An effort to change the process in which an elected official is recalled in Louisiana is gaining steam due to Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni’s sexting scandal. A petition to recall Yenni is making the rounds, but Covington Representative Paul Hollis says gathering all of the required signatures has proven to be difficult in the past..:
CUT 7 (10) “it’s almost impossible”
He says they are looking at how other states handle recalls and expects to author reform legislation in the next session.

With only 15 days before the U.S. Senate election in Louisiana, we’ll likely hear a lot more from the major candidates in the way of radio and TV ads. La-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says John Kennedy has the biggest target on his back, because he’s considered the Republican front-runner…:
cut 4 (06) “a stick”
A recent statewide poll showed Kennedy and Democrat Foster Campbell are in good position to claim the two run-off spots.

The state fire marshal’s office is investiating a fatal Vermilion Parish blaze that claimed the lives of two children and one adult. They say crews arrived to the Kaplan home early Sunday morning, and located the bodies of a three year old, a 1 year old and a 22-year-old. Three of six occupants were able to escape. Investigators say no working smoke alarms in the home at the time of the fire.

LSU has created a merit based scholarship for incoming freshman whose mom or dad graduated from LSU or are employed by the school. Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships Amy Marix says the scholarship program starts with the fall 2017 incoming class…:
Cut 13 (10) “eight semesters”

Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says people don’t seem to be dismissing the idea of a gas tax increase. Michelle Southern reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Governor John Bel Edwards has sent a letter to President Obama increasing his request for disaster assistance for Louisiana, after the historic flooding in the state in March and August. Edwards has requested more than 4-billion dollars to help with the unmet needs of the families and businesses still struggling to recover.

A poll by Raycom Media finds Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy and Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell are leading in the U.S. Senate election. The survey also finds Republican and former KKK leader David Duke receiving 5-percent of the vote. ULM Political Science Professor John Sutherlin says Duke still has good support in rural areas.

Cut 10 (06) “right now.”
By receiving 5-percent in the poll, Duke has been invited to the upcoming debate on November 2nd.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is looking in to how a 23 foot whale washed up on a beach in Cameron Parish. Marine Biologist Mandy Tomlin says the whale did not appear to be in good health and are aware that another whale washed up on a Florida Beach recently. She says they did an extensive evaluation of the animal to determine how this happened.
Cut 7 (11) “worked on”

A Raycom Media Poll on the US Senate race has Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy and Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell leading the large field of candidates. In the survey of 625 registered voters, 24 percent say they plan on voting for Kennedy, while 19 percent say Campbell is their choice. ULM Political Science Professor John Sutherlin…:
Cut 9 (06) “likely scenario”
The poll has Republican and former KKK leader David Duke receiving five-percent of the vote, which means he receives an invite to a televised debate.

Governor John Bel Edwards is now asking for four-billion dollars in disaster relief funding from the federal government. His previous request was 2-point-8 billion dollars. In a statement, the governor says FEMA now estimates that the state’s unmet needs from historic floods in March and August are greater than the initial request.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is trying to figure out how a 23 foot whale washed up on Little Florida Beach in Cameron Parish. Marine Biologist Mandy Tomlin says whales are in the Gulf of Mexico, but very rarely seen near the coast, so it appears this young whale got separated from its mother…:
Cut 6 (11) “very very young”
She says they are testing to determine cause of death.

Police are investigating the case of a possible hate crime that took place at an apartment complex just off the campus of LSU. A student posted a picture on Facebook of a Halloween decoration on her door that had a racial slur written on it. LSU President F. King Alexander issued a statement apologizing to the student and said they are working to take swift action against the person or persons responsible.

A Raycom Media Poll on the U.S. Senate race puts Republican John Kennedy and Democrat Foster Campbell in the runoff if the election were held today. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Governor John Bel Edwards is now asking the federal government for $4 billion dollars in additional flood disaster assistance to respond to the unmet need for Louisiana families, businesses and communities. He says FEMA is now estimating what Louisiana requires to rebuild will be much greater than the initial request of $2.8 billion.

State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says, after meeting with residents in each region of the state, there seems to be growing support for increasing the state’s gasoline tax. He says in meetings with the task force created to come up with ways to improve Louisiana’s roads, the public seems to realize a bigger financial investment is needed…:
Cut 3 (09) “and improving infrastructure”
It’s been almost 29 years since the state has adjusted the gas tax, and Wilson says it’s lost almost 50% of its value because of inflation.

Plenty of folks will be taking part in Halloween festivities this weekend and it’ll be a gorgeous one to be out and about as fall weather is upon us. Freddie Ziegler, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says rain is out of the forecast this weekend and much of next week…:
Cut 16 (07) “the state”
Afternoon highs will only reach the mid 70s, and lows start out in the upper 40s.

A new poll from Gallup shows huge growth in the number of people who think the government needs to mellow out when it comes to pot. The survey shows 60 percent of Americans support the legalization of marijuana — almost double the 31 percent in a 2000 poll. But David Brown, with Sensible Marijuana Policy for Louisiana, feels Louisiana will be one of the very last states to hop on board…:
CUT 5 (10) “at the very end”
Nine states are slated to decide whether to expand legal access to pot in the November election.

A new Raycom Media poll on the presidential election shows Donald Trump with a massive 20 point lead over Hillary Clinton in Louisiana. Voters asked statewide gave Trump the lead of 54 percent to Clinton’s 34 percent. According to the poll, Trump would get 75 percent of the white vote in Louisiana to Clinton’s 12 percent. While 89 percent of blacks in the survey say they will vote for Clinton.

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are expected to spend a record-high 8.4 billion dollars on Halloween candy and costumes this year. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Plenty of folks will be taking part in Halloween festivities this weekend and it’ll be a gorgeous one to be out and about as fall weather is upon us. Freddie Ziegler, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says rain is out of the forecast this weekend and much of next week…:
Cut 16 (07) “the state”
Afternoon highs will only reach the mid 70s, and lows start out in the upper 40s.

Attorney General Jeff Landry is suing to determine if Governor Edwards executive order that seeks to protect LGBT workers from discrimination in the workplace is constitutional. Don Molino has more…:
Cut 2 (25) “I’m Don Molino”

A new Gallup poll shows 60% of Americans support the legalization of marijuana, almost double the amount of people who thought pot should be legal in 2000. David Brown is the director of a group called Sensible Marijuana Policy for Louisiana, or SMPL. He believes this signifies that a lot of changes are taking place within the US electorate…:
cut 4 (08) “many other drugs”

People will be spending more money than ever before on Halloween this year according to the National Retail Federation. Spokeswoman Ana Serafin Smith says the expected average is about $83 per person. She says millennials and their use of social media are a main reason why the popularity in Halloween is growing…:
cut 12 (12) “on twitter”
She said spending on Halloween this year is at a record high 8.4 billion dollars.

Police are investigating the case of a possible hate crime that took place at an apartment complex just off the campus of LSU. A student posted a picture on Facebook of a Halloween decoration on her door that had a racial slur written on it. LSU President F. King Alexander issued a statement apologizing to the student and said they are working to take swift action against the person or persons responsible.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a suit seeking to block Governor John Bel Edwards executive order which protects LGBT individuals from discrimination in the workplace. The AG argues the order is unconstitutional, but Edwards believes he has that authority…:
Cut 9 (08) “executive order”
The Republican A-G says he’s protecting the will of the legislature.

Spending on Halloween costumes, decorations and candy will reach a record high 8.4 billion dollars this year. That’s according to the National Retail Federation. Spokesperson Ana Serafin Smith says more than 171 million Americans are planning to partake in Halloween festivities this year…:
cut 11 (09) “greeting cards”
She says people spend more money costumes these days because they want to get a perfect picture for social media.

60% of Americans support the legalization of marijuana, according to a new Gallup poll. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana is looking at several days of beautiful fall weather. Freddie Ziegler, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says the temps are about 10 to 15 degrees cooler than they were the day before…:
cut 14 (11) “upper 50s”
He no rain is in the forecast for the weekend and much of next week.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a lawsuit that seeks to have a state judge declare Governor John Bel Edwards’ executive order that protects L-G-B-T individuals from discrimination in the workplace as unconstitutional. Landry believes the governor is circumventing the Legislature to create his own law…:
CUT 7 (07) “of language”
Edwards says the attorney general is putting his own political interests ahead of Louisiana’s needs. He disagrees with Landry’s stance that’s it okay for businesses to discriminate…:
Cut 10 (03) “Louisiana values”
The executive order says state employees can not be fired or harassed at work if they are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

The deadline to apply for FEMA’s Shelter at Home program is today. As of Friday, October 14, the number of applicants had climbed to 20,897. Applications may also be submitted online via www.shelterathome.la.gov.

A much anticipated cool front has made its way through the state and temperatures are much more fall-like. Freddie Ziegler, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says we expect high temperatures in the 70s this weekend and we’ll see the lows dip into the 40s for the northern part of the state…:
Cut 15 (06) “below normal”
He says rain is out of the forecast this weekend and much of next week.

A new poll on the US Senate race has Republican John Kennedy and Democrat Foster Campbell leading the large field of candidates. The poll was paid for by Raycom Media. Republican David Duke received five-percent in the survey and that will allow him to participate in a televised debate at Dillard University on November 2nd.