State leaders are in Washington D.C. today meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the Comite River Diversion Canal. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The random murders of two black men in Baton Rouge last week were likely racially motivated, police said Sunday. A 23-year-old white man was arrested after being questioned about the slayings, but only booked on drug charges in which he bonded out. Baton Rouge Police say Kenneth Gleason drove a car fitting the description of the vehicle used in the killings, but there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with murder.

“Tell the truth Monday” will not be kind for the LSU Tigers after they were embarrassed 37-7 by Mississippi State. Quarterback Danny Etling says he’s ready to lead the team back into the win column…:
cut 18 (11) “going again”
LSU is back in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night as they host Syracuse.

Louisiana looks to be improving in the workforce as the state gained 24,200 non farm jobs since August of last year. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says employment was up for May, June and July…:
Cut 12 (10) “oil patch”
But new Census Figures found the median household income in Louisiana declined by over 2-percent in 2016, the largest decline in the country.

While the nation saw an increase in median household income in 2016, Louisiana saw the largest decline in the country at 2.1-percent…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

Attorney General Jeff Landry is alerting consumers to be on the lookout when buying vehicles, as nearly one million vehicles were flooded in Texas and Florida during recent hurricanes. Landry says these flood-damaged vehicles could end up on the streets and sold to unsuspecting car buyers…:
Cut 13 (10) “ride”

Sports fans of Louisiana’s two most popular teams are down in the dumps today as both LSU and the Saints lost rough games. The Tigers had 9 penalties in a 37-7 loss to Mississippi State which is what bothered Quarterback Danny Etling the most…:
Cut 16 (15) “shoot yourself in your foot”
The Saints dropped a 36-20 decision to the New England Patriots Sunday.

Governor John Bel Edwards and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson are in Washington D.C. to meet with the US Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal, a flood control project for the Baton Rouge area. Wilson says the dollars that the state has ready to spend will help move the project forward, but the feds need to commit to getting it done:
Cut 6 (07) “we will proceed”
He says they know that the floods of 2016 would have been lessened to a certain extent by this project, and Louisiana is ready to move the ball.

Police in Baton Rouge are investigating two shootings they believe are linked and say could be racially motivated. They still have not made an arrest in the murders, but do have a man in custody on drug charges that is considered a person of interest in last week’s shootings. 23-year-old Kenneth Gleason was released on $3500 bond.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Saints have started 0-2 as they dropped a 36-20 decision to the New England Patriots. On offense, the Saints converted just 33% of their third down opportunities. Coach Sean Payton…:
Cut 7 (12) “us a chance”
The Saints have now lost 11 of their last 12 games in the month of September.

LSU was embarrassed by Mississippi State Saturday night. The Tigers dropped a 37-7 decision in Starkville, and dropped 13 spots in this week’s AP Top 25 poll, to number 25.

The median household income in Louisiana declined by over 2-percent in 2016, the largest decrease in the nation according to Census Figures. Dr. LSU Economist Loren Scott says this decrease is a result of the struggling oil and gas industry…:
Cut 10 (08) “oil patches”
Those areas in a recession are Houma, Lafayette and Shreveport.

Today, Governor John Bel Edwards and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson are in Washington D.C. with the US Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal, a flood control project for the Baton Rouge area. Wilson says the state has committed a significant amount of resources for this project, and it’s time for the Corps to do their part…:
Cut 4 (10) “for the state match”
After last year’s floods, the public is clamoring for the project to move forward.

The preliminary autopsy report on the LSU student who died during a possible fraternity hazing incident has been released. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Louisiana’s unemployment rate has now declined for four consecutive months according to data released by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. At 5.2%, the current rate is the lowest it’s been since August of 2008. That figure is also 0.9 percentage points lower from the same time period a year ago.

An Alexandria Police officer has been booked into the Rapides Parish detention center on malfeasance and drug charges. State Trooper Scott Moreau says State Police received a tip last month regarding criminal activity involving 42-year-old Kenneth Thomas of Deville…
cut 9 (09) “illegal drugs”
Alexandria Police Chief Neal Bates says Officer Thomas has been placed on Administrative Leave.

The principal wanted by Baton Rouge police after allegedly locking a 5-year-old in a closet has turned himself in to authorities. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 31-year-old Shafeeq Deen has been charged with cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment. He says luckily other teachers heard the 5-year-old crying…:
Cut 14 (08) “had occurred”
He says there could be more charges as other students are coming forward.

The preliminary autopsy report on the LSU student who died at a fraternity has been released. East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says a medical report found elevated levels of alcohol in Max Gruver’s system, and they discovered some swelling in the brain and lungs…:
CUT 4 (09) “around death”
He says a detailed autopsy report should be complete in about 4 weeks. LSU is investigating the death as a possible hazing incident and has suspended all Greek activities until further notice.

A report released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that Louisiana’s pay gap is the 45th worst in the country, but is slightly better than last years. It said full-time women earn an average of $659 per week, while men made $863. The nation as a whole has a pay gap of about 82%.

An inmate from Angola was shot to death by a corrections officer and State Police is investigating. The Department of Corrections said the offender was killed after he refused to obey a warning shot and verbal command to stop charging at the guard.

The principal wanted by Baton Rouge police after allegedly locking a 5-year-old in a closet has turned himself in to authorities. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 31-year-old Shafeeq Deen has been charged with cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment…:
Cut 12 (10) “additional charges”
He says other students at Laurel Oaks Charter School are coming forward claiming Deen punished them in similar ways.

Gas prices have started to decline. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular in Louisiana is $2.39.

East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark has released preliminary autopsy findings of the 18-year-old LSU student who died in what the university had called a possible hazing incident. Clark says they did not find any internal or external signs of trauma on Maxwell Gruver:
CUT 3 (06) “the hospital”
His office will provide a toxicology test which takes about four weeks to complete. LSU is investigating the tragic incident.

A principal in Baton Rouge is accused of locking a kindergarten student in a closet as a form of punishment, and cops say the man turned himself in today. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says other students at Laurel Oaks Charter School are coming forward claiming 31-year-old Shafeeq Deen punished them in similar ways:
Cut 13 (10) “other students”
Deen is charged with cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment.

The state lawmaker who admitted to taking money from his campaign fund to fuel a gambling addiction will have to pay a $37,000 fine to the state treasury under an agreement reached today. The Louisiana Board of Ethics also said that Representative Dee Richard will no longer be allowed to draw from his war chest. Richard had said his compulsive gambling was a side effect of medication he was taking for Parkinson’s disease.

Fans on both sides of the aisle are excited about tomorrow’s SEC opener for LSU and Mississippi State in Starkville. Director of Tourism for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Jennifer Prather, says SEC Nation will broadcast live from their tailgating spot The Junction on Saturday morning…:
Cut 7 (10) “to Saturday”
Kick-off is at 6 PM.

East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says the LSU student who died at a fraternity in a possible hazing incident had a high level of alcohol in his body. He says many people don’t realize that even though alcohol is legal, it still has potentially dangerous adverse effects..:
Cut 5 (09) “some trouble”
He says a toxicology report on Max Gruver should be complete in about 4 weeks which will give a better idea as to what happened. All Greek activities have been suspended by the university until further notice pending the results of the investigation.

State Police is investigating the case of an inmate who died at Angola after being shot by a corrections officer. The department of corrections says an initial investigation reveals that the 35-year-old offender Brandon Lizotte began charging at the officer and did not stop even though he was given a verbal command and warning shot. The guard fired his weapon at Lizotte who later died.

LSU opens SEC play tomorrow night with a battle against the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Jeff Palermo has a preview…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Fans on both sides are excited about the game in Starkville. Director of Tourism for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Jennifer Prather, says fans wearing Purple and Gold started arriving on Thursday…:
Cut 6 (10) “with us”
Kickoff is at 6pm.

The preliminary autopsy report on the LSU student who died during a possible fraternity hazing incident has been released. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The principal wanted by Baton Rouge police after allegedly locking a 5-year-old in a closet has turned himself in to authorities. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 31-year-old Shafeeq Deen has been charged with cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment. He says luckily other teachers heard the 5-year-old crying…:
Cut 14 (08) “had occurred”

An Alexandria Police officer has been booked into the Rapides Parish detention center on malfeasance and drug charges. State Trooper Scott Moreau says State Police received a tip last month regarding criminal activity involving 42-year-old Kenneth Thomas had sex with at least one woman, while on-duty, and distributing illegal drugs…:
Cut 11 (09) “detention center”
Alexandria Police Chief Neal Bates says Officer Thomas has been placed on Administrative Leave.

There’s a lot of excitement surrounding Saturday’s SEC opener for LSU and Mississippi State. Director of Tourism for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Jennifer Prather, says they anticipate LSU and State fans will attend tonight’sBulldog Bash, which is hailed as Mississippi’s largest outdoor free concert..:
Cut 8 (11) “as well”
Kick-off in Starkville is at 6 PM.

The preliminary autopsy report on the LSU student who died at a fraternity has been released. East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says a medical report found elevated levels of alcohol in Max Gruver’s system, and they discovered the pledge had some swelling in the brain and lungs…:
CUT 4 (09) “around death”
He says a detailed autopsy report should be complete in about 4 weeks. LSU is investigating the death as a possible hazing incident.

The principal wanted by Baton Rouge police after allegedly locking a 5-year-old in a closet has turned himself in to authorities. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 31-year-old Shafeeq Deen has been charged with cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment…:
Cut 12 (10) “additional charges”
He says other students at Laurel Oaks Charter School are coming forward claiming Deen punished them in similar ways.

Heading into the final stretch of the race for State Treasurer, Republican John Schroder has the most money in his war chest. A report released Thursday indicates the former state House member has $614,000 in his campaign account. Fellow GOP candidate Angele Davis reported $354,000 in the bank, while Republican Neil Riser had $145,000. The only Democrat, Derrick Edwards lagged but is expected to make the runoff for his party.

An Alexandria Police officer has been booked into the Rapides Parish detention center on malfeasance and drug charges. State Trooper Scott Moreau says 42-year-old Kenneth Thomas of Deville is accused of having sex with at least one woman while on duty, and distributing illegal drugs. He says State Police is leading the investigation since the suspect is a cop…:
Cut 10 (09) “your own”
Alexandria Police Chief Neal Bates says Officer Thomas has been placed on Administrative Leave.