Senate President Page Cortez has established a special seven-member panel that will review several documented excessive force complaints involving State Police troopers and Black men. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil will serve as chairman. Foil says they will hear from several folks and then give the full senate recommendations on legislation that can be passed that would address the use of force…
cut 12 (13) “…at the Capitol”
Foil says their first meeting will be held in December.

About one thousand people who worked at one of the nursing homes owned by Bob Dean have been laid off. The Louisiana Department of Health has stripped Dean of his licenses after sending over 800 nursing home patients to a warehouse facility in Tangipahoa Parish not equipped to house that many people. Dean is fighting L-D-H to get his licenses back.

Early voting begins tomorrow and while there are a few local elections there are four constitutional amendments on everyone’s ballot. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says Amendment One would streamline sales tax collection in the state.
Cut 4 (11) “…what it does.”
Scott says opponents argue moving to a consolidated system takes control from the local governments to collect sales taxes, while opponents say Louisiana’s outdated tax system is an unnecessary burden on those trying to transact business.

It’s Halloween weekend and it will definitely feel like fall. High temperatures will be in the 60s today and State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs will be in the 70s on Saturday and Sunday…
cut 14 (07) “….no chance of rain”

There are people in the Lake Charles area once again cleaning up after a weather event. National Weather Service meteorologist Johnathan Brazzell says yesterday’s severe weather produced a tornado in southwest Louisiana…
cut 14 (12) “….solid tornado”
Governor John Bel Edwards visited the damage this morning. Edwards says he’s relieved no one was killed, but this area endured two major hurricanes last year, a winter storm in February and a flash flood in May…
cut 7 (12) “…anybody”
Edwards is now on his way to Scotland as he’s leading a Louisiana delegation that’s attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

A suspected road rage incident Wednesday night leaves a 65-year old woman dead and a 23-year old man behind bars in Bossier City.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Once again there are folks in Lake Charles dealing with storm damage. National Weather Service meteorologist Johnathan Brazzell says a squall line produced wind damage in Beauregard, Cameron and Calcasieu parishes…
cut 13 (09) “….E-F 2 greater”
There are no reports of any major injuries. Governor John Bel Edwards surveyed the storm damage this morning and we’ll hear from him in future newscasts.

Edwards will head to Scotland later today where he’ll attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference which begins Sunday. Edwards says there’s no other state in the country that’s impacted more from climate change which, he says is why a delegation from Louisiana needs to be there…
cut 8 (11) “….and CPRA”

Cops say a possible road rage incident led to the death of a 65-year-old woman who was shot in the parking lot of Willis-Knighton hospital. The suspect is a 23-year old man and Bossier City Police Lt Bart Cavanagh says it happened shortly after seven last night and two off-duty officers were in the parking lot.
Cut 3 (12) “….passed away.”
The suspect Ramsey Akes is charged with first-degree murder.

The Louisiana Department of Education is launching an initiative to get parents and families more involved in student outcomes. Dr. Antiqua Hunter with the LDOE says the “Be Engaged Initiative” involves the app, PimsPoints, that’s used to track points earned while involved with a child’s education.
Cut 4 (08) “…into the system.”
Those coupons could be discounts at local restaurants. The app is available for download on November 15th.

Governor Edwards heads to southwest Louisiana this morning to assess the damage from a twister that destroyed homes south of Lake Charles. No major injuries were reported, but it’s another significant weather event for a city recently hit by two major hurricanes, a winter storm, and flooding in the spring.

Once Edwards sees the damage, he’ll travel to Scotland to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference…
cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Starting next month, parents can be rewarded by being involved in their child’s education. Louisiana Department of Education and Family Engagement Coordinator Doctor Antiqua Hunter says it’s part of the Be Engaged Initiative so starting on November 15th parents can download the PimsPoints app and receive points for attending parent-teacher conferences, judging science fairs, and other school-related activities. Hunter says the points can turn into rewards…
cut 6 (08) “…free school supplies”
Or discounts at local restaurants.

The 115th State Fair of Louisiana gets underway today in Shreveport. Once again the rides, games, live entertainment, and livestock events will be open for all to enjoy, after calling it off last fall due to the pandemic. Fair General Manager Chris Giordano says they are expecting great weather this weekend.
Cut 10 (08) “…Mondays and Tuesdays.”

There are people in Lake Charles once again picking up the pieces after a weather event. National Weather Service meteorologist Johnathan Brazzell says yesterday’s severe weather produced a tornado in southwest Louisiana…
cut 14 (12) “….solid tornado”
No major injuries have been reported. Governor John Bel Edwards will survey the storm damage this morning and then it’s off to Scotland, where he’ll attend International Climate Change Summit in Glasgow. Edwards says no other state in the United States is more impacted by climate change than Louisiana…
cut 7 (11) “…foot print”
The state has a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

The Louisiana Department of Education has launched the Be Engaged Initiative which is an effort to encourage parents to be more involved in their child’s education. On November 15th, parents can download the Pims Points app and through this app parents can earn points by participating in certain activities…
cut 5 (09) “…points that”
L-D-O-E’s Parent and Family Engagement Coordinator, Antiqua Hunter, says the digital rewards could be coupons provided by local businesses, like a certain percentage of money off from a local restaurant.

The 115th State Fair of Louisiana begins today in Shreveport. Fair President and General Manager Chris Giordano says they’ll urge fairgoers to take the proper health precautions…
cut 11 (08) “…throughout the fair”

The severe weather has moved out of the state, but once again there are folks in Lake Charles dealing with storm damage. National Weather Service meteorologist Johnathan Brazzell says a squall line produced wind damage in Beauregard, Cameron and Calcasieu parishes…
cut 13 (09) “….E-F 2 greater”
Two neighborhoods near the intersection of Nelson Road and Haim Reid Road suffered the most damage. There are no reports of any major injuries. Governor John Bel Edwards will survey the storm damage this morning.

After surveying the damage, Edwards will head to Scotland where he’ll attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference which begins Sunday. Joining the governor from Louisiana are his advisors and members of the state’s Climate Initiatives Task Force…
cut 8 (11) “….and CPRA”

The 115th State Fair of Louisiana opens today in Shreveport. Kevin Gallagher on what you can expect…:
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Meanwhile, the city of New Orleans says masks will no longer be required indoors starting on Friday, but the vaccine mandate stays in place.