Most people will spend a little less for Father’s Day gifts than they did last month for Mom. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A bill that would require all public high school students to pass the US Citizenship exam is awaiting Governor Bobby Jindal’s signature. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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An effort by the estranged heirs of Saints and Pelcians owner Tom Benson to have a judge declare him incompetent to make important business decisions fails, so what’s next? Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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Father’s Day is Sunday and the average person will spend about $116 on Dad, according to the National Retail Federation.The NRF says average spending on Mom was $173 dollars for Mother’s Day.  LSU Marketing Professor Dan Rice

cut 4  (11)  “for mom”

Rice says another reason why spending is more for Mom than Dad, is because clothes for females usually cost more.

Cut 5  (07)  “more expensive”

Rice says Moms might also get more gifts than Dad, because sons and daughters really want to show how much they appreciate all she does.

Cut 6 (06)  “really nice”

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A bill that would require all public high school students to pass the US Citizenship exam is awaiting Governor Bobby Jindal’s signature. Louisiana would be the 8th state to enact such legislation. Frank Riggs is the president and CEO of the Joe Foss Institute which leads the National Civics Education Initiative…:

CUT 7 (10)  “public education”

Under the new law, civics courses in the state will have to contain curriculum on the same subject matter that is taught to immigrants seeking to become citizens. The student then has to pass the naturalization test to graduate. Lafayette Senator Page Cortez, who sponsored the measure, says increased knowledge of America is important

Cut 8  (04)  “better Americans” 

Riggs says making the test a graduation requirement helps educate all young people on our unique constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and rights that unite us…:

Cut 9 (10)  “have in Common”

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A civil district court judge in New Orleans denies a petition from the estranged heirs of Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson that claimed the 87-year-old is mentally unfit to run his professional sports teams. It’s a victory for Benson. But Legal analyst Tim Meche says the real court battle is over Benson’s trust funds, and whether he can get them changed so that his wife Gayle can assume ownership of the teams when he dies…

Cut 10 (07) “or the Saints”

Meche says a bigger legal challenge for Benson is whether he can change a trust fund  set up for his daughter and her children to take over as owners of the teams….

cut 11 (11) “give it Gayle”

Meche says while Benson prevailed in the competency case, he’ll have a tougher time when it comes to getting a judge to remove Renee Benson and her two children as the future owners of the teams, when it’s already been established in trusts…

cut 12 (10)  “at the day”

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In the 5th Week of the Louisiana Radio Network’s Governor Q&A, we asked the major candidates for Governor about the controversial SAVE legislation. The measure was pushed by Governor Bobby Jindal in the last session as a way to keep the budget “revenue-neutral.” Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle…:

Cut 13 (10)  “game changers”

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says SAVE will be rescinded under his leadership if a court hasn’t already thrown it out…:

Cut 14 (11) “very worst”

Democratic Amite Representative John Bel Edwards says he opposed the SAVE Act in the session because it was a dishonest, contrived piece of legislation…:

Cut 15  (09)  “wreck our state”

US Senator David Vitter says he’s seen a poll that shows 70% of Louisianians think the SAVE Act is a gimmick…:

Cut 16  (09)  “scenarios”

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The LSU baseball team’s season ended last night with an 8-to-4 loss to TCU in the College World Series. The Tigers got off to a good start, by scoring a run in the 1st inning, but the Horned Frogs scored three runs in the 2nd inning and three more in the 5th and it was just too much to overcome. Coach Paul Mainieri says it’s tough to see a talented team not reach its ultimate goal…

Cut 17 (21) ” terribly” 

Mainieri says losing at the College World Series before reaching the championship series is a cruel way to end a great season…

Cut 18 (16) “so difficult”

LSU had just seven hits as TCU relief pitcher Trey Teakell shut the Tigers down for most of the game and LSU’s bullpen struggled. Austin Bain and Jesse Stallings each gave up multiple runs and starter Zac Person also allowed three runs. Mainieri says they got beat by a better team…

Cut 19 (14) “…comes to an end “

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The US Treasury Department says a woman will be the face of the 10 dollar bill in 2020. Emelie Gunn has more…..

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A US Supreme Court ruling bars Louisiana from executing a man convicted in the 1993 killing an off-duty Baton Rouge Police officer because his mental disability prohibits capital punishment. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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US Treasury Department announces a woman will soon grace the face of the 10 dollar bill. Director of the LSU Women’s Center Summer Steib says it’s very exciting news and something many organizations have pushed for.

CUT 3 (13)  “to vote”

Steib says the new currency won’t be released until 2020, to mark 100 years since woman received the right to vote. She says having a woman on the 10 dollar bill will be another milestone for women.

CUT 4 (08)  “are today”

Steib says women like Sacagawea and Susan B. Anthony are on the one dollar coin but is eager to find out who will soon be on the 10 dollar bill.

CUT 5 (10)  “should be”

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With Father’s Day being Sunday, a WalletHub-dot-com study on the best states for working dads finds Louisiana near the bottom of the list. The Bayou State ranks 47th out of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. WalletHub spokesperson Jill Gonzales says they looked at four different categories from a father’s perspective: economic and social well being, health, work-life balance, and child care…

CUT 6 (09)  “use some improvement”

Only West Virginia, Arkansas, Nevada, and Mississippi ranked lower than Louisiana. Gonzales says the study found that the state has the lowest child care cost in the nation, but ranked third worst in day care quality…

CUT 7 (08) “and care”

Minnesota was at the top of the list. Gonzales says one area Louisiana can step it up for dads is health care…

CUT 8 (10)  “next year”

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The US Supreme Court has barred Louisiana from executing a man convicted of the 1993 killing an off-duty Baton Rouge Police officer because his mental disability prohibits capital punishment. Kevan Brumfield was convicted in the shooting death of Cpl. Betty Smothers, the mother of former NFL star Warrick Dunn. Legal analyst Tim Meche on the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling…

CUT 9 (12)  “he did not”

Meche says the ruling establishes that an IQ of 75 qualifies as mentally retarded, which would protect a prisoner from the death penalty. He says this ruling doesn’t overturn Brumfield’s conviction, it just raises the question of whether or not he will be executed for his crime. Meche says the case will now go back to lower courts for more hearings…

cut 10 (11) “to seven years” 

Meche points out that Brumfield has been going to court for 20 years and this ruling could drag matters out for another five to seven years. Meche says this decision will cause a lot of convictions and sentences in Louisiana to be looked at…

cut 11 (10)  “significant decision”

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The remnants of Tropical Storm Bill continue to dump significant amounts of rain in Texas, Oklahoma, and northwest Louisiana and officials have been told that another flood event is predicted for the Red River. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says it’s expected that the Red will crest again in the next seven to ten days…

cut 12 (10)  “still raining”

The Red River crested June 9th at 37 feet, seven feet above flood stage. Prator says the river could rise again to 33 or 34 feet in the next week to week and a half. He says residents along the Red River should hold off on any work on their home…

cut 13 (11)  “for right now”

How much the Red River will rise will depend on how much and where rain falls in the next 24 to 36 hours. Prator says, as soon as this event is over, officials need to figure out what exactly is going on with the Red River…

cut 14 (10) “37 foot river”

Law enforcement may have a new tool to stop uninsured motorists. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The state Department of Health and Hospitals says they will be testing beach water along the Louisiana coast to ensure that it’s safe. Michelle Southern reporting…:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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State Superintendent of Education John White’s receieves a positive job evaluation from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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DOTD advises motorists about lane closures that will start to go into effect Friday at 11am on I-10 and I-12 near I-59 in St. Tammany Parish. Crews will be working to replace the roadway at certain locations in that area through the weekend and delays are expected for Gulf Coast beach goers. Department of Transportation spokeswoman Bambi Hall…:

cut 4  (06)  “plan accordingly”

Hall says for motorists going to and from the New Orleans area to the Northshore and also in and out of Mississippi will be experiencing delays…:

Cut 5  (09)  “Mississippi”

Hall says at least one lane of traffic will remain open at all times but they are strongly encouraging drivers to take US 90 as an alternate route. However, no large truck traffic will be allowed on the detour. She says while vacationers may be inconvenienced, they are trying to knock all of this construction out before school starts…:

Cut 6 (09)  “New Orleans itself”

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Law enforcement could soon have a new tool to catch uninsured motorists. Legislation waiting to be signed by Governor Jindal will allow police cars to have equipment to take a snap shot of a person’s license plate. Pete Adams, executive director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, on how the pilot program will work…

CUT 7 (12)  “vehicles”

Adams says the photo of the license plate will only be used to catch uninsured motorists, track down stolen vehicles and help authorities in emergency situations….

Cut 8  (12)  “capture those” 

Adams says if Governor Jindal signs the statewide pilot program into law, they anticipate law enforcement from several parishes to participate. He says the goal is to reduce the number of uninsured motorists…

Cut 9 (13)  “uninsured vehicles”

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The state Department of Health and Hospitals says they will be testing beach water along the Louisiana coast to ensure that it’s safe. DHH Beach Monitoring Program Director Ryan Farlow says they are collecting samples at 24 beach sites to determine the level of a disease causing waterborne bacteria that could make you sick…:

Cut 10 (05) “stomach bug”

Farlow says going to our state’s beaches with friends and family is a great way to spend your time this summer, but it’s important to stay safe in the water while you’re out there. He says people who have open wounds or a compromised immune system should be more cautious about where they’re going…:

cut 11 (06) “swimming in the beaches”

Farlow says swimmers can become exposed to bacteria through the mouth, nose or ears or through a cut. He says you log on to their website, dhh.louisiana.gov, to check on any location’s current status…:

cut 12 (10)  “at the time”

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Despite a politically tough year, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education gave State Superintendent of Education John White a positive job review.  BESE president Chas Roemer says the board valued how White handled the controversy over Common Core

Cut 13 (10)  “communication”

White received a score of 3.3 out of four and it’s the highest score he’s received since taking over as the state’s top public school education leader. Roemer says White also deserves some credit for what’s happening with student achievement

Cut 14 (10) “going to college”

White was graded on his leadership and management style and data from the classroom. The superintendent pointed out in a tweet that he scored lower in kindergarten readiness, and Roemer says the state has taken steps to make sure pre-k education more accessible…

Cut 15  (12)  “do that”

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Senior left-hander Zac Person will start on the mound tonight when LSU takes on TCU in a College World Series eliminiation game. It will be second start of the season for the Eunice native, who has been LSU’s best southpaw out of the bullpen. Coach Paul Mainieri says he’s going with Person, because the Horned Frogs’ line-up features a lot of left-handed hitters at the top of the order…

Cut 16  (12)  “not sure yet”

Shortstop Alex Bregman is expected to hit in the lead-off spot again. Bregman says they hope to improve on what they did at the plate on Tuesday…

Cut 17 (13) ” five runs” 

LSU designated hitter Chris Sciambra says after losing to TCU on Sunday, he’s glad they have another shot at the Horned Frogs tonight

Cut 18 (09) “better than that”

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Kenner Police say a New Orleans couple is under arrest after allegedly leaving their disabled 24-year-old daughter alone in a van while they gambled at a casino. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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New Orleans Representative Walt Leger joins state film leaders in urging Governor Jindal to veto legislation that would cap the state’s film tax credit at $180 million. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Kenner Police arrested a New Orleans couple after they allegedly left their disabled 24-year-old daughter alone in a van while they gambled at a casino. Lt. Brian McGregor says 71-year-old William Jackson and 62-year-old Paula Jackson are each charged with cruelty to the infirm. McGregor says officers responded to a call from a concerned citizen…

CUT 3 (10)  “on a caretaker”

McGregor says the victim suffers from traumatic brain injury, cannot communicate, and is completely dependent on a caretaker. He says the vehicle was not running and the air conditioner was not on. McGregor says officers were able to conclude that both William and Paula were inside the casino…

CUT 4 (10)  “time, as well”

McGregor says the woman was left in the van for approximately four hours. After paramedics determined she was not injured, the victim was released to her brother. Although the couple claims to have periodically checked on their daughter, McGregor says that is no excuse…

CUT 5 (08)  “kids at risk”

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All the rain we’ve seen in southwest Louisiana is making it difficult on farmers who are trying to grow rice and soybeans. LSU AgCenter extension agent Barrett Courville says there were only two brief periods of dry weather that allowed for planting this spring…

CUT 6 (10)  “soybeans”

Courville says all of the wet weather is also making it difficult on the rice crop. He says wet conditions are very conducive to the development of leaf blast and other diseases in the rice crop…

CUT 7 (08) “2012”

Courville says a lot of the southwest Louisiana soybean crop is totally lost for this year and the soybean acreage will be drastically reduced

CUT 8 (07)  “here”

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Gas prices in Louisiana have been rising over the last month. The American Automobile Association says current statewide average is $2.59 for a gallon of regular gasoline, which is a 17 cent increase from 30 days ago. AAA Fuel Analyst Don Redman says even though we’ve seen an increase, last year at this time we were paying around $3.42 a gallon.

CUT 9 (09)  “going up”

Redman says the diminishing stockpile of crude oil is bringing prices up. He says there was also a concern Tropical Storm Bill could impact the production of some refineries.

cut 10 (05) “get higher” 

Redman says crude is still around 60 dollars a barrel because prices tend to go up during this time of year but he expects prices to come down by the end of next month.

cut 11 (10)  “that holiday”

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State film leaders are urging Governor Bobby Jindal to veto legislation that would cap the state’s film tax credit at $180 million. The bill puts a cap on the redemption of film tax credits, but does not limit how many tax credits can be issued. New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says he supports the movie industry’s request…

cut 12 (09)  “scarcely afford”

Since the measure doesn’t curtail the state from issuing tax credits, he says it could lead to lawsuits by people whose tax credits are denied after the $180 million cap is reached. Leger says a major problem he has with the measure is that it takes a state authorized and certified tax credit and renders it worthless in some years…

cut 13 (10)  “worth five dollars”

He says the bill could lead to an unfavorable climate that could deter companies from filming in Louisiana. Proponents say if the governor vetoes the measure, it could lead to cuts to higher education and health care. But Leger believes a veto will not make it that difficult for lawmakers to fund all priorities in the state…

cut 14 (09) “this thing out”

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The Red River in Bossier/Shreveport is now below flood stage for the first time in several weeks. Mario Valverde with the National Weather Service, says the river has fallen below 30 feet, which is flood stage.

cut 15 (09) “stage area”

Valverde expects the river to drop off a little more and level off at about 29 feet. He says residents will get able to get back into their homes but will be left to deal with debris the flood left behind.

cut 16 (06) “deal with”

Valverde says they are keeping an eye on Tropical Depression Bill as it moves through Texas and into Oklahoma. He says hopefully the rain from Bill will not lead to another significant flood event.

cut 17 (11) “in Shreveport”

The LSU baseball team avoided elimination at the College World Series by beating Cal State Fullerton 5-3 on Tuesday. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Lafayette is named one of the top All American vacation spots for 2015 by the Travel Channel. Emelie Gunn has more…..

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Food and Drug Administration is calling on food companies to remove artificial trans fat from our diet. Scott Carwile has the story…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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The LSU baseball team avoided elimination at the College World Series by beating Cal State Fullerton 5-3 on Tuesday. This is LSU’s 17th CWS appearance in Omaha, but their first win at TD Ameritrade Park. Coach Paul Mainieri says they are thrilled to finally get a victory at the sports stadium…:

cut 4  (11)  “the right word”

The Tigers fell behind 3-0, but LSU finally got the bats going in the third inning as they scored four runs. After a rough start, Alex Lange went the distance for a complete game victory as he struck out ten and allowed six hits. Mainieri says Lange’s performance was incredible..:

Cut 5  (13)  “continued pitching”

Alex Bregman, who batted from the lead-off spot, was 4-for-5. Mark Laird had three hits and drove in a run. LSU will play again on Thursday night. Lange says after the first inning he had to go back into the dugout and regroup…:

Cut 6 (12)  “really easy”

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Lafayette has been named one the top All American vacation spots for 2015 by the Travel Channel. President and CEO of Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Ben Berthelot says the city has also been named the happiest in the country by The Wall Street Journal as well as a getting a  few other notable titles.

CUT 7 (12)  “foodie cities”

The Travel Channel says Lafayette is filled with many cultural influences especially with their Cajun flair. Berthelot says if they can get people down to experience the city, they’ll be hooked.

Cut 8  (07)  “down here” 

Berthelot believes getting the publicity from big name sources really does bring in new visitors.

Cut 9 (06)  “for us”

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Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves is pushing legislation to improve Red Snapper access in the Gulf of Mexico for recreational, commercial and charter industries. The recreational season is only ten days old and it finished last week but Graves says the season should be longer.

Cut 10 (12) “put together”

Two different bills are moving through Congress right now. Graves says one bill improves the science used to manage Red Snapper resources  and the second bill deals with making sure commercial and recreational fisherman have greater access to Red Snapper.

cut 11 (09) “Gulf of Mexico”

Graves believes making the season longer helps to maintain Louisiana’s reputation as the sportsman’s paradise. He says fishing is a big part of our state’s culture and science proves the fishery can be better managed to increase the Red Snapper season.

cut 12 (10)  “is absurd”

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The Food and Drug Administration orders food companies to phase out artificial trans fats from foods. Doctor Catherine Champagne, a registered dietitian with LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center,says this is great news, because trans fat is not good for your heart….

Cut 13 (07)  “heart disease”

The FDA says the removal of trans fat will prevent thousands of fatal heart attacks. Champagne says consumers should be happy the federal government is taking this action, but more needs to be done to make sure people eat healthy…

Cut 14 (07) “eat though”

Champagne says restaurants have also taken steps to remove trans fat from their foods. She says trans fat helps food have a longer shelf life, but it should taste the same with or without it.

Cut 15  (07)  “that level”

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