Lt. Bruce Simmons is back to work at the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, just over a year after being shot in the police ambush. Casey Rayborn Hicks with the sheriff’s office says it means a lot to the department to have Simmons back…:
Cut 13 (09) “that direction”
Sheriff Sid Gautreaux welcomed Simmons back by promoting him from sergeant to lieutenant and his fellow deputies gave him a standing ovation.

A Crime Prevention Research Center report finds more women and minorities are receiving concealed handgun permits compared to white males. Wade Duty, co-owner of Precision Firearms in Baton Rouge, credits this spike to the heightened awareness of domestic violence issues…:
Cut 4 (09) “obtaining permits”
The national report finds permits for women increased by a whopping 93-percent from 2012 to 2016.

After a two-year-old from Arkansas spent 15 minutes underwater, doctors at LSU Health New Orleans helped regrow her lost brain matter…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Now is the time for lawmakers to work on a plan to address the looming fiscal cliff in 2018. That’s the message of a letter Governor John Be Edwards sent to House Speaker Taylor Barras. Lawmakers failed to address the cliff during this year’s fiscal session. Edwards says they simply cannot wait until next year to start working.

Cut 7 (09) “that cliff”

Work began this week on water proofing the first six floors of the exterior of the State Capitol building. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says new technology gave engineers a closer look that pieces of limestone were coming loose from the 80-year-old building.

Cut 4 (12) “of the building”

Arizona Senator John McCain has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Don Molino spoke with a Louisiana doctor on what this means for the former Republican Presidential candidate…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Don Molino”

The Jefferson Parish coroner says an elderly woman who died in Metairie was not strangled, but instead died of natural causes. The hunt was on for a suspect and a motive after the coroner said physical findings suggested strangulation. However, the evidence shows 84-year-old Pauline Balloon actually died of natural causes.

State Education Superintendent John White could be on his way out, because he was not reconfirmed by the Senate during the legislative session. Governor John Bel Edwards says confirmation is a legal requirement for White to keep his job. But White says …
Cut 6 (11) “our kids”
A lawsuit seeking to remove White as superintendent was dismissed, because only a few elected officials, including the governor, have the authority to take such legal action.

All of north Louisiana is under a heat advisory until 7 p.m. tomorrow as temperatures will soar into the high 90s with a heat index in the triple digits. Michael Berry with the National Weather Service says this higher than usual humidity comes from recent rainfall.
Cut 13 (09) “values”

As Arizona Senator John McCain has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Neuro-Oncologist Dr. Aaron Mammoser with LSU Health New Orleans says McCain is 80-years-old and elderly patients tend not to do as well when it comes to treatment. But he says the senator does have some things working in his favor.
Cut 10 (11) “as well”

The exterior of the State Capitol is now in the process of becoming waterproofed. Jacques Berry with the Divison of the Administration says the project will cost roughly $5 million. He says the waterproofing and limestone repair will only be for the first six floors of the capitol.
Cut 5 (10) “needs to happen”
He says the front doors will remain closed for the next year.

State Superintendent of Education John White says he is committed to his job after speculation he may lose it because he was not reconfirmed by the Senate during the legislative session. White says he’s made great strides in his years as superintendent and students are showing improvement.
Cut 7 (10) “same test”
A lawsuit seeking to remove White as superintendent was dismissed, because only a few elected officials, including the governor, have the authority to take such legal action.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state’s unemployment rate has dropped a half-percent since January 2016. Based on the latest numbers from the Louisiana Workforce Commission its at five-point-seven percent. Edwards predicts when the June employment numbers are released, it will be even lower….
cut 11 (09) “…increasing”

A Grant Parish man missed the birth of his child after he was arrested for speeding his wife to the hospital. Halen Doughty has the story…
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A heat advisory is in effect for the northern part of the state until 7 p.m. Friday.

Here’s a look at commodities.

A fatal home invasion in Zachary left one suspect dead and another behind bars. Police Chief David McDavid says the deceased, 20-year-old Damon Hayes Jr, allegedly broke in with 20-year-old Jordale Carter and possibly two other suspects.

Cut 6 (08) “began shooting”

Hayes died in the incident and Carter was arrested. Two other suspects are still at large.

Monroe Police Chief Quentin Holmes announced he will retire on July 30th. Holmes was named police chief in 2011 and received a no confidence vote from the union nearly three years ago, but he says this has nothing to do with his retirement.

Cut 13 (10) “good grounds”

KNOE-TV reports they received anonymous calls saying there was bad blood between Chief Holmes and Mayor Jamie Mayo.

Over half of the races in the October 14 election have already been settled. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Governor John Bel Edwards is not endorsing Damon Baldone in the public service commissioner race. Edwards appointed Baldone to serve as interim when Scott Angelle vacated the position in June. A longtime Democrat, Baldone qualified in the race as a Republican. Election Day is October 14.

Governor Edwards announces 220 million dollars in federal money will be allocated across the Baton Rouge area to protect against future floods and storms. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Could state Education Superintendent John White’s job be in jeopardy? Governor Edwards says White was not reconfirmed by the Senate during the session. Over a dozen people filed a lawsuit alleging White needed that confirmation, but a judge dismissed the case. The judge noted few elected officials have the legal authority to file a petition to fire White, and the governor is one of those.

One suspect is dead and another behind bars after a home invasion in Zachary. Police Chief David McDavid says one suspect was fatally shot by the homeowner, as three more fled the scene. He says two of those are still at large.

Cut 7 (09) “more suspects”

Damon Hayes Jr died at the scene, and Jordale Carter faces a slew of charges.

Monroe Police Chief Quentin Holmes announces his plans to retire. Holmes said in a news conference he has been thinking about returning to teaching for quite some time. News outlets had reported that Mayor Jamie Mayo asked for a resignation, but he says that’s absolutely not true.

Cut 12 (07) “with that”

Mayo says Holmes will remain chief until July 30 while his office works to find someone to serve in the interim.

Last week’s qualifying period for the October elections left 41 races unopposed, and 16 with zero candidates. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says there seems to be a trend in lack of interest which could be due to a number of reasons. He says these are demanding and stressful public service positions that don’t pay much…:
Cut 4 (10) “cussing you out”
Schedler says in cases where an incumbent is unopposed, he or she is simply reelected.

Governor John Bel Edwards announced today federal funding for flood control projects in the Baton Rouge area. Edwards says 220 million dollars will go to local governments in the Capital region as part of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program…:
Cut 9 (07) “future floods”
Edwards says each parish will submit a plan to FEMA before the money will be allocated.

Monroe Police Chief Quentin Holmes has announced he is going to retire from his post. In a joint news conference with Mayor Jamie Mayo, Holmes said he has been thinking about returning to teaching for quite some time. News outlets had reported that Mayo asked for a resignation which he says is 100% not true…:
CUT 12 (07) “with that”
Mayo says Holmes will remain chief until July 30th, and during that time his office will work to name someone to serve in the interim.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a heat advisory for the northern half of the state through 7 PM tomorrow evening. Forecasters indicate hot and humid conditions could lead to temperatures that climb into the mid to upper 90s with heat index values up 108 degrees. They urge residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. It’s expected to be even hotter tomorrow.

Three months ahead of the October 14 election, more than half of the races have already been settled. Candidates in 41 elections had no opponents, while 16 had no candidates at all. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says they saw a similar rate just over a year ago when 44 percent of the races were settled before reaching the ballot…:
cut 3 (08) “no one qualifies”
Schedler blames the public’s frustration with government for the disinterest in running for public office.

Zachary Police have made an arrest in the case of a fatal home invasion that occurred last night. Chief David McDavid says the deceased, 20-year-old Damon Hayes Jr, allegedly broke in with 20-year-old Jordale Carter and possibly two other suspects…:
CUT 6 (08) “began shooting”
Hayes died in the incident and Carter was booked on many charges including murder since his accomplice died during a crime.

At a FAST Act hearing, Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves said something must be done about the wall between the lanes of I-12…:
Cut 3 (25) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves expressed his frustrations over the barrier between lanes of I-12 in Livingston Parish during a FAST Act hearing in Washington. Graves says the giant wall seemed to contribute to flooding in communities north of I-12 during the August 2016 devastation….:
Cut 10 (07) “makes sense”
It’s been nearly a year since the south Louisiana floods, yet nothing has been done to address the interstate issue. Graves says it’s not about pointing fingers, it’s about making sure this doesn’t happen again.

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner has identified the woman found dead in a house fire as the wife of Fire District No. 12 Chief Stephen Krentel. 49-year-old Nanette Krentel perished in a blaze in Lacombe on Friday, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The cause is under investigation.

According to the Zachary Police Department one person was killed in a suspected home invasion last night. They believe the suspect was shot by the homeowner who lived in an area where a lot of elderly people reside and had started having some break-in problems. More information is being released at this hour.

NOLA Brewing Company and Tulane Athletics teamed up to launch the new Green Wave Beer. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”