The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program will open its third round of 750 grants of up to $10 thousand to replace roofs to fortified standards begins today at noon. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…Teiko Foxx.”

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One of the state senate races has two current representatives, who aren’t term-limited, in the runoff. Colleen Crain has more….

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

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Confusion over how to address a veto override session while in the midst of a legislative session has prompted  Constitutional Amendment 1 on the November 18^th ballot. Brooke Thorington reports it happened last year when lawmakers were in a regular session and the governor vetoed the legislature’s drawing of a Congressional map…

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the third round of grants of up to $10 thousand for the Louisiana Fortify Home Program opens today at noon. Donelon says 750 grants will be available for all homeowners at the department of insurance’s website…

Cut 4 (10) “…are available.”

The grant will cover the cost of reinforcing a roof using methods that meet or exceed the FORTIFIED Roof standard, which includes strengthening the roof of the home against severe storms, high winds, and wind-driven rain.

The LFHP began with enough funding to award three thousand grants. Donelon says homeowners must meet certain criteria to be eligible for the grant including…

Cut 5 (12) “…hazard zone.”

Funds are paid directly to contractors and are limited to construction costs. Donelon says upgrading to fortified roof standards is beneficial for policyholders who are paying high premiums.

Cut 6 (13) “…your coverage.”

Grants will be awarded to eligible homeowners on a first-come first-served basis. To apply, visit www.ldi.la.gov.

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Two Powerful Democratic Representatives in the Louisiana House are in a run off for the State Senate Seat vacated by term limited, Greg Tarver. Former Shreveport Mayor, Cedric Glover and Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Sam Jenkins are ideologically similar, according to LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor, Jeff Sadow, but he says the outcome may be influenced by the candidate voted out in the primary…

Cut 7 (09) “…two candidates.”

While Jenkins and Glover have similar voting records, Sadow says, Glover who has served as mayor and state representative might be considered more of a Maverick and Jenkins is more mainstream. Sadow says neither Jenkins nor Glover have reached term limits in the house so this race is a risk but the seat is open so…

Cut 8 (05) “…years.” 

Glover’s almost 30-year political career started in the Shreveport City Council before he served as mayor. Greg Tarver has endorsed Jenkins, and Sadow says Jenkins has more establishment support.

Cut 9 (11)  “…the party.”

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Constitutional Amendment one on the November 18^th ballot seeks to clarify what happens when legislators call for an override veto session, but they are already in a regular or special session. Public Affairs Research Council President Steven Procopio…

Cut 10 (10) “…readjourn.”

The situation came up in 2022. Lawmakers were in a regular session, but called for an override veto session to override the governor’s veto of the Congressional map. Procopio so it wasn’t clear how the Legislature should handle the situation.

Cut 11 (09) “…be in.” 

And with a predicted voter turnout of only fifteen percent for the November 18^th election, the fate of the four constitutional amendments is anybody’s guess. But when it comes to Amendment 1 Procopio says…

Cut 12 (04) “…until recently.” 

For a PAR guide on the four amendments visit PARLouisiana-dot-org

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There will be no SEC West Championship for LSU this season as the Tigers scored just one touchdown in the second half in a 42-28 loss to Alabama. Coach Brian Kelly says the Tigers did a lot of good things, but you have to play at a higher level than good in order to win in Tuscaloosa…

Cut 13 (12) “…enough level”

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 219 yards and two touchdown passes and also rushed for 163 yards and a score. He left the game in the fourth quarter after taking a vicious hit to the helmet from Dallas Turner. Kelly says they asked the officials to see if targeting occurred when Daniels got hit in the head…

Cut 14 (11) “…moved on”

Meanwhile, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe rushed for a school-record four touchdowns and 155 yards. He also threw for 219 yards. Kelly says the Tigers’ defense didn’t do enough to keep Milroe in check…

Cut 15 (15) “…like this.”

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The Saints are all alone in first place in the NFC South after beating the Chicago Bears 24-17 yesterday. New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns and is happy to see the team on a two game winning streak…

Cut 16 (18) “…want to see”

The Saints are now five and four. New Orleans defense got off to another slow start on Sunday, allowing 17 first half points. But they made up for it by forcing five turnovers. Coach Dennis Allen…

Cut 17 (16) “…faster defensively.”

Taysom Hill accomplished a rare feat in the victory. He threw a touchdown pass, and also caught a touchdown.  He’s only the second player in the NFL to record at least ten touchdowns rushing, passing and now receiving. The late Frank Gifford was the other. Hill more happy about the victory…

Cut 18 (13) “…winning games.” 

The Saints are at Minnesota on Sunday.

Clocks will be rolling back one hour on Sunday. Teiko Foxx spoke with a public health expert on how the time change may take some getting used to…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.” 

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LSU is looking to beat Alabama for a second consecutive year for the first time since 2010-2011 seasons. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Daylight saving time ends Sunday at 2 am and sleep experts say the annual shift in time can have adverse health effects on many people.  LSU Health New Orleans Public Health Expert Dr. Benjamin Springgate says sleep deprivation and mood disturbances are likely to increase.

Cut 3 (11) “…worst mood.”

You’ll gain an extra hour of sleep as clocks are pushed back one hour.

A 2020 Current Biology study reveals more darkness during early morning commutes may contribute to an increased risk of traffic fatalities.  While sleep has an overall impact on your health, Springgate says not everyone is affected by the time change in the same way.

Cut 4 (08) “…fall asleep.”

Days will continue to get shorter with sunset scheduled for 4:40 p.m. when daylight saving time ends on Nov. 5. Springgate says a good night’s sleep is important for your well-being. He suggests keeping a regular sleep schedule.

Cut 5 (13) “ …a difference.”  

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Louisiana’s own Celebration Gator will be among the attractions in the 97^th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser says it’s the third year the 60-foot-long gator will crawl the streets of New York and he’s excited to announce the two Bayou State musical artists that will also appear.

Cut 6 (10) “…the crowds.”

(Entertainers Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw from Mandeville and Alexandria country singer Alex Smith)

The Louisiana float has highlighted state tourism and encouraged an estimated 2.4 billion people to visit the Bayou State for the last two years. Nungesser believes the gator has been a good return on investment.

Cut 7 (10) “…22-million.” 

In 2021 Grammy-award-winning artist Jon Batiste appeared on Celebration Gator and in 2022 Trombone Shorty wowed the crowd. For 2024, Nungesser says they’ll determine if Celebration Gator will make an encore.

Cut 8 (07) “…this year.” 

And Louisiana will once again have a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day.  The featured acts will be announced in a few weeks.

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Early voting for the November 18th election is underway and it will continue through Saturday November 11th. JMC Analytics Pollster John Couvillion says in the October primary, a sizable number of Black residents voted for Republican Jeff Landry in the governor’s race, so will that trend continue???

Cut 9 (08) “…in the runoff.” 

There are three statewide races on the November 18th ballot, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Attorney General. All three run-offs have a Republican going up against a Democrat.

Voter turnout for the October primary election was 36-percent and the Secretary of State’s Office is predicting voter turnout for the upcoming election to be at 15-percent. Couvillon says the number of mail in ballots already processed is way down…

Cut 10 (10) “…voting”

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Baton Rouge Police have arrested 37-year-old Denise Law in the beating death of 66-year-old Melinda Reed. Sargent Darren Ahmed says officers responded to a call of an unresponsive female Thursday afternoon, they believe a metal walker was used as the murder weapon.

Cut 11 (10) “…her injuries.”

Ahmed says the suspect was still at the scene when homicide detectives arrived. Law was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison and charged with 1^st Degree Murder.

Cut 12 (12) “…Mrs. Reed.”  

While the investigation remains open, Ahmed says it remains to be determined if mental illness played a role.

Cut 13 (10) “…very sad.”

The incident happened in a south Baton Rouge neighborhood off Brightside Lane.

Governor Edwards and Colonel Lamar Davis officially broke ground on the site of the new State Police Crime Lab this morning. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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A revised US drought monitor shows 88-percent of the state is under extreme or exception drought. Jeff Palermo  has the story…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards and Colonel Lamar Davis officially broke ground on the site of the new State Police Crime Lab this morning. The new state-of-the-art facility will replace the existing lab that’s four decades old. Davis says it’s more challenging to solve crimes in an old facility…

cut 3 (12) “…the future.”

And while it’s called the State Police Crime Lab, Governor Edwards says 200 agencies in Louisiana routinely submit evidence in addition to LSP investigations.

Cut 4 (08) “…the state.”

In the past year alone, the lab has taken on more than 16-thousand new cases and it’s often the data processed that will decide one’s guilt or innocence. In addition to solving crimes, Edwards says the facility plays another vital role…

Cut 5 (08) “ …as well.”  

The new facility will be constructed on the grounds of State Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge. It’s expected to cost up to $100 million and be completed in three years.

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It’s National Adoption Month and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services and First Lady Donna Edwards honored 465 families who have adopted 619 children from foster care this year. DCFS Secretary Terri Ricks says the ultimate goal is to find safe and permanent homes and families for children through adoption.

Cut 6 (13) “…their own”

Of the 465 families adopting, 133 are single parents who adopted 175 of the 619 children. During Governor John Bel Edwards’s administration, there have been nearly six thousand adoptions.

This year’s Adoption Award winners include two Adoptive Families of the Year, two Community Partners of the Year, Advocate of the Year, Adoption Worker of the Year, and Adoption Region of the Year. Ricks encourages Louisianans to become a nurturing family for a child in need of a safe home.

Cut 7 (12) “…adoptive family.” 

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DOTD is expecting it will take another two weeks to repair portions of Interstate 55 damaged by the 168-vehicle pileup that killed seven people in St. John the Baptist Parish. I-55 South is currently open but spokesperson Rodney Mallet says they’ll need to shut it down for a six-hour period this weekend where traffic is currently reduced to one lane.

Cut 8 (12) “…or so.” 

Crews will switch lane closures near the crash site. Mallet says traffic will taper down to the right lane near the crash site as crews begin to repair the left lane. Mallet says traffic will taper down to the right lane near the crash site as crews begin to repair the left lane.

Cut 9 (10) “…the workers.” 

I-55 northbound remains closed. Mallet says partial deck replacement is needed. He say contractors will start next week and repairs could take up to two weeks to complete.

Cut 10 (09) “…repave it.”

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Today’s updated U-S drought monitor shows Louisiana remains the epicenter for drought in the United States. State Climatologist Barry Keim says 99-percent of Louisiana is in some stage of drought…

Cut 11 (05) “…two classes.”

Keim says since August 1st, on average only five inches of rain has fallen across the state.

Cut 12 (09) “..this case”  

The weather forecast for the next week does not call for any significant chance of rain. Keim says an El Nino climate pattern is expected to continue into the winter and he says that should result about normal precipitation

Cut 13 (12) “…in yet.”