoussaye was in Wisconsin to participate in the Kohl’s Kicking Camp. He was participant in the camp last week and was scheduled to serve as a camp counselor this week. Hutson says Delahoussaye has attended that camp since high school and he’s thankful his former player only suffered minor injuries..

cut 14 (04)  “survived”

The LHSAA executive committee meets today to discuss negative comments made by executive director Eddie Bonine. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A Louisiana record 24 candidates are on the ballot in the November US Senate race. Jeff Palermo looks at how the race shapes up…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Fifty-nine Louisiana delegates are at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Halen Doughty has more…

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The LHSAA Executive Committee has a special meeting this afternoon where the only item on the agenda is to discuss the comments made by executive director Eddie Bonine that referred to the LHSAA as a “proverbial dumpster fire.” Executive committee member and Doyle High School Principal Tommy Hodges says they’ll discuss the controversial statement in a report submitted to the NFHS.

cut 4  (06)  “the state”

Hodges says to his knowledge they will not seek to buy out Bonine’s contract and was shocked by media reports that suggested that is the reason for today’s meeting. He says the objective is really to clear the air…

Cut 5  (08)  “happen again”

Bonine signed on to be the LHSAA’s executive director last year. Hodges says he honestly does not see the LHSAA buying Bonine’s contract out.

Cut 6 (09) “or fashion”

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A record 24 candidates will appear on the November ballot for the US Senate seat being vacated by David Vitter. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says State Treasurer John Kennedy is leading in the early polls. But Cross says Kennedy is going up against some big names.

CUT 7 (12)  “around us”

Republicans Congressmen Charles Boustany and John Fleming, Col. Rob Maness, and former KKK leader David Duke are also big names in the race. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell and attorney Caroline Fayard are the major Democrats on the ballot. Cross says if a Democrat can pull most of the party vote, they will have a good chance at making the runoff.

Cut 8  (08)  “the floor”

Cross says Duke’s entrance into the race means national media coverage, and with this many candidates, there will also be quite a bit of money spent. He says with this many candidates on the ballot, the high vote getter in the primary might only have 23-percent of the vote.

Cut 9 (07)  “exciting race”

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The Democratic National Convention begins today in Philadelphia with 59 Louisiana delegates in attendance. Michael McHale is one of the delegates says and the Lake Charles resident expects this convention to be much different than last week’s Republican convention.

Cut 10 (11) “Hillary Clinton”

McHale says Clinton is the most qualified candidate we’ve ever seen run for president in the US. He is confident that she can move the country forward.

cut 11 (10) “those roles”

McHale says Louisiana supported Bill Clinton both times that he ran for president, and he thinks the Bayou State could do the same for Hillary.

cut 12 (08) “Louisiana”

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The funeral for fallen Baton Rouge Police Corporal Montrell Jackson will be held today. Jackson was a 10 year veteran of the BRPD and the father of a new baby boy. Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie says when he was academy director, he served as Jackson’s instructor…:

Cut 13 (07) “this community”

The 32 year old was gunned down along with two fellow officers in an ambush on police. Two weeks before he was killed on the job, he made a post on Facebook pleading for people not to let hate infect their hearts — in the aftermath of the death of Alton Sterling during a confrontation with cops. Dabadie says after the Sterling shooting, he went to talk to BRPD officers:

cut 14 (11)  “our department”

Dabadie says Jackson is a true hero, loving husband and father…:

Cut 15 (10) “was my everything”