The Smoking Cessation Trust saw its highest monthly enrollment in June with over 2,000 Louisianians signing up for its free smoking cessation program. CEO Mike Rogers attributes the jump in soon-to-be ex-smokers, in part, to the state’s 50-cent tax increase for a pack of cigarettes. He says CDC statistics back up this theory…:
CUT 6 (12) “adolescent smokers”
He says almost 35,000 residents have signed up for the program.

Two officers with Lake Charles PD are on administrative leave after a burglary suspect shot himself in a squad car with a gun that had been left in an equipment bag in the back seat. Authorities say 18-year-old Stacy Lamb of Lake Charles was able to gain access to the department issued weapon somehow and shoot himself in the foot two times. They say leaving the bad in the back seat of the unit is a violation of department policy. Lamb faces many charges.

It appears the Louisiana High School Athletics Association has avoided a work stoppage involving its game officials. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The NBC reality show, Running Wild, which returns tonight will feature an episode later in the season in which Saints Quarterback Drew Brees apparently jumps on the back of a crocodile. The show features celebrities spending 48 hours in the wild. A promotional video says “Watch a Super Bowl MVP wrestle a crocodile. This is going to end up as dinner one way or another.

A republican presidential nomination poll conducted by KBUR/WAA in Iowa puts Governor Bobby Jindal in 13th place with 2 percent. Robin Johnson with KBUR says Jindal is having some success in Iowa but time is ticking…:
CUT 9 (11) “had anticipated”
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker lead this poll with 18 percent.

The LHSAA and its officials have reached a tentative agreement that will prevent refs striking in the fall. Louisiana High School Officials Association President Paul LaRosa says the two sides met during a meeting Sunday to discuss referees pay raises…:
CUT 3 (09) “the meeting”
Terms have the agreement have not been released at this time.

Louisiana’s four candidate for governor provide their thoughts on possible changes to the state’s film tax credit program. Scott Carwile has the story…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

The Baton Rouge Police Department is investigating a murder-suicide which has left three dead and one injured. They say 20-year-old Marquiles Whaley shot three women: his 18-year-old girlfriend, her 36-year-old mother and another 38-year-old man before turning the gun on himself. The mother survived but is in the hospital. A 1-year-old was present during the shootings but was not harmed.

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association will ask the next governor to make changes to the state’s film tax credit program, after lawmakers placed a 180-million dollar cap on credits redeemed in a fiscal year. If elected governor, Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle says he plans to examine all of the tax credits on the books to determine if they creating jobs and growing our economy…

cut 13 (07) “reconsideration”

You can find the four major candidate responses at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

Beginning today, you’ll see lane closures on the eastbound side of the Mississippi River Bridge between Natchez, Mississippi and Vidalia for the placement of concrete barriers. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says starting on July 20th, the westbound side of the bridge will be closed for seven weeks. He says during that time, no vehicles wider than 14 feet will be allowed to cross the bridge…

cut 6 (04) “the bridge”

Mallet warns drivers to anticipate delays.

State Police say a single vehicle crash in Washington Parish has left one man dead. They say 26-year-old Benicio Perez’s pickup truck ran off the road while he was attempting to drive around a curve in Franklinton and then struck a tree. Perez, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered fatal injuries as a result of the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

It’s described by some as the unofficial start to the college football season, SEC Media Days gets underway today in Hoover, Alabama. Jeff Palermo has the story..

cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor Bobby Jindal ranks 13th in an Iowa poll for the Republican presidential nomination. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Lake Charles Police Department says two officers are on administrative leave after a burglary suspect shot himself in a squad car. 18-year-old Stacy Lamb of Lake Charles shot himself twice in the foot with a department issued weapon that had been left in an equipment bag in the back seat of the police car. Lamb was treated at a local hospital before being booked on several charges. The names of the officers have not been released.

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association plans to ask the next governor to make changes to the state’s film tax credit program. Republican Senator David Vitter says he doesn’t agree with what the legislature did, when it placed a $180 million cap on the amount of film tax credits redeemed, instead of issued. He says it creates too much uncertainty and he plans to address this issue during a special session after he’s sworn in…

cut 12 (10) “very inviting”

Complete candidate responses can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

The eastbound side of the Mississippi River Bridge between Natchez, Mississippi and Vidalia will see lane closures beginning today for the placement of concrete barriers. State Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rodney Mallet asks motorists to be patient while going through this traffic.

cut 5 (05) “accordingly”

He says the westbound side of the bridge will be closed for seven weeks starting on July 20th.

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association will ask the next governor to make changes to the state’s film tax credit program, after lawmakers placed a 180-million dollar cap on credits redeemed in a fiscal year. The lone Democrat in the race, Amite representative John Bel Edwards, says he supports a cap on this program in the range of 180-million dollars…

cut 11 (09) “entire year”

The candidates complete responses can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

A new poll conducted by KBUR/WAA in Iowa, shows Governor Bobby Jindal in 13th place among Republican presidential hopefuls with 2 percent from likely caucus goers. KBUR’s Robin Johnson says there is a lot of pressure on candidates now and Jindal needs to do something big to get more name recognition to place in the top 10 for the August debates…

cut 8 (08) “candidates”

The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for February 1st.

Starting today, the eastbound side of the Mississippi River Bridge between Natchez, Mississippi and Vidalia will see lane closures for the placement of concrete barriers. State Department of Transportation Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says starting on July 20th, the westbound side of the bridge will be closed for seven weeks…

cut 4 (06) “the bridge”

Mallet warns drivers to anticipate delays.

Miss Oklahoma Olivia Jordan was crowned Miss USA last night in Baton Rouge. Ylianna Guerra of Texas was named first runner-up. The pageant, which aired on the REELZ cable network, was pulled from NBC’s programming schedule after pageant co-owner Donald Trump’s controversial comments regarding Mexican immigrants. Jordan will represent the United States in the Miss Universe pageant.

A republican presidential nomination poll conducted by KBUR/WAA in Iowa, places Governor Bobby Jindal in 13th with 2 percent from likely caucus goers . Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker leads with 18 percent. Robin Johnson ,with KBUR, says because he just announced a couple of weeks ago, it’s a little early to judge Jindal’s polling records at this point.

cut 7 (07) “primary”

The Iowa caucuses on February 1st are the first of the contests for the 2016 Presidential election.

The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association will ask the next governor to make changes to the state’s film tax credit program, after lawmakers placed a 180-million dollar cap on credits redeemed in a fiscal year. Lt. Governor and republican gubernatorial candidate Jay Dardenne says the cap was set too low…

cut 10 (06) “cameras rolling”

The four major candidate answers can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

SEC football media days get underway today in Hoover, Alabama, which many consider the unofficial start to the college football season. Hundreds of reporters attend this event every year to hear from SEC coaches and players. Braden Gall, with Athlon Sports, says new SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who replaced Mike Slive, kicks off the festivities by speaking with the media…

cut 14 (10) “they happened”

Gall says the handling of discipline when players get in trouble off the field will likely be a topic Sankey gets into. LSU football coach Les Miles and three of his players will go before the media on Thursday.

An automated telephone survey conducted by Triumph Campaigns finds Republican US Senator David Vitter and Democratic State Representative John Bel Edwards neck and neck in the governor’s race. Vitter had 31-percent; while Edwards got 30-percent…
CUT 3 (06) “for a runoff”
That’s Jeremy Alford with LA-Politics-dot-com.

Policy changes for the Department of Children and Family Services after a 15-year-old Baton Rouge special needs boy was found in a home weighing just 47 pounds with insect bites, and lying in his own waste. DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier says kids in bad conditions will now be assessed by a group of medical professionals…
cut 12 (12) “the child”
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The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association drops plans to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new law that capped the film tax credit program. Here’s Michelle Southern with more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A teenager from Benton, who bragged on social media about stealing 16 street signs from specific Bossier Parish neighborhoods, can now add one more address to the places he’s visited-the Bossier Maximum Security Faciliy. Seventeen year-old Chase Grubbs has been charged with 16 counts of theft.

There are two candidates that are neck and neck in the governor’s race at the moment, according to an new phone survey conducted by Triumph Campaigns. At 31 percent, Republican David Vitter has a slight lead over Democrat John Bel Edwards, at 30 percent. But, LA-politics-dot-com’s Jeremy Alford says a lot can happen between now at the primary on October 24th…
CUT 5 (10) Q: “this race”

Whoever the new governor is, they will be hearing from The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association, since they are not moving forward with a lawsuit challenging the state law that caps the film tax credit program. L-F-E-A President Will French says are pleased with how Governor Bobby Jindal is intrepreting the law.
CUT 6 (05) “doing that”
And they are hopeful the gubernatorial candidates will endorse their plan.
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DCFS is changing some policies to prevent more cases like that of a Baton Rouge special needs child, who was foud severely malnourished, and in diplorable conditions this week. DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier says that case underscores the need for more efficiency in future investigations of living conditions…
CUT 13 (09) Q: ‘themselves’

Starting at 8pm, I-10 delays will be found between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, with lane closures in both directions across the basin bridge. DOTD says those closures will be in effect until Monday morning at 6 am, and State Police Trooper Bryan Lee says be careful…
cut 11 (11) “distractions”
They are suggesting Highway 190 as your best alternate.

A new poll on the governor’s race shows Republican David Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards in a statistical tie…
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

If you’re traveling I-10 between Baton Rouge and Lafayette, expect delays from lane closures on the Mississippi River Bridge, and I-10 Westbound around Grosse Tete (tate) will be closed until 6 am Monday morning. DOTD suggests 190 as an alternate to sitting in the heat and heavy traffic.
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The lawsuit many thought would be filed by the The Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association, challenging the law recently passed that caps the state’s film tax credit program, will not be filed. L-F-E-A President Will French says they will now have a more pro-active approach…
CUT 8 (10) Q: “endorse it”

DCFC policy changes have been made after a 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy was found in a home weighing just 47 pounds and with insect bites. DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier says they are adding medical experts to case examinations to determine allegations of abuse and neglect, then decide more quickly and more efficiently what actions to take during a follow up with a special needs child.
cut 14 (07) “do that”