Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal to his conviction on fraud charges is heard in a federal courtroom today. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

______________________________________

The multi-state Powerball lottery game has a new matrix, which will lead to bigger jackpots and the rules have changed so more money can be won from lower-tier prizes. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

About 280-thousand dollars has been raised for the victims and those who lost their lives in the Lafayette theater shooting in July. Jeff Palermo has more….

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal to his conviction on fraud charges is heard in a federal courtroom in New Orleans today. Nagin was convicted on 20 counts last year and sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says Nagin is arguing that the jury was incorrectly instructed on laws regarding honest services fraud…

cut 4  (06)  “the evidence”

He says, on appeal, the best argument any defendant has is that there was a flaw in the jury instructions. Ciolino says Nagin claims that the city would have awarded the contracts in question regardless of whether or not he received any kind of payment from the contractors…

Cut 5  (10)  “awarded anyway”

He says Nagin’s appeal only covers nine of his 20 convictions. Ciolino says, although Nagin is taking his best shot, it’s difficult in any criminal case to prevail on appeal…

Cut 6 (10)  “other errors”

______________________________________

New changes are in place for the Powerball multi-state lottery game which will make it more difficult for players to win the grand prize, but more money could be won in other ways. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says the matrix changes will increase the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 175 million to 1 and 292 million….

CUT 7 (06)  “really love”

To produce the added player benefits, ten numbers will be added to the field of white-ball numbers for a total of 69 and nine Powerball numbers will be removed for a total of 26. Chopin says this allows them to increase the prize for matching four white balls plus a red Powerball number from 10-thousand to 50-thousand dollars

Cut 8  (12)  “prize levels” 

Chopin says for players who add the one-dollar power play option, they can now multiply their nonjackpot prize up to ten times….

Cut 9 (12) “40 bucks” 

___________________________________________

About 280-thousand dollars has been raised for the 11 victims and the families of the two women killed in July’s Lafayette theater shooting. CEO of Pixus Digital Printing Todd Landry says the company raised the majority of the money by selling signs, t-shirts, car deals. He says he never dreamed they’d have this kind of impact.

Cut 10 (09) “a rewarding thing”

Landry says even though it’s been a little over two months since the tragedy, they’re still receiving orders. He says they’ve come out with a new Lafayette Strong commemorative wooden sign with all the proceeds going to the victims and their families.

cut 11 (10) “60 days”

The United Way says an initial payment of five-thousand dollarxs has been sent to each of the victim families. He says people interested in purchasing items can visit Louisiana Hot Stuff–dot-com.

Cut 12 (09) “as well”

___________________________________________

The Department of Children and Family Services announces changes coming to child support direct payment card clients when it comes to paying and receiving money. D-C-F-S Secretary Suzy Sonnier says Louisiana is in the process of moving towards a new stored value card for child support clients. She says this means all clients using the card need to update their address as soon as possible.

Cut 13 (10)  “is successful”

Sonnier says as D-C-F-S switches vendors, all clients will be getting a new value card in the mail. She says to change your address visit D-C-F-S-dot-L-A-dot-G-O-V-backslash-cafe. (www.dcfs.la.gov/cafe)

Cut 14 (08) “their address”

Sonnier is strongly encouraging her child support clients to start using direct deposit.

Cut 15  (11)  “value card”

___________________________________________

It wasn’t the blowout people were expecting on Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. LSU only led by six points halftime and eventually defeated Eastern Michigan 44-22. Star running back Leonard Fournette admits they underestimated the Eagles…

Cut 16  (08)  “stay on everybody”

Fournette rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns. The Tigers needed a big game from the Heisman Trophy candidate, because LSU only threw for 80 yards as quarterback Brandon Harris completed just four passes. It wasn’t all Harris’ fault as there were plenty of drops. Coach Les Miles says they’ll continue to work on the passing game…

Cut 17 (20) “South Carolina” 

Fournette made history on Saturday, becoming the first SEC running back to rush for over 200 yards in three consecutive games…

Cut 18 (10) “for me”

___________________________________________

For the second straight year, Louisiana Tech easily defeated UL Lafayette. The Bulldogs scored 22 points in the 2nd quarter and went on to win 43-13. The Cajuns scored first, a 49-yard touchdown pass to Elijah McGuire. But the Bulldogs scored the next 36 points. Coach Skip Holtz liked how his team responded to that early score…

Cut 19 (22) “they have”

Last year Tech beat the Cajuns 48-20. Holtz says it’s nice to beat your in-state rivals by wide margins two years in a row…

Cut 20 (10) “care of business”

The state Department of Health and Hospitals confirms a second death this year from the West Nile Virus — this time out of the Baton Rouge area. Emelie Gunn reports…:

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

================

The search continues for a convicted killer from Iberville Parish who was accidentally released from prison. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (29)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

===================

The state Department of Health and Hospitals confirms a second death this year from the West Nile Virus. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says there are now 54 confirmed cases in 2015 and 2 deaths, compared to 123 cases and 5 deaths the prior year. He says even as we move into October, the threat of infected mosquitoes is still there..:

CUT 3 (09)  “mosquito repellent”

Guidry says the latest West Nile death is out of the Baton Rouge area. He says about 90 percent of the cases they see are asymptomatic, but about 10 percent will develop West Nile Fever…:

CUT 4 (06)  “highest risk”

Guidry says less than a percent of people bitten by an infected mosquito will develop the more serious form of the disease, but anyone can get West Nile. He says it’s important to protect yourself from mosquitoes at least until the end of the year…:

CUT 5 (07) “into December”

============================

The Louisiana chapter for Americans for Prosperity launches a statewide radio ad informs listeners about lawmakers who are up for re-election and voted for tax increases and the expansion of Medicaid. A-F-P State Director Phillip Joffrion says the commercial points voters to a website that has how lawmakers voted…

CUT 6 (08) “the budget” 

The Louisiana A-F-P is tied with the Tea Party. Joffrion says they want to spotlight those lawmakers who voted to raise taxes….

CUT 7 (10)  “term fixes”

Joffrion says this ad is an effort to urge Louisiana citizens to voice their concerns about Medicaid expansion and tax increases. He says the public can view their lawmaker’s record at Louisiana Score Card-dot-com.

CUT 8 (09)  “that site”

============================

The manhunt continues for a convicted killer who was mistakenly released from the East Feliciana Parish jail on September 22nd.  Thirty-two-year-old Benjueil Johnson was in prison, serving a 40-year sentence for a 2010 fatal shooting in Plaquemine. State Department of corrections spokesperson Pam Laborde says they hope to bring Johnson back into custody soon…

CUT 9 (11)  “DOC custody”

Laborde says they are working with Crime Stoppers to offer a one-thousand dollar reward for information leading to Johnson’s capture…

cut 10 (10)  “right thing”

Laborde says an employee at Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson, Louisiana, overlooked the fact that Johnson was convicted of manslaughter and didn’t do the due diligence needed to make sure he would not be accidentally released…

Cut 11 (08)  “make sure”

============================

A debate has started over whether star LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette should sit out his junior season so he doesn’t risk injury before heading to the NFL. The Heisman Trophy candidate is not eligible for the draft until after next season. But NFL analyst Mike Detillier says this argument is ridiculous…:

cut 12 (09)  “like that”

Pro Football Talk got the conversation started when they suggested it would be smart for Fournette to opt out of playing next year instead of possibly getting injured and ruining his pro career. Detillier says sure there is always a risk in playing football, but college is a time for athletes to grow…:

cut 13 (07)  “would want”

Fournette weighed in on the topic by tweeting, “I will never jump ship, I’m drowning with my brothers.” Detillier says this talk is for the purpose of gossiping and getting people riled up…:

cut 14 (06)  “in 2016”

============================