There has been a rise in women running for legislative seats in Louisiana, but the state still has the lowest percentage of seats assigned to females in the nation. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (27) “I”m Kevin Barnhart”
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A political consultant projects a record-breaking amount of money will be poured into the governor’s race over the next thirty one days, starting with some new ads from both campaigns…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
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Three State Police Academy employees have been reassigned as part of an ongoing investigation into training sessions that State Police say may have gone too far…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
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Despite many women being on the recent ballot, Louisiana has one of the lowest percentages of seats assigned to women in the state legislature. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says the national average is about 30% while in Louisiana it is about 16%.
Cut 4 (10) “…where we were.”
Ultimately, 77 women ran for legislative seats. Cross says there are multiple factors that contribute to rise of women candidates.
Cut 5 (12) “…didn’t get elected.”
Cross says while they are striving to get into power, women still have the hurdle of figuring out how to get the votes to land in office.
Cut 6 (10) “…successful in Louisiana.”
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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will provide in-state testing for Chronic Wasting Disease, a fatal ailment impacting the deer population nationally, but has not yet been detected in Louisiana. LDWF deer program manager Johnathan Bordelon says if hunters want to have their deer tested, they can pay $37.50 to have a test done.
Cut 7 (12) “…turnaround in results.”
Bordelon says the disease is a neurological infection that can be spread multiple ways, including deer to deer.
Cut 8 (11) “…infection are multiple.”
The disease is has been detected in 26 states including all three that border Louisiana. Bordelon says while there has been no human sickness linked to CWS, the CDC does have a warning for hunters out of an abundance of caution.
Cut 9 (13) “…consume that deer.”
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The first few ads of the governor’s race run-off are now in rotation as the first salvos in what one analyst says will be the most expensive one month period ever in Louisiana political history.
Political consultant Roy Fletcher says an incredible 20 million dollars will likely be spent over the next few weeks.
Cut 10 (08) “…whole deal”
Eddie Rispone is running cuts from Friday’s Trump rally, one showing the President attacking Governor Edwards and another praising Rispone. Edwards’ new ad works to equate Rispone with Bobby Jindal.
Fletcher says the money will pour in from both national parties and governors associations, along with additional funding from partisan actors like George Soros and Charles Koch.
Cut 11 (07) “at play”
Edwards will be supported by his locally run Gumbo PAC, but he’s likely come under heavy fire from well-funded local conservative activists Truth in Politics.
Fletcher says expect an ad blitz unlike anything you’ve seen in a state election. You will not be able to escape from the constant political messaging.
Cut 12 (10) “…spent”
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An ongoing investigation into injuries to multiple State Police cadets during training last week has resulted in the reassignment of three employees responsible for training.
There’s been accusations that the injuries resulted from hazing, but State Police Colonel Kevin Reeves would not label the incidents as such. He did say the training went beyond “normal parameters.”
Cut 13 (11) “…established”
Reeves met with the cadets last night to apologize for the incidents.
The Colonel says the training sessions that resulted in the incidents, including one cadet reportedly fracturing their arm, are some of the most intense lessons in the curriculum.
Cut 14 (10) “…custody”
The training involves learning how to handcuff, responding to physical altercations, grappling, and use of the baton.
Reeves says it’s one of the most physical periods of training, and so they’re used to seeing some injuries to cadets even when training remains within the normal parameters.
Cut 15 (08) “…uncommon”
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At the halfway point of the regular season, second-ranked LSU is ranked in the middle of the pack in scoring defense, allowing 21 points a game. The Tigers are usually much better than that. Safety Jacoby Stevens still believes LSU can have one of the top-rated defenses in the conference…
Cut 16 (17) “…you’ll notice”
LSU is at Mississippi State for a 2:30 kickoff this Saturday. Stevens says he likes playing in Starkville..
cut 17 (20) “…its a thrill”
Freshman cornerback Derek Stingley has emerged as one of LSU’s best players on defense. He received SEC Freshman of the Week honors after coming up with a crucial interception against Florida. Stevens says he knew Stingley would be a great player…
Cut 18 (12) deserving of”
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ULM takes its 2-0 record in the Sun Belt on the road to face 24th ranked Appalachian State. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says the Mountaineers will present them with a big test…
cut 19 (20) “after this”
Viator says App State is not a very big team size wise, but they have great team speed…
cut 20 (16) “ can’t run”