Louisiana’s Republican Congressional delegation does not support the Iran nuclear deal President Obama has agreed to. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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The release of Harper Lee’s newest work, “Go Set a Watchman” is stirring up some controversy with “To Kill a Mockingbird” lovers. Emelie Gunn has more on why…

CUT 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisiana’s most popular summer-blooming tree, the crepe myrtle, is blooming later and less than normal this year. LSU AgCenter horticulturist Allen Owings says we’re seeing a decrease flower development because of weather conditions this past spring…

CUT 3 (08)  “this summer”

He says the cooler, wetter spring accompanied by an increase in bacterial leaf spot disease has stunted this summer’s crepe myrtle bloom. Crepe myrtles generally begin blooming between mid-May and early-June and continue flowering through the summer. Owing says these trees like sunshine, above average temperatures, and dry conditions…

CUT 4 (10)  “we are now”

Owing says there’s really not anything that can be done, at this point, to improve the bloom of crepe myrtles for this year. He says spring leaf growth on the trees is key to a healthy blooming tree in the summer…

CUT 5 (08)  “foliage growth”

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Shreveport Police have a man in custody accused of stabbing his teenage nephew to death. Cpl. Marcus Hines says officers learned that 15-year-old Willie Latin III was stabbed following a physical altercation inside his home. He says Latin was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later…

CUT 6 (09)  “young man”

52-year-old Edward Debrow (de BRO), Latin’s uncle who also resided at the home, has been charged with second-degree murder in the teen’s death. Hines says the investigation is in its early stages but they are beginning to get a picture of what happened…

CUT 7 (08) “becoming physical”

It’s alleged that during an argument with Latin, Debrow grabbed a sharp edged object that he used to stab the teenager. Hines says investigators are still trying to determine what started the argument that lead to the fatal stabbing…

CUT 8 (10)  “that we received”

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Republicans in Louisiana’s Congressional delegation don’t like the Iran nuclear deal that the president has agreed to. Essentially this would mean that in exchange for limits on nuclear activities, Iran gets billions in relief from international sanctions. 1st District Congressman and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise…:

CUT 9 (09)  “high cost”

If Congress rejects the deal, it’s not likely they have the required two-thirds vote to override the veto President Obama has promised. Scalise says this is a bad deal and if it’s allowed to go forward it would mark the beginning of Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon…:

cut 10 (06) “we have” 

Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham believes lifting sanctions against Iran puts America, Israel, and all of our allies in the Middle East in danger…

cut 11 (11) “on Israel”

Congress has 60 days to review the Iran accord. Abraham believes this deal with Iran is a bad move on President Obama’s part…

cut 12 (11)  “United States”

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With the release of Harper Lee’s long lost “To Kill a Mockingbird”  sequel, many readers aren’t happy Atticus Finch can be seen as a racist in “Go Set a Watchman.” Jessica Lacher-Feldman, head of LSU Libraries’ Special Collections division, says we never expected to see another book in Lee’s life time and suggests people avoid reviews and read the book to form their own opinion.

cut 13 (11)  “racism”

Harper Lee wrote “Go Set a Watchman” before “To Kill a Mockingbird” but was advised by her agents and editors to stick with the book from a child’s perspective. Lacher-Feldman says readers need to take the book as a piece of literature written in the 1950’s and understand it represents 1950’s Alabama.

cut 14 (12) “Atticus Finch”

Lacher-Feldman says for those disappointed into the way Atticus Finch turned out, remember we are all human. She says to take away lessons from “Go Set a Watchman” to help improve you in the future.

cut 15 (10) “from it”

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Affiliates the newscall had to be updated as a result of the federal disaster declaration made by the President late on Monday. As a result cut 7 is no longer good. 

In an effort to raise additional funds, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking at selling advertising on its properties. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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According to a recent study by WalletHub, Louisiana is the 10th least energy expensive state, but we use the most electricity in the country. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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An LSU AgCenter study shows Louisiana farmers suffered about 30 million dollars in feral hog damage in 2013. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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In an effort to raise additional funds, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking into selling advertising on its properties. LDWF spokesman Bo Boehringer says legislation passed in this year’s legislative session allows the department to take advantage of this revenue stream opportunity…

cut 4  (11)  “assistance vehicles”

The state Department of Transportation receives $250,000 annually from State Farm Insurance for ads placed on their Motorist Assistance Program vehicles. Boehringer says the ads will be tastefully done and people shouldn’t expect to see ads pop up in middle of wildlife areas…

Cut 5  (09)  “don’t forsee that”

He says there is still a lot of work to be done to determine what is made available on an ad sales basis. Boehringer says these ad sales are an effort for LDWF to stay self-sufficient…

Cut 6 (07)  “in that process”

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Five parishes that were impacted by flooding from the Red River have been declared a federal disaster area. The declaration means federal dollars will be available to local government agencies in Caddo, Bossier, Grant, Natchitoches and Red River.

CUT 7 (10)  “everyday”   (Sorry affiliates this soundbite isn’t good anymore)

Director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Kevin Davis says police, fire and public work departments who had paid overtime during the disaster will benefit from this assistance.  Davis says whether individual citizens affected by the flood will be eligible for federal aid, is still being determined….

Cut 8  (09)  “give I.A.” 

Damage from the Red River flood was estimated at more than 17 million dollars.  Hundreds of home were flooded in the Caddo and Bosier Parishes.  Davis says when they looked into personal damage assistance they found most residents had insurance, which could effect if this type of aid will be approved.

Cut 9 (07)  “shortly”

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According to a recent study by WalletHub, Louisiana is the 10th least energy expensive state, but we use the most electricity in the country. Spokeswoman Jill Gonzalez says in these hot summer months, utility bills are through the roof..:

Cut 10 (10) “highest in the country”

Gonzalez says The Bayou State placed 4th in the country for the price of electricity, but 51st in total consumption per housing unit. She says another factor they looked at in this study was how much motorists pay for gas and how much they consume…:

cut 11 (09)  “low there”

The numbers show that, on average, Louisianians pay $284 a month total on energy coming within the top 10. Gonzalez says they also looked at natural gas for the study and Louisiana is in the top 10 for the least amount of natural gas used due to our relatively mild winters. She says it’s important to note that cheap electricity doesn’t mean we’re paying less

cut 12 (12) “out of pocket”

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An LSU AgCenter study finds feral hogs caused at least 30 million dollars worth of damage to Louisiana farms in 2013. Hogs are known to spread fatal diseases to livestock and root up crops.  AgCenter economist Shaun Tanger says they are growing rapidly and destroying everything in their path.

Cut 13 (12)  “livestock”

The Louisiana soybean, hay, rice and corn crops suffer the most from hog damage. Tanger says the population in the state is about 500-thousand. He says hog hunting is allowed year round, day and night, to help reduce the population but that’s not enough.

Cut 14 (09) “anything else”

Tanger says about 75 percent of feral hogs would need to be eliminated to keep up with the current population. He says there is talk about changing policies on different ways of controlling the animals, like poison baiting and trapping.

Cut 15  (10)  “profile issue”

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The LSU football team will have two tough conference games in the month of September. On September 12th, the Tigers will visit Mississippi State and then on the 19th, they’ll host Auburn at 2:30. Auburn has a new quarterback, six-foot-five Jeremy Johnson from from Montgomery, Alabama. The junior signal caller says SEC defenses will have trouble slowing down Auburn’s offense…

Cut 16  (12)  “feel comfortable”

Third year head football coach Gus Malzahn says he expects Johnson to have success right away as their starting quarterback…

Cut 17 (18) ” team leader” 

The newest coach in the Southeastern Conference is Jim McElwain. He’ll bring his Gators to LSU on October 17th. McElwain takes over for Will Muschamp, who struggled to put together a quality offense at Florida. McElwain says there’s talent on his roster to win games

Cut 18 (19) “help us develop”

It appears the Louisiana High School Athletics Association has avoided a work stoppage involving its game officials. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Smoking Cessation Trust saw its highest monthly enrollment in June with over 2,000 Louisianians signing up for its free smoking cessation program. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

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The LHSAA and its officials have reached a tentative agreement that will prevent a work stoppage by referees this fall. Louisiana High School Officials Association President Paul LaRosa says they were able to come to terms after a four hour plus meeting in Baton Rouge on Sunday

CUT 3 (09)  “the meeting”

LaRosa says they are holding off on releasing any details of the agreement to the public, until they can speak with their officials…

CUT 4 (09)  “for them”

Officials threatened to strike and not show up when volleyball and football games started in August, unless they received a pay raise and other stipulations, like improved security at games. LaRosa is not saying publicly whether the agreement struck on Sunday will result in more pay for refs…

CUT 5 (10)  “we did”

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The Smoking Cessation Trust saw its highest monthly enrollment in June with over 2,000 Louisianians signing up for its free smoking cessation program. CEO Mike Rogers attributes the jump in soon-to-be ex-smokers, in part, to the state’s 50-cent tax increase for a pack of cigarettes. He says CDC statistics back up this theory…

CUT 6 (12)  “adolescent smokers”

He adds that recent smoking bans enacted in cities across the state, as well as on public college and university campuses, could be another reason for the enrollment increase. The Smoking Cessation Trust was set up in 2012 as the result of a class-action lawsuit against tobacco companies. Rogers says the goal is to help more than 210,000 Louisianians kick the habit…

CUT 7 (06) “program ends”

He says almost 35,000 residents have signed up for the program. To be eligible, you must be a Louisiana resident who began smoking before September 1, 1988. You can find more information at www-dot-smokefreela-dot-org. Rogers says roughly half of the smokers in the state are eligible to get free help…

CUT 8 (04)  “prime targets”

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The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating an apparent murder/suicide which left three dead and one injured in an incident which took place in front of a 1-year-old child. Corporal L’Jean McKneely says they believe 20-year-old Marquiles Whaley is the shooter and he was involved in some sort of argument at the home..:

CUT 9 (10)  “shot himself”

McKneely says Whaley is suspected of shooting his girlfriend, 18-year-old Makayla Jones and her mother, 36-year-old Romander Jones (who survived) and her boyfriend, 38-year-old Shawyn Lollis before turning the gun on himself…:

cut 10 (06) “part of the three” 

McKneely says Romander Jones remains hospitalized but she has been able to talk to investigators…:

cut 11 (08) “as we can”

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The Lake Charles Police Department says two officers are on administrative leave after a burglary suspect shot himself inside a squad car. Lt. Kevin Kirkum says 18-year-old Stacy Lamb of Lake Charles was arrested after a burglary attempt at a local business. Kirkam says officers placed Lamb in the back seat of their police unit…

cut 12 (08)  “of the weapon”

He says Lamb shot himself twice in the foot with a department issued weapon that had been left in an equipment bag in the back seat of the police car. Kirkum says detectives are working to determine the intent of the shooting…

cut 13 (08)  “as we speak”

Kirkum says criminal and internal investigations are underway as a result of this incident. The names of the officers involved have not been released citing the ongoing investigation. Kirkum says Lamb was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries…

cut 14 (07) “was arrested for”

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The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s office says cops are searching for a woman being held on double homicide charges who escaped from prison over the weekend. Sheriff Doug Anderson says 25-year-old Melissa Hayes, who was arrested in February in Alexandria, busted a lock in the dorm of the Cottonport facility and went into the rec yard…:

cut 15 (11) “down from the fence”

Anderson says they believe Hayes could be in the Alexandria area where she’s from. He says they know she got into a vehicle near the prison at a gas station with a someone who didn’t realize she was an escapee…

cut 16 (11) “in Mansura”

Governor Bobby Jindal ranks 13th in an Iowa poll for the Republican presidential nomination. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Louisiana’s four candidate for governor provide their thoughts on possible changes to the state’s film tax credit program. Scott Carwile has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m  Scott Carwile”

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It’s described by some as the unofficial start to the college football season, SEC Media Days gets underway today in Hoover, Alabama. Jeff Palermo has the story..

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Starting today, the eastbound side of the Mississippi River Bridge in Natchez, Mississippi and Vidalia will see lane closures for the placement of concrete barriers. State Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says starting on July 20th, the westbound side of the bridge will be closed for seven weeks.

cut 4  (06)  “the bridge”
Mallet warns drivers to anticipate delays. He says to be patient while going through this traffic.

Cut 5  (05)  “accordingly”

Mallet says during this seven week period, no vehicles wider than 14 feet will be allowed to cross the bridge.

Cut 6 (04)  “the bridge”

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A republican presidential nomination poll conducted by KBUR/WAA in Iowa, places Governor Bobby Jindal in 13th with 2 percent from likely caucus goers . Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker leads with 18 percent. Robin Johnson ,with KBUR, says because he just announced a couple of weeks ago, it’s a little early to judge Jindal’s polling records at this point.

CUT 7 (07)  “primary”

The Iowa caucuses on February 1st are the first of the contests for the 2016 Presidential election. Johnson says there is a lot of pressure on candidates now and Jindal needs to do something big to get more name recognition to place in the top 10 for the August debates.

Cut 8  (08)  “candidates” 

Johnson says with so many candidates competing for so much of the vote, Jindal could be fighting for the evangelical vote. He says Jindal is having some success in Iowa but time is ticking.

Cut 9 (11)  “had anticipated”

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The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association will ask the next governor to make changes to the state’s film tax credit program, after lawmakers placed a 180-million dollar cap on credits redeemed in a fiscal year. Lt. Governor and republican gubernatorial candidate Jay Dardenne says the cap was set too low

Cut 10 (06) “cameras rolling”

The lone democrat in the race, Amite representative John Bel Edwards, says he supports a cap on this program in the range of 180-million dollars

cut 11 (09)  “entire year”

Republican Senator David Vitter says he doesn’t agree with what the legislature did, when it capped the amount of film tax credits redeemed, instead of issued. He says it creates too much uncertainty and he plans to address this issue during a special session after he’s sworn in

cut 12 (10) “very inviting”

If elected governor, Republican Public Service Commission member Scott Angelle says plans to examine all of the tax credits on the books to determine if they creating jobs and growing our economy…

Cut 13 (07)  “reconsideration”

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SEC football media days get underway today in Hoover, Alabama, which is the unofficial start to the college football season. Hundreds of reporters attend this event to hear from SEC coaches and players. Braden Gall, with Athlon Sports, says new SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who replaced Mike Slive, kicks off the festivities by speaking with the media…

Cut 14 (10) “they happened”

Gall says the handling of discipline when players get in trouble off the field will likely be a topic Sankey gets into. LSU football coach Les Miles and three of his players will go before the large contingent of media on Thursday. Leonard Fournette will be there and Gall says the running back will find out what its like to be a star football player in the SEC

Cut 15  (12)  “totally different”

This week the SEC will release who the media thinks will play in the conference title game. Alabama and Auburn are the favorites in the west. Gall says LSU will get some consideration

Cut 16  (07)  “so loaded”