For the first time in school history, LSU has surpassed 400-million dollars in research spending. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31)……I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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East Baton Rouge District Attorney was joined by NFL star Warrick Dunn as he filed an injunction to stop upcoming clemency hearings for death row inmates. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Extreme heat and drought conditions are taking a toll on the state’s wildlife, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Teiko Foxx has more…

Cut 3 (30) …I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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For the first time ever, LSU has surpassed the 400-million dollar mark in research activity. Vice president of research and economic development at LSU, Robert Twilley, says the university is reporting 428-million dollars in total research activity in one year, up 16-percent from the previous year. Twilley says their research initiatives are gaining momentum…

Cut 4 (11) “… President Tate.”

Twilley says an increase in research dollars shows the university’s commitment to solving pressing problems for Louisiana. He says it also creates an estimated one-point-two billion dollar economic impact on Louisiana…

Cut 5 (09) “…buy food.”

Twilley says LSU’s Scholarship First Agenda is focusing its research investment in agriculture, biomedicine, the coast, cybersecurity, and energy, with a focus on carbon capture and underground storage…

Cut 6 (10) “..the future.”

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East Baton Rouge District Attorney was joined by NFL star Warrick Dunn as he filed an injunction to stop clemency hearings for death row inmates. Dunn, whose mother, Baton Rouge police corporal Betty Smothers was gunned down 30 years ago, says it’s not fair that her killer, Kevan Brumfield is still alive.

Cut 7 (09) “…disrespectful.”

Dunn says while Brumfield has been fed and housed by taxpayers’ dollars for years, his family continues to mourn the loss of his mother.

Cut 8 (09) “…with that.”

After Governor John Bel Edwards publicly stated he opposed the death penalty, all but one inmate on death row filed for clemency. Dunn says commenting the sentences of these inmates is disrespectful to the victims’ families and in his case, law enforcement also.
Cut 9 (12)  “…that fair?”

Executive Director of the Louisiana Capital Appeals Project, Cecelia Kappel says the lawsuit filed by Moore is another baseless attempt to block the Pardon Board and Governor Edwards from taking a close look at Louisiana’s broken death penalty system.

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Optimism among small businesses declined for the month of August as inflation continues to drive costs higher. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says the optimism index decreased 0.6 last month to 91.3, for the 20^th consecutive month below the 49-year average of 98.

Cut 10 (10) “…of months.”

McVea says small business owners are reporting that they feel like they are losing sale opportunities whether it’s because of inflation or the lack of labor.

Cut 11 (11) “…lost sales.”

As for future optimism, fewer small business owners have a positive outlook for the next six months. McVea says that’s unfortunate because typically retailers look for a strong 4^th quarter with promotions like Small Business Saturday.

She says it’s so important that consumers shop locally versus big-box retailers.

Cut 12 (10) “…tax dollars.” 

Forty percent of small business owners reported job openings that were hard to fill.

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LDWF says the wildlife is being impacted by the drought conditions and excessive heat. State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Jim Lacour says the limited availability of water results in ducks and other animals having to travel for alternative water sources.

Cut 13 (12) “…or ditches.”

When drought puts stress on plants, there’s a negative ripple effect on deer and other wildlife that depend on vegetation in large quantities. He says when plants die, deer miss out on nutrition that plants provide..

Cut 14 (11) “…everything else.”

Many animals eat insects to build fat reserves for migration. Lacour says a decrease in water sources and lower plant growth can reduce insect populations. He says birds like quails and turkeys rely on mast crops and insects to feed their newborn.

Cut 15 (09) “…later on.”

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Mississippi State is gearing up to host 14th ranked LSU on Saturday. The Bulldogs are 2-0 after beating Southeastern Louisiana 48-7 in the season opener and then holding off Arizona 31-24 in overtime last Saturday. First year head coach Zach Arnett liked the improvement he saw from his team from week one to week two…

Cut 16 (16) “…anybody”

LSU beat State 31-16 last season.  Jayden Daniels threw for 210 yards and ran for 93 against the Bulldogs in that game. Arnett was M-S-U’s defensive coordinator last season and knows how difficult it is to defend Daniels…

Cut 17 (20) “…of a game”

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After winning their first two games at home, ULM heads on the road this Saturday to face Texas A-and-M. Warhawks Coach Terry Bowden says his players are looking forward to the trip to College Station…

Cut 18 (17) “…to play”

ULM leads the Sun Belt in rushing as they’ve rushed for 492 yards in their first two games, but they are last in the league with just 95 yards through the air. Bowden says they came into the season wanting to run the ball…

Cut 19 (15) “…second half especially”

Redshirt freshman James Smith had 2.5 sacks last week. Bowden says Smith has great length and athletic skills…

Cut 20 (17) “…better team”

Saints linebacker Demario Davis helped lead New Orleans to a season-opening 16-15 win over Tennessee on Sunday. Jeff Palermo reports after the game Davis told an inspiring story about prayer and faith…

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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In addition to the insurance crisis plaguing Louisiana, there’s a movement among insurers to drop natural disaster coverage in areas across the country. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (34)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Saints linebacker Demario Davis helped lead New Orleans to a 16-15 season opening victory over Tennessee. Davis says knew Sunday would go well after his prayers were answered as his four-year old daughter was hospitalized on Friday with a serious seizure. Davis says she was better than ever on Saturday…

Cut 3 (10) “…sharper than before”

Davis says this was his daughter’s third epileptic seizure, but this was the worst one. She stopped breathing twice on the way to the hospital.

The veteran linebacker says people who suffer from epilepsy usually need a few days to get back to normal after a seizure, but he says thanks to the power of prayer his daughter was playing with her friends on Saturday…

Cut 4 (09) “…care of itself”

Davis had ten tackles on Sunday as New Orleans’ defense kept Tennessee out of the end zone.

When he met with the media postgame, he read a passage from Revelations about opening the door for the Lord when he comes knocking…

Cut 5 (09) “ …going to be there”  

The Saints next game is a week from tonight against Carolina.

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When it comes to raising the state’s minimum wage of $7.25, of the five candidates who participated in a televised debate last week, their responses were mixed. Republican and Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt’s answer was maybe.

Cut 6 (06) “…conversation.”

Fellow Republican Stephen Waguespack and former Louisiana Association of Business and Industry president responded with a resounding no. A surprising answer to the question came from Republican, Treasurer John Schroder who said yes.

Lake Charles attorney and Independent Candidate Hunter Lundy believes it’s time to raise the state’s minimum wage.

Cut 7 (02) “…wage.” 

Democrat and former state transportation secretary Shawn Wilson said it’s time to increase the state’s minimum wage.

Cut 8 (03) “…seven-twenty-five.”

Republican front-leader Jeff Landry, who didn’t participate in the debate, stated on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster in June he’s against raising the minimum wage.

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A recent Washington Post article says major insurers have told the National Association of Insurance Commissioners they plan to cut out coverage for areas prone to natural disasters. Ben Riggs with Real Reform Louisiana says it’s a huge concern because wind, hail, and wildfire coverage would cost extra.

Cut 9 (09) “…supplemental policies.(x2)” 

Of the major insurers who plan to cease natural disaster coverage, Riggs says they cover about 80 percent of property owners in the country.

Riggs says the move to end natural disaster coverage has nothing to do with tort reform and policyholders suing over coverage disputes.

Cut 10 (12) “…a scapegoat.”

Riggs says the move is an example of someone wanting to be able to point the finger and claim they are doing something, when in reality what they are doing is taking savings out of your policy and turning it into a junk policy…

Cut 11 (12) “…accountable.”

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Grambling State linebacker Jaquavis Richmond needed emergency surgery after he was carted off the field in Saturday night’s loss to LSU at Tiger Stadium. Grambling says Richmond suffered an injury to the head-neck area. LSU Coach Brian Kelly says the doctors at Our Lady of the Lake took good care of him…

Cut 12 (10) “…hopeful”

Richmond prepped at Woodlawn-Shreveport High School. He’s listed as a redshirt sophomore. Kelly says he’s received word the surgery went well…

Cut 13 (13) “…successful outcome”