he longest serving District Attorney in the Fourth Judicial District, Jerry Jones, is retiring after 26 years, because of health reasons. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Congressman Charles Boustany is suing author Ethan Brown and publisher Simon and Schuster for making prostitution allegations. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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An anonymous clown threat in Bossier parish led to the arrest of a 14-year-old girl. Lt. Bill Davis with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says the teenager made an online threat against her school.

CUT 3 (09)  “very seriously”

Davis says they identified the juvenile as being behind the fake Instagram account, and she was subsequently arrested for terrorizing. He reminds the public that these clown threats are no laughing matter.

CUT 4 (10)  “a threat”

Davis says the juvenile’s Instagram threat from a fake account with the word “clown” in it was enough to raise authorities’ concern. He encourages parents to talk to their kids about being responsible online.

CUT 5 (09)  “cross the line” 2x

Davis says today they are speaking to students at all of the high schools in Bossier Parish. 

==================================================

Congressman Charles Boustany has filed a lawsuit against author Ethan Brown and publisher Simon and Schuster after a recently released book claims Boustany had relationships with prostitutes in Jefferson Davis Parish.  Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says this will be an uphill battle, because it’s hard to prove Brown wrote these allegations with actual malice.

CUT 6 (11) “or defamation”

The book, “Murder in the Bayou” claims Boustany frequented a Jennings motel, the Boudreaux Inn, looking for prostitutes. Ciolino says it’s very difficult to prove an author intentionally lied. He says very few public officials succeed in libel or defamation lawsuits.

CUT 7 (10) “or falsity”

Brown stands by what he wrote in his book. Boustany is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by David Vitter. Ciolino says by filing this lawsuit, it shows Boustany is serious about putting these allegations to bed. He says there is no way this will be resolved before the November 8^th election, but it makes a statement.

CUT 8 (09) “publisher”

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Congressman Garret Graves is holding a town hall meeting in Baker tonight to chat with homeowners recovering from the historic flooding. Graves anticipates he’ll hear from families showing a desire to recover but the inability to do so because of government obstacles. He says there are many things getting in the way of victims getting back to a normal life.

CUT 9 (09) “assistance”

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Redemption Life Fellowship Center. Graves says he’ll be headed back to Washington D.C. in a few weeks to create legislation for more federal aid. He expects there will also be a lot of discussion in the meeting about the FEMA requirement to elevate homes and what additional measures the federal government should take to protect residents in the future.

cut 10 (07)  “other projects”

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One of north Louisiana’s strongest advocates for women and young people, District Attorney Jerry Jones, is retiring after 26 years as DA of the Fourth Judicial District. Jones says his health does not allow him to continue in his position, as he was recently injured in a car accident. He says he hopes to find a way to stay in the practice by helping his son, who is also an attorney.

Cut 11 (12) “lot of em”

During his five terms as DA, Jones helped pass numerous laws that aim to help women, including the Domestic Abuse Battery Law that provides stiffer penalties for domestic abusers and the Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault law that made it a crime to threaten a spouse with a dangerous weapon. He says these pieces of legislation helped reduce domestic violence in Ouachita and Morehouse parishes.

cut 12 (10) “70 percent”

Jones also helped write several bills that were passed to support children, like Caylee’s Law, which increased penalties for sex crimes against children under 13. He also established programs such as Teen Court, Adolescents at Risk, and Juvenile Drug Court to help give young offenders a second chance.

Cut 13 (09)  “normal life”

================================

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office announces two high school students have been charged for wearing a clown mask while riding around school. Spokesman Brennan Matherne says the suspects are both 17 and from Raceland. They are identified as Jordan Boudreaux and Taylor Defelice of Central Lafourche High School…:

cut 14 (10)  “on campus”

Matherne says they also had evidence that the two were in the mask because one of them posted a picture on SnapChat…:

cut 15 (10) “certain holidays”

If found guilty, the two face a sentence of no less than six months in prison with a maximum of three years. Matherne says they made it very clear last week that the creepy clown activity that’s been going on throughout the US would not be tolerated…:

cut 16 (10) “country”

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The Louisiana Dept. of Education has received a $67 million grant to better prepare teachers for the classroom. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Republican Congressman Charles Boustany has released the first attack ad of the political season, and not surprisingly Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy is the target. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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U.S. Senate candidate Troy Hebert files a lawsuit in an effort to be included in an October 18^th debate hosted by the Council for a Better Louisiana and LPB. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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While flood victims in south Louisiana are struggling to recover from the August flood, many north Louisianans have still not recovered from the flooding there in March. Monroe Police Juror Pat Moore says many people still have not gotten back into their homes. She says some of the people didn’t know how to get the assistance they need.

cut 4  (09)  “the information”

Moore estimates as many as 20-percent of the people in her district couldn’t get federal aid. She says in some cases it was a matter of not getting enough assistance.

Cut 5  (10)  “the floors”

Moore says in other instances there were people who couldn’t provide the right documentation, like proving ownership of a home. She says some south Monroe residents inherited their home informally.

Cut 6 (11) “in my name”

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The first campaign ad attacking a candidate has been released by Republican Congressman Charles Boustany. UL-Lafayette Pearson Cross says it’s not surprising the target of the attack is GOP State Treasurer John Kennedy. He says it’s likely only one Republican will make the runoff, so it’s a dogfight of a race among the top GOP contenders.

CUT 7 (08)  “after him”

The ad makes claims against Kennedy including being a career politician, participating in budget gimmicks, and voting for tax hikes. Cross says it wasn’t as spiteful of an ad as it could have been.

Cut 8 (07) “watchdog”

Cross says that while the ad doesn’t have any great new allegations in it, it’s likely only the beginning. He says there will probably be many more similar ads before the November 8 election.

Cut 9 (09)  “very nasty”

____________________________________________________

Louisiana has received a $67 million federal grant to better prepare new teachers and provide more support for rural school districts. Assistant Talent Superintendent Hannah Dietsch says much of the grant money will go towards making sure teachers are prepared for the classroom before they begin their careers in education.

Cut 10 (08) “certificate”

The money will be dispersed among 16 rural school systems, reaching a total of 137 schools as part of an effort to better prepare educators. Dietsch says the state is seeking to implement a yearlong residency model for teachers breaking into the classroom.

cut 11 (09) “other professions”

The grant will also go towards opportunities and assistance for rural districts to attract and retain effective teachers. Dietsch says Louisiana Department of Education is one of 13 organizations to be awarded the federal Teacher Incentive Fund grant.

cut 12 (10) “huge boost”

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Independent U.S. Senate candidate Troy Hebert has filed a lawsuit in an effort to have Louisiana Public Broadcasting and the Council for a Better Louisiana to include more candidates in a October 18th televised debate.  The five candidates invited are Republicans Charles Boustany, John Fleming, and John Kennedy, along with Democrats Foster Campbell and Caroline Fayard. Hebert says he always knew the system was rigged in favor of the rich candidates.

Cut 13 (11) “that criteria”

Along with having raised one million dollars, candidates must have polled at least 5-percent in a non-partisan survey. CABL President Barry Erwin says with so many candidates in the race and being only three weeks away from the election, there has to be some criteria for participation.

cut 14 (10)  “viable election” 

Herbert says LPB is state funded by taxpayer dollars and they shouldn’t be using taxpayer money to favor certain candidates. He says CABL and LPB should try using common sense and use different methods to give each candidate a chance take the stage.

Cut 15 (10) “isn’t fair”

Erwin says they are open with new ideas but this close to an election, for the public’s benefit it’s best to hear from candidates who match their criteria.

Cut 16  (10)  “the stage”

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The LSU Tigers easily passed their first test with interim head coach Ed Orgeron at the helm, what will he do for an encore? The Tigers had over 600 yards of total offense against Missouri, but the opponent this Saturday, Florida, has much more talent. Orgeron says offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger will  have a good game plan

Cut 17 (20)  “rid of it”

Expect the Tigers to establish the run, with either Leonard Fournette or Derrius Guice. Guice is the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 163 yards and three touchdowns against Missouri. Orgeron says Guice has shown he’s a hard-nosed ball carrier

Cut 18 (12) “through you”

Orgeron also compared Guice’s ability to cut, to former USC star and Saints running back Reggie Bush. The Baton Rouge native welcomes the comparison…

Cut 19 (10)     “paid off”

Orgeron is not sure if Fournette will be able to play on Saturday. He’s already missed two games this season with an ankle injury. There have been camera shots that have shown Fournette with an upset look on his face, as he watches from the sideline. But Guice says the star running back is very supportive of his teammates…

Cut 20 (18) “comes from”

Keep Louisiana Beautiful has unveiled a new slogan they hope will reduce littering in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A link between sugary drinks and some cancers has been discovered by researchers at LSU Health New Orleans. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Louisiana travelers are now able to get federal identification for future domestic air travel, as the state Office of Motor Vehicles began issuing REAL ID licenses today. OMV Commissioner Karen St. Germain says  you’ll need this type of identification in order to fly domestically without a passport beginning in October 2020

CUT 3 (07)  “other identification”

St. Germain says the new REAL ID licenses will cost $13 for a four year duplicate, and $17 for a six year duplicate. She says not only will the ID be required for air travel, it will also be necessary to enter federal buildings beginning in 2020.

CUT 4 (09)  “entire country”

St. Germain says there’s no rush to get the new license if yours doesn’t expire for two or three years. She says your birth certificate, social security card and proof of residency  are needed to get the new REAL IDs and they do not look much different than you current license…

CUT 5 (09)  “compliant”

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A new slogan from Keep Louisiana Beautiful aims to raise awareness about the state’s litter problem. Executive Director of Keep Louisiana Beautiful, Susan Russell, says they hope “Love the Boot, Don’t Pollute” will provide a consistent message to Louisianans not to trash the state. She believes it’s a fitting slogan for the Bayou State, especially the word love.

CUT 6 (08) “that love”

Rogers says the slogan appears on bumper stickers that will be placed on 12-thousand state vehicles. But she says they aren’t stopping there, because they want to get this message out to as many people as possible.

CUT 7 (08) “print materials”

Rogers says they are seeing a decline in litter around the state, and she believes that’s because of the efforts of their 35-thousand volunteers. She says they hope to see less garbage in years to come, as volunteers still had a lot of trash to pick up last year.

CUT 8 (11) “of items”

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Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans found a link between certain types of cancer and sugary drink consumption. Dr. Melinda Sothern with LSU Health New Orleans says they want to be clear that added sugar was found to be correlated to some cancers, not natural sugars.

CUT 9 (08) “fruit drinks”

Sothern says they recommend that people do not have more than three 12 ounce sugary drinks per week. She says consuming these beverages is also linked to obesity and cardio-metabolic diseases. She says a one group of people is more at risk than others.

cut 10 (09)  “be overweight”

Sothern says these young men are more at risk because obesity is linked to cancer, and sugary drinks tend to be more readily available in low-income areas. She says sugary drink intake is associated with the risk of a few specific kinds of cancer.

Cut 11 (09) “and death”

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Hundreds of Denham Springs residents in Livingston Parish who flooded in August could be forced to elevate their homes. Mayor Gerard Landry says about 1200 residents were informed by mail over the weekend that initial FEMA assessments show the structure was “substantially damaged” by the flood:

cut 12 (07) “your home”

Landry says residents should appeal that ruling through the city, and then their permit staff will need to see a pre-flood market value for the home and also an estimate for the cost of repairs. He says there could be up to 900 homes that are below the “substantially damaged” line…:

Cut 13 (06)  “what we require”

Landry emphasizes that these FEMA assessments are just an initial snapshot of the damage each home likely received. He says the thing that worries him the most and what causes the most grief for citizens is the amount of misinformation that is out there…:

cut 14 (09)  “the rest of your life”

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The YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge says they received a substantial donation from Taylor Swift to support flood relief efforts, as part of the pop star’s $1 million dollar pledge to Louisiana. CEO Dianna Payton says the money will go towards building a new Early Head Start Center, because the one at Glen Oaks High School flooded and had to close…:

cut 15 (08) “and floors”

The Early Head Start program provides comprehensive early childhood and family services for low-income children up to three years of age. She says they are very grateful for the multi-Grammy award winning artist’s gift…:

cut 16 (06) “Glen Oaks community”

It was a successful debut for Ed Orgeron as interim coach of the LSU Tigers. Jeff Palermo has a recap of Saturday’s 42-7 win over Missouri…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The LSU AgCenter is making progress with plans to grow and produce medical marijuana. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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State officials will be in Cuba today to discuss trade options between island nation and Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Deepwater Horizon was a success at the box office this weekend and just in time for the release of the movie is a new study looking at how coastal marshland recovered from the 2010 environmental disaster. Marine conservation biology professor at Duke University, Brian Silliman, says patches of marsh grass nearly covered by oil never recovered.

cut 4  (09)  “erosion occurring”

Silliman says marshes will less than 90-percent oil coating did not erode as quickly as they expected, but 40 to 50 acres of marsh is permanently lost and can’t be brought back without active restoration. He says the study took a while to complete, because their methods are not high end.

Cut 5  (12)  “at that site”

Silliman says environmentalists are interested in understanding thresholds because it helps them determine how to restore these ecosystems. He says they now know that there is high resistance in these areas, meaning it takes a lot of oiling to destroy the system.

Cut 6 (09) “in those areas”

Silliman says it’s important to restore these marshes because they protect the coastline from wave impact, soak up carbon from the atmosphere and pollution, and generate shrimp production.

_____________________________________________

The LSU AgCenter is continuing with plans to grow medical marijuana and hope to have seeds in the ground early next year.  AgCenter President Dr. Bill Richardson says they should have a business plan in place this month and they are working closely with law enforcement to ensure they are comfortable with every aspect.

CUT 7 (10)  “exactly right”

Richardson says they hope to get started in 2017 at an off campus location in East Baton Rouge Parish. He says legislation passed this year helped them move forward with the process and gave them exclusive rights to produce the drug.

Cut 8 (08) “those things”

Richardson says no students and no one under 21 will be able to work in the growing facility and security is their number one priority. He says the AgCenter needs third party financing due to the budget situation the state faces and hopes to get rid of the angst associated with a project like this.

Cut 9 (10)  “medical marijuana”

____________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards, Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Mike Strain, and other state officials will be in Cuba today on a trade mission. Strain says representatives from LSU will also join them, because they want to trade more than just commodities.

Cut 10 (10) “work on”

Strain says Cuba will import up to $2 billion worth of food next year, and as much as $1 billion of that could be from the US. He says they believe Louisiana is in a prime position to capture a lion’s share of that trade.

cut 11 (10) “part of it”

Governor Edwards says before the Cuban Revolution in 1959, Louisiana had a long standing relationship with Cuba and was a trade partner. He says they are trying to lean forward anticipating the day that the Bayou State can resume that historical relationship. But he says this is not unique to Louisiana.

cut 12 (09) “bit behind”

The officials plan to meet with the Cuban ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Foreign Investment, as well as the National Port Administration of Cuba.

____________________________________________________

A ULM professor receives a 5 year, 1.7 million dollar grant that could possibly lead to a new treatment of Type-1 diabetes. Dr. Karen Briski is working to improve the quality of life of diabetics, by reducing harmful effects of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can cause nerve cell damage and neurological dysfunction, so she wants to see if increasing the amount of glycogen in the brain can help…

Cut 13 (05) “gluclose levels”

Hypoglycemia is an unavoidable aspect of a diabetic’s daily life, but Briski hopes her research can protect the brain during strict insulin therapy….

cut 14 (06)  “hypoglycemia” 

This grant is the biggest single grant awarded to a faculty member in ULM’s history. Briski says she is humbled by this honor and happy to have a chance to improve a diabetic’s quality of life.

Cut 15 (10) “this award”

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It wasn’t flashy, but Louisiana Tech picked up a much needed victory on Saturday with a 28-7 win over UTEP. Ryan Higgins threw for 191 yards and two touchdowns and Coach Skip Holtz says it was nice to get a win after losing two straight on the road…

Cut 16  (12)  “our tackling”

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For the second straight week, UL Lafayette lost in overtime on the road. New Mexico State beat the Cajuns 37-31 in double overtime on Saturday night to drop U-L-L’s record to 2-3, 1-and-1 in the Sun Belt. Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth says the two interceptions thrown by quarterback Anthony Jennings were costly…

Cut 17 (11)  “right now”

_____________________________________________________________________

What a debut by Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron as he guided the Tigers to a 42-7 thrashing of the Missouri Tigers on Saturday night. LSU’s offense, which was stagnant through the first four games of the season, rolled up 634 yards of total offense, which is a school school record for total offense in SEC games. Orgeron on what changed with him at the helm…

Cut 18 (20) “run the ball”

LSU rushed for 418 yards, Derrius Guice had 163 yards on the ground and Darrel Williams had 130, as each running back had three touchdowns. Orgeron says a dominating win like that is huge for this program…

Cut 19 (15) “little deeper”

LSU is at Florida for an 11 AM kickoff this Saturday. Wide receiver Malachi Dupre is anxious to see how the rest of the season plays out…

Cut 20 (12) “deserve respect”

More and more creepy clowns are popping up around the Bayou State. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The President has signed a proposal that would put $400 million towards disaster aid in Louisiana, but it could still be months before we see it. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Rapides Parish Schools are on a soft lockdown after the Sheriff’s Office received a nonspecific Instagram threat believed to be linked to the creepy clown sightings. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Tommy Carnline says they have not released the exact content of the message.

CUT 3 (10)  “it seriously”

Carnline says school resource officers are on a heightened state of alert and patrol deputies are closely monitoring schools. He says aside from the clowns being creepy and frightening to many people, they are breaking the law.

CUT 4 (07)  “Mardi Gras”

There were also three clown sightings in Terrebonne parish within two days. Maj. Malcom Wolfe with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says there were two reported incidents on Wednesday.

CUT 5 (12)  “light on”

Wolfe says they have not identified the persons behind the masks in those sightings. He says they did put to rest another sighting on Thursday near the wood line behind an apartment complex, as an 11-year-old boy came forward.

CUT 6 (09) “his friends”

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President Obama has signed the bill that provides 500 million dollars in federal disaster aid. Executive Director of the state Office of Community Development Pat Forbes says Louisiana is expected to get a little over 400 million dollars of that assistance to help with flood recovery. He says the most urgent need is to help homeowners without flood insurance….

CUT 7 (10) “mortgage assistance”

Forbes says it will take a couple of months before the money appropriated by Congress gets in the hands of flood victims, because a federal agency will still have to sign off on how Louisiana intends to spend this money. And he says Congress is expected to approve another relief package in December.

CUT 8 (10) “get that”

Forbes says ultimately, the decision on where the disaster aid will go is up to the Restore Louisiana Task Force, which is a 21 member panel appointed by the governor. He says this initial 400 million dollars allows victims to really start their recovery process.

CUT 9 (10) “their homes”

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Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is concerned about the rising number of deaths from prescription opioid overdoses in Louisiana, and the costs associated with prescription pill addiction. Donelon says for the first time since the Vietnam War, the life expectancy has gone down for white males ages 25 to 35, and he says that’s due in part to the opioid epidemic in the US.

cut 10 (09)  “white males”

Donelon says one in six injured workers in Louisiana had longer term use of prescription painkillers than workers in the other 24 states in a study by Workers Compensation Research Institute. He says this is a cost factor for employers accessing coverage for the workers in the workers comp market.

Cut 11 (09) “the employer”

Donelon says in 2014, 750 people died of opioid overdoses in Louisiana. He says a rising cost of insurance for injured workers is the least of the concerns with this issue.

cut 12 (11) “loved ones”

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Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards plans to sue Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry for blocking state contracts that contains clauses preventing L-G-B-T discrimination. Edwards says Landry is over stepping his constitutional authority…

Cut 13 (10)  “his own”

But Landry says state lawmakers have refused numerous times to pass laws to prohibit discrimination against sexual orientation and gender identity and he’s protecting the will of the legislature…

cut 14 (05)  “their wishes”

The elected officials met today and couldn’t come to an agreement on the anti-discrimation clause in state contracts. Back in April, the governor issued an executive order that prohibits state government from discriminating against gay and transgender individuals. Edwards says apparently the A-G believes the state should discriminate against a certain group of people…

cut 15 (06) “particular issue”

The Attorney General has rejected at least 40 contracts because it has non-discrimination wording in the document. Landry says he’s trying to protect the taxpayer…

cut 16 (06) “this was”

The Deepwater Horizon film premieres in theaters nationwide today. Emelie Gunn spoke with Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser who was Plaquemines Parish president during the 2010 rig explosion….

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Tomorrow is the start of October, which can only mean one thing in Louisiana- it’s time for the Angola Rodeo. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Tomorrow night will be the first time LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron will get to show whether he has what it takes to turn the season around. Halen Doughty reports…:

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The Deepwater Horizon movie premieres in theaters today and shows the story of the lives lost during the 2010 rig explosion off the coast of Louisiana. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser was the president of Plaquemines Parish when 11 crew members were killed in the worst offshore oil disaster in U.S. history and he says this movie accurately portrayed what went on during the blast.

cut 4  (10)  “the water”

The movie was filmed in Louisiana. Nungesser says he spoke with oil rig engineer Mike Williams, the survivor played by Mark Wahlberg, and he said he was impressed and was glad the film honors those who died. He believes many things can be learned from this horrific experience and by watching the reenactment.

Cut 5  (07)  “valuable lessons”

Nungesser says Deepwater Horizon is a well done film and demonstrates everyone who works on the rig is a big family.

Cut 6 (08) “their life”

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New FEMA flood maps go into effect today impacting three southeast Louisiana parishes. FEMA Assistant Administrator, David Maurstad, says 60-thousand homeowners who are currently in the high risk mandatory purchase area are moving to a low to moderate risk, which means flood insurance is no longer federally required by lenders and residents might be eligible for lower rates on their policy.

CUT 7 (06)  “circumstances there”

Maurstad says even if a homeowner’s risk goes down with the new maps, they still need to be prepared for the next flooding event.

Cut 8 (11) “affordable policy “

The changes to the FEMA flood maps will impact residents in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes. Maurstad says even though they’ve improved flood control infrastructure in this area, it’s still a risk for flooding.

Cut 9 (08)  “maintain it”

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The Wildest Show in the South gets underway this weekend, as the Angola Rodeo returns Sunday on the grounds of the state prison. Angola spokesperson Gary Young says the rodeo is held every Sunday in October, and the gates open at 9am.

Cut 10 (10) “and crafts”

Young says the rodeo benefits Louisiana Corrections Workforce Reentry Program, which helps inmates learn how to become productive members of society once they are released. He says the rodeo is known for the arts and crafts that are sold there and there’s plenty of other stuff to do before the rodeo begins.

cut 11 (09) “at 2pm”

Young says the arts and crafts made by the Angola prisoners are all reasonably priced. He says the inmates pay sales taxes on the items, but they get to keep some of the money they earn from the sales.

cut 12 (09) “their self-esteem”

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The Louisiana National Guard says the bunker that exploded at Camp Minden operated the way it was designed to handle such a blast, as it contained and controlled the M6 propellant. Matt Harris with Louisiana State Police says no people or property were hurt in the explosion.

Cut 13 (07) “surrounding area”

About 15 million pounds of explosives were moved to Camp Minden after they were improperly stored several years ago. Harris says the earth covered bunkers are made to withstand that kind of blast to keep the debris and the damage to a minimum.

cut 14 (07)  “years ago”

Harris says they still aren’t sure exactly why the M6 went off spontaneously, but their investigation into the matter is ongoing.

Cut 15 (09) “the future”

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Tomorrow night will be the first time LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron will get to show whether he has what it takes to turn the season around. College Football analyst Mike Detillier says the team has been playing without excitement this season, but you can be sure Coach “O” will get their attention real quick…:

Cut 16  (09)  “their attention”

Former head coach Les Miles essential ended up losing his job for failing to establish a passing game. Detillier says Coach “O” is changing up the way that they practice, so that they aren’t doing the same thing over and over every week…:

Cut 17 (22)  “football team”

Detillier says it’s been almost as if the team needs jumper cables…:

Cut 18 (24) “they will under Orgeron”

The Louisiana Economic Outlook report shows the state’s economy will remain stagnant over the next year. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The sky was ablaze this morning in Webster parish, as some of the explosives being stored at Camp Minden blew up in a bunker. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Louisiana Economic Outlook shows the state will lose 17-thousand jobs this year because of low oil prices. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott released the report and says the state has been in a recession since August of 2015…

CUT 3 (10)  “Lake Charles”

The report says Lafayette lost 9-thousand jobs this year and is expected to lose 5-thousand more in 2017. Scott says the big problem in the Lafayette and Houma areas is the decline of working oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

CUT 4 (09)  “18”

Scott says job growth will remain flat in Shreveport, Monroe, Alexandria and New Orleans, while Baton Rouge and Lake Charles will see employment gains because of the industrial boom.

CUT 5 (09)  “number”

Scott doesn’t believe the flooding will impact the economy but will create an uptick in construction employment.

==================================================

An explosion lit up the sky at Camp Minden in Webster Parish around 5:00 this morning. The Louisiana National Guard reports a storage bunker filled with M6 propellant exploded. Crews have been working around the clock to destroy these explosives, which were improperly stored several years ago. Minden Representative Gene Reynolds says thankfully no one was injured.

CUT 6 (09) “the explosion”

Explosive Service International is responsible for the destruction of all 15 million pounds of explosives being stored at Camp Minden. Reynolds says it’s not a surprise the explosives spontaneously went off.

CUT 7 (08) “at some point”

Louisiana State Police is conducting an investigation into the blast. Over 6.2 million pounds of the propellant has been destroyed since the operation began in April. Reynolds says he wouldn’t be shocked if this happened again before all the M6 has been destroyed.

CUT 8 (11) “surprise me”

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Congress has approved $400 million for flood recovery efforts in Louisiana, but when that money will be available to flood victims is still up in the air. Lafayette City-Parish president Joel Robideaux says people are looking for answers, and that’s something local officials can’t give them right now.

CUT 9 (09) “tough decisions”

Robideaux sits on the Recovery Louisiana Task Force and he says they hope to come up with some kind of solution in the next few weeks. He says one option to get immediate aid to people could be a bridge loan from a bank, similar to what was done for small businesses after Katrina.

cut 10 (12)  “lower interest”

Robideaux says 4-thousand homes were impacted in Lafayette parish. He says they have a lot of questions, and solutions are hard to come by. But he says Lafayette residents are resilient, and they are doing what they can while they wait for answers.

Cut 11 (11) “no man’s land”

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A video of a Louisiana man dancing in the delivery room around his pregnant wife has gone viral. The DeSoto Parish dancing daddy, 29-year-old Sky Jones, says he made the video to cheer up the people in his hometown, after a man was shot and killed a few days before.

cut 12 (10) “my city”

Jones’ Facebook video has more than 11-thousand views, and it has been shared nearly 200 times. He says while his followers enjoyed the video, his wife was not pleased when he was dancing around her hospital bed to Starrkeisha’s song “The Baby Momma Dance.”

Cut 13 (09)  “afterward (laugh)”

Jones says he didn’t expect the video to go viral. He says he was excited about the birth of his first biological son, Sky Jones Jr. He says he’s gotten a positive reaction to the video.

cut 14 (09)  “out of it”

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The U.S. Senate passes a measure that grants 500 million dollars in federal disaster aid. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The FBI’s 2015 Uniform Crime Report finds Louisiana once again has the highest murder rate of any state in the nation. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Body cam footage of a police shooting that took the life of an autistic 6-year-old last November has finally been released by the judge overseeing the case. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The U.S. Senate passes legislation that grants 500 million dollars in federal disaster assistance. About 400 million dollars of that will go to Louisiana for flood relief. Republican Senator David Vitter says this is just a start, more federal aid is expected in December. He says this is great news for thousands of Louisianans struggling to recover from the historic flooding event.

cut 4  (08)  “in December”

Vitter says the other 100 million dollars of aid will assist other states with natural disaster damage. He says his colleagues from other parts of the country had a hard time understanding the level of destruction that took place in Louisiana.

Cut 5  (10)  “overcome that”

Vitter says this money should first go to homeowners who were not in the flood zone and received water damage. He says it’s not uncommon for a middle to low class family to have over 100-thousand dollars of uninsured damages.

Cut 6 (07) “flood zone”

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New data from the FBI finds Louisiana’s murder rate is once again higher than any other state in the country. The state recorded 10.3 murders per 100-thousand people in 2015, a slight increase from 2014. Louisiana has had the highest murder rate in the country since 1989. Criminologist Dr. Peter Scharf with the LSU School of Public Health says the state’s high incarceration rate contributes to the large number of murders.

CUT 7 (11)  “in the city”

New Orleans has the highest rate in the state, followed by Monroe and Baton Rouge. And the Crescent City ranks 8^th in the country for murder rates among major metropolitan areas. Scharf says there’s a national trend for increasing murder rates, but he believes Louisiana is leading the trend, not following it.

Cut 8 (09) “way it is”

Scharf says a murder costs the state between $1 million and $6 million. He says preventative measures are much more affordable than the costs of violent crimes.

Cut 9 (08)  “well before”

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The body cam video has been released of the police shooting that left a 6-year-old autistic boy dead in Marksville. The graphic video shows deputy city marshal Derrick Stafford open firing into a vehicle, where 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis was seated in the passenger seat. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it doesn’t look good for Stafford.

Cut 10 (10) “thus far”

The video of the shooting that occurred last November was played Wednesday in the courtroom at Stafford’s hearing. Meche says the video probably would have been released sooner, if there was more media attention around the incident.

cut 11 (05) “time ago”

The father, Christopher Few, was critically wounded in the shooting. Defense attorneys have said Few rammed his car into the deputy’s vehicle before he fired, but Meche says the video does not show the vehicle used as a weapon at the time of the shooting.

cut 12 (05) “their bounds”

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A Bossier Parish School Board committee has decided not to let MTV film a TV show at two schools in their system. School Board member Dennis Bamburg is the chairman of the Buildings and Grounds Committee and he says Barcroft Productions wanted to film three students, because they have chosen practice abstinence.

Cut 13 (08) “involved in”

Barcroft has produced shows like Young, Trans and In Love, Inside the Ku Klux Klan, and Body Bizarre. Bamburg says the show would have supposedly centered on the students decision to be celibate, but they didn’t believe that’s how it would air on MTV.

cut 14 (10)  “over that”

Bamburg says anything that uses school facilities has to come before the committee. He says the school system doesn’t want any part of the show, because the movie industry and schools don’t mix.

Cut 15 (08) “school system”

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Louisiana Tech hosts UTEP this Saturday night in Ruston in match-up of 1-and-3 teams. The Bulldogs have lost their last two games, including a 38-34 defeat to Middle Tennessee. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says his team is a work in progress that is working to get better….

Cut 16  (17)  “on Saturday”

Holtz says they don’t have time to lick their wounds as Miners bring one of the top running backs in the country to Joe Aillet Stadium. Aaron Jones is averaging seven yards a carry. Holtz is glad to be back at home after playing on the road the last two weeks…

Cut 17 (20)  “home”

Holtz says the defense needs to play better if they are going to string some victories together. Some fans in Bulldog nation would rather see redshirt fresman J’Mar Smith as the quarterback. But Holtz says Ryan Higgins is his guy, especially after throwing for 504 and three touchdowns last week at Middle Tennessee…

Cut 18 (24) “pretty impressive”

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The Saints seek their first win of the season this Sunday in San Diego where the Black and Gold take on Quarterback Drew Brees’ old team, the Chargers. Brees says it would be great if the team was rewarded for all of their hard work with a win….

Cut 19 (13) “progresses”

The Saints are 0-3 and have lost by a combined 17 points. Brees believes this team is just a few plays away from having a winning record…

Cut 20 (14) “things will happen”

Governor John Bel Edwards tells the newly formed Restore Louisiana Task Force it has the huge responsibility of helping Louisiana flood victims get their lives back together. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The creepy clown trend has now reached Louisiana as multiple sightings have been reported to police. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Three people are dead, including a West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Deputy, following a double murder- suicide in Point Coupee parish. Point Coupee Sheriff Bud Torres says a gunfight erupted yesterday afternoon between Deputy Donna LeBlanc and her neighbor, 29-year-old Gregory Phillips. Torres says the deadly shootings took place in the deputy’s yard.

CUT 3 (12)  “on himself”

Phillips, LeBlanc, and 21-year-old Carli LeBlanc were pronounced dead. Torres says they are still not sure exactly how the gunfight began, but the relationship between LeBlanc and her neighbor was strained.

CUT 4 (09)  “pleasant relationship”

LeBlanc is married to a Louisiana State Trooper, and their 9-year-old daughter reported the incident. The deadly gunfight reportedly occurred on LeBlanc’s day off while her husband was at a training exercise. Torres says investigators spent over 9 hours processing the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.

CUT 5 (10)  “this matter”

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Around the country there have been many sightings of creepy clowns and now the trend has reached Louisiana. Covington Police Chief Tim Lentz says a group of elementary aged students claimed to see clowns in the woods behind their school. He says it turned out to be a hoax after the kids saw stories online, but authorities are taking incidents like this very seriously.

CUT 6 (10) “terrorizing”

Another clown sighting was reported at a Morgan City business Tuesday night. Capt. Betty Augman says by the time officers arrived on the scene, no one was found wearing a costume but they will investigate all complaints involving creepy clowns.

CUT 7 (06) “to arrest”

The clerk at the Paulina Matherne’s supermarket where the clowns were spotted says she is scared of the clowns returning, because you never know the mindset of the people dressed up.

CUT 8 (05) “do come”

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Governor John Bel Edwards tells the Restore Louisiana Task Force they have the important job of helping flood victims get back on their feet. The task force, which was appointed by the governor, is in charge of determining how federal flood recovery dollars will be spent. The state could receive billions of dollars and Edwards says it must be used appropriately.

CUT 9 (07) “return home”

President Barack Obama has asked Congress to approve two-point-six billion dollars for Louisiana’s flood recovery. Edwards says early estimates show there was $8.7 billion in damage from the August flood, and that doesn’t include public infrastructure. He says another 29-thousand homes were damaged in the March flood. He says the task force has to do something to help these people.

cut 10 (08)  “to flood”

There’s legislation up for debate in the Senate that would provide 500-million dollars in federal flood aid for multiple states. Edwards says it is likely Louisiana will receive the bulk of Community Development Block Grant Funding in the lame duck session after the November election.

Cut 11 (11) “we need”

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State Superintendent of Education John White is eager to make changes to the way public schools are rated as a way to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act. The federal law targets increasing student achievement. White says Louisiana is developing a plan to be approved by the federal government by next year. And one of their ideas is fewer standardized tests…

cut 12 (10) “of tests”

White says to reduce testing they are requiring that state testing never take up more than 2-percent of all instructional minutes in a school year. He says they are addressing that Louisiana students too often graduate without the fundamental skills necessary to succeed in college or the workplace.

Cut 13 (10)  “accountability system “

White says the framework also proposes that the accountability system do more to honor the progress of all students, even if the student doesn’t receive high marks. He adds schools need particular support in identifying specific learning needs early.

cut 14 (09)  “do it”

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A man has been arrested after walking near an elementary school with an assault rifle. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola says they received numerous calls yesterday that 25-year-old Carl Willis was walking down the street carrying an AR-15.

cut 15 (10) “with officers”

Coppola says they aren’t sure why Willis was carrying the gun, and all he told the arresting officers is that he has the right to open carry the assault rifle. Coppola says citizens do have that right, but not on school property.

cut 16 (06) “this was”

Coppola says Willis faces one charge of carrying a weapon on school grounds.

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The first cold front of the Fall has reached Louisiana, so it’s time to grab your sweaters. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Time is running out for Congress to approve the $500 million federal aid package that contains money for Louisiana’s flood relief efforts. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The state republican party is accusing Governor John Bel Edwards of using the flood to his advantage to raise money for his re-election campaign. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Sweater weather is coming to Louisiana as the first cold front of the Fall has made its way to Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this front has really lowered the humidity. And low temperatures will reach the mid 50s later this week in north Louisiana and the low 70s in southeast Louisiana.

cut 4  (09)  “mind blowing”

Keim says this beautiful weather, with no rain in sight, will remain in place through the weekend and maybe into early next week. He says this cold front came through a little bit late, as we typically see these fronts in the beginning or middle of September.

Cut 5  (10)  “uncomfortable summer”

By the end of the week, low temperatures will be in the 50s for most of the state. Keim says this cool, dry air coming in from Canada is keeping the temperature down over the next few days into the weekend.

Cut 6 (06) “be amazing” 2x

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The continuing resolution that contains money for flood relief efforts in Louisiana is tied up in politics, and the clock is ticking before Congress’ fall recess. US Senator Bill Cassidy says they’re going back and forth because Senate Democrats want funding for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, in the spending bill as well.

CUT 7 (09)  “that bill”

The $500 million flood aid package contains dollars earmarked for 16 states. Cassidy says a separate bill for Flint funding passed the Senate, but not the House. He says they’re still trying to figure out what it will take to get the continuing resolution approved in both houses.

Cut 8 (11) “and Flint”

Congress is set to recess for the November election on Friday at midnight. Cassidy says he is confident that assistance will be approved for Louisiana flood victims. But he says the question remains as to when that aid will come to the Bayou State.

Cut 9 (09)  “the election”

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The state Republican Party claims Governor John Bel Edwards is using the flood to raise money for his re-election campaign. Executive Director of the Louisiana GOP, Jason Dore, says the governor attended a fundraising event one night during one of his trips to Washington, D.C., to get more federal aid for flood victims.

Cut 10 (11) “its actions”

But the governor’s Communications Director, Richard Carbo, says the event was held at night, after a long day of fighting for federal assistance. He says no state dollars went towards the reception event for the fundraiser.

cut 11 (10) “taxpayer funds”

Dore also says Edwards has not been hard enough on FEMA regarding their delayed response to flood victims.

cut 12 (10) “every day”

Dore claims Central Mayor Jr. Shelton had to go through a Congressman to get more flood relief supplies. Carbo says there are many different ways to go about getting more assistance, and Shelton just chose another route and has been complimentary of the governor’s response.

Cut 13 (08) “in place”

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Authorities in St. Tammany parish are asking for the public’s help in identifying a mutilated body that was dumped on Highway 90 near the Rigolets. Police say the murder victim was found in late July, and they believe the victim may have been a transient with ties to Biloxi. Coroner Dr. Charles Preston says the autopsy results were gruesome.

cut 14 (11)  “one extremity”

Preston says they ran a phenotype DNA analysis to get an idea of what the victim may have looked like, because his body was badly decomposed. He says they believe the man is over 65-years-old, of European and Middle Eastern descent, and has a fair complexion.

Cut 15 (11) “dark brown”

Preston says the victim has a scar from an open heart surgery and had blood pressure medications in his system. St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith says the first step in solving the case is identifying the deceased victim.

Cut 16  (11)  “this victim”

Authorities have released a computer sketch of the victim and anyone with information is urged to call the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office, or call CrimeStoppers at (504) 822-1111 to remain anonymous.

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Former LSU quarterback Steve Ensminger will call the plays from the press box on Saturday when the Tigers host Missouri on Saturday night. Ensminger takes over as offensive coordinator for the fired Cam Cameron. Ensminger says for this offense to improve, they have to eliminate mistakes…

Cut 17 (11)  “better offense”

Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron has already said he wants to spread the ball around, instead of just relying heavily on the running game. Ensminger he’s on board with that idea…

Cut 18 (09) “smart doing that”

Ensminger was previously an offensive coordinator at Clemson and Texas A&M in the 1990s. The Baton Rouge native also does not want the offense to be predictable…

Cut 19 (10) “any set”

Quarterback Danny Etling says they trust Orgeron and the new look coaching staff…

Cut 20 (10) ” our head coach”