Pineville-based power company Cleco will begin construction this month on the St. Mary Clean Energy Center in Franklin. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A report finds nearly 200-thousand students in 19 states, including Louisiana, are subjected to corporal punishment. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Monroe is the fourth poorest city in the country, according to a report from the finance website 24/7 Wall Street. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Pineville-based utility company, Cleco, will break ground this month on a new clean energy plant in St Mary parish. Spokesperson Robbyn Cooper says a partnership between Cleco and Cabot Corporation will allow them to produce energy without any emissions at the 80-million dollar facility in Franklin.

cut 4  (11)  “the waste heat”

Cooper says the new St. Mary Clean Energy Center will provide power for 17-thousand homes across Louisiana. She says building the facility will also benefit the local economy by creating new jobs.

Cut 5  (11)  “construction jobs”

Cleco expects it will be operational by March 2018. Cooper says this is a good investment for Cleco, because it will replace a smaller plant that was built in the 1950s.

Cut 6 (08) “increased emissions”

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A report by the Society for Research in Child Development finds over 160-thousand students in 19 states, including Louisiana, where kids are being subjected to corporal punishment in their schools every year. Developmental Psychologist with the University of Texas, Dr. Elizabeth Gershoff, says African American children are 50-percent more likely to be smacked than white students.

CUT 7 (09)  “misbehaving more”

Gershoff says she decided to do this research to alert the public, because many people are surprised corporal punishment is still legal in some schools. She hopes this will get parents to address this issue.

Cut 8 (10) “from schools”

Her research found one in five Louisiana schools still use corporal punishment, with the majority being in rural areas. Gershoff says there were almost 5-thousand students paddled in the 2013-2014 school year, which is the latest data available. She says even when some parents get upset after discovering their child is spanked at school, the lawsuits are usually unsuccessful.

Cut 9 (10)  “in Louisiana”

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A new report from the finance website 24/7 Wall Street finds Monroe is the fourth poorest city in the country. ULM economics professor Dr. Robert Eisenstaedt says this isn’t surprising because Louisiana as a whole is a poor state, and the northeast part of the state tends to be even poorer.

Cut 10 (11) “national average”

According to the 24/7 Wall Street report, Monroe has a poverty rate of about 24-percent and an unemployment rate of just over 6-percent. Eisenstaedt says Monroe has been a poor city almost since its birth. He says the best way to reverse this trend is through education.

cut 11 (08) “anti-poverty program”

Eisenstaedt says the workforce is becoming a little more diverse. The growth of CenturyLink is helping in that area. He says a positive for Ouachita parish is that it’s not impacted by the downturn in the oil industry.

cut 12 (10) “a good thing”

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The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness announces more than 1-thousand flood victims have had their homes repaired as part of the Shelter At Home program. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says this is a huge milestone for the program.

Cut 13 (10) “right direction”

Steele says they have seven contractors and several more subcontractors working on homes throughout the affected area. He says while this program may not be the right fit for everyone, it’s been an enormous help to those that are eligible for Shelter At Home.

cut 14 (10)  “of help”

Steele says the deadline to register for Shelter At Home is October 15. He says if you don’t have all the paperwork like a deed and a utility bill, you could still qualify as long as you get the initial application in on time.

Cut 15 (09) “you need”

A Lafayette man with a passion for peppers is trying to breed the hottest pepper in the world. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Did the SEC drop the ball with the Florida/LSU game? Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (33)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Louisianans love their spicy food, so it’s no surprise that a Lafayette man with “a lot of passion and a little know how” is attempting to make the hottest pepper in the world. Self-professed pepper aficionado, Troy Primeaux, says his first pepper, the 7-Pot Primo, is arguably the hottest pepper in the world at 1.4 million Scoville Heat Units, but it’s technically second to the Carolina Reaper, which is 1.57 million SHU. But he says he’s working to make a pepper that’s even hotter- the Louisiana Creeper.

CUT 3 (12)  “the others”

Primeaux says the preliminary data looks good for the Louisiana Creeper to be the hottest pepper in the world at 2 million SHU or better. The pepper’s average heat will be determined by independent tests once it’s finished. But he says those that have tried it say the Louisiana Creeper will melt your face off.

CUT 4 (09)  “the fridge (laughs)”

Primeaux says he got started in pepper breeding when he gave up his life as a rock star to find a more family friendly hobby. He says he didn’t intend to make the world’s hottest pepper, it’s just something he stumbled into. But he says he’s always trying to push the envelope.

CUT 5 (09)  “why not”

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A lot of LSU fans feel the SEC completely dropped the ball for allowing the LSU/Florida game not to happen this weekend, as other games in the Sunshine State were easily moved while Hurricane Matthew approached. Stewart Mandel, college football writer for Fox Sports, says he doesn’t see why this marquee SEC matchup couldn’t have been moved…”

CUT 6 (10) “not gonna be rescheduled”

Mandel says this is particularly troubling because LSU is no stranger to being the displaced team. After Hurricane Katrina, the Tigers moved a game to Tempe to play Arizona State, and after Hurricane Rita moved a game to Monday night. He says then of course there was last year when Tiger Stadium played host to a flooded South Carolina home team…:

CUT 7 (10) “earlier in the week”

There is a feeling among the Tiger Nation that Florida  didn’t want to play the game because they’re banged up and didn’t want to risk a loss. Mandel says while Florida was being stubborn about the matter, he doesn’t think it was their hope that the game wouldn’t happen at all…:

CUT 8 (10) “what not”

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Federal and state agencies are combining forces to prosecute any cases of fraud as a result of the devastating flooding in August. The US Attorney’s Office along with the state Attorney General are leading the effort and have established a national center of disaster fraud hotline. AG Jeff Landry says they don’t want flood victims to fall prey to those who want to exploit the system.

CUT 9 (11) “low point” 

The national hotline number for victims of scams is 1 (866) 720-5721.Landry says on the AG website, there is a sample contract to use with contractors doing work on your home and gives some tips to protect yourself.

cut 10 (08)  “in writing”

With regards to the flooding in south Louisiana, they’ve already received more than 12-hundred complaints from those who say someone tried to take advantage of them. Landry says your smart phone can help prevent you from being a victim of fraud.

Cut 11 (10) “your contractor”

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Hurricane Matthew is causing destruction along the East Coast, and some of the models show it looping back around early next week in the direction of Florida. State climatologist Barry Keim says the models are all over the place on where the storm will go. He says there’s a chance Matthew could make it into the Gulf, but he doesn’t think it’s likely.

cut 12 (09) “southern Gulf”

Keim says Tropical Storm Nicole, which is south of Bermuda, could also affect Matthew’s path. He says there’s a small chance that the two storms could join forces like in 2005 with Hurricane Wilma and Tropical Storm Alpha.

Cut 13 (11)  “take place”

But Keim says that doesn’t seem likely at this point either. He says meteorologists are keeping an eye on the cyclones because it could go in any direction. He says for now, Louisiana looks to be in the clear.

cut 14 (09)  “Louisiana goes”

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Three members of the Jefferson Parish Council have called for Parish President Mike Yenni’s resignation in light of his admittance to sexting a 17-year-old boy. Legal analyst Tim Meche says he doesn’t see a mechanism for the council to force him to resign because while what Yenni did was morally questionable, he didn’t break any laws.

cut 15 (10) “that test”

Council members say Yenni owes parish residents an explanation. But Meche says Yenni hasn’t been charged with any federal or state crime, and he doesn’t expect that he will be. He says a petition could be started to recall Yenni out of office, but that’s very difficult to accomplish under Louisiana law.

cut 16 (08) “to resign”

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According to HauntWorld.com, the 13^th Gate is the third best haunted house in the country. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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With just over a month to go before the election, the 24 candidates in the US Senate race attempt to distinguish themselves. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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LSU is not heading to Florida to play the Gators this Saturday and there’s a good chance the game will never be played. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The 13^th Gate in Baton Rouge has been ranked the third scariest haunted house in the United States, according to HauntWorld.com. Owner and Designer of the 13^thGate Dwayne Sanburn says what makes it a unique haunted attraction is that they work on it all year round. He says they are known for their realistic detail and it becomes very scary for people in October when visiting the haunted house.

cut 4  (08)  “haunted house”

 This year the 13^th Gate will feature a flooded sewer filled with Jack the Ripper’s victims. Sanburn says visitors will encounter some of the best actors in the haunting industry during their walk through the haunted house. He says a lot goes in to putting these scary characters together.

Cut 5  (09)  “haunted house”

 The scariest haunted house in the country is the House of Torment in Austin, Texas and coming in second is the Netherworld in Atlanta. Sanburn says thousands of people from around the country visit Baton Rouge to go to the 13^thGate.

Cut 6 (09) “go through”

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Saturday marks one month until election days, and political experts say the US Senate race is tightening in Louisiana. ULM political science professor Dr. John Sutherlin says campaign ads are starting to roll out, but mainly on the Republican side. He says the two major Democrats in the race Caroline Fayard and Foster Campbell are working on get out the vote campaigns.

CUT 7 (07)  “their base”

Sutherlin says Congressman Charles Boustany is already running ads attacking State Treasurer John Kennedy. He says more attack ads will come as we get closer to November 8^th.

Cut 8 (07) “strong candidate”

Sutherlin says Early Voting begins October 25^th and that will be a critical time for the 24 candidates running for US Senate.

Cut 9 (10)  “particular race”

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The SEC announces the LSU-Florida game has been postponed because of Hurricane Matthew. LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says they offered Tiger Stadium as a host site for the game.

Cut 10 (07) “do whatever”

Tiger-rag-dot-com reports LSU offered its charter plane and buses to accommodate a possible relocation to Baton Rouge, as well as hotel accommodations and food. But The University of Florida was adamant that the game should be played in Gainesville and rejected LSU’s offer to host or travel elsewhere. Bonnette says the SEC will look to reshuffle some games so the LSU-Florida game happens this season, but he has his doubts.

cut 11 (10) “be possible”

Bonnette says the team is disappointed the game has been postponed, but they’ll just focus on getting ready for the Southern Miss game next week. But he says cancelling this game could impact SEC title implications later this season.

cut 12 (10) “championship game”

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Republican Congressman Charles Boustany is outraged at an ad that he says was released by a third-party group supporting State Treasurer John Kennedy’s campaign. The ad alleges Boustany voted to send tax dollars to Iraq and Pakistan, which the commercial says are breeding grounds for terrorists. Boustany says the ad is completely untrue.

Cut 13 (08) “immediately”

The commercial is paid for by the ESA fund. They call themselves an organization that supports candidates who favor enhancing free enterprise, reducing the size of government and balancing our nation’s budget.  The ad also claims that one of Boustany’s biggest supporters is a company that builds weapons for Middle Eastern regimes. Boustany says the company they’re referring to is Swiftships, a company that employs 200 Louisianans in Morgan City.

cut 14 (10)  “their congressman” 

During a 12-minute conference call with reporters, Boustany went on the offensive, accusing Kennedy of raising campaign money as State Treasurer then laundered it through a Washington DC political group. He says it’s tragic that after losing previous senate races, Kennedy has to slander people to get himself a new job in politics.

Cut 15 (13) “to show for”

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No LSU football game this weekend. The Tigers and Gators contest scheduled for Saturday has been postponed because of Hurricane Matthew. Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron says the team is disappointed…

Cut 16  (14)  “move forward”

Orgeron says they’ll treat the postponement as a regular open date, which will give them a chance to focus on recruiting and game planning…

Cut 17 (11)  “as an advantage”

The SEC says there will be an attempt to move some games around and reschedule the game at a later date, but athletic director Joe Alleva says no one has contacted him about any schedule changes. If LSU wins the rest of its SEC games, not having this Florida game could hurt their chances of winning the West division. Orgeron says they can’t worry about that

Cut 18 (12) “you that”

LSU’s next game is October 15th at home against Southern Miss.

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”