A new leader has been chosen to oversee higher education in Louisiana. Joseph Rallo, who is a Texas Tech System administrator, has has been picked by the Board of Regents as the state’s next Higher Education Commissioner. Rallo says the challenges here in Louisiana are the same as you see nationally:
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Rallo hopes to be on the job full time by January.

The Houma Police Department is investigating the death of a woman whose body was found just before 1am Friday underneath a residence. Chief Todd Duplantis says they got a call and responded to the scene of a possible homicide…:
CUT 3 (06) “under a house”
He says the case is under investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact law enforcement.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says Poverty Point will be officially inscribed as 1001st site on the World Heritage List Saturday in Epps near Delhi. Michelle Southern reports.:
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State officials announce Louisiana ended fiscal year 2014 with a $178.5 million dollar surplus. She says this is good news for the people of Louisiana and the next step is working with the Legislature to create a fiscally responsible plan for ways to spend the money with priorities being higher education and heath care.

Senator John McCain is traveling the state over the next few days with Republican Congressman and US Senate Candidate Bill Cassidy. The two will be attending a series of veterans rallies starting in Metairie Sunday then with stops in Covington, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Bossier City. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says one of the things that separate Cassidy and incumbent Senator Mary Landrieu is their position on veterans issues…:
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With control of the US Senate potentially lying in the balance, Dubos doesn’t think this is the last of nationally known politicians coming to Louisiana.

There is a big wild hog problem in Louisiana and it’s gotten so bad that the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office has been called in to held. Wildlife officials say there are hogs everywhere and they will use law enforcement sharpshooters to control the nuisance wildlife. This is similar to what they’ve had to deal with in the past with nutria.

Based on filings with the Louisiana Insurance Department, health care policies purchased through the Affordable Care Act’s health exchange will see a double digit rate increase. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says three aspects of the Affordable Care Act have contributed to these rate hikes…:
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Over 100,000 Louisiana residents have signed up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says Poverty Point will be officially inscribed as 1001st site on the World Heritage List tomorrow in Epps near Delhi. He says they contacted Hersheys to see if they could donate some “Mounds” candy bars for the ceremony…:
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Senator John McCain, a former Republican presidential candidate, is coming to The Bayou State to join US Senate candidate Bill Cassidy at veterans rallies. Eric Gill reports…:
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Police in Eunice are looking for a woman who robbed the State Bank and Trust with a fake bomb 4:30 pm Thursday. Cops say the burglar was wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap and placed a package she claimed was a bomb on the floor and told everyone it would explode if it was moved. The woman left the bank with money and remains at large. LSP determined the package was not a bomb and they are asking the public’s help identifying the suspect.

AT&T has to pay 105 million dollars back to customers over an unauthorized text message fee the cell phone provider was charging. Louisiana Assistant Attorney General Chris Styron says consumers who are victims of “cramming” are charged for “premium” text message subscription services that the consumer has never heard of or requested. He says AT&T will be notifying these customers…:
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You can file a claim at www.ftc.gov/att.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says Poverty Point will be officially inscribed 22nd World Heritage site in the United States tomorrow in Epps. He says a ceremony will be held at 10am and there will be demonstrations throughout the day of cooking and different activities they believe took place there 3400 years ago…:
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If you’re an AT&T customer you could be getting a refund. AG Buddy Caldwell says they cell phone provider has to pay 105 million dollar settlement over unauthorized text message fees…:
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The Department of Transportation announces Louisiana is getting $41.4 million dollars in federal highway aid which will go to various projects. They say DOTD is getting the money for successfully obligating the full amount of its federal funding during the 2013-2014 fiscal year. — States that so are eligible for additional assistance.

Based on filings with the Louisiana Insurance Department, health care policies purchased through the Affordable Care Act’s health exchange will see a double digit rate increase. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says policy holders will notice the difference next year…:
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Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and Vantage Health have all filed for rate increases ranging from 10 to 20 percent.

Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says Poverty Point will be officially inscribed as 1001st site on the World Heritage List tomorrow in Epps near Delhi. He says the ceremony will begin at 10am when the plaque will be unveiled that recognizes Poverty Point as only the 22nd World Heritage site in the United States…:
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Dardenne says Poverty Point is considered one of the most culturally significant Native American sites in the US.

Former Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain is coming to Louisiana to appear with US Senate candidate Bill Cassidy at a series of veterans rallies. The Arizona Senator’s first appearance with Cassidy is Sunday night in Metairie. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this is evidence of how the Republican Party has turned Louisiana’s US Senate race into a national election…:
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Monday the pair will make stops in Covington, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Bossier City.

In a Baton Rouge courtroom Thursday, a former Department of Health and Hospitals worker pleaded guilty to stealing over $1 million dollars from the state to fund her gambling addiction. 47-year-old Deborah Loper was accused of misappropriating Medicaid over payments. Under terms of Loper’s plea agreement, she’ll serve five years in prison, five years probation and she must pay $1,018,423 dollars to the state in restitution. Investigators believe the money was spent at local casinos.

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says some AT&T mobile customers could receive a refund as a result of a 105 million dollar settlement reached with the cell phone provider over unauthorized text message fees. Chris Styron is an assistant AG and he says this refund is specific to customers who have been “crammed”…:
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AT&T customers who believe they were billed for charges that were not authorized can file a claim at www.ftc.gov/att.

Wall Street suffered its biggest loss of the year Thursday and the price of oil continues to drop. Statewide the average price for a gallon of regular gas dropped 2 cents to $3.09.

Glascock Group releases a new poll on the 5th Congressional District race and Congressman Vance McAllister looks to be in a good position to make the runoff. The numbers show the incumbent with 24% of the vote, then it’s fellow Republican Ralph Abraham with 20% then Democrat Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo with 18%. Pollster Darrell Glascock:
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The Duck Dynasty family member Zach Dasher polled at 11% with 12% saying they are still undecided.

Based on filings with the Louisiana Insurance Department, health care policies purchased through the Affordable Care Act’s health exchange will see a double digit rate increase. State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and Vantage Health have all filed for rate increases ranging from 10 to 20 percent. He says policy holders will notice the difference next year.

The Kenner Police Department released records Thursday on the arrests of two Destrehan High school teachers who allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old student at the same time and the affidavit states the suspects were both drinking. Shelley Dufresne and Rachel Respess face felony charges of carnal knowledge, indecent behavior and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. A retired judge from New Iberia has been appointed to hear the case.

A former Department of Health and Hospitals worker pleaded guilty to stealing over $1 million dollars from the state to fund her gambling addiction. State Inspector General Stephen Street says 47-year-old Deborah Loper was accused of misappropriating Medicaid over payments…:
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Under terms of Loper’s plea agreement, she’ll serve five years in prison, five years probation and she must pay $1,018,423 dollars to the state in restitution.

With less than a month until the November 4th election, Senator Mary Landrieu is shaking up her campaign staff. Eric Gill has more…

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In just the first 7 weeks of operation the Louisiana Job Connection website has attracted over 13 thousand job seekers. The State Department for Economic Development reports that more than 90 percent of those who posted their profile on louisiana-job-connection-dot-com are from Louisiana.

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A DHH worker who gambled away more than a million dollars in stolen funds by misappropriating Medicaid over payments, pleased guilty in court today. State Inspector General Stephen Street says when 47 year-old Deborah Loper was arrested in 2013, all the money was gone…:

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In a plea agreement she will spend 5 years in jail, and have to pay the state back all the money.

The field of Republicans hoping to fill the 6th Congressional District seat has narrowed by one. Attorney Cassie Felder has dropped out; mainly based on the inability to raise enough money to do the advertising she would need to win …

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And that support is for State Senator Dan Claitor.

With less than a month before the election, Senator Mary Landrieu has replaced her campaign manager, Adam Sullivan with Ryan Berni-who ran her brother’s mayor’s campaign in New Orleans. Sullivan IS staying on staff, but ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley this is a big deal…

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Recent statewide polls shows her trailing Republican challenger, Congressman Bill Cassidy.

An owner of a Covington horse farm, who provides handicapped individuals the opportunity to use the facility and ride horses, has been arrested for allegedly raping a 21 year-old mentally challenged woman. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office booked the owner of Parkview Farms-50 year-old Vincent Datrio- on aggrevated rape into jail and set his bond at $200 thousand dollars. Authorities say, there could be more victims.

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Some new numbers out on the 5th Congressional District Race, and Congressman Vance McAllister has 24 percent of voter support. This poll from the Glascock Group is right on the heels of a Washington DC group’s ad campaign that shows support for Zach Dasher, while bashing fellow Repulican Vance McAllister…

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That’s pollster Darrell Glascock who says Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo would get 18 percent of the vote.

There’s one less candidate in the race for the 6th Congressional District, and that person who has withdrawn is Attorney Cassie Felder, who has now thrown her support in the direction of Dan Claitor…

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Felder made those comments on the Jim Engster radio show.