The Alton Sterling case is still under investigation even though the Minnesota police officer involved in Philando Castile’s death has been charged with second degree manslaughter. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center finds less than 22-pecent of children are meeting the physical activity guidelines. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

TOPS recipients will have to cover more than half of their spring tuition, and Governor John Bel Edwards wants to make sure that doesn’t happen again. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

A Minnesota police officer has been charged with second degree manslaughter after shooting Philando Castile. That shooting happened the same week Alton Sterling was killed during a confrontation with two white police officers. Legal analyst Tim Meche says don’t expect the federal investigation into the Sterling case to be resolved anytime soon.

cut 4  (10) “recused himself”

Meche says the local district attorney was in charge of the Minnesota case, while federal prosecutors are working on the Alton Sterling case. He says there is a five year statute of limitations, so they are in no rush to come to a conclusion and statewide elected officials aren’t getting involved.

Cut 5  (10)  “geographic areas”

Back in October, U.S. Attorney Walt Green issued a statement that said the Sterling case is a priority and are taking their time to ensure no stone is left unturned. Meche says federal authorities tend to take much longer to do an investigation and bring the case.

Cut 6 (10) “taking longer”

____________________________________________

The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry along with other organizations will hold a summit in Baton Rouge today on criminal justice reform. LABI President Stephen Waguespack says the goal of the forum is to find ways to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate, which is the highest in the world per capita.

CUT 7 (12)  “of crime”

Waguespack says criminal justice reform can save the state millions of dollars, as well as improve public safety and the lives of those incarcerated after their release. He says they’ll hear from experts on the issue, and they’ll also get ideas from other states that have effectively made similar reforms.

Cut 8 (10) “the process”

Waguespack says even though Louisiana locks up more people than any other state, we aren’t seeing any improvements in public safety or the recidivism rate. He says they’re hopeful that positive change can be implemented from what’s learned at this meeting.

Cut 9 (08)  “next year”

___________________________________________

Less than one quarter of children in the US are getting enough exercise, according to a report by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center. The 2016 US Report Card on Physical Activity for Children finds that less than 22-percent of children ages 6 to 19 meet the physical activity guidelines. Researcher Peter Katzmarzyk thinks that’s because of a drive to be more efficient.

Cut 10 (08)  “used to”

The report found that less than 13-percent of children walk or ride their bikes to school, and nearly 63-percent of children are getting too much screen time per day. Katzmarzyk says parents don’t seem to want their kids outside as much as they used to. He says if we want kids to be active, we have to make sure that it is a safe environment.

cut 11 (09) “the community”

Katzmarzyk says physical activity is integral to our health, not only as children but as adults as well. He says a lack of exercise at an early age will lead to health problems in the future.

cut 12 (07) “of things”

______________________________________________________

TOPS recipients will be responsible for more than half of their spring tuition, and state leaders are arguing about who’s to blame. House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry said the governor was more concerned about funding other priorities, like private-public hospitals. But Governor John Bel Edwards said on his monthly call-in radio show that funding TOPS was and still is a top priority for him.

Cut 13 (07) “not to”

Edwards says he is committed to working with legislators to make sure that TOPS recipients will not have to foot as much of the bill for their tuition next year.

cut 14 (08) “fully funded”

Edwards says when he presents the proposed budget for next fiscal year to legislators in early 2017, the popular scholarship program will be fully funded.

Cut 15 (08) “can do it”

_____________________________________________

Earlier this season, Florida was getting ready to host LSU, now the Gators are getting ready to visit the Tigers in Death Valley. The two ranked SEC teams are set to meet this Saturday at high noon. Florida Coach Jim McElwain says he appreciates the way LSU plays football

Cut 16 (14)” talent there”

The 21st ranked Gators are 7-2 on the eyar, but seven starters are not expected to play against LSU, who is relatively healthy. McElwain joked about changing the rules of football in order to make the game more even…

Cut 17 (20) “some guys”

_____________________________________________________

After a difficult loss to Denver on Sunday, the Saints return to game action tonight with a Thursday night match-up with NFC South rival Carolina. New Orleans Quarterback Drew Brees says it’s a challenge to prepare for a game on a short week, but they are looking to get the bad taste out of their month from last Sunday’s heart breaking loss…

Cut 18 (13) “ on Carolina”

The Saints beat Carolina 41-38 earlier this season. Brees threw for 465 yards and four touchdowns. The Q-B says the Black and Gold had a good day that day and Carolina still has a good defense…

Cut 19 (19)   “the past”

The University of New Orleans and Northwestern State plan to cover the TOPS shortfall for recipients next semester. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The critically injured East Baton Rouge Parish deputy shot in a July ambush has been moved to a state-of-the-art rehab hospital in Texas. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

An infant is in critical condition and a mother is facing charges following an accidental shooting in a vehicle. Baton Rouge Police Cpl. L’Jean McKneely says 23-year-old Crystal Kinchen of Baton Rouge left two small children unattended in a parked car with a handgun.

Cut 3 (12) “the face”

McKneely says Kinchen called 911, as she drove the child to the hospital. He says detectives arrived at the hospital shortly after.

cut 4  (07) “investigaton”

McKneely says the mother has been charged with second degree cruelty to a juvenile for leaving the children alone in the car. He says the infant is being treated for the gunshot wound.

Cut 5  (07)  “the best”

______________________________________

The University of New Orleans and Northwestern State say they will use other financial resources to cover the 60-percent of tuition TOPS students will be required to pay for next semester. NSU President Jim Henderson says the scholarship program promised to pay 100% of a recipients’ tuition and they intend to keep the promise for their students.

Cut 6 (08) “that option”

Henderson, who will become the U-L System President in January, says about 21-hundred students at NSU are on TOPS, which gives them more flexibility for payment options. He says they’ve identified some resources from donors to cover the tuition cost but they’re still looking for a statewide solution.

CUT 7 (10)  “is sacrosanct”

Henderson says for TOPS students to drop out of school or incur additional debt is not an option they will consider. He says many universities are doing what they can to lessen the damage on students.

Cut 8 (06) “of students”

_____________________________________

An Orleans Parish criminal court judge rules that the jury in the Cardell Hayes murder trial will be sequestered. Hayes is accused of killing former-Saints player Will Smith after a car accident on April 9th. Legal analyst Chick Foret says there will be a lot of media coverage of the trial, and the judge wants to prevent any potential bias.

Cut 9 (11)  “the evidence”

Judge Camille Buras has ruled the jury will not have any contact with the outside world for the duration of the trial, which is set to begin December 5th. Foret says this will likely change the makeup of the jury, because the jurors will have to be people who don’t have anywhere to be.

Cut 10 (08) “the jury”

Foret says it’s not often we see juries sequestered, but he expects this to be one of the most publicized cases in the history of Orleans parish. He says he’s not surprised by the judge’s decision.

cut 11 (09) “same ruling”

________________________________________________

There has been lots of talk on social media about the name change of the Triple-A Minor League baseball team, The New Orleans Zephyrs to the Baby Cakes. General Manager Cookie Rojas says they took ideas from fans and focus groups to come up with a new nickname to liven up baseball in the Crescent City. He says the moment he heard the name, he knew this was it.

cut 12 (10) “of endearment”

Rojas also adds the King Cake with the baby inside helped them develop the new name. He says they wanted to keep the traditional colors of dark blue and gold but add a little spin.

Cut 13 (08) “to it”

Rojas says the reaction has been both positive and negative on social media. But he says he wants people to be passionate about minor league baseball.

cut 14 (08) “been fantastic”

________________________________________________

TOPS recipients are preparing to pay nearly 60-percent of their tuition for the spring semester, and state leaders say they are committed to making sure that doesn’t happen again next year. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Good news for IT workers in northwest Louisiana, as CRSA just opened their new integrated technology center in Bossier City. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Some lawmakers don’t agree with the Office of Motor Vehicles new policy of “no cash” as a form of payment. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Louisiana will experience some rollercoaster temperatures this week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll see high temperatures in the 80s across the state over the next two days but a significant cold front will come in on Friday.

cut 4  (10) “on Monday”

Keim says Saturday will be relatively cool and breezy, with temperatures in the 50s in the morning and reaching the mid 60s in the afternoon. He says we see a lot of dramatic swings in temperatures during this time of year.

Cut 5  (11)  “of time”

Several high school football games have been pushed up to Thursday, because of the potential of severe weather, but Keim says rain chances are fairly low.

Cut 6 (10) “some problems”

____________________________________________

TOPS students will pay nearly 60-percent of their tuition for the spring semester. So what about future years, will the state direct more dollars to the taxpayer funded scholarship program, so TOPS recipients pay less?  House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry says if the governor makes TOPS more of a priority in the next session, it will be funded at a higher level.

CUT 7 (09)  “just not”

Henry says in the last session, Edwards made a big push to hospitals, who provide care for the uninsured and poor. He says some legislators saw the funding of private-public hospitals as more important than TOPS, because not all taxpayers have children in college. He says there could be more money for TOPS, if fewer dollars were appropriated for health care.

Cut 8 (08) “11-percent”

Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement saying he hopes the state can restore funding to TOPS because too many students depend on the program. But Henry says he will not support raising more taxes to fund TOPS.

Cut 9 (11)  “spend less”

___________________________________________

CSRA has opened a new integrated technology center in Bossier City, which is good news for economic development in northwest Louisiana. LED Secretary Don Pierson says CSRA isn’t a household name like IBM and CenturyLink, but it’s still a major information technology company.

Cut 10 (10)  “homeland security”

Pierson says now employs 400 people in Shreveport-Bossier but will expand to 800 by June 2018. He says Louisiana is funding a 10-year $14 million higher education initiative with colleges in northwest Louisiana to help the company expand its workforce.

cut 11 (12) “great company”

The 96-hundred square foot facility anchors the 3-thousand acre National Cyber Research Park in Bossier City. Pierson hopes this new high tech center will attract more cyber companies to Louisiana.

cut 12 (11) “also security”

______________________________________________________

Some lawmakers are not happy with the Office of Motor Vehicles decision to stop accepting cash as a form of payment. OMV Commissioner Karen St. Germain announced the new policy as a way to save money and prevent theft by state workers. Jonesboro Senator Jim Fannin says many senior citizens do not have credit cards. He says it’s unfair citizens can’t use cash, because employees might steal the cash.

Cut 13 (09) “the agency”

Fannin says the “no cash” policy should have been presented to lawmakers first and now his office is receiving multiple complaints. St. Germain says accepting cash has become a burden for OMV workers, because they are on the hook if they come up short. Fannin says this is not a valid reason for why the change was made.

cut 14 (11) “the cash”

St. Germain says a major reason why the OMV will not longer accept cash as a method of payment is that it saves the state 500-thousand dollars, because it costs money to handle the cash and security is needed for transporting the cash…

Cut 15 (09) “that cash”

_____________________________________________

It’s likely LSU running back Leonard Fournette’s final game in Tiger Stadium on Saturday. The junior from New Orleans is expected to be a Top Five pick in next spring’s NFL draft, but he admits it will be hard to leave college early…

Cut 16 (10)” Coach O”

Fournette says the juniors on the team will meet with Coach Ed Orgeron after the season to determine whether they should return for their senior season. The All-American running back has battled an ankle sprain all season long and says he’ll be ready for the Gators…

Cut 17 (09) “every day”

Fournette’s injury gave sophomore running back Derrius Guice more opportunities and the Baton Rouge product has taken advantage. Guice leads the team in rushing and has nine touchdowns. Fournette was impressed with Guice’s school-record 96 yard rushing touchdown last week…

Cut 18 (12) “ its amazing”

________________________________________________________

ULM takes a two-game winning streak to Appalachian State this Saturday. The Warhawks are coming off a 37-23 win over Georgia State on the road. Coach Matt Viator likes how his team is overcoming adversity and the players’ confidence is also increasing…

Cut 19 (15)   “defensive football”

Another win for ULM on Saturday and they can improve their Sun Belt record to 4-3 and their overall mark to 5-6. But the Moutaineers are 7-3 and have the top defense in the league. Viator says App State’s defense doesn’t give up many big plays…

cut 20 (18) “here we go”

FEMA will continue to pay for flood victims to stay in hotels until December 18^th. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

A 17-year-old St. Paul’s High School football player is still recovering from a serious neck injury suffered in last Friday’s playoff win. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

FEMA will continue paying for August flood victims to live in hotel rooms until December 18^th. Denham Springs resident and flood victim Dennis Rodriguez is living in a Breaux Bridge hotel thanks to the program and says it has been a tremendous help.

Cut 3 (10) “for us”

Rodriguez says he’s thrilled they’ve extended to deadline because their home is still unlivable. He says he’d have nowhere to live if the program ended on November 18^th like originally planned.

cut 4  (09) “ours yet”

More than 2-thousand families are using the program. Rodriguez says there are about five or six other families staying at the same hotel. He says the program has been a blessing, but wishes he could be closer to home.

Cut 5  (11)  “no complaints”

______________________________________

There’s a light at the end of the tunnel for Hollywood South, according to Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association president Patrick Mulhearn. He says we’re halfway through the 36 month, 180-million dollar cap, legislators placed on the film tax credit program and he’s hopeful lawmakers will approve changes next year that will be more beneficial for Louisiana’s film industry.

Cut 6 (10) “front-end cap”

Mulhearn says he is cautiously optimistic about the direction the legislature will take with the program. He says other states, like Georgia, that do not have limits on film tax credits, are bringing in more projects, but that leaves them vulnerable to fraud.

CUT 7 (08)  “in Atlanta”

Mulhearn says right now they’re doing what they can to keep Celtic in Baton Rouge and other studios open, while they wait for the tax credit program to be revised. He says they’re currently finding other uses for their facilities.

Cut 8 (10) “that discussion”

_____________________________________

A 17-year-old continues to recover after suffering a serious neck injury in a football game on Friday. Michael Doherty, a junior at St. Paul’s High School in Covington, collided with three players resulting in a major injury to his C5 vertebra. St. Paul’s athletic director, Craig Ketelsen, says Doherty’s condition is still in a holding pattern after undergoing a seven hour surgery.

Cut 9 (10)  “positive results”

Ketelsen says when he went to visit the injured player at Lakeview Hospital, there were so many people visiting, he was only able to talk to Doherty’s parents. He says the love and support Doherty is receiving is amazing.

Cut 10 (10) “the state”

While Doherty lays in a hospital, the St. Paul’s football team is preparing for its next playoff game this Friday, against Evangel Christian. Ketelsen says Saints Cornerback Delvin Breaux sent Doherty a video message about a similar injury he suffered while playing football at LSU. He says Doherty is a hard working young man, dedicated to his teammates.

cut 11 (10) “handle adversity”

________________________________________________

New Orleans-based air service GLO Airlines is celebrating today its one year anniversary of its inaugural flight. Founder and CEO Trey Fayard says they started with just one flight from New Orleans to Little Rock and have since added more stops. He says they’re excited about offering south Louisianans daily, non-stop flights to destinations across the Gulf South.

cut 12 (07) “great year”

GLO Airlines offers two-daily flights from New Orleans to Shreveport and back to the Crescent City. Fayard says they aren’t done yet, as the company is looking to originate flights from other Gulf and mid-South cities in the future.

Cut 13 (07) “in Louisiana”

GLO customers can bring two bags and one carryon at no charge and enjoy free snacks on the flight. The company now accepts TSA Pre-Checks to expedite the boarding process. Fayard says passengers love flying with GLO.

cut 14 (08) “on vacation”

________________________________________________

After a heated US Senate race, Caroline Fayard has endorsed Foster Campbell in the runoff. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says Fayard had strong words about her opponent going into the general election, like accusing him of being friendly with David Duke. He says this endorsement is about fence mending.

Cut 15 (09) “Foster Campbell”

Cross says Campbell will have a tough fight in the runoff against Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy. He says last year’s gubernatorial race proved that on occasion, Louisiana voters can elect a Democrat into statewide office.

Cut 16  (09)  “a majority”

________________________________________________

Louisiana State Police is participating in the National Move Over Campaign, which is now underway and runs through the end of the week. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

In response to an audit’s findings, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Charlie Melancon says he’s ordered a complete internal review of his agency:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Law enforcement are raising awareness about Louisiana’s “move over” law this week during the National Move Over Campaign. Louisiana Master Trooper Scott Moreau says the law aims to protect first responders working on the side of the road. He says the law is simple, if you see someone working on the shoulder, move over.

Cut 3 (12) “reasonable speed”

Moreau says a reasonable speed is considered 20 miles per hour under the speed limit, after it was revised a few years ago from 25 miles below the posted limit. He says they will be upping their efforts to enforce this law throughout the week.

cut 4  (07) “emergency vehicle”

Move Over America reports that every state has a move over law, but Moreau says ten officers were killed in crashes on the side of Louisiana roadways last year. He encourages drivers to move over for any vehicle on the side of the road, not just emergency responders.

Cut 5  (09)  “totally preventable”

______________________________________

A couple of key endorsements were announced today in Louisiana runoff elections. Congressman John Fleming says he endorses Republican Mike Johnson in the race for the seat he is leaving after 8 years. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat isn’t surprised the Republican Congressmen endorsed the GOP state lawmaker, since Johnson will face Democrat Marshall Jones in the runoff.

Cut 6 (10) “the state”

Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry has publicly announced his support for State Treasurer John Kennedy for US Senate, while Governor John Bel Edwards has already endorsed Democratic opponent Foster Campbell. Pinsonat says Kennedy has a huge advantage going into the runoff.

CUT 7 (08)  “this election”

Pinsonat adds it’s highly unlikely that any Republican in the December 10 runoff will have trouble raising money.

Cut 8 (07) “Louisiana”

_____________________________________

The debate about whether or not LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron should keep the job long term continues to heat up among fans. Orgeron and the Tigers had an easy time winning The Golden Boot Saturday night for the first time in two years, and a recent statewide poll finds LSU fans overwhelmingly like how things are going. The poll was commissioned by LSU Law graduate Parker Layrisson of Ponchatoula…:

Cut 9 (09)  “head coach”

The numbers were put together by the Louisiana Public Opinion survey and polling company who talked to 350 respondents. Layrisson said they also threw in a question about former Coach Les Miles…:

Cut 10 (04) “Coach Miles”

Layrisson says the poll was conducted before the big win over Arkansas Saturday, and now he’s hearing that even more people are jumping on board the Coach O bandwagon. Layrisson says as someone who graduated from LSU during the Nick Saban era, Tiger Football and who leads is important. He said he’d heard both sides of the discussion…:

cut 11 (10) “or against him”

________________________________________________

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Charlie Melancon says he’s ordered a complete internal review of his agency after an audit found questionable spending, among other things, under the previous administration. He says they are going to take the audit and review whether or not rules or policies need to be changed…:

cut 12 (10) “in the future”

The audit’s findings include that some Gulf oil spill money that was intended for fish testing instead went to unnecessary iPads, cameras, boats and fishing equipment. Melancon took over at LDWF in January and he stresses that the audit is about what happened before he got there…:

Cut 13 (08) “where we were spending money”

Melancon said mismanagement of LDWF money or property will not be tolerated and they are looking into the audit’s findings to be sure this doesn’t happen in the future…:

cut 14 (08) “wisely”

________________________________________________

The fight for more flood recovery dollars continues today, as Congress reconvenes after the election. Michelle Southern has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Today is the last day to register with FEMA for disaster assistance. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

It will be a heated GOP-dominated runoff in the 3^rd Congressional District, as Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle and Capt. Clay Higgins go head to head. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Congress reconvenes today, which means Louisiana’s congressional delegation will resume its efforts to get more federal funds appropriated for flood recovery. Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves says right now the state still needs to come up with a plan for spending the $438 million they’ve already received.

cut 4  (10) “an urgency”

The Governor’s Office says the Restore Louisiana Task Force has delayed a vote on how to allocate the funds because the money is tied up in red tape. But Graves says even though they need HUD’s approval, the state should still submit one sooner rather than later.

Cut 5  (09)  “those dollars”

Graves says at this point, they aren’t sure how many payments Louisiana will receive because president-elect Donald Trump’s victory changes the dynamic. He says they’ll probably have to approve a short-term plan before he takes office in January.

Cut 6 (12) “appropriations bill”

____________________________________________

Today is the final day for flood victims to register for Disaster Assistance. Ray Perez with FEMA says approximately 152-thousand individuals have registered for federal aid. He says families are finally able to start the recovery process.

CUT 7 (08)  “or whatever”

Today is also the final day to submit a disaster loan application to the Small Business Administration. Perez says the SBA has already approved $1.15 billion dollars in low interest loans. He says victims are also getting money from National Flood Insurance and even more is expected to be issued.

Cut 8 (09) “been settled”

To apply for federal disaster aid visit disaster-assistance-dot-gov (disasterassistance.org). Perez says just because registration stops today, does not mean that the work stops. He says FEMA will be in Louisiana for the long term because they’re just getting started.

Cut 9 (10)  “file appeals”

___________________________________________

Gas prices have once again dipped below two dollars. Senior Petroleum Analyst with GasBuddy.com, Gregg Laskoski says the nation is seeing prices five cents lower than a week ago, with Louisiana being four cents lower. He says there is a very good chance we will see these gas prices continuing to decline.

Cut 10 (09)          “record high

Laskoski says retail gasoline prices are moving lower and crude oil prices are trading in a steady but narrow range. He says we typically see significant decreases in price through November and December.

cut 11 (08) “refinery production”

Laskoski says these decreases are the continuation of the significant trend of prices dropping lower than they were a year ago.

cut 12 (08) “dramatic”

______________________________________________________

Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle is up against fellow GOP contender Capt. Clay Higgins in the runoff for the 3^rd Congressional District seat. Higgins is confident he will win soundly, and he says he feels good going into the runoff. He says if elected, he will not be a part of the corruption in Washington.

Cut 13 (09) “hard work”

Higgins, like many candidates this year, has presented himself as an outsider to voters. He adds that Angelle has been in politics most of his life.

cut 14 (08) “career politician”

Angelle believes he is in a strong position going into the runoff, as he beat Higgins in the polls by three percent. But he says he’s not taking anything for granted.

Cut 15 (07) “great again”

Angelle says he has a long history of disrupting the status quo, which he says is what voters want to see in their elected officials. He says south Louisiana needs a champion in Washington.

Cut 16  (08)  “to work”

______________________________________________________________

The Golden Boot Trophy is back in Baton Rouge as a result of LSU’s dominating 38-10 win over Arkansas in Razorback Stadium. It’s the Tigers first win over the Hogs since 2013. Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron says the players were determined to get a win in Fayetteville…

Cut 17 (15)” football team”  (2x)

The Tigers won thanks to a stingy defense that forced three turnovers and a ground game that couldn’t be stopped. LSU had 390 yards rushing. Derrius Guice led the way with 252 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Orgeron says he still had faith in his offense after a tough performance against Alabama…

Cut 18 (18) “ against Florida”

________________________________________________________

The Saints lost in a shocking manner on Sunday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as Denver blocks an extra point with 1:22 left in the game and returned it for two points for a 25-23 victory. Will Parks returned the blocked kick for a score. It appeared he may have stepped out of bounds, as he raced to the end zone. Coach Sean Payton was ok with the officials not reversing the call…

Cut 19 (10)   “understand”

The Saints nearly won this game, despite committing four turnovers. Quarterback Drew Brees touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks tied the game, but a jubilant Dome went silent when the blocked kick was returned for a score. The loss drops New Orleans record to 4-5. Payton says the team will have to bounce back, with Carolina coming up on Thursday…

cut 20 (09) “next game”

College students in Louisiana have disappointing news heading their way, as letters are being sent out this week reminding them they will owe 60-percent of their spring tuition in January. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The Louisiana Policy Institute conducted a report on the benefits of the school readiness tax credits. Emelie Gunn has more on the results…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards is asking a Baton Rouge court to outline Attorney General Jeff Landry’s political power. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

This week thousands of Louisiana college students will have a difficult decision to make, as they’re reminded they will owe almost 60-perent of their semester’s tuition in January. For the first time in its history, TOPS will not cover a recipient’s entire tuition because the legislature was not able to fully fund the program. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says some students could be forced to drop out.

cut 4  (09) “in time”

Rallo says there’s scarce resources available to fully fund the scholarship program and the problem could continue as the state is facing more mid-year budget cuts are expected. But he is optimistic TOPS will always be around in some fashion.

Cut 5  (09)  “toward TOPS”

Rallo says higher education is about the student’s future and hopes students make the decision to invest in this opportunity. He says even without TOPS, there are funding options, which is why high school grads are required to file for FAFSA.

Cut 6 (10) “those dollars”

The average LSU student will owe more than $2-thousand for the spring tuition, not including fees.

____________________________________________

The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children released a report on how the school readiness tax credits are benefiting the state. Melanie Brofin with L-P-I-C says the incentive helps working families afford and access early care and education for children up to 4 years old. She says the program is moving in the right direction.

CUT 7 (10)  “gotten credentials”

Over 14-thousand families have claimed the credit to fund early childcare or preschool. Brofin says the school readiness tax credits have been very effective and they’re hoping it will be approved in the upcoming legislative session.

Cut 8 (07) “very effective”

Funding to support early child care and education from kids 0 to 3 has been cut by close to 70-percent. And Brofin says the slots available are of better quality but unfortunately the number of slots has been decreasing because of cuts in funding to the program. She says more than 20-thousand families who qualify are not getting assistance.

Cut 9 (09)  “coming session”

___________________________________________

The quarrel between Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry continues, as the governor is asking a Baton Rouge court to define Landry’s role in state government. Publisher of LaPolitics.com, Jeremy Alford, says Landry has interpreted his role to be much further reaching than his predecessors, and the two officials disagree about how much power the AG should have.

Cut 10 (10)  “traditional boundaries”

Edwards is asking the court to rule that the governor prevails when state leaders disagree about legal matters. Alford says this lawsuit could be a response to another suit the AG filed over an executive order banning LGBT discrimination, in which the court ruled in Landry’s favor. Alford says this new ruling could impact much more than just that executive order.

cut 11 (11) “as well”

If the court rules in the governor’s favor Wednesday, Landry would not be able to prevent Edwards from hiring attorneys to file lawsuits against oil companies for coastal damages. Alford says Louisiana has become increasingly partisan over the past couple of terms, and this dispute is the product of that divide.

cut 12 (10) “for Louisiana”

______________________________________________________

Northwestern State University has received the 2017 Military Friendly School designation by Victory Media. N-S-U Vice President of Technology Darlene Williams says they are proud to be recognized for their efforts to provide educational opportunities for military students and their families.

Cut 13 (07) “friendly school”

Williams says they have a long history of working with and serving the military with their relationships with Fort Polk and Barksdale Airforce Base. She says they also have a nationally ranked online degree program.

cut 14 (10) “of honor”

More than 16-hundred schools were considered for the honor. Williams hopes receiving designations like this will bring in more military students to the school. She says they have specific services in order to responsive to the needs of these students.

Cut 15 (10) “that group”

______________________________________________________

UL-Lafayette head football coach Mark Hudspeth publicly apologized for the behavior of four of his players who were recorded in the locker room singing an anti-Donald Trump rap song filled with vulgarities. Hudspeth says these young men have shown remorse for their actions.

Cut 16 (15)” promoted there”

Hudspeth says the four players in the video have been punished, but did not say how. He says they also have taken steps to ensure the locker room breeds an environment of discipline, relaxation and comfort.

Cut 17 (18) “headphones”

Hudspeth says the team will also partake in one-thousand hours of community service by visiting every middle school and high school in Acadiana.

Cut 18 (20) “ social media”

________________________________________________________

For the second time this season, 16th ranked LSU is getting ready to play a game against the 21st ranked Florida Gators. The two schools were scheduled to play each other October 8th, but Hurricane Matthew postponed the contest. Florida is now 7-3 record, they lead the SEC East at 5-and-2 and they have one of the top defenses in the league…

Cut 19 (13)   “lot of speed” (2x)

According to reports out of Florida, seven starters for the Gators are already ruled out for the game, including quarterback Luke Del Rio, and two more are questionable. Saturday is Senior Day and Coach O says that’s  one of the many reasons the team wants to beat the Gators in a bad way…

cut 20 (17) “ready to play”

The fight for more flood recovery dollars continues today, as Congress reconvenes after the election. Emelie Gunn has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Today is the last day to register with FEMA for disaster assistance. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

It will be a heated GOP-dominated runoff in the 3^rd Congressional District, as Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle and Capt. Clay Higgins go head to head. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Congress reconvenes today, which means Louisiana’s congressional delegation will resume its efforts to get more federal funds appropriated for flood recovery. Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves says right now the state still needs to come up with a plan for spending the $438 million they’ve already received.

cut 4  (10) “an urgency”

The Governor’s Office says the Restore Louisiana Task Force has delayed a vote on how to allocate the funds because the money is tied up in red tape. But Graves says even though they need HUD’s approval, the state should still submit one sooner rather than later.

Cut 5  (09)  “those dollars”

Graves says at this point, they aren’t sure how many payments Louisiana will receive because president-elect Donald Trump’s victory changes the dynamic. He says they’ll probably have to approve a short-term plan before he takes office in January.

Cut 6 (12) “appropriations bill”

____________________________________________

Today is the final day for flood victims to register for Disaster Assistance. Ray Perez with FEMA says approximately 152-thousand individuals have registered for federal aid. He says families are finally able to start the recovery process.

CUT 7 (08)  “or whatever”

Today is also the final day to submit a disaster loan application to the Small Business Administration. Perez says the SBA has already approved $1.15 billion dollars in low interest loans. He says victims are also getting money from National Flood Insurance and even more is expected to be issued.

Cut 8 (09) “been settled”

To apply for federal disaster aid visit disaster-assistance-dot-gov (disasterassistance.org). Perez says just because registration stops today, does not mean that the work stops. He says FEMA will be in Louisiana for the long term because they’re just getting started.

Cut 9 (10)  “file appeals”

___________________________________________

Gas prices have once again dipped below two dollars. Senior Petroleum Analyst with GasBuddy.com, Gregg Laskoski says the nation is seeing prices five cents lower than a week ago, with Louisiana being four cents lower. He says there is a very good chance we will see these gas prices continuing to decline.

Cut 10 (09)          “record high

Laskoski says retail gasoline prices are moving lower and crude oil prices are trading in a steady but narrow range. He says we typically see significant decreases in price through November and December.

cut 11 (08) “refinery production”

Laskoski says these decreases are the continuation of the significant trend of prices dropping lower than they were a year ago.

cut 12 (08) “dramatic”

______________________________________________________

Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle is up against fellow GOP contender Capt. Clay Higgins in the runoff for the 3^rd Congressional District seat. Higgins is confident he will win soundly, and he says he feels good going into the runoff. He says if elected, he will not be a part of the corruption in Washington.

Cut 13 (09) “hard work”

Higgins, like many candidates this year, has presented himself as an outsider to voters. He adds that Angelle has been in politics most of his life.

cut 14 (08) “career politician”

Angelle believes he is in a strong position going into the runoff, as he beat Higgins in the polls by three percent. But he says he’s not taking anything for granted.

Cut 15 (07) “great again”

Angelle says he has a long history of disrupting the status quo, which he says is what voters want to see in their elected officials. He says south Louisiana needs a champion in Washington.

Cut 16  (08)  “to work”

______________________________________________________________

The Golden Boot Trophy is back in Baton Rouge as a result of LSU’s dominating 38-10 win over Arkansas in Razorback Stadium. It’s the Tigers first win over the Hogs since 2013. Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron says the players were determined to get a win in Fayetteville…

Cut 17 (15)” football team”  (2x)

The Tigers won thanks to a stingy defense that forced three turnovers and a ground game that couldn’t be stopped. LSU had 390 yards rushing. Derrius Guice led the way with 252 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Orgeron says he still had faith in his offense after a tough performance against Alabama…

Cut 18 (18) “ against Florida”

________________________________________________________

The Saints lost in a shocking manner on Sunday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as Denver blocks an extra point with 1:22 left in the game and returned it for two points for a 25-23 victory. Will Parks returned the blocked kick for a score. It appeared he may have stepped out of bounds, as he raced to the end zone. Coach Sean Payton was ok with the officials not reversing the call…

Cut 19 (10)   “understand”

The Saints nearly won this game, despite committing four turnovers. Quarterback Drew Brees touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks tied the game, but a jubilant Dome went silent when the blocked kick was returned for a score. The loss drops New Orleans record to 4-5. Payton says the team will have to bounce back, with Carolina coming up on Thursday…

cut 20 (09) “next game”

All of this dry weather in Louisiana is adding up, and drought conditions have gripped the state. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

State Police reminds parents and drivers to be vigilant during Halloween. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Many children in the U.S. are not being vaccinated with the HPV vaccine. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The lack of rain during the month of October in Louisiana has caused drough conditions to develop throughout the region. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the US drought monitor shows 73% of the Bayou State is in drought, and the remaining 27% is considered abnormally dry. He says it’s brutally dry out there…:

cut 4  (10) “of normal rainfall”

Keim says this is considered the 5th driest October since 1895, and it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting any more rain this week either. He says it’s incredible that we went from the August storm event of Biblical proportions and recording breaking flooding, to drought…:

Cut 5  (09)  “use some rain”

Keim says the upside is that this dry weather helps people who are trying to rebuild their homes…:

Cut 6 (10) “for this time of year”

____________________________________________

State Police is giving parents some tips to make sure their trick-or-treaters have a memorable Halloween. Trooper Bryan Lee says it’s a really exciting holiday for kids, so whether you’re taking them out or driving down the roads, it’s important to be vigilant. He says always make sure kids are visible.

CUT 7 (10)  “the street”

Lee reminds parents that masks can often restrict breathing and sight, so make sure your child can see and breathe while wearing their costume. He says it’s always a good idea to check out the sex offender registry before hitting the streets for trick-or-treating at LSP.org.

Cut 8 (08) “are present”

Lee asks drivers to slow down while driving through neighborhoods and avoid distractions. He says historically, Halloween is a deadly holiday when it comes to driving…

Cut 9 (11)  “ride home”

___________________________________________

Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Joe Rallo is visiting north Louisiana this week to engage stakeholders and learn about issues facing that region of Louisiana. Rallo says he will provide an overview and an update on the realities of higher education. He says the upcoming legislative session and how it will impact universities will be a big topic of discussion.

Cut 10 (10) “44%”

Rallo says his message will be that public higher education is an investment, not a cost and hopes people will talk with their legislators to ensure it doesn’t faces more cuts. He says in his two years in this position, he’s learned that each region in Louisiana is different and wants to address all the issues they face.

cut 11 (10) “exciting”

Rallo says he’s excited to get a chance to talk with people in north Louisiana because they are very committed to excelling their communities. He says they are aware of the role higher education plays and how they can help

cut 12 (06) “education”

______________________________________________________

The HPV vaccine is a great way to limit a child’s chance of future cancer. That’s according to CDC Director of Immunization Services Dr. Melinda Wharton who says during the ages of 11 and 12, children should be receiving the two shot vaccine..

Cut 13 (11) “anal cancer”

Wharton says the protection received from this vaccine is long lasting and will continue into adulthood. But she says nationally, only about 63-percent of girls have received at least one dose and that number is even lower for boys and the numbers for Louisiana children are similar.

cut 14 (10) “say okay”

Wharton advises parents to bring this up with your child’s pediatrician if it’s not already mentioned. She says when the vaccine was originally introduced, it was recommended that a child get three separate immunizations.

Cut 15 (09) “months later”

A Korean War veteran who died 65 years ago has finally been returned to Crowley to be laid to rest. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

State government is looking at more budget problems. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Souther”

______________________________________

The Republican Party in Louisiana is so sure Donald Trump has locked up the presidential  votes here, they are sending its volunteers to Florida — a battleground which accounts for 29 electoral votes. Party chair Roger Villere says it’s part of a nationwide effort among GOP members to go door to door in the Sunshine State…:

Cut 3 (09) “win Florida”

Villere says every poll in Louisiana has shown Trump significantly ahead of Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton – some by as many as 20 points. He says in Florida it’s an extremely close race with polls constantly going back and forth…:

cut 4  (08) “we have to win Florida”

Many polls indicate the most realistic path to the White House for Trump includes winning Florida. Villere says if  they’ve had GOP members from Louisiana in the Sunshine State rotating in and out…:

Cut 5  (10)  “for their country”

______________________________________

A Korean War veteran from Crowley is finally laid to rest in his Louisiana hometown today. Army Sgt. First Class Lawrence Smith died 65 years ago in a prisoner of war camp in North Korea. Alex Juan with the State Department of Veteran’s Affairs says they are so happy to welcome Smith home. She hopes this brings his family peace.

Cut 6 (08) “some peace”

In the early 1990’s, Sgt. Smith’s daughter received a call that North Korea found over 200 boxes of U.S. Servicemen’s remains and her father could be one of them. Juan says the process of properly identifying bodies and shipping them home can take a very long time.

CUT 7 (07)  “burial grounds”

Smith passed away at 26-years-old and is survived by his daughter Melinda Crowley, who plans to bury her father with her late mother. Juan says they are able to identify remains by using DNA testing now. She says full military protocol will be in effect when Smith in finally laid to rest in a family cemetery near Crowley.

Cut 8 (06) “away gets”

_____________________________________

Just over half of the Louisiana residents polled say the state is heading in the wrong direction. A University of New Orleans Survey Research Center Poll surveyed about 600 likely voters and 51-percent are pessimistic about the state’s future. But UNO Pollster Ed Chervenak says 35-percent say the state is moving in the right direction and that’s a 15-percent increase over last year.

Cut 9 (09)  “a result”

Chervenak says the poll shows 64-percent of Republicans are unhappy with the direction the state is headed compared to only 32-percent of Democrats.

Cut 10 (09) “going well”

The survey also found Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval rating is at 56-percent. Chervenak says residents might be more optimistic about the state’s future because Edwards’ has a more positive rating than Jindal.

cut 11 (10) “Baton Rouge area”

________________________________________________

The state is looking at another round of budget cuts because the state finished last fiscal year with a 313 million dollar deficit. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says a few factors are leading to Louisiana continuously facing these budget problems.

cut 12 (10) “are down”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says many state agencies have been asked to look where they could make cuts and it looks like colleges and healthcare will take the biggest hits. Cross says the oil and gas industry is struggling and a lot of people aren’t spending money…

Cut 13 (08) “are down”

The Edwards’ administration has said they could possibly use the rainy day fund to help offset some of the deficit. Cross says Governor Edwards has put together a panel to try to come up with a way to stabilize the budget.

cut 14 (07) “Louisiana budget”

________________________________________________