Governor John Bel Edwards signed a bill Friday morning that gives the state an additional 700-million dollars to spend on specific transportation projects. Edwards says the bill allocates 125-million dollars for what is known as the L-A 415 connector, which is a new four-lane roadway to help traffic congestion on I-10 in West Baton Rouge Parish.
Cut 4 (07) “…LA 1”
The money comes from the BP oil spill settlement.

A Baton Rouge woman is one million dollars richer thanks to a social media post. Lala Singleton says she only plays the Lottery once in a while, but Lottery spokesperson BreAnne Frye says after Singleton was tagged in a Facebook post by her sister-in-law in Connecticut that someone in Baton Rouge had one a million dollar Powerball prize.
Cut 12 (10)   “…all five numbers.”
An Associated Press report finds Congressman Ralph Abraham, the top-polling Republican in the governor’s race, has missed 39 percent of US House votes since November. But LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says the attack often doesn’t stick, because most of those votes, like a recent one on immigration, weren’t even close anyway.

Cut 7 (10) “…have this.”
It’s been a tough year for the Louisiana seafood industry and an algae bloom in Lake Pontchartrain is the latest hurdle for fishermen. The opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway has affected the salinity levels of Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi Sound, impacting tourism and driving catchable product further offshore.  Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser says it is important to score emergency funding for fishermen who are getting nothing right now.

Cut 10 (08) “…line for them.”

Governor John Bel Edwards signed a bill Friday morning that gives the state an addiational 700-million dollars to spend on specific transportation projects. Houma Representative Tanner Magee and Port Allen Senator Rick Ward are co-authors of the legislation that will fund these important transportation projects. Ward says he started meeting Magee about the legislation in January…

Cut 5 (07) “…are today”

The money will fund highway projects in Caddo, Rapides, St. Tammany, I-49 through Acadiana and L-A 1 in LaFourche Parish.

Congressman Ralph Abraham, the top polling Republican in the governor’s race, is taking some heat after a report shows he’s missed 39 percent of US House votes since November. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s a fairly common line of attack.

Cut 6 (10) “…Washington.”

Abraham responded, saying being a Congressman is about more than just votes.

________________________________

With the much talked about algae bloom impacting the gulf coast and the excessive water flowing through the Bonnet Carre Spillway, is Louisiana seafood safe? Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut 2 (32) I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

NASA holds a media event today at the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East as workers there are helping to construct the rockets that will send astronauts to the moon by 2024. Facility director Robert Champion says Michoud has five-thousand employees working on the project…
cut 5 (07) “….back to the moon”
Champion says the spacecraft is the world’s largest rocket, and upon completion will have to be transported to a testing facility, and then Cape Canaveral for liftoff.

New research indicates the best age for a child’s first cellphone is 12. The finding is based on the input of 2,000 moms. Alarm.com commissioned the study, and VP of the website Anne Ferguson says the age likely comes because of the timing of maturity changes just before teenage years.
Cut 13 (09) “…of that responsibility.”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision to block an effort by the Trump administration to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Graves says citizenship should be the first question asked…
cut 12 (11) “…the world”
Opponents say it would dissuade immigrant households from filling out the form, resulting in the underrepresentation of Hispanics, and lower federal aid for some states.

It’s been a tough year for the Louisiana seafood industry and an algae bloom in Lake Pontchartrain is the latest hurdle for fishermen. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says many of those looking to get Louisiana seafood on their table are asking if it is safe.
Cut 9 (11) “…catching is safe.”
The opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway has affected the salinity levels of Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi Sound, impacting tourism and driving catchable product further offshore.

NASA aims to put boots on the moon in 2024 and the latest glimpse of the rocket core stage for the Artemis moon mission is being unveiled today at the NASA Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Facility director Robert Champion says the spacecraft is the world’s largest rocket, and upon completion will have to be transported to a testing facility, and then Cape Canaveral via a barge built just for the occasion.

Cut 6 (11) “…of this year.”

All manned crafts used in space flights in the history of NASA have gone through the facility.

New child passenger safety laws go into effect in Louisiana August 1^st, when kids under 13 must ride in the back seat and more child safety seat and restraint laws will be enforced. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman.

Cut 7 (10) “…seat.”

The US Supreme Court has rejected a Trump Administration bid to include a question about citizenship status on the 2020 census. Congressman Garret Graves is concerned that continuing to count illegal immigrants in the census will reduce the amount of federal assistance for American citizens.

Cut 11 (09) “…the nation”

The citizenship question has not been featured on the standard short form census since 1950, per NPR.
Governor John Bel Edwards signed a bill Friday morning that gives the state an addiational 700-million dollars to spend on specific transportation projects. The money comes from the BP oil spill settlement, but Edwards says the legislation is not taking money away from repairing the coast that was damaged by the spill…

Cut 3 (08 “…that spill”

The money will fund highway projects in Caddo, Rapides, St. Tammany and Lafayette Parishes.

Ten Democrats vying for the party’s 2020 Presidential nomination square off for a debate at 8 PM. Matt Doyle has reactions from advocates for the top two polling candidates.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The AP reports Congressman Ralph Abraham has missed almost 200 out of 509 votes in Congress since December when he began his race for the Governor’s mansion. Abraham had stronger attendance from January 2015 to September 2018 missing only 10 votes out of nearly 2500. Abraham has responded saying being a Congressman is more than sitting behind a desk and voting.

Three people are dead following a shooting at an East Baton Rouge home just after midnight.  The victims were identified as 35-year-old Christa Sudduth, her current boyfriend 32-year-old Ivy Frank, and her grandmother 72-year-old Ruby White.  Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks says Sudduth’s 14-year-old son grabbed his younger brother, hid and called 911.
Cut 7 (06) “…and began shooting.”
Hicks says the child was able to give a description of the vehicle and deputies were able to catch up with the suspect, 48-year-old Michael Wade, in the Shenandoah neighborhood.

State Police announce the arrest of three Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputies who allegedly were paid for hours they didn’t work during the Safe and Sober campaign. Trooper Scott Moreau says the arrests come 9 months after the investigation began.
Cut 13 (09) “…an internal audit.”
The three deputies arrested… Matthew Davis, Jonathan Treadway, and David Billings.

The second night of the first round of Democratic Primary debates kicks off at 8pm with ten candidates on the stage. The night is headlined by former Vice President Joe Biden, polling in first place and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders polling in second. Biden Campaign Co-Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond spoke with us earlier, saying Biden is the most electable candidate in the race, but New Orleans Our Revolution Chairman Adam Kay says Sanders has a compelling, progressive message for voters.

Cut 4 (11) “…wealthy.”

The debate will also feature candidates like California Senator Kamala Harris, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and more.

State Police announce the arrest of three Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputies who allegedly were paid for hours they didn’t work during the Safe and Sober campaign.

The Army Corps of Engineers says they expect to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway within the next two to three weeks as pressure on Mississippi River levees is expected to begin decreasing. It’s the first time in history the Spillway has had to open twice in one year as record rainfall in the Midwest has sent a torrent of water downstream. Spokesperson Matt Roe says that’s kept Corps engineers and inspectors busy for most of 2019…

Cut 11 (07) “daily”

Three people are dead following a shooting at an East Baton Rouge home just after midnight.  The victims were identified as 35-year-old Christa Sudduth, her current boyfriend 32-year-old Ivy Frank, and her grandmother 72-year-old Ruby White.  Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks says a surviving child was able to give a description of the vehicle and deputies were able to catch up with the suspect, 48-year-old Michael Wade, in the Shenandoah neighborhood.

Cut 8 (11) “…interviewing him.”

Three people are dead following a shooting at an East Baton Rouge home just after midnight.  The victims were identified as 35-year-old Christa Sudduth, her current boyfriend 32-year-old Ivy Frank, and her grandmother 72-year-old Ruby White.  Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks says if it wasn’t for the help of a child, an already tragic situation could have ended even worse.

Cut 9 (09) “…both their lives.”

The Army Corps of Engineers says they expect to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway within the next two to three weeks as pressure on Mississippi River levees is expected to begin decreasing. Spokesperson Matt Roe says they’re confident the structure can begin closing soon…

Cut 10 (11) “…the water.”

State Police announce the arrest of three Rapides Parish Sheriff’s deputies who allegedly were paid for hours they didn’t work during the Safe and Sober campaign. Trooper Scott Moreau says the three deputies arrested, Matthew Davis, Jonathan Treadway, and David Billings are facing charges or malfeasance, public payroll fraud, and injuring public records.

Cut 14 (12) “…visibility safety campaign” 

The top two polling candidates in the Democratic Presidential Primary will square off tonight in a debate along with eight other hopefuls. Former Vice President Joe Biden sits at the top of the polls in the crowded field and Biden Campaign Co-Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond says the VP’s history of bipartisan work make him the best candidate

Cut 3 (08) “…work with”

Biden recently came under fire for touting his record in Congress of working with segregationists.

The top two polling candidates in the Democratic Presidential Primary will square off tonight in a debate along with eight other hopefuls. Democrats are jonesing for a chance to knock President Trump out of office in 2020, and Biden Campaign Co-Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond argues Biden is the most electable candidate in the field, and his electability would have down ballot results…

Cut 5 (11) “…Colorado”

Last night ten other Democrats took the stage for debate, headlined by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke. But the Democratic party base has shifted significantly to the left on issues like healthcare and the economy and New Orleans Our Revolution Chairman Adam Kay says Sanders can appeal to that shift with his decades long consistently progressive record.

Cut 6 (09) “…tonight.”

The debate kicks off at 8PM.

Three people are dead following a shooting at an East Baton Rouge home just after midnight.  Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks says 14-year-old, whose mother was killed in the incident, grabbed his younger brother, hid out, and called 911. The child was able to give a description of the vehicle and deputies were able to catch up with the suspect, the mother’s ex-boyfriend 48-year-old Michael Wade, in the Shenandoah neighborhood.

Cut 8 (11) “…interviewing him.”

The Army Corps of Engineers says they expect to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway within the next two to three weeks as pressure on Mississippi River levees is expected to begin decreasing. It’s the first time in history the Spillway has had to open twice in one year as record rainfall in the Midwest has sent a torrent of water downstream. Spokesperson Matt Roe says that’s kept Corps engineers and inspectors busy for most of 2019…

Cut 11 (10) “daily”

Reports indicate a massive levee breach in Arkansas may have been responsible for the reduced flow.

Three people are dead following a shooting at an East Baton Rouge home just after midnight.  The victims were identified as 35-year-old Christa Sudduth, her current boyfriend 32-year-old Ivy Frank, and her grandmother 72-year-old Ruby White.  Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks says Sudduth’s 14-year-old son grabbed his younger brother, hid out, and called 911.

Cut 7 (06) “…and began shooting.”

Hicks says the child was able to give a description of the vehicle and deputies were able to catch up with the suspect, 48-year-old Michael Wade, in the Shenandoah neighborhood.

The Army Corps of Engineers says they expect to close the Bonnet Carre Spillway within the next two to three weeks as pressure on Mississippi River levees is expected to begin decreasing. Spokesperson Matt Roe says they’re confident the structure can begin closing soon…

Cut 10, 11 seconds, the water

Ten Democrats vying for the parties 2020 Presidential nomination will square off for a debate at 8pm. Matt Doyle has reactions from advocates for the top two polling candidates.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

The top two polling candidates in the Democratic primary will square off tonight in a debate along with eight other hopefuls.

Former Vice President Joe Biden sits at the top of the polls in the crowded field and Biden Campaign Co-Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond says the VP’s history of bipartisan work make him the best candidate for the toughest job.

Cut 3, 8 seconds, work with

Biden recently came under fire for touting his record in Congress of working with segregationists.

But New Orleans Our Revolution Chairman Adam Kay says the candidate at number two in the polls, Senator Bernie Sanders, has a compelling progressive message and a decades long record of consistency.

Cut 4, 11 seconds, wealthy

Sanders is the author of “Medicare For All” Congressional legislation.

Governor Edwards has been making the rounds in the world of sports recently, hosting LSU freshmen football players at the mansion and filming a PSA with Drew Brees. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says typically Louisiana governors are hands off when it comes to LSU. Sure, they’ll root and cheer for the home team from a sweet suite, but it’s been nearly a century since we’ve seen a governor so publicly partner with the Tigers.

Cut 11 (10) “…distance.”

The LSU freshman got a tour of the mansion and dinner with the Governor and his wife.

Craft beer brewers across the state are seeing a slump in business. While six breweries may have opened over the last year, five others have shut their doors. Executive director of Louisiana’s Craft Brewer’s Guild Cary Koch part of the reason for the plateau in the industry is antiquated state laws on the books.

Cut 13 (07) “…small business.”