Ongoing rain and storms in south Louisiana have caused widespread flooding unlike some officials say they’ve ever seen before. Emelie Gunn reports…:

CUT 1 (36) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Marijuana will remain a Schedule I drug under federal law, which has many people asking what will happen in the 25 states that legalized medical marijuana. Don Molino has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Don Molino”

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Several police and fire stations are offering sandbags to those residents being inundated by rain today. Schools, offices and businesses in many south Louisiana Parishes are closed today, and thousands are without power. In East Baton Rouge Parish, Central Mayor Jr. Shelton says they had over 10 inches of rain fall in 6 hours…:

CUT 3 (09)  “new territory now”

Weather experts say this is similar to a tropical storm rain-wise, but the wind factor is not there. Shelton says one of the biggest problems is that the issues related to these storms are every changing…:

CUT 4 (08)  “we can”

Forecasters are urging residents to watch for rising streams, creeks ditches and other low lying areas. East Feliciana Parish OEP Deputy Director Jim Parker says he’s dealt with flooding before, but nothing like this…:

CUT 5 (10)  “people getting stranded”

More flooding is expected tonight and the flash flood watch remains in effect for almost the entire bottom half of the state through tomorrow evening. Parker says they are doing everything they can to help residents.:

CUT 6 (08) “fast”

State Emergency Officials from throughout the bottom half of the state are saying the amount of rain that’s fallen, in such a short period of time, is reaching historic proportions. Frank Reviette with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says southeast Louisiana got a ton of water in just a few hours…:

CUT 7 (08) “in some of that area”

Reviette says a main issue with this area of low pressure is that the bottom half is churning in the Gulf of Mexico which is adding fuel to the storm. He says they’ve been getting reports of street flooding and water in homes…:

CUT 8 (12) “close attention to that”

Reviette says, unfortunately, this system is churning very slowly, and the rain will continue into Saturday. Almost the entire bottom half of the state is under a flash flood watch through Saturday evening. He says there might be some slight progression to the northwest into the weekend…:

CUT 9 (08) “away from the region”

Governor John Bel Edwardsa has declared a state of emergency.

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The Drug Enforcement Administration announces marijuana will remain a Schedule I drug under federal law, which begs the question as to what will happen in Louisiana and the 24 other states that legalized medical marijuana. Parks Senator Fred Mills authored Louisiana’s medical marijuana legislation, and he says he’s not worried because they planned for this when they wrote the bill.

cut 10 (10)  “Schedule II”

Mills says this ruling should not affect Louisiana’s ability to dispense medical cannabis to the patients who need it. But he says he is still not pleased with the feds’ decision.

Cut 11 (08) “it right”

Mills says Louisiana is on track towards dispensing the drug to patients, and they should have the regulations in place by next year. He says there is no chance that any of the states with medical marijuana laws will face any repercussions from the federal government because of this ruling.

cut 12 (10) “in Louisiana”

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A 68-year-old man from Zachary drowned today while he was trying to escape floodwaters at his home, according to reports. Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says in just 6 hours agents have rescued over 100 people and pets, and the efforts are ongoing:

Cut 13 (10)  “as we speak right now”

Einck says there is a stalled out system sitting on top of us and it’s producing lots of rain in a short amount of time. He says it’s similar to what we saw in March and they are urging people who know they are prone to flooding to go ahead and leave to avoid the need for rescue…:

cut 14 (10)  “get out”

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State Superintendent of Education John White is proposing a plan to lawmakers that would allow the voucher students that were placed on a waiting list, to go ahead and enroll in the nonpublic school. He says the schools would agree to accept a small payment of $100 from the state per child for the year…:

cut 15 (11) “public schools”

White said this would get all 362 students on that waiting list for vouchers to get into the private schools of their choice. There were 442 students originally on the waiting list, but recent new funds trimmed that by 80. White says the money the state would pay for these students’ vouchers is essentially the same if the child attended a public school…:

cut 16 (05) “financially”

White says they will know by August 22nd whether or not the private schools who participate in the voucher program will agree to this plan, but he expects most will. He says it’s the right thing to do…:

cut 17 (07) “is signifigant”

Louisiana is the third worst state for underprivileged children, according to a new study from WalletHub. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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The American Cancer Society released a progress report on how states are shaping up when it comes to cancer fighting policies. Emelie Gunn has more on how Louisiana scored…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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An officer-involved shooting left one suspect critically injured in Plaquemine. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A new study from WalletHub finds that Louisiana is the third worst state for underprivileged children. Jill Gonzales with WalletHub says about 11% of Louisiana teens aged 16 to 19 are not in school or working, which can contribute to the crime rate. She says the state’s graduation rate is also much lower than other states.

cut 4  (08)  “75-percent”

The report found that Louisiana ranks 31^st for the number if maltreated children, 40^th for the child food-insecurity rate. Gonzales says the state came in 49^th for the number of children living in poverty.

Cut 5  (09)  “in the nation”

According to the report, Louisiana ranks 47^th for infant mortality rate. Gonzales says the state also came in 48^th for the number of children in single parent homes.

Cut 6 (08) “high number”

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The American Cancer Society released their annual report on each state is making progress on cancer fighting policies and Louisiana still has some work to do. ACS Director of Government Relations for Louisiana Lydia Kuykendal says while Louisiana could improve its cancer prevention laws, there are some areas where the state is excelling….

CUT 7 (10)  “into law”

Kuykendal says Louisiana is lacking when it comes to smoke-free indoor air laws, meaning there is still a lot of second hand smoke in bars and casinos. She says we’re also falling a little bit short when it comes to tobacco control.

Cut 8  (08)  “cigarettes”

Kuykendal says overall Louisiana seems to be in the middle when it comes to making progress in cancer fighting polices.

Cut 9 (11)  “in others”

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Louisiana ranks in the top ten lowest gas prices in the country, according to AAA. Spokesperson Don Redman says we are seeing a slight uptick in gas prices because of what AAA expects to be record high demand.

Cut 10 (09) “a gallon”

Redman says refineries have done a good job keeping up with the demand, which contributes to the lower prices. But he says we’ve also seen cheaper than average crude oil, and that also keeps prices down at the pump. He expects gas prices to stay below average into September and October.

cut 11 (08) “since 2004”

Redman says the demand usually goes down close to Labor Day, so prices could get even lower. He says AAA forecast a summer average of about $2.25, and we stayed well below that all summer, which is good news for drivers.

cut 12 (07) “immensely”

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A suspect is in critical condition following an officer-involved shooting in Iberville Parish. Sheriff Brett Stassi says deputies responded to a call involving a fight between a mother and her son in Plaquemine.

Cut 13 (07) “her car”

Stassi says the suspect apparently beat his mother around her head, and she was treated for those injuries. He says the suspect’s girlfriend was inside his residence with him when deputies arrived.

cut 14 (10)  “potential victim”

Stassi says the suspect approached the deputies, and when he got close to them, he pulled out a gun.

Cut 15 (10) “buttocks area”

Stassi says the suspect was critically wounded and transported to a hospital in Baton Rouge. He says none of the deputies were injured.

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LSU Coach Les Miles spoke about the widely circulated video by TMZ purporting to be running back Leonard Fournette and Garrett Brumfield “fighting” in the parking lot behind Football Ops. Miles characterized it as two college kids shadowboxing. He revealed a tidbit about his youth…:

Cut 16  (14)  “not so cool”

Miles said he addressed the team in regards to such horseplay..:

Cut 17 (19)  “game”

Medicaid expansion enrollment is far surpassing the goals set by the Louisiana Department of Health. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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NOAA has released an updated Atlantic hurricane season outlook, and the storm chance has risen. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Enrollment in the expanded Medicaid program is exceeding the goals set by the Louisiana Department of Health extremely fast. LDH Secretary Dr. Rebekah Gee says they hope to enroll 375-thousand people by next June. She says the state has reached 73% of its enrollment goal in less than 50 days, and well surpassed the goal they had set for this July as well.

CUT 3 (12)  “of today”

Gee says Louisiana ranks dead last in health outcomes in the country, which she says is no surprise since until recently one in four adults did not have health insurance. She says before expanding Medicaid these people did not have access to preventative healthcare, and she hopes Medicaid expansion leads to better health outcomes in Louisiana.

CUT 4 (11)  “their health”

Gee says people can still enroll at healthy.la.gov. She says improving health outcomes benefits the state in many ways because healthy people make for better workers and happier citizens.

CUT 5 (10)  “healthcare”

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released an updated Atlantic hurricane outlook, predicting this season is still expected to be the strongest since 2012. NOAA’s Lead Season Hurricane Forecaster Dr. Gerry Bell says it will be stronger than what they first predicted in May. And there is a now a 70% chance that..:

CUT 6 (09) “major hurricanes”

The initial outlook called for 10-16 named storms, 4 to 8 hurricanes, and 1-4 major hurricanes. Bell says there are several different factors leading to a more active season than first predicted…

CUT 7 (11) “to develop”

Bell says there is a lot of activity ahead for this season. He says we’re entering peak hurricane season so it’s time to prepare.

CUT 8 (10) “year”

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The Department of Children and Family Services is launching an initiative to improve foster care by redefining the role of caregivers. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says Louisiana has strong confidentiality laws, but we often misinterpret who we need to be confidential with. She says the Quality Parenting Initiative is about having everybody on the same page.

CUT 9 (09) “foster parents”

Walters says our children deserve the best that we can give them, and she says we don’t always do that when they’re in the child welfare system. She says she hopes this will allow foster kids to get the love and support they need.

cut 10 (11)  “own kids”

Walters says moving foster kids from one home to another can be traumatizing to that child. She hopes this QPI will help DCFS reduce the number of placement changes and keep more siblings together.

Cut 11 (10) “birth family”

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The Saints take on the New England Patriots tonight in their first preseason game. The Who Dat Nation is eager to see how the team is looking on both defense and offense. One fan says he’s somewhat confident in the team but wants to see how the guys are shaping up…

cut 12 (08) “the season”

The game kicks off at 6:30 central time in Gillette Stadium. Another member of the Who Dat Nation hopes the guys look in shape and are able to hustle when they get out on the field tonight.

Cut 13 (08)  “the field”

One fan in anxious to see how the rookies perform tonight. But he hopes to see a lot of effort from all the players tonight.

cut 14 (07)  “I mean”

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Crews responded to the scene of a fire and explosion at the Motiva (Mo-Tee-Va) Oil Refinery in St. James Parish this morning near the Sunshine Bridge. Flames could be seen for miles from the Convent facility. Jywanna Octave with the St. James Office of Emergency Preparedness says two fire departments responded…:

cut 15 (09) “at this time”

The refinery produces reformulated and conventional gasoline, primarily for the southeastern United States. It is not known yet what caused the fire, but forecasters say there was lightning in the area at the time, around 10:50am. Octave says it was a scary situation, but it appears all workers were able to safely evacuate…:

cut 16 (04) “accounted for”

State Farm is advising college students to protect their back-to-school purchases with renter’s insurance. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Big Easy is becoming more popular than ever for the vacationing public from all over the world. Don Molino reports…:

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Don Molino”

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Blue Cross Blue Shield’s smartphone app now include a
symptom checker with a suggested diagnosis and a list of
treatments. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 3 (22) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Many college students are using this end of summertime to shop for expensive items to fill their dorms or apartments and State Farm is urging young adults to protect their back-to-school purchases with renter’s insurance. State Farm spokesperson Roszell Gadson says it’s important to have protection in the event of a fire, flood, for theft.

cut 4  (08)  “the case”

Gadson says renters should meet with an agent about buying coverage. He says lots of college students believe renter’s insurance is too expensive for them…

Cut 5  (08)  “a month”

Gadson says renter’s coverage also includes liability insurance, in the event a party gets out of hand and someone hurts themselves. He says although some students might be covered under their parents, he advises young adults to get their own policy because it establishes a positive record.

Cut 6 (09) “a loss”

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More and more travelers are choosing New Orleans as their vacation destination. Kristian Sonnier with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau says the Big Easy is now the second most popular destination for international travelers, behind New York City. But he says the number of international visitors is growing much faster in New Orleans.

CUT 7 (10)  “37 %”

Sonnier says New Orleans was also ranked at the top of the list for food and music travel destinations by two prestigious lifestyle magazines.

Cut 8  (11)  “UK”

Sonnier says they have been hard at work making New Orleans a world-class travel destination for visitors both here and abroad.

Cut 9 (07)  “attractive city”

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Think you’re getting sick or have a broken arm? Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana’s smartphone app now has a symptom checker. Owner of the mobile app, Kassim Rasoulian, says the symptom checker is available to both members and non-members. He says this is beneficial for anyone wanting to research different health and wellness topics.

Cut 10 (10) “poison ivy”

Rasoulian says the symptom checker will give the user a list of symptoms, images, and give a self-care advice section. He says there is also an area within the symptom checker to direct the user on the best method to obtain help.

cut 11 (09) “at home”

The Blue Cross Blue Shield app is available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Rasoulian says the other features on the mobile app are mainly for members. He says users can find a doctor, view their benefits and claims, as well as, billing information.

cut 12 (08) “information”

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Tensions have run high between the Edwards Administration and the Office of Attorney General Jeff Landry, and the jabs keep coming. The two sides have been at odds on several issues including budgets and immigration policy. At the Baton Rouge Press Club, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne believes Landry has had a problem with him for months…:

Cut 13 (10) “allowance”

Landry said in a statement that the Governor and Dardenne are trying to distract from the largest tax and spend plan passed in the history of this state. Dardenne said Landry was trying to get a monthly car allowance from the state, as well as the ability to file mileage reimbursements…:

cut 14 (07)  “appreciated that”

The AG’s office denies that Landry was trying to double up on car benefits from the state — and that he drives a privately-owned car and gets reimbursed for mileage. Dardenne said the AG never responded to his letter denying the monthly driving allowance…:

Cut 15 (06) “I don’t know”

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The Saints will take on the New England Patriots tonight in their first preseason game of the 2016 season. The contest will be held in Gillette Stadium and kick off at 6:30. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says one of the big spots to keep an eye on with this Black and Gold team, is the defense:

Cut 16  (12)  “all game long”

Detillier says they’ll want to see if there’s anyone who can step into the shoes of the pass rusher opposite defensive end Cam Jordan…:

Cut 17 (12)  “that area”

Coach Sean Payton said Quarterback Drew Brees will probably play a snap or two. Detillier says on the offense, the main concern is the line up front…:

Cut 18 (17) “unless you can protect Drew Brees”

Former ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert, candidate for US Senate, is suing Southern Media and Opinion Research pollster Bernie Pinsonat claiming he was misrepresented in a survey. Emelie Gunn reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “Emelie Gunn”

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Budget limitations mean there will be fewer construction projects in Louisiana, according to Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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US Senate candidate Troy Hebert is suing Southern Media and Opinion Research pollster Bernie Pinsonat claiming he misrepresented him in a May poll. Hebert says the poll listed him under the wrong party affiliation.

CUT 3 (10)  “to court”

Hebert says he is not seeking damages in the suit, but it would be up to the judge to decide whether or not to award him any money in this case.

CUT 4 (09)  “this election”

But Pinsonat says identifying Hebert as an Independent certainly wouldn’t have helped his numbers. He says it’s not his fault that Hebert was excluded from a forum because of the poll, and he is not responsible for the decisions those organizations make.

CUT 5 (09)  “are subjective”

Pinsonat says polls always have potential margins of error and should not be used in these kinds of cases because of that margin. He says using the poll was their decision, and he didn’t have anything to do with that.

CUT 6 (08) “correctly”

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One Marksville deputy city marshal charged with murder in the death of 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis wants to find out if prosecutors used hypnosis on any of their witnesses. Norris Greenhouse Jr’s attorney, George Higgins, filed a motion to discover if polygraph tests or sodium pentothal were used. Legal Analyst Tim Meche says this is a more common practice than most think…

CUT 7 (10) “it ahppened”

Meche says typically professional law enforcement organizations do not use hypnosis but less experienced and knowledgeable agencies are sometimes susceptible to these practices.

CUT 8 (10) “departments”

Meche says he’s unsure if the witnesses could’ve been hypnotized, but it was completely appropriate for Greenhouse’s attorney to file the motion.

CUT 9 (09) “these tests”

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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says there will be fewer construction projects in Louisiana for the next couple of years because of budget limitations. He says the bond commission only allows the state to borrow 6% of what funds the Revenue Estimating Conference says the state has.

cut 10 (10)  “can borrow”

Dardenne says the capital outlay bill has become more of an extensive wish list than a plan of what the state can actually accomplish. He says just because a project is included in the construction bill doesn’t mean it will be completed because the funds may not be available.

Cut 11 (08) “billion dollars”

Dardenne says lawmakers are having to prioritize projects with what dollars they have to use for construction. He says they didn’t want to add to college campuses’ financial burdens, so they did not include new campus projects in this year’s construction bill.

cut 12 (11) “already have”

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The Natchitoches Police Department is investigating a two-vehicle fatal crash that claimed the life of 84-year-old Jimmy D. Long Sr. — a leader in state government for nearly a half-century. Chief Micky Dove says Long was pulling out of the driveway of his house..:

Cut 13 (07)  “juvenile”

Dove says Long was a staple in the community and the tragic accident has the community in mourning…:

cut 14 (12)  “friendly”

Dove says it appears Long perhaps just didn’t see the other car coming…:

cut 15 (06) “vehicle”

Hillary Clinton’s running mate, Tim Kaine, is visiting Louisiana today and is scheduled to attend a fundraising event in New Orleans…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Governor John Bel Edwards was sworn into office seven months ago today. Emelie Gunn has more on his term so far…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is calling for the resignation of state Senator Troy Brown after his second domestic abuse arrest in less than a year. Don Molino has more…

Cut 3 (22) “I’m Don Molino”

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Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine is visiting New Orleans today. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says the goal of the visit is probably to support other Democratic candidates on the November ballot and to raise money for the Hillary Clinton campaign.

cut 4  (10)  “Democratic candidates”

Dubos says Republican candidate Donald Trump’s poll numbers are falling nationwide. But he says Trump’s numbers are staying consistently high in the South.

Cut 5  (10)  “right now”

Dubos says Clinton and Kaine will have to ramp up their campaign efforts in the South because if Trump’s popularity continues to decline, they could have a shot at winning the Bayou State.

Cut 6 (07) “become competitive”

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Today marks seven months since Governor John Bel Edwards was sworn into office. Jeremy Alford of LaPolitics.com says the governor carved out a place for himself in the record books from day one. He says Edwards pretty much had the House against him as he is the first governor in modern history to not have his choice selected as speaker.

CUT 7 (11)  “in office”

Alford says even with everything stacked against him, he has never taken is eyes off of the goal of being reelected. He says Edwards quickly had to become a governor who dealt with one crisis after another.

Cut 8  (09)  “seven months”

But Alford says the more the Governor is forced to deal with emergency situations, those only strengthen his approval numbers. He says overall, voters are reassured that Governor Edwards has been present during the state’s time of need, unlike former Governor Bobby Jindal.

Cut 9 (08)  “functions”

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A flood watch is in effect for several southeastern Louisiana parishes through Friday, as forecasters say abundant tropical moisture aligned with the Gulf Coast will create heavy rains. Andrew Ansorge with the National Weather Service in Slidell says accumulations over the next few days could produce several inches of rain across southeast Louisiana…:

Cut 10 (08) “and done”

Ansorge says flooding will be a big concern in some low lying areas.

cut 11 (09) “on those”

Ansorge says this system should taper off Saturday and possibly into Sunday. He says the heavy rains are a result of a system that’s been slowly moving across the northern Gulf of Mexico since last weekend.

cut 12 (08) “meandering really”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has called on state Senator Troy Brown to resign from the legislature after the senator’s second arrest on domestic abuse charges. Brown was arrested last month after allegedly biting his wife on the arm during a dispute, just 8 months after he was arrested in New Orleans for reportedly punching his mistress in the face. UL-Lafayette political science professor Pearson Cross says it’s a devastating blow to the senator to have the chief Democratic official in the state essentially ask him to step down, but…

Cut 13 (11) “a senator”

Cross says this incident just draws more attention to the dangers to women. Brown has been suspended from the four committees he serves on, but Cross says it will take a recall election to remove him from office.

cut 14 (07)  “the line”

Cross says the governor has presented himself as protector of women’s rights. He says by speaking out on this issue, Edwards is establishing himself as a champion on women’s issues.

Cut 15 (10) “electorate”

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LSU’s defense looks to have taken a major hit this week as multiple reports indicate that Senior Christian LaCouture, a starter at defensive end, could be out for the season with a knee injury. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says they’re hearing it could be a torn ACL…:

Cut 16  (10)  “defensive end spot”

Moran says as far as replacing LaCouture, a lot depends on 340-pound former Tiger Travonte Valentine, who told 247Sports that’d he’d been cleared to begin practicing. He says assuming Valentine is fully eligible, he could play nose tackle and allow Davon Godchaux to take the defensive end spot:

Cut 17 (09)  “as time goes on”

Moran says LaCouture is also the leader of a talented defensive front that projected as deep as any at LSU since 2011 or 2012. He says anytime you lose a senior, starting leader it’s going to hurt, but with Dave Aranda’s 3-4 defense, it’s a lot easier to absorb…:

Cut 18 (14) “in the middle”

The National Federation of Independent Business says small business owners are not increasingly optimistic. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry announces the arrest of an illegal immigrant in Calcasieu Parish on child pornography charges. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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As the new school year gets underway, the state Department of Transportation has begun their “Be a Roll Model” bicycle safety campaign. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the number of deaths involving cyclists tripled from 2014 to 2015. He says cyclists need to bike safely and always follow traffic laws.

CUT 3 (09)  “to consider”

Wilson says helmets are required for children under age 12 and encouraged for all other riders. He says motorists should also be alert and watch out for cyclists, especially in areas where there are no bicycle lanes.

CUT 4 (09)  “their destination”

Wilson says everyone needs to be safe out on the road, whether on a bike or in a vehicle. He says as students are heading back to school, more bicycles will be out on the road.

CUT 5 (07)  “safe future”

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The National Federation of Independent Business says Small Business Optimism only rose by one-tenth of a point for July, showing no significant enthusiasm for expansion. NFIB State Director Dawn Starns links this feeling to the uncertainty small business owners now face with all the recent tax changes Louisiana has seen during the legislative session. She says business owners are now going into maintenance mode.

CUT 6 (08) “doors open”

Starns says in a booming economy we’d see small business owners making investments into expansion and creating more jobs, but we don’t live in a perfect world. Although she is hopeful things will look up when we near the election in the fall and believes lawmakers will address this in the April legislative session.

CUT 7 (10) “our state”

Starns says small business owners are having a difficult time finding qualified and good workers and cite that’s their third single most important business problem. She says it’s hard when businesses have a limited number of employees and some gets sick and others are on vacation…

CUT 8 (10) “uphill climb”

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State Police are seeking a suspect in a crash that resulted in Interstate 10 being closed in Baton Rouge for over 12 hours. Trooper Bryan Lee says on August 5 a red Ford Fusion struck an 18-wheeler, causing it to overturn. He says the truck driver sustained minor injuries, and the other driver fled on foot.

CUT 9 (07) “stolen also”

Lee says the suspect is a white male with long blonde and brown hair and tattoos covering both arms and legs. He says after fleeing the scene, he went into a nearby Wal-Mart and changed clothes.

cut 10 (09)  “pulled up”

Lee says once the suspect is apprehended, he will face multiple charges.

Cut 11 (08) “pending”

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The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office along with the Human Society rescued 27 dogs and 11 cats from a filthy home in Bunkie. Sheriff Doug Anderson says in July, they received a call that animals were being neglected at the home of Maxine and Gordan Doughty, so they began an investigation. He says when authorities returned to check on the animals a week later, the conditions were deplorable.

cut 12 (10) “and cats”

Anderson says the Doughtys were cited for simple cruelty to animals and additional criminal charges are pending. He says the 38 animals are receiving medical care.

Cut 13 (10)  “adoption”

Anderson reminds citizens that animal neglect is a serious crime.

cut 14 (08)  “every complaint”

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Louisiana Tech Athletic Director Tommy McClelland today unveiled planned facility improvements at Joe Aillet (pronounced eye-a) Stadium. He says the total price for the various upgrades, $18.6 million dollars, will be funded 100% through private donations…:

cut 15 (15) “impressive”

McClelland says an additional $2.1 million dollars will be invested on things like LED lighting, a permanent west side ticket booth. He says fans will be very excited to hear the west side bathrooms will also be renovated…:

cut 16 (12) “as you walk in”

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A report from the personal finance website, Wallethub, finds Louisiana the second worst state to have a baby. Jeff Palmero has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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 Levees.org is planning on turning a house flooded during Hurricane Katrina into a memorial. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The state’s ag commissioner has a warning for horse owners. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A study from the personal finance website, WalletHub, finds Louisiana is the 2^nd worst state to have a baby. Louisiana ranks last when it comes to rate of low birthweight, number of OB-GYNs, and preterm births.  State Department of Health Deputy Secretary Michelle Alletto says this is disappointing news but they aren’t surprised. She says the expansion of Medicaid will hopefully help improve birth outcomes.

cut 4  (10)  “and families”

 The study ranks Louisiana 49^th in number of Pediatricians and Family Doctors and 47^th for infant- mortality rate. Alletto says they’re working in cities and rural areas to help improve access…

Cut 5  (10)  “pregnant women”

 Alletto says the March of Dimes puts out a report card annually and finds one of the barriers to improving the birth outcome is access and coverage…

Cut 6 (10) “healthier state”

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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne announces that TOPS students will have to pay a small portion of their scholarship for the fall semester. When the second special session ended, lawmakers approved legislation so that TOPS students would be fully covered in the fall semester, but Dardenne says the actual breakdown will be.

CUT 7 (07)  “spring semester”

Dardenne says 93-percent of a TOPS scholarship will be covered for the fall semester, while students will have to pay for over half of their tuition for the spring semester.

Cut 8  (10)  “may be”

Dardenne says it’s the governor’s hope that when lawmakers return to Baton Rouge next spring, they’ll be able to allocate more money, so TOPS students in future years are not hit with a bill for tuition.

Cut 9 (08)  “maintain it”

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Levees.org is planning on turning a New Orleans home that was flooded during Hurricane Katrina, into a memorial. Website founder Sandy Rosenthal says when people get off the airplane at the Louis Armstrong Airport, they want to better understand what went on 11 years ago. She says the plan is to make the home look like it did right after the hurricane hit.

Cut 10 (09) “painted”

Rosenthal says a water line would be painted on the outside because the original line has faded with time. She says it’ll cost about $50-thousand dollars to revamp and preserve the house from further decay but she expects a lot of donors to help with the recreation.

cut 11 (09) “out there”

Rosenthal hopes to open the memorial by December 1^st, the close of hurricane season. She says the house was bought in April and construction has been ongoing ever since.

cut 12 (09) “April”

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Investigators with the Lake Charles Police Department are working to close some cold cases, starting with the 29-year-old murder of Noah Breaux, whose home was burned down to cover up the homicide. Deputy Chief Mark Kraus says in March of 1987, the 75-year-old Breaux’s home was burned down and once inside authorities found his body.

Cut 13 (09) “back up”

KPLC-TV reports a murder weapon was never found, but Kraus has multiple skull fractures. Kraus says police have exhumed Breaux’s body in the hopes of finding more evidence. He says because of advances in technology, police can now collect evidence they never thought they’d be able to.

cut 14 (10)  “the case”

At the time of Breaux’s death, authorities suspected robbery was a motive and the elderly man may have known his attacker. Kraus says anyone with any information on this case is encouraged to contact Lake Charles Police.

Cut 15 (09) “it’s solved”

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Jury selection is underway for a murder trial in which the alleged crime  took place over 50 years ago in Lake Charles. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The state Department of Education announces a record number high school students have achieved AP college credits this year. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A 76-year-old man accused of killing his wife over 50 years ago in southwest Louisiana will finally stand trial. Jury selection is underway in Calcasieu Parish as Mississippi native Felix Vail is charged with 2^nd degree murder for allegedly killing his 22-year-old wife, Mary Horton Vail, in 1962. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s difficult to try a case after such a long time, because evidence deteriorates and there’s no DNA.

CUT 3 (10)  “of cases”

The investigation in Mary Horton Vail’s death was reopened after a Mississippi newspaper featured a series about the victim, as well as the disappearances of two other women who were close to Felix Vail in 1973 and 1984. Meche says those incidents could be discussed in the courtroom, if the judge decides it’s relevant.

CUT 4 (07)  “of evidence”

Vail was arrested after his wife’s death in the 1960s, but the jury declined to indict because the death was ruled accidental. Meche says it’s cases like this that make him wish it was legal to broadcast court proceedings on TV in Louisiana.

CUT 5 (07)  “fascinating case”

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A low pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico near the Florida coast could bring heavy rains to southeast Louisiana by the end of the week. Michael Hill with the National Weather Service in Slidell says the system is not a tropical disturbance yet, but it will push some rain into Louisiana.

CUT 6 (08) “entire week”

Hill says the New Orleans metro area and surrounding parishes will be the hardest hit by the rains. He says we’ll likely see scattered showers today and tomorrow, but he says it should start to ramp up by the middle of the week.

CUT 7 (07) “entire day”

Hill says the heavy rains should begin on Wednesday and flash flooding is possible…

CUT 8 (06) “of waves”

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A record number of Louisiana high school students earned advanced placement college credits in 2016. State  Education Superintendent John White says they’ve been working hard to raise expectations when it comes to academics. He says these scores prove that while we have a ways to go, students are just as smart and capable as any in the country.

CUT 9 (11) “108-percent”

White says 845 more A.P. tests were passed this year in Louisiana compared to 2015.

cut 10 (11)  “similar things”

White says these improvements show when opportunities are given to students to show their potential, they rise to the challenge and do great. He says students in Louisiana also earned record numbers of college credits by taking the College-Level Examination Program.

Cut 11 (08) “were taken”

White says over the last 4 years, Livingston Parish is the most improved parish when it comes to students receiving college credits on their AP tests. St. Bernard Parish is second and Terrebonne is third.

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There was a bizarre incident on I-10 this morning near LaPlace, as a small plane had to make an emergency landing in the median. That’s according to Melissa Matey with State Police. She says the aircraft had some mechanical failures…:

cut 12 (09) “St. James line”

Matey says State Police was able to tow the plane off the scene. She says it was smart of the pilot to do some quick thinking…:

Cut 13 (03)  “no injuries”

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Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says there’s a good chance the state will end up with a deficit for the fiscal year that ended on June 30th. Dardenne says they are still waiting for all of the numbers to come in, so it’s hard to say how much that deficit will be. But he says a member of the Revenue Estimating Conference has an idea.

cut 14 (09)  “was seeing”

Dardenne says this means that lawmakers will once again have an immediate budget problem to deal with when they convene for the fiscal session in 2017. He says his office and the governor have advised state agencies to spend their money wisely in preparation for potential cuts in the future.

cut 15 (11) “from 16”

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A man who used to work at the war veterans home in Monroe has been arrested after stealing from one of his patients. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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LSU says they won’t be able to host Bayou Country Superfest at Tiger Stadium for the next couple of years due to renovations that need to be made during the off season. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A Thibodaux man has been arrested after stealing donation containers from multiple convenience stores in Houma. Maj. Malcom Wolfe with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says 34-year-old Walter Richard was caught on video at one of the stores.

CUT 3 (09)  “convenience stores”

Wolfe says the video was posted on social media, and people called in giving the suspect’s name. He says authorities then found more stores that had been robbed.

CUT 4 (09)  “their stores”

Wolfe says Richard was booked on four counts of theft for stealing those containers. He says Richard has a history of stealing as he’s also been accused of shoplifting at Best Buy and Rouses Superstores.

CUT 5 (07)  “in court”

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The 17^th annual National Farmers Market Week kicks off Saturday in Alexandria at Inglewood Farms and runs until the 13^th. USDA State Conservationist Kevin Norton says this is an opportunity to celebrate the connection that these markets bring for farmers and agriculture in urban settings.

CUT 6 (08) “agriculture”

Every child who attends will receive a 5-dollar token to use with the vendors to buy healthy snacks. Norton says farmers markets help to strengthen local food systems to support farmers and help develop rural economies.

CUT 7 (11) “great thing”

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A former Assistant Administrator at a war veteran’s home in Monroe has been arrested after stealing thousands of dollars from a patient there. Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street says 51-year-old Tommy Shoemaker gained access to the man’s credit card and banking information.

CUT 8 (09) “his account”

Street says Shoemaker started stealing from the victim in 2012, and it’s unclear if other patients may have been robbed. He says Shoemaker stole upwards of $6-thousand.

CUT 9 (09) “cash withdrawals”

Street says Shoemaker has been booked on counts of exploiting persons with infirmities and theft of an aged or disabled person. He says this is especially disappointing because] our veteran deserve the utmost care we can give them.

cut 10 (09)  “dementia”

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LSU says they won’t be able to host Bayou Country Superfest at Tiger Stadium for the next couple of years due to renovations that need to be made during the off season. Visit Baton Rouge President Paul Arrigo says it’s disappointing, but they are glad LSU was nice enough to allow BCS to be held there for the past several years…;

Cut 11 (09) “could describe”

BCS Producer Quint Davis says they are exploring alternative locations to hold the festival. Arrigo says this came out of left field and he even met with Davis recently to talk about how they could incorporate the 2017 BCS with the 200th anniversary of Baton Rouge as a city…:

cut 12 (08) “disappointment”

Some are speculating that this is a sign BCS will never return to Tiger Stadium. Arrigo says this is a major loss to the tourism industry in Baton Rouge, especially for Memorial Day weekend…:

Cut 13 (08)  “and a miss”

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Lafayette Metro Narcotics and the Sheriff’s Office are warning the public about a dangerous drug believed to be responsible for multiple deaths. Lafayette Police Corporal Paul Mouton says the drug’s name is Fentanyl and it’s a potent synthetic opioid that’s similar to Heroin. He says when the supply is cut off for people addicted to prescription drugs, they often turn to Heroin….

cut 14 (08)  “as heroin”

Mouton says Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin so when it’s used in the same manner it can be deadly. He says they’re working with local and state officials to identify the dealers of the dangerous drug.

cut 15 (10) “internet”

Mouton says if you know someone who is a drug user, it’s time to get them help before they purchase Fentanyl. He says since the beginning of the year there have been 8 Fentanyl related deaths inside the City of Lafayette and 5 outside the city.

cut 16 (09) “blood system”

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