New campaign finance numbers show Governor Edwards is collecting more cash than his opponents. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “..I’m Jeff Palermo”

________________________________

The state budget surplus for the last fiscal year has risen to an anticipated 500 million dollars…

cut  2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Governor Edwards continues to raise more money than his two Republican challengers. New campaign finance reports show Edwards raised one-point-seven-million dollars in the latest quarter and has nearly six-million dollars available as he tries to avoid a runoff. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross…

Cut 3 (08) “…runoff.”

Edwards raised twice as much as Republican challenger Ralph Abraham. The Congressman has one-point-four million in cash on hand and Cross says if Abraham gets in a runoff, he will have few available dollars…

Cut 4 (08) “…gets there.”

Republican businessman Eddie Rispone, who finished third in two recent independent polls, has six-point-three-million dollars in cash on hand after loaned his campaign another one-point-five million dollars. Cross says Rispone needs to spend all of that money

Cut 5 (09) “…Eddie Rispone”
_____________________________

The Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild wants to see more local brews sold at Tiger Stadium. Currently, the only Louisiana beer on sale inside Death Valley is Abita’s Strawberry Lager. And Guild executive director Cary Koch says of the seven beers offered, two are from a neighboring state.

Cut 6 (10) “…tell you that.”

Koch says they got the numbers to prove that the beers they would have in the stadium would do even better for sales, profit margins, and revenue.

Cut 7 (09)“…are for sale.” 

LSU senior associate athletic director Robert Munson says fan input went into the selection of beers that are on sale in the stadium, and different beers will soon be added. Koch hopes LSU will make the right decision.

Cut 8 (06) “to do so.”

_____________________

Louisiana will have a projected 500-million dollar surplus for the last fiscal year, up from the previous estimate of 300 million dollars. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says there are two reasons for the rising surplus, starting with the 2017 federal tax reform.

Cut 9 (11)  “..doing well”

The money will be used to pay down retirement debt, fill the state savings account, and certain construction projects.

Dardenne says they plan to use some of the funds to replenish the state’s “Rainy Day” fund, which was drained in the Jindal years.

Cut 10 (07) “…operating needs.”

New Orleans Representative Walt Leger says thanks to recent surpluses they’ve returned 232 million dollars to the state savings account.

Critics say the surplus is evidence that the Governor’s .45 percent sales tax increase was ultimately unnecessary. House Republican Chairman Lance Harris…

Cut 11 (06) “…year.” 

Harris says the Edwards Administration’s claims that the surplus is thanks to a growing economy are misleading at best.

Cut 12 (12) “government”

__________________________________

A statewide charity is encouraging those hunters that need to clear their freezers of last year’s bounty to donate that meat to those that may be less fortunate. Hunters for the Hungry executive director Julie Grunewald says Clean Out Your Freezer Day will be held this weekend, with various donation points around Louisiana.

Cut 13 (08) “they service”

Grunewald says they are hoping to double the already massive amounts of donations received last year.

Cut 14 (09) “around 4000 pounds.”

Grunewald says being in sportsman’s paradise, there are many different meats they see donated.

Cut 15 (10) “…those less fortunate.”

For more details on drop off locations, visit cleanoutyourfreezer.com.

Two big weather events have the attention of State Climatologist Barry Keim this weekend. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs holds its second annual Suicide Prevention Summit today in Baton Rouge. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

________________________

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is pleading her case to get voters  to Vote Yes on 4 this October. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

________________________

A statewide poll shows voters are for the most part undecided on who they’ll cast their ballot for Insurance Commissioner in October. Surprisingly, incumbent Jim Donelon polled with just 35-percent compared to his challenger Tim Temple’s 20-percent.  Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says for a long-time incumbent it’s not ideal.

Cut 4 (10) “…Louisiana.”

45-percent of voters surveyed are undecided or wouldn’t say who they want as Insurance Commissioner. Pinsonat says it’s an office that not high on the ballot so it’s not always in the news.

Cut 5 (11) “…now he does.”

Pinsonat says challenger Tim Temple has to increase his name recognition and convince voters why he’s the better option.

Cut 6 (12) “…better job.”

Both men are running on the Republican ballot. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus four percent.

_____________________

Forecasters are feeling more confident a tropical system over the Bahamas will not be an issue for Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim is keeping an eye on the tropics.

Cut 7 (07)“…east coast problem.” 

While the system does bear watching from the perspective of Louisiana, Keim says local temps are more worth focusing on as it looks like another really hot start to the weekend, with temps about 5 degrees above normal.

Cut 8 (10) “…just as bad.”

Keim says the high pressure that is causing clear skies, lack of rainfall, and hot temps are serving as protection from tropical systems, creating an environment steering them up the east coast.

Cut 9 (11) “…with that accordingly..”

_______________________

The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs hosts the Second Annual Suicide Prevention Summit today in Baton Rouge. L-D-V-A spokesperson Alex Juan says the event is open to everyone and it’s not just limited to veterans. Juan says a simple small act of support can have a big impact.

Cut 10 (10) “…don’t know.”

Juan says for each suicide, 135 people are directly impacted and making the public aware of resources is critical.

Cut 11 (10) “…suicide” 

Juan says when you feel that someone is considering suicide and you don’t know how to intervene calling on a professional to assist is the best course of action.

Cut 12 (12) “…do that”

This year’s summit is being held at American Legion Post #38 on South Wooddale Boulevard from 9 am until 2 pm.  For immediate help call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-8255

_______________________

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is touring the state in an effort to drum up support for constitutional amendment 4 on the October ballet that she says would help to combat the affordable housing shortage.

Cut 13 (11) “…generated in New Orleans.”

The campaign is known as “Vote Yes 4 NOLA homes” and it would allow New Orleans to exempt properties with no more than 15 residential units from ad valorem taxes to incentivize the creation of more units, more affordably. Cantrell says since the proposal is a constitutional amendment, it needs statewide approval, which is why she is traveling the state.

Cut 14 (11) “…rest of the state.” 

Cantrell says the push has bipartisan support and will have a long term impact to ensure New Orleans is the state’s economic driver for the state for years to come.  The measure could be used in other parishes.

Cut 15 (09) “…we’re not alone.”

Cantrell will be visiting Alexandria and Lafayette today.

________________________________________

After two games, LSU is ranked fifth in passing offense, 411 yards a contest through the air. Another big passing game could on Saturday night when the fourth-ranked Tigers host Northwestern State. The Demons are off to an 0-2 start. LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase says they want to be known as a great passing team

Cut 16  (09) “…be great”   

Last week, LSU won its first true road game against a top 10 team in program history. This weekend, it’s an F-C-S team that’s off to a slow start under a second-year head coach. Quarterback Joe Burrow says the focus this week has been on the Tigers

cut 17 (13) “…on Saturday” 

__________________________________

The Saints and Rams meet again Sunday in a rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game. New Orleans Quarterback Drew Brees says it’s not interested in hearing about the storylines

Cut 18 (23) “…we do” 

The Saints and Rams are two of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl, so it’s a big early-season clash. Brees says he’s looking forward to playing Los Angeles for the fourth time in three years

 cut 19 (22)   “beat em”  

Ten David Wade Correctional Center inmates in Homere were rushed to the hospital yesterday after a lightning strike. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 1 (28) “..I’m Matt Doyle”

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There’s a tropical disturbance near the southeast Bahamas that the National Hurricane Center says could get into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Ten inmates at David Wade Correctional Center in Homer suffered injuries after lightning strikes the field where they were playing flag football.

Department of Corrections spokesperson Ken Pastorick says a weather event was closing in, but the flag football game was not called off because there were no signs of imminent danger.

Cut 3 (11) “…hospital.”

The strike hit just adjacent to where the inmates were playing.

Nine of the inmates have returned to the facility after spending time at a local hospital. Pastorick says they suffered symptoms common to those who survive lightning strikes.

Cut 4 (11) “condition”

Pastorick says the policy was followed, and if a strike had been detected then they would have moved the inmates off the field.

Cut 5 (05) “…immediately”

_____________________________

The University of Texas claims LSU Coach Ed Orgeron’s comments about the visitor’s locker room having no air conditioning was the first time they were made aware of the issue.  Coach O says he had intel about the situation before showing up.

Cut 6 (11) “…blowers in there.”

Temps peaked at 103 for Saturday’s game in Austin that saw the Tigers win 45-38.  Orgeron says the humidity was not as bad as it is typically in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (11)“..IVs at halftime.” 

Orgeron says despite the best efforts to combat the effects of the heat, many of the players began to cramp up.

Cut 8 (05) “a doctor’s approval.”

_____________________

New Iberia Police have charged a 20-year-old man in last month’s shooting death of 17-year-old Garon Lewis, who was found dead in a vehicle at an intersection on August 16th. Captain John Babin says 20-year-old Trevonce Bernard was taken into police custody last night

Cut 9 (07)  “..of a firearm.”

Bernard’s bond has been set at 220-thousand dollars. Babin says they are not saying what evidence they have on Bernard and the investigation continues

Cut 10 (12) “…the investigation.”

Lewis was a quarterback for New Iberia High School and this was his senior season. His father is Raymond Lewis, an Iberia Parish School Board member. The elder Lewis spoke at a press conference

Cut 11 (14) “…my family.” 

_______________________

Saints fans are celebrating the team’s hard-fought 30-28 win over the Texans but Coach Sean Payton says the Black and Gold will need to play better, especially on defense. Payton says they couldn’t stop All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins…

Cut 12 (09) “…tonight”

Houston QB DeShaun Watson put on a show, scoring four total TDs and routinely breaking the Black and Gold’s back on third down. Payton says nothing seemed to slow him down.

Cut 13 (11) “pressure look”

Despite the slow start on offense and the late-game defensive breakdowns, the coach is still happy the team came together when it mattered most.

Cut 14 (11) “…tonight”

LSU-Texas tickets are a hot commodity ahead of Saturday’s game in Austin. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “..I’m Matt Doyle”

____________________________________

The anniversary of 9/11 is around the corner and 56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers deploy to Afghanistan this afternoon.

cut  2 (29) I’m Connor Ferrill”  

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LSU-Texas is the hottest selling game of the year according to StubHub, and tickets prices are at a premium and going fast.

Partnerships and Business Development for Stubhub Adam Budelli says it’s clear the hype for this matchup is unlike any in the past two years.

Cut 3 (08) “…percent.”

Texas-LSU is outselling the number two game of the year, Georgia-Notre Dame, by 68 percent.

There’s about 1,600 tickets left for Tigers interested in making a trip out West, but Budelli says that may not last long.

Cut 4 (09) “…in general”

Roughly 55 percent of ticket purchases have come from within Texas, while around 20 percent were bought in Louisiana. People from 42 total states and three countries have also purchased tickets.

Ticket prices have bounced around from the low to high 300s for the past few days. Budelli says if you’re considering going but need to keep a budget, they’ve got options for you.

Cut 5 (10) “…point”

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Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay (Do-gay) says the population of morning doves looks good for Louisiana hunters. Duguay says that prediction is based on their banding data…

Cut 6 (09) “…other years”

Duguay says the extreme heat this weekend could make it difficult for hunters and their dogs, but it will not impact the doves.

Cut 7 (08) “…every day.”

A basic hunting license and HIP certificate are needed to legally hunt doves. Duguay says they have seen a decline in hunters over the years and there’s a couple of reasons why…

Cut 8 (12) “…they do”

______________________________________

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers flew out of Pineville this afternoon for a mission in Afghanistan. The troops are part of two companies that will provide aviation support. Colonel Ed Bush of the Louisiana National Guard says the aviation support will bring the Bayou State’s troops to the heart of the action…

Cut 9 (08)  “…where safe.”

Over 700 Louisiana National Guardsmen are currently deployed for the War on Terror.

The anniversary of 9/11 is next week and Bush says in the 18 years since the tragic event Louisiana’s National Guard has had a substantial presence throughout the war effort…

Cut 10 (12) “…global war on terror.”

Bush says the high demand for aviation units can lead to multiple deployments and this trip, in particular, has some unexpected effects on families…

Cut 11 (07) “…deploying together.” 

_______________________

Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says skyrocketing insurance costs threaten the state’s 13-billion dollar timber industry. Strain says in some cases insuring equipment has quadrupled in the last year

Cut 12 (12) “…per truck”

Strain says those who work in the forestry industry say they can’t continue to pay those high rates and stay in business. He says it’s a significant issue that can have an impact on the state’s economy

Cut 13 (12) “a year”

Strain would like to hear candidates in the fall elections give out plans on how they plan to lower insurance rates on commercial trucks

Cut 14 (11) “…next term”

Strain did not say why there’s been a sudden spike in insurance costs. The  Forestry Association president in South Carolina says premiums are rising because there are only a few companies offering coverage for log trucks.

September is airbag recall repair month. Are you one of the motorists that’s procrastinated about getting yours replaced? Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “..I’m Brooke Thorington”

____________________________________

 State Farm is set to lower it’s auto insurance rates again. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut  2 (28) I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Is your car one of the 152-thousand in Louisiana that has a recalled airbag? The National Safety Council and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles are all urging motorist to have their airbags checked and repaired immediately. FCA spokesperson Chris Freeman says September is Recall Awareness Month.

Cut 3 (12) “…today.”

Freeman says many motorists ignored the recall and do not realize that defective devices can cause more harm than good.

Cut 4 (11) “…device”

Freeman says the recall is of major concern in Louisiana due to the weather. Heat and humidity can greatly affect a defective airbag and make it life-threatening instead of life-saving.

Cut 5 (13) “…shrapnel”

To find out if your airbags are under a recall go to Check-To-Protect-dot-org and enter your Vehicle Identification Number. Then schedule an appointment for a repair. All repairs are free.

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Governor John Bel Edwards provided details today on the 52-million dollars in federal money that will go towards expanding I-12 in St. Tammany Parish from Highway 190 to Highway 59. Edwards says the state faces a 14-billion dollar backlog in highway projects, but they are using any available dollars wisely…

Cut 6 (06) “…previously”

Edwards says this investment will provide more economic opportunities and ease congestion for a three-mile stretch of I-12…

Cut 7 (08) “…every day.”

This funding comes out of a 76-million dollar allocation from the federal government announced last week. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they’ll open the project up for bids in December and once  a contractor is in place they’ll know when construction will start

Cut 8 (12) “…get budgeted”

______________________________________

Gubernatorial candidate, Republican Congressman Ralph Abraham, spoke out against the Edwards Administration’s handling of Medicaid this morning on the steps of the Louisiana Department of Health.

Abraham says despite a 14.8-billion-dollar Department of Health budget the state is still one of the least healthy in the nation.

Cut 9 (09)  “healthcare”

The Congressman adds the amount the state will have to spend to maintain the Medicaid expansion will increase further in 2020 after the federal match rate decreases.

He called out the Division of Administration, the LDH Secretary, and Governor for not being transparent about Medicaid and it’s increasing costs, but says he would not undo the expansion…

Cut 10 (06) “…now”

Abraham says he would save the state money and fix Medicaid by implementing more detailed income analysis for the program, removing people who make over the 16,764 dollars a year limit.

Cut 11 (09) “…system.” 

_______________________

State Farm announces the company is cutting it’s auto insurance rates by 2.6 percent effective November 25^th.

State Farm Spokesperson Felicia Van Frank says their rates have been steadily dropping for several years as costs have decreased in Louisiana.

Cut 12 (09) “…coverages”

Those rate changes may be dependent on your policies.

Van Frank says the savings come down to improving their expense situation and lower loss numbers.

Cut 13 (10) “change”

The 2.6 percent decrease comes out to 36.6 million dollars in savings for State Farm customers.

Van Frank says there’s other ways you can lower your rate, and if you are a State Farm customer now would be a good time to check in with your insurance agent.

Cut 14 (10) “…coverages”

Nine Louisianans have gotten sick from a mysterious illness that’s been linked vapes and E-cigarettes. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

_______________________________

 Congress returns to the capitol next week and with several mass shootings over their summer break, gun control will be a hot topic. Brooke Thorington spoke with Louisiana Senator John Kennedy to get his perspective.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

________________________

Heat index values could crack 105 and higher today as the state endures what’s set to be four to five days of brutually hot temperatures…

Cut 3 (28) “…Matt Doyle”

________________________

A lull in construction jobs is one of the reasons the Louisiana economy seems to have slowed down a bit, but those in the industry are optimistic the tides are set to turn.

Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors CEO David Helveston says it’s true that this year and last year haven’t been great for the construction industry.

Cut 4 (12) “…2017”

Workforce Commission numbers show we hit an eight-year peak of 156,100 construction jobs in mid-2017 but declined to 141,400 such jobs this year.

But Helveston says that could change quickly as he’s been informed of over 100 billion dollars of new construction projects on the horizon centered on petrochemical plants in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 5 (10) “…range”

Hevleston says it’s not unusual to see substantial peaks and valleys in the Louisiana construction economy considering so much of it is based on decisions made in other countries.

Cut 6 (11) “…cyclical”

The state hit an eight-year low for construction jobs back in 2012 with only 121,700.

_____________________

Congress returns to session next week and one of the most discussed topics many Americans are waiting to see how lawmakers tackle is gun control. Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy hasn’t had the opportunity to review any democratic proposed gun laws yet but he has his opinions.

Cut 7 (10)“…handguns”

Kennedy, an admitted gun owner himself, has remained constant on his stance against gun control laws. Despite the increase in mass shootings, Kennedy says the Democrats will have to present convincing facts in order to change his vote.

Cut 8 (10) “sizzle”

Polls show a majority of Americans are in favor of background checks for guns, Kennedy says we already have them but the system in place for background checks is not working because many states are not inputting their data.

Cut 9 (09) “…thru.”

Kenney stated a hundred-million Americans exercise the right to own guns and that the majority of them exercise the right responsibly.

_____________________________

A heat advisory is in effect for southeast Louisiana today as hot temperatures combined with high humidity will create heat indices between 108 to 113-degrees.

We’re looking at highs of 97 in New Orleans, 99 in Baton Rouge, 100 in Alexandria, and 101 in Shreveport. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the intense heat will last through the weekend.

Cut 10 (04) “…Louisiana”

Keim says the excessive heat levels will come close to record highs and could even break a few records…

Cut 11 (07) “period” 

Temperatures should return to normal early next week.

The blazing temperatures and dry weather are thanks to a high-pressure system that’s set up shop across the southeast US. Keim says that’s why Hurricane Dorian curved up the east coast.

Cut 12 (07) “…states.”

The same high-pressure system is keeping other storms like Fernand away from the region as well.

______________________________

A mysterious illness is impacting vapers and E-cigarette users across the country and the Louisiana Department of Health is warning medical professionals to keep an eye out for symptoms.

Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they’ve only discovered isolated incidents so far, and it does not appear to be widespread.

Cut 13 (11) “to us”

Those affected in Louisiana ranged from ages 20 to 33. Health officials aren’t sure what is causing the respiratory problems, but Kanter says they have a few ideas

cut 14 (08) “…products” 

Kanter says if you are a vaper and have recently begun suffering from any of these symptoms, go see a doctor.

Cut 15 (10) “chcked out”

Kanter adds the recent vaping craze has undone years of work getting kids to stop taking nicotine products.

_________________________________________________________

The two universities in Lincoln Parish will face each other on the football field on Saturday as Louisiana Tech will host Grambling. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz is pumped up for the matchup

Cut 16  (17) “…implication”   

The NFL Network will televise the game, making it the first collegiate contest to air on the channel. Tech dropped its season-opening game to Texas, a 45-14 decision to the Longhorns. Holtz says mistakes early resulted in that game getting out of hand

cut 17 (23) “…start playing” 

Grambling also lost its season opener, falling to ULM 31-9. Tigers Coach Broderick Fobbs says there missed opportunities in that contest, which could have made the game more competitive

Cut 18 (24) “…play it” 

_______________________________________________

LSU linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson says he was not trying to put down Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger when he said that he didn’t find Ehlinger much of a threat, because he has a decent arm and its more about his legs. Chaisson says he wasn’t trying to discredit his arm…

 cut 19 (20)   “took it”  

Saturday’s matchup between Texas and LSU pits two teams ranked in the top ten. Chaisson says it’s just one of several big tests his team will face this season…

cut 20 (25) “be done” 

First responders along the east coast are utilizing an LSU developed storm surge model to better position resources along the expected path of Hurricane Dorian. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (29) “..I’m Matt Doyle”

____________________________________

LSU merchanside is selling well ahead of Saturday’s showdown versus ninth ranked Texas. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (30) I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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This Saturday the LSU Tigers are gearing up to play the Texas Longhorns and fans are getting their fan gear for the state line rivalry. Tickets for this weekend’s game aren’t the only hard thing to find. Purple and Gold Store Owner Sara Sanders says their specialty shirt for the big game is also a hot commodity.

Cut 3 (08) “…about out.”

Texas only allotted only 35-hundred tickets for LSU fans, yet the die-hards are making the road trip anyway. Sanders says there’s lots of excitement with the Tigers ranked 6^th in the polls and a big game this Saturday, the store is seeing plenty of traffic.

Cut 4 (08) “…over there”

LSU started the season with a 55-3 rout of Georgia Southern. Sanders says big victories are always good for business at Purple at Gold.

Cut 5 (10) “…good sign”

Texas is ranked 9^th in the polls and Saturday’s game kicks off at 6:30 in Austin.

_____________________________

South Louisiana authorities say over 40 handguns were reportedly stolen from a shooting range in Youngsville over the weekend. Youngsville Police Chief Ricky Boudreaux says it’s likely the guns will find their way into criminal hands.

Cut 6 (12) “…through”

Boudreaux says it’s an ongoing investigation with a few persons of interest, but no arrests have been made so far.

The Chief adds they may see a spike in crime across the Acadiana region as a result.

Cut 7 (06) “…crimes.”

The business, Sentry Defense, reports that no electronics or money were stolen. Boudreaux says the criminal’s objectives were clear.

Cut 8 (03) “…of it”

Boudreaux said he could not comment at this time when asked whether the firearms stolen included more than just handguns.

______________________________________

The White House and Homeland Security are utilizing a storm surge model developed by LSU to better respond to Hurricane Dorian as it creeps it’s way up the east coast.

Director of Louisiana Sea Grant Robert Twilley says the program uses fine-scale resolution data of coastlines, bayous, and other waterways to provide lifesaving information.

Cut 9 (09)“the coast”

The Coastal Emergency Risks Assessment program was developed with the help of the University of North Carolina.

The data isn’t just useful for the public. Twilley says it allows government agencies to swoop into effected areas a lot faster after a storm hits.

Cut 10 (10) “…responders”

The current CERA projection shows storm surge concerns ranging from the northeast Florida coast all the way up to Maine.

Twilley says the Coast Guard has been big fans of CERA since 2017 when Irma struck…

Cut 11 (10) “…system.” 

You can see up-to-date storm surge predictions at cera-dot-coastal-risk-dot-live.

_______________________

A University of Louisiana at Lafayette study finds deficiencies with the coastal seafood industry in Acadiana. Moody-endowed chairman of regional business development at UL, Geoffrey Stewart, says one issue is not having a central point of contact for the seafood industry when problems arise…

Cut 12 (12) “…and confusion”

Transportation is a day-to-day hurdle. Stewart says fresh seafood from the Acadiana coast is not shipped out of the region and that’s because they do not have enough product to make it cost-effective for truckers…

Cut 13 (12) “the volume.”

The Louisiana Sea Grant is interested in establishing a seafood innovation center in New Iberia, which could be a collection point for fresh seafood to be shipped out.

Stewart says there are also not enough cold storage areas. He says the study also found that Acadiana seafood could be marketed better if the stories of those involved in harvesting, producing and cooking the seafood were told…

Cut 14 (08) “…our culture”

State Police arrest a murder suspect during a lengthy standoff on I-10 in Jefferson Davis Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “..I’m Jeff Palermo”

____________________________________

 The State Treaserur unveils a new tranparency tool that lets residents track state construction spending, and state debt levels. Matt Doyle has more…

cut  2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”  

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After lashing out on the Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian has started slowly making its way towards the U-S eastern seaboard. The United Cajun Navy is stationed in Jacksonville, Florida, and Founder Todd Terrell says they spent the holiday weekend gathering supplies

Cut 3 (04) “…first responders.”

Terrell says if you want to volunteer go to united-cajun-navy-dot-org or you can make a monetary donation at pan-handle-relief-dot-org

Cut 4 (07) “…right people”

Dorian is expected to bring flooding along Florida’s east coast as it slowly moves north. Terrell says they have chainsaw teams with them to help local first responders perform water rescues

Cut 5 (10) “…fastest”

_____________________________

State Police arrested two people involved in a wild shooting scene on I-10 in Jefferson Davis Parish. One of the men booked, 36-year-old Trinity Coleman of Franklin, is a suspect in the murder of a female in Franklin. Trooper Derek Senegal says while pursuing Coleman yesterday,  57-year-old Clarence Fine of Jeanerette pulled off the side of the road and started shooting at Coleman

Cut 6 (09) “…were struck”

Senegal says Fine knew the murder victim in Franklin and was apparently out to get revenge

Cut 7 (05) “…Mr. Coleman.”

No was injured by the gunfire.

Fine was charged with attempted second-degree murder and illegal discharge of a weapon. Senegal says after they arrested Fine, it took a while before they apprehended Coleman…

Cut 8 (11) “…further incident.”

State Police began chasing Coleman in Acadia Parish and his vehicle finally came to stop near Welsh after troopers successfully deployed spike strips.

______________________________________

A 16-year-old girl Lafayette girl dies from a gunshot wound and a 17-year-old boy is now in jail on Negligent Homicide charges as a result.

Two days ago officers responded to a report of a shooting involving a juvenile around 8pm. Lafayette Police Corporal Bridgette Dugas says when authorities arrived the girl was still alive.

Cut 9 (06) “condition”

But the girl passed away yesterday as a result of the gunshot.

Dugas says after attempting to save the girl, police questioned the boy at the residence and discovered the incident may have been a tragic accident.

Cut 10 (10) “…that time”

Dugas says it appears for now that the shooting was not intentional and it isn’t the first time this year a lack of gun safety led to a death.

Cut 11 (06) “…their life.” 

_______________________

The Treasurer’s Office unveils a new transparency tool that lets Louisianans track construction project costs on a parish by parish basis and see just how much debt state residents have accrued.

Treasurer John Schroder says the website gives you an opportunity to see just where state government prioritizes construction spending.

Cut 12 (10) “…like this”

The top recipients of the state’s three billion dollar transportation budget in 2019 are DOTD at 50 percent, followed by coastal protection at 17 percent, and education at 16 percent.

The tool also provides viewers a chance to measure the state’s bond, general liability, and pension debt levels. Schroder says you can also measure how much each citizen would have to pay to clear the debt.

Cut 13 (08) “high.”

Louisiana’s per person debt is 1,627 dollars, good for 16^th highest in the nation. The national average is 1,447 dollars, and the southern regional average is 1,148 dollars.

Schroder says he hopes people who visit the website will get a better idea of how the state’s taxing spending priorities line up with theirs.

Cut 14 (10) “…on that”

You can see the tracking tool at LATreasury.com under transparency.

A political analyst expects the next 40 days to be jam-packed full of Louisiana politics as the major candidates for Governor sprint to the October 12th primary. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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An LSU study finds temperatures go up and humidity goes down locally in the months after a hurricane passes through a region. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Louisiana has sent personnel and assets to the East Coast to help states deal with the potential impacts from Hurricane Dorian. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “…Jeff Palermo.”

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Labor Day is in the rearview mirror and the governor’s race is set to ramp up. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the post-Labor Day stretch is generally the point when the public begins to pay attention, so expect a hectic next 40 days…

Cut 4 (10) “…coming up”

The first televised debate is September 19. 

A recent independent poll shows self-funding Eddie Rispone closing in on Congressman Ralph Abraham for the GOP slot in a potential November run-off. Pinsonat says that’s what ten million dollars can buy you in politics.

Cut 5 (11) “…above”

Abraham has pulled in the lion’s share of state GOP endorsements but has raised only a few million dollars.

Pinsonat says don’t expect the two Republican challengers to start attacking each other…

Cut 6 (10) “…well”

The primary is set for October 12^th.

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Louisiana emergency responders are in Florida and South Carolina to assist with the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian. Deputy Director of the governor’s office of homeland security and emergency preparedness, Casey Tingle, says about 200 men and women have been deployed

Cut 7 (13)“…the state”

Over one-hundred Louisiana Urban Search and Rescue personnel and assets left Baton Rouge yesterday, bringing with them boats to conduct high water rescues. Tingle says these units are made up of firefighters from around the state…

Cut 8 (09) “rescue teams”

Tingle says Louisiana received assistance from other states during its major hurricanes and it’s returning the favor

Cut 9 (10) “…pleased with.”

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LSU studied the weather effects of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico and found temperatures increased two degrees on average and humidity dropped five percent a month after landfall as a result of defoliation.

Satellite imagery showed Maria stripped the island of its vegetation, and LSU Coastal Sciences Professor Paul Miller says those plants usually absorb a lot of the sun’s energy, but…

Cut 10 (12) “…temperature”

Temperatures returned to normal about two months afterward when the island re-greened, but the effects may be more persistent outside of dense tropical rainforests.

Two degrees may not sound like much, but the side effects can add up. Miller says back in May the National Weather Service issued heat advisories for the Florida panhandle, which continues to recover from last year’s Hurricane Michael…

Cut 11 (08) “went” 

The study found the effect was not just limited to a major storm like Maria, they found similar scaled-down effects from Hurricane Irma’s passing just weeks before Maria.

Miller says they discovered another side effect of hurricane defoliation: river levels increased, and water quality dropped.

Cut 12 (09) “…brown.”

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Its voter registration week, so the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office is making a push to get adults registered to vote for the fall elections. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the deadlines to register for the October 12th primary are later this month…

Cut 13 (12) “…21st of September”

Ardoin says 88-percent of the people who are eligible to vote are registered in Louisiana, so they are hoping the remaining 12-percent will register

Cut 14 (12) “…the election” 

Ardoin says you can register online 24 hours a day, seven days a week at voterportal.sos.la.gov. He says you can also register in person at your parish Registrar of Voters Office and you’ll need to bring a valid I-D or proof of residency

Cut 15 (08) “…picture ID”

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After losing to Mississippi State in the Superdome, the Ragin Cajuns return home this Saturday to face Liberty. UL Lafayette hung with the Bulldogs this past weekend, but ended up losing 38-28. Coach Billy Napier says he saw a lot of positives on the game tape, but there were mistakes too

Cut 16  (30) “…little harsh”   

22nd ranked Syracuse shutout Liberty in the season opener as Flames head coach, Hugh Freeze, coached the game from a hospital bed in the press box, because of an infection from recent back surgery. Napier says there are some explosive players on that Liberty team…

cut 17 (20) “…D-Line” 

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Two top ten teams collide this Saturday in Austin, when sixth-ranked LSU visits 10th ranked Texas. Longhorns Coach Tom Herman is trying to get Texas back to where its one of the top teams in the Big 12 and a national championship contender

Cut 18 (28) “…as well” 

LSU quarterback Joe Burrow was named SEC Offensive Player of the week after throwing five touchdown passes in the season-opening win over Georgia Southern. Herman says he’s impressed by Burrow’s abilities

 cut 19 (30)   “matchups are”  

Governor Edwards’ re-election chances dip in the latest independent poll from Verne Kennedy. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “..I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness activates its Crisis Action Team to monitor Hurricane Dorian.

cut  2 (30) I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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Caddo Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested a California man in Shreveport for his part in a texting scam that resulted in over 100-thousand dollars being stolen from numerous bank accounts. Sheriff’s office spokesperson Cindy Chadwick says victims received a text message that said their bank cards were locked and they needed to call and give personal info to unlock them.

Cut 3 (11) “…purchases around town.”

Chadwick says authorities circulated the picture of 39-year-old Dennis Busch to local businesses. Busch was arrested after a drug store employee spotted him.

Cut 4 (06) “…placed under arrest.”

Two other arrest warrants have been issued and there is an additional unidentified suspect. Chadwick says consumers need to protect themselves from similar scams.

Cut 5 (08) “…about your account.”

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An independent poll shows Governor Edwards’ support has slipped and is now within the margin of error for potentially having to go into a run-off.

Edwards sits at 52 percent in the latest survey from Verne Kennedy. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says that’s dangerously close to a highly unpredictable run-off scenario.

Cut 6 (10) “…all.”

Edwards’ favorability rating dropped from 52 percent in April to 45 percent when the poll was conducted two weeks ago.

On the Republican side of the race, it looks like Eddie Rispone’s ad blitz has paid off. Cross says He’s at 19 percent, just six points shy of GOP frontrunner Congressman Abraham.

Cut 7 (09) “…the electorate.”

The pollster estimates Rispone has risen 12 points since his April survey.

The Congressman had an early name recognition advantage and has piled-up GOP endorsements, but Cross says if he wants to hold off Rispone and make a run-off, he needs to run more ads…

Cut 8 (09) “…real one”

Abraham still fares about two points better than Rispone in a hypothetical run-off, but both candidates at this point still would fail to unseat the Governor.

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Two high school students from Summerfield, who State Police say were not wearing seat belts, were killed in a two-vehicle wreck last night on Louisiana Highway two in Claiborne Parish. Trooper Brent Hardy says 17-year-old Tony Singleton of Haynesville was the driver

Cut 9 (09) “…Chevrolet Suburban”

Singleton and his 15-year-old passenger Dequez Neal died, while the driver of the other vehicle, sustained minor injuries. Hardy says if the teens were buckled up, they may have survived

Cut 10 (12) “…of a crash.”

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On the 14^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall, the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness activates its Crisis Action Team to monitor Hurricane Dorian.  While a Florida landfall is expected, GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says the activation comes as the storm’s exact track is uncertain.

Cut 11 (12) “here in Louisiana.” 

Steele says even if Dorian has no impact on the state, it’s an important reminder to everyone to be vigilant.

Cut 12 (09) “…those evacuation plans.”

Steele says historically Louisiana has stepped up to help to other states.

Cut 13 (12) “…may be needed.”