Based on the latest data from the Louisiana Workforce Commission, one-point-nine million people are holding down a job in this state. That’s an increase of 12-thousand from this time last year. LSU economist Doctor Loren Scott says because of an industrial boom in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge, the construction sector continues to do well…:
Cut 9 (10) “right now”
The state workforce commission says 155-thousand people work in construction, which is an all-time high for Louisiana.

LSU dominated BYU Saturday night inside the Mercedes Benz Superdome, shutting them out 27-0. Derrius Guice rushed 27 times for 120 yards and accounted for The Tigers first two touchdowns of the game, Quarterback Danny Etling finished 14-of-17 passing for 173 yards. LSU’s defense matched its offense in dominance. LSU comes to Tiger Stadium this weekend to take on Chattanooga.

One of the most popular things do to on Labor Day is gather with family and friends for an outdoor Barbecue. CEO of the Cattle Producers of Louisiana Dave Foster says consumers can expect to see sales here and there on meat products, but the beef industry views this holiday as the last big high-demand time for their commodity until at least Christmas…:
Cut 6 (09) “we get to December”
He doesn’t expect there will be a huge impact on the beef industry as a result of livestock loss due to Hurricane Harvey.

Elmer’s Island will get a face lift this month, as a team of volunteers is set to clean up the 2.5 mile stretch of beach on September 16th. The event is hosted in-part by the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary or BTNEP. Spokeswoman Alma Robichaux says the idea is to find the source of the pollution…:
Cut 4 (12) “marine debris”
Visit btnep.org for more details.

The White House says President Donald Trump should have time to talk to residents still recovering from Harvey when he visits Texas and Louisiana today. When Mr. Trump lands in Lake Charles this afternoon, he is also slated to meet with the Governor John Bel Edwards, the Louisiana Delegation and the National Guard.

Edwards is visiting the state-run shelter in Alexandria today to tour the housing facility housing nearly 2,000 displaced flood survivors.

The Department of Children and Family Services has set up a phone bank for Texas families trying to locate loved ones evacuated after Harvey to mega- shelters here in Louisiana. The numbers to call are (225) 615-0086 and (225) 615-0258. Survivors who would like to let their family members and friends know they are safe and well are also encouraged to register at www.safeandwell.org.

Just as he did during the floods in Louisiana last year, Congressman Ralph Abraham, who is a major in the Air Force Auxiliary, has been flying Harvey missions over Texas. He says the US Air Force Assignment began Thursday when they surveyed Beaumont and Port Arthur from the sky…:
Cut 3 (11) “right now”

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway for the holiday weekend. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Katara Williams says Labor Day weekend is one of the deadliest in the year:
Cut 14 (10) “drunk driving”

Many Louisiana residents are spending this beautiful day watching college football. The headliner is LSU versus BYU at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Kickoff is at 8:30.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are slated to travel to Texas today to areas most impacted by Harvey, then to Lake Charles later this afternoon. Air Force One will land at Chennault International Airport, and that will not be open to the public. This will be the first visit by a sitting president to Lake Charles since President Clinton’s trip in 1996.

The state Department of Children and Family Services says they’ve decided to open a second mega-shelter for flood victims from Texas, this time in Shreveport. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they’re also taking care of nearly 2000 Lone Star State residents in Alexandria…:
CUT 11 (10) “prescriptions”

It’s Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over weekend. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Katara Williams says choose another option if you’ve been drinking..:
Cut 15 (06) “taxi services”

Hurricane Irma is expected to strengthen over the eastern Atlantic Ocean this weekend — potentially becoming a Category 5 storm. Most models show Irma staying out of the Gulf, but Eric Blake with the National Hurricane Center says that doesn’t mean we should let our guard down in Louisiana…:
Cut 7 (08) “prediction”

Louisiana residents’ favorite place to visit for Labor Day weekend is Gatlinburg, Tennessee, following by Chattanooga then Atlanta. That’s according to a report by the property management company TurnKey Vacation Rentals. Spokesman TJ Clark says it’s not surprising that folks in the state look to leave the late summer heat for Gatlinburg…:
Cut 10 (08) “activities there”
He adds of the three summer holidays, Labor Day is the least popular for travel.

President Donald Trump is slated to arrive in Lake Charles later this afternoon to access Hurricane Harvey damage in Louisiana and Texas. He and First Lady Melania Trump are set to meet with members of the Louisiana Delegation, the National Guard and Cajun Navy.

Louisiana Congressman and Air Force major Ralph Abraham is flying Harvey missions over Texas. Don Molino has the story…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced that the state Department of Health has received a donation of 4,000 naloxone auto injectors from the pharmaceutical company, kaléo. He says they will be distributed to Emergency Medical Services and first responders throughout the state in an effort to reduce the number of overdoses from opiod abuse.

Hurricane Irma is located over the central tropical Atlantic Ocean, and is expected to become a major hurricane when it moves closer to the lesser Antilles early next week. Forecasters say it’s much too early to determine what direct impacts Irma will have on the US.

The state is opening up the mega-shelter in Shreveport, as the one in Alexandria is near capacity with Texas flood victims. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says there are many shelters in north Louisiana originally designed to stand ready in case New Orleans had to be evacuated again…:
Cut 12 (11) “of their own”
Walters says it’s too early in the process to say how long these shelters will be open.

The state is opening up the mega-shelter in Shreveport, as the one in Alexandria is near capacity with Texas flood victims. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says there are many shelters in north Louisiana originally designed to stand ready in case New Orleans had to be evacuated again…:
Cut 12 (11) “of their own”
Walters says it’s too early in the process to say how long these shelters will be open.

The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Irma, which is way out in the Atlantic Ocean, will remain a powerful hurricane for days. Forecaster Eric Blake says Irma is about 15-hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands…:
Cut 6 (10) “five days”
Most of the models show Irma steering clear of the Gulf of Mexico, but Blake says the Gulf Coast shouldn’t let their guard down.

Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham is taking to the skies and flying Harvey missions with the US Air Force. Abraham is a major in the Air Force Auxiliary and says his assignment began Thursday. He says he flew over Beaumont and Port Arthur…:
Cut 3 (11) “right now”
He says it’s unclear how long these missions will be necessary.

According to the property management company TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Louisiana residents’ favorite place to travel for the Labor Day Holiday is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Spokesman TJ Clark says Chattanooga came in at number two for Louisiana residents destinations for Labor Day which are popular with a lot of people…:
Cut 9 (09) “and nationally”
Clark says this is the least popular of the three summer travel holidays.

The Department of Children and Family Services says they’ve decided to open a second mega-shelter in the state for flood victims in Texas, this time in Shreveport. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they’re also taking care of nearly 2000 Lone Star State residents in Alexandria…:
CUT 11 (10) “prescriptions”
She says they are nearing capacity in Alexandria so the doors are opening to the shelter in Shreveport which can take over 2,000 people.

Hunters get a sales tax discount when they shop for firearms and other hunting supplies during the 2017 Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday today through Sunday. Eligible purchases are fully exempt from all local sales taxes and are subject to only three percent state sales tax instead of the full five percent.

Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham is taking to the skies and flying Harvey missions with the US Air Force. Abraham is a major in the Air Force Auxiliary and says helping people out with our talents and skills is what we do in Louisiana…:
Cut 4 (10) “giving back”
Abraham says got practice flying this kind of operation during last year’s floods in Louisiana.

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway for the Labor Day weekend. In Louisiana, about 47 percent of vehicle fatalities involve drunk driving. Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Katara Williams says she wants people to celebrate the holiday, but they need to do so safely..:
Cut 16 (12) “Louisiana highways”

Louisiana Congressman and Air Force major Ralph Abraham is flying Harvey missions over Texas. Don Molino has the story…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

According to the property management company TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Louisiana residents’ favorite place to travel for the Labor Day Holiday is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Spokesman TJ Clark says they used Google search activity for the study..:
Cut 8 (10) “was number three”

The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is this Labor Day weekend. Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Katara Williams says this is an effort to curtail drunk driving during the holiday weekend, which is one of the deadliest weekends in the year…:
Cut 14 (10) “drunk driving”
She encourages motorists to get a game plan and designate a driver beforehand.

One person has been arrested after an 11-month-old died after being left in a car yesterday in Metairie. The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s office says the baby girl’s father, Sheng Li, faces a negligent homicide charge.

Gas prices rose several cents overnight amid continuing concerns about shortages in parts of Texas in the aftermath of Harvey. In Louisiana, the statewide average is about 2.27 a gallon,which is 13 cents higher than the week before, according to AAA spokesman Don Redman.
cut 4 (08) “ironed out”
Redman says prices could reach up to $2.40 a gallon in the coming weeks.

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is gearing up for a busy weekend as the LSU-BYU season opener takes place at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Kristian Sonnier with the CVB says even though the game was relocated last minute due to Harvey, they are expecting a big crowd…:
Cut 13 (10) “come Saturday”
The game kicks off tomorrow at 8:30.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the death of an infant who may have been left in a car for several hours. They say the 11-moth old was pronounced dead at a Metairie hospital Thursday evening. Her father apparently realized he had left her in a vehicle and returned to find her still inside, unconscious, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. No charges had been filed as of Thursday evening, but both parents have been taken in for questioning.

The original owners of the Hodges Garden State Park are taking back the 948-acre recreation area in Sabine Parish because the state department of tourism can’t afford to maintain the facility. The assistant secretary in charge of the state park system, Robert Barham, says in the last 10 years, the department has seen a 40 percent reduction in funding…:
Cut 11 (07) “like to do”
He is hopeful the foundation will continue to make a portion or all of the park available to the public.

Gas prices around the nation are sky rocketing as some storm impacted Texas refineries are offline. AAA says the statewide average is about $2.27 a gallon, – 13 cents higher than the prior week. Fuel Analyst Don Redman advises drivers to be aware they may be travelling in evacuation routes, which could create an additional burden on the existing gas supply..:
Cut 6 (10) “coming weeks”

The Purple and Gold Nation is getting pumped about LSU’s season opener against BYU which was moved to New Orleans as a result of last week’s Texas landfall of Hurricane Harvey. The game was originally set to take place in Houston’s NRG Stadium. Kristian Sonnier with the CVB in New Orleans expects at least 50,000 extra people in the Crescent City for the game…:
Cut 14 (08) “and gold”
Kickoff is 8:30 pm tomorrow night.

Forecasters locally are keeping an eye on Hurricane Irma who remains a strong Category 3 storm out in the Atlantic Ocean, packing winds of 115 miles per hour. It’s still too early to say how Irma may impact the US, but it’s one we should definitely watch, according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Hodges Garden State Park in Sabine Parish is closing amid ongoing budget constraints. Halen Doughty has more..:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”