As we’ve seen an excess number of wrecks this week, the state Department of Transportation reports there were 2,423 crashes on Interstate 10 between Exit 100 in Lafayette and the Baton Rouge Mississippi River Bridge from January 1st of 2014 to the end of 2016. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson:
Cut 4 (11) “pay attention”
Of those crashes, 19 were fatal and 20 people died.

Today is the Great American Smokeout, the day tobacco users are encouraged to quit smoking, chewing tobacco or using other tobacco related products. Lance Barbour with the American Cancer Society says Louisiana ranks among the highest in the number of smokers and smoking related illness…:
Cut 13 (12) “tobacco use”
Barbour says research shows that those who quit smoking will experience health benefits.

A new crime lab has opened in Shreveport to assist 29 north Louisiana parishes. Kelley Ray tells us about this crime fighting tool…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

According to 24/7 Wall Street’s list of America’s 25 Murder Capitals, Louisiana had three cities rank. New Orleans came in at number 4, Shreveport ranked 18 and Baton Rouge came in at number 22 for most murders.

On I-10 between Lafayette and the Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge, there were over two-thousand crashes from the January 2014 to the end of 2016. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A new crime lab has opened in Shreveport to assist 29 north Louisiana parishes.  Kelley Ray tells us about this crime fighting tool.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

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Today is the Great American Smokeout, the day millions of Americans try to quit the habit of smoking.  Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3  (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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As we’ve seen an excess number of wrecks this week, the state Department of Transportation reports there were 2,423 crashes on Interstate 10 between Exit 100 in Lafayette and the Baton Rouge Mississippi River Bridge from January 1^st of 2014 to the end of 2016. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson….

Cut 4  (11) “pay attention”

Of those crashes, 19 were fatal and 20 people died. Wilson says the majority of these wrecks are a result of tailgating or distracted driving.

Cut 5  (11)  “their life”

Numbers from DOTD show 55-percent of these accidents happened when a car rear-ended another, 22-percent happened when a car ran off the interstate. Wilson says they have increased the number of rumble strips on the roadway to try alert drivers who may be drifting off the road or into another lane. He says the installment of cable barriers has also helped to stop drivers from running off the road.

Cut 6 (11) “we can”

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There is a new North Louisiana Crime Lab operating in Shreveport, serving 29 north Louisiana parishes. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says the state of the art 86-thousand-square foot North Louisiana Forensic Sciences Center should help them solve D-N-A cases much faster.

Cut 7 (08)  “crime fighting.”

The planning started over 12 years ago with construction beginning in 2013 at a cost of 26-million-dollars. Prator says the new lab will also partner with the LSU Medical School in Shreveport.

Cut 8 (10) “Louisiana community.”

Prator says real life crime work takes much longer than what is seen during television shows. He says the ability to conduct DNA tests in the new facility will save time and money in investigations.

Cut 9 (07)  “less expensive.”

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Governor Edwards and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain continue their listening tour with farmers today with stops in Ferriday and Slaughter. The tour started earlier this week as the two elected officials held meetings in Mooringsport and Bastrop to hear about concerns within the agriculture industry. Edwards says producers are worried that state budget cuts are impacting agriculture research at LSU and Southern.

Cut 10 (05)  “those operations”

Edwards says soybean farmers are also pushing for funding so the Red River can be dredged in northwest Louisiana to help with shipping costs.

Cut 11 (11) “and Bossier”

The tour will end tomorrow with stops in Ville Platte and Arnaudville. Edwards says he’s learning farmers have many challenges that go way beyond whether there’s enough rain to grow their crops.

Cut 12 (11) “as well”

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Today is the Great American Smokeout, the day tobacco users are encouraged to quit smoking, chewing tobacco or using other tobacco related products.  Lance Barbour with the American Cancer Society says Louisiana ranks among the highest in the number of smokers and smoking related illness…

Cut 13 (12) “tobacco use.”

Several local governments in the last couple of years have banned smoking in all public places including bars and casinos.  The latest to do so is East Baton Rouge Parish and Barbour says they will recognize this new ordinance that goes into effect January 1^st with a press conference today…

Cut 14 (12) “their face.”

Barbour says research shows that those who quit smoking will experience health benefits.  He says the American Cancer Society’s has an 800 number and tips on their website on how to drop the habit…

Cut 15 (08) “everyday lives.”

A Baton Rouge man who has been behind bars for almost 50 years had his conviction overturned, and is now a free man. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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It’s the holiday season and many will take to the skies to visit family. Emelie Gunn has more with some new rules from TSA….

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The U.S. House passed a bill to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program, allowing it to operate another five years and to update flood mapping requirements.  But Representative Ralph Abraham of Richland Parish says he voted against the bill, because he’s concerned about double digit premium increases…

Cut 3 (10) “than that.”

Abraham says the proposal will hurt economic growth in Louisiana, since many residents and business owners alike are in flood prone areas…

Cut 4  (08) “to happen.” 

Congressman Garret Graves called the higher premiums a tax increase and agrees with Abraham.  However Congressman Steve Scalise says the bill has good reforms for taxpayers, giving real certainty to policyholders.  Abraham hopes the U.S. Senate can pass a better bill…

Cut 5  (07)  “and foremost.”

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65-year-old Wilbert Jones is a free man after serving over 45 years in jail for the 1971 rape and kidnapping of a Baton Rouge nurse.  State District Judge Richard Anderson threw his conviction out, because he determined the case against Jones was weak and the prosecution withheld evidence. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino.

Cut 6 (10)  “prosecutional misconduct.”

The group the Innocence Project worked for 15 years to free Jones.  However, Ciolino says prosecutors approach these type of cases without much merit and Jones is fortunate to be released after so long.

Cut 7 (09) “justice system.”

State law does allow for wrongly convicted individuals to receive compensation but Ciolino says this case doesn’t qualify.

Cut 8 (12) “is innocent.”

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Many people will travel to visit with friends and family this holiday season but TSA reminds those flying out of Baton Rouge or New Orleans that any electronic larger than a cellphone must be taken out of a carryon when going through security. TSA Spokesperson Sari Koshetz says this is just another step in stopping terrorists.

Cut 9 (10)  “electronic devices”

Koshetz says these bigger electronics need to be in a bin without anything under or over the item. She says this will create a more efficient screening through security and allow passengers to get on their planes quicker.

Cut 10 (10) “through again”

Liquids and aerosols still can be no bigger than 3 ounces and must fit into a quart sized bag. Koshetz says they have discovered knives inside the handles of brushes and stun guns disguised as cellphones. She says so far this year, TSA has confiscated 6 guns in Baton Rouge and 52 in New Orleans.

Cut 11 (11) “unloaded”

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The state has added 23 juvenile whooping cranes to the Louisiana flock as part of an effort to re-grow the population, after the large white birds disappeared from the Bayou state in 1950. Louisiana Department of Wildlife Fisheries Wildlife Biologist Sara Zimorski says these young birds join 49 other cranes. She says they re-introduced whooping cranes to Louisiana to 2011.

Cut 12 (10) “big step”

LDWF along with Audubon Nature Institute and Chevron have partnered to save the whooping cranes from extinction. Zimorski says these generous donors have allowed them to achieve measurable conservation results and impact the future of the species.

Cut 13 (11)  “few years”

Zimorski says last year, for the first time, a young pair of birds hatched and raised a chick. She says 2017 has also been successful with new baby whooping cranes.

Cut 14 (10)”the parents”

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The U.S. House passed a bill Tuesday to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program, allowing it to operate another five years and to update flood mapping requirements. Richland Parish Representative Ralph Abraham says the proposal will hurt economic growth in Louisiana, since many residents and business owners alike are in flood prone areas…:
Cut 4 (08) “to happen”

A Baton Rouge man who has been behind bars almost a decade had his conviction overturned, and is now a free man. A judge said there was evidence in the case of 65-year-old Wilbert Jones which could have exonerated him. The group the Innocence Project has worked for 15 years to free Jones. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says prosecutors approach these type of cases without much merit and Jones is fortunate to be released after so long…:
Cut 7 (09) “justice system”

Many people will travel to visit with friends and family this holiday season but TSA reminds those flying out of Baton Rouge or New Orleans that any electronic larger than a cellphone must be taken out of a carry-on when going through security. TSA Spokesperson Sari Koshetz says this will create a more efficient screening through security and allow passengers to get on their planes quicker…
Cut 10 (10) “through again”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser wants people to think of Louisiana as a great golf destination. His office is promoting the 15 courses dubbed the Audubon Golf Trail, and bragging about the mild climate we have here in Sportsman’s Paradise…:
Cut 12 (10) “in Louisiana”
To learn more about The Audubon Golf Trail visit LouisianaTravel.com.

Many people will travel to visit with friends and family this holiday season, and TSA reminds those flying out of Baton Rouge or New Orleans that any electronic larger than a cellphone must be taken out when going through security. TSA Spokesperson Sari Koshetz…:
Cut 9 (10) “electronic devices”
Liquids and aerosols still can be no bigger than 3 ounces and must fit into a quart sized bag.

Members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation are not happy about a bill the House passed to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program. Richland Parish Representative Ralph Abraham says the measure would mean higher premiums and doesn’t make strong enough reforms tom mitigate flood risk. He hopes the Senate has a better bill…:
Cut 5 (07) “and foremost”
Currently the NFIP is set to expire on December 8th.

65-year-old Wilbert Jones is walking away as a free man after serving over 45 years in jail in connection with a 1971 rape and kidnapping of a Baton Rouge nurse. State District Judge Richard Anderson threw his conviction out, because he determined the case against Jones was weak and the prosecution withheld evidence. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino…:
Cut 6 (10) “prosecutional misconduct”
The group the Innocence Project has worked for 15 years to free Jones.

The U.S. House passed a bill Tuesday to overhaul the National Flood Insurance Program, allowing it to operate another five years and to update flood mapping requirements. Richland Parish Representative Ralph Abraham says he voted against the bill because he’s concerned about double digit premium increases…:
Cut 3 (10) “than that”
Congressman Garret Graves called the higher premiums a tax increase and agrees with Abraham.

A man who was sentenced to life in prison almost a decade ago is slated to be released from prison as soon as today after a judge overturned his rape conviction. This week’s ruling was that the case against 65-year-old Wilbert Jones was “weak at best” and that authorities held back evidence that could have exonerated Jones long ago. His bail Tuesday was set at only $2,000.

Louisiana is re-energizing its efforts to promote the Audubon Golf Trail to entice golfers across North America to visit the Bayou State…: Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The newest numbers from the Cost of Living Index for the third quarter of this year rank Monroe and Shreveport in the top for the most affordable cities to live in Louisiana. President of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership Scott Martinez..:
Cut 14 (08) “like Austin”

The Governor’s office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will lead a large nuclear prevention exercise today. Spokesperson Mike Steele says it’s important to know how to handle such a scenario along a main transportation route like the Mississippi River, not only to respond in an emergency, but to protect it before a disaster happens…:
Cut 5 (08) “the river”
The event is called Operation Great River.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser wants people to think of Louisiana as a great golf destination. His office is promoting the 15 courses dubbed the Audubon Golf Trail, and bragging about the mild climate we have here in Sportsman’s Paradise…:
Cut 12 (10) “in Louisiana”
To learn more about The Audubon Golf Trail visit LouisianaTravel.com.

A Baton Rouge man who has been in jail for nearly 46 years on a rape charge will walk free today. A state judge set a $2,000 bond for Wilbert Jones and he’s expected to be released from prison Wednesday morning. Jones’ conviction was tossed following a ruling that the state withheld evidence that would have resulted in a different result at the trial.

The NFL has announced the Saints’ November 26 game at the Los Angeles Rams, and the December 3rd home game against the Carolina Panthers have been moved to 3:25pm kickoffs.

The most affordable places to live in Louisiana are Shreveport and Monroe, according to the latest Cost of Living Index for the third quarter of 2017. North Louisiana Economic Partnership President Scott Martinez says the consumer’s dollar goes farther in these markets…:
Cut 13 (11) “other states”
The items measured include cost of groceries, housing, utilities and transportation.

GOHSEP is holding a large nuclear Prevention Exercise today on the Mississippi River near the Port of Baton Rouge…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Kelley Ray”

A Baton Rouge attorney has been arrested for the second time in as many months on child pornography charges. 36-year-old Victor Loraso, who lives in Covington, is charged with 20 different counts involving possession and distribution of sexual abuse images or videos of minors. He was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail, and released on a 150-thousand-dollar bond.

Cops have killed three people over a four day period in Louisiana. LSU Criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf says a big topic that not many people consider is how defunding mental health services can increase the number of people killed by law enforcement…:
Cut 9 (09) “themselves killed”
Monday night in Baton Rouge, a man being investigated for child abuse was killed when an officer was escorting a DCFS case worker into a home.

The newest numbers from the Cost of Living Index for the third quarter of this year rank Monroe and Shreveport in the top for the most affordable cities to live in Louisiana. President of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership Scott Martinez hopes the low cost of living will convince companies to do business along the I-20 corridor…:
Cut 14 (08) “like Austin”

There have been three fatal police shootings in Louisiana since Friday and the public is asking why…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A Baton Rouge man who has been in jail for nearly 46 years on a rape charge will walk free today. A state judge set a $2,000 bond for Wilbert Jones and he’s expected to be released from prison Wednesday morning. Jones’ conviction was tossed following a ruling that the state withheld evidence that would have resulted in a different result at the trial.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is holding a large nuclear Prevention Exercise today on the Mississippi River near the Port of Baton Rouge. GOHSEP spokesman Mike Steele says Operation Great River aims to find out how well Louisiana is prepared should we face this type of emergency…:
Cut 6 (10) “the most”
He says the event will require testing the use of state and federal resources.

Have you ever thought of Louisiana as a golf destination? Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is wanting to make it so by promoting the Audubon Golf Trail, with 15 courses statewide included. He says this will be a valuable tool to attract golf enthusiasts to experience Sportsman’s Paradise…:
Cut 10 (09) “our Louisiana”
Visit LouisianaTravel.com for details on the Audubon Golf Trail.