President Trump is calling on Republicans in Louisiana to vote in the upcoming gubernatorial election. In a tweet, he says quote “It is really important to vote on October 12^th for either Eddie Rispone or Ralph Abraham, both great…”

The state’s murder rate is down eight percent but still good for the highest in the nation, while the violent crime rate dropped three percent. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A new law signed in California will allow college athletes to hire agents and make money from the use of their image, name or likeness, starting in 2023.  LSU QB Joe Burrow says he believes it is a step in the right direction for athletes.

Cut 12 (10) “…the other way.”

California is the first state to pass a law that defies the NCAA’s stance on compensation for amateur athletes.

Ruston’s recovery from last April’s deadly EF-3 tornado has stalled due to the wait for FEMA assistance reimbursement. Mayor Ronny Walker says they are punching the numbers on the FEMA reimbursement.

Cut 8 (07) “…from FEMA.”

The city dipped into reserve funds to restore electricity within four days. Five miles of the city’s fiber network had to be replaced.

Last month was the warmest September on record for the state dating back to 1895.  State climatologist Barry Keim says after calculating a preliminary value for the entire state, the state exceeded the previous record by half a degree.Keim credits the heat spike to a lack of cold front activity.

Cut 11 (09) “…lack of rain.” 

Ruston’s recovery from last April’s deadly EF-3 tornado has stalled due to the wait for FEMA assistance reimbursement. Mayor Ronny Walker says debris was removed and power restored in the days after the twister, but recovery efforts are going slower than desired now.

Cut 6 (13) “…it goes through.”

The city owns its own power distribution and dipped into reserve funds to restore electricity within four days.

A new law signed in California will allow college athletes to hire agents and make money from the use of their image, name or likeness, starting in 2023.  LSU QB Joe Burrow was asked about how the compensation could be possibly spread to the offensive linemen who may not have the same name recognition but contribute to a QB’s performance.

Cut 14 (10) “…about that later.”

Burrow adds it will be interesting to see if it sways recruits, but he’s unsure if it would have influenced his own decision in recruiting.

Violent crime in Louisiana was down three percent year to year in 2018, and the murder rate is down down eight points according to new FBI crime data.  LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Peter Sharf credits reinvestment from the criminal justice reform, new crime prevention programs in New Orleans, and statewide adoption of 21st-century police training programs.

Cut 4 (12) “…occur”

Despite an eight percent decline last year Louisiana remains the state with the highest murder rate. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Peter Sharf says the murder rate decline we did see is largely thanks to an 8 percent drop in the Crescent City.

Cut 3 (10) “…elsewhere”

But 2019’s murder rate decrease may be more substantial as Sharf says New Orleans appears set to see a nearly 30 percent drop in murders this year.

Last month was the warmest September on record for the state dating back to 1895.  State climatologist Barry Keim says a city by city breakdown further illustrates just how brutal the past month has been for state residents.

Cut 10 (13) “…state wide phenomena.”

Keim credits the heat spike to a lack of cold front activity.

Starting in 2023 California college student-athletes will be allowed to hire agents and make money from the use of their image, name or likeness as the result of a new law signed by their governor. LSU QB Joe Burrow says it will be interesting to see if it sways recruits, but he’s unsure if it would have influenced his decision in recruiting.

Cut 13 (07) “…think about.”

California is the first state to pass a law that defies the NCAA’s stance on compensation for amateur athletes. 

Ruston’s recovery from last April’s deadly EF-3 tornado has stalled due to the wait for FEMA assistance reimbursement. The city owns its own power distribution and dipped into reserve funds to restore electricity within four days. Mayor Ronny Walker says because of that they were able to get the lights on much faster than anticipated.

Cut 7 (10) “…back up also.” 

Violent crime in Louisiana was down three percent year to year in 2018, and the murder rate is down eight points according to new FBI crime data. Despite the good news Louisiana still leads the nation with the highest murder rate, and LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Peter Sharf says our murder rate is roughly ten times that of New York’s. He says there’s a lot of work to be done.

Cut 5 (10) “…society”

Nationwide the violent crime rate was also down three percent.

A new law signed in California will allow college athletes to hire agents and make money from the use of their image, name or likeness, starting in 2023.  LSU QB Joe Burrow says he believes it is a step in the right direction.

Cut 12 (10) “…the other way.”

If you thought September was hot, you were not wrong. It was one for the record books. Brook Thorington has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

A St. Landry Parish man is dead a week after falling out the back of a pickup truck that travelling down LA 103. 38-year-old Fredrick Freeman was in the back of the truck when for some reason he fell off the back and slammed his head on the concrete. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but the injuries turned out to be too severe. Neither the driver nor Freeman is thought to have been impaired at the time.

The state’s murder rate is down eight percent but still good for the highest in the nation, while the violent crime rate dropped three percent. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

More than 150 restaurants in the state have been cited for not disclosing to customers that their seafood is imported as opposed to domestic. The Louisiana Department of Health is issuing the citations since a new law is now in effect. No fines are associated with the citation.

Last month was the warmest September on record for the state dating back to 1895.  State climatologist Barry Keim says after calculating a preliminary value for the entire state, the state exceeded the previous record by half a degree.

Cut 9 (11) “…we were 82.6.”

Keim credits the heat spike to a lack of cold front activity and very little rain.

Ruston’s recovery from last April’s deadly EF-3 tornado has stalled due to the wait for FEMA assistance reimbursement.  Five miles of the city’s fiber network had to be replaced.  Mayor Ronny Walker says they are punching the numbers on the FEMA reimbursement.

New FBI Crime stats show the state’s murder rate is down eight percent while the overall violent crime rate declined at the national average of three percent. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist Peter Sharf credits reinvestment from the criminal justice reform, new crime prevention programs in New Orleans, and statewide adoption of 21st-century police training programs.

Cut 4 (12) “…occur”

Despite the improvements, Louisiana’s murder rate remained the highest in the nation.

Ruston’s recovery from last April’s deadly EF-3 tornado has stalled due to the wait for FEMA assistance reimbursement. Mayor Ronny Walker says debris was removed and power restored in the days after the twister, but recovery efforts have slowed.

Cut 6 (13) “…it goes through.”

A Monroe dog trainer was arrested after allegedly faking the death of one of his client’s 25,000 dollar duck hunting dogs so that he could sell the pup to a dog club. Ouachita Parish Chief Deputy Marc Mashaw says about a week ago 44-year-old Lester Langley called his clients and told them the dog had died, and he had buried it, but he refused to provide the body or allow the clients to see the grave.  Mashaw says when deputies arrived to investigate the matter, Langley couldn’t produce a body…

Cut 14 (12) “…a dog” 

Mashaw says they’re now searching nationwide to try to find the prized canine.

Hundreds of workers have learned they will soon be without a job. Bayou Steel in LaPlace has announced its closing, resulting in layoff notices for 376 employees. St John Parish President Natalie Robottom says the closure comes as a shock…
Cut 4 (12) “…this was coming.”
The Louisiana Workforce Commission says they’ve deployed a mobile unit at the local American Job Center Office in LaPlace to provide re-employment assistance.

The Attorney General’s office announces the Broussard Police Department is the home to the newest prescription drug dropbox. Special projects coordinator at the AG’s office, Monica Taylor describes the boxes similar to a mailbox where items drop in, but they don’t come out.

Cut 9 (10)  “…can destroy it.”

A Blue Cross Blue Shield grant has paid for the boxes.

A new study ranks Louisiana as having the ninth-worst overall transportation infrastructure in the United States. Louisiana Good Roads and Transportation Association President Ken Perret says the study shows poor roads cost the average Louisiana driver 624-dollars a year in vehicle and operating costs and only six states have a higher percentage of structurally deficient bridges than Louisiana…
Cut 10 (10) “…timber pilings.”
Perret calls on all gubernatorial and legislative candidates to be open and honest with voters on how they will address transportation issues.

A dog trainer is under arrest after allegedly faking the death of his client’s 25,000-dollar duck hunting Labrador.  Ouachita Parish Chief Deputy Marc Mashaw says 44-year-old Lester Langley of Monroe had been tasked with training a local family’s pet during the hunting offseason when, out of the blue, he called the family with some bad news…

Cut 13 (10) “the dog”

Bayou Steel announces its closure, resulting in the layoff of 376. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Attorney General announces an additional prescription drug drop box where people can discard their old meds in an effort to keep them off the street. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Ouachita Parish Deputies are searching for a missing 25,000 dollar duck hunting dog after authorities say the animal’s trainer faked it’s death. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Hundreds have learned they will be without a job in St. John Parish.  376 employees at Bayou Steel were blindsided to hear of the closure, and Parish President Natalie Robottom says they were not the only ones caught off guard by the announcement.

Cut 4 (12) “…this was coming.”

Robottom says the official date of closure is set for November 30^th and the community is being proactive in finding job placement.

Cut 5 (06) “…be laid off.”

Robottom says the company has been a major employer in the area for many years.

Cut 6 (09) “…the work there.”

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The office of the Attorney General announces the Broussard Police Department is the home of the newest prescription drug drop box.  Special projects coordinator at the AG’s office Monica Taylor says the boxes are having a huge impact on the number of drugs being taken out of circulation.

Cut 7 (07) “…put in place.” 

The drop boxes are paid for with a Blue Cross Blue Shield grant in an effort to combat the state’s opioid epidemic.  Taylor says the box has been in place for several months and is already seeing a huge impact.

Cut 8 (10) “…from the box.”

Taylor describes the boxes similar to a mailbox where items drop in, but they don’t come out.

Cut 9 (10)  “…can destroy it.”

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A recent study shows that Louisiana ranks 9^th in the U-S with one of the most underfunded transportation infrastructures.  That equates to more problems for drivers on the road like potholes, but most alarmingly, structurally unsound bridges. Louisiana Good Road Transportation Association President Ken Perret…

Cut 10 (10) “…timber pilings.”

Perret says major bridges in the state have an average lifespan of 50 years. Smaller bridges also have an impact on rural traffic when weight-bearing loads like buses have to be rerouted during construction.

Perret says right now only eight states have worse road conditions than Louisiana. The state’s 20-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax is the state’s primary means of funding road project and it’s one of the lowest in the country. Perret fears the $14 billion backlog of needed road projects will remain underfunded until there’s a disaster.

Cut 11 (12) “…loss of lives.” 

The Louisiana Good Roads Transportation Association study shows poor roads cost the average driver in the state $624 a year in vehicle and operating costs.  Perret says lawmakers continue to ignore the issue and it’s going to take voters reaching out to their legislators to bring about change.

Cut 12 (08) “…grassroots level”

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A dog trainer is under arrest after allegedly faking the death of his client’s 25,000-dollar duck hunting Labrador.

44-year-old Lester Langley of Monroe had been tasked with training a local family’s pet during the hunting offseason when authorities say out of the blue he called the family with some bad news…

Cut 13 (10) “the dog”

That’s Ouachita Parish Chief Deputy Marc Mashaw who says after the initial call Langley refused to respond to future calls or house visits.

After refusing to communicate with the family, they called authorities who showed up with a warrant. Mashaw says Langley could not comply when deputies demanded he turn over the body, and…

Cut 14 (12) “…a dog” 

Mashaw says Langley has refused to say what actually happened to the canine, but authorities suspect he sold the pup on one of his out of state trips. The hope to find out where the dog went.

Cut 15 (10) “…locate it”

For more information on the missing black lab visit www.OPSO.com

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Two teams good at throwing the football will meet Saturday in Tiger Stadium, when 5th ranked LSU hosts Utah State. The Tigers are averaging 432 yards per game through the air, while the Aggies are averaging 326 a contest. Utah State is led by six-foot-four junior Jordan Love, who Coach Ed Orgeron says will play on Sundays soon

Cut 16  (18) “…all areas

Orgeron says Utah State also plays an up tempo offense as they like to get off a bunch of snaps in a short period…

cut 17  (16) “…job of it” 

LSU’s defense has struggled defending pass, allowing 224 yards a game through the air. Orgeron says they’ve spent time on tackling, improving the players technique…

Cut 18 (18)      right plays” 

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The Pelicans begin training camp today as the Zion Williamson is ready to take off in New Orleans. The first overall pick says he’s excited and also feels at home in the Big Easy, thanks to love he’s only received from the state and the veteran leadership on the team…

cut 19 (21)   “help a lot”   

Williamson is already considered one of the best players in the NBA and he’s yet to play a game yet. Zion says he can’t focus on the outside noise…

cut 20 (15) “make a run 

So far early voting turnout for the primary is nearly double that of the 2015 election, and state officials say it could indicate higher than average interest in this year’s election. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the early results are incredibly promising as people packed polling stations Saturday.

Cut 6 (09) “…thousand”

If turnout does hit the mid-40s Ardoin says they’ll still have plenty enough stickers, having printed 3.2 million.

25 years after the first riverboat set anchor in Baton Rouge the market is now struggling mightily. Baton Rouge peaked in the fiscal year ending June 2017 at $308.8 million and has slumped the last two years. Revenue has fallen to nearly one-fourth to  $235.6 million for June 2019. Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board Ronnie Jones says bans are partly to blame.

Cut 13 (06) “…an impact.”

The Louisiana Tumor Registry adds a new interactive data visualization tool to their website. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

365 workers are out of a job in LaPlace after the unexpected closure of Bayou Steel in St. John the Baptist Parish. Local officials say they have not been given a reason for the closure yet, but the Governor’s office is indicating it may be tariff related as the company imports scrap recycled metals. The state says they’re working quickly to get the workers back into a job.

So far early voting turnout for the primary is nearly double that of the 2015 election, and state officials say it could indicate higher than average interest in this year’s election. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the 2015 election only saw turnout in the upper 30s, but if these numbers hold we could be in for noticeably better numbers.

Cut 8 (07) “prognostication”

If turnout does hit the mid-40s Ardoin says they’ll still have enough stickers, as they printed over 3 million.

The Saints defense came alive in the Black and Gold’s 12-10 win last night over the Dallas Cowboys.The Teddy Bridgewater led offense has not lived up to the usual sky-high offensive expectations of Saints fans. Safety Von Bell says they’re comfortable carrying the team while the offense works out some of the kinks.

Cut 5 (08) “…position.”

The Louisiana Tumor Registry adds a new data visualization tool to their website.  Registry spokesperson Lauren Maniscalco says it is a new resource for everyone in Louisiana to better understand the burden of cancer.

Cut 9 (08) “…specific parish.”

Maniscalco says the tool is very interactive in breaking down data on the types of cancer, parish by parish.  She adds having the tool may lead to targeting areas for awareness of specific cancers.

25 years after the first riverboat set anchor in Baton Rouge the market is now struggling as revenues are cratering in one of the biggest gaming regions of the state.

Chairman of the Louisiana Gaming Control Board Ronnie Jones says unfortunately today’s milestone is also a reminder of a prolonged slump casino revenues for the area that need intervention.

Cut 12 (14) “…employed”