The first televised debate in the 2023 Governor’s race is tonight, and five of the seven major candidates will participate. Republican Jeff Landry refuses to take part saying the organizer, the Urban League, is biased towards Democrats. But UNO Political Science professor Dr. Ed Chervenak says the other candidates will still go after Landry…:
Cut 8 (11) “Republicans”
Election Day is October 14th.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office announced Wednesday the statewide burn ban remains in effect due to continuing dry conditions, but added Louisiana residents can resume outdoor cooking. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says, if you do grill, have safety measures in place..:
Cut 15 (09) “cooking there”

The program offering grants to insurance companies who write new policies in Louisiana is accepting applications over a 30-day period now for a second time. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says nearly $42 million of the available $45 million was awarded to eight insurers following the first round of applications…:
Cut 10 (04) “since April”
If you’ve got coverage through Citizens, the state-run insurer of last resort, Donelon urges you to continue to research other options.

Less than a week after a student was shot and killed at the Brusly/Port Allen game last Friday, the Iberville Parish School Board says metal detectors will now be at the entrances of stadiums, and a clear bag policy is in place. Groups will also no longer be allowed to gather under the stadium or parking lot.

The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says a teen has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at the Brusly-Port Allen game on Friday night. 18-year-old Jarrettin Jackson II is charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Sergeant Landon Groger says it’s sad a teenager would bring a gun to a game:
Cut 12 (06) “faith-based groups”
Counselors are on hand at the schools today.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the wildfire in Beauregard Parish was the result of arson and they are looking for the suspect. He says The Tiger Island blaze is the largest wildfire in Louisiana history:
CUT 5 (11) “stop this”
They are offering a $2000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction.

Narcan, the nasal spray that can help reverse an opioid overdose, will be available over the counter on Wednesday…:
Cut 3 (28) …I’m Brooke Thorington”

Research from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows more pregnant women exceeded the recommended gestational weight gain during the pandemic. Director of Reproductive Endocrinology Dr. Leanne Redman says they also found high rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes..:
Cut 7 (11) “of pregnancy”

West Baton Rouge Parish is reeling over a fatal shooting at a high school football game. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”
Authorities say Jackson has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

A Mississippi motorcyclist is dead after a weekend crash in Washington Parish. State Police say 41-year-old Anthony Simmons of Osyka, Mississippi ran his bike off the road, hit a culvert and struck a tree near Mount Hermon Sunday. He did at the scene.

State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain is asking for the public’s help in finding the person who intentionally started the wildfire in Beauregard Parish. He says the fire has been active for two weeks and has caused large scale damage…:
Cut 4 (12) “a felony”
They are offering a $2000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction.

Narcan, a drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, will be available without a prescription on Wednesday. Dr. Benjamin Springgate with the LSU School of Medicine says Narcan is an important tool to counter the opioid overdose epidemic, but the cost could be a factor…:
Cut 13 (12) “pocket”
Some health insurers will cover the cost, or a portion of it, when it’s prescribed.

The opening weekend of the high school football season was marred by a fatal shooting at the Brusly-Port Allen game on Friday night, and an arrest has been made. Sergeant Landon Groger with the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office says during halftime, 18-year-old Jarrettin Jackson II allegedly shot 16-year-old Ja’Kobe Queen at a concession stand..:
Cut 10 (09) “this time”
Jackson is charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

Research from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center shows more pregnant women exceeded the recommended gestational weight gain during the pandemic. Director of Reproductive Endocrinology Dr. Leanne Redman
Cut 8 (10) “out for”
She says this may present further indirect impacts of the virus into the future for women and babies.

State officials are looking for the person responsible for starting the Tiger Island fire in Beauregard Parish. Teiko Foxx has more..:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Teiko Foxx”

LSU has announced a new route for their Tiger Trails service called Night Express to help students travel between campus and the Tigerland area. This service will begin September 14th where a shuttle will operate Thursday to Saturday from 7pm to 3am. Additionally, LSU said security officers will be present at each stop.

The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says a teen has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at the Brusly-Port Allen game on Friday night. 18-year-old Jarrettin Jackson II is charged with second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. Sergeant Landon Groger says it was a senseless act of violence at one of the biggest events of the year in West Baton Rouge Parish…:
Cut 11 (11) “as a whole”
The school system says it will have increased security at future games and trauma and grief counselors are at the schools today.

Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the Tiger Island Fire in Beauregard Parish was caused by arson, and they are seeking the public’s help:
CUT 6 (10) “for this”
He says this is the largest wildfire in Louisiana history and is now 55 percent contained.

The drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, Narcan, will be available over the counter starting tomorrow. Dr. Benjamin Springgate is with the LSU School of Medicine…:
Cut 15 (08) “on that”
The suggested retail is $45 a carton which contains two doses of nasal spray.

The LSU football team gets back to work today trying to correct the problems that resulted in Sunday’s embarrassing 45-24 loss to Florida State. The Tigers were overmatched by the Seminoles as F-S-U scored 31 unanswered points in the second. The Tigers face Grambling in Death Valley this Saturday night.

The National Basketball Association is introducing a new in season tournament this year accompanied by group play to determine the tournament seeding, and the New Orleans Pelicans got their schedule. The Pelicans are playing in a round robin style tournament starting with a trip to Houston on Nov. 10, then playing Dallas and Denver at home on the Nov. 14^th and 17^th, and then travelling to Los Angeles to play the Clippers on Nov. 24^th. If the Pelicans can are able to earn the best record among the 5 team group, then they will advance to the knockout round as one of the eight teams competing for a cash prize that grows by advancing.

At LSU football’s media day on Tuesday, backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier spoke to the media about if his offseason included serious consideration of the transfer portal. Nussmeier says that he is going to stick with his hometown team even as the backup, but if his name is called, he says he will be ready.

Cut 17 (12) “…that works.”

Transfer defensive back from Syracuse, Duce Chestnut, also spoke to the media yesterday for the first time since joining the Tigers. He says that he has always wanted to be in Baton Rouge despite playing with the Orange last year, and he says he loves the competition in the Southeastern conference.

Cut 20 (12) “…to be drafted.”

Head coach Brian Kelly is expected to speak to the media on Wednesday, and TigerRag.com and the Tiger Rag audibles podcast will have more information on what he says, but before Nussmeier left on Tuesday, he says that the entire staff and players have gotten comfortable in Kelly’s second year.

Cut 18 (10) “…come in.”

No. 5 LSU will take on No. 8 Florida State on Sunday Sept. 3 in Orlando for their week one matchup, and the game is the only matchup of Labor Day weekend.

Everyone is excited about how great it feels outside today where lows this morning in northern parishes were in the 60s — and southern parishes stood in the upper 70s. Highs today will be in the low to mid-90s which Keim says is typical for this time of year…:
Cut 11 (10) “less than triple digits”
But he says the extreme heat will be back by Friday and into the weekend. The state of emergency is still in effect and so is the burn ban.

The State Treasurer’s Office is making it easier for residents to check for unclaimed money through a new easy-to-use search on the LA Wallet app. Director of Unclaimed Property Kathleen Lobell says one in six individuals in Louisiana has unclaimed property…:
Cut 5 (11) “our search”

A recent survey of one thousand adults in Louisiana gives an in-depth look at the prevalence of violence in the Bayou State. Brooke Thorington has more…:
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Louisiana founded Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is sending help to Hawaii after deadly wildfires raced through the island of Maui claiming the lives of over 100 people. The chain said all day tomorrow, 15% of proceeds all proceeds from Cane’s 750+ locations will be donated to a homeless shelter there.

The state is enjoying cooler temperatures this morning but unfortunately the extreme heat will be back before long. State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs today will be in the low to mid-90s
CUT 12 (09) “roof again”

Despite these two days of lower humidity and dewpoints, Louisiana remains under a State of Emergency due to the extreme heat until September 9th, unless terminated beforehand. That’s why Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis is asking utility companies not to shut off anyone’s services for non-payment right now…:
CUT 14 (12) “has issued”
The statewide burn ban remains in effect.

The LA Wallet app, the state’s digital ID platform, now has a search feature to help Louisiana residents find unclaimed funds in their name. Teiko Foxx has more…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Teiko Foxx”

As we approach the peak of the tropical season, forecasters are watching 3 disturbances out there. The first is an area of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico that has a small chance for slow development over the next week, but currently does not pose a threat to Louisiana. There are also two zones way out in the tropical Atlantic with medium chances for development over the next 7 days.

If you haven’t walked outside yet you’re in for a treat…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Baton Rouge businessman accused in a 2015 murder-for-hire plot against his ex-wife has been found guilty of first-degree murder. The jury reached the verdict for Hamid Ghassemi after a trial that lasted several days in Baton Rouge. He hired 3 people to kill his ex-wife, Tahera Ghassemi, and get rid of her body. Prosecutors said he did this over a $1.1 million dollar divorce settlement. A sentencing date for the man is set for Tuesday, September 19th.

The state treasury department is partnering with LA Wallet to help reconnect Louisianans with their unclaimed property. The app now features a search function enabling users to effortlessly check for unclaimed assets in their name. Director of Unclaimed Property Kathleen Lobell…:
Cut 4 (12) “to search”
It is reported that one in six Louisiana residents have unclaimed property.

Findings in a first-of-its-kind survey on violence in the state show some alarming results that will be presented before the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission meeting today in Baton Rouge. The study out of Tulane was spearheaded by Anita Raj who says they found one in 14 Louisiana adults have experienced physical violence in the past year. She hopes policymakers will start talking about this:
Cut 9 (06) “societal issue”