According to financial reports, Governor Bobby Jindal raised about $579,000 in his first week as a Republican presidential candidate. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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Gas prices in Louisiana are slowly continuing to drop. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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State Police announce the arrest of nine people for filing fraudulent insurance claims and keeping the money received. Sgt. James Anderson says the Kemper Home Service Group contacted them concerned that some of their employees in the Lake Charles area were filing false claims…

CUT 3 (07)  “of that investigation”

A majority of the fake claims were for lightning damage losses to electrical appliances. The fraudulent claims totaled over $55,000. Anderson says the nine arrested face various charges…

CUT 4 (07)  “after the fact”

He says charges of the accused range from insurance fraud, theft, to accessory after the fact. Anderson says LSP takes insurance fraud cases seriously and their Insurance Fraud Unit will continue to work these kind of cases…

CUT 5 (09)  “all pay for it” 2X

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Gas prices are slowly falling in Louisiana as the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.53. That’s according to the American Automobile Association. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says this is about a nickel cheaper than last month.

CUT 6 (05)  “to drop”

Redman says this is not a nationwide trend and the West Coast is currently seeing prices go up by about 20 cents a gallon due to refinery and market issues. He says the Gulf Coast won’t be affected by this increase.

CUT 7 (08) “a gallon”

Redman says the slowing of the economy in Europe strengthens the U.S. dollar which greatly affects the cost of oil. He says he’s seen a drop in the price of crude from 60 to 50 dollars.

CUT 8 (09)  “the summer”

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According to financial reports filed Wednesday by federal regulators, Governor Bobby Jindal raised about $579,000 in his first week as a Republican presidential candidate. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says this is not a very strong first step for the governor…

CUT 9 (06)  “presidential field”

He says $579,000 puts Jindal near the bottom of the Republican field. However, the Washington Examiner reports that Jindal also has almost $9 million in his corner thanks to supportive outside groups like the Believe Again Super PAC and America Next. Stockley says Jindal’s short term fundraising goal is to be able to adequately campaign in Iowa, South Carolina, and New Hampshire…

cut 10 (08) “the nomination” 

Stockley says Jindal needs to kick up fund raising efforts so he has enough cash for general advertising to improve his position in the polls, so he’s invited to participate in the upcoming debates…

cut 11 (07) “additional momentum”

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The 76-year-old Huey P. Long Medical  Center in Pineville is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields says its a worthy designation for a building that’s meant a lot to the people of central Louisiana

cut 12 (05)  “The Register”

The Huey P. Long Medical Center has been unoccupied since last summer when the hospital closed. Fields hopes this will encourage private investors to take a look at the facility and develop plans to re-purpose the building.

cut 13 (10)  “downtown area”

Fields says from health care perspective, the services provided at the facility meant so much to Pineville residents. He says losing the hospital was upsetting, but he hopes it can be fixed up and used again.

cut 14 (06) “building”

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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”