Louisiana will hold another tax amnesty period this fall. Jeff Palermo has the details

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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Lafayette Police arrest a 27-year-old mother in connection with the death of her three-year-old child. Jeff Palermo has the story..

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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The US Coast Guard says they are investigating a multi-vessel collision that happened on the Mississippi River near Gretna last night which caused some oil to be spilled into the water. Spokesman Jonathan Lally says a ship carrying grains lost power and control and crashed into another vessel and barge that was fueling up…:

CUT 3 (08) “into the river”

Lally says fuel was being transferred from the barge when it broke free causing some oil to be discharged into the water from the transfer hose…:

CUT 4 (09) “that was spilled”

Lally says no injuries were reported in the incident. He says about 588 gallons of marine grade fuel was spilled into the river and the Gretna water intake was shut off as a safety precation…:

CUT 5 (12) “the sheen went”

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New research provided to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shows Louisiana Black Bear populations are making great strides toward recovery. Large Carnivore Program Manager, Maria Davidson, says they don’t have an official count on how many black bears are in the state, but they’ve learned there are at least 250 female bears, which is a good number…

CUT 6 (09)  “hear from them”

The hope is to have the Louisiana Black Bear removed from the endangered species list. The US Fish and Wildlife Service will make that determination. Davidson says the future of the black bear is looking good…

CUT 7 (07) “a hundred years”

LDWF has worked many years to rebuild the population of the Louisiana Black Bear. In the 1950s, there were only 100 black bears in the state. Davidson says it appears that female black bears are beginning to breed on a more regular basis…

CUT 8 (13) “for the bears”

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The Louisiana Department of Revenue says the state will hold another tax amnesty period from October 15th to November 14th.  Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield says new to this amnesty program is the option that delinquent taxpayers can pay their debt owed to the state through payments

CUT 9 (08) “amount due”

Barfield says the state held an amnesty program last year and Louisiana collected 452-million dollars in back taxes, but the goal this year is only 100-million

CUT 10 (09) “as much”

During the tax amnesty period all penalties will be waived and the taxpayer only owes 50-percent of the interest that’s due. Barfield says a payment plan is new to the amnesty program and that will allow a noncompliant taxpayer to pay their overdue taxes over a six month period…

CUT 11 (10) “back taxes“

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A Lafayette mother is facing negligent homicide charges in the death of her three-year-old child. Lafayette Police corporal Paul Mouton says 27-year-old Sara Leblanc told investigators the child was sick for a couple of days, and their investigation revealed the child went 25 hours without food or fluids during her illness

CUT 12 (07) “dehydration”

Mouton says on the day the child died, the little girl went to sleep at around six A-M. Leblanc allegedly did not check on her until seven that night and also left the home during that time to get some fast food

CUT 13 (09) “negligent homicide”

An autopsy report has determined the cause of death can be attributed to hypothermia and dehydration. Leblanc was charged with negligent homicide. Mouton says the investigation remains ongoing

cut 14 (11) “investigation”

Jefferson Parish President John Young announces he’s joining the 2015 race for Lt. Governor. Michelle Southern has that..:

CUT 1 (33) “reporting”

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Oyster production has been on a downward spiral since the 2010 BP oil spill. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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Jefferson Parish President John Young announces he’s running for Lt. Governor in 2015. Young joins already announced candidates Baton Rouge Mayor President Kip Holden and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser. The seat is being left open by Jay Dardenne who intends to run for Governor next year. Young says the Office of Tourism is a major growth industry for Louisiana…:

CUT 3 (09) “in the world”

Young says, if elected, a major focus would also be on economic development and creating jobs and opportunity for our children and grandchildren. He says a top priority as Lt. Governor is making sure funds are secure to continue to market Louisiana…:

CUT 4 (09) “the entire state”

Young says he wants to be an ambassador for economic development and the film industry…:

CUT 5 (07) “in Louisiana”

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Since the BP spill, oyster production along Louisiana’s coast has reached lows that have not been seen in decades. That’s according to Louisiana Oyster Task Force Chairman John Tesvich, who says it’s a challenging time for the industry

CUT 6 (06)  “haven’t come back”

Prior to the BP spill, Louisiana public reefs would produce three to seven million pounds of oyster meat a year. Last year, just under a million pounds was produced and Tesvich says early numbers for 2014 are only slightly better than last year…

CUT 7 (08) “speak of”

A statement from BP says government studies indicate conditions other than the oil spill have led to the decline in oyster populations. Tesvich says recent hurricanes and an influx of fresh water are other possible factors. He says in the meantime, oystermen can only hope conditions get better

CUT 8 (10) “it yet”

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So in addition to the big super-moon we’ve got in the sky right now, the most explosive meteor shower of the year is underway. Lee Sawyer is the director of chemistry and physics at Louisiana Tech. He says the peak of the every-August Perseid meteor shower will happen early tomorrow morning…:

CUT 9 (09) “season”

Sawyer says if you’d like to see some beautiful shooting stars, early tomorrow morning when it’s still dark out would be the best time…:

CUT 10 (07) “couple of seconds or so”

Sawyer says sometimes the meteors will look like little fireballs. He says the annual Persei meteor shower lasts for several days…:

CUT 11 (11) “really the peak“

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The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office says a teenage girl is under arrest for allegedly stealing the pizza delivery guy’s car. Spokesman Glenn Springfield says the accused is 17-year-old Shaquillea Hunter of Monroe. He says they got a report of the stolen vehicle and they easily spotted the car with the Pizza Hut sign on top…:

CUT 12 (11) “and handcuff em”

Springfield says once they got Hunter in custody, they got the Pizza Hut employee to come make an identification and give a statement…:

CUT 13 (08) “he called us”

Springfield said when Hunter was questioned about the incident, she told the deputy to just take her to jail. He says she was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center…:

cut 14 (03) “and resisting an officer”

Now that schools are in session across the state, teachers are in classrooms with no idea what assessment test will be given this year. Michelle Southern repors.

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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Farmers across the state are beginning to harvest another rice crop after a record harvest last year.  Eric Gill has more…

Cut 2 Audio (28) “reporting”

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The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals confirms the state’s second West Nile virus death this year. Eric Gill Reports…

Cut 3 Audio   (34) “reporting”

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Farmers across the state are beginning to harvest another rice crop.  There was a phenomenal crop last year yielding a statewide average of 7,500 pounds per acre.  LSU AgCenter Rice Specialist, Dr. Johnny Saichuck (SAY-chuck), says we shouldn’t expect those same numbers with this year’s crop…

Cut 4  (09)  “had last year”

Saichuck says this year’s rain and cloud cover has affected this year’s rice crop.  He thinks the crop is running about two weeks behind what it was last year.  Saichuck says last year’s rice crop was special…

Cut 5  (06) “on everything”

He estimates this year’s yield to come in at around 6,500 pounds per acre.  Saichuck says so far yields are okay, but he’s not ready to give up on this year’s crop…

Cut 6 (08)  “expect yieldwise”

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With school starting around the state, teachers are educating kids in the classroom with no idea what assessment test will be given this year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan says educators are frustrated and angry about all of this…:

CUT 7 (06)  “very political process”

Monaghan says most teachers are irritated about being in the middle of a political battle between BESE and the Department of Education and Governor Bobby Jindal over Common Core. The two sides head to court this week. Monaghan says these political forces need to make this year about teaching…:

CUT 8 (06)   “on the backburner”

CUT 9 (11)  “that folks are teaching”

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A crop duster crash in Iberia Parish has claimed the life of an experienced pilot. Lieutenant Jeremy Kelley, with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office, says a Bell 47 helicopter crashed near a cane field north of US 90 Sunday morning

cut 10 (12) “coroner’s office”

The pilot has been identified as 60-year-old Kenneth Squires of Jeanerette. The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting an investigation into why the helicopter crash. There were some storms that rolled through south Louisiana on Sunday, but Kelley says it doesn’t appear the weather had anything to do with this crash

cut 11 (12)  “for certain” 

Kelley says Squires was a long-time pilot…

cut 12 (11) “type of work”

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The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals confirms the state’s second West Nile virus death this year. The death occurred in the Capital Area Region 2 which consists of East and West Feliciana, East and West Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, and Ascension Parishes. Medical Director for the Office of Public Health in central Louisiana, David Holcombe, says there are now 29 cases of West Nile in Louisiana…

Cut 13 (07)  “for the same period”

Not much is known about the latest victim other than it was a person over the age of 75. The state’s first death from West Nile was reported in Caddo Parish last month. Holcombe says to protect yourself from West Nile, you must protect yourself from mosquitoes…

Cut 14 (10)  “mosquito repellent”

DHH reports 14 new cases of West Nile, bringing the state total to 29. Holcombe says you should also protect your home from mosquitoes should eliminate standing water or any area where mosquitoes could breed. He says the threat of West Nile and mosquitoes will last, at least, until we get cold weather…

Cut 15  (09)   “very precipitously”

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Sunday was LSU media day and the first opportunity for reporters to speak with members of the Tigers second ranked recruiting class. True freshman Quarterback Brandon Harris is battling with sophomore Anthony Jennings for a starting spot and a decision on who will start the season opener is not expected anytime soon. Even Harris admits there’s not much separating himself with Jennings…

Cut 16  (13)   “don’t know”

Most of the hype with this freshmen class is center around running back Leonard Fournette. The former St Aug star has high expectations for his freshmen season

Cut 17  (07)   “Heisman candidate”

Fournette says the media attention he’s receiving both locally and nationally is not bothering him….

Cut 18 (14)  “right now”

Another young player on offense is Malachi Dupre. The former John Curtis standout says offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has them believing they can have a good season, despite the youth at the skill positions

cut 19 (14)  “of his past”

The President of the LSU Alumni Association has decided to go on annual leave amidst a lawsuit claiming he paid a former female employee hush money. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (36) “reporting”

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The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency preparedness is sending a team to assist with storm efforts in Hawaii as they endure two separate systems. Michelle Southern has that.

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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The Baton Rouge Police Department says a Fed Ex man is under arrest for allegedly stealing packages he was supposed to deliver to businesses. BRPD spokesman L’Jean McKneely says they believe 50-year-old Nathaniel Smith would lie by saying he delivered goods he’d kept for himself.

CUT 3 (09) “in office”

McKneely says surveillance video from a victim shows the suspect delivering only part of an order including one package of more than $1200 worth of cigarettes.

CUT 4 (05) “following her home”

McKneely says Fed Ex launched an investigation and that’s when they interviewed Smith and booked him for felony theft…:

CUT 5 (05) “make the arrest”

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Louisiana farmers will see minimal impact from Russia’s decision to ban food imports from the United States for one year. That’s according to LSU AgCenter economic Kurt Guidry, who says over the past five years, Russia has been a relatively minor customer for most US ag products…

CUT 6 (09)  “US export”

Russia’s “full embargo” on food imports from the US, Europe and other western countries is in response to sanctions over its crisis in Ukraine. Guidry says for major row crop commodities, Russia has represented less than one percent of total US sales

CUT 7 (10) “if at all”

Guidry says Russia is a bigger player in the livestock and poultry markets, which could lead to some short-term effects to poultry and livestock prices…

CUT 8 (07) “the state”

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The President of the LSU Alumni Association has decided to go on annual leave amidst a lawsuit claiming he paid a former female employee hush money. Mary Olive Pierson says her client, Charlie Roberts, admits to having a sexual relationship with Kay Heath but didn’t do anything unethical…:

CUT 9 (08) “sex for money thing”

Health’s attorney, Jeffry Sanford, says the two entered into a contractual financial agreement that was terminated by Roberts without notice in July…:

CUT 10 (06) “quit paying”

The lawsuit alleges Roberts asked Heath to quit her job and promised to pay her money similar to her salary with the Association for the rest of her life.  Pierson says Roberts was completely shocked by this lawsuit and is taking time off work so that he’s not distracted. But Sanford calls it “paid leave” and says Health will completely drop the lawsuit if Roberts resigns or is fired because he is a continuing threat to all women at the LSU Alumni Association…;

CUT 11 (08) “in this case“

Pierson says Roberts is not going to respond to Health’s threats but right now the focus is on winning the lawsuit…:

CUT 12 (04) “or get fired”

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A potential starter on LSU’s defensive line is reportedly out for the season with a torn biceps. Junior defensive tackle Quentin Thomas from Breaux Bridge was expected to be on the first team this season after starting in the bowl game against Iowa. Tiger Rag Editor Robert Stewart says the injury comes at a position where they didn’t have much experience…

CUT 13 (12) “that line”

Stewart says an LSU spokesperson has confirmed Thomas suffered an injury, but they are not providing any other details. He says redshirt freshman Frank Herron could be the player that sees increased playing time because of Thomas’ injury…

cut 14 (11) “Maquedis Bain”

Stewart says having a significant player lost for the season at this position is a tough blow for the Tigers…

cut 15 (11) “last year”