After a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors, Northwestern State University President Dr. Jim Henderson has been appointed president of the University of Louisiana System. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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It’s sugar cane grinding season in Louisiana and the harvest is expected to be up from last year. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The US Supreme Court has declined to hear former-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal of his 2014 public corruption conviction. Legal analyst Chick Foret says this means Nagin will have to serve out the remaining 8 years of his 10 year sentence, because there is no other court that can hear his appeal.

CUT 3 (08)  “were meritless”

Foret says it’s not surprising the Supreme Court refused to hear his case, because they only hear a few appeals every year, compared to the thousands of requests that come in. He says for the appeal to be heard, Nagin’s lawyers would have had to show there was irreversible error in the trial.

CUT 4 (11)  “sentencing guidelines”

Nagin was convicted on 20 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and filing false tax returns. Foret says Nagin was probably thought the nation’s highest court would hear his case after former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s corruption conviction was vacated by the Supreme Court.

CUT 5 (08)  “in this case”

Nagin is the first New Orleans mayor to be convicted of public corruption.

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It’s officially sugar cane grinding season in Louisiana and the harvest is expected to be better than last year. General Manager of the American Sugar Cane League in Thibodaux Jim Simon (see-moan) says it’s still early in the season but there are indications that the sugar content of the cane is very good. He says the mild winter last year really helped the crop get off to a good start.

CUT 6 (10) “continue growing”

Simon also contributes the success to good agriculture practices from farmers. He says prices are expected to go up half a cent from last year’s 24 cents a pound but…

CUT 7 (08) “nine months”

Sugar cane is a 3 billion dollar industry in Louisiana. Simon urges drivers on the road to be on the lookout because there will be an increased number of cane trucks on our highways.

CUT 8 (09) “loading sites”

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There are concerns that the potential damage Florida could receive from Hurricane Matthew could interfere with the federal disaster aid coming to Louisiana. But U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy doesn’t think so…

CUT 9 (07) “having problems” 

Louisiana has already received 500 million dollars in federal disaster aid and Governor Edwards has asked for 2.8 billion. Cassidy says Hurricane Matthew is creating a heightened awareness for a need to help communities who are having problems. Hepredicts Matthew will create a heightened awareness for a need to help storm-impacted communities…

cut 10 (08)  “little better”

Cassidy says Congress will return in December to discuss more financial flood relief for Louisiana and what will need to be done to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew. He says it will be an important issues for federal lawmakers to discuss.

Cut 11 (04) “for relief”

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Northwestern State University President Dr. Jim Henderson will become the new president of the University of Louisiana System, after the Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed him to the positon. Henderson says he’ll look to reverse the 10 year decline in state funding of higher ed.

cut 12 (12) “we serve”

Henderson says Louisiana ranks 16^th out of 16 southern states for the resources available per student. He says he looks forward to working with the legislature to resolve many of the issues universities and students are facing. He added that he has healthy relationships with many Louisiana lawmakers.

Cut 13 (09)  “really enjoy”

Henderson says he wants to see more student involvement at the system level to give students a voice in the policy decision making. He says he would also like to have a more hands on relationship with students throughout the UL system.

cut 14 (09)  “that’s important”

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LSU announces the search has begun to find a new live mascot to replace the ailing Mike VI. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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The new president of the University of Louisiana system has all but been selected, as there is only one candidate for the position. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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As Hurricane Mathew churns towards the Florida coast, University of Florida officials say they will not move Saturday’s LSU-Florida game out of Gainesville. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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In the wake of heartbreaking news that Mike the Tiger’s cancer is spreading, LSU announces the search is on for a new live mascot. Mike’s veterinarian Dr. David Baker says they intend to find a young male tiger in need of a good home. He says many times the government places animals in sanctuaries and doesn’t provide the fund for their care.

cut 4  (09)  “will take”

Baker says in 2007, it took about three months to find Mike VI, who was originally named Roscoe and living at the Great Cats of Indiana. He says they will focus on finding the tiger that’s best for LSU to become Mike VII.

Cut 5  (09)  “wildlife conservation”

But Manager of Captive Wildlife Protection with the Humane Society, Debra Leahy, says the university will be fueling the exotic animal trade, if they get a new tiger. She says no reputable facility would turn over a tiger to be used as a mascot.

Cut 6 (06) “somewhere”

Leahy says sanctuaries take in tigers for the purpose of giving them lifetime care, not to pass them along to someone else. She says the Humane Society has started a petition to end the live mascot program because it would be tragic, if LSU contributes to the cruel animal trade industry.

CUT 7 (10)  “deficient diet”

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Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson is expected to become the new president of the University of Louisiana System, as he is the only candidate that will go before the Board of Supervisors today. Henderson says if selected for the position, there are some obvious problems he plans to tackle.

Cut 8 (11) “address that”

Henderson says if the job didn’t allow him to continue to work with Northwestern, he wouldn’t even consider it. He says he has immense love for the Natchitoches school, as he and his wife, Tonia, both graduated from NSU, but he says he has ties to many Louisiana universities.

Cut 9 (11)  “Southeastern grad”

Henderson has been the Northwestern president since January of 2015. He says he wants to do what he can to provide more opportunities for students in Louisiana.

Cut 10 (07) “that direction”

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The federal government has set a goal for zero traffic fatalities within the next 30 years. The Transportation Department has outlined a plan that includes increasing seatbelt use and more rumble strips. Louisiana Highway Safety Commissioner Dr. Katara Williams says that’s the perfect ultimate goal, because even one traffic fatality is one too many.

cut 11 (08) “slight increases”

Williams says the first step to reducing these deaths is raising awareness about safe driving habits. She says drivers must put down their cellphones when they’re behind the wheel, buckle up, and never drive drunk.

cut 12 (09) “right choices”

The federal transportation department says self-driving cars and other new technologies could make zero fatal crashes possible. Williams believes autonomous vehicles could play a role in safer highways. But she says it’s too early to tell just yet, as many of these self-driving cars are still in the prototype phase.

Cut 13 (08) “our highways”

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The University of Florida announces that Saturday’s LSU-Florida game will not be moved out of Gainesville, even as Hurricane Matthew is approaches the Sunshine State. But it’s still up in the air on whether or not the 11am kickoff will have to be delayed. LSU’s Sports Information Director, Michael Bonnette, says they expect to have more information by noon today.

cut 14 (07)  “to do” 

Bonnette says they’re doing their best to keep Tiger fans in the loop about game decisions. He says they are looking at all of their options, but the safety of the fans and the players is most important.

Cut 15 (08) “in Gainesville”

Bonnette says delaying the kickoff could pose problems for airing the game on television. He says the Gators are not interested in playing the game in Tiger Stadium, but they may have to consider moving to a neutral location.

Cut 16  (09)  “into this”

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Louisiana Tech hosts Western Kentucky in a big Conference USA matchup at Joe Aillet Stadium tonight. The Hilltoppers are considered one of the favorites to win the league and they have won 12 straight conference games. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says it’s important Bulldog nation comes out tonight, because they need that homefield advantage…

Cut 17 (13)  “the belt”

The Bulldogs were the alst team to defeat the Hilltoppers in league play, when they defeated W-K-U in 2014. Western Kentucky comes into this game as one of the top passing teams in the league. Holtz says it’s impressive to see them move the football…

Cut 18 (16) “offensively”

This team features the top two wide receivers in the conference, Trent Taylor for Louisiana Tech adn Taywan Taylor for Western Kentucky. Holtz says Bulldogs running back Jarred Craft of Haughton could have a major impact in this game

Cut 19 (19)   “…really well”

LSU’s live mascot Mike VI’s cancer has spread throughout his body, according to his veterinarian Dr. David Baker. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Research by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity finds Louisiana has more opioid prescriptions than residents. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Mike the Tiger’s veterinarian announces the live mascot’s cancer has spread throughout his body. Dr. David Baker says based on a CT scan, they believe Mike has one to two months to live.

CUT 3 (11)  “radiation”

Baker says currently, Mike VI is behaving very normally and his appetite has returned after treatment for a sinus infection due to a tumor. He says their current plan gives the LSU community time to say their goodbyes to the beloved mascot.

CUT 4 (11)  “hospice care”

LSU has already instructed Baker to begin the search for a young tiger to become Mike VII. Baker says there is no way to know when Mike VI will permanently retire to his night house and assures they will not let him suffer. He says he’s been questioned about Mike’s radiation treatment and believes it did what it was supposed to do.

CUT 5 (08)  “its behavior”

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There are more opioid prescriptions in Louisiana than there are residents. That’s according to research by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity. Medical Director with the state Office of Public Health, Dr. David Holcombe, says it’s a problem in the Deep South, as Louisiana is one of 8 states with a high rate of prescriptions per resident. He says part of the problem is that it’s easier for doctors to write a prescription.

CUT 6 (07) “the math”

Louisiana’s opioid prescription rate was 1.03 per capita in 2015, and Tennessee, West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Kentucky also had rates higher than 1. Holcombe says pharmaceutical companies push these pills as being safer than they really are. He says there’s also a problem with patient demand.

CUT 7 (09) “be tolerated”

Holcombe says when they crackdown on over prescribing these pills, many people who have become addicted will switch to heroin because it’s cheaper and more readily available. He says a simple solution would be for doctors to check their patients’ prescription history.

CUT 8 (09) “and so forth”

Holcombe doesn’t expect doctors to be eager to do these checks because it would be another hassle on their to-do list.

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Angry Jefferson Parish residents spoke out at a council meeting today urging Parish President Mike Yenni to resign. There are multiple allegations claiming while Yenni was the mayor of Kenner, he sent a 17-year-old boy sexually explicit texts and kissed the teen in a public bathroom then gave him designer underwear. Resident Richard Brown maintains Yenni offered that teen a job.

CUT 9 (06) “credit card” 

A spokesperson for Yenni said he would have something to say soon, but not today. Kenner resident and a mother of two boys, Stacy Alessandro, says she’s disappointed Yenni wasn’t at the meeting to refute these allegations. She says his silence speaks volumes.

cut 10 (07)  “in hiding”

Another Jefferson Parish resident says this is humiliating for the entire parish. She urges the council to take whatever action is need and hopes Yenni will speak out about these claims.

Cut 11 (10) “don’t hide”

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An unrestrained 19-year-old was killed in a single vehicle crash after her vehicle was split in half in Catahoula Parish. State Police Trooper Scott Moreau says police responded to a crash in Harrisonburg, yesterday morning involving, Reagan Rainey of Jonesville, who lost control of her vehicle and hit a tree.

cut 12 (11) “in half”

Moreau says State Police doesn’t see too many crashes were a vehicle is split in half, but when they do, speed is typically a factor.

Cut 13 (10)  “as well”

Moreau says police are out enforcing speed and seat belt laws because it can be a recipe for disaster like this.

cut 14 (07)  “correct way”

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A fake news article alleges the mayor of DeQuincy in Calcasieu parish fired a firefighter for praying at the scene of a fire. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Former mayor of Alexandria, Ned Randolph, passes away at 74 for Alzheimer’s. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today the last shelter for south Louisiana flood victims will close, almost two months after the historic flood. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The City of DeQuincy in Calcasieu parish is once again the subject of a satire news article, this time alleging that the mayor fired a firefighter for praying at the scene of a fire. Mayor Lawrence Henagan says that couldn’t be further from the truth.

cut 4  (08)  “alongside him”

Henagan says the article also claimed he was a black female, when he is neither. He says he’s not sure why his town is being mentioned in stories like this.

Cut 5  (11)  “like that”

DeQuincy has been featured in a variety of similar articles, claiming everything from twerking bans to giving kids guns at school. Henagan says he tries to take all of the fake articles with a grain of salt.

Cut 6 (08) “about it”

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Ned Randolph, former Alexandria Mayor, has passed away from Alzheimer’s at the age of 74. Randolph was a five term mayor, serving the city from 1986 to 2006. Current Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy says Randolph left his imprint everywhere in central Louisiana and treated everyone with decency.

CUT 7 (09)  “about him”

In the 20 years that Randolph was mayor, I-49 was built through the city and the Alexandria Riverfront Center opened. Roy says the former beloved mayor came into office at a very tumultuous time.

Cut 8 (11) “him credit”

When Randolph was mayor, he appointed Alexandria’s first black police chief. Roy says Randolph fought his disease as hard as he could. He says he had great plans for the town of Alexandria and will be missed greatly.

Cut 9 (08)  “to him”

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Congressman Charles Boustany is taking legal action against the author of “Murder in the Bayou” for making claims that the US Senate candidate was involved with prostitutes who were murdered in Jefferson Davis parish. Boustany’s attorney Jimmy Faircloth says they filed a lawsuit to defend his integrity and the honor of his family.

Cut 10 (10) “published them”

Brown has said he stands by what is written in the book. But Faircloth says the allegations have been reported numerous times as fact, even though no one has been able to independently verify the claims. He doesn’t believe it’s a coincidence the book was published shortly after Boustany announced his candidacy for Senate.

cut 11 (09) “the truth”

The book alleges that Boustany spent a lot of time at a Jennings motel soliciting prostitutes. The claims in the book cited two unidentified sex workers and an unnamed witness. Faircloth says he doesn’t believe anyone was able to confirm these allegations, before they were published in the book.

cut 12 (10) “shame on em”

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Nearly two months after the historic flood in south Louisiana, the last remaining shelter for flood victims is closing today at noon. Red Cross spokesperson Todd James says they will help anyone who is still in the Baton Rouge shelter at Celtic Studios find their next place to go.

Cut 13 (07) “next step”

James says as of yesterday there were still 69 people in the Celtic Studios shelter, but many of them are moving out before noon today. He says flood victims faced a variety of struggles in finding a place to call home after the flood.

cut 14 (08)  “new homes” 

James says they’ve been working diligently to help these flood victims at the shelter find another living arrangement as quickly as possible. He says they’ve reached the point, where they can leave the movie studios, so Celtic can get back to work.

Cut 15 (08) “their business”

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In four games this season, LSU starting quarterback Danny Etling has thrown just one interception. He goes up against a Florida defense this Saturday that has picked off eight passes. Etling says the Gators have a very talented defense…

Cut 16  (16)  “be easy”

LSU will face Florida at 11 AM on Saturday. The former Purde quarterback says he’s used to early kickoffs from his days in the Big Ten…

Cut 17 (11)  “entire week”

Saturday’s game could be a low scoring affair. Florida has allowed just seven touchdowns, while LSU has given up five. Tigers senior linebacker Kendell Beckwith says the fewer the touchdowns allowed, the better the chances for victory….

Cut 18 (15) “we can be”

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After playing three straight games on the road, ULM returns to Malone Stadium on Saturday night to host Idaho. Warhawks Coach Matt Viator says he’s impressed with Vandals offense, which is led by junior quarterback Matt Linehan

Cut 19 (13)     “they do”

Last week, ULM lost to auburn 58-7. Viator says for them to have success this Saturday, they’ll need to tackle better…

Cut 20 (19) “on plays”

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

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

CUT 3 (09)  “very seriously”

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

CUT 4 (10)  “a threat”

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

CUT 5 (09)  “cross the line” 2x

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

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

CUT 6 (11) “or defamation”

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

CUT 7 (10) “or falsity”

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

CUT 8 (09) “publisher”

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

CUT 9 (09) “assistance”

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

cut 10 (07)  “other projects”

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

Cut 11 (12) “lot of em”

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

cut 12 (10) “70 percent”

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

Cut 13 (09)  “normal life”

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

cut 14 (10)  “on campus”

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

cut 15 (10) “certain holidays”

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

cut 16 (10) “country”

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

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

cut 4  (09)  “the information”

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

Cut 5  (10)  “the floors”

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

Cut 6 (11) “in my name”

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

CUT 7 (08)  “after him”

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

Cut 8 (07) “watchdog”

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

Cut 9 (09)  “very nasty”

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

Cut 10 (08) “certificate”

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

cut 11 (09) “other professions”

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

cut 12 (10) “huge boost”

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

Cut 13 (11) “that criteria”

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

cut 14 (10)  “viable election” 

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

Cut 15 (10) “isn’t fair”

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

Cut 16  (10)  “the stage”

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

Cut 17 (20)  “rid of it”

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

Cut 18 (12) “through you”

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

Cut 19 (10)     “paid off”

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

Cut 20 (18) “comes from”

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

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 3 (07)  “other identification”

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

CUT 4 (09)  “entire country”

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

CUT 5 (09)  “compliant”

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

CUT 6 (08) “that love”

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

CUT 7 (08) “print materials”

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

CUT 8 (11) “of items”

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

CUT 9 (08) “fruit drinks”

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

cut 10 (09)  “be overweight”

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

Cut 11 (09) “and death”

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

cut 12 (07) “your home”

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

Cut 13 (06)  “what we require”

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

cut 14 (09)  “the rest of your life”

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

cut 15 (08) “and floors”

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

cut 16 (06) “Glen Oaks community”

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

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

cut 4  (09)  “erosion occurring”

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

Cut 5  (12)  “at that site”

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

Cut 6 (09) “in those areas”

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

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

CUT 7 (10)  “exactly right”

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

Cut 8 (08) “those things”

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

Cut 9 (10)  “medical marijuana”

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

Cut 10 (10) “work on”

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

cut 11 (10) “part of it”

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

cut 12 (09) “bit behind”

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

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

Cut 13 (05) “gluclose levels”

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

cut 14 (06)  “hypoglycemia” 

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

Cut 15 (10) “this award”

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

Cut 16  (12)  “our tackling”

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

Cut 17 (11)  “right now”

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

Cut 18 (20) “run the ball”

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

Cut 19 (15) “little deeper”

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

Cut 20 (12) “deserve respect”

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

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 3 (10)  “it seriously”

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

CUT 4 (07)  “Mardi Gras”

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

CUT 5 (12)  “light on”

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

CUT 6 (09) “his friends”

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

CUT 7 (10) “mortgage assistance”

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

CUT 8 (10) “get that”

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

CUT 9 (10) “their homes”

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

cut 10 (09)  “white males”

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

Cut 11 (09) “the employer”

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

cut 12 (11) “loved ones”

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

Cut 13 (10)  “his own”

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

cut 14 (05)  “their wishes”

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

cut 15 (06) “particular issue”

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

cut 16 (06) “this was”

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

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

cut 4  (10)  “the water”

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

Cut 5  (07)  “valuable lessons”

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

Cut 6 (08) “their life”

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

CUT 7 (06)  “circumstances there”

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

Cut 8 (11) “affordable policy “

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

Cut 9 (08)  “maintain it”

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

Cut 10 (10) “and crafts”

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

cut 11 (09) “at 2pm”

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

cut 12 (09) “their self-esteem”

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

Cut 13 (07) “surrounding area”

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

cut 14 (07)  “years ago”

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

Cut 15 (09) “the future”

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

Cut 16  (09)  “their attention”

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

Cut 17 (22)  “football team”

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

Cut 18 (24) “they will under Orgeron”