_______________________________________________

 

The National Hurricane Center says there’s a medium chance for tropical development in the western Gulf of Mexico over the next two days. Seth Warthen, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says a tropical wave entering the Gulf is becoming more organized….

Cut 3 (12) “…Texas coast” 

 

Warthen says the area of the disturbed weather might not have enough to time to strengthen into a major tropical storm before it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast…

Cut 4 (10) “…into the Gulf”

If this tropical disturbance can strengthen into a tropical storm it will be called Joyce. But Warthen says at this time they are not expecting any major impacts to Louisiana…

Cut 5 (05)  “…into the weekend.” 

 

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Small business optimism has hit an all-time high according to the latest survey by the National Federation of Independent Business.  It’s a new record for the 45-year history of the survey, topping the previous record set in July 1983.  NFIB State Director Dawn Starns says much of the credit for the high marks goes to improved economic policy.

Cut 6 (08) “…job openings perspective.”

Starns says capital spending is the highest it has been since 2007, which means business owners are expanding.

Cut 7 (09) “…effect for them.”

Starns says the federal tax reform legislation approved in December has  contributed to the boost in optimism.

Cut 8 (11) “…board has improved.”

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About 90 Bayou State first responders are on their way to the Carolinas to assist in what’s likely to be a significant natural disaster as Category Four Hurricane Florence is set to smash into the East Coast. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the crew, comprised of fire departments across the state, will be based out of Columbia, South Carolina.

cut 9 (09) “…trapped people”

Louisiana is no stranger to natural disasters. Browning says you could call us experts.

Cut 10 (09) “harms way”

The team will coordinate communications efforts with other agencies from around the country for what could be an extensive rescue effort. Browning says if you’re someone who gets inspired seeing Louisiana rescuers at work, just know there’s opportunities for you to pitch in at a local level.

Cut 11 (09) “…duties.”

The latest report indicates the storm may strengthen to category five before landfall.

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A lawsuit claiming a catholic school’s hair policy in Jefferson Parish was discriminatory against black students has been dismissed. Federal court records show the parents of two New Orleans-area girls who filed the lawsuit ended the legal battle. Legal analyst Dane Ciolino says there was no reason to move forward once the Christ the King school rescinded the policy last month…

Cut 12 (06)   “be seen” 

This story received national attention after a video went viral showing sixth-grader Faith Fennidy tearfully leaving the school after being told her hairstyle broke the school’s rules. Her mother and the mother of another student subsequently filed a lawsuit. Ciolino says the only reason to keep the lawsuit alive would be if the plaintiffs can convince a judge that the alleged discrimination caused damages

Cut 13 (07) “that purpose”

Ciolino says the plaintiffs got what they wanted and that was for the policy prohibiting hair extensions to be repealed, once that was done, it would have been difficult to get much more from the school….

Cut 14 (10) “…its settled”

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A disorganized area of thunderstorms in the northwest Caribbean Sea is grabbing the attention of forecasters. Seth Warthen, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the chances of development of anything major are low.

Cut 3 (07) “…stuff together” 

 

Warthen says the system is expected to move over the Yucatan Peninsula into the Western Gulf.

Cut 4 (10) “…to get developed.”

Warthen says once the storm moves north, the risk for a major impact in Louisiana is fairly low.

Cut 5 (05)  “…into the weekend.” 

 

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Governor John Bel Edwards has plans to recommend a raise of at least a grand for public school teachers, the first substantial raise in about a decade.  The plan would also see cafeteria workers and other personel get a pay best of $500 annually.  The governor’s education policy advisor Donald Songy says the message from Edwards to the teachers is clear.

Cut 6 (06) “…southern regional average.”

Songy says the timeline for getting the pay raises put into effect will start with getting the ball rolling during the next legislative session, which starts in April.

Cut 7 (05) “…2020 school year.”

Songy believes the state can afford it, thanks to a strengthening economy…

Cut 8 (06) “…the additional revenue.”

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An Alexandria woman faces second-degree murder in the death of her husband in front of their three children Saturday in the parking lot of a Walmart. Alexandria Police say 31-year-old Kayla Coutee shot her 30-year-old estranged husband, Thomas Coutee. Corporal Wade Bourgeois…

cut 9 (10) “…that day”

Bourgeois says there were a lot of posts on social media questioning the second-degree murder charge. But Bourgeois says under Louisiana law, planning a murder doesn’t result in a first-degree murder charge.

Cut 10 (11) “that works”

The 2-year-old child of the Coutee’s wasn’t the only kid present at the shooting. Bourgeois says two other children, who were unrelated to the victim, were in Mrs. Coutee’s car at the time.

Cut 11 (06) “…shooting.”

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Drivers on I-12 West between Hammond and Walker got a nasty surprise today as the road was littered with nails, leading to over a dozen flats for commuters. Authorities aren’t sure if this was intentional, or just a case of bad luck, but either way State Police Spokesperson Trooper Bryan Lee says it sure did cause a lot trouble for quite a few drivers.

Cut 12 (09)   “those isues 

The department of transportation was on scene to pick up any nails that hadn’t already found their way into your brand new Goodyear’s. Lee says it’s not too uncommon, and as such there’s a special vehicle ready to go when the nails hit the road.

Cut 13 (09) “left out”

Troopers are trying to narrow down just where this may have happened, And Lee says…

Cut 14 (05) “…for you”

I-12 West is now open to public.

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The Louisiana Department of Health reports 47 women died from pregnancy-related causes in a six-year span starting in 2011, one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the nation. L-D-H Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee says it’s a startling problem, specifically within one population.

Cut 3 (10) “…up call” 

The report followed women up to 42 days after the end of their pregnancy.

There’s been national attention paid to the notable increase in deaths, but there’s still debate as to exactly why the numbers are skyrocketing. Gee says there are steps that can be taken to reduce the totals.

Cut 4 (10) “…need it.”

But Gee says those numbers do reflect the previous administration, and they’re hoping for better results from the Medicaid expansion that substantially increased insurance coverage levels statewide.

Cut 5 (10)  “…after pregnancy .” 

The alarming numbers have led to the creation of the Reducing Maternal Morbidity Act and the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative.

 

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The LSU Tigers will welcome Southeastern Louisiana into Tiger Stadium tomorrow night for the first meeting between the schools on the football field since 1949. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron knows that this is the game of their life for some players on the S-L-U football team…

Cut 6 (10) “…lights out.”

LSU is coming off a victory over Miamia, while the Lions lost last week to ULM. But Southeastern Quarterback Chason Virgil threw for 358 yards. Orgeron says he’s impressed with the Fresno State transfer

Cut 7 (10) “…well coached.”

LSU’s starting quarterback Joe Burrow threw for just 140 yards against the Hurricanes. Orgeron says they want to throw the ball more on Saturday…

Cut 8 (10) “…points.”

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After four days of hearings, Lousiaina Senator John Kennedy says will confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh as the newest member of the US Supreme Court. Kennedy, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, says a vote will occur later this month

Cut 9 (09) “…smart.”

Kennedy believes Kavanaugh will issue opinions based on what the law says and not what it should be…

Cut 10 (06) “…or think clearly”

Kennedy has also been impressed with Kavanaugh’s temperament, as the hearings have been interrupted over 200 times by protesters. Democrats are upset the White House has yet to release documents from Kavanaugh’s time as a top White House aide to President George W Bush. But Kennedy says committee chairman and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley already released 450-thousand pages of documents about Judge Kavanaugh

Cut 11 (12) “…put together.”

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LSU has adopted and begun enforcing a new policy that bars on campus organizations from distributing hard liquor at their gatherings and events. The policy has also been adopted by 6,100 fraternities across the nation in a push to curb alcohol abuse. LSU Dean of Students Mari Fuentes-Martin says they considered the proposal in spring, and got everyone on board to start the year.

Cut 12 (10)   “information” 

Non liquor based alcoholic beverages will still be permitted.

The hard alcohol ban at fraternities was put into place as a result of the suspected  hazing death of Maxwell Gruver last September, where authorities say the Phi Delta Theta pledge was pressured into chugging 190 proof booze as part of his fraternity initiation. Fuentes-Martin says it will take a lot of effort to undo the boozing cultures in frats, where even mentorship interactions involve liquor

Cut 13 (09) “are happening”

The Dean says she’s received some pushback from groups who are afraid the policy will cut back on game day fun, but on a whole she says most on campus organizations understand the need for alcohol and hazing reforms.

Cut 14 (08) “…to happen”

The North-American Interfraternity Conference national policy is now in effect at organizations on over 800 campuses.

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LSU fans can expect a new layer of security when attending games at Tiger Stadium as select gates will now be equipped with metal detectors.  LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette says the experience will be similar to going through screenings at an airport or NFL games.

Cut 3 (06) “…in New Orleans” 

Bonnette says upon completion of a bag inspection, fans will then go through the additional screening.

Cut 4 (10) “…watches or anything.”

Bonnette says this is a pilot program leading up to an SEC mandate that all events have metal detectors by 2020.

Cut 5 (05)  “…the SEC mandate .” 

 

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Two of the students involved in the alleged hazing death of Max Gruver have pleaded no contest, and a third has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a move that narrows the scope of the trial. 20-year-old Matthew Naquin still faces negligent homicide charges. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the development is a blow to Naquin’s defense, but could be used by a skillful defense lawyer.

Cut 6 (11) “…my client.”

Gruver died last year in the alleged hazing incident at the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity house. The coroner says Gruver’s blood alcohol content was .495.

Sean-Paul Gott and Ryan Isto plead no contest to misdemeanor hazing, while Patrick Forde agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, and will have his case decided later. Meche says it’s a good turn of events for the three defendants not charged with Negligent Homicide.

Cut 7 (06) “…to anything.”

Pleading no contest will prevent the charges from being brought up in the pending civil case where the Gruver family sued LSU, the Fraternity, the defendants, and other for 25 million dollars, but Meche says that’s not likely to hurt the family’s chances in the civil proceedings.

Cut 8 (08) “…their side.”

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There are many negative effects that come from the lack of the recommended amount of sleep, which is seven to eight hours nightly.  A recent study by Mattress Clarity indicates one out of five workers in Louisiana are sleeping for only five hours or less each night.  LSU Health New Orleans Associate Professor Dr. Benjamin Springgate…

Cut 9 (09) “…probably their relationships.”

Springgate says negative effects can be had on a wide variety of areas in day to day life.

Cut 10 (06) “…or think clearly”

Springgate says things that happen on the job can be part of the issue.

Cut 11 (11) “…stress can carry over.”

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says their enforcement agents issued 39 citations to 29 subjects over the Labor Day weekend for alleged dove baiting. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says for the opening weekend of dove season, they were keeping a close eye on several different fields across the state…

Cut 12 (10)   “    current regulations” 

Citations were issued to hunters in Franklin, Rapides, St. Helena, West Feliciana, Avoyelles and Evangeline Parishes. Einck says it’s illegal to  scatter salt, grain or other feed on a field to attract migratory game birds..

Cut 13 (04) “for it”

Einck says dove baiting is illegal for a reason

Cut 14 (08) “…game birds”

 

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A Baton Rouge man who’d been accused of attempted murder of a police officer during a traffic stop last month has had his charges dropped by the DA. The officer says while retreating, 21-year-old Raheem Howard fired at him, but the DA says there’s just not enough evidence to back that up. Howard’s lawyer, Ron Haley, says it’s a troubling incident that needs further investigation.

Cut 3 (07) “…looked at” 

Hamadeh fatally shot another man during during a traffic stop in 2017. No video evidence exists of that incident.

Officer Yuseff Hamadeh initiated the traffic stop on August 7^th over a missing license plate. During the stop Howard fled the scene and was pursued, at which point the Hamadeh says he was shot at, which prompted the officer to open fire. But Haley says it’s obvious at this point that Howard never shot at the officer during the chase.

Cut 4 (10) “…the officer”

District Attorney Hillar Moore says after searching the ground for additional bullet casings and questioning witnesses, they determined there was insufficient evidence to maintain Hamadeh’s version of events.

BRPD says they plan on releasing audio from the night, but the delay has rankled some community leaders who are concerned about the slow pace at which the department has released evidence, despite post-Alton Sterling claims of an expedited process. Haley says the department is in need of additional reforms.

Cut 5 (10)  “…at large .” 

Neither Howard nor Officer Hamadeh were injured in the incident. Howard is being held in jail on other warrants.

 

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Tropical Storm Gordon had little effect on Louisiana.  The storm made landfall last night near the Alabama-Mississippi line.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says when it comes to monitoring the weather, better safe than sorry.

Cut 6 (07) “…was an overreaction.”

Keim says Louisiana was spared from more serious effects from Gordon due to two factors. As it came into shore, it was further east in the cone of uncertainty, and it wasn’t as fierce as some had projected the storm to be.

Cut 7 (08) “…being a hurricane.”

Keim says portions of the state will still see much needed rainfall.

Cut 8 (08) “…today and tomorrow.”

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A conference committee began discussions on a new Farm Bill today on Capitol Hill, with Republicans pushing for major reforms to food stamp eligibility.  Congressman Ralph Abraham from Richland Parish is on the committee and he supports a work or educational requirement for an able bodied adult to be eligible for SNAP. Abraham says employers are desperate for labor, and this is a good step towards pushing the unemployed into the workforce.

 

Cut 9 (10) “…not working”

But many of those seven million job openings are minimum to low wage jobs that likely are dissuading the unemployed from joining the workforce. Abraham says a key part of the reform is finding ways to get people jobs that pay enough to get them off the dole.

Cut 10 (09) “…that issue”

Abraham says part of the food stamp reform effort is a push to provide additional financial support for SNAP beneficiaries who want to pursue job training or advance their education.

Cut 11 (07) “…to success”

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LSU’s impressive win over Miami and big move up the rankings has resulted in an increase in sales for LSU merchandise. Owner of the Purple and Gold Sports Shop, Pat Randazza, says winning on the football field always brings in more foot traffic

Cut 12 (09)   “    we know” 

Randazza says men’s polo shirts and tank tops for women are big sellers heading into Saturday’s home opener against Southeastern Louisiana.

Cut 13 (07) “kids jerseys”

Expectations were not as high heading into this season among the LSU fan base. But the Tigers showed something in their victory in Dallas over the Hurricanes. Randaazza expects an uptick in sales for at least the next couple of weeks…

Cut 14 (12) “…huge”

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St. Tammany, Washington and Tangipahoa are among the parishes in the cone of uncertainty as Gordon moves closer to the northern Gulf Coast. St. Tammany President Pat Brister says 40-thousand sandbags were distributed yesterday as there’s the potential they could see up to four inches of rain

Cut 3 (06) “…bit of water.” 

Brister says forecasters say Mississippi will get the brunt of Gordon, but St. Tammany could experience tropical storm force winds, heavy downpours and minor coastal flooding…

Cut 4 (10) “…every call”

Brister says St. Tammany government has been preparing for Gordon for most of the weekend and the public should do its part…

Cut 5 (12)  “…unaffected.” 

 

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Tropical Storm Gordon looks more like a problem for Mississippi and Alabama, as the storm is expected to make landfall late tonight on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a category 1 hurricane. Danielle Manning, with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says Gordon’s impact to Louisiana might be minimal

Cut 6 (07) “…like that.”

Gordon has maximum sustained winds at 65 miles per hour and its moving northwest at 15 miles per hour. Manning says Gordon is expected to reach hurricane strength before landfall…

Cut 7 (07) “…radar data.”

Manning says Gordon is expected to move through Mississippi tomorrow and enter northeast Louisiana as a tropical depression by night fall

Cut 8 (10) “…that area.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is asking residents in southeast Louisiana not to take Tropical Storm Gordon lightly, even though forecast models predict a landfall in Mississippi later tonight. Edwards says there is still a chance for some nasty weather in the Bayou State…

Cut 9 (12) “…four feet”

Edwards says Gordon could also deliver some bad weather to northeast Louisiana tomorrow as that region of the state is under a flash flood watch….

Cut 10 (09) “…too late”

200 Louisiana National Guardsmen have been activated in southeast Louisiana. General Glenn Curtis says they are ready to assist if water rescues are necessary…

Cut 11 (12) “…in Hammond”

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A contractor accused of ripping off customers across five parishes after the 2016 flood receives a four-year prison sentence and is forced to repay 84-thousand dollars to 11 Livingston Parish victims. 41-year-old Matthew Morris was indicted on 51 counts, but ended up pleading guilty to only one. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says the state got what it needed to out of the case.

Cut 12 (10)   “…done justice

Authorities say Morris would sign contracts with victims of the 2016 flood, and then either not finish, or never even begin work. After the clients would cease payments, Morris would place leans on their properties.

While the four-year sentence may seem light for a heinous crime, Meche says if he’s in jail for the rest of his life, he can’t complete the restitution.

Cut 13 (07) “make payment”

Morris is still facing charges in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, St. John the Baptist, and Terrebonne Parishes, But Meche says there’s a likely reason why the first cases were tried in Livingston.

Cut 14 (08) “…at that”

 

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Saturday marks the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Gustav making landfall near Cocodrie with 105 miles per winds. The storm left 1-point-5 million  without power in Louisiana and former Entergy spokesperson Jeff Holeman told Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster the outages were extensive…

Cut 3 (06) “…three weeks.” 

Houma, Baton Rouge and even central Louisiana received extensive wind damage. The recovery was slow at first because of the lack of power and Holeman remembers frustration levels were high

Cut 4 (10) “…serious thing”

Holeman says utility crew workers from 26 states and Canada came into Louisiana to help restore power lines destroyed by Gustav’s fierce winds

Cut 5 (12)  “…unaffected.” 

 

48 deaths in Louisiana were blamed on Gustav. Several people died as a result of trees falling on their homes.

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The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a parish employee on felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and illegal use of a weapon.  54 year old Brian Lambert allegedly committed the crime in front of several school children waiting at a bus stop.  Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana Jeff Dorson says the dog, a Russell Terrier/ Shih Tzu mix named Rocky, wandered onto the Lambert’s property.

Cut 6 (05) “…into the canal.”

Dorson says unless livestock is being harmed, it’s unlawful to kill a pet for going onto private property.

Cut 7 (07) “…in your property.”

Dorson says acts like shooting and killing pets in front of school children can have long lasting effects.

Cut 8 (08) “…the wrong values.”

_______________________________________

 

Get ready for monsoon season in Louisiana, because the next week is going to be one long rain storm if current models are correct about a tropical wave that’s set to enter the gulf. The wave, just off Hispaniola, is projected to impact the area early next week. National Weather Service Slidell Meteorologist Frank Rivett says it’ll be a lot of rain, but not much more than that.

Cut 9 (08) “…possible”

Rivett says the extended period of rain could lead to some flood prone areas getting hit.

Cut 10 (07) “…certainly possible”

And before that tropical wave washes over the state…

Cut 11 (08) “…the weekend”

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The Ragin’ Cajuns are upping their sustainability game on game days. UL Lafayette has removed all of the trash bins at Cajun Field, and replaced them with options for either organic composting, or bins for recycling to address the environmental impact of the over ten tons of trash produced at games. Office of Sustainability Director Gretchen Vanicor says it’s taken a lot of coordination to pull off.

Cut 12 (11)   “…it work”

She estimates the work will generate about 20 cubic yards of compost.

And anyone familiar with composting knows… it stinks, but Vanicor says that’s been taken into account and the actual composting work will be done far away from discerning noses.

Cut 13 (12) “surrdouning it”

Its part of the school’s ongoing sustainability efforts that started in 2014 when the Cajuns set a target of zero waste at all school events. Vanicor says the program’s popularity became obvious when the volunteers began to flood in after it was announced.

Cut 14 (11) “…to volunteer”

The new composting efforts will be in effect for the season opener tomorrow against Grambling. The game kicks off at 6PM.