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”

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

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

CUT 2 (27)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

CUT 3 (10)  “Lake Charles”

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

CUT 4 (09)  “18”

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

CUT 5 (09)  “number”

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

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

CUT 6 (09) “the explosion”

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

CUT 7 (08) “at some point”

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

CUT 8 (11) “surprise me”

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

CUT 9 (09) “tough decisions”

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

cut 10 (12)  “lower interest”

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

Cut 11 (11) “no man’s land”

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

cut 12 (10) “my city”

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

Cut 13 (09)  “afterward (laugh)”

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

cut 14 (09)  “out of it”

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

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

cut 4  (08)  “in December”

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

Cut 5  (10)  “overcome that”

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

Cut 6 (07) “flood zone”

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

CUT 7 (11)  “in the city”

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

Cut 8 (09) “way it is”

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

Cut 9 (08)  “well before”

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

Cut 10 (10) “thus far”

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

cut 11 (05) “time ago”

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

cut 12 (05) “their bounds”

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

Cut 13 (08) “involved in”

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

cut 14 (10)  “over that”

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

Cut 15 (08) “school system”

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

Cut 16  (17)  “on Saturday”

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

Cut 17 (20)  “home”

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

Cut 18 (24) “pretty impressive”

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

Cut 19 (13) “progresses”

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

Cut 20 (14) “things will happen”

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

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

CUT 3 (12)  “on himself”

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

CUT 4 (09)  “pleasant relationship”

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

CUT 5 (10)  “this matter”

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

CUT 6 (10) “terrorizing”

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

CUT 7 (06) “to arrest”

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

CUT 8 (05) “do come”

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

CUT 9 (07) “return home”

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

cut 10 (08)  “to flood”

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

Cut 11 (11) “we need”

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

cut 12 (10) “of tests”

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

Cut 13 (10)  “accountability system “

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

cut 14 (09)  “do it”

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

cut 15 (10) “with officers”

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

cut 16 (06) “this was”

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

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

CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 3 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

cut 4  (09)  “mind blowing”

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

Cut 5  (10)  “uncomfortable summer”

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

Cut 6 (06) “be amazing” 2x

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

CUT 7 (09)  “that bill”

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

Cut 8 (11) “and Flint”

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

Cut 9 (09)  “the election”

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

Cut 10 (11) “its actions”

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

cut 11 (10) “taxpayer funds”

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

cut 12 (10) “every day”

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

Cut 13 (08) “in place”

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

cut 14 (11)  “one extremity”

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

Cut 15 (11) “dark brown”

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

Cut 16  (11)  “this victim”

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

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

Cut 17 (11)  “better offense”

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

Cut 18 (09) “smart doing that”

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

Cut 19 (10) “any set”

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

Cut 20 (10) ” our head coach”

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

CUT 1 (32) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 3 (08)  “certain age”

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

CUT 4 (10)  “with that”

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

CUT 5 (03)  “ultimately”

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

CUT 6 (10) “each would favor”

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

CUT 7 (07) “general terms”

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

CUT 8 (10) “that we’ve seen”

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

CUT 9 (08) “had before”

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

cut 10 (10)  “Tiger Stadium”

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

Cut 11 (11) “national event”

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

cut 12 (11) “stay on TV”

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

Cut 13 (07)  “folks stand”

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

cut 14 (09)  “those loose”

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

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

cut 4  (11)  “our state”

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

Cut 5  (12)  “others are”

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

Cut 6 (11) “specific ideas”

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

CUT 7 (10)  “in August”

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

Cut 8 (11) “get this done”

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

Cut 9 (10)  “also electronics”

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

Cut 10 (07) “throwing it”

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

cut 11 (11) “game management”

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

cut 12 (11) “be excited”

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

Cut 13 (08) “we love”

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

cut 14 (09)  “their lives”

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

Cut 15 (09) “rebuilding”

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

Cut 16  (19)  “seven points”

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

Cut 17 (19)  “we lost”

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

Cut 18 (19) “look out”

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

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 3 (10)  “for Americans”

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

CUT 4 (08)  “this city”

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

CUT 5 (10)  “community”

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

CUT 6 (10) “the field”

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

CUT 7 (09) “and so forth”

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

CUT 8 (08) “ratchet down”

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

CUT 9 (08) “for em”

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

cut 10 (08)  “entire time”

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

Cut 11 (07) “a coach”

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

cut 12 (11) “their lives”

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

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

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

cut 14 (06)  “on offense”

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