_______________________________________________

With no hot races in Louisiana, a low voter turnout is expected for the November 6th election, but JMC Analytics Publisher John Couvillon is even more bullish, saying turnout could be close to 30-percent, because of the national political climate.

Cut 3 (08) “…peer pressure there.” 

Analysts say national turnout could crack 55 percent, which would be more than double the 2014 midterm numbers.

Couvillon says the only Congressional race that may get a bit interest is the 3rd district, where Clay Higgins faces a Republican challenger and a crowded democratic field. Even then the analyst says he expects Higgins to avoid a run-off, and the rest of the congressional races shouldn’t be close…

Cut 4 (11) “…near 80.″

If any candidates fail to crack 50 percent, the election run-offs would be held December 8^th.

Couvillon says Secretary of State Candidates are still flying under the radar. The pollster says that’s due to the position’s low profile, and fundraising difficulties.

Cut 5 (11)  “…full rotation” 

Early voting for the November ballot runs through Tuesday, but closed on Sunday.

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A Moss Bluff man is facing charges of attempted second degree murder after allegedly shooting at his wife.  Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso says 36 year old Robert Moreau was driving home with his wife from a party with a gun in his lap when he threatened to shoot her.  It escalated as they got home.

Cut 6 (09)  “…grab the gun.”

Upon disarming Moreau, one of the couple’s three sons, ages 10, 12, and 14, then pulls another gun on Moreau and threatened him if he doesn’t leave their mother alone.  Mancuso says this did not sit well with Moreau.

Cut 7 (10)  “…and taking shots”

The rest of the family fled to a neighbor’s house, while Moreau took off in his truck.  Authorities tried to stop him, but Mancuso says the Moreau led them on a 4 mile pursuit.

Cut 8 (11) “…to do that.”

Moreau’s bond was set just shy of a quarter million dollars.

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LSU says the SEC will not overturn Devin White’s suspension for the first half of the Alabama game, because of targeting a Mississippi State player. So can legal action be taken? Legal analyst Tim Meche says LSU would have no problem finding a Baton Rouge judge to grant a temporary injunction, but it comes with a risk

Cut 9 (10)  “bowl game”

Suspended Hahnville High School quarterback, Andrew Robison, received a court order to play football, but he’s yet to take the field, because the LHSAA could hand down future penalties. Meche says the same thing could happen to LSU, if a judge ruled White can play Bama…

Cut 10 (08)  “…the SEC”

Meche says it would be a stretch for a group of fans to file a lawsuit against the SEC and get a judge to grant a temporary injunction against the suspension and it’s unlikely LSU or White will take legal action. His advice as a legal mind and fan is for the program to move on

Cut 11 (07) “the game”

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The Advocate newspaper reports that Marquette Transportation, the barge operator that’s responsible for hitting the Sunshine Bridge at Donaldsonville, had 32 collisions or “brush-ups” with bridges since 2013, and were not penalized. Ascension Parish Council Chairman Bill Dawson says their piloting should have been addressed much sooner.

Cut 12 (09)   “…true there”

Dawson worked for decades and is currently a consultant in the industry, and when asked if the pilot who took the crane barge into the bridge should have been allowed out on the water…

Cut 13 (06) “…solution.”

The report shows the US Coast Guard has not referred the company for penalties despite incidents that have caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage that triggered “informal investigations”. Dawson says it’s clear the Coast Guard needs to reform how it tracks company and pilot accidents on the river.

Cut 14 (11) “…lower level.”

According to the report, Marquette Transportation collision or near miss incidents have not resulted in fatalities, or enough damage to trigger a more substantial investigation by higher levels of the guard.

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A woman who says she was raped 20 years ago recognizes her alleged rapist at a wedding reception last June and now that man is behind bars. 38-year-old John Louis Davis of Baker has been charged with aggravated rape after the woman got his name and contacted authorities. Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Don Coppola says the rape occurred during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day in 1998

Cut 3 (07) “…this lady.” 

Coppola says they believe they got the right guy, because the woman recently picked Davis out of a photo lineup and DNA evidence connects Davis to the crime…

Cut 4 (08) “…booked accordingly.″

Coppola says the victim did the right thing by alerting authorities after she recognized her attacker 20 years later

Cut 5 (10)  “…to his arrest” 

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LSU will wear special uniforms versus Mississippi State Saturday night that will commemorate the “Silent Season” of 1918, where the Tigers did not play football because of World War One. LSU equipment manager Greg Stringfellow says the timing seems right to conduct a tribute of this nature.

Stringfellow says the jersey and pants will be white, the numbers are purple and no name on the back to honor the unknown members of the LSU community who died in World War One.

Stringfellow says the paint scheme of the color changing helmet has an iridescent effect between purple and gold, not only showcases the school colors but is a reference to the history of Mardi Gras.

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It may be a warmer than normal winter outlook across most of the country, but forecasts say Louisiana will be in for an average Bayou Winter, with above average rain totals. State Climatologist Barry Keim says that’s due to the likely presence of a weak El Nino that’s sending cloudy weather our way.

Cut 9 (10)  “than normal”

That weak El Nino will mean more stormy weather for the gulf coast, but Keim says they aren’t the same as those Hurricane Season monsters that pummel us during summer.

Cut 10 (09)  “…rainfall”

And for those excited about a great possibility of snow due to the higher than average rainfall totals, Keim says you may want to temper your expectations.

Cut 11 (07) “in Louisiana”

No part of the country is expected to see colder than normal temperatures this season.

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A tip from the Sabine Parish Sherriff’s Office led to the arrest of a man in Waveland, Mississippi, who allegedly killed 23-year-old Lynnquithis January of Many. Joe Dewil says the suspect, 23-year-old Darrell Williams Junior was living in  Mississippi at the time he committed the crime.

Cut 12 (07)   “…the murder.”

When Hancock County Deputies pulled over Williams Jr. and his wife, they say they discovered 3.5 pounds of pot, a .40 caliber, and 11,000 in cash.  Dewil says despite the charges in Waveland, Williams will likely be extradited to Louisiana soon.

Cut 13 (07) “…there”

January was killed June 18th at a Many apartment complex. Dewil says it’s been an extensive investigation spanning multiple departments across two states.

Cut 14 (10) “…office.”

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Bad news for those who use the Sunshine Bridge at Donaldsonville. Transportation officials say the highway that links both sides of Ascension Parish will be closed for weeks, because extensive repairs are needed after a crane barge hit the structure. Donaldsonville Mayor Leroy Sullivan understands the frustration…

Cut 3 (09) “…to work.” 

Sullivan says the bridge’s closure is also impacting local businesses and it will cause problems for emergency vehicles trying to respond to a call for help…

Cut 4 (12) “…counts″

State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they have identified a contractor to make the repairs to the bridge, but it’s not an easy fix. Sullivan says from what he’s been told by DOTD officials, the structure took a huge hit…

Cut 5 (09)  “…very serious” 

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Another round of Louisiana emergency response officials have been dispatched to the Panhandle to aid Floridians impacted by the devastating Hurricane Michael. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says has a team member there helping to get gasoline into the hurricane stricken area….

Cut 6 (07)  “…fuel operations.”

Six Louisiana Homeland Security and Preparedness team members have also entered the disaster zone.

Strain says his team, and GOHSEP, train year round to respond to disasters in Louisiana, but their unique level of experience has made Bayou State emergency response officials coveted members of the nationwide response to disaster.

Cut 7 (10)  “…other nations”

Strain says the response team may be set to come home in two weeks.

Cut 8 (10) “…standby”

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You can now purchase alcohol at grocery stores and gas stations in unincorporated areas of Ouachita parish on Sundays as result of a 4-2 vote by the Ouachita Parish Policy Jury. Jury President Scotty Robinson says he voted for the ordinance, after polling residents

Cut 9 (12)  “…;lost the bet”

Religious leaders argued that alcohol should not be sold on Sunday, because it’s the Lord’s Day. Others raised concerns that it will lead to more alcohol abuse. But Robinson says most people who buy alcohol, drink responsibly….

Cut 10 (08)  “…drunkard”

Robinson says they heard from business owners who support Sunday alcohol sales, because they can not compete with stores in Monroe, Sterlington and Richwood, where you can already buy alcohol on Sundays…

Cut 11 (03) “…leveled out”

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The Mega Millions jackpot for tonight is the third largest jackpot in US lottery history and its the most ever for the multi-state lottery game. The payout is 667-million dollars, or over 372 million if you take the straight cash option. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the demand has been remarkable.

Cut 12 (06)   “…ever.”

And it’s built up that near record breaking jackpot in roughly only three months. Annison says last time around someone on the west coast took the win.

Cut 13 (08) “…could hit.”

Annison wants to remind folks that the lotto does provide a good deal of funding to state education coffers, so if you don’t take home the big prize, there’s still something to be happy about.

Cut 14 (07) “education.”

The lotto contributed 3.5 billion in revenue to the state since its founding in 1991.

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The Legislative Auditor says there’s some problems with child care standards in Louisiana. Auditor Krista Baker-Hernandez says the state lacks many of the nationally recognized regulations on child care, such as our core licensing standards…

Cut 3 (11) “…providers.” 

The report revealed Louisiana is one of only eight states to allow unlicensed caregivers to watch over six children at a time. Baker-Hernandez says when someone is suspected of improprieties, there’s not an effective process to follow up with a proper investigation.

Cut 4 (11) “…illegally″

And when those improprieties were discovered, Baker-Hernandez says they discovered the Department of Education did not always pursue proper disciplinary measurers.

Cut 5 (10)  “…investigations.” 

LDE says they agree with the Auditor’s findings, and are taking steps to implement new policy.

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It’s unknown when the Sunshine Bridge in Donaldsonville will re-open. It’s been closed since Friday morning when a barge with a large crane on it slammed into the 54-year-old bridge causing extensive damage. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they are working on plans to make the repairs

Cut 6 (08)  “…part done.”

About 25-thousand travelers use the bridge to get across the Mississippi River on a daily basis. Mallett says motorists are encouraged to use the Veterans Memorial Bridge as an alternate river crossing. He says they also have two ferries in Plaquemine running longer hours…

Cut 7 (10)  “…as well”

Mallett says several vital components of the bridge are in need of repair, so they can NOT even use a portion of the bridge for traffic, while repairs are being made…

Cut 8 (10) “…longer trip”

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LSU will have to open up its wallet, because the SEC has fined the school 100-thousand dollars because fans rushed the field following the Tigers upset victory over Georgia. Athletic Director Joe Alleva shares the conference’s concerns for safety, but linebacker Michael Divinity appreciated Tiger Nation’s passion…

Cut 9 (12)  “…thank the fans”

If LSU beats Alabama in three weeks and the fans rush the field again, the fine will increase to 250-thousand dollars. Louisiana native and Coach Ed Orgeron says celebrating the victory with the fans on the field was a special moment…

Cut 10 (11)  “…picture yet”

The fine money will go the SEC’s post-graduate scholarship fund. Wide receiver Justin Jefferson says the fans were a big part in the win over Georgia…

Cut 11 (08) “…our energy”

_______________________

The first ad of the Secretary of State’s race is out, and despite being a nominally non-partisan position, the ad is chock full of red meat for conservatives. It’s being aired by Interim Secretary Kyle Ardoin. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it’s a bureaucratic position, but highlighting your technical qualifications probably won’t get you elected.

Cut 12 (10)   “…anybody.”

Stockley says Ardoin’s ad will likely help deflect heat from a scandal at his office involving alleged bid rigging in the bidding process for new voting machines.

Ardoin served as Assistant Secretary since 2010, but took over the lead seat back in May after his former boss resigned in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. Stockley says despite being able to call it a “reelection’ campaign…

Cut 13 (10) “…position.”

The victim of the alleged harassment claims Ardoin was aware of his boss’s actions at the time. Ardoin denies those allegations.

Republican opponents have been hammering Ardoin for alleged improprieties with one even going as far as saying removing him would remove the scandal from the office, so Stockley says they likely won’t be too happy about the ad’s message.

Cut 14 (11) “to this.”

_______________

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LSU President F. King Alexander is defending the university’s decision to use a holistic admission standards, in the wake of reports that 7.5 percent of the freshman class did not meet traditional GPA or ACT requirements. On Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster, Alexander said sometimes scores don’t tell the full story about a prospective student’s aptitude.

Cut 3 (11) “…junior year” 

previously the board of regents allowed for four percent of students to fall below the 3.0 GPA and 22 ACT requirement.

Alexander says the process benefits not only those who’ve had family hardship, but also out of state students who excelled academically, but did not have a high school curriculum that included all of the classes necessary to attend LSU.

cut 4 (09) “…vanishes immediately″

All but three SEC schools use the holistic approach, those schools being Bama, Arkansas, and Ole Miss, who is about to change to the policy in the near the future. Alexander says while the new policy will help high out of state achievers make it to Baton Rouge, it won’t keep out locals.

Cut 5 (10)  “…of state” 

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A meter reader for Entergy has been fired after falsifying meter readings and now about four-thousand Entergy customers in southeast Louisiana are experiencing sticker shock with their latest bills. Entergy Vice President of Distribution Melonie Stewart…

Cut 6 (11)  “…the normal bill .”

Stewart says after a rereading of the meters, they have the most accurate measure of the energy used by customers.

Cut 7 (05)  “…energy they used.”

Stewart says they are giving customers many months to pay the heavy bill.

Cut 8 (07) “…right for them.”

Stewart says there is no word on the meter readers motivation in the falsified readings.

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The Office of State Procurement voids a multi-million dollar contract that would have replaced the state’s aging voting machines. Louisiana’s chief procurement officer found flaws in how interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin selected Dominion Voting Systems. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this could hurt Ardoin’s chances in the Secretary of State race…

Cut 9 (06)  “…don’t know.”

Ardoin is one of nine candidates seeking election to the Secretary of State’s post. The election is November sixth. But Pinsonat says the candidates in the race will bring this up on why Ardoin shouldn’t be elected…

Cut 10 (07)  “…favor”

The Secretary of State’s office is appealing the decision and Ardoin says the Edwards administration rejected the contract, because a lobbyist for a losing bidder is a supporter of the governor. Pinsonat says name recognition is lacking in the Secretary of State’s race, so the candidates are taking a risk by paying for commercial spots to attack Ardoin…

Cut 11 (09) “…negatives on him.”

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For the first time in a long time, much of the state will see low temperatures into the 50s tomorrow morning. Rob Megnia, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says the summer heat has finally dissipated…

Cut 12 (08)   “…70-degrees”

Megnia says the cool air will remain in place for the rest of the week, with a slight warm-up beginning on Saturday….

Cut 13 (08) “ on Saturday”

Megnia says another cold front is expected early next week…

Cut 14 (11) “like Fall”

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About 90 first responders from Louisiana have been deployed to Florida to assist with search and rescue operations that will likely occur along the panhandle as a result of Hurricane Michael. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says a caravan of vehicles towing boats left their headquarters this morning…

Cut 3 (10) “…water rescue” 

 

The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Michael has the potential of producing life-threatening storm surge and flash floods. Browning says once the hurricane passes, the Louisiana team will quickly work to save lives…

cut 4 (12) “…trapped people″

The state fire marshal’s office is sending over a dozen employees to Florida. The delegation also contains 75 firefighters and medics from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Alexandria and Monroe, who make up the state’s Urban Search Rescue taskforces. Browning says these men and women will make Louisiana proud…

Cut 5 (09)  “…we had” 

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Mississippi says they pulled in 660,000 dollars in revenue from legalized sports betting in just the first month of casino operators taking bets. Metairie Senator Danny Martiny is a supporter of sports betting in Louisiana. Martiny says Mississippi’s initial revenue haul is not huge, but it could indicate a larger problem for the Bayou State casinos.

Cut 6 (09)  “…from gaming.”

That cash will go towards infrastructure projects in the Magnolia State.

Martiny is in Las Vegas attending a gaming conference speaking with officials from other states who have legalized sports betting. He says in the wake of the Supreme Court decision that allowed states to regulate sports betting, there’s been a rush of innovation in the industry, a rush Louisiana is missing out on.

Cut 7 (08)  “…thing else.”

So, Martiny says he plans on using the successes in other states as examples when he brings a new, more comprehensive sports gaming bill to the floor of the legislature next year.

Cut 8 (07) “…like that”

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A lawsuit alleging unconstitutional medical care for people incarcerated at Angola is underway in a federal court in Baton Rouge.  The suit alleges inmates have become paralyzed, required amputations, and died from undiagnosed or untreated health problems.  Executive Director of The Promise of Justice Initiative, Mercedes Montagnes…

Cut 9 (07)  “…accessing the facility.”

Montagnes says several factors contribute to why the conditions are so alarming.

Cut 10 (09)  “…standards of delivery.”

Montagnes does hope that a positive ruling in this case will see change in the way Angola handles medical treatment.

Cut 11 (10) “…with disabilities act..”

The Louisiana Department of Corrections says they do not comment on pending litigation.

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Colordo State hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach says today is the first time on record there are three Atlantic named storms with maximum sustained winds of at least 65 miles per hour in October. Klotzbach says there’s of course Hurricane Michael, but there’s also Hurricane Leslie and Tropical Storm Nadine in the middle of the Atlantic

Cut 12 (08)   “…conducive” 

There have been 12 named storms this year. Colorado State began the year with the prediction of 14 named storms and the hope an El Nino would form to reduce the potential of storm activity as the season went on. But Klotzbach says that hasn’t happened….

Cut 13 (08) “…there yet”

When Klotzbach’s team updated its forecast in August, they predicted a below-average season. He says with three named storms this week, there forecast ended up a little off…

Cut 14 (11) “…October”

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It was an emotional night in the Mercedes Benz Superdome last night as the Saints Drew Brees became the NFL’s all-time passing yards leader. He surpassed Peyton Manning’s record on a 62-yard touchdown pass. Brees admits the achievement brought him to tears

Cut 3 (12) “…part of this” 

 

Once he broke the record late in the first half in a 43-19 rout of Washington. Brees celebrated with his teammates, his coach Sean Payton and his family. The 39-year-old QB hugged and kissed his wife and four children.  Brees also thought about the people who are no longer here

cut 4 (12) “…down on me″

Brees is glad he broke the record at the Superdome…

Cut 5 (11)  “…like it” 

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A 20 year old Shreveport woman and her one year old child are recovering after they were shot in their home at around 3:30 this morning. Police say a car stopped in front of the home and someone started shooting. Cpl. Angie Willhite says initially the injuries to the child appeared to be life threatening.

Cut 6 (06)  “…that gunshot injury.”

Willhite says the investigators continue to collect evidence in this case and at this time, says the gunfire came from outside of the house, striking the two inside the home.

Cut 7 (07)  “…yet or type.”

Willhite says they are asking for the public’s help with this situation and encourages anyone that knows anything to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Cut 8 (05) “…we need that information.”

__________________________

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries hopes to get approval to use some BP cash to rebuild the brown pelican habitat on Queen Bess Island in Barataria Bay. It’s home to the site of the first effort to reintroduce pelicans to the Pelican State in 1968. Coastal Resource Scientist Manager Todd Baker says the crucial habitat is eroding away.

Cut 9 (11) “…at best”

The state received 148 million dollars after the 2010 BP Oil spill to bolster coastal rookeries.

Baker says the degradation of coastal habitats for the birds is been linked to difficulties in keeping them in state. This means once the birds grow up, they might not stick around our bayou.

Cut 10 (12) “…taken care of.” 

Once the engineering plans are finalized, and if approved by the Louisiana Restoration Area Trustee Implementation Group, they’ll set to work building up the island so at least two thirds of it are above the tidal range.

Cut 11 (09)“…mangrove.”

If approved Baker says the projects could take off in 2019.

_______________________

A UL-Lafayette professor has been given a 250,000 dollar grant to take an in depth look at how south central Louisiana seafood makes it from the water to your dinner plate. Dr. Geoffrey Stewart got the grant from the US Department of Agriculture. Stewart says he’s looking to better understand that supply chain, and look for ways to improve its efficiency.

Cut 12 (10)   “…marketplace” 

The fishing industry is vital in St. Mary, Vermilion, and Iberia Parishes, the areas of focus for the study. Stewart says despite its importance to the region, we still don’t have a comprehensive understanding of how the supply chain works, and where it can be improved.

Cut 13 (11) “…new people”

Part of the research will bring in veteran fishermen who can give firsthand accounts of just how the sausage gets made.

Cut 14 (07) “…over time”

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