It’s game day and the hottest selling ticket is the country is to the game all TV set in the Bayou State will be tuned to tonight as LSU takes on the Texas Longhorns. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Those of us without tickets can watch on ABC at 6:30 tonight.

Last weekend two Georgia Southern fans were killed in a car crash on their way home from the LSU game. A Go Fund Me account was set up by an LSU fan for the family of Danny and Julie Hagan, the couple are survived by three children. As of this morning, Tiger fans have donated $37, 148.

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says skyrocketing insurance costs threaten the state’s 13-billion dollar timber industry. Strain says in some cases insuring equipment has quadrupled in the last year

Cut 12 (12) “…per truck”

Strain says those who work in the forestry industry say they can’t continue to pay those high rates and stay in business

It’s officially Dove hunting season and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay (Do-gay) says the population of morning doves looks good for Louisiana hunters. Duguay says that prediction is based on their banding data…

Cut 6 (09) “…other years”

But Dugay says the extreme heat could make it difficult for hunters and their dogs, but it will not impact the doves.

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says skyrocketing insurance costs threaten the state’s 13-billion dollar timber industry. Strain says in some cases insuring equipment has quadrupled in the last year

Cut 12 (12) “…per truck”

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers leave out of Esler Regional Airport in Pineville today for a deployment to Afghanistan. Colonel Ed Bush says these men and women will provide aviation support and all of them have been previously deployed multiple times…

cut 11 (07) “….deploying together”

The deployment is expected to last nine months.

LSU-Texas tickets are a hot commodity ahead of Saturday’s game in Austin. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “..I’m Matt Doyle”

Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay (Do-gay) says the extreme heat this weekend could make it difficult for hunters and their dogs, but it will not impact the doves…

Cut 7 (08) “…every day.”

The anniversary of 9/11 is around the corner and 56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers deploy to Afghanistan this afternoon.

cut  2 (29) I’m Connor Ferrill”  

LSU-Texas is the hottest selling game of the year according to StubHub, and tickets prices are at a premium and going fast. Partnerships and Business Development for Stubhub Adam Budelli says it’s clear the hype for this matchup is unlike any in the past two years.

Cut 3 (08) “…percent.

Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay (Do-gay) says the population of morning doves looks good for Louisiana hunters. Duguay says that prediction is based on their banding data…

Cut 6 (09) “…other years”

Duguay says the extreme heat this weekend could make it difficult for hunters and their dogs, but it will not impact the doves.

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says skyrocketing insurance costs threaten the state’s 13-billion dollar timber industry. Strain says those who work in the forestry industry say they can’t continue to pay those high rates and stay in business. He says it’s a significant issue that can have an impact on the state’s economy

Cut 13 (12) “a year”

Tickets are going fast for The Tiger’s game in Austin against the Longhorns. There’s about 1,600 tickets left and Partnerships and Business Development for Stubhub Adam Budelli says they may not last long.

Cut 4 (09) “…in general”

Roughly 55 percent of ticket purchases have come from within Texas, while around 20 percent were bought in Louisiana. The rest were purchased in 40 other states, plus Mexico and Canada.

Wanhua Chemical has withdrawn it’s plans to build a billion-dollar chemical facility in St. James Parish after previously agreeing to the facility earlier this year. The company is citing increased construction costs are the primary concern, but previously mentioned lower possible profits at the facility based on concerns about the trade war. The facility was also delayed by a lawsuit from St. James citizens over environmental concerns.

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers are set to deploy to Afghanistan out of Pineville as the 18^th anniversary of 9/11 approaches. Colonel Ed Bush of the Louisiana National Guard says Louisiana guard were heavily involved in the conflicts that followed.

Cut 10 (12) “…global war on terror.”

Those deployed are going to provide aviation support.

Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday, and if you’re interested in heading out then A basic hunting license and HIP certificate are needed to legally hunt doves. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay says they have seen a decline in hunters over the years and there’s a couple of reasons why…

Cut 8 (12) “…they do”

Try to dress light, as temperatures are expected to be abnormally high this weekend.

LSU-Texas is the hottest selling game of the year according to StubHub, and tickets prices are at a premium and going fast. Partnerships and Business Development for Stubhub Adam Budelli says it’s clear the hype for this matchup is unlike any in the past two years.

Cut 3, 8 seconds, percent

Texas-LSU is outselling the number two game of the year, Georgia-Notre Dame, by 68 percent. People from 42 states and three countries have purchased tickets.

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers are set to deploy to Afghanistan out of Pineville. The troops will join two companies to provide aviation support. Colonel Ed Bush of the Louisiana National Guard says the aviation support will bring the Bayou State’s troops to the heart of the action…

Cut 9 (08)  “…where safe.”

Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay (Do-gay) says the population of morning doves looks good for Louisiana hunters. Duguay says the extreme heat this weekend could make it difficult for hunters and their dogs, but it will not impact the doves.

Cut 7 (08) “…every day.”

A basic hunting license and HIP certificate are needed to legally hunt doves, and Duguay says they have seen a decline in hunters over the years.

LSU is ready to take on Texas tomorrow night at 630 in Austin, and LSU QB Joe Burrow says he has nothing but respect for what Texas Head Coach Tom Herman has accomplished.  It was Herman, who was offensive coordinator at Ohio State at the time, who recruited Burrow to play for Buckeyes

Cut 16  (16) “…great coach”   

After three seasons in Columbus, Burrow transferred to LSU.

It’s not just the players who are itching for kick-off, the Traveling Tigers are hoping to steal a win in the Lone Star State, home to the second-largest number of LSU alums in the nation outside of Louisiana. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke says this trip for the Traveling Tigers sold out quickly for the two-hundred participants.

Cut 11 (04) “with us” 

The last time the Longhorns and the Tigers played each other in the regular season was 1954.

After beating Grambling last weekend, ULM heads to the Florida panhandle to face Florida State on Saturday. The Seminoles lost to Boise State in the season opener as the Broncos rallied to win Tallahassee. Warhawks coach Matt Viator says there’s no doubt that F-S-U has talent

Cut 18 (19) “…heartbeat” 

The NFL season kicked off last night with a nearly unwatchable game between Green Bay and Chicago at Solider field. The Packers and their new offense ended up walking away with a 10-3 win over their hated rivals. The Bears dominant defense seemed to pick up right where it left off last year, but Coach Matt Nagy’s offense looks like it could submarine their season.

This weekend will hopefully be full of more interesting games as the NFL season kicks into gear. The Saints have the 6:10PM Monday night slot against the Texans.

Seven Louisiana Community Colleges were ranked in the top 100 fastest growing programs in the nation between 2007 and 2017. Matt Doyle has the story.

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 Brooke Thorington spoke with the LSU Traveling Tigers about this weekend’s big game in Austin…

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Drew Brees responds to the controversy over his appearance in an ad run by an organization with a history of anti-LGBTQ advocacy…

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Louisiana had seven of the top 100 fastest growing Community Colleges in the nation between 2007 and 2017 according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan says that’s because they’ve made a concerted effort to double down on job-ready degrees and certification programs.

Cut 4 (11) “…universities”

The survey looked at the growth rates of 1,100 different schools.

The growth is primarily in older students who are heading back to school to get post-secondary educations that can be applicable in their local economies.

Cut 5 (10) “…time”

Northshore Technical and Community College was the seventh fastest-growing community college in the nation at 145.3 percent. Sullivan says everyone could learn a few things from NTCC.

Cut 6 (09) “…there”

The other six community colleges ranked were Nunez, Louisiana Delta, L.E. Fletcher, South Louisiana, River Parishes, and Bossier Parish.

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Tonight, viewers across the country will get an inside look at life in Angola when Dateline airs a segment about NBC Anchor Lester Holt’s two-night stay at the maximum-security facility.

It’s part of an ongoing series about the effects of “Tough on Crime” bills that passed with bipartisan Congressional support in the 90s. Dateline Supervising Producer Dan Slepian…

Cut 7 (11)“…revealing”

Slepian says the program highlights the new rehabilitation practices put into effect under the Edwards Administration’s criminal justice reform.

The program features Henry Montgomery, who was sentenced to life when he was 17 for killing a cop. His appeal of juvenile life sentences led to the US Supreme Court overturning juvenile life without parole.

Cut 8 (09) “decision”

Montgomery was convicted in 1963.

Slepian says it took some work to get the Department of Corrections to approve the idea…

Cut 9 (11) “…and forth.”

But he thinks they’ll be happy with the final portrayal of the facility.

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It’s a big match up this Saturday with Texas, and the LSU Traveling Tigers are making the trip to Austin to keep the Bayou Bengals on a winning streak. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke says this trip is extra special seeing as outside of Louisiana, Texas has the highest number of LSU alumni.

Cut 10 (10) “…facets to it”

The last time the Longhorns and the Tigers played each other in the regular season was 1954. With both teams currently in the top 10, the matchup is even more intense. LSU was only allotted three-thousand game tickets and Helmke says this trip for the Traveling Tigers sold out quickly for the two-hundred participants.

Cut 11 (04) “with us” 

Despite the lack of game tickets for Tiger fans, it’s not discouraging fans from making a trip to the Lone Star state. Helmke says LSU Alumni-dot-org has a whole line up for tiger fans in Austin this weekend.

Cut 12 (05) “…and gold.”

The next trip planned for the Traveling Tigers is in two weeks to Nashville for the Vanderbilt game.

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Drew Brees’ appearance in a Bring Your Bible to School ad sparks controversy when LGBTQ advocates point out the organization who ran the ad’s history of anti-gay campaigning.

Brees says he wasn’t aware of Focus on Family’s anti-gay lobbying and campaign efforts. Brees adds he lives by the Christian fundamental of love thy neighbor.

Cut 13 (08) “matter”

The ad itself about LGBTQ rights, but concerns were raised about Focus on Family’s past contributions to gay conversion therapy campaigns and anti-gay marriage initiatives. Brees says he doesn’t support that.

cut 14 (11) “…verses” 

The appearance came as a surprise to many considering the QB’s past participation in anti-bullying campaigns aimed at promoting LGTBQ tolerance. He says accusations of anti-gay bias are not true.

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LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow has nothing but respect for Texas head coach Tom Herman. It was Herman, who was offensive coordinator at Ohio State at the time, who recruited Burrow to play for Buckeyes

Cut 16  (16) “…great coach”   

Herman left for the head coaching job at Houston during the recruitment process, but Burrow still signed at Ohio State in 2015. After three seasons in Columbus, Burrow transferred to LSU. Burrow will face a Longhorn defense that loves to blitz, but the Tigers Q-B is fired up for the challenge..

cut 17 (16) “…for it” 

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After beating Grambling last weekend, ULM heads to the Florida panhandle to face Florida State on Saturday. The Seminoles lost to Boise State in the season opener as the Broncos rallied to win Tallahassee. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says there’s no doubt that F-S-U has talent

Cut 18 (19) “…heartbeat” 

Viator says they don’t plan on changing their game plan, just because they are facing a Power Five school…

 cut 19 (19)   “you do”  

cut 20 (25) “be done” 

State Farm is set to lower its auto insurance rates again. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut  2 (28) I’m Matt Doyle”  

 NBC News’ Lester Holt spent a couple of nights locked up at Angola for a segment set to air Friday night on Dateline. The segment will air as part of Dateline’s look at the long-lasting effects of the 90’s era “Tough on Crime” legislation that garnered bi-partisan support in Congress. Holt slept in Angola’s death row. The segment will repeat on Sunday on MSNBC.

Gubernatorial candidate, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham, spoke out against the Edwards Administration’s handling of Medicaid this morning. Abraham says despite a 14.8-billion-dollar Department of Health budget the state is still one of the least healthy in the nation.

Cut 9 (09)  “healthcare”

September is Airbag Recall Awareness Month and thousands of drivers in Louisiana are at risk because they’ve neglected to have the free repair completed. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles spokesperson Chris Freeman says a defective airbag can cause more harm than good.

Cut 4 (11) “…device”

To find out if your airbags are under a recall go to Check-To-Protect-dot-org and enter your Vehicle Identification Number. Then schedule an appointment for a repair. All repairs are free.

Governor John Bel Edwards provided details today on the 52-million dollars in federal money that will go towards expanding I-12 in St. Tammany Parish from Highway 190 to Highway 59. Edwards says the state faces a 14-billion dollar backlog in highway projects, but they are using any available dollars wisely…

Cut 6 (06) “…previously”

Is your car one of the thousands in Louisiana that is under an airbag recall? The National Safety Council and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are all urging motorist to check and have them repaired immediately. FCA spokesperson Chris Freeman says Freeman the recall is of major concern in Louisiana due to the weather

Cut 5 (13) “…shrapnel”

For more info go to Check-To-Protect-dot-org

Republican Gubernatorial candidate Congressman Ralph Abraham lashed out at the Edwards administration’s handling of Medicaid. Abraham says he would save the state money and fix Medicaid by implementing a more detailed income analysis for the program, and removing people who make over the 16,764 dollars annually.

Cut 11 (09) “…system.” 

State Farm announces the company is cutting its auto insurance rates by 2.6 percent effective November 25^th. State Farm Spokesperson Felicia Van Frank says the savings come down to improving their expense situation and lower loss numbers.

Cut 13 (10) “change”

The 2.6 percent decrease comes out to 36.6 million dollars in savings for State Farm customers.

Congressman Ralph Abraham attacked the Edwards Administration’s handling of Medicaid this morning on the steps of the Louisiana Department of Health. Abraham says despite a 14.8-billion-dollar Department of Health budget the state is still one of the least healthy in the nation.

Cut 9 (09)  “healthcare”

The Congressman adds the amount the state will have to spend to maintain the Medicaid expansion will increase further in 2020 after the federal match rate decreases.

State Farm announces the company is cutting it’s auto insurance rates by 2.6 percent effective November 25^th. State Farm Spokesperson Felicia Van Frank says there’s other ways you can lower your rate, and if you are a State Farm customer now would be a good time to check in with your insurance agent.

Cut 14 (10) “…coverages”

September is airbag recall repair month. Are you one of the motorists that’s procrastinated about getting yours replaced? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “..I’m Brooke Thorington”

NBC News’ Lester Holt spent a couple of nights locked up at Angola for a segment set to air Friday night on Dateline. The segment will air as part of Dateline’s look at the long-lasting effects of the 90’s era “Tough on Crime” legislation that garnered bi-partisan support in Congress. Holt slept in Angola’s death row.