LSU has completed its contract with the company that will grow medical marijuana, clearing the way for cultivation to begin. Michael Farrar reports..:

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

______________________________________

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center receives a six-million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study how to improve soldiers’ nutrition. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Four sheriff’s offices have filed state lawsuits in an effort to stop the opioid abuse epidemic. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

___________________________________________________

LSU has taken the final step in the medical marijuana contract process, which means patients with debilitating conditions could have the drug in their hands some time next year. LSU vice president for Agriculture Dr. Bill Richardson says the agreement with the cannabis company GB Sciences is done; and he predicts they’ll be moving quickly to begin cultivation…:

Cut 4  (08) “East Baton Rouge Parish”

Richardson says GB Sciences has a first-class production and research facility. He says he visited the operation in Las Vegas a few weeks ago and was extraordinarily impressed, especially with their commitment to medical…:

Cut 5  (10)  “recreational side”

Richardson says he doesn’t know when the drug will be available in 2018, because they have to make sure everything is done right…:

Cut 6 (10) “endeavor”

________________________________________________________

Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been awarded a 6.7 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study military nutrition and metabolism research. Researcher Dr. Jennifer Rood (Rude) says they will focus on how to ensure a healthy and fit military…

Cut 7 (11)  “situation”

Rood says Pennington has worked to improve the performance of the U.S. military for the last 29 years. She says the facility has the expertise to conduct research that’s not available within the Department of Defense.

Cut 8 (11) “United States”

Pennington is the only entity that has received funding for this work and they are the number one provider of nutritional information for the Department of Defense. Rood says this research could change the eating habits of soldiers.

Cut 9 (08)  “the globe”

____________________________________________________

Four sheriff’s offices in Louisiana have filed lawsuits against drug companies and physicians for allegedly helping to grow the opioid crisis. Attorney David Laborde says the defendants have misrepresented the proper use of opioids which has led to an epidemic and an uptick in crime

Cut 10 (12) “as inmates”

Avoyelles, Lafayette, Jefferson Davis and Rapides have filed lawsuits in state courts in their respective parishes. Laborde says the sheriff’s offices are seeking to recoup the money law enforcement has spent on dealing with the opioid epidemic…

Cut 11 (12) “misuse”

Laborde says data from 2015 shows there were more opioid prescriptions than residents, which is a key argument in their lawsuit. He says opioids were originally intended to be used for just a short period in particular with those experiencing end of life pain…

Cut 12 (09) “the country”

__________________________________________________________

Two elected officials in the northwest Louisiana town of Stanley suffered burns from an explosion at their home. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle says Mayor Sharon Fletcher and her mother Dwena Henry, who is the alderman and former mayor, suffered burns on their bodies. He says the 92-year-old Henry is fighting for her life…

Cut 13 (07) “and released”

A third person, William Roe, also suffered burns in the explosion and should be released from the hospital today. Arbuckle says Henry suffered third-degree burns over 50-percent of her body and the town of Stanley is praying for her recovery….

Cut 14 (09) “well thought of”

Arbuckle says Henry is lucky to be alive and doctors say the next 48 hours will be critical. The sheriff says she is a vital part of the community as she’s served as mayor, now alderwoman and in February retired as the scorekeeper of the Stanley High basketball for 55 years…

Cut 15 (09) “Mrs Dwena”

____________________________________________

LSU football coach Ed Orgeron is confident his team will rebound from Saturday’s shocking 30-point loss to Mississippi State. Orgeron believes the loss to the Bulldogs could be a turning point for the Tigers

Cut 16  (18)  “of the season”

Nearly every LSU player performed badly against State, including senior quarterback Danny Etling, who completed just 45-percent of his passes for 137 yards. True freshman Myles Brennan watched from the sidelines, but Orgeron says Brennan might play more in the near future

Cut 17 (17)  “same goes”

Running back Derius Guice the lack of production on offense on Saturday was not all Etling’s fault, it was a breakdown by the entire unit….

Cut 18 (12) “next game” 

On defense, the Tigers lost outside contain on numerous occasions, which led to big gains on the ground. Cornerback Donte Jackson says the corners and safeties have to do a better job at keeping ball carriers in the middle of the field…

Cut 19 (19)   bad position“

A person of interest in the fatal shooting of two black men in Baton Rouge last week has been released on bond. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Whether or not charges will be filed in the case of the LSU freshman who died in a possible hazing incident is still a long way from being known. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

A Baton Rouge man considered a person of interest in the shooting deaths of two black men last week, has bonded out of jail. 23-year-old Kenneth Gleason was arrested over the weekend on drug charges. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola says Gleason has yet to be cleared of the homicides.

Cut 3 (09) “together”

The first murder took place last Tuesday night when 59-year-old Bruce Cofield was fatally shot and on Thursday, near LSU, 49-year-old Donald Smart was shot to death while walking to work. Coppola says Gleason was in a vehicle that matched the description from the two homicide investigations. He says they are still working to determine a motive.

Cut 4  (08) “possible motive”

Coppola says Gleason was charged with possession of a schedule one, marijuana and a schedule three, human growth hormone. He says the circumstances surrounding both shootings are extremely similar.

Cut 5  (09)  “two together”

________________________________________________

The White House holds a summit with presidents of black colleges today, but Grambling State President Rick Gallot is not there. Gallot says he’s not boycotting, but there’s a lot happening on Grambling campus’ between the start of a new semester and football season…

Cut 6 (07) “this year”

New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says he’s not surprised many black college presidents have declined to come. Richmond says policies need to be established to help these schools with scholarships, campus infrastructure and teacher pay. Gallot adds they are still waiting for a person to be named to head the White House Initiative on HBCUs….

Cut 7 (11)  “with my schedule”

Gallot attended a White House meeting earlier this year and he’s pleased they’ve re-opened the access to Pell Grants for summer school students…

Cut 8 (07) “right direction”

__________________________________________________________

East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore says it will probably be a while before they’ll know if charges will be brought in the case of the LSU freshman who died in a possible hazing incident at his fraternity. Preliminary autopsy findings indicated that 18-year-old Max Gruver had high levels of alcohol in his system at the time of death. Moore says this investigation will be long:

Cut 9 (05)  “60 people”

The official cause of death from the coroner’s office may not be known for several weeks as they await toxicology results. Moore says some members of the fraternity were fully cooperative with LSU police…:

Cut 10 (08) “yet to be interviewed”

Attorneys say whether or not felony charges would be brought likely depends on if there is evidence of hazing. Moore says he’s met with the Gruver family and they are devastated…:

Cut 11 (08) “pick up your son”

__________________________________________________________

The Louisiana Democratic Party opposes U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s and three other Republican lawmakers bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Party Spokesperson D’Seante Parks says this legislation would end the Medicaid expansion, which covers more than 430-thousand Louisiana residents.

Cut 12 (11) “health insurance” 

Parks says every resident should have access to affordable healthcare and Cassidy’s legislation to provide block grant funding to the state will make it more difficult for low income individuals to purchase coverage.

Cut 13 (11) “lowering costs “

Parks says it’s important to protect the Affordable Care Act, because it has allowed many individuals to finally have access to affordable health insurance….

(Cassidy says his legislation will give power to the states when it comes to how health care should be offered in this country. He says that will hope lower premiums and the ball also calls for the end of the individual and employer mandate.)

Cut 14 (10) “their families”

__________________________________________________________

State leaders are in Washington D.C. today meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the Comite River Diversion Canal. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

It was a rough weekend for Louisiana’s two most popular football teams. Jeff Palermo looks back at LSU’s 37-7 shocking loss to Mississippi State….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

While the nation saw an increase in median household income in 2016, Louisiana saw the largest decline in the country at 2.1-percent. Michael Farrar has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

___________________________________________________

Today, Governor John Bel Edwards and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson are in Washington D.C. to meet with the US Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the long-delayed Comite River Diversion Canal, a flood control project for the Baton Rouge area. Wilson says the state has committed a significant amount of resources for this project, and it’s time for the Corps to do their part…:

Cut 4  (10) “for the state match”

Wilson says the project, intended to be funded by the Corps, was approved in 1992, and has been tied up over the years in federal bureaucracy. He says they know that the floods of 2016 would have been lessened to a certain extent by this project, and Louisiana is ready to move the ball…:

Cut 5  (10)  “its obligations”

Wilson says the project would be a channel that diverts water out of the Comite, and takes it directly to the Mississippi River and away from more populated areas. He says the dollars that the state has ready to spend will help move the project forward, but the feds need to commit to getting it done:

Cut 6 (07) “we will proceed”

________________________________________________________

For the fourth consecutive year, the Saints have started 0-2 as they dropped a 36-20 decision to the New England Patriots. Quarterback Tom Brady scorched the New Orleans defense for 447 yards and three touchdowns. On offense, the Saints converted just 33% of their third down opportunities.  

Cut 7 (12)  “us  a chance”

The Patriots jumped out to a 20-3 lead as Brady made it look easy. Payton says the lack of a pass rush allowed the Pats to put up 557 total yards of offense.

Cut 8 (12) “much time”

The Saints have now lost 11 of their last 12 games in the month of September. They travel to Carolina this Sunday and Payton believes this team can turn things around. 

Cut 9 (13)  “made of”

____________________________________________________

The median household income in Louisiana declined by over 2-percent in 2016, the largest decrease in the nation according to Census Figures. Dr. LSU Economist Loren Scott says this decrease is a result of the struggling oil and gas industry. He says we have three metropolitan areas that are in a recession, Houma, Lafayette and Shreveport.

Cut 10 (08) “oil patches”

Scott says there are definitely signs of optimism for better numbers in 2017. He says the rate of decline in both Houma and Lafayette has significantly lessened.

Cut 11 (10) “the state”

Louisiana looks to be improving as we gained 24,200 nonfarm jobs since August of last year. Scott says the job numbers have been up for May, June, and July.

Cut 12 (10) “oil patch”

__________________________________________________________

Attorney General Jeff Landry is alerting consumers to be on the lookout when buying vehicles, as nearly one million vehicles were flooded in Texas and Florida during recent hurricanes. Landry says these flood-damaged vehicles could end up on the streets and sold to unsuspecting car buyers…

Cut 13 (10) “ride”

Landry says fraudsters tend to cross state lines to avoid scrutiny and they work to obtain false titles to hide flood damage. He advises consumers to obtain a vehicle history report. The A-G says when shopping on the lot, there are some things you can look for that could point to a previously flooded vehicle…

Cut 14 (11) “of water”

Landry says if you suspect someone is knowingly selling a flood damaged vehicle, contact your local authorities or call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 351-4889.

Cut 15 (11) “to justice”

____________________________________________

“Tell the truth Monday” will not be kind for the LSU Tigers after they were embarrassed 37-7 by Mississippi State. The Tigers were beat at the line of scrimmage, the defense had blown assignments and LSU also committed 9 penalties for 112 yards. Quarterback Danny Etling is bothered by the high number of penalties…

Cut 16  (15)  “shoot yourself in your foot”

The loss drops LSU’s record to 2-1. Etling says he’s not giving up on the season and is eager to correct the mistakes that led to Saturday’s blowout loss…

Cut 17 (18)  “better leader”

LSU is back in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night as they host Syracuse. Etling says he’s ready to lead the team back into the win column…

Cut 18 (11) “going again” 

__________________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech rallied back from a 22-13 4th quarterpas deficit to beat conference rival Western Kentucky 23-22. Jonathan Barnes 22-yard field goal with two seconds left gave the Bulldogs an important win as they look to win the Conference USA western division. Barnes had three field goals on the night…

Cut 19 (19)   big time“

The victory ended Western Kentucky’s 13-game home winning streak in conference games. Sophomore quarterback J’mar Smith passed for 306 yards.

cut 20 (17)  “the victory” 

The preliminary autopsy report on the LSU student who died during a possible fraternity hazing incident has been released. Jeff Palermo reports…:

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

LSU opens SEC play tomorrow night with a battle against the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. Jeff Palermo has a preview…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark has released preliminary autopsy findings on the body of the 18-year-old LSU student who died in what the university had called a possible hazing incident at his fraternity. Clark says they did not find any internal or external signs of trauma on Maxwell Gruver:

Cut 3 (06) “the hospital”

Clark says Gruver was driven to the hospital in a private vehicle from the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house and was later pronounced dead. His office will provide a comprehensive toxicology test which takes as long as four weeks to complete. Clark says they also discovered that Gruver had some swelling in the brain and lungs…:

Cut 4  (09) “around death”

LSU is investigating the incident and the fraternity to see if hazing played a role in Gruver’s death. Clark says many people don’t realize that even though alcohol is legal, it still has potentially dangerous adverse effects..:

Cut 5  (09)  “some trouble”

________________________________________________

There’s a lot of excitement surrounding Saturday’s SEC opener for LSU and Mississippi State. Kick-off in Starkville is at 6 PM. Director of Tourism for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Jennifer Prather, says fans wearing Purple and Gold started arriving on Thursday….

Cut 6 (10) “with us”

The 12th ranked Tigers and Bulldogs are both 2-0 and this is a critical game for both programs. Prather says SEC Nation will broadcast live from their tailgating spot The Junction on Saturday morning….

Cut 7 (10)  “to Saturday”

Prather says they anticipate LSU and State fans will attend tonight’s Bulldog Bash, which is hailed as Mississippi’s largest outdoor free concert

Cut 8 (11) “as well”

__________________________________________________________

An Alexandria Police officer has been booked into the Rapides Parish detention center on malfeasance and drug charges. State Trooper Scott Moreau says State Police received a tip last month regarding criminal activity involving 42-year-old Kenneth Thomas of Deville

Cut 9 (09)  “illegal drugs”

Moreau says Louisiana State Police is leading the investigation and it’s difficult when it leads to the arrest of a person wearing a badge…

Cut 10 (09) “your own”

Alexandria Police Chief Neal Bates says Officer Thomas has been placed on Administrative Leave. Moreau says their month long investigation revealed that Thomas had sex with at least one woman, while on-duty, and distributing illegal drugs….

Cut 11 (09) “detention center”

__________________________________________________________

The principal wanted by Baton Rouge police after allegedly locking a 5-year-old in a closet has turned himself in to authorities. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says 31-year-old Shafeeq Deen has been charged with cruelty to a juvenile and false imprisonment.

Cut 12 (10) “additional charges”

McKneely says other students at Laurel Oaks Charter School are coming forward claiming Deen punished them in similar ways.

Cut 13 (10) “other students “

McKneely says investigators determined Deen locked the student in the closet as a means of disciplinary action. He says luckily other teachers heard the 5-year-old crying.

Cut 14 (08) “had occurred”

__________________________________________________________

LSU AgCenter researchers are looking into the benefits of crawfish, other than just a springtime treat. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Starting with tonight’s games, several Louisiana high schools are taking in part in “Touchdowns Against Cancer,” which benefits St. Judes. Michelle Southern reports..:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says get ready for threats from the governor because of the state’s budget situation. Michael Farrar has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

___________________________________________________

LSU AgCenter Researchers are studying the benefits of crawfish, as more than just a tailgating treat. Researcher and food processing and engineering professor Subramaniam (Sue-bruh-muniam) Sathivel (Sat-ee-vawl) says currently, the tail meat from a crawfish is what is consumed. But he says they wanted to see what could be done with the undersized mud bugs, which have virtually no economic value.

Cut 4  (09) “minced meat”

The minced meat, which is collected though a deboning machine, could be used for crawfish patties or crawfish flavoring. Sathivel says they are also researching how an antioxidant from the crustacean could help with Alzheimer’s disease.

Cut 5  (11)  “beta-carotene”

Sathivel says in addition, this antioxidant can help with obesity related to stress and diabetes. He says this development will not only provide significant health benefits but…

Cut 6 (08) “a key”

________________________________________________________

Starting with tonight’s games, several Louisiana high schools are taking in part in “Touchdowns Against Cancer,” an initiative which directly benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Ascension Episcopal in Lafayette is one of those, and Blue Gators Head Football coach Matthew Desormeaux says the campaign lets their fans pledge a donation for every touchdown scored…:

Cut 7 (07)  “to help them out”

The effort is in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and runs through September 30th. Desormeaux says this gives them just another reason they have to score as many touchdowns as possible…:

Cut 8 (06) “do over there”

St. Jude leads the way in how the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Desormeaux says he hopes this fundraiser gets a lot of attention so more varsity coaches in Louisiana will join next year…:

Cut 9 (07)  “jumping on”

____________________________________________________

An 18-year-old LSU freshman from Georgia has died in what university officials are calling a possible hazing incident at Phi Delta Theta Fraternity House. LSU System President F King Alexander says the death of Maxwell Gruver is tragic and untimely….

Cut 10 (10) “utmost seriousness”

Gruver was pronounced dead at a local hospital and Alexander says it is believed alcohol is involved. Alexander says hazing will not be tolerated at LSU….

Cut 11 (11) “thorough investigation”

Phil Delta has been suspended by the school and national organization. Alexander says a young man’s life was cut short on Wednesday night and it didn’t need to happen…

Cut 12 (09) “period”

__________________________________________________________

House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says get ready to hear scare tactics coming from the governor’s office. In a video posted to his Facebook page, the Republican from Metairie says he expects Governor Edwards to start threatening cuts to important programs like TOPS

Cut 13 (12) “in Louisiana”

The state is facing a fiscal cliff, because a billion dollars in temporary sales taxes expire in July. The governor has been holding meetings with business leaders to come up with ways to make up for the loss of state revenue. Henry says the governor should be asking executives how the state can help their business grow, instead of what kind of taxes they can afford

Cut 14 (08) “more money”

The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Richard Carbo, says Henry is intent on continuing partisan gridlock in the House. Carbo says the governor is working with the House Speaker to come up with a bipartisan plan that doesn’t raise new revenue. But Henry says the governor is looking to keep a temporary one-cent state sales tax, instead of reducing state spending

Cut 15 (09) “cop out”

____________________________________________

Louisiana Tech jumps into league play tomorrow by facing the defending Conference USA champion Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. W-K-U is led by senior quarterback Mike White, who is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country….

Cut 16  (16)  “he’s done”

These two teams met twice last year. Tech won at home 55-52 and then lost in the Conference USA title game. It’s the eighth meeting between the two teams and Tech leads the all-time series four to three. The home team is undefeated in the series. Holtz says the last three times these schools have met, conference championship complications have been on the line…

Cut 17 (16)  “championship week”

___________________________________________________________

LSU gets its first test in the SEC tomorrow night when they visit Mississippi State. The voice of the Tigers, Chris Blair, believes this game will be won in the trenches….

Cut 18 (20) “the field” 

Blair says the goal for LSU’s defense is to keep State Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald in the pocket…

Cut 19 (20)   throw it away“

LSU had success throwing the football down field last week and Blair anticipates the Tigers opening up the playbook even more tomorrow night….

Cut 20 (23)  “gonna see” 

St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says a fire chief has been cleared his wife’s death. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

TOPS for grown ups? The leader of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System likes the idea. Emelie Gunn has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith says Fire Chief Steve Krentel has been cleared in the murder of his wife Nanette, who was found in burned home with a gunshot wound to the head in July. Smith says Steve Krentel was their initial primary person of interest…

Cut 3 (09) “from the beginning”

The St. Tammany Corner officially ruled Nanette Krentel’s death as a homicide. Smith does not dispute the ruling, but is concerned about the timing of the announcement, because there’s more to determine in this case…

Cut 4  (11) “from the scene”

Smith says they have worked this case as a homicide since day one and will continue to do so…

Cut 5  (12)  “our exhausted”

________________________________________________

An arrest has been made in the murder of a St. Martin Parish woman who was eight months pregnant. Major Ginny Higgins says authorities arrested 32-year-old Toni Trimble Thomas and she is charged with one count of first degree murder and one count of first degree feticide. She says the investigation is ongoing to determine why Ashley Nicole Meche was murdered.

Cut 6 (06) “continuing”

Higgins says at one point, Thomas’ brother Mark Trimble was questioned then released. She says Mark Trimble was the boyfriend of the victim.

Cut 7 (07)  “what occurred”

Higgins says this is very unfortunate as the life of a baby and mother were lost.

Cut 8 (10) “very sad”

__________________________________________________________

The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System wants the state to pursue a scholarship program for adults so they can attend two year schools . Monty Sullivan likes the idea of a TOPS for grown folks…

Cut 9 (12)  “their families”

The average community and technical college student in Louisiana is 27.5 years old, so that means most their students are not eligible for TOPS. Sullivan their adults who want to attend a two-year college, but can’t because they don’t have the money…

Cut 10 (10) “of education”

Sullivan says it would be a wise investment, if the state provided financial assistance for a working mother of two who is only making eight bucks an hour, but with education and training can make 18-dollars an hour…

Cut 11 (09) “their family”

__________________________________________________________

Neville High in Monroe has been named the most beautiful public high school in Louisiana by Architectural Digest. Dana Jefferson (pronounced Dan-A; not Dain-A), Executive Director of the school’s Alumni Association, says Neville has undergone many renovations to preserve the 86-year-old building…:

Cut 12 (06) “to come”

Jefferson says Neville is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and that’s something the students and staff are really proud of. She says they are glad they chose to renovate instead of tear down and build a new school:

Cut 13 (10) “convenient places”

Architectural Digest recently chose one public high school from all 50 states. Jefferson says they are very proud that Neville has been able to hold on to its location…:

Cut 14 (10) “to this historic school”

Louisiana remains one of the most business-friendly states in the nation, ranking No. 5 in Area Development magazine’s annual Top States for Doing Business survey. Michael Farrar reports…:

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Michael Farrar”

______________________________________

Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says the first LaSTEM council meeting was a success. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

One month from today is the general election for the State Treasurer’s Race. Jeff Palermo reports the candidates are becoming more active..

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

___________________________________________________

The Oil and Gas Industry is helping with recovery efforts in Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. President of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association Chris John says when Harvey hit, it knocked out about 12-percent of the refining capacity for this nation. He says when times are tough, the oil and gas sector steps up to the plate.

Cut 4  (06) “efforts”

Exxon Mobil led the way by donating 9.5 million dollars to the Red Cross and the United Way of Houston. John says the oil and gas industry is such a big part of the Gulf Coast and Louisiana, but many times goes unrecognized for its good deeds.

Cut 5  (11)  “our country”

John says they are making progress with getting Texas refineries back on line. He says Louisiana has tried to produce as much product as possible while Texas plants are recovering.

Cut 6 (09) “months”

________________________________________________________

Louisiana remains one of the most business-friendly states in the nation, ranking No. 5 in Area Development magazine’s annual Top States for Doing Business survey. LED Secretary Don Pierson says this is a great third party endorsement they can reference to show that Louisiana is a great place to do business, for many reasons…:

Cut 7 (10)  “in the nation”

This is the second year in a row the publication has ranked Louisiana No. 5. Pierson says they really like the LED FastStart workforce development program. He says with the help of post-secondary education institutions, these workforce development programs screen, select, and train the workforce any company needs:

Cut 8 (10) “on day one”

Another category in which Louisiana got high marks was the new economic development fund it created with a large donation from Cleco. Pierson feels that also speaks to the great partnership the state has with its utilities.:

Cut 9 (09)  “looking for”

____________________________________________________

Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo says the first LaSTEM Advisory Council meeting was successful in discussing how to increase the amount of students who will succeed in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. Rallo says right now, if we don’t engage, Louisiana will not catch up with neighboring states when it comes to STEM jobs.

Cut 10 (10) “meet that”

Rallo says the council will meet once a month. He says the council agrees STEM education needs to be a pipeline, starting in Kindergarten and continuing through high school.

Cut 11 (10) “that occurred”

The council was developed from legislation approved during the 2017 legislative session. Rallo says there is also a push to get more woman into STEM careers. He says women can really excel in these jobs.

Cut 12 (09) “wage gap”

__________________________________________________________

One month from today is the general election for State Treasurer. Three Republican candidates are raising money. There’s also a Democrat and Libertarian on the ballot. Publisher of La-politics-dot-com, Jeremy Alford, says Columbia Senator Neil Riser has been the most active in televising advertising…

Cut 13 (09) “another commercial”

Ex state legislator John Schroder and former Commissioner of Administration Angelle Davis are the other Republicans fundraising. But Alford says none of the candidates have enough money to run TV commercials statewide, which will lead to a low voter turnout on October 14th…

Cut 14 (06) “less than 20-percent”

Alford says expect to hear more from these candidates in the coming weeks as Early Voting begins September 30th. He says even though it’s a statewide race, the candidates have not raised a lot of money, so they’ll have to be creative…

Cut 15 (09) “name recognition”

____________________________________________

Two weeks into the season and the Ragin Cajuns defense ranks as the third worst out of the 129 F-B-S teams. UL Lafayette has allowed nearly 12-hundred yards. But Head Coach Mark Hudspeth says their is a great desire to turn things around…

Cut 16  (23)  “of the ball”

The Cajuns gave up 66 points in a loss to Tulsa last week and Hudspeth says it was disappointing not to see improvement from week one to week two… (UL Lafayette is at Texas A&M on Sat.)

Cut 17 (20)  “don’t miss”

___________________________________________________________

ULM takes on Southern Miss for its home opener on Saturday. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says this is an important game for his program…

Cut 18 (22) “have come” 

Southern Miss is coming off a 45-0 victory over Southern. Viator is impressed with the Golden Eagles skill position players…

Cut 19 (17)    to call it“

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner has ruled the death of the fire chief’s wife in July, as a homicide. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The Shreveport City Council voted 6 to 0 against a multi-million dollar project to build a sports complex and downtown arena. Emelie Gunn has more on why….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Louisiana’s Senior U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is a co-author of the last ditch effort by Republicans to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Cassidy says this proposal takes Washington out of the decision making and instead each state receives an annual block grant to determine how to help individuals pay for health care….

Cut 3 (08) “about the same”

Cassidy says the legislation also repeals individual and employer mandates that are part of the Affordable Care Act and it gets rid of the medical device tax.  The Republican says their proposal also eliminates the inequity in which three states receive 37-percent of Obamacare funds…

Cut 4  (12) “10-percent”

Senators Lindsey Graham, Dean Heller and Ron Johnson are the fellow co-authors. Meanwhile, Democrat Bernie Sanders is proposing to expand Medicare to cover all U-S residents. Graham says their approach of the block grant funding to the states gives the power back to the patients

Cut 5  (12)  “vote for”

________________________________________________

The St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office have located a brother and sister wanted in connection with the death of a woman who was 8 months pregnant. Major Ginny Higgins says 29-year-old Mark Trimble and his 32-year-old sister Toni have not been charged with anything but are now in custody. She says this is a homicide investigation.

Cut 6 (06) “the victim”

The victim, 24-year-old Ashley Nicole Meche, was found dead Tuesday afternoon. Higgins says Mark Trimble was located in the Loreauville area of St. Martin Parish and Toni Trimble was found of in the Bayou Fuselier area. She says the investigation is ongoing into what happened to pregnant victim.

Cut 7 (07)  “investigation process”

__________________________________________________________

A homeowner shot and killed an alleged intruder in LaPlace last night. St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre says the homeowner told detectives he heard voices in his yard and went to investigate. Tregre says when he opened the back door, he was face-to-face with the intruder

Cut 8 (08) “killing him”

Tregre says no charges have been filed against the homeowner and the whole episode was captured on the home’s video surveillance camera…

Cut 9 (07)  “back door”

______________________________________________________________

The entire Shreveport City Council voted no to a multi-million dollar project to build a sports complex and downtown arena. Councilman Oliver Jenkins says he voted against the Cross Bayou Project because there was not a lot of visible public support. He hopes they can go back to the drawing board because partnering with a Tom Benson company is a great opportunity.

Cut 10 (10) “for it”

Jenkins says 30 million of the city’s dollars would be used along with 139 million in private finances. He says they would like to present this project to the public in a different light because many people didn’t know the project could bring in a major G-league basketball team.

Cut 11 (11) “afterthought”

Jenkins says surprisingly, there was not much support from the business community. He credits the failing to pass this project to the public not having faith in government’s decisions.

Cut 12 (11) “constituents”

______________________________________________________________

The St. Tammany Parish Coroner has ruled the death of the fire chief’s wife in July, as a homicide. The body of Nanette Krentel, wife of Fire District 12 Chief Stephen Krentel, was discovered in the rubble of the couple’s home which had burned to the ground on July 7th. Coroner Charles Preston said it was determined from the start Mrs. Krentel died from a gunshot wound…:

Cut 13 (03) “before the fire started”

The Sheriff’s Office said in a media advisory that it does not necessarily support the coroner’s conclusion, and will provide an update on the investigation during a news conference tomorrow. Preston says, following an initial autopsy, the remains were sent to the LSU FACES Lab…:

Cut 14 (08) “will happen”

Preston says three autopsies were conducted on the body, and those along with the report from LSU all reached the same conclusion. He says they wanted to give this case the utmost attention and thoroughness…:

Cut 15 (10) “of death”

How to get more students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is the goal of a 29-member council that meets for the first time in Baton Rouge today Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Senator Billy Cassidy and Congressman Mike Johnson are trying to bring a Shreveport man back home after he was arrested in Guatemala in March while on a mission trip. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

A new study finds that Louisiana’s lawsuit climate is the worst in the nation. Don Molino reports…:

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

___________________________________________________

A 29-member panel meets today in Baton Rouge to discuss ways to get more students interested and improve achievement in the areas of science technology, engineering and math also known as STEM. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt is behind this effort to grow STEM programs in schools…

Cut 4  (11) “is exploding”

Hewitt says major employers, like Amazon who is looking to build a second headquarters, are seeking workers who can perform STEM related jobs.  She says its essential Louisiana does what it can to produce more STEM talent and that includes women…

Cut 5  (11)  “the girls”

Hewitt says the objective of the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Advisory Council is to make sure education and industry are aligned with workforce needs to increase the number of students who have a STEM degree…

Cut 6 (10) “to invest in”

________________________________________________________

Louisiana lawmakers are working to free a Shreveport man from a Guatemalan jail after he was arrested in March for bringing hunting ammunition in his luggage. U.S. Representative Mike Johnson and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy met with the country’s ambassador to discuss the case of Zachary Wilson. Johnson says Wilson suffers from ulcerative colitis…

Cut 7 (10)  “awaits trial”

Wilson’s family says it is extremely difficult to ship his medication to Guatemala and he is running out of his prescription. Johnson says they understand Guatemala is a sovereign nation and respect the rule of law but the charges brought against Wilson are not justified.

Cut 8 (10) “their system”

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that can be life threatening if left untreated. Johnson says he and Senator Cassidy are committed to this time sensitive matter and will continue to work with the Guatemalan government to ensure Wilson’s return.

Cut 9 (09)  “people there”

____________________________________________________

A new study finds that Louisiana’s lawsuit climate is the worst in the nation, and also showed this ranking is not good when it comes to attracting new businesses. Harold Kim is the executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform. He says the survey found that 85% of company attorneys said a state’s lawsuit climate is likely to impact decision making:

Cut 10 (06) “more jobs”

Kim says the areas Louisiana ranked poorly were the in the competence and impartiality of its judges, the fairness of its juries and quality of appellate review. Kim says the poll of more than 1300 attorneys or leaders in companies also asked what they thought the worst jurisdictions were in the US:

Cut 11 (07) “certainly contributed”

Kim says this could hurt Louisiana’s chances at talking new industries into expanding and growing here…:

Cut 12 (10) “resolved fairly”

__________________________________________________________

 Northwestern State University’s fall enrollment has reached its highest ever in the school’s 133-year history, with 10,572 students. NSU President Dr. Chris Maggio says this is one of the most meaningful milestones in the school’s long history. He credits this achievement to the university’s academics.

Cut 13 (11) “northwestern”

A number of renovations to dormitories on the main campus have made NSU more appealing to students. Maggio says they have worked hard over the last few years to improve their strategic vision at the university. He says also partnering with business and industry has helped to boost enrollment.

Cut 14 (11) “located in”

Maggio says NSU’s online program is included in the enrollment number and has been extremely successful.

Cut 15 (09) “education”

____________________________________________

The Saints spent Tuesday breaking down the tape of Monday night’s 29-19 loss to Minnesota. Head Coach Sean Payton says it was not a fun exercise, because of how poorly the team played….

Cut 16  (16)  “hurt us”

Payton says mental errors hurt them on defense and offense they struggled at times in protection and not consistent enough in the running game….

Cut 17 (16)  “better job”

___________________________________________________________

A few of LSU’s young wide receivers had a chance to shine in last Saturday’s victory over Chattanooga. Stephen (STEF-ON) Sullivan and JaCoby Stevens each caught their first passes on the college level and Drake Davis was wide open when he caught his first TD Pass. Quarterback Danny Etling….

Cut 18 (19) “of practice” 

After two games, LSU is the most penalized team in the SEC, with 21. Quarterback Danny Etling says they have to play smarter football…

Cut 19 (16)     correct“

LSU is anticipating a loud atmosphere on Saturday night in Starkville. Etling says they have to be focused…

Cut 20 (20)  “we can be” 

Residents in Texas and Florida are attempting to recover from two massive hurricanes. Recovery is also underway in Calcasieu Parish from Tropical Storm Harvey. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The Black and Gold Nation is not happy today after the Saints fell to Minnesota last night 29-19. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern reporting”

______________________________________

Recovery is underway in Calcasieu Parish after Tropical Storm Harvey left major flood damage in some areas. Dick Gremillion, Director of the Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says while the destruction is not as bad as Texas, 800 to a thousand structures in Calcasieu sustained water damage. He says they are waiting to see if they will be declared a Federal Disaster Area.

Cut 3 (08) “had damage”

If declared a federal disaster area that opens the door for flood victims to receive federal assistance. Gremillion says in the days before Harvey made landfall in Calcasieu, a torrential downpour left nearly 500 houses with some water inside. He says flooding also occurred when the Sabine River came out of its banks.

Cut 4  (07) “out there”

Gremillion says some homes in the parish have now flooded twice in the last two years. He says homeowners who are able to reach their houses have begun the gutting out process.

Cut 5  (11)  “to go”

________________________________________________

The Black and Gold Nation is not happy today after the Saints fell to Minnesota last night 29-19. We asked this fan what he thought went wrong…:

Cut 6 (11)”in the NFL”

New Orleans will look to turn this around at home this weekend against the Patriots. These fans couldn’t come up with anything nice to say about the game:

Cut 7 (09)  “running for his life”

The Saints ranked last in the NFL in pass defense last year, and these fans say it doesn’t look like much has changed…:

Cut 8 (12) “Drew at all”

________________________________________________________________

Hundreds of cancer patients and survivors around the country are in Washington D.C. today to urge Congress to help with the fight against cancer. Louisiana Lead Ambassador with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Amber Stevens says they will ask lawmakers to increase federal funding for cancer research.

Cut 9 (10)  “screening”

Stevens says they are asking to raise the funding for cancer research to 36 billion dollars, a two billion dollar increase. She says they also want to improve the quality of life for these patients and are urging them to support palliative care and hospice education training.

Cut 10 (11) “coordinated”

Stevens says colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. and fixing a current glitch in the Medicare system could save lives.

Cut 11 (11) “in cost”

______________________________________________________________

The Edwards administration has started the legal process to remove BRF as the operator of the state’s safety net hospitals in Monroe and Shreveport. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says a letter has been sent to Shreveport-based BRF that gives them 45 days to correct various problems….

Cut 12 (09) “gone unanswered”

Dardenne says the state has spoken with Ochsner Health System and the New Orleans based hospital company could help BRF run the hospitals or possibly replace BRF ..

Cut 13 (10) “of the hospital”

BRF says they anticipate resolving the contract disagreement without being ousted and they’ll use legal action if removed as operator of the two north Louisiana hospitals. Dardenne is also hopeful BRF can get the job done…

Cut 14 (08) “will happen”

__________________________________________________________