Bayou Country Superfest announced the 8^th annual music festival will be held in New Orleans at the Mercedes Benz Superdome in 2017. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (32) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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More US Senate candidates are airing TV commercials as the November 8 election approaches. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Three strippers are suing the state over the new law that requires dancers in clubs to be at least 21-years-old. Legal analyst Tim Meche doesn’t think the suit will be successful because challenges to the federal drinking age requirement were struck down.

CUT 3 (08)  “certain age”

The suit also claims the law is sexist and would not apply to men because exotic dancers are defined as “entertainers whose breasts or buttocks are exposed to view” in the law. Meche doesn’t think that claim will go far in the courtroom.

CUT 4 (10)  “with that”

The dancers, identified as Jane Doe I, II, and III, allege that the law violates their First Amendment right to free expression, in the form of erotic dance. State Alcohol and Tobacco Control officers plan on enforcing the new law on October 1^st. Meche doesn’t think the dancers will win the law suit.

CUT 5 (03)  “ultimately”

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Political experts say last night’s presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump is one of the most bizarre ever at that level of politics. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s due, in part, to the sharp personal jabs they took at each other. He says there was also an unusual lack of actual substance in the debate:

CUT 6 (10) “each would favor”

Hogan says he doesn’t feel there was a clean winner in the debate, but it seems as though Clinton presented a better case to support her position. He says Trump seemed to have difficulty making his points clear to the public — but he’s staying true to his style…:

CUT 7 (07) “general terms”

Hogan says both candidates played the roles a lot of people anticipated they would. He says they both often cut each other off and, as we’ve seen from Trump in the past, the GOP candidate mostly gave way to rants…:

CUT 8 (10) “that we’ve seen”

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Bayou Country Superfest announces the 8^th annual music festival with be held in New Orleans at the Mercedes Benz Superdome over the 2017 Memorial Day Holiday. Producer and Director of the Superfest Quint Davis says the three-day concert will start with a free and open to the public concert on Friday, May 26^th in Champions Square. He says they want this to be the new country superfest in every way.

CUT 9 (08) “had before”

The lineup and ticket details will be announced on December 1^st. Davis says LSU and Tiger Stadium were always welcoming to the Superfest and will forever be the father of the festival. He says now that the festival is indoors, there is more opportunity to get creative with lighting.

cut 10 (10)  “Tiger Stadium”

Davis says the Superdome was the only other location in that state which could hold over 40-thousand concert-goers. He says visitors have access to more than 35-thousand hotels rooms within walking distance of the festival.

Cut 11 (11) “national event”

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As the November 8 election draws closer, more and more candidates for US Senate are taking their campaigns to the airwaves. State Treasurer John Kennedy aired his first commercial during last night’s Saints game. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says it was unusual that the ad was a full 60 seconds.

cut 12 (11) “stay on TV”

Alford says the commercials are helping candidates introduce themselves to voters, many for the first time. Republican businessman Abhay Patel airs his first commercial today. Alford says the debates will solidify some positions on policy issues, but that poses a problem in such a crowded field.

Cut 13 (07)  “folks stand”

Republican Congressman John Fleming is also running a new ad. Alford says we’ll likely see more ads from candidates attacking their opponents in the near future. He says Kennedy will likely be a target, given the lead he had in the beginning of the race.

cut 14 (09)  “those loose”

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Many roadways are still lined with debris five weeks after the historic flooding. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron looks to jump start a passing attack that ranks last in the SEC. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Former Governor Kathleen Blanco is offering encouragement to flood victims during the difficult rebuilding phase. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Education leaders in Louisiana are looking at ways to improve public education, in compliance with a new federal law that goes into effect next school year. State Superintendent John White says the Every Student Succeeds Act is the first federal education law that’s been passed since 2001, and it requires states to outline a plan for improving education. He says he’s confident Louisiana can make great strides, as long as the students remain the focus of the discussions.

cut 4  (11)  “our state”

During Governor Bobby Jindal’s second term, White was involved in a very public spat with Jindal over Common Core academic standards. White says Louisiana is making strides in education, like improving math and reading test scores among 4^th graders and overall ACT scores. He says better preparing teachers while they are still in college could also have an impact in K-12 classrooms.

Cut 5  (12)  “others are”

White says in the near future, they will draft the framework for a plan to improve education. He says the plan outline will be made available to the public.

Cut 6 (11) “specific ideas”

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Five weeks after the historic flooding in south Louisiana, many people still have debris piled up in their front yards. Spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Mike Steele, says crews have hit the 55-percent mark for completion of debris removal.

CUT 7 (10)  “in August”

Steele says crews have been hard at work for the past several weeks, and it will likely be a few more weeks before all the debris has been removed. He says they are asking the public to be patient.

Cut 8 (11) “get this done”

Steele says they have more crews working now, so hopefully the second half of the cleanup will go faster than the first. He says they are asking people to sort their debris into different categories to make the cleanup process easier.

Cut 9 (10)  “also electronics”

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LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron promises changes to LSU’s offense. The Tigers rank dead last in the SEC in passing and 12th in the league in total offense. Orgeron says they want to spread the ball around and make the passing game more dynamic….

Cut 10 (07) “throwing it”

Orgeron replaces Les Miles, who was criticized for his antiquated offense that included poor clock management. Coach “O” says he doesn’t want to repeat the mistakes made in the past…

cut 11 (11) “game management”

Orgeron will make his debut as interim head coach on Saturday night when the Tigers take on Missouri. He wants his team to feel strong on Saturday, so he’ll have them on the practice field less during the week…

cut 12 (11) “be excited”

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As thousands of residents in south Louisiana continue to put the pieces of their life back together, it feels to many like this nightmare will never end. But former Governor Kathleen Blanco says one of her biggest takeaways from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is that people in Louisiana are fighters, and they don’t give up…:

Cut 13 (08) “we love”

Blanco says last night’s game in the Superdome was a reminder about how resilient communities can be, as it was 10 years ago that New Orleans got a rebirth when the facility reopened for the first time since the storm. She says we will recover from this…:

cut 14 (09)  “their lives”

Blanco encourages residents to keep their heads held high, because this too shall pass. She says the “new normal” will be better in many ways…:

Cut 15 (09) “rebuilding”

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For the second consecutive year, the Saints start their season with three consecutive losses. New Orleans lost to Atlanta 45-32 last night. The game started well as the Saints jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but the game turned when De’Vante Harris ran over returner Tommylee Lewis, causing a muffed punt and giving Atlanta the ball on the New Orleans 11-yard line. Coach Sean Payton called it a bad play…

Cut 16  (19)  “seven points”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns. He was intercepted once, which was returned for a touchdown by former LSU Tiger Deion Jones. Brees says his interception and the special teams miscue were big…

Cut 17 (19)  “we lost”

Despite the Saints dismal start, Brees is still optimistic about the team’s playoff chances….

Cut 18 (19) “look out”

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Tonight is the first one on one presidential debate between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Emelie Gunn has more on what to expect…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva spoke with reporters along with interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron today. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Presidential candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, will duke it out tonight in their first debate. The debate will air from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Central Time. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley expects viewers will see the combination of information and typical candidate sparring. He says these are two individuals who recognize the clock is ticking on the campaign and the polls are tight.

CUT 3 (10)  “for Americans”

Stockley says both Trump and Clinton will take shots at each other in an attempt to demonstrate to Americans how the other candidate is unfit…

CUT 4 (08)  “this city”

Stockley says the candidates will likely touch on the recent shootings around the country and the protests that are sparking. He says African Americans and the law enforcement community have some questions to be answered…

CUT 5 (10)  “community”

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A new poll shows it’s a tight race for the open US Senate seat in Louisiana. John Couvillon, with JMC Analytics and Polling, says five candidates have an opportunity to make the runoff as there’s been movement since he surveyed this race in July.

CUT 6 (10) “the field”

The poll paid for by Congressman John Fleming’s campaign shows Congressman Charles Boustany and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell are tied for the lead at 15-percent, and Fleming and New Orleans attorney Caroline Fayard are just behind them at third and fourth place respectively. Couvillon says former front runner John Kennedy’s numbers have dropped 7 percentage points to 11-percent.

CUT 7 (09) “and so forth”

Couvillon says the poll also found that 25-percent of voters are still undecided, which he says is not surprising.

CUT 8 (08) “ratchet down”

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Former LSU football coach Les Miles said he’s feeling good one day after his firing. Miles was a guest this morning on the “Dan Patrick Show on DirecTV’s Audience.”  Miles says he was told of his firing during a face-to-face meeting with Athletic Director Joe Alleva and the Tigers former head man said he didn’t fight the decision…

CUT 9 (08) “for em”

Miles was the head coach at LSU for 11-plus seasons. He won 77-percent of his games, including a BCS National Championship and two SEC titles. The mad hatter says he’s fortunate to have the opportunity to coach the Tigers…

cut 10 (08)  “entire time”

This Saturday LSU will host Missouri for homecoming. Miles says he may go to Tallahassee to see Florida State play North Carolina. His son, Manny, is a walk-on quarterback for the Tar Heels. During the nearly 10-minute interview, Miles indicated he would like to coach again…

Cut 11 (07) “a coach”

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Alleva spoke with reporters along with interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron today. Alleva said making a change such as this is never an easy one to make, but changes within the program had to take place…:

cut 12 (11) “their lives”

Alleva said Miles is loved by his players because he cares about them as people and he did a great job developing them into fine young men. Alleva said he felt that, at this time, Coach O is the right man to take over the program…:

Cut 13 (08)  “great things ahead of it”

Miles was criticized for not being able to produce an effective offensive line. In his introduction to LSU, Orgeron said there will be changes under his leadership…:

cut 14 (06)  “on offense”

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Tonight’s Saints-Falcons games marks the 10^th anniversary of the reopening of the Mercedes Benz Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Congressman Garret Graves has introduced a bill that would get flood insurance claims to people quicker. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Shocked and sad is the reaction from the LSU players over the firing of LSU Head Coach Les Miles and Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Tonight’s Saints-Falcons game marks the 10th anniversary of the Mercedes Benz Superdome reopening after Hurricane Katrina. Former Governor Kathleen Blanco prioritized the repair of the iconic stadium. Blanco says the building’s roof was badly damaged and it was a symbol of despair for New Orleans. The former governor says despite criticism, she knew they could turn the dome into a symbol of victory.

cut 4  (10)  “nasty place”

Blanco says repairing the stadium in nine months rather than the predicted 2 years was a huge endeavor. She says Saints owner Tom Benson promised if they could open the Superdome before the 2006 season, he wouldn’t move the franchise.

Cut 5  (08)  “dire moment”

Blanco faced criticism, as many wondered why fix the Superdome when thousands of people needed help. The former governor says the money could only go into repairs of the building and they received funds from the NFL and FEMA. She says in the end, she received many public apologies.

Cut 6 (10) “or losing”

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Over a month after the historic flooding in south Louisiana, many flood victims are still struggling to recover. Congressman Garret Graves of Baton Rouge has introduced a bill to help future disaster victims get assistance in a timely manner. He says the biggest complaint he’s heard is that it’s taking too long to get money from flood insurance claims.

CUT 7 (10)  “federal program”

Graves’ bill would require the national flood insurance program to make determinations within 30 days of the claim being filed. He says people need this assistance now, and he wants to push this bill through in an expedited process.

Cut 8 (07) “the Congress”

Graves says schools, police and fire departments, and drainage systems are all funded by property taxes. He says if people can’t get their homes repaired quickly, it will cause major problems for the entire community because there will be less tax revenue coming in.

Cut 9 (11)  “public services”

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After 114 wins, a BCS National Championship and two SEC championships, Les Miles is no longer the head coach at LSU. Miles, along with LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron were let go, after a bad loss to Auburn to drop their record to 2-2. Safety Jamal Adams says Miles spoke with the team before he left…

Cut 10 (11) “lettin go”

Senior wide receiver Travin Dural of Breaux Bridge says he showed up to a 5:00 meeting and never thought he would be told that Miles was let go….

cut 11 (07) “this program”

South LaFourche High School and Northwestern State grad, Ed Orgeron, takes over as the interim head coach. He was the Tigers defensive line coach and a former head coach at Ole Miss and interim head coach at USC. Dural looks forward to what Coach “O” can bring to the team…

cut 12 (09) “success”

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A new book about the murders of prostitutes in Jefferson Davis parish is surrounded by controversy. Murder in the Bayou by Ethan Brown documents the author’s investigation into the murders of 8 prostitutes between 2005 and 2009. The book alleges that Congressman Charles Boustany may have been involved with the women. Brown, who appeared on the Jim Engster Show, says Boustany’s response to the accusation is included in the book.

Cut 13 (08) “in the book”

The book claims that a staffer at Boustany’s office also worked at the hotel where these women would perform the services. Brown says there is no question that staffer worked at the Boudreaux Inn.

cut 14 (09)  “the staffer”

Brown says a lot of independent media outlets have been reporting the claims against the congressman. He says in all the stories he’s seen, reporters have noted that they have not been able to independently verify the allegations.

Cut 15 (07) “been made”

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The Saints are 0-2 heading into their Monday night matchup with their NFC South rival the Atlanta Falcons. A loss tonight and it will be very difficult for the boys in Black and Gold to make the playoffs. Quarterback Drew Brees is confident this team can string some wins together…

Cut 16  (12)  “this week”

Brees has thrown for nearly 700 yards and 5 touchdowns through two games, but New Orleans has yet to get tight end Coby Fleener involved in the offense. Fleener was signed a free agent in the offseason and has just three catches on the young season. Brees expects Fleener to be a major contributor as the season moves along…

Cut 17 (15)  “come”

The Saints have struggled to convert on 3rd down this season, as they have moved the chains on 3rd down only 7 times on 24 opportunities. Brees on how they can improve that percentage…

Cut 18 (20) “3rd down”

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LSU beat Auburn, but then they didn’t. It turns out Danny Etling’s touchdown pass to DJ Chark never happened, because the Tigers didn’t get the play off, before the clock struck triple zero. After a penalty on the Tigers, there was one second left, when LSU lined up for a potential touchdown pass. Coach Les Miles on what happened…

Cut 19 (15) “I’m told”

Auburn’s 18-13 over LSU leaves the Tigers with a 2-2 record for the first time since 2001. The Bayou Bengals chances of playing in the college football playoffs are dashed and LSU’s continuing problems on offense make it hard to think they can win the SEC West. Miles, whose coaching seat is getting hotter, looks forward to the rest of the season…

Cut 20 (18) ” back end”

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves says he is unsatisfied with the proposal to get Louisiana $500 million dollars in federal aid to assist flood victims because it’s wrapped up in politics. The money is part of a short-term budget fix and is earmarked as disaster assistance for multiple states. Graves says this money would be spread across 16 different major disasters…:
CUT 9 (04) “to Louisiana”

Graves says when you look at the tens of thousands of people that need assistance to get back in their homes, $500 million doesn’t go anywhere.

Take Em Down Nola, an activist group in New Orleans, is protesting today in Jackson Square when they say they will take down the statue of Andrew Jackson. The group seeks to remove all confederate monuments in the Crescent City. Group member Malcom Suber says they want to rename the area Freedom Square.
CUT 3 (08) “our city”

 
The Advisory Council on Student Behavior finds over one-thousand kindergartners were suspended last school year. New Orleans attorney and chairwoman of the council, Jennifer Coco, says they hope to find better ways to discipline students than kicking them out of class.
Cut 12 (08) “feel safe”

Hunters for the Hungry’s annual Cleanout your Freezer Day is tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. Hunters with leftover meat from last hunting season are encouraged to donate. H-F-H Executive Director Jimmy Anthony says the program began 25 years ago when a group of hunters thought it was a shame to waste all of last year’s frozen game.
Cut 6 (11) “new meat.”

Visit hunters4hungrylouisiana.org for more information.

A New Orleans activist group has announced plans to take down the statue of Andrew Jackson during a protest Saturday. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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US Congressman Garret Graves says he’s frustrated that the proposal to get $500 million dollars in federal aid to flood victims is wrapped up in politics. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A New Orleans activist group is planning a protest tomorrow in Jackson Square when they say they will take down the statue of Andrew Jackson. Malcom Suber is a member of Take Em Down NOLA, a group that seeks to remove confederate monuments from the city. He says they want to remove the statue of Jackson and rename the area Freedom Square.

CUT 3 (08)  “our city”

Suber says the protest will begin at 1pm, and they expect hundreds of people to come. City officials say they support peaceful protests, but vandalism of public property is a crime.  But he says they see this as an issue of civil rights.

CUT 4 (08)  “this city”

Suber says they feel they are within their rights because the city council voted to remove confederate statues in New Orleans. He says their position has always been to remove any monuments that represent white supremacy.

CUT 5 (10)  “come down”

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Hunters for the Hungry is hosting their annual “Clean out your Freezer Day” to benefit food banks throughout Louisiana. On Sunday, September 25^th from 1 to 4 p.m., hunters with leftover meat are encouraged to donate before they stock up again during hunting season. H-F-H Executive Director Jimmy Anthony says the program started 25 years ago when a group of hunters thought it was a shame to waste all of last year’s frozen game.

CUT 6 (11) “new meat”

The donations will be directly distributed to nearly 400 agencies across Louisiana. Anthony says typically the Baton Rouge Food Bank stores all of the meat but there is no room this year after the flooding so a New Orleans Food Bank will be collecting the food. He says they will also be collecting canned goods.

CUT 7 (06) “Food Bank”

H-F-H collected more than 230-thousand pounds of fish, game, and other meats in years past. Anthony says there are 12 collection sites and to find one in your area visit hunters-the-number-4-hungry-louisiana-dot-org (hunters4hungrylouisiana.org). He says they are not collecting any meat over a year old

CUT 8 (10) “and dated”

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US Congressman Garret Graves says he’s frustrated that the proposal to get $500 million dollars in federal aid to flood victims is wrapped up in politics. The money is part of a short-term budget fix and is earmarked as disaster assistance for several states. Graves says this money would be spread across 16 different major disasters…:

CUT 9 (04) “to Louisiana”

Graves says when you look at the tens of thousands of people that need assistance to get back in their homes, $500 million doesn’t go anywhere..:

cut 10 (09)  “drop in the bucket”

Graves says he’s been trying to collect as many flood stories as he can so that he can get the message out to Congress how dire the situation in Louisiana is…:

Cut 11 (06) “up here”

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A state panel has made surprising discoveries about student discipline in Louisiana. The Advisory Council on Student Behavior found that over a thousand kindergartners were suspended during the last school year. New Orleans attorney and chairwoman of the council, Jennifer Coco, says they want to find better ways to discipline students than kicking them out of class.

cut 12 (08) “feel safe”

The council found that nearly 8-thousand students between pre-kindergarten and third grade received out of school suspensions during the 2015-16 school year. Coco says the primary reasons students are getting suspended is being disrespectful or disobedient. But she doesn’t think that kicking a child out of school will teach them to be more respectful.

Cut 13 (11)  “by that”

Coco says the 24-member council is required to meet three times a year and discuss their findings. She says they will put together an annual report and present it to the education committees in the legislature and BESE.

cut 14 (07)  “might be”

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Livingston Parish Schools have received more than $100,000 in donations, grants and gifts to assist teachers, staff and students with flood recovery efforts. Superintendent Rick Wentzel says the St. Tammany Parish Public School System and their surrounding communities stepped up in a huge way…:

cut 15 (10) “over $8000”

Wentzel says they also got a massive donation from a huge celebrity…:

cut 16 (14) “means a lot to us”

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Louisiana’s highways rank 34^th in the nation for overall performance, according to the Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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 State and federal officials are defending the Shelter at Home program as criticism increases about the quality of the work done to the flooded homes. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Lafayette police release more details about the deceased woman found in a toolbox. Halen Doughty has more on the bizarre story…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Monday is the deadline for Livingston parish pet owners to claim pets that were lost in the flood, and then shelters will start adopting them out. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson, says they have been sheltering over 500 pets from the Livingston parish area since the flood, but they could only hold them for 45 days.

cut 4  (09)  “rescue partners”

Dorson says people who lost a pet should check the Livingston Reuniting Pets Facebook page or contact the Humane Society of Louisiana. He says adoption counselors can help people find their lost pets.

Cut 5  (07)  “long way”

Dorson says pets are being sheltered around Louisiana and in other states, so finding a pet after this deadline will be a challenge. He says there is a local shelter people can visit if they want to adopt a pet that was displaced during the flood.

Cut 6 (07) “30 dogs”

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The Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report ranks Louisiana’s roadways 34^thin the nation for overall performance, up 6 spots from the previous year. Louisiana ranked poorly in the areas of fatality rate and urban interstate pavement condition. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the state has announced two different interstate widening projects that should lead to safer and smoother traveling on I-10 in the Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.

CUT 7 (10)  “these investments”

The Bayou State came in 40^th for the number of deficient bridges in the state. Wilson admits the state is not spending enough to keep up with the maintenance of our bridges.

Cut 8 (09) “as a bridge”

Wilson says there’s almost a $13 billion backlog in transportation projects, and it will take more consistent funding resources in order to improve Louisiana’s overall ranking.

Cut 9 (11)  “we need”

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State and federal officials are defending the Shelter at Home program after there have been complaints that the jobs aren’t done to the flood victim’s satisfaction. Deputy Chief of Staff with the Governor’s Office Julie Baxter Payer says the Shelter at Home program is for temporary basic repair. She says the state is constrained by FEMA guidelines so they cannot help with permanent rebuilding.

Cut 10 (11) “at home”

Alice O’Connor of Baton Rouge, is a shelter at home program recipient. O’Connor says she’s appreciative of the program because she is finally able to live in her house, which is close to work, rather than living in a crowded apartment with family members. She says the first thing contractors did was kill the live electrical wires that could electrocute her.

cut 11 (10) “for sure”

There are also concerns by many about the Temporary Housing Units and why there aren’t more flood victims already living in the manufactured homes. FEMA representative Tito Hernandez says these mobile homes are a last resort, because it takes a long time to get them set up in a flooded homeowner’s yard.

cut 12 (10) “putting them”

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An unusual homicide in Lafayette becomes more and more bizarre as the details unfold. Lafayette Police Officer Karl Ratcliff has confirmed the body of 23-year-old Alannah Montalvo was dismembered in a toolbox on the side of the road, four days after her boyfriend, 36-year-old Barrett Farabee, was shot while trespassing in someone’s backyard.

Cut 13 (08) “the victim”

Montalvo’s body parts were found on Tuesday. Ratcliff says a few days before that Farabee was fatally shot by a homeowner after he spotted him naked and armed with two guns in his backyard on Fanny Street. He says at this time, they are still not sure why the man was naked at 8am.

cut 14 (08)  “was armed”

Ratcliff says they are not releasing any details about Montalvo’s murder at this time out of respect for her family. He says Montalvo and Farabee had been in a relationship for quite some time prior to these horrific events.

Cut 15 (07) “that relationship”

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It’s LSU versus Auburn tomorrow on the Plains in a big SEC Western Division contest. Last year Tigers running back Leonard Fournette rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn. Last week, Fournette had two fumbles and Coach Les Miles says Fournette has worked hard on protecting the ball….

Cut 16  (16)  “ball security period”

LSU quarterback Danny Etling will make his first road SEC start. Miles says spent the week at practice getting him ready for the atmosphere he’ll face at Jordan-Hare Stadium…

Cut 17 (16)  “to play”

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The Ragin Cajuns and Tulane meet Saturday at Yulman Stadium in a non-conference instate match-up. UL Lafayette is 2-1, while the Green Wave are 1-and-2 under first-year head coach Willie Fritz, who runs a spread-option offense. Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth says it’s difficult to defend…

Cut 18 (16) “somebody miss”

Hudspeth likes how his defense has performed since defensive coordinator Melvin Smith was replaced by Mike Lucas after the season-opening loss to Boise State….

Cut 19 (13) “think a lot”

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Louisiana Tech begins Conference USA play by visiting Middle Tennessee. After losing 59-45 to Texas Tech, Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says we can see another shootout in Murfreesboro…

Cut 20 (14) “40 points a game”

During his monthly call-in radio show, Governor John Bel Edwards responded to a viral video that shows substandard work completed at a home in the Shelter At Home program. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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US Senator Bill Cassidy announced today that Louisiana has been included in a spending bill that contains $500 million dollars in federal disaster relief. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A viral video showing shoddy work done at house in the Shelter At Home program has many questioning the reliability of the new program. Governor John Bel Edwards responded on his monthly call in radio show, saying he sent crews to inspect the home after seeing the video. He admits the work in that home was not up to standards.

CUT 3 (09)  “been redone”

Edwards did provide some clarification about what work Shelter at Home will complete, and what it will not. He reminded listeners the program pays up to $15-thousand for basic repairs- just enough to make the home livable, while long term renovations continue.

CUT 4 (08)  “shelter program”

Edwards says many people have the wrong expectation of what their home will look like once the work is completed. He says Shelter at Home workers are now required what kind of work will be done in their home.

CUT 5 (09)  “the kitchen”

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LSU football quarterback Brandon Harris received death threats following the Tiger’s devastating season opening loss to Wisconsin. Head coach Les Miles hopes the person writing these messages doesn’t really know what he is saying and will not act on the threats.

CUT 6 (11) “wrong decision”

Harris received one twitter threat telling him to kill himself and another said Harris would be murdered. Miles says they will give the information to law enforcement to find out who is threatening Harris.

CUT 7 (10) “pursue it”

Harris has been replaced in the last two games by junior Danny Etling. Miles hopes whoever wrote these threats only meant them in a mundane and insincere way but it’s gone too far.

CUT 8 (04) “do that”

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The Military Family Assistance Fund, which was originally set up to support families when a National Guardsman was deployed overseas, is now helping veterans who were affected by the flooding. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Col. Joey Strickland says the legislature modified the fund to help all veterans who have a financial need.

CUT 9 (09) “online”

Strickland says they hope by the end of this month to give out a total of 350-thousand dollars to flood impacted veterans. Veterans eligible for this aid must show proof of service and a FEMA number. He says it typically takes about three days for veterans to collect the money.

cut 10 (09)  “DD214”

The L-D-V-A estimates 171-thousand veterans were impacted by the flooding and those interested in receiving an average check of 350 dollars can fill out a necessary form at the Veterans Service Office in their parish or call (225) 219-5000. Strickland says veterans only need to fill out one form and can either come to headquarters to pick up their check or it can be mailed to them.

Cut 11 (06) “our veterans”

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US Senator Bill Cassidy announced today that Louisiana has been included in a spending bill that contains $500 million dollars in federal disaster relief. The Governor requested $2.8 billion. Cassidy referred to the half billion as a down payment…:

cut 12 (09) “from the flood”

Governor Edwards issued a statement saying he is hopeful and optimistic that the final version of this bill will include this assistance. Cassidy said it’s actually a good thing that they are not getting the full amount now, because the fund that this money is coming from is limited in what it can be used for…:

Cut 13 (07)  “flood mitigation”

Cassidy says Louisiana’s relief is coming from two pots of money, this is the first and the second is coming in December. Some of this funding could go to other states, but Cassidy is confident a majority will go to Louisiana. He says as soon as this is passed, the money will be available to the state..:

cut 14 (10)  “several weeks”

(The flood aid for Louisiana is contained in legislation that would prevent a government shutdown and it must be approved by next Friday at midnight.)

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East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore announces the fatal shooting of a suicidal man by four sheriff deputies on February 23rd was legally justified. Moore says the deputies were exercising their rights of self defense when they opened fire on 48-year-old Travis Stevenson, who was using his sedan to ram a Sheriff’s office vehicle…

cut 15 (09) “multiple times”

Moore says there is no video evidence of the shooting and he came to the decision of clearing the deputies involved, after an extensive investigation by State Police. He says L-S-P investigators spoke with several witnesses, who supported the claim of self-defense by the officers…

cut 16 (09) “run over”

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A new poll by Southern Media and Opinion Research finds Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is up 13 points since May, while 6 out of 10 Louisiana voters disapprove of democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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 Today is the start of autumn. Emelie Gunn has more on what kind of weather we can expect throughout the season…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is back in Washington for the third time trying to get federal aid for the ongoing flood recovery efforts in Louisiana. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A new poll released by Southern Media and Opinion Research finds Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is at 63-percent. That’s a 13-percent increase from May. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says there is a saying by a lot elected officials, you never let a crisis go by without taking advantage of it. He says that what Edwards did by being very visible during the tragic shootings and the flooding.

cut 4  (10)  “wish for”

Pinsonat says the governor still faces some hurdles, especially with housing issues after the flooding. But he says this popularity will likely benefit him during the upcoming legislative session.

Cut 5  (09)  “tough issues”

The survey also finds presidential candidate, Democrat Hillary Clinton, has an unfavorable rating in Louisiana of 60-percent. Pinsonat says Republican Donald Trump has shot in front of her by a good margin and is very popular with white voters in Louisiana.

Cut 6 (10) “his corner”

According to the poll, if the election were held today, 49-percent would vote for Trump, 33-percent for Clinton, and 8-percent for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Pinsonat says Trump has high negatives in Louisiana, at 47-percent, but that’s not anywhere near as bad as Clinton’s.

CUT 7 (10)  “to win”

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Today is the start of the fall season and Louisianans can expect above average temperatures and below normal rainfall. That’s according to state climatologist Barry Keim. Keim says the basis for this forecast is due to a high probability for a La Nina.

Cut 8 (08) “the state”

Keim says we’re still seeing high temperatures but we just need to sit tight because fall weather is coming soon.

Cut 9 (08)  “temperatures”

Keim says Louisiana had one of the wettest summers on record in 2016 but there will be a shift in that pattern with dryer than normal conditions over the next three months.

Cut 10 (10) “from August”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is in Washington, D.C., today continuing the ongoing battle to get federal funding for flood recovery efforts in Louisiana. Edwards says he is optimistic they can get something done before lawmakers recess at the end of the month for the November election.

cut 11 (10) “meaningful assistance”

Republican lawmakers are making the push for Louisiana funding, but Democrats want to include funding for the Flint, Michigan water crisis in the spending bill as well. The state has requested $2.6 billion in federal funding, but Edwards doesn’t expect to get the full amount at once.

cut 12 (09) “relief package”

The initial flood recovery dollars would be contained in a stop-gap funding bill that would prevent a government shutdown. Edwards hopes it will be approved this month and Congress will approve more funding during the “lame duck” winter session. He says what we need immediately is help with housing.

Cut 13 (07) “with housing”

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The investigation is ongoing in Lafayette parish about a body that was discovered in a tool box on the side of the road. Cpl. Bridgett Dugas says they have connected the victim, Alannah Montalvo, with the naked man who was recently shot and killed while trespassing.

cut 14 (09)  “Fanny Street”

Dugas says Montalvo was in a relationship with the naked trespasser, 36-year-old Barrett Farabee. She says they still do not know the exact cause of death for Montalvo, but they do have a suspect in Farabee.

Cut 15 (05) “death”

Dugas says police are actively searching for the vehicle the couple was travelling in, a green Honda Accord. She asks anyone who sees the vehicle to contact police.

Cut 16  (09)  “license plate”

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The Saints have put cornerback PJ Williams on injured reserve, after the second-year pro as carted off the field last Sunday after taking a knee to the helmet twice while trying to make a tackle. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says the Saints are snakebit at this position as they’ve lost several cornerbacks this year because of injuries…

Cut 17 (12)  “tough loss”

The Saints have lost several cornerbacks this season due to injuries. They are expected to get Delvin Breaux back, but he’ll still miss several weeks because of a broken fibula. Detillier says the Saints defense played well last week, but it will be tough for them to keep that level of play up…

Cut 18 (25) “period”

The Saints will host Atlanta on Monday night. New Orleans is looking for its first win of the season and Detillier says despite the injuries, he likes the Black and Gold’s chances against the hated Falcons…

Cut 19 (19) “wins”

A new independent poll on Louisiana’s US Senate race shows its tightening. Jeff Palermo has the story..

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A new app has been developed to help identify the more than 350 caskets that were uprooted in the recent flood in south Louisiana. Don Molino has more…

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Don Molino”

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A new independent poll on the election for US Senate in Louisiana finds a tight race. Republican State Treasruer John Kennedy still leads the Southern Media and Opinion Research survey of 500 likely voters with 17-percent. But Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says GOP Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany is only two-percentage points back….

CUT 3 (10)  “his ads”

The poll was conducted from September 15th to the 17th. Pinsonat says Democrat Caroline Fayard has improving poll numbers as well as she’s up to 11-percent…

CUT 4 (06)  “in New Orleans”

The poll shows Democrat Foster Campbell at nine-percent and Republican Congressman John Fleming at eight percent. Pinsonat says this survey shows there’s five candidates who can still make the runoff…

CUT 5 (06)  “barn burner”

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While the August flood destroyed homes and impacted thousands of people in south Louisiana, the living were not the only ones affected. Department of Health Program Manager in Emergency Preparedness, Henry Yennie, says over 350 graves were disrupted in at least 8 parishes, and they’ve come up with a solution to get the deceased back to their final resting place.

CUT 6 (09) “the carrier”

Yennie says so far they have identified roughly 15-percent of the caskets that were disrupted in the recent flood. He says the hardest hit cemeteries are in northern Livingston parish and St. Helena parish. He says they’ve already starting using the new app as they identify the disrupted caskets.

CUT 7 (11) “identify people”

Yennie says it will be a while before the barcode system can be implemented on a larger scale. But he says in the next six months they want to put it to use targeting at risk cemeteries.

CUT 8 (10) “these barcodes”

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Millions of drivers waste money on premium gasoline, according to a new study from AAA. Spokesperson Don Redman says over 16 million drivers are putting higher octane gas in their cars, and paying more for it, when their vehicle doesn’t require it.

CUT 9 (10) “regular gasoline”

Redman says they encourage people to check their car’s owner’s manual to see what kind of gas their car requires. He says 70-percent of vehicles on the road just need regular gas.

cut 10 (09)  “your money”

Redman says some high end vehicles do require premium gas because of the way the engine is calibrated. He says the only differences between regular and premium gas are the octane levels and the price.

Cut 11 (08) “gallon difference”

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Lafayette Police are trying to get some answers in the case of a body that was discovered in a tool box. Corporal Bridgette Dugas says they received a call around 4pm Tuesday in reference to a possible deceased person enclosed in some type of bin…:

cut 12 (04) “inside a tool box”

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact authorities. Dugas says they are working to identify the victim and also the cause of death. She says details about how the box got there are scarce…:

Cut 13 (04)  “inside of the tool box”

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A West Monroe police officer who fatally shot a man in 2014 has been found not guilty of negligent homicide. Officer Jody LeDoux shot Raymond Martinez, who according to the evidence was drunk and belligerent outside of a store. Defense Attorney Mickey Dubose says despite the controversy surrounding the case, he was confident LeDoux acted properly….

cut 14 (11)  “to fire”

Dubose says Martinez reached for a silver object inside a newspaper bin that LeDoux believed to be a gun, but it turned out to be a silver flip phone. A total of nine witnesses were called during the trial, including the accused. Dubose says experts also testified about the incident.

cut 15 (10) “to surrender”

If convicted, LeDoux was charged with five years in prison. Dubose says he’s not sure whether or not LeDoux will go back to work at WMPD.

cut 16 (08) “future holds”

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