Republican Jay Dardenne’s first campaign commercial underscores his time in public office as being scandal free. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

West Monroe Police are investigating a shooting that sent one man to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the head. They say an altercation Tuesday afternoon resulted with the victim being shot in the back of the head. Authorities say the man was alert and talking en route to a local hospital. There is currently no word on his condition.

Low poll numbers are once again keeping Governor Bobby Jindal out of tonight’s prime time Republican presidential candidate debate on CNN. Jindal will appear in the second tier debate beginning at 5PM. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says while this is a real blow to Jindal’s campaign, he believes the governor is in this race for the long haul…

cut 6 (10) “come out”

Cross says he would be very surprised if Jindal dropped out of the race before the Iowa caucus or South Carolina primary.

A Leesville artist has created a Christmas ornament that so far has raised more than 26-thousand dollars for the family of the fallen State Trooper Steven Vincent. Jill Leonard, owner of JillyBean’s Studios, says it’s been difficult keeping up with the huge number of orders she’s receiving…

cut 11 (10) “committed to it”

Ornaments can be purchased online at jillybeansstudio-dot-com.

Governor Bobby Jindal once again finds himself on the outside looking in as he failed to make the main stage in the second Republican presidential candidate debate is tonight on CNN. In an effort to gain attention, Jindal recently began openly criticizing Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross doesn’t believe this strategy is working for Jindal…

cut 5 (06) “bad tempered”

Jindal will appear in the undercard debate beginning at 5PM.

Republican Jay Dardenne’s first gubernatorial campaign television commercial began airing this week. ULM-Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley believes the ad is coming at a good time because recent polls have shown voters are responding to advertising. He says this is Dardenne’s chance to make a move…

cut 14 (10) “more?”

Dardenne said in a press release that voters don’t have to settle for the same old partisan, scandal plagued politics.

Will travelers need another form of picture ID beginning January 1st because the state is not in compliance with the federal REAL ID Act? Heath Allen, executive director of Lake Charles regional Airport, told a local TV station that Louisiana travelers will be required to have a passport or another form of federal ID in 2016. But State Police Col. Mike Edmonson says that’s not the case right now…

cut 8 (11) “for Louisiana”

He says there is no current indication from the federal government that a regular license isn’t enough.

An artist out of Leesville has created a Christmas ornament to help raise funds for the family of the fallen State Trooper Steven Vincent. Owner of JillyBean Studios, Jill Leonard, says she’s raised more than 26-thousand dollars so far…

cut 10 (11) “to give”

The ornament costs 12 dollars and 60 percent of the proceeds go to the widow of Trooper Vincent.

Republican Jay Dardenne has started airing his first gubernatorial campaign television commercials which underscore his time in public office as being scandal free. The spot also says Dardenne talks straight because he’s not a Washington politician and has a history of bipartisanship. ULM-Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley.

cut 13 (07) “Senator Vitter”

Dardenne has so far been the only candidate in the race to publicly mention Vitter’s prostitution scandal.

The second Republican presidential candidate debate is tonight on CNN and once again Governor Bobby Jindal finds himself on the outside looking in. Low poll numbers are keeping Jindal out of the prime time debate, but he will appear in the undercard debate beginning at 5PM. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says this is a real blow to Jindal…

cut 4 (10) “shake things up”

Cross doesn’t think this marks a critical stage in Jindal’s campaign.

State Police Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson believes your Louisiana driver’s license will be a sufficient enough ID to board a plane in Louisiana after January 1st, even though there are concerns travelers may need another form of picture ID because the state is not in compliance with the federal REAL ID Act. Edmonson says there is no current indication from the federal government that a regular license isn’t enough…

cut 7 (07) “know that”

Edmonson says the reason the state isn’t compliant with the REAL ID Act is because there were worries about the privacy of Louisiana citizens.

The latest annual report by the Violence Policy Center finds that Louisiana ranks fourth in the rate of women murdered by men. VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand says stronger laws are needed to keep guns out of the hands of offenders…:
CUT 14 (08) “abusive situations”
The research found that murders involving a female victim and a male offender took place at a rate of about 2 per 100,000 residents statewide.

The Plaquemine Parish DA says the mom from Belle Chasse who was accused of killing her baby by putting hand sanitizer in his feeding tube in 2014, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. 17-month old Lucas Ruiz had Down Syndrome and died of ethanol intoxication with a blood alcohol content of .280%. The victim’s mother, Erika Wigstrom, was sentenced to forty years without the benefit of probation.

The SEC Network will air a documentary tonight about the life of Bo Rein, LSU’s coach going into the 80s who died in a plane crash before ever coaching a game for the Tigers. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Governor Bobby Jindal’s office announced today that his top budget adviser, Kristy Nichols, is resigning as Commissioner of Administration to work in the private sector. They say Stafford Palmieri will replace Nichols as the head of the DOA starting October 15th. The release indicates Nichols is taking a position with Ochsner Health System as Vice President for Government and Corporate Affairs.

US Senator Bill Cassidy spoke today during a US House Natural Resources Committee field hearing in New Orleans. He says it’s vital for the federal government to ease regulations so that oil and gas production in the Gulf can continue to grow…:
CUT 5 (07) “today’s economy”
He says current federal regulations are holding development in the Gulf back, hurting the job market.

The Violence Policy Center says Louisiana comes in at number four in the nation in the rate of women who are murdered by men. VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand says most homicides are the result of arguments between people who know each other…:
cut 13 (08) “domestic violence”
She says they urge lawmakers to tighten up the books when it comes to keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.

How would you feel about “In God We Trust” decals being placed on cop cars or fire trucks? That’s what authorities are doing in Sulphur as a way to keep law enforcement’s image positive, but some say it skirts violation of the first amendment. Sulphur Police Chief Lewis Coats says many in the community donated money for the decals…:
CUT 7 (11) “110 percent”
Coats says he isn’t going to try to please everyone, and that the officers are excited about the decals.

Higher education in central Louisiana seems to be attracting more students. Louisiana State University of Alexandria says this fall they’ve reached the highest enrollment in school history, with 3,104 students. They say it’s a nearly 15 percent increase over fall last year and a 39% jump from 2013.

An annual study released today by The Violence Policy Center says Louisiana ranks number 4 in the nation in the rate of women who are murdered by men. The report indicates our state has ranked among the top 10 states in this category for a fifth year in a row. VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand says there are two big factors that leads to Louisiana’s ranking…:
cut 12 (06) “to firearms”
Rand says they urge legislators to enhance enforcement of laws that prohibit domestic abusers from possessing guns and protect victims of domestic violence.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jay Dardenne has released his first television ad of the campaign. The commercial, which began running statewide this morning, is called “Something Good” and says Dardenne is a straight talker, because he’s not a Washington politician, that he’ll solve problems without drama and has never been involved in a scandal in his 25 years of public service.

The Sulphur Police and Fire Departments will soon be adding “In God We Trust” decals on their vehicles..and not everybody is happy about it. Some feel it’s a breach of the first amendment, but Sulphur Police Chief Lewis Coats says his officers are excited about the decals and it’s impossible to please everyone…:
CUT 8 (06) “going to fail”
He says they view this as a positive for the officers especially in the wake of several police killings.

The SEC Storied documentary tonight will be on the late Bo Rein — LSU’s coach going into the 80s who never saw a game in Tiger Stadium before he died in a plane crash. “The Bo You Don’t Know,” premiers at 8pm on the SEC Network. LSU Senior Associate SID Kent Lowe says the title of the documentary is appropriate because even members of the media didn’t have a chance to get to know Rein as he was so busy recruiting…:
CUT 10 (08) “to Baton Rouge”
Rein was LSU’s coach for 42 days prior to the crash.

US Senator Bill Cassidy was in New Orleans this morning during a US House Natural Resources Committee field hearing to discuss how federal policies impact the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Cassidy says federal policies leave over 63 million acres in the Gulf unavailable for oil and gas production…:
CUT 4 (07) “sources of oil”
He says federal regulations need to ease up so that oil and gas production in the Gulf can keep thriving.

Republican gubernatorial candidate David Vitter keeps trying to avoid questions about his cloudy past, but they keep coming. During a forum last night in which just he and Republican Jay Dardenne were present, each were asked if they’ve ever violated any state laws. Dardenne responded no, and Vitter called the question a “gotcha” inquiry which was specifically targeted at him. Vitter says he’s already addressed his past and said he doesn’t appreciate questions planted on behalf of opponents. The forum was hosted by the Alliance for Good Government.

All Sulphur Police and Fire Department Vehicles will soon display “In God We Trust” decals. Emelie Gunn has more on how the community is divided over this addition…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The American Automobile Association says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular gas is $2.05 and the US Department of Energy is forecasting the national average to hit $2 a gallon by December. AAA says historically, Louisiana’s price is about 20 cents cheaper than the national average so we could be looking at prices at about $1.80 before the end of the year.

In southwest Louisiana, the Sulphur Police and Fire Department will be applying “In God We Trust” decals to their vehicles. The community is funding the stickers, but there are still many people not happy about this. Police Chief Lewis Coats says he’s trying to bring some positive into a negative world…:
CUT 6 (06) “the units”
Coats says on the heels of the recent death of Trooper Steven Vincent who was killed in the line of duty near Lake Charles last month, the officers are eager to display the “In God We Trust” stickers on their units.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler feels voter apathy may partly explain why 46% of candidates who signed up for offices in the October 24th primary will run without opposition. He feels this uptick trend points to a public that just doesn’t care:
Cut 13 (09) “away from that”

The SEC Network will air a documentary tonight about the life of Bo Rein, LSU’s coach going into the 80s who died in a plane crash before ever coaching a game for the Tigers. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”