Senator Mary Landrieu has been facing criticsm this week after CNN uncovered that the three-term senator had her senate office billed for two chartered flights that were campaign related. Landrieu’s office says the senator’s campaign will reimburse the senate for those flights. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Landrieu’s opponents are playing a potentially dangerous game bringing up this issue…
cut 11 (09) “….sorts of things”

A Baton Rouge judge will hear arguments today over a Common Core lawsuit filed by a group of lawmakers who oppose the controversial educational standards. Legal analyst Tim Meche says with no resolution in sight, legal fees will rise and schools will be kept in limbo…
cut 6 (10) “….we have to pay’

Today begins the annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign. With alcohol being a factor in as many as 40 percent of all fatal vehicular crashes, cops are keen to get out and lock up drunk drivers. Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Lt. Col. John Leblanc says drunk driving has become too prevalent on state roads.
CUT 7 (08) “From the road”
Leblanc’s agency will provide federal funds to law enforcement agencies around the state, to give them the resources needed to blanket the roads during one of the peak times of the year for impaired driving.

Ascension parish authorities are expected to release the identity today of a badly beaten body that was found on a levee near Donaldsonville yesterday afternoon. Sheriff Jeff Wiley says the body of a young black male has been exposed to the elements for some time, making it difficult to determine the victim’s identity.

US Senator Mary Landrieu is facing criticism for having her senate office pay for two chartered flights, when in both cases, the plane was used to take her to campaign events. The conservative group, Keep Louisiana Working, has filed a formal complaint with the Federal election Commission. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says in a situation like this, it’s not unusual for outside groups to get involved…
cut 12 (08) “….to look bad’
Landrieu’s office says the Senator’s campaign has reimbursed the Senate for the flight costs.

Governor Bobby Jindal has appointed a former Congressman to the LSU Board of Supervisors. Jim McCrery of Shreveport served in Louisiana’s Congressional delegation for more than two decades. Jindal worked as a summer intern for McCrery back in the day. McCrery takes the place of Shreveport doctor John George, who resigned.

Starting today, cops across the state ramp up patrols to keep drunk drivers off the road. Scott Carwile has more…
cut 2 (29) “….reporting”

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control say they issued nearly 900 citiations this summer to businesses across the state that sold either alcohol or tobacco to minors. A-T-C Commissioner Troy Hebert says they conducted 65-hundred compliance checks during their summer crackdown…
cut 13 (06) “….actually sold”
Hebert says in most cases it’s the clerk at the register, not the business owner, who are illegally selling to minors.

A lawsuit filed by 17 lawmakers who claim the department of education and BESE did not follow the state’s laws when it adopted Common Core will be heard in a Baton Rouge courtroom today. This is one of two Common Core-related suits that are moving through the legal system. Legal analyst Tim Meche says people are trying to bring their politics into the courtroom.
Cut 4 (07) “on others”
Meche says thecase needs an authoritative judge who will demand a ettlement be reached without court intevention.

Senator Mary Landrieu is facing accusations that she used Senate money to pay for chartered flights to attend campaign events. Her two Republican opponents in the upcoming Senate race have criticized Landrieu on this issue in recent days. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan doesn’t see this as a big campaign issue…
cut 10 (09) “appears to be”
Landrieu’s campaign says they will reimburse the Senate for both flights that have been questioned.

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control announce they’ve issued nearly 900 citations to Louisiana businesses for selling alcohol and tobacco to minors as a result of their Summer Crackdown operation. Eric Gill has more…
Cut 3 Audio (32) “reporting”

Two people have finally been indicted for murder in the case of a Bourbon Street stripper, who was murdered and her body parts washed ashore along Mississippi beaches. It was 2012 when Jaren Lockhart’s killed. Prosecutors say Margaret Sanchez and Terry Speaks committed the brutal homicide.

A hearing is set for today in Baton Rouge over a lawsuit filed by a group of lawmakers who oppose Common Core. These legislators claim the department of education and BESE violated state law when Common Core was adopted. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says with a case as controversial as Common Core, an authoritative magistrate is needed…
cut 5 (07) “….we have that”
There’s also a pro Common Core lawsuit against Governor Jindal for his actions against the education standards.

The Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control say they’ve issued nearly 900 citations this summer to Louisiana retailers who sold alcohol or tobacco to minors. …
cut 15 (08) “….this from happening’
That’s A-T-C Commissioner Troy Hebert, who says fines start at 500-dollars for those who sell alcohol or tobacco to underage individuals.

Starting today law enforcement around the state will provide extra patrols in an attempt to crack down on drinking and driving. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign ends September first. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director, Colonel John Leblanc, says studies indicate campaigns like this save lives…
cut 8 (12) “….saving lives”
Leblanc says alcohol is a factor in as many as 40-percent of all fatal crashes.

University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley says the timeline on when they hope to have a new president in place at Grambling State has been extended into the spring.

A federal judge gives final approval to a 48-million dollar class action lawsuit filed by Bayou Corne residents who saw their lives disrupted as a result of a sinkhole that opened two years ago in Assumption Parish. One of the plantiff attorneys, Larry Centola, says residents should begin to see settlement money within the next few months….
cut 8 (09) “….late as January”
Texas Brine is the defendant in this case as its believed a salt mine they operated caused the sinkhole.

The former chief finanical officer at the Catahoula Sheriff’s office faces theft and malfeasance charges after he allegedly gave himself unauthorized pay increases that totaled over 22-thousand dollars. Trooper Albert Paxton says the state legislative auditor began looking into the alleged crime after Sheriff James Kelley came forward with information about the crime…
cut 15 (09) “….everything done”
Paxton says Tosspon faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals has issued a warning for travelers, beach goers and fishermen about two diseases, vibrio vulnificus (vul-nif-ick-us) and the chikungunay (chik-un-gun-yuh) virus. Eric Gill has more…
cut 3 (29) “….reporting”

A Slidell woman has been charged with medicaid fraud for allegedly using her dead sister’s name when she received medical treatment at Slidell Memorial Hospital. Investigators say 26-year-old Diondre Jones thought she would avoid having to pay any medical bills by identifying herself as her sister.

A federal judge has approved a 48-million dollar class action settlement for Bayou Corne residents affected by a sinkhole that was discovered nearly two years ago in Assumption Parish. Scott Carwile has more…
cut 2 (32) “….reporting”

The police chief of Kinder, which is located in Allen Parish, has entered a plea of not guilty to allegations of malfeasance and theft. Gary Pelican is is accused of using town credit cards to purchase thousands of dollars worth of fuel for himself and family members.

If you’re heading to the Caribbean, the Louisiana department of health and hospitals is asking residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites so you don’t get the Chikungunya virus. State Health officer Jimmy Guidry says the virus is transmitted by mosquitoes and its inital symptoms resemble the flu….
cut 11 (13) “….your physician”
Louisiana has confirmed eight travel related cases of chikungunya.

The SEC Network begins airing on cable and satellite channels at five o’ clock today. SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent says the network dedicated to the SEC will feature live games, daily shows similar Sportcenter and documentaries like ESPN’s 30 on 30. …
cut 5 (09) “….specific to LSU”
LSU’s first football game on the SEC Network will be September sixth when the Tigers host Sam Houston State in the home opener.

The state department of health and hospitals issues a warning about two diseases for beach goers, whether its the Gulf Coast or the Caribbean. State health officer Jimmy Guidry says take precautions against vibrio vulnificus (vul-nif-ick-us), a flesh-eating bacteria found in warm seawater, and if you’re heading to the Caribbean, take steps to prevent mosquito bites, so you don’t get the Chikungunya (chik-un-gun-yuh) virus….
cut 12 (06) “….with these issues”
Louisiana has confirmed eight travel related cases of chikungunya.

The former chief financial officer at the Catahoula Sheriff’s office faces theft and malfeasance charges after he allegedly gave himself two unauthorized pay increases. State Police Trooper Albert Paxton says the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office provided the evidence that led to the arrest of 61-year-old George Tosspon…
cut 13 (09) “…didn’t work”
Paxton says Tosspon faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

A captain of a tugboat was killed in New Orleans around midnight when crane arm struck a bridge and then that crane arm came crashing down on the pilot hosue of the tug boat. The bridge was raised at the time, but the crain arm still hit the structure. The victim’s identity has not been released.

The SEC Network begins broadcasting on satellite and cable TV providers at five o’ clock today. The channel will be available to 90-million homes across the country and SEC Associate Commissioner Herb Vincent says all of the schools worked hard to make this happen…
cut 6 (13) “….SEC Network is”
LSU says it spent over two million dollars on new high definition TV cameras, graphic packages and fiber optic cables so they can produce sporting events for the SEC Network.