A new poll shows Governor Edwards just shy of avoiding a run-off and Eddie Rispone vaulting Ralph Abraham for the right to take on the Governor in a potential run-off. Matt Doyle has more.

cut  2 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Funeral services are taking place today for the Mandeville Police officer gunned down in the line of duty last Friday. Capt. Vincent Liberto’s services began at noon today at the Castine Center in Pelican Park. The fallen officer was also a US Marine and will be buried with full military honors.

Voters casting their ballots early can expect to do so with new voting equipment.  Lafayette Parish Registrar of Voters Charlene Meaux-Menard says the machines are not connected to the internet and store the voting data to memory sticks inside the computer.

Cut 4 (07) “…all add up.”

Meaux-Menard says while she expects the operation of the machine to be easy for voters, each voting location will have a person to assist in the voting process if needed.

Governor Edwards announces Fibrebond will remain in Minden following indications from the company that it may leave due to the poor condition of bridges in north Louisiana that forced them to take a 247-mile detour to ship products west.  Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the details of the agreement will be announced soon.

Cut 11 (10) “…product to market.” 

A We Ask America poll of the governor’s race has Governor Edwards at 47 percent, Eddie Rispone at 23 percent, and Ralph Abraham at 17 percent. Pollster Andrew Weissert says Edwards continues to linger in the upper 40s because while he has a 56 percent approval rating, voters still aren’t confident he’s righted the ship.

Cut 6, 8 seconds, right direction

The poll did have one encouraging bit of news for Edwards, 61 percent of independents have a favorable view of him.

Voters casting their ballots early can expect to do so with new voting equipment.  Lafayette Parish Registrar of Voters Charlene Meaux-Menard says participants will receive a voter card to insert into the machines that will pull up their ballot on a touchscreen.

Cut 3 (09) “…on the background.”

Each location will have an assistant to help out voters if needed.

A Legislative Fiscal Office analysis of the estimated 500-million-dollar state budget surplus credits most of the higher-than-expected revenue to the 2017 federal tax reform. Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the state’s economy is improving, but it’s not the biggest reason for the huge surplus…

Cut 7 (10) “changes” 

Albrecht says part of the reason revenue exceeded their forecast this year is because the Revenue Estimating Conference is trying to be conservative with their estimates.

Governor Edwards announces Fibrebond will remain in Minden following indications from the company that it may leave due to the poor condition of bridges in north Louisiana that forced them to take a 247-mile detour to ship products west.  Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson…

Cut 10 (10) “…have to ship.”

Governor Edwards announces Fibrebond will remain in Minden after an earlier scare that the company may leave for east Texas. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the company is a huge economic driver for the rural Webster Parish.

Cut 12 (12) “…in northwest Louisiana.”

The state helped Fibrebond find a shorter route for the huge structures that it ships around the country. Previously their route was hindered by failing bridges.

A Legislative Fiscal Office analysis of the estimated 500-million-dollar state budget surplus credits most of the higher-than-expected revenue to the 2017 federal tax reform. Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says Louisiana’s tax code is structured so that federal rate reductions generate more state revenue.

Cut 8 (10) “rates”

Early voting starts tomorrow morning. Kevin Barnhart has more details from Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

We Ask America polled likely voters in Louisiana and found Governor Edwards just shy of avoiding a run-off at 47 percent. It’s also the second poll to show Eddie Rispone as the top polling Republican, beating Ralph Abraham 23 to 17. The poll says it’s clear that Rispone’s ad blitz for himself, and against Abraham has paid off. 13 percent of respondents in the poll remain undecided.

Early voting starts tomorrow morning. Kevin Barnhart has more details from Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin….

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Legislative Fiscal Office says most of the 500 million dollar projected budget surplus for last fiscal year is due to federal tax law changes. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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 Tensions boiled over between Republicans Eddie Rispone and Ralph Abraham at last night’s debate over Rispone’s recent string of attack ads. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Early voting locations open tomorrow morning for the gubernatorial primary.  Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says location hours are 8:30am until 6pm and early ballots can be cast until October 5^th.

Cut 4 (09) “…a good experience.”

Election Day falls on October 12^th, which is also the day of an SEC matchup at Tiger Stadium, so Ardoin encourages voters to take care of voting early so more attention can be put on football.

Cut 5 (10) “…the LSU game.”

Early voting typically represents 20-25% of all votes cast.  Voters will need to have photo ID or the LA Wallet app.  Ardoin says if you need to know where to go for early voting, they’ve got all the info you need online.

Cut 6 (10) “…early voting site.”

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A Legislative Fiscal Office analysis of the estimated 500-million-dollar state budget surplus credits most of the higher-than-expected revenue to the 2017 federal tax reform. Chief Economist Greg Albrecht says the state’s economy is improving, but it’s not the biggest reason for the huge surplus…

Cut 7 (10) “changes” 

Louisiana’s tax code is tied in parts to federal tax levels, which means a federal cut is always partially offset by state tax liability increases. Albrecht says that’s how federal reforms can bolster state coffers.

Cut 8 (10) “rates”

Senate President John Alario was quoted by the AP as saying that Louisiana’s tax code relation to federal taxes is not the case in some other states.

Albrecht says part of the reason revenue exceeded their forecast this year is because the Revenue Estimating Conference is trying to be conservative with their estimates.

Cut 9 (11)  “shortfall”

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Governor Edwards announces Fibrebond will remain in Minden following indications from the company that it may leave due to the poor condition of bridges in north Louisiana that forced them to take a 247-mile detour to ship products west.  Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson…

Cut 10 (10) “…have to ship.”

Fibrebond builds huge structures that can measure 16 by 75 feet and weigh 150,000 pounds, making them ineligible to cross de-rated bridges.  Pierson says the details of the agreement will be announced soon.

Cut 11 (10) “…product to market.” 

Pierson says the company is a huge economic driver for the rural Webster Parish.

Cut 12 (12) “…in northwest Louisiana.”

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The gubernatorial candidates got a chance to ask each other questions at last night’s debate and they did not hold back.

Eddie Rispone continued his attack against fellow Republican Ralph Abraham over what he says is disloyalty to President Trump. Abraham responded…

Cut 13 (13) “are lies”

The attack is based on comments Abraham made in 2016 after the Access Hollywood tapes were released, where Abraham said Trump should drop out of the race.

Abraham said Governor Edwards wasn’t doing his job, attacking him for questionable staff hirings, and other sordid allegations. Edwards shot back that Abraham doesn’t show up to Congress for votes.

Cut 14 (12) “…applause” 

Governor Edwards highlighted Eddie Rispone’s past financial support for Governor Bobby Jindal, saying a Rispone Administration would be Jindal 2.0. Rispone wasn’t taking it.

Cut 15 (11) “…statement”

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Two Super Bowl contenders meet in the Superdome on Sunday night as Cowboys visit the Saints. Dallas is 3-and-0 and Louisiana native and  Q-B Dak Prescott has thrown nine touchdown passes. New Orleans linebacker DeMario Davis says Prescott is not an easy quarterback to defend

Cut 16  (19) “…ball around”

Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will make his second straight start for the injured Drew Brees. Davis says the Saints have Bridgewater’s back

cut 17  (19) “…to the table” 

Could Sunday’s matchup be a preview of a future NFC Championship game? Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence says that storyline doesn’t mean anything to him

Cut 18 (10) our job” 

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Northwestern State hopes to break into the win column on Saturday night when they host Southeastern Louisiana. The Demons dropped their Southland opener last week in a 48-21 loss to Houston Baptist. Second-year head coach Brad Laird says even though they didn’t get a win last week, they need some things well

cut 19 (13)   “this week”   

The Lions are ranked 19th in one poll and 22nd in another F-C-S poll. S-L-U is 2-and-1. Laird says they have a playmaker on offense by the name of Devonte Williams and the defense is led by former McNeese Coach Lance Guidry

cut 20 (24) “they play 

Twenty-five years after a newborn baby was found dead in Jeanerette, Iberia Parish Sheriff deputies arrested a 50-year-old woman in the death of Baby Jane Doe. Major Wendell Raborn says DNA from the infant matched a family member of Sonia Charles and follow up police work led to deputies getting a DNA sample from Charles

Cut 3 (09) “…Sonia Charles.”

Charles was booked into the Iberia Jail for First Degree Murder.

Census Bureau numbers show Louisiana’s poverty rate dropped from 19.7 percent in 2017 to 18.6 percent last year. That’s dropped Louisiana from the 2^nd most impoverished state in the nation to the 3^rd. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says it’s a great improvement, but we have a long way to go.

Cut 6 (07) “…news”

Louisiana is one of seven states under a federally declared fishing disaster, which makes state anglers and businesses eligible to request assistance from a 165 million dollar Congressionally approved fund. LDWF Biologist Administrator Jason Froeba says the state was included due to the devastating impact of the Bonnet Carre’s prolonged opening resulting from record high Mississippi River levels.

Cut 9 (10) “…salt water”

Mississippi and Alabama were the only other southern states to receive the declaration.

The US drought monitor currently lists five percent of the state in severe drought and 13-percent in moderate drought.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says hopefully a cold front will bring in more fall-like temps and some rain, but not too much at once.

Cut 14 (10) “…what we need.”

Keim says there is very little rain in the forecast for the next week.

New U-S Census numbers show Louisiana’s poverty rate has dropped from second to third in the nation. Kevin Barnhart has more…

cut  2 (30) “…Kevin Barnhart”  

A helicopter crash at Fort Polk Army base in Louisiana this morning has killed one and injured three others. The Army chopper crash happened at the Joint Readiness Training Center according to Army officials. Four crew members were on the chopper and names have not been released until relatives are notified. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Louisiana is one of seven states under a federally declared fishing disaster, which makes state anglers and businesses eligible to request assistance from a 165 million dollar congressionally approved fund. Congress approved NOAA for the management of the funds. LDWF Biologist Administrator Jason Froeba (Fray-bah) says they will work with the agency to aid struggling anglers.

Cut 10 (11) “…suffering.”

The US drought monitor currently lists five percent of the state in severe drought and 13-percent in moderate drought. State Climatologist Barry Keim says northwest Louisiana has seen the least amount of rain

Cut 12 (13) “…3.5 inches”
Several parishes are under a burn ban.

Louisiana is one of seven states under a federally declared fishing disaster, which makes state anglers and businesses eligible to request assistance from a 165 million dollar congressionally approved fund. Congress approved NOAA for the management of the funds. LDWF Biologist Administrator Jason Froeba (Fray-bah) says they will work with the agency to aid struggling anglers.

Cut 10 (11) “…suffering.”

Twenty-five years after a newborn baby was found dead in Jeanerette, Iberia Parish Sheriff Deputies have arrested the mother 50-year-old Sonia Charles. Major Wendell Raborn says Detective Scott Hotard who originally worked on the case in 1994, reopened the homicide investigation after new leads developed with DNA.

Cut 5 (09) “…gratifying”

Census Bureau numbers show Louisiana’s poverty rate dropped from 19.7 percent in 2017 to 18.6 percent last year. The child poverty rate in the state declined nearly two points from 28 percent to 26.2 percent, and Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan (Yan) Moller says the poverty rate for African American children saw a four-point decline.

Cut 7 (11) “unnacceptable” 

That decline has resulted in about 22,000 fewer African American children in poverty.

The US drought monitor currently lists five percent of the state in severe drought and 13-percent in moderate drought.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is very little rain in the forecast for the next week.

Cut 13 (11) “…these maximum temperatures.”

Lafayette General Health and Ochsner Health System are merging to create the largest healthcare provider in the Gulf South. Lafayette General Health System President David Callecod says the merger means a big investment into the Acadiana area.
Cut 13 (10) “…in southwest Louisiana.”
Callecod says the merger, which should be completed in the spring of 2020, will lead to more jobs as well.
Louisiana is one of seven states under a now federal declared fishing disaster, which makes state anglers and businesses eligible to request assistance from a 165 million dollar Congressionally approved fund. LDWF Biologist Administrator Jason Froeba says the state was included due to the devastating impact of the Bonnet Carre’s prolonged opening resulting from record high Mississippi River levels.

Cut 9 (10) “…salt water”

Mississippi and Alabama were the only other southern states to receive the declaration.

Iberia Parish Sheriff’s deputies say they solved a murder case that dates back to 1994 involving a newborn child that died outside of a car wash in Jeanerette. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The cause of an early Army helicopter crash at Fort Polk that killed one and injured three others, remains under investigation. The names of the crew members have not yet been released.

One person is dead and three others injured following an early Army helicopter crash at Fort Polk. The names of the crew members have not yet been released and the cause remains under investigation. Governor Edwards has released a statement saying quote: “Our hearts are heavy after learning of this morning’s tragic crash and the loss of one soldier who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and our state.”
Eight people were arrested and 15 guns seized after Baton Rouge rappers decided to shoot an unpermitted music video on a residential street. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Twenty-five years after the death of a newborn baby in Jeanerette, the Iberia Parish Sheriff deputies arrest a 50-year-old woman in the death of Baby Jane Doe. Major Wendell Raborn says thanks to DNA evidence they believe Sonia Charles placed her newborn child in a 55-gallon drum outside of a car wash in January of 1994.

Cut 4 (09) “…what it is.”

Charles was booked into the Iberia Jail for First Degree Murder.

Census Bureau numbers show Louisiana’s poverty rate dropped from 19.7 percent in 2017 to 18.6 percent last year. That’s dropped Louisiana from the 2^nd most impoverished state in the nation to the 3^rd. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says it’s a great improvement, but we have a long way to go.

Cut 6 (07) “…news”

In 2018 poverty was defined as a single person making under 13,064 dollars a year or less, and a four-person household making 25,701 dollars a year or less.

The gubernatorial candidates will be on the UL-Lafayette campus tonight for a televised debate that will be shown on Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The Council for a Better Louisiana organized tonight’s debate at 7 PM and CABL President Barry Erwin says the questions will come from a panel of reporters and the candidates will get to ask each other questions…
Cut 6 (06) “…before they vote.”
Erwin hopes the candidates will provide comprehensive answers on the issues facing the state.

SeatGeek says Sunday night’s Saints/Cowboys showdown is the hottest selling ticket of the week, and one of the five hottest-selling tickets of the year. Seatgeek spokesperson Chris Leyden ticket prices for this game have been a rollercoaster, high at the start of the year, plummeting after the Drew Brees injury, and rebounding after Teddy Bridgewater led the team to a win over the Seahawks…

Cut 9 (07)  “this game”

Baton Rouge Police arrest eight individuals and seize 15 guns during the filming of a rap video on a neighborhood street. Sergent L’Jean Mckneely says terrified neighbors called authorities after seeing a large group of men waving assault rifles…
Cut 10 (10) “…the guns”
McKneely says they detained at least 15 individuals, arrested eight of them and seized five assault rifles, ten handguns and a small amount of narcotics.

Twenty-five years after the death of a newborn baby in Jeanerette, the Iberia Parish Sheriff deputies arrest a 50-year-old woman in the death of Baby Jane Doe. Major Wendell Raborn says DNA from the infant child matched a family member of Sonia Charles and follow up police work led deputies getting a DNA sample from Charles

Cut 3 (08) “…to begin with.”

Charles was booked into the Iberia Jail for First Degree Murder.