Early voting for the Nov. 8th Election begins today and continues through Tuesday, Nov. 1st.  Secretary of State Kyle Adroin is reminding people to get out and be proactive Whitney Thomas has more …

Cut 1 (33) “…Whitney Thomas.”

_________________________________________________

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is headed for London, England on a mission to help improve Louisiana’s costs for insurance and reinsurance. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

_________________________________________________

Democratic candidates running for US Senate, Gary Chambers and Syrita Steib attended the Baton Press Club’s forum Monday. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

________________________________________________

Early voting for the Nov. 8th Election begins today and continues through next Tuesday except Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Citizens that want to vote early in person may do so at their parish registrar of voters office or at their assigned locations. The election lacks a heated statewide race but Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin still expects half of the state’s registered voters to cast a ballot.

Cut 4 (57)  “…that goes.”

Voters are encouraged to utilize the free smartphone app GeauxVote Mobile to locate early voting locations, and Election Day voting sites, or to view a sample ballot. Ardoin says early voting has become popular.

Cut 5 (05) “…local parishes.”

Voters must have a Louisiana driver’s license, a Louisiana special ID, or a generally recognized ID with a picture and signature. Voters also have the option to use their license via LA wallet. Ardoin says the election does not fall on a Saturday so he expects a lot of people to take advantage of the early voting opportunity.

Cut 6 (06)  “…early voting.” 

For more information contact the Elections Division at 800-883-2805 or elections tat at sos.la.gov

_______________________________________________

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is headed for London, U.K. today to meet with the heads of Lloyd’s of London and other top insurance underwriters, in hopes of improving the state’s ailing property insurance market. Donelon says over a third of Lloyd’s business is writing reinsurance to cover companies that claim losses. He says Louisiana makes up a good amount of that business…:

Cut 7 (10) “…surplus market at large.”

Donelon says he’ll provide an update to both Lloyd’s and the International Underwriting Association of London (IUA) of Louisiana’s insurance market and what the state is doing to improve it…:

Cut 8 (11)  “…the market perspective.”

Donelon will also tell of plans to create an incentive fund to attract new property insurers to Louisiana; a plan that worked with some success after Katrina and Rita hindered the market. He hopes to convince Lloyd’s and the IUA to reduce to cost of reinsurance; especially on those smaller carriers…:

Cut 9 (10)  “…substantial coastal exposure.”

_________________________________________________

Early Voting for the November 8^th election begins today. Your ballot will contain congressional and local races, but also EIGHT Constitutional Amendments to decide. Today, we break down Amendment 2. Steven Procopio, with the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR), says this amendment if approved by voters, would exempt disabled military veterans from paying property tax…:

Cut 10 (12) “…$150-thousand exemption.” 

Current law gives veterans with a service-related disability to claim double the $75-thousand standard homestead exemption on property tax. Currently, disabled vets get double that amount. Procopio says a “yes” vote removes all property tax liability…:

Cut  11 (07)  “…paying property taxes.”

The amendment, if approved, would also establish a sliding scale of additional property tax exemption for persons with a partial military service-related disability. He says a “no” vote on the November 8^th ballot would reject the plan and stay with what is already in place…:

Cut 12 (10) “…not a total exemption.” 

PAR does NOT recommend how people should vote but gives information needed to make an informed decision. For more go online to “PARLouisiana.org.” LRN will continue our series on the six remaining Constitutional Amendments between now and Election Day.

_________________________________________________

Two candidates running against Senator John Kennedy, participated in a Baton Rouge Press Club forum. Democrats Gary Chambers and Syrita Steib both spoke about how Kennedy’s yet to participate in any debate or forum in his re-election bid.  When asked how they differ from each other Chambers says he’s the only democrat with a track record of running a race that has a voter base after his bid for the 2nd Congressional district.

Cut 13 (03) “…the party.”

Steib says her experience getting legislation passed in Louisiana and other states prohibiting public universities from asking questions about criminal history for the purpose of admissions sets her apart.

Cut 14 (10)  “..they’re on.”

The candidates were also asked about what they would do if elected to Congress concerning the Ronald Greene investigation. Chambers says he’d want to see Louisiana State Police under consent decree and says how can we trust their investigations of other law enforcement agencies if they can’t be trusted.

Cut 15 (07)  “…have felt.”

Steib whose non-profit helps remove roadblocks and provide opportunities for females after incarceration says she will push for laws to uplift people.

Cut 16 (11)  “…continue to do.” 

Early voting begins today for the November 8^th election.

______________________________________________

The Saints are 2-and-5, but they are just one game out of first place in the NFL South. Atlanta and Tampa Bay currently lead the underperforming division with records of 3-and-4. Linebacker Demario Davis says they have a real shot at getting into the playoffs despite their record

Cut 17 (25) “…worst enemy.” 

Injuries have contributed to the Saints losing record. They played the last game without starters Jameis Winston, Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, Andrus Peat and Marshon Lattimore. Coach Dennis Allen is optimistic you’ll get some of those guys back for Sunday’s game against the Raiders…

Cut 18 (17) “…to be back.” 

The Saints are allowing 29 points a game on defense. That’s the second worst in the NFL. Allen, who calls the defensive plays, understands they have to play better on that side of the ball…

Cut 19 (18) “…those things.”

_________________________________________________

Cut 20 (19) “…with that.”

Baton Rouge Police arrest the suspected gunman in the early Friday morning shooting at a fraternity party just off the campus of Southern University. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (33)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

______________________________________

The first national report card since the global pandemic shows declines nationally in reading and math scores, but Louisiana outperformed the rest of the country in reading growth among fourth graders. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The suspected gunman in an early Friday morning shooting at a fraternity party just off the campus of Southern University has been arrested. Baton Rouge Police spokesperson Sgt L’Jean McKneely says Sunday afternoon 22-year-old Jaicedric (Jay-Cedric) Williams was arrested without incident at his home.

Cut 3 (12) “…history.” 

28-year-old Daryl Stansberry and 24-year-old Miles Moss were arrested on Friday and charged with 11 counts of Accessory After the Fact to Attempted First Degree Murder and Illegal Use of a Weapon. McKneely says the two were with Williams at the party and left with him after the shooting.

McKneely says there was some type of altercation that happened just before gunfire erupted.

Cut 4 (07) “…the crowd.” 

The investigation is ongoing and McKneely says they are still asking for the public’s assistance and for anyone who witnessed the shootings or has videos and photos from the scene to contact Baton Rouge PD or Crimestoppers.

Cut 5 (07) “…right people.” 

All three suspects have been booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

DA Hillar Moore is requesting Williams be held without bond.

___________________________________________________

Louisiana ranks number one in the nation for 2022 for improvement in fourth grade reading. State Superintendent of Education Doctor Cade Brumley says over the last two years, Louisiana has implemented a number of policy decisions to curb the state’s long-standing literacy crisis.

Cut 6 (09)  “…we’ve been doing.” 

Louisiana’s fourth grade reading improved by two points while the national average declined by three points according to the National Report Card released today by the National Center for Education Statistics.

This was the national assessment since 2019 and Louisiana improved its ranking from 49th overall to 43rd. Brumley says the state improved its reading math score rankings…

Cut 7 (11) “..49th to 45th.”

Brumley says the results nationally and in Louisiana demonstrate the pandemic’s impact on students over the  last two years. He says in eighth grade math, Louisiana saw a six-point decline compared to eight-point decline nationally. He says trying to improve math scores has been problematic…

Cut 8 (12)  “..conceptual skills”

The 2022 mathematics and reading assessments were administered between January and March of this year.

__________________________________________

The first full month of football brought a nice surge in sports betting revenue for Louisiana. The state Gaming Control Board says September saw almost $4-million in fee income from sportsbook. Board Chairman Ronnie Johns…:

Cut 9 (09)  “…for the state revenue.”

The September gaming report noted that on-site sportsbook revenues for DraftKings at the Golden Nugget and The Sportsbook at L’Auberge – both in Lake Charles – did significantly more business than onsite operations in other cities. Johns says we have our Texas neighbors to thank for that..:

Cut 10 (07) “…open at this point.”

Sportsbook – both onsite and via an app – has been legal since January. The September take brings the year-to-date tax revenue from sports betting to over $22-million. 10-percent goes to local governments, 25-percent to early childhood education and the rest to gambling addiction program and “other projects.” Johns expects the revenue number to grow when they get the October numbers next month..:

Cut 11 (12)  “…National Hockey League.”

The Gaming Control Board also approved five-year permit for WynnBet to operate a sportsbook app in Louisiana.

___________________________________

Today Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the official Proclamation declaring October 24th as Red Beans and Rice day across Lousiana. Cajun Country rice and Camellia Beans are both working with Edwards to keep the tradition of Red Beans and Rice alive in Louisiana.

In conjunction with Red Beans and Rice Mondays, the two brands have also partnered with Second Harvest and Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank for families in need. Robbie Trahan, Cajun  Country rice co-owner says the retail program created using Rouses, Albertsons, and Winn Dixie helped them succeed in donations

Cut 12 (10) “…thousand meals..”

Trahan says Louisiana natives love  Red Beans and Rice and are diverse in their ways of cooking them..

Cut 13 (12) “..the best..” 

Back in the day families used Red Beans and Rice Mondays as a way to start the week, Trahan says the tradition is still convenient.

Cut 14 (13)  “…big meal.” 

To learn more visit www.mondaytradition.com