If you’re trying to quit smoking, vaping may not be the answer. Halen Doughty has more from experts at Our Lady of the Lake hospital in Baton Rouge…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The Upward Bound Program at Tulane University received a 2.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support college readiness programs. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

It’ll be an SEC showdown in the College World Series Finals as LSU takes on conference rival Florida in a best-of-three beginning tonight. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

__________________________________

Vaping may not be the best way to kick your cigarette habit, according to experts at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Physician assistant with the hospital’s smoking cessation program, Josselin Carter, says vaping can end up being a substitution for the same habit because many juices contain nicotine.

Cut 4  (11) “our success”

Carter adds doctors aren’t sure vaping is safer than cigarettes, as there is no long-term data to support that claim. She says there’s some overlap in chemicals from both e-liquids and cigarettes, but there’s other chemicals in the vaping solutions that could potentially be problematic.

Cut 5  (08)  “in vaping”

Carter notes e-liquids come in a variety of nicotine concentrations. She says that can make it hard for consumers to know exactly how much nicotine they’re ingesting on a daily basis. She adds there are other factors that affect it as well.

Cut 6 (11) “be taking in” 

To get more information on how to quit smoking, visit SmokingCessationTrust.org.

________________________________________________________

Tulane University’s Upward Bound Program has received a 2.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help high school students who hope to become their first in their family to go to college. Upward Bound is a program aimed at helping prospective college students academically prepare for higher education. Cowen Institute Director Amanda Kruger Hill says low income students grade 9 through 12 can greatly benefit from this grant.

Cut 7 (10)  “financial aid”

Hill says the program works with students three days a week throughout their four years in high school and supports the students through college. She says this opportunity is so important to at risk youth.

Cut 8 (10) “their needs”

Hill says they work directly with high schools and the educators identify students who would be a perfect fit for the program. She says the Upward Bound staff is completely committed to changing life outcomes for their students.

Cut 9 (10)  “lives around”

__________________________________________________________

A small insect, commonly referred to as Phragmites or the Roseau Cane Mealy Bug is causing extensive damage to Roseau cane in southern Plaquemines Parish. LSU Ag Center entomologist Rodrigo Diaz says over 100-thousand acres of the cane in the wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta have been affected by this bug. He says this is a major concern…

Cut 10 (10) “parish”

The Roseau cane helps to reduce the wave action on the ground and helps to protect the state’s bird foot delta. Diaz says there are different varieties of the plant, some of which are not affected by Phragmites. He says they are hoping to learn why some are resistant to the bug.

Cut 11 (06) “restoration”

Diaz says usually, insects in crops are controlled using insecticides. He says the problem they run across here is that many of these pest control measures are harmful to aquatic life, so much research has to be done.

Cut 12 (09) “oysters”

____________________________________________________________

The Alliance for Excellent Education ranks Louisiana’s education plan one of the most promising in the country. Erin Bendily with the state Department of Education says Louisiana students are just as capable as students from other states. She says that’s why their plan sets ambitious but achievable goals for students and school systems.

Cut 13 (07) “be successful”

Bendily says they’re also looking to provide more transparency about how schools are doing and making progress toward those goals. She says they want to help children and educators meet these goals by specifically looking at how each cohort is performing.

Cut 14 (09) “students performing”

State Education Superintendent John White says this plan is one of the reasons Louisiana’s high school graduation rate is higher than ever at 77 percent. Bendily says improving education outcomes isn’t just about helping students make it to graduation, it’s about preparing them for what comes after.

Cut 15 (12) “those opportunities”

_______________________________________________________

It’ll be an SEC showdown in the College World Series Finals as LSU takes on conference rival Florida in a best-of-three beginning tonight. The Tigers and Gators have already met in a series this season, with Florida taking two of three in Gainesville. LSU Shortstop Kramer Robertson says both teams are playing better, and differently now than back in March…:

Cut 16 (16)  “are stronger”

Coach Paul announced he’s going to start fifth-year senior Russell Reynolds of Baton Rouge tonight. He said he’d go with Jared Poche on the mound Tuesday, and not pitch Alex Lange before Wednesday. Poche, who picked up his school-record 39th career victory in the win over Florida State last week, says there isn’t much you have to guess at this point in the season…:

Cut 17 (10) “behind you”

First pitch is set for 6pm. This is the 6th appearance for LSU in the CWS finals, and The Tigers have won all six times…the last being in 2009. Robertson says this feels like an SEC weekend with more at stake…:

Cut 18 (10) “gets the job done” 

If you’re trying to quit smoking, vaping may not be the answer. Halen Doughty has more from experts at Our Lady of the Lake hospital in Baton Rouge…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The Upward Bound Program at Tulane University received a 2.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support college readiness programs. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

It’ll be an SEC showdown in the College World Series Finals as LSU takes on conference rival Florida in a best-of-three beginning tonight. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

__________________________________

Vaping may not be the best way to kick your cigarette habit, according to experts at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Physician assistant with the hospital’s smoking cessation program, Josselin Carter, says vaping can end up being a substitution for the same habit because many juices contain nicotine.

Cut 4  (11) “our success”

Carter adds doctors aren’t sure vaping is safer than cigarettes, as there is no long-term data to support that claim. She says there’s some overlap in chemicals from both e-liquids and cigarettes, but there’s other chemicals in the vaping solutions that could potentially be problematic.

Cut 5  (08)  “in vaping”

Carter notes e-liquids come in a variety of nicotine concentrations. She says that can make it hard for consumers to know exactly how much nicotine they’re ingesting on a daily basis. She adds there are other factors that affect it as well.

Cut 6 (11) “be taking in” 

To get more information on how to quit smoking, visit SmokingCessationTrust.org.

________________________________________________________

Tulane University’s Upward Bound Program has received a 2.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help high school students who hope to become their first in their family to go to college. Upward Bound is a program aimed at helping prospective college students academically prepare for higher education. Cowen Institute Director Amanda Kruger Hill says low income students grade 9 through 12 can greatly benefit from this grant.

Cut 7 (10)  “financial aid”

Hill says the program works with students three days a week throughout their four years in high school and supports the students through college. She says this opportunity is so important to at risk youth.

Cut 8 (10) “their needs”

Hill says they work directly with high schools and the educators identify students who would be a perfect fit for the program. She says the Upward Bound staff is completely committed to changing life outcomes for their students.

Cut 9 (10)  “lives around”

__________________________________________________________

A small insect, commonly referred to as Phragmites or the Roseau Cane Mealy Bug is causing extensive damage to Roseau cane in southern Plaquemines Parish. LSU Ag Center entomologist Rodrigo Diaz says over 100-thousand acres of the cane in the wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta have been affected by this bug. He says this is a major concern…

Cut 10 (10) “parish”

The Roseau cane helps to reduce the wave action on the ground and helps to protect the state’s bird foot delta. Diaz says there are different varieties of the plant, some of which are not affected by Phragmites. He says they are hoping to learn why some are resistant to the bug.

Cut 11 (06) “restoration”

Diaz says usually, insects in crops are controlled using insecticides. He says the problem they run across here is that many of these pest control measures are harmful to aquatic life, so much research has to be done.

Cut 12 (09) “oysters”

____________________________________________________________

The Alliance for Excellent Education ranks Louisiana’s education plan one of the most promising in the country. Erin Bendily with the state Department of Education says Louisiana students are just as capable as students from other states. She says that’s why their plan sets ambitious but achievable goals for students and school systems.

Cut 13 (07) “be successful”

Bendily says they’re also looking to provide more transparency about how schools are doing and making progress toward those goals. She says they want to help children and educators meet these goals by specifically looking at how each cohort is performing.

Cut 14 (09) “students performing”

State Education Superintendent John White says this plan is one of the reasons Louisiana’s high school graduation rate is higher than ever at 77 percent. Bendily says improving education outcomes isn’t just about helping students make it to graduation, it’s about preparing them for what comes after.

Cut 15 (12) “those opportunities”

_______________________________________________________

It’ll be an SEC showdown in the College World Series Finals as LSU takes on conference rival Florida in a best-of-three beginning tonight. The Tigers and Gators have already met in a series this season, with Florida taking two of three in Gainesville. LSU Shortstop Kramer Robertson says both teams are playing better, and differently now than back in March…:

Cut 16 (16)  “are stronger”

Coach Paul Maineri says he’s going to start Jared Poche on the mound Tuesday, and not pitch Alex Lange before Wednesday, but he did not name a Monday night starter. Poche, who picked up his school-record 39th career victory in the win over Florida State last week, says there isn’t much you have to guess at this point in the season…:

Cut 17 (10) “behind you”

First pitch is set for 6pm. This is the 6th appearance for LSU in the CWS finals, and The Tigers have won all six times…the last being in 2009. Robertson says this feels like an SEC weekend with more at stake…:

Cut 18 (10) “gets the job done” 

If you’re trying to quit smoking, vaping may not be the answer. Halen Doughty has more from experts at Our Lady of the Lake hospital in Baton Rouge…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The Upward Bound Program at Tulane University received a 2.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support college readiness programs. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

__________________________________

Vaping may not be the best way to kick your cigarette habit, according to experts at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge. Physician assistant with the hospital’s smoking cessation program, Josselin Carter, says vaping can end up being a substitution for the same habit because many juices contain nicotine.

Cut 4  (11) “our success”

Carter adds doctors aren’t sure vaping is safer than cigarettes, as there is no long-term data to support that claim. She says there’s some overlap in chemicals from both e-liquids and cigarettes, but there’s other chemicals in the vaping solutions that could potentially be problematic.

Cut 5  (08)  “in vaping”

Carter notes e-liquids come in a variety of nicotine concentrations. She says that can make it hard for consumers to know exactly how much nicotine they’re ingesting on a daily basis. She adds there are other factors that affect it as well.

Cut 6 (11) “be taking in” 

To get more information on how to quit smoking, visit SmokingCessationTrust.org.

________________________________________________________

Tulane University’s Upward Bound Program has received a 2.5 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help high school students who hope to become their first in their family to go to college. Upward Bound is a program aimed at helping prospective college students academically prepare for higher education. Cowen Institute Director Amanda Kruger Hill says low income students grade 9 through 12 can greatly benefit from this grant.

Cut 7 (10)  “financial aid”

Hill says the program works with students three days a week throughout their four years in high school and supports the students through college. She says this opportunity is so important to at risk youth.

Cut 8 (10) “their needs”

Hill says they work directly with high schools and the educators identify students who would be a perfect fit for the program. She says the Upward Bound staff is completely committed to changing life outcomes for their students.

Cut 9 (10)  “lives around”

__________________________________________________________

A small insect, commonly referred to as Phragmites or the Roseau Cane Mealy Bug is causing extensive damage to Roseau cane in southern Plaquemines Parish. LSU Ag Center entomologist Rodrigo Diaz says over 100-thousand acres of the cane in the wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta have been affected by this bug. He says this is a major concern…

Cut 10 (10) “parish”

The Roseau cane helps to reduce the wave action on the ground and helps to protect the state’s bird foot delta. Diaz says there are different varieties of the plant, some of which are not affected by Phragmites. He says they are hoping to learn why some are resistant to the bug.

Cut 11 (06) “restoration”

Diaz says usually, insects in crops are controlled using insecticides. He says the problem they run across here is that many of these pest control measures are harmful to aquatic life, so much research has to be done.

Cut 12 (09) “oysters”

____________________________________________________________

The Alliance for Excellent Education ranks Louisiana’s education plan one of the most promising in the country. Erin Bendily with the state Department of Education says Louisiana students are just as capable as students from other states. She says that’s why their plan sets ambitious but achievable goals for students and school systems.

Cut 13 (07) “be successful”

Bendily says they’re also looking to provide more transparency about how schools are doing and making progress toward those goals. She says they want to help children and educators meet these goals by specifically looking at how each cohort is performing.

Cut 14 (09) “students performing”

State Education Superintendent John White says this plan is one of the reasons Louisiana’s high school graduation rate is higher than ever at 77 percent. Bendily says improving education outcomes isn’t just about helping students make it to graduation, it’s about preparing them for what comes after.

Cut 15 (12) “those opportunities”

_______________________________________________________

The 67^th Annual Peach Festival in Ruston is underway. Jeff Palermo has more on what it has to offer…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The Check to Protect Campaign is underway as the National Safety Council hopes to get motorists to check for open recalls. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

John Floyd, an Angola inmate, is now free after 36 years in prison. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

__________________________________

The 67^th Annual Ruston Peach Festival begins today at noon. Ruston Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Judy Copeland says even though the peach harvest wasn’t good this year, visitors can try a large variety of different peach flavored foods. She says all vendors are required to have a least one item on their menu with peaches.

Cut 4  (06) “probably here”

Copeland says about 23-thousand people come to the festival each year and it’s always a success. She says a favorite for festivalgoers is the great live music on Friday and Saturday nights.

Cut 5  (09)  “at 10”

Uncle Kracker is the headliner for Saturday night. Copeland says other events that take place outside the festival bring in a big crowd.

Cut 6 (08) “as well” 

________________________________________________________

The National Safety Council has launched a vehicle recall campaign to allow motorists to enter in their VIN number to determine if a there has been a manufacturer recall on the vehicle. President and CEO of the National Safety Council Deborah Hersman says Louisiana has the third highest rate of open recalls in the country.

Cut 7 (10)  “open recalls”

One in four vehicles on the road in Louisiana have an open recall. Hersman says many drivers don’t understand the urgency to get a recalled vehicle fixed. She says recalls are not to be taken likely and it’s very easy to check.

Cut 8 (10) “your door”

Hersman says cars with open recalls pose an urgent and serious risk to drivers and passengers. She says the Check to Protect website will also give a motorist information on a nearby dealership to receive repairs.

Cut 9 (10)  “of charge”

Visit CheckToProtect.org to find out if your vehicle has an open recall.

__________________________________________________________

Angola inmate John Floyd is free after spending 36 years behind bars, after a U.S. District Court judge tossed his life in prison conviction. Deputy Director and attorney for the Innocence Project in New Orleans, Richard Davis, says Floyd was wrongly convicted of second degree murder in 1982 for the murder of Williams Hines. He says new forensic evidence was found in the case.

Cut 10 (11) “the time”

Davis says Floyd plans to spend his days of freedom working on a farm in the Lafayette area with a businessman he met during his time at Angola.

Cut 11 (08) “5th circuit”

Floyd’s case came to the attention of the Innocence Project in New Orleans in the early 2000′s. Davis says Floyd’s wrongful conviction comes after he confessed to the crime. But he says Floyd has a severe mental impairment.

Cut 12 (07) “properly”

____________________________________________________________

LSU and No.1 Oregon State play today at 2pm in the College World Series. With a win, the Tigers will force an elimination game versus The Beavers on Saturday. With a loss, the 2017 LSU baseball season will come to an end. The Tigers will start All-SEC pitcher Alex Lange, who says he’s ready to go….:

Cut 13 (10) “it’s gonna be fun”

LSU hopes Lange can go deep into the game as they are running low on starters in Omaha with injured Eric Walker out. The Chicago Cubs first-round draft pick says he knows the bull pen has to step it up…:

Cut 14 (11) “deep in the game”

In the Tigers nice victory over Florida State on Wednesday, LSU put points up on the board right away. Lange says that’ll be the goal starting out tonight against the team that’s only lost four games…:

Cut 15 (13) “for the pitcher”

Cindy continues to weaken as the tropical depression treks inland, but forecasters are keeping a close eye on the system. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

LSU advances in the College World Series following the win against Florida State last night, and now the Tigers must beat No. 1 Oregon State twice in Omaha to make the finals. Michelle Southern reports..:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Cindy made landfall as a tropical storm this morning near the Texas-Louisiana border, but has since been downgraded to a tropical depression. State Climatologist Barry Keim says flooding remains the concern. He says as the system moves inland it will weaken, but rainfall is still a threat to Louisiana.

Cut 3 (10) “flash flooding”

Keim says we still need to be vigilant. He says northwest Louisiana is likely to get the heaviest rains with potential for up to five inches. He says we aren’t out of the woods yet.

Cut 4  (10) “tomorrow morning”

Flash flood watches remain in effect for much of the state through this evening. Keim says strong winds could also cause problems in some areas.

Cut 5  (11)  “the wind”

________________________________________________

State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson advises residents to take caution while driving today. He says 18 corridors across the southern half of the state have road closures on them because of high water. Wilson says drivers should never cross flooded roadways.

Cut 6 (07) “that water”

Wilson encourages motorists to visit 511la.org for up to date travel information. He says over 37,000 people have visited the site in just 24 hours. He says this is the most central location for information on road closures.

Cut 7 (07)  “high water”

_________________________________________________________

The Board of Regents has granted a license for ULM to host New York Institute of Technology’s new medical school in northeast Louisiana. ULM President Dr. Nick Bruno says this will give students throughout Louisiana the opportunity to attend medical school right on the Monroe campus.

Cut 8 (07) “major strength”

Bruno says this is an incredible opportunity that’s been about two years in the making. He says the targeted timeline for enrolling students is fall of 2019. He says it’s exciting to host a medical school at the only publicly funded pharmacy school in the state.

Cut 9 (11)  “the community”

Bruno says this new med school could also help to improve the health of the community, which is one of the poorest regions in the country. He adds the economic impact could also be quite significant. He says the Stubbs Hall building on campus could be the future home of the medical school.

Cut 10 (09) “med school”

_________________________________________________________

LSU advances in the College World Series following the win against Florida State last night, and now the Tigers must beat No. 1 Oregon State twice in Omaha to make the finals. LSU fell to The Beavers in embarrassing fashion on Monday, but Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Friday’s contest will be a whole new ballgame with ace Alex Lange on the mound…:

Cut 11 (15) “on Friday”

First pitch tomorrow is set for 2pm. Moran says Saturday will be a taller order when right-hander Caleb Gilbert gets the start…:

Cut 12 (11) “at least”

This is the furthest the Tigers have advanced into the tournament since winning it all back in 2009. The Beavers have only lost 4 games and Moran feels LSU would be the underdog even if they just had to beat OSU once…:

Cut 13 (14) “at this point”

____________________________________________________________

The Louisiana Nursing Home Association announces 18 facilities in the state have been chosen as a recipient for the Bronze-Commitment to Quality Award. This achievement spotlights providers who have demonstrated commitment to quality care for seniors. Lisa Gardner with CommCare nursing centers says all these facilities have shown a great improvement.

Cut 14 (09) “targeted”

Gardner says this Bronze achievement points nursing homes in a direction to improve their facilities even more. She says there are three levels of commitment, bronze, silver, and gold.

Cut 15 (09) “the gold”

The 18 facilities that received the achievement are located throughout the state from Bossier City to Houma. Gardner says this shows many facilities in Louisiana are dedicated to improving the lives of our senior citizens. She says the award is not easy to receive.

Cut 16  (11)  “is remarkable”

____________________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards urges residents to use caution as Tropical Storm Cindy moves across the state. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

As Tropical Storm Cindy treks across the state today, forecasters warn residents to take extra precaution. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The Louisiana National Guard wants residents to know they are ready to assist if needed as Tropical Storm Cindy moves inland. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

__________________________________

Flood victims are not completing the survey to get federal assistance as quickly as state officials had hoped. Governor John Bel Edwards says only 26,000 people have completed the survey so far. He advises people to do so quickly because the homeowner assistance program is in full swing.

Cut 4  (10) “rebuilding programs”

Edwards says the first step to getting into the homeowner assistance program is completing the survey at restore.la.gov. He says it’s imperative that flood victims fill out this application, even if they’ve already applied with FEMA.

Cut 5  (12)  “for this”

So far Louisiana has received $1.6 billion in federal flood aid. Edwards encourages every Louisiana resident who was impacted by the March and August floods to fill out the survey at restore.la.gov. He says there’s also another option for less tech-savvy flood victims.

Cut 6 (08) “through Friday” 

________________________________________________________

Forecasters warn residents to be alert as Tropical Storm Cindy treks across the state today. Stephen Carboni with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says Cindy still carries the risk of life-threatening flash flooding.

Cut 7 (09)  “8 or 10″

Carboni says tropical storm force winds will also be a concern. The winds can down tree limbs and power lines, and he warns the public to be aware of that possibility.

Cut 8 (09) “with that”

Alek Krautman with the National Weather Service in New Orleans says the heaviest rains will be on the eastern side of the storm. He says three to 6 inches is possible across the state, with some areas receiving 12 inches or more.

Cut 9 (10)  “of Cindy”

Krautman says along with the strong winds and heavy rains, there’s also an increased risk on the roadways. He advises drivers to take caution if you have to get out in the storm.

Cut 10 (10) “extreme caution”

____________________________________________________________

With Tropical Storm Cindy moving inland, the Louisiana National Guard wants residents to know they are ready if assistance is needed. Major General Glenn Curtis with the Louisiana National Guard says they have pre-staged 100 high water vehicles and 33 boats throughout the southern and central regions of the state. He says they have additional assets available if needed…

Cut 11 (10) “on standby”

20 parishes had declared a state of emergency as of Tuesday and it’s expected more will follow. Curtis says they are working closely with parish governments.

Cut 12 (09) “time comes”

Curtis says the National Guard has staged vehicles all along with I-10 and I-12 corridors beginning in the Lake Charles area.

Cut 13 (06) “harm’s way”

____________________________________________________________

A West Monroe man is facing a murder charge after human remains were found in western Ouachita Parish. Glenn Springfield with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says the homicide appears to be three years old.

Cut 14 (12) “in this case”

Springfield says 24-year-old Titus Harris has been booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center on one count of second degree murder. He says they aren’t releasing any more details about the victim until the identity can be confirmed, which can be difficult given the remains are years old.

Cut 15 (10) “takes time”

Springfield says more arrests are possible as the investigation is ongoing.

Tropical Storm Cindy has weakened slightly, but forecasters say the threat remains. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

There’s good news about injured Congressman Steve Scalise; and we know more about the Congressional baseball practice shooter. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Tropical Storm Cindy has weakened a bit as of late this morning, but rain still remains a major threat. The system is expected to make landfall on the western Louisiana coast early tomorrow morning. That’s according to State Climatologist Barry Keim, who says Cindy has sustained winds at 50 mph, and will bring in a lot of wet weather…:

Cut 3 (12) “to Shreveport”

Keim says there’s also potential for isolated tornadoes from Cindy. He says the system is ingesting some dry are, which is disrupting the rain bands a little bit, but not enough to reduce the threat.

Cut 4  (11) “flooding issues”

Keim advises the public to be prepared because there’s a lot of storm still to come. He says Cindy should finally push out of the state late Thursday night.

Cut 5  (10)  “from the rivers”

Gov. John Bel Edwards said today it’s too early to call for evacuations, but he’s encouraging residents to be prepared for flooding and high winds. The governor issued an emergency disaster declaration early Wednesday in advance of the storm. Tornado watches remain in effect for most of the southern half of the state through 7pm.

________________________________________________

Southwest Louisiana residents are gearing up for Tropical Storm Cindy to make landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border tomorrow. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says they’ve moved boats and high water vehicles to both sides of the river in preparation for the storm. He says they’re as prepared as they can be.

Cut 6 (11) “we’re ready”

Mancuso says they’ve been urging residents to get ready for this storm. Schools and state offices are closing early today in an effort to keep people off the roadways. He says they don’t expect this weather event to last long, maybe 24 hours, but it’s important to be prepared just in case.

Cut 7 (09)  “for that”

Mancuso says deputies will be on standby to assist residents if needed. He says everyone should be prepared for this kind of weather throughout hurricane season. He says even if this storm isn’t as destructive as it could be, more storms could hit as the season progresses.

Cut 8 (10) “whole season”

_________________________________________________________

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board along with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser crowned the first woman, Chef Bonnie Breaux, the queen of Louisiana Seafood. After competing against 11 contestants, Breaux, of St. Martinville, took the title at the 10^th annual Seafood Cook-Off in Lafayette. Chef Cory Bahr of Monroe, who is currently a contestant on Food Network Star, made the big announcement.

Cut 9 (06)  “a hand”

Breaux is from the St. John Restaurant and her winning dish was a crackling crusted black drum with fennel marmalade, Abita Amber potatoes and jumbo lump crabmeat. She says she can’t believe she won this tough competition.

Cut 10 (09) “appreciate it”

The Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off was moved from New Orleans this year to the Cajundome in Lafayette in order to help their struggling economy. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser…

Cut 11 (12) “tourism numbers”

_________________________________________________________

The FBI announced at a briefing this morning, James Hodgkinson, the man who shot Congressman Steve Scalise at a baseball practice last week, has no ties to terrorism. Hodgkinson was shot by Capitol Police Officers and later died at a Washington D.C. hospital. FBI Special Agent Tim Slater says the shooter acted alone and has a history of anger problems.

Cut 12 (10) “problem”

Slater says Hodgkinson had a storage unit in the area where investigators found ammunition, and that the man visited the spot on the morning of the shooting. He says they found a piece of paper on the shooter that contained the names of six Republican members of Congress, and they also know he had a grudge against the GOP…:

Cut 13 (07) “Republican views”

Congressman Steve Scalise continues to make good progress. He is now listed in fair condition and is beginning an extended period of healing and rehabilitation. Slater says their investigation into the shooting is still ongoing, as they aren’t sure exactly how the man knew practice was taking place that day…:

Cut 14 (09) “unfolds”

____________________________________________________________

One third of businesses are increasing benefits in order to attract talented employees, according to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The state Office of Tourism is now able to enter public-private partnerships to upgrade attractions at state parks. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

LSU tries to keep its season alive tonight when they face Florida State in the College World Series. Jeff Palermo has the preview…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

__________________________________

A survey by the Society for Human Research Management finds one third companies are willing to provide employees with better benefits in order to attract more talented workers. University of New Orleans Business Professor Mark Rosa says this can be a more beneficial way to entice people over an increase in salary.

Cut 4  (08) “in cash”

In 2017, 95-percent of companies offered opposite sex spouses health care coverage, up from 71-percent in 2014. Rosa says 401K’s and many company benefits went away during the recession but now those are coming back. He says businesses are adding even more benefits as they are trying to attract the right employees.

Cut 5  (07)  “it’s meaningful”

Rosa says providing a health plan with low deductibles is even beneficial for a single person as there are no added taxes. He says giving employees an increase in flexible work arrangements has also become popular in the workplace.

Cut 6 (o9) “the office” 

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There is a new law that allows the state Office of Tourism to sell naming rights or grant leases for state parks to add new attractions. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the state parks have always been a burden on taxpayers that never brought in any money. But he says this new law should change that and allow them to upgrade park attractions.

Cut 7 (11)  “horseback riding”

Nungesser says they’ll ensure that whatever businesses they bring in to these partnerships does not compete with local business. He says they’re thrilled at all the possibilities for new attractions at Louisiana state parks.

Cut 8 (11) “for us”

The bill by Houma Representative Norby Chabert was recently signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards. Nungesser says companies are already expressing interest in partnering with state parks. He says they’re already drawing up proposals for some of the plans.

Cut 9 (08)  “state park”

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After the shootout on members of congress at a Virginia ball park, a bill is expected to be filed that would allow congressmen to carry concealed weapons. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham says he will the proposed law by his colleague Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks. He says while it’s important to protect members of congress, he also wants to keep bystanders safe.

Cut 10 (09) “for myself”

Abraham says lawmakers are well protected by Capitol Police in on Capitol Hill, but not as much elsewhere. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise thankfully had his security detail with him the morning of the shooting, but other members of congress do not have such protection. Abraham says that’s why federal lawmakers should be able to protect themselves.

Cut 11 (09) “every one of us”

Abraham says as a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights, he’s all for people having guns and using them properly. But not all congressmen have the experience the north Louisiana lawmaker does. He says it’s important to make sure that those who do carry know how to do so safely.

Cut 12 (08) “concealed carry course”

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Tropical Storm Cindy is expected to make landfall tomorrow near the Texas-Louisiana border. Stephen Carboni with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says southwest Louisiana can expect strong winds, as tropical storm winds will spread into the area today.

Cut 13 (11) “southwest Louisiana”

Carboni says forecasts are calling for sustained winds of 30 to 40 mph, and even higher along the coast. Rainfall totals are expected to reach two to four inches in southwest Louisiana, but wind damage will be a bigger concern.

Cut 14 (08) “tree limbs down”

Rain will be more of a problem in the southeastern portion of the state. Alek Krautman with the National Weather Service in New Orleans says forecasters expect periods of very heavy rainfall to last until Thursday.

Cut 15 (09) “some communities”

Krautman says what’s unique about this storm is that it has lot of tropical moisture on the eastern side. He says although the center of the storm will move westward, the eastern side of the state will get most of the rain.

Cut 16 (09)  “Gulf Coast”

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LSU faces Florida State again tonight in the College World Series. This time the loser will be eliminated. The Tigers defeated the Seminoles 5-4 in the opening round of the College World Series. Shortstop Kramer Robertson on what it will take to beat F-S-U again…

Cut 17 (09) “the game”

Robertson still doesn’t have a hit in the College World Series and he made a critical error in the 13-1 loss to Oregon State on Monday night. The senior from Texas says he’s anxious to start a new winning streak….

Cut 18 (14) “hit to me” 

In two games in Omaha, the Tigers have driven in just four runs. Second baseman Cole Freeman expects the bats will get it going again…

Cut 19 (19) “line now”

The Department of Education announces beginning July 1 all new applicants for the state’s Childcare Assistance Program will be placed on a wait list. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Heavy rainfall is expected across Louisiana, as Tropical Storm Cindy moves towards the southwestern Louisiana coast. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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As demand for state childcare assistance rises, the Department of Education announces beginning July 1, new applicants will be placed on a waiting list. Assistant superintendent of early childhood development Jenna Conway says the federally funded Childcare Assistance Program offers subsidies for working families to choose a childcare provider.

Cut 3 (11) “afford childcare”

Conway says 18-thousand Louisiana children ages birth to five participate in the program. The program grew exponentially when DOE lowered the work threshold for families to qualify, from 30 to 20 hours a week. She adds as more people go to work, they will need consistent childcare.

Cut 4  (10) “dramatically increased”

Conway says unfortunately, the program is underfunded to sustain this kind of growth, which is why the date-based waitlist is necessary. She says applications will be processed until June 30 and encourages families to apply now.

Cut 5  (10)  “immediately”

For more information on the program, visit LouisianaBelieves.com.

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Tropical Storm Cindy could drop a foot of rain in southeast Louisiana. State climatologist Barry Keim says the system is expected to make landfall as a tropical storm near the Texas-Louisiana border late Wednesday or early Thursday morning, but the largest rain totals will occur to the east of the storm’s center.

Cut 6 (08) “15 inches”

Flash flood watches are in effect across south Louisiana through Thursday evening. Keim says storm surge could be an issue in coastal areas, and it’s possible a tornado could form. But he says rain and potential flash flooding will be the biggest problems.

Cut 7 (09)  “rain volumes”

Keim says the heaviest rains are expected in southeast Louisiana, but the entire coast is vulnerable. He says that’s because the major rainfall associated with this system is far removed from the center of circulation.

Cut 8 (09) “heavy rainfall”

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Lafourche Parish is gearing up for Tropical Storm Cindy that is set to hammer southeast Louisiana with rain. Brennan Matherne with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office says the parish is continuing to pump down drainage canals and sandbags are available at all parish field office locations.

Cut 9 (09)  “your own”

Matherne says Port Fourchon Harbor Police will be monitoring LA-1 throughout the system checking for storm surge. He urges residents who flood during heavy rain events to take precautions.

Cut 10 (11) “changes”

St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister is also getting her residents prepared for the heavy rain event. Brister says the parish does not have many drainage pumps and heavily relies on gravity drainage, so they are taking precautions.

Cut 11 (08) “the parish”

Brister says the National Weather Service has told her office St. Tammany could receive 10 inches of rain over the next couple of days. She says river flooding and street flooding are their two biggest concerns.

Cut 12 (08) “anything else”

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Public schools will no longer be permitted to physically punish children with developmental disabilities after a measure was signed into law by Governor Edwards. Senate Education Chairman Blade Morrish says there weren’t any school districts that pushed back against this legislation.

Cut 13 (06) “those students”

38 of the 69 public school districts in Louisiana permit corporal punishment, like paddling or spanking. Morrish says this allows the administration to take a step back and realize certain students are not allowed to receive corporal punishments.

Cut 14 (09) “the policy”

There was also a push during the legislative session to ban corporal punishment in public schools for all students. Morrish says that bill never made it to his committee but he’s interested in hearing more about it.

Cut 15 (08) “weigh in”

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Thanks to the state legislature and Governor Edwards, Louisiana is the first state to prohibit public colleges from asking about criminal history on a prospective student’s application. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off gets underway in Lafayette today. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the state later today and state officials are gearing up for potential flooding. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana is the first state in the country to ban the box on college admissions asking if a prospective student has a criminal record. Governor John Bel Edwards signed the measure into law. Annie Freitas, the program director with the Louisiana Prison Education Coalition, says this is a step in the right direction for prison reform.

Cut 4  (10) “criminal conviction”

Research finds two out of three people with convictions stop filling out their college application after seeing this box. Freitas says the recidivism rate drops by at least 40-percent when a convicted felon is able to access any kind of higher education.

Cut 5  (05)  “public safety”

Freitas says it was great to see this measure signed into law with bi-partisan support. She says many Republican lawmakers changed their mind about the bill after hearing first hand testimony.

Cut 6 (o9) “people’s lives” 

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The 10^th annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off gets underway today at the CajunDome in Lafayette. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says this is a great way to showcase the fresh seafood of the Bayou State. He says a dozen Louisiana chefs will compete in the cook-off.

Cut 7 (09)  “next year”

This is the first year the event will be held in Acadiana, as it usually takes place in New Orleans. Nungesser says this is a way to help bolster the Lafayette economy amid a struggling oil and gas industry.

Cut 8 (11) “to do”

Nungesser hopes cook-off attendees will spend a couple days in Acadiana to see how beautiful the Lafayette community is. He says this can have a huge economic impact as people stay in area hotels and shop local establishments.

Cut 9 (10)  “for Lafayette”

Blake Phillips of Sage Restaurant in Monroe was last year’s winner.

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Louisiana’s craft beer industry is growing rapidly. That’s according to Executive Director of the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild, Cary Koch, who says we’re on track for more growth if the state fosters a good business environment. He says 6 new breweries opened last year, and even more are in the planning stage.

Cut 10 (08) “out of state”

Koch says lawmakers have already targeted the industry. A proposal in this year’s legislative session would have ended trademarked university beers, like the ones at UL-Lafayette and LSU. He says they didn’t like some of the comments made during testimony on the bill.

Cut 11 (08) “in any way”

Koch says this bill also would have caused two local breweries to lose out on sales. He hopes the state will create more incentive programs for craft breweries, which have huge economic impacts on their communities. He says one specific change they’d like is the option for self-distribution.

Cut 12 (10) “the distributors”

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Tropical storm conditions are expected to reach the state late today. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says heavy rains and flash flooding are the biggest threat. The National Weather Service is calling for four to eight inches of rain across southeast Louisiana, with isolated amounts of 10 inches.

Cut 13 (12) “red flag”

Steele encourages the public to prepare for the coming storm now. He says many parishes are already handing out sandbags in preparation for this rain event, which is expected to peak Wednesday and Thursday.

Cut 14 (12) “another issue”

Steele says if the storm stalls along the coast and we have continued rain, more problems could develop. But he says one of the biggest problems from flash flooding is not in homes, it’s on the roadways.

Cut 15 (10) “still applies”

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LSU’s 17-game winning streak came to a screeching halt as the Oregon State Beavers devoured the Tigers 13-1 in a winner’s bracket contest in the College World Series last night. Coach Paul Mainieri says it was not a pretty game for the Bayou Bengals…

Cut 16 (16)  “excellent ball club”

LSU used eight pitchers on the night. Starter Eric Walker left the game in the third inning with forearm soreness in his throwing arm. Mainieri says that was the turning point of the game…

Cut 17 (12) “very frequently”

LSU’s offense managed just four hits as Oregon State pitcher Bryce Fehmel pitched eight strong innings. Tigers center fielder Zach Watson says Fehmel kept them off balanced…

Cut 18 (09) “struggled to hit him” 

LSU faces an elimination game on Wednesday against Florida State. Mainieri says with the loss to the Beavers, the road to a national championship got a lot more difficult…

Cut 19 (24) “win a game”