The Louisiana Office of Tourism kicks off a new ad campaign to attract tourists to the Bayou State. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (32)  “….I’m  Teiko Foxx”

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A new law that went into effect this year allows more students to receive free meals. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism launch a new ad campaign to bring more visitors to the state. The “My Louisiana” campaign promotes staycations and domestic and international travel. Nungesser says the campaign shows potential visitors that Louisiana has something for everyone.

Cut 3 (13) …over Louisiana”

The campaign will reach potential visitors in the media they use most for travel inspiration and planning. Nungesser says the ads will run on billboards, in major outlets, and through other formats.

Cut 4 (11) “… Louisiana is.”

The campaign will also use digital video, print advertising, streaming audio, still photography, visitor guide assets, and trade show assets. Nungesser says marketing will also include missions to feeder markets like Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, and Chicago.

Cut 5 (08) “…alternate routes.”

The Office of Tourism also launched a new website just months ago which nearly eight million people visited last year.

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Almost $12 million was won from lottery tickets in Louisiana last month, along with $877 thousand in fast-play winnings and more than $16 million in scratch-off winnings. And that’s not all, Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison…

Cut 6 (07) “…in August.”

And while the numbers vary month-to-month, Annison says things are off to a good start for the new fiscal year…

Cut 7 (08) “…so far.”

Annison says a ticket with the winning numbers for a Lotto prize of $1.85 million was sold in New Orleans last month. So far, no one has claimed the prize, but the winner has 180 days from the August 30^th draw date to come forward.

Cut 8 (06) “…their check.”

Annison says scratch-off tickets are always their biggest seller.

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Five of the seven major candidates for governor appeared in the first statewide TV debate last night and the first question thrown at them was what will they do about the state’s crime problem if elected governor. Treasurer John Schroder, a former narcotics detective, says crime fighting isn’t always about putting someone in jail…

Cut 9 (13)  “…dealt with”

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says fentanyl is the root cause of our crime problem…

Cut 10 (13) “…young people”

Former Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says the state needs more law enforcement on the street and he wants to use technology…

Cut 11 (13) “…retribution”

Independent Hunter Lundy says better-educated children would result in less crime…

Cut 12 (14) “…incarceration” 

Democrat Shawn Wilson used this question to take a shot at the front-runner in the race, Republican Jeff Landry, who decided to skip this event…

Cut 13 (11) “…be engaged.”

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A new law that went into effect this year allows more students to receive free meals. Rhonda Jackson, Director of No Kid Hungry Louisiana says there are three categories of school meals, free, reduced meals, and paid lunch.

Cut 14 (10) “…as well.”

The bipartisan legislation provides $860,000 in funding each year which allows 14,000 more students eligible for free meals, totaling 440,000 more meals for Louisiana students.

Jackson says there’s a common misconception about how dire the need is for students, especially when the state is known for such good food.

Cut 15 (05) “…reenter the classroom.”

By allowing more students access to free meals, Jackson is hopeful it will improve their lives and their ability to focus on their education.

Marrero Representative Kyle Green who sponsored the legislation says he plans to introduce legislation in the future that expands the program to include all students.

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After a poor performance last Sunday against Florida State, LSU returns to Tiger Stadium tomorrow night to face the Grambling Tigers. Quarterback Jayden Daniels says practices have been spirited this week.

Cut 16 (16) “…essentially.”

Some valuable lessons were had in the blowout loss to the Seminoles, but defensive tackle Maason Smith said you can’t dwell on it for too long.

Cut 17 (22) “…next opponent”

The G-Men lost its season opener to Hampton 35-31. Grambling allowed 279 rushing yards, so this should be a contest where LSU gets its running backs involved and gets the ground game going. Running back Noah Cain…

Cut 18 (14) “…on Grambling.”

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The Ragin Cajuns kick-off Sun Belt play on Saturday as they visit Old Dominion. U-L Lafayette won its season opener over Northwestern State 38-13. Senior QB Ben Woolridge threw for 223 yards and three touchdowns, but only completed 44-percent of his passes. Coach Michael Desormeaux is hoping they complete a higher percentage of their passes tomorrow…

Cut 19 (14) “…protect better”

The Monarchs lost their opening game to Virginia and they are picked to finish last in the East Division. But Desormeaux says they present some challenges…

Cut 20 (19) “…their too”

Christmas Town Christmas Tree farm in Tangipahoa Parish announced they are closing for the 2023 season due to extreme drought. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

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Treasurer John Schroder launches an attack ad linking gubernatorial opponent Jeff Landry to a Texas attorney accused of scamming property owners after the 2020 hurricanes. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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This year’s Christmas Grinch is the state’s extreme drought. Christmas Town, a tree farm in Tangipahoa Parish, will not open for business this year. Owner Lisa Miller says drought and extreme temperatures killed too many trees

Cut 3 (09) “…as well.”

Tangipahoa Parish is classified as being under exceptional drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The farm, which offers customers the chance to cut down their own trees, has been in business for 14 years. Miller says a large portion of her harvest could not handle this year’s dry heat.

Cut 4 (08) “…finished yet.”

It takes seven to nine years to grow a 6-foot to 8-foot marketable size Christmas tree. She hopes to preserve the tradition next Christmas.

Cut 5 (12) “ … next year.” 

The Southern Christmas Tree Association says the Christmas Town farm is the only one they know of that will not be open this season. Other farms have lost trees but not to the extent of Christmas Town.

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Treasurer John Schroder launches an attack ad linking gubernatorial opponent Jeff Landry to a Texas attorney accused of scamming property owners after the 2020 hurricanes. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says it’s a topic that south Louisiana residents are familiar with…

Cut 6 (11) “…the needle.”

Tonight is the first statewide televised debate with five of the seven viable gubernatorial candidates. Landry is not participating, and Stockley says Schroder it’s not a coincidence the ad started today…

Cut 7 (10) “…accusations.” 

Stockley believes the strategy is not only to get Schroder into a runoff…

Cut 8 (09) “…candidate events.”

Today’s debate begins at 7 p.m.

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Brutally hot and dry weather has kept 95 percent of the state in drought conditions, according to the U-S Drought Monitor. State climatologist Barry Keim says the areas in “extreme and exceptional” drought conditions have gotten worse.

Cut 9 (12) “…move forward.” 

The southwest corner of Louisiana is classified as exceptionally dry along with Northshore and the Baton Rouge area. In exceptional drought, fishing is compromised, pasture and crop loss is widespread, and water shortages are implemented. Keim says almost 70 percent of the state is D3 or D4 status.

Cut 10 (08) “…across Louisiana”

The extreme northern part of the state is not experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions. Keim says the conditions in the extreme southeastern part of the state have improved.

Cut 11 (12) “…last week”

The U-S Drought Monitor, released every Thursday, shows how bad drought conditions are across the country.

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LSU coach Kim Mulkey has reportedly agreed to a ten-year contract worth 32-million dollars, which would be the richest total contract in women’s college basketball history. LSU won the first national championship in program history last April and the Advocate’s Scott Rabalais says it took Mulkey only two seasons to reach the top…

Cut 12 (10) “…once again”

The LSU Board of the Supervisors is expected to approve the record deal tomorrow.

Mulkey has won four national championships and turned 61 in May. She experienced a health scare in June and had a procedure to put in two stents to alleviate a blocked heart artery. Rabalais says it will be interesting to see if Mulkey coaches another ten years, but she’s good to go for now…

Cut 13 (09) “…like that”

Women’s basketball is not a revenue generating sport, but Rabalais says LSU’s athletic director looks at Mulkey’s new contract as a wise investment…

Cut  14 (12) “…dollars and sense.”

The state Department of Transportation announces there will be lane closures on I-20 in the Shreveport-Bossier City area for the next two and a half years because that highway will be getting new pavement starting September 18th. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “….I’m  Teiko Foxx”

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The first televised debate in the 2023 governor’s race is tonight. Brooke Thorington on what to expect.

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Despite the recent rain, the statewide burn ban remains in effect. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 3 (33) …I’m Brooke Thorington”

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The state Department of Transportation announces a 117 million dollar construction project will begin on I-20 in Bossier and Caddo Parishes on September 18th. DOTD Spokesperson Erin Buchanan says workers will spend the next two and a half years replacing the original pavement from the 1960s.

Cut 4 (08) “… the top.”

The work will result in lane closures. The interstate will be reduced to one lane from Hamilton Road to Industrial Drive in both directions. Buchanan says a real-time traffic system will alert motorists to changing traffic conditions.

Cut 5 (08) “…alternate routes.”

Motorists are urged to use I-220 as an alternate route. The work will be performed at night to minimize traffic. Buchanan says reconstruction work will also be underway from Pines Road to Market Street on the west end.

Cut 6 (11) “…as well.”

This section of the interstate services 70 to 100 thousand vehicles daily. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2025.

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Five of the seven major candidates will participate in the first televised debate for the 2023 governor’s race tonight. Republican Jeff Landry refuses to participate because he says the organizer, the Urban League is biased toward Democrats. UNO Political Science professor Dr. Ed Chervenak says it’s unfortunate because voters are interested in what Landry has to say.

Cut 7 (10) “…front-runner.”

Republican Representative Richard Nelson was not invited to participate due to low polling numbers.

With fellow Republicans and Independent Hunter Lundy polling in the single digits, Chervenak says they’ll need to capture viewers’ attention and set themselves apart.

Present or not, Chervenak believes the candidates will go after Landry.

Cut 8 (11) “…Republicans.”

And even though two of the seven viable candidates will be missing,  Chervenak thinks voters will still tune in to get a better idea of what the participating candidates’ plans are for Louisiana.

Cut 9 (11)  “…direction.”

The debate at, WWL-TV’s studio in New Orlean will be televised statewide tonight at 7 pm. KATC, WBRZ, and KTBS are also sponsoring tonight’s debate.

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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says they are once again taking applications from insurance companies who are interested in receiving grant dollars if they write more homeowners insurance policies. Donelon says they allocated 42-million dollars to eight insurers following the first round of applications and it resulted in thousands of homeowners finding coverage through a private insurer…

Cut 10 (04) “…since April.”

Donelon says many of the new policies were written in southeast Louisiana…

Cut 11 (14) “…22-hundred”

Donelon says the total amount of grant funds during this second application period is 13 million dollars. He says the goal is to reduce the number of homes that have coverage through the state-run insurer of last resort Citizens, which by state law has to offer policies with more expensive premiums…

Cut 12 (09) “…Citizens insurance.”

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The statewide burn ban remains in effect, even though parts of the state have received rain, but officials say it’s not enough to reduce the increased risk of fire due to the prolonged drought. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue…

Cut 13 (11) “…fire service (x2).”

Despite recent rains near some of the ongoing wildfires, Rodrigue says those blazes remain active.

Cut 14 (08) “…those scenes.”

The State Fire Marshal’s Office, however, says residents can resume outdoor cooking, but Rodrigue encourages those who do grill out to have safety measures in place before they light up.

Cut 15 (09) “…cooking there.”

At Tiger Stadium tailgaters have been asked not to grill out for LSU’s home opener against Grambling on Saturday.

The state’s burn ban will be reconsidered on a weekly basis.

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The regular season opener is fast approaching for the Saints, who will face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. New starting quarterback Derek Carr believes the Black and Gold will have a great season

Cut 16 (16) “…this week.”

Carr expects Tennessee head coach Mike Vrabel to bring a physical style of play to the Superdome on Sunday…

Cut 17 (14) “…he’s coaching that.”

Carr on the importance of winning the first game…

Cut 18 (12) “…even better.”

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LSU defensive tackle Maason Smith will make his season debut on Saturday night when the Tigers host Grambling. Smith was suspended for the season opener for getting paid for autographs before NIL took effect. Coach Brian Kelly says it will be Smith’s first game since last September…

Cut 19 (19) “…impact the game.”

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Louisiana Tech will host north Louisiana rival Northwestern State on Saturday. Bulldogs Coach Sonny Cumbie says the stakes get raised when you play another team from Louisiana…

Cut 20 (20) “…football team.”

The Bulldogs are 1-1 after losing to SMU last week, Northwestern State dropped its season opener to U-L Lafayette.