Rural areas of the state are expected to continue to see a decline in jobs, but an economist says some sectors will see growth. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor says Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins has failed to properly document his travel expenses. The auditor says Perkins billed the city for 35-thousand dollars for 23 trips from 2019 to 2021 and in 16 of those trips the auditor questioned 32-hundred dollars in expenses.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has made a positive ID on a badly decomposed and dismembered body found in rural St. Tammany Parish in 2016. It’s Keanthis Konstantinidis as Lt. Adam Rudolph says they suspect Phillip Pointer killed Konstantinidis, because his foot was found on his property after Pointer died in 2019. Rudolph says now that they’ve identified Konstantinidis, they’ll investigate to see if anyone else was involved in his murder…
cut 13 (09) “…already deceased”
He says they would also like to know if Konstantindis’ died in St. Tammany or Biloxi.

The wet summer and dry fall is frustrating many rice and crawfish farmers. Rice producers experienced very wet conditions during harvest in July and August. LSU AgCenter Rice specialist Doctor Ronnie Levy says this prevented farmers from harvesting rice on time..
Cut 6 (08) “…harvest the crop.”
Levy says a lot of rice farmers also have crawfish ponds on their property. He says the dry weather we are seeing now, will only increase the cost to harvest mudbugs next year.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office has made a positive identification on a decomposing, dismembered body found near near the Rigolets (Rig-o-leez) on Highway 90 in July of 2016. Lt. Adam Rudolph says they knew Kleanthis Konstantinidis (Kle-anthis Kon-stan-ti-ni-dis) was a homicide victim, but didn’t know the circumstances around his murder…
cut 12 (10) “…they reside”
Rudolph says they’ve established Phillip Pointer as the primary suspect in Konstantindis’ death. Konstantinidis foot was located in a bucket on Pointer’s property in 2019 after he died.

If you are battling allergies, LSU Ag Center horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard says blame ragweed as it’s responsible for the majority of fall pollen-induced allergies…
cut 10 (04) “…wind spread”
Kirk-Ballard says the ragweed’s particles are extremely small and lightweight.

We are a few months away from crawfish season, but this dry fall is not helping crawfish farmers who need water for their ponds. LSU AgCenter Rice specialist Doctor Ronnie Levy says producers have to pump water into their crawfish ponds, which is costly…
cut 8 (10) “…mother nature”
Levy says this could result in a higher cost for crawfish next year.

A lot went wrong in LSU’s 40-13 defeat to Tennessee on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. It was another poor game by the special teams unit as Jack Bech failed to handle the opening kick-off which led to a quick seven points for Tennessee. Coach Brian Kelly says it’s an area they keep trying to get better at
Cut 14 (12) “…football games.”
LSU is at Florida this Saturday.

President Biden says individuals convicted federally for simple possession of marijuana will be pardoned and he’s calling governors to take similar actions. Baton Rouge Defense Attorney Andre Belanger says Louisiana is actually ahead of many other states in taking steps to decriminalize marijuana possession…
cut 15 (11) “….two different concepts”
Governor Edwards has opposed efforts to legalize marijuana.

Officials are warning parents about the dangers of Rainbow Fentanyl as Halloween approaches. Director of the Louisiana Addiction Research Center at LSU Health Shreveport, Doctor Nick Goeders, says it looks like candy…
cut 12 (10) “…take that”
The 46th Annual Zwolle Tamale Fiesta is underway in Sabine Parish, and they expect to serve five thousand dozen tamales.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

For those traveling this weekend, they might be a little stunned by the price at the pump. Gas prices are quickly rising. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana is up to $3.25, a 15-cent increase in the last week. Crude prices have increased this week since the announcement by OPEC plus that they are cutting crude production by two million barrels a day this fall.

We are just a month away from the federal elections. Senator John Kennedy remains the heavy favorite to win re-election. Marsanne Golsby has more from pollster John Couvillon…
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby.”

Louisiana’s all-time winningest college basketball coach, Mike McConathy, told the USA Today Network he’s gearing up for a run at a state senate seat that covers northwest and central Louisiana. The recently retired Northwestern State coach says he has a concern and compassion for people. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh also says he’s running for the open seat.

U.S. Republican Senators have released a PSA warning about the dangers of Rainbow Fentanyl ahead of the Halloween season. Executive Director of the Louisiana Addiction Research Center at LSU Health Shreveport Nick Goeders says the Drug Enforcement Administration has found this rainbow fentanyl in 21 states since February…
Cut 10 (12) “…in them.”
Dr. Goeders says the pills are made as a way to disguise the drug as it comes into the country, in some cases even looking similar to oxycontin,

Louisiana is known for its Cajun cuisine but in Sabine Parish this weekend they are cooking up a beloved Mexican food staple at the 46th Annual Zwolle Tamale Fiesta. It was almost five-decades ago when Festival President Chris Loupe’s father started the event after then-Governor Edwin Edwards offered matching funds for fall festivals.
Cut 7 (12) “…do it again.”
And they’ll have perfect weekend for this weekend’s festival.

President Biden pardons thousands of persons for federal marijuana possession convictions. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Authorities in northeast Louisiana are searching for three juveniles who escaped last night from the Green Oaks Detention Center for Youth. The Monroe Police Department says 15-year-old DeMarcus Haynes, 17-year-old Isszavion Webb and 16-year-old Dallas Wesley fled the facility in an unknown direction.

We’re about a month away from the November eighth federal election and the one Congressional race that appears to be competitive is the third district, where Republican Incumbent Clay Higgins is facing a challenge from Lafayette prosecutor Holden Hoggatt. Pollster John Couvillon says Higgins is potentially vulnerable because of perceptions he wasn’t aggressive in seeking hurricane relief funds.
Cut 5 (09) “…two years ago.”
Higgins released a statement in late August that said his office has helped deliver over three-point-five billion dollars in response to Hurricanes Laura and Delta.

Officials are warning parents about the dangers of Rainbow Fentanyl as Halloween approaches. Director of the Louisiana Addiction Research Center at LSU Health Shreveport, Doctor Nick Goeders, says it looks like candy…
cut 12 (10) “…take that”
Goeders says the D-E-A has an online resource that provides every parent and caregiver what they need to know about fake pills.