Authorities are continuing their efforts to learn more about Lafayette theater shooter John Houser. Eric Gill reports…

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The Louisiana Democratic Party’s biggest fundraiser of the year takes place this Saturday night in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more…

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The Louisiana Democratic Party hosts its biggest fundraiser of the year on Saturday night at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. The Jefferson-Jackson Dinner is expected to bring together more than 1,000 contributors and supporters of the Democratic party. Party spokesperson Beau Tidwell says Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders will be there as well as other big names.

CUT 3 (11)  “governor”

Tidwell says the event will include video addresses from Hillary Clinton, who is the front-runner to receive the Democratic presidential nomination. He says former three-term Senator Mary Landrieu will also be honored at the dinner.

CUT 4 (11)  “the dinner”

There are currently no democrats serving in a statewide office. Tidwell says democrats are making a big push to have more representation in Louisiana. He says they use this event as a way to kick start the fall election season.

CUT 5 (10) “in Louisiana”

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Authorities are continuing their efforts to learn more about Lafayette theater shooter John Houser. They say Houser, from Phenix City, Alabama, fatally shot two and wounded nine others last night in a movie theater before turning the gun on himself. Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft says Houser’s criminal history is dated…

CUT 6 (09)  “maybe longer”

Russell County Alabama Sheriff Heath Taylor says Houser was arrested about 25 years ago for arson in Georgia. Court documents from 2008 show that Houser’s family asked for a temporary protective order against the man because he exhibited extreme erratic behavior. Taylor believes Houser suffered from psychological problems for years…

CUT 7 (07) “his background”

Taylor says their last involvement with Houser was when his department evicted him from his home in 2013 or 2014. Authorities have yet to determine a motive for the shooting. Craft says they will continue to search for answers…

CUT 8 (08)  “interaction with him”

Internet postings reportedly belonging to Houser say he’s a fan of Adolf Hitler and “The United States is a financially failing filth farm.” Taylor says Houser was denied a pistol permit in 2006. He believes a couple of factors led to that denial…

CUT 9 (10)  “as well”

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The two victims who were shot and killed in the Lafayette theater shooting Thursday night are identified as 21-year-old Mayci Breaux of Franklin and 33-year old Jillian Johnson of Lafayette. Governor Bobby Jindal says the city and Louisiana will get through this horrific loss:

cut 10 (07) “good people”

Breaux worked at a clothing boutique in Hub City called coco eros who posted on their Facebook Page the victim was a huge Ragin Cajuns fan and amazing woman. Johnson operated the Red Arrow Workshop and a post on their Facebook page is by her husband who says his wife was an exceptional artist, musician, and entrepreneur. Lafayette Mayor Joey Durel…:

cut 11 (11) “tragedy”

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Governor Bobby Jindal named two teachers heroes after their actions during the Lafayette Grand movie theater shooting last night. Jena Meaux and Ali Martin, of Iberia Parish, were both shot by John Houser. One teacher jumped in front of a bullet, which could’ve hit her friend in the head. Jindal says these women risked their lives to save others.

cut 12 (09)  “other lives”

A GoFundMe page was set up immediately by a friend, Cammie Maturin (mah-tran) to help with the cost of medical bills for Meaux and Martin…

cut 13 (10)  “going to need”

Maturin says these two teachers would go over and beyond to protect anybody and their actions last night come as no surprise. She says this campaign is a way to help these two women get on with their lives…

cut 14 (08)  “down the road “

Sydney Lancon was taught by both Meaux and Martin at Jeanerette Senior High School. She says their heroic actions in the tragedy come as no surprise as Meaux has always shown how much she cared for people around her.

cut 15 (08) “somebody” 

Lancon says Martin was a smart and loving woman. She says Martin was very involved with her students and wanted them to succeed.

cut 16 (08) “at all” 

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Lafayette General Medical Center president David Callecod says one of the fatal victims, 21-year-old Mayci Breaux, was scheduled to begin radiology school at their hospital in a few days…

cut 17 (09) “for our staff”

A total of five patients from the theater shooting were sent to Lafayette General. Two of them were released and three others are listed in “stable” condition. Doctor Foster Kordische says most of the patients at their hospital suffered from extremity wounds…

Cut 18 (12) “lower extremities”

The Louisiana gubernatorial primary is three months from today and things have been relatively quiet on the campaign front. Scott Carwile has more…

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Emergency crews from throughout the state say they’ve responded to hundreds of calls about children locked in cars this summer. Michelle Southern reporting…:

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Three people are dead and seven others injured after a man opened fire inside a Lafayette movie theater. Jeff Palermo has the story….

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Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary election is three months from today and things have been relatively quiet on the campaign front. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says although the campaigns are definitely working behind the scenes, he’s surprised by the lack of visible activity…

cut 4  (10)  “name recognition up”

Cross says much of the work the campaigns are performing right now center around fundraising, social media, and e-mail blasts. He says, at this point in the race, Republican US Senator David Vitter and Democratic State Representative John Bel Edwards seem poised to make the runoff…

Cut 5  (10)  “Vitter, right now”

Cross expects see a little more activity in this race beginning next month. Qualifying for the gubernatorial election begins September 8th and Cross says you can expect things to get going after that…

Cut 6 (09)  “at that point”

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Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne has sent a letter to Governor Bobby Jindal asking that he reimburse taxpayers for the cost of having State Police provide security for him during his out-of-state campaign travels. LSU Political Science professor Robert Hogan…

CUT 7 (11)  “do that”

It’s unlikely Jindal will follow through with Dardenne’s request. A spokesperson for the governor says the safety of Jindal shouldn’t be used as a political issue. Hogan says Jindal has received a lot of flack for his traveling and Dardenne is trying to capitalize…

Cut 8  (07)  “a target” 

Hogan says all the gubernatorial candidates are trying to gain more name recognition with the election coming up and this is a good way to do it.

Cut 9 (11) “right now”

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Emergency crews from throughout the state say they’ve responded to hundreds of calls about children locked in cars this summer. Curt Monte with the Baton Rouge Fire Department says the heat index has reached triple digits in recent weeks and leaving your kid in a car comes with potentially deadly consequences…:

Cut 10 (10) “matter of minutes”

Monte says in East Baton Rouge Parish alone, since May 1st, there were over 80 calls made about children who were alone in a vehicle. He says they are releasing these numbers to encourage people to slow down…:

cut 11 (10)  “of our community”

Monte says most of the calls stem from minor incidents, but they want to remind parents to remain vigilant. He says in these temperatures if a child is locked in a car, action should be taken immediately to get them out even if the vehicle is running…:

cut 12 (11) “can be deadly”

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Three people are dead and seven others injured after a patron inside a movie theater in Lafayette opened fire on other customers during a showing of the newly released film “Trainwreck.” Lafayette Police Chief Jim Craft says one of the deceased victims is the shooter, who he described as a white male in his 50s

Cut 13 (07)  “numerous times”

The police chief described the weapon as a handgun. Craft says seven people were wounded. He describes their injuries as non-life threatening to critical. He says they know the identity of the shooter, but not releasing it, as they try to find out more about him

Cut 14 (10) “going on”

Governor Bobby Jindal arrived shortly after the shooting and asked for Louisiana residents to pray for the victims.

Cut 15  (07)  “through this”

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Some of the top high school football players in the nation are on the LSU campus this weekend for what is known as LSU’s Elite Prospect Camp. Derek Ponamsky, publisher of Bayou Bengals-dot-com says headlining the talent is quarterback Feleipe Franks, who is committed to sign with LSU next year

Cut 16  (17)  “in New Orleans”

Some of the guys attending this camp are players who LSU would like to be part of the 2016 recruiting class that’s currently ranked as the best by 24-7 sports. Next year’s class already has 17 commitments and Ponamsky is not expecting a bunch of new additions in the coming days

Cut 17 (11) ” see mode” 

Ponamsky says this kind of a camp allows the coaches to evaulate high school prospects up close…

Cut 18 (13) “LSU does”

A study from the transportation research group TRIP shows Louisianians pay about $514 extra per year for car upkeep due to poor road conditions. Eric Gill has more…

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Three Louisiana jockeys have been arrested in an alleged horse race fixing scheme. Emelie Gunn has more…

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Today is LSU’s live mascot, Mike the Tiger’s 10th birthday. Ginger Guttner, spokesperson for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine says Mike VI was crafted a birthday cake made of meat, wrapped in bacon, topped with boiled eggs and hardened goats milk to create the number 10.

CUT 3 (05)  “meat artists”

Guttner says Mike is in the prime of his life and as Bengal tigers living in captivity typically live about 16 years, when in the wild their lifespan is closer to 9 years.

CUT 4 (06)  “while longer”

Traditionally, LSU’s live mascot is part of the pregame activities inside Tiger Stadium on gamedays. But this Mike usually stays in his habitat. Guttner says LSU will release a statement later about having Mike involved in pregame activities for the upcoming football season. However, she still encourages fans to come out to visit him at his habitat.

CUT 5 (10) “in Louisiana”

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According to a study from the transportation research group TRIP, Louisianians pay about $514 extra per year for car upkeep due to poor road conditions. Associate Director of Research, Carolyn Kelly, says the additional costs come in the form of accelerated vehicle depreciation, tire wear, fuel consumption, and repair costs…

CUT 6 (07)  “damage repaired”

The report shows 36-percent of roads in Shreveport are considered in poor condition, 38-percent in Baton Rouge, and 42-percent in New Orleans. Kelly says the costs to maintain your vehicle in these cities is considerably higher than the state average…

CUT 7 (11) “$653 each year”

The study ranks New Orleans 11th nationally for having the worst roads among mid-sized cities. Kelly says she hopes this study serves as a wake-up call so the public and elected officials can make transportation funding a top priority…

CUT 8 (08)  “to a minimum”

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The State Department of Health and Hospitals has confirmed the presence of a brain eating ameba in the St. Bernard Parish Water System. The site was tested by DHH as part of the state’s new drinking water surveillance program. Spokeswoman Olivia Hwang (WONG) says the water is safe to drink, but they are conducting a 60-day chlorine burn out of an abundance of caution…:

CUT 9 (11)  “high up their nose”

Hwang says Naegleria Fowleri (nuh-GLEER’-ee-uh FOW’-lur-eye) is an ameba that occurs naturally in water. She says the Department urges residents to avoid getting water in their noses but know that getting an infection is extremely rare…:

cut 10 (10) “residents”

Hwang says fewer than 10 deaths in the US have been traced back to the ameba with three in Louisiana over the last several years. The ameba was identified in the St. Bernard Parish Water System in 2013, but the CDC confirmed it was gone in February 2014. Hwang says they are glad there is a system in place where this ameba can be identified…:

cut 11 (09) “residents health”

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Three  jockeys at Evangeline Downs Race Track in Opelousas have been arrested for taking part in a race fixing scheme. State Police arrested 46-year-old Joseph Patin Jr. and his brother, 51-year-old Billy Patin, as well as, 24-year-old LeSean Conyers. Master Trooper Brooks David says the investigation started after receiving a complaint from the Louisiana Racing Commission.

cut 12 (10)  “to win”
David says the three suspects engaged in the questionable riding tactics in a race on June 19th. He says the Patin brothers also faces charges for using an illegal shocking device on horses during two races on July 4th…

cut 13 (09)  “any time”

David wants the public to know, State Police watches for those who try to fix horse races or those who use dishonest gaming practices.

cut 14 (11)  “deemed necessary “

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State Police say a single-vehicle crash in Richland Parish has claimed the life of a 96-year-old Delhi man. Trooper Michael Reichardt says James Coleman was driving his truck south of Delhi when he lost control of the vehicle…

cut 15 (05) “pronounced dead“

He says Coleman, who was unrestrained, traveled off the roadway, struck a ditch embankment, and his vehicle overturned. Coleman was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Reichardt says Coleman was well known in the Richland Parish area…  (The crash remains under investigation, but authorities do not suspect speed nor impairment to be a factor. )

cut 16 (06) “in the community‘”

The city council in Hammond refuses to allow establishments that only severe alcohol to open on Sundays. Michelle Southern reports…:

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According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, oil and gas jobs in Louisiana continued their decline in June, dropping to the lowest level in almost 10 years. Eric Gill has more…

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The city council in Hammond refuses to allow establishments that only severe alcohol to open on Sundays. During a meeting last night, the vote was 3-2 against changing the longtime law. Several people attended to speak in favor of bars selling alcohol on Sundays including Todd Delaune, owner of Red, White and Brew on Hammond’s main street…:

CUT 3 (11)  “discriminatory”

Delaune says this is an issue of fairness that’s taken a small segment of people who run businesses and saying they don’t have the right to earn money 7 days a week like their counterparts. He says, to him, the religious argument doesn’t hold up…:

CUT 4 (11)  “Friday and Saturday”

There was a woman who spoke to oppose the proposal saying it would hurt Hammond’s family city image to sell alcohol on Sundays. Delaune says bars police the sale of alcohol better than most other establishments that offer liquor and beer 7 days a week such as restaurants and gas stations…:

CUT 5 (12) “age of 21”

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A Harvey woman was arrested after allegedly shooting three of her five children with a BB gun and choking them as punishment. 34-year-old Tomeka Stair was charged with three counts of cruelty to a juvenile. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department says a family member alerted authorities about the abuse.

CUT 6 (11)  “their heads”

The victims were ages 9 to 11. Forturato says Stair’s 21-year-old girlfriend, Shebria Turner was also arrested on similar charges. He says Turner confessed to the police and confirmed what the children were saying about their mother.

CUT 7 (05) “both females”

Forturato says the children were originally released to child protective services but are now with a relative. He says this is obviously not the way to punish children for bad behavior.

CUT 8 (08)  “your children”

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According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, oil and gas jobs in Louisiana continued their decline in June, dropping to the lowest level in almost 10 years. Eric Smith, Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, says these jobs are some of the best jobs in the state…

CUT 9 (08)  “in manufacturing”

Mining and logging jobs, where many oil and gas jobs are classified, fell by another 300 jobs last month, bringing the total number of jobs lost this year to 6,000. Smith says the price of crude oil is the leading factor in the decrease in jobs…

cut 10 (10) “of the country” X2

The total number of mining and logging jobs has dropped to 47,700, the lowest in the state since May 2006. But Smith says the June job report isn’t all bad news…

cut 11 (08) “those people”

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A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more teenage girls are using the morning after pill. The report indicates about 1 in 5 teens girls have used the morning after pill, when ten years ago it was 1 in 12.  Dr. Valerie Williams,with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, says more teens are taking the pill now because it’s easier to get over the counter…:

cut 12 (11)  “insurance”

Williams hopes easier access to the morning after pill will lead to a drop in teen birth rates because  80% of teenage pregnancies are unplanned. She says unfortunately, Louisiana is above the national average for teen pregnancy rates.

cut 13 (09)  “other countries”

Williams says there are both negatives and positives to this trend. She says it’s great for young women to have an emergency option, but it shouldn’t be used as a primary form of contraception.

cut 14 (09)  “contraceptives”