The National Federation of Independent Business isn’t pleased that for this year’s sales tax holiday the sales tax isn’t completely waved. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Because of a new law, Louisiana students will learn more about financial literacy this year. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The 13^th annual Great American Seafood Cook-off gets underway tomorrow in New Orleans as chefs compete for the title of King of American Seafood. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The new school year is getting underway, as some kids are already back in the classroom and others will be soon. Dr. Frank Welch with the state Department of Health reminds parents to make sure their kids are up to date on their vaccinations because there is an immunization law in Louisiana.

cut 4  (10)  “school rush”

Welch says parents can get their children vaccinated at their pediatrician’s office or family doctor or at a parish health unit. He says there are two important times during a child’s life where their shots need to be up to date.

Cut 5  (07)  “needs shots”

Welch says vaccinating children protects them and others from getting dangerous and potentially life threatening diseases, like measles, flu, mumps, whooping cough and pneumonia. He says despite contrary reports, vaccines are safe and help keep others safe.

Cut 6 (07) “in school”

_______________________________________________

Today and tomorrow it’s the state’s annual sales tax holiday. Instead of a five-percent sales tax, customers will pay 3-percent on most purchases. In years past, the state sales tax was completely exempted, but the legislature changed it, because of budget difficulties. The NFIB Director for Louisiana, Dawn Starns, says small business retailers would prefer a full tax holiday, instead of a partial one…

CUT 7 (07)  “their advantage”

Starns says even though it’s not the ideal sales tax break, consumers will still see a little saving while shopping today and Saturday. She says many stores are offering additional end of summer sales to entice customers.

Cut 8  (10)  “the fall”

Starns says they understand legislators had to alter this year’s sales tax break, but hope to get the holiday back once the budget crisis is over. She says people are always looking for a chance to save a little money, so she still expects shoppers will be out this weekend.

Cut 9 (09)  “community partners”

_______________________________________________

Public school students will learn more about money and finances in school this year, thanks to a bill by Minden Representative Gene Reynolds. He says students used to be required to learn financial literacy in school, but teachers have gotten away from it in the past few years. He says this new law seeks to change that.

Cut 10 (07) “high school”

Reynolds says the law does not establish a class just for financial literacy but allows teachers to incorporate it into their lessons. He says most text books have at least a small part that deals with money.

cut 11 (08) “and objectives”

Reynolds says managing money is a crucial skill that kids need to have when they graduate and this will prepare them for the real world. He says school shouldn’t just be about passing a test.

cut 12 (09) “test score”

___________________________________________________________

Chefs from around the country will compete in New Orleans tomorrow for the title of King of American Seafood. Executive Director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, Karen Profita, says the 13^th annual Great American Seafood Cook-off will take place in front of a live audience at the Ernest Morial Convention Center at 11:30. She says eleven chefs will work up their best seafood dish…

Cut 13 (09) “to that”

Profita says the chefs will have one hour each to prepare their dish. She says at the end of their hour, they will bring their dish up to the judges for review and tasting.

cut 14 (07)  “come in”

Chef Blake Phillips from Restaurant Sage in Monroe will represent Louisiana this year. Profita says he is really passionate about bringing classic Louisiana flavors and putting a new twist on it.

Cut 15 (07) “of chef”

________________________________________________________

The Saints have brought in several veteran players in the hopes of improving a defense that’s been one of the worst in the NFL the last two seasons. Defensive tackle Nick Fairley signed a one-year contract for three million dollars in the offseason and he’s expected to help defend the run and eat up space in the middle of the field. Coach Sean Payton expects Fairley to have a big role on this team…

Cut 16  (15)  “noticeably”

Linebacker Nate Stupar is another veteran addition to the Saints defense. Stupar, who played the last two seasons in Atlanta, says creating turnovers have been a big emphsis in training camp

Cut 17 (15)  “to victory”

___________________________________________

LSU’s defense will use fall camp to learn a new defense that’s being installed by first-year defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. Last year, the Tigers were guilty of several blown coverages that allowed to big plays from their opponents. But Sophomore cornerback Kevn Toliver doesn’t think that will happen again this year and he likes the aggressive style of Aranda’s defense…

Cut 18 (09) “play man-to-man”

LSU sophomore defensive back Donte Jackson from Riverdale High School says the success of this year’s defense is up to the players and making big plays at critical times…

Cut 19 (16) “change a lot”

LSU is ranked sixth in the preseason coaches poll. That’s the Tigers highest preseason ranking since 2012. Linebacker Corey Thompson was a freshman that year. The fifth year senior says he wants to leave LSU with a championship….

Cut 20 (16) “this year”

The forecast team at Colorado State University is still predicting a near normal hurricane season. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

================

Governor John Bel Edwards and the Department of Transportation announce plans to address the congestion problem on Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Authorities are working to determine the identity of a woman who was murdered and burned beyond recognition near Bogalusa. Washington Parish Sheriff Chief Deputy Mike Haley says they received a call early Wednesday morning about a murder at the residence of 41-year-old Joey Mixon.

CUT 3 (10)  “her body”

Haley says after the confession, Mixon led detectives to the location of the body, which was badly burned. Officials believe the victim is from St. Tammany parish. He says her family has been notified and provided DNA for identification.

CUT 4 (11)  “the scene”

Haley says Mixon has been booked on one count of second degree murder. He says they know Mixon knew the victim and they’d gotten into an argument, but they still have a lot of unanswered questions.

CUT 5 (07)  “the crime”

===============================================

The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State University continues to predict a near average Atlantic hurricane season. Researcher Dr. Phil Klotzbach says they’re expecting to see 10 named storms and four more hurricanes. But he says given how quiet the last three years have been, this season will seem a lot more active…

CUT 6 (10) “the storms”

Klotzbach says the season will really pick up in the middle of August. He says there is a 29-percent chance of a major hurricane making landfall on the Gulf Coast.

CUT 7 (10) “average season”

Klotzbach says an El Nino the last couple of years kept hurricane activity down. He says we don’t have an El Nino, which will lead to more tropical storms.

CUT 8 (10) “season”

===================================================

The state Department of Education announced Louisiana students are showing improvement after receiving the results of the 2016 LEAP assessments. Superintendent of Education John White says these are promising results. He says this year students improved in English and math with 38-percent achieving mastery compared to 33 percent in 2015.

CUT 9 (07) “expectations”

White says although we are seeing progress, the results also show that many groups of students in our state are significantly behind their peers. He says often times those gaps cut across lines of race, income, and disability.

cut 10 (11)  “our state”

White says even though overall student performance improved, the achievement gap between African-American students and white students at the Mastery level is at 26-percent.

Cut 11 (08) “their peers”

===================================================

The Department of Transportation announces that a new on-ramp will be built in place of the Washington Street exit on Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge. Governor John Bel Edwards says alleviating congestion on I-10 is critically important for shipping commerce across the country.

cut 12 (09) “the country”

Edwards says the project will be funded through state dollars because a federal grant freed up more money in the construction budget. He says this is the only area in the country where the interstate comes down to one lane, and it causes serious traffic problems.

Cut 13 (11)  “the congestion”

Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond says this is about more than resolving transportation problems. He says it’s about improving quality of life for the people of Baton Rouge.

cut 14 (10)  “sitting in traffic”

===================================================

This weekend is the state’s annual sales tax holiday, dropping sales taxes from 5 to 3 percent on Friday and Saturday. Emelie Gunn has more on these back to school sales tax exemptions….

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

 Attorney Lance Unglesby denies allegations that Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa bribed Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, to drop out of the race. Jeff Palermo has more on the case…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Louisiana saw a 36% increase in international travel to the state, according to Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. Halen Doughy has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

This Friday and Saturday is the state’s annual sales tax holiday where shoppers will only have to pay 3-percent sales tax on purchases, rather than 5-percent. Department of Revenue Spokesperson Byron Henderson says the exemption applies to the first 25-hundred dollars of the purchase price of each eligible item, not the entire transaction.

cut 4  (11)  “exemption”

With school coming up, Henderson says this is a great weekend for parents to do their back to school shopping. But he says there are some purchases that are not eligible for the sales tax exemption…

Cut 5  (09)  “rentals”

Henderson also reminds parents to save their receipts on back-to-school items like school supplies, uniforms, tuition and educational equipment because they are tax deductible. He says you can report these purchases and get a tax break when you filed your state income taxes.

Cut 6 (11) “refund”

_______________________________________________

Attorney Lance Unglesby says Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa did not bribe Gonzales city council candidate, Wayne Lawson, in an effort to get him out of the race. Unglesby says Matassa was actually offering Lawson a loan to get him out of financial trouble.

CUT 7 (10)  “his sister”

Allegations surfaced earlier this week when an audio recording was released that purportedly has Matassa and a business partner offering Lawson 12-hundred dollars.  Unglesby says Matassa’s intent was not to bribe Lawson for the benefit of the incumbent in the race, Neal Bourque.

Cut 8  (09)  “his life”

Ascension Parish District Attorney Ricky Babin decided to open the investigation after audio was released on the website, the Pelican Post, of a private conversation between Lawson, Matassa and his friend Olin Berthelot. He says his office is working with the Attorney General’s office to put the facts together.

Cut 9 (09)  “the originals”

Babin says the fact that these allegations were made is very troubling and they take cases like this very seriously.

Cut 10 (09) “a community”

_______________________________________________

Louisiana’s FastStart workforce training program has been ranked the best in the nation for the seventh year in a row by the corporate site selection website, Business Facilities. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says what really drives the program’s success is the workforce in Louisiana.

cut 11 (10) “work space”

FastStart has helped over 150 companies in Louisiana and provided training for more than 23-thousand employees in the past 8 years. Pierson says the program draws companies to Louisiana and then finds them qualified workers to fill positions once the facilities open.

cut 12 (10) “company needs”

Pierson says similar programs in other states have also done well, and it’s only by constantly improving our program that Louisiana has remained the best program in the country for seven years running.

Cut 13 (09) “our state”

___________________________________________________________

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser announces that international travel to Louisiana has increased 36% over the past year. He says that puts Louisiana second only to Michigan for annual growth. He says international tourism has huge benefits for the state.

cut 14 (08)  “one city”

Nungesser says New Orleans saw a 37% increase during the same time period and this is the third consecutive year of double digit growth in international visitors. He credits Louisiana’s great food and culture and its people for the big increase in tourists from outside of the United States.

Cut 15 (11) “hospitality industry”

Nungesser says he wants to make sure that visitor rate continues to rise. He says we just have to make sure Louisiana always puts its best foot forward.

Cut 16  (09)  “our state”

___________________________________________________________

The LSU football team his the practice field this morning for the first of several practices leading up to the season opener against Wisconsin on September 3rd. Coach Les Miles knows he has a lot of talent on this squad and wants to see it play out over the next month…

Cut 17 (20)  “very happy”

LSU is considered one of the favorites to win the Southeastern Conference and play in the College Football Playoff. They’ll need to get good play from quarterback Brandon Harris. Miles says he likes the poise the junior brings to the field…

Cut 18 (15) “more of that”

Veterans on the LSU team will practice this morning and then freshman and a few of the older players will have their own practice in the afternoon.

Cut 19 (15) “need reps”

Construction will soon begin on Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin, according to the Department of Transportation. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

================

Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A 5-year-old has died after being shot accidentally by his 9-year-old brother. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office says police received a call from the children’s mother, 29-year-old Generra Brown, and when first responders arrived at the scene, they made a horrific discovery.

CUT 3 (09)  “the face”

The 5-year-old has been identified as Melvin Brady. Fortunato says the two boys were playing in a closet when they came across a handgun.

CUT 4 (07)  “younger child”

Fortunato says a semiautomatic handgun was found lying next to the child. He says the boys’ mother was not home at the time of the shooting.

CUT 5 (07)  “elderly neighbor”

Fortunato says no charges have been filed at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

===============================================

The Department of Transportation announces they will soon begin the process of widening Interstate 10 between the I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says this area of the interstate is heavily trafficked by freight trucks. He believes widening the road to three lanes in both directions will alleviate congestion.

CUT 6 (10) “travel through”

Wilson says a $60 million federal FASTLANE grant will pay for the repaving and widening of I-10. He says there are a lot of transportation improvements needed in Louisiana, but this project best fits the criteria for this award.

CUT 7 (08) “in Louisiana”

Wilson says this federal grant frees up state dollars to be used for other highway improvements. He says construction to widen I-10 should begin in January, and both lanes will remain open during the roadwork.

CUT 8 (10) “with construction”

===================================================

Today marks the 4 year anniversary of the Assumption Parish sinkhole in Bayou Corne, and leaders say many residents have moved on — but there are some who don’t want to let go. John Boudreaux is the Emergency Preparedness Director at Assumption Parish. He says this has been an unprecedented event…:

CUT 9 (07) “of the area”

The horrific environmental disaster is still affecting the community. Boudreaux says this is one of those situations that you never think could happen to you, but a reminder about why it’s so important to always been prepared for anything…:

cut 10 (10)  “emergency response”

Boudreaux says most residents are pleased with their settlements from Texas Brine and have established their lives elsewhere, but there are still about 15 who remain in the area. He says 4 years ago they were working hard to figure out where this strage bubbling was coming from, and had no idea it was anything along the lines of this massive sinkhole…:

Cut 11 (10) “and unknowns”

===================================================

Louisiana has received $400-thousand from the Centers for Disease Control to fight the Zika virus. Dr. Frank Welch with the Department of Health says this money is targeted specifically for pregnant women, who are most at risk. He says the money will be used to educate both OBGYNs and women about the virus, as well as for medical care if a woman gets Zika.

cut 12 (08) “on it”

Welch urges pregnant women to take extra precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. He says that includes removing any standing water from their yards and watching out for mosquitos when they are outside.

Cut 13 (08)  “long pants”

Welch says there have been 17 Zika cases in Louisiana, and all of them are travel related. He says we have not seen local transmission yet in Louisiana, but it’s still a possibility because the mosquito that carries the virus is active here.

cut 14 (08)  “the state”

===================================================

An employee has been arrested in Thibodaux for allegedly stealing money from her register at work in order to pay for braces and her education. Thibodaux Police spokesperson David Melancon says 20-year-old Tralvaunta Bentley pocketed a lot of money in just over two weeks…:

cut 15 (07) “her till”

Melancon says Bentley was booked with felony theft on a $35-hundred bond and was released the same day after posting bond. He says this criminal act was a slap in the face to everyone who works hard to pay for their education.

cut 16 (07) “in life”

A Louisiana law requiring eyebrow threaders to get an esthetician’s license is raising eyebrows and a lawsuit from the Institute of Justice. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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A Lafayette man faces a first-degree murder charge for allegedly strangling his ex-girlfriend to death. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The ACLU of Louisiana is taking legal action in an attempt to get Social Security survivor benefits for a man after his husband died. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Eyebrow threaders in Louisiana are raising more than their eyebrows over a 2010 law requiring them to have an esthetician’s license. The Institute for Justice has filed a lawsuit to get the law tossed out. Attorney Meagan Forbes says this law forces threaders to spend as much as $13-thousand completing 750 hours of cosmetology training and taking licensing exams. But Forbes says cosmetology schools don’t teach anything about threading.

cut 4  (11)  “to do”

Threading is a method of pulling twisted thread across the skin to remove eyebrow hair. Forbes says experienced threaders are losing their jobs because of this law. She says salons are having to hire licensed estheticians and then teach them how to thread.

Cut 5  (07)  “the ground”

Executive Director of the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology, Steve Young, says threading falls under the cosmetology law. He says there is always a health concern with any kind of hair removal.

Cut 6 (12) “sanitized way”

Young advises people who go to salons to be careful and make sure their cosmetologist is licensed.

CUT 7 (08)  “sanitary place”

A similar licensing law was overturned in Texas last year.

_______________________________________________

A Lafayette man has been arrested and charged with first degree murder in the death of his ex-girlfriend. Lafayette Police Cpl. Paul Mouton says investigators have determined 33-year-old Jonathan Aubrey went to the home of 37-year-old Sheree Patin Williams on Sunday and killed her…

Cut 8  (07)  “strangulation”

Mouton says Williams had obtained a Protective Order against Aubrey earlier in the year and it was still in effect when she died. He says a witness put Aubrey at the residence.

Cut 9 (06)  “same time”

Williams body was found on Monday morning. Aubury was arrested Monday night for Violation of a Protective order. The charges were upgraded to 1^st degree murder. Mouton says it’s tough when a victim follows the rules and obtains a protective order and terrible things still happen…

Cut 10 (09) “tough loss”

_______________________________________________

A Louisiana man is fighting to receive survivor benefits after his husband died. Marjorie Esman with the ACLU of Louisiana says William Conley passed away in February of 2015, and his husband Gerald Beem has been trying to get social security benefits ever since.

cut 11 (07) “in Louisiana”

Esman says the couple got married in California in 2014, before same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide. She says even though gay marriage was not legal in Louisiana at the time, the marriage should still be recognized.

cut 12 (12) “in place”

The ACLU of Louisiana is taking legal action with an Administrative Law Judge of the Social Security Administration in Lafayette and a hearing on the matter is scheduled for tomorrow. Gene Mills with the Louisiana Family Forum says he doesn’t see them winning this case, because gay marriages were not recognized in Louisiana at the time of his death.

Cut 13 (07) “their challenge”

___________________________________________________________

Shreveport police are searching for a suspect who vandalized and broke into the office of State Representative Barbara Norton. Norton says the outside of her office was vandalized last week, then someone broke into it on Sunday. She says whoever broke in, also changed one of the locks at her office.

cut 14 (07)  “the lock”

Police say notes were taped to the front door and scribbled on the glass itself on Wednesday. Norton says after Sunday’s break-in, messages were left throughout the office with the name of someone who works at the courthouse, the word “taxes,” and what appeared to be an address.

Cut 15 (08) “don’t know”

This is the second time in less than a year that Norton’s office has been broken into. Norton says her office will remain closed until the damage to the office has been repaired and the investigation is complete.

Cut 16  (09)  “in danger” 2x

___________________________________________________________

The start of what could be a special football season for the LSU Tigers begins today as the players report for Fall Camp. The Bayou Bengals are coming off a 9-and-3 season. College football expert Phil Steele predicts LSU will be one of four playoff teams at the end of the regular season. Steele says new defensive coordinator Dave Aranda should make LSU’s defense one of the best in the country

Cut 17 (17)  “last year”

Steele also says LSU’s offensive line is one of the best in the country. He says the receiving corp has two NFL caliber players in Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre and the backfield, led by Leonard Fournette, is as good as anyone. He believes returning starter Brandon Harris has the talent to get the job done at quarterback…

Cut 18 (09) “big. big season”

Steele says LSU is loaded this season. He says the key will be getting above average play out of the quarterback position….

Cut 19 (09) “as a starter”

As parents are loading up backpacks with supplies for the new school year, health experts say what students really need is a good night’s sleep. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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In a UNO poll of 600 likely voters, about one half of people approve of Governor John Bel Edwards job performance. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Kids and parents are gearing up for the start of the new school year, and that means getting back in the school routine. LSU Health New Orleans Clinical Pediatrics professor, Dr. Cory Hebert, says if parents haven’t started getting their kids adjusted to a school sleep schedule, they should. He says the most important thing for parents to do is practice good sleep hygiene.

CUT 3 (12)  “turned off”

Hebert says parents should limit the amount of caffeine their children have, especially right before bedtime, to make sure they get enough sleep. He says the amount of sleep a child needs depends on their age.

CUT 4 (10)  “nine and a half”

Hebert says parents can help their children adjust to new bedtimes by going to bed at the same time as them. He says lack of sleep can cause a child to act out in class, and it can even affect their grades.

CUT 5 (11)  “day before”

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A poll from the University of New Orleans finds that 49-percent of Louisiana residents surveyed give Governor John Bel Edward positive marks in his performance for his nearly eight months in office. UNO Pollster Ed Chervenak says they surveyed 600 likely voters and his favorability rating seems to be rising…

CUT 6 (09) “the ship”

Chervenak says they conducted a poll in February and Edwards had an approval rating of 43-percent. He says in this latest poll, women were more approving of Edwards than men.

CUT 7 (08) “just gender”

The UNO survey found that just over one third of the respondents gave a negative review of his job performance and 15-percent had no opinion. Chervenak says an approval rating near 50-percent isn’t bad for a Democrat in a red state.

CUT 8 (05) “for him”

===================================================

A phone survey on hurricane preparedness is being conducted by LSU, and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging residents of southeast Louisiana to participate. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says participants will be asked about their evacuation plans in case of a hurricane.

CUT 9 (11) “get there”

Steele says LSU will perform the survey over the next three months. He says the results of the poll will help GOHSEP and other state agencies help residents in southeast Louisiana evacuate.

cut 10 (11)  “can expect”

Steele says calls will be made to residents who live in southeastern Louisiana and “LSU” will appear as the caller ID. He says survey calls will be made to both cell phones and land lines and take about 22 minutes to complete.

Cut 11 (10) “as possible”

===================================================

A Luling man has been arrested after shooting his estranged father-in-law in the chest. St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne says 30-year-old William Canada, Jr is charged with three counts of attempted first degree murder for shooting into the home of his estranged wife’s parents where she was staying. He says Canada showed up at their home at around 4 in the morning the father-in-law was watching TV in the living room.

cut 12 (11) “handgun”

Champagne says the bullet that hit the father didn’t penetrate his chest cavity because it first went through a door and sofa. He says Canada fled the scene but left behind a makeshift Molotov cocktail and some form of accelerant. The Sheriff says they are searching Canada’s residence.

Cut 13 (10)  “the military”

Champagne says after Canada and his wife separated, he went into a depression. He says Canada went into rehab for an addiction to Oxycodone after suffering head trauma while serving in the military and quit his job at Valero oil refinery two weeks ago.

cut 14 (07)  “else out”

===================================================

There have been 27 shooting deaths in Shreveport this year. Corporal Marcus Hines says the latest victim is 15-year-old Desmon Bell, who was found dead inside a home from a gunshot wound to the head. He says they still don’t know the shooter and witnesses aren’t cooperating…:

cut 15 (07) “two different things”

A $1,000 reward is being offered for information on this crime. Hines says 27 murders so far this year is a high number, but most of them are not just random acts of violence…:

cut 16 (11) “former acquaintance”

The personal finance website WalletHub found that Louisiana has the worst public schools in the nation after analyzing data from the National Bureau for Education Statistics. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

According to a UNO poll, 82% of Louisiana voters disapprove of US Senate candidate David Duke. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Under a new law, fines for not wearing a seatbelt have doubled. Don Molino has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

Louisiana has the worst public schools in the country, according to a new report from the personal finance website WalletHub. Analyst Jill Gonzales says Louisiana ranked near the bottom in reading and math scores, ACT scores, and student safety. She says the state also ranked 45^th in dropout rates.

cut 4  (07)  “the country”

Gonzales says Louisiana also ranked low on school safety, for the number of minors in detention facilities and reported bullying, but the state did even worse in the number of discipline incidents.

Cut 5  (07)  “to it”

In response to this report, the state department of education says public school students have made tremendous growth. They point to improving reading and math scores for 4^th graders, the graduation rate is at an all-time high and ACT Performance has increased for a third straight year. But Gonzales says Louisiana is 29^th in spending, but based on data from the National Bureau for Education Statistics, the Bayou State has the worst school system in America.

Cut 6 (07) “like that”

_______________________________________________

US Senate candidate and former-KKK leader David Duke has an 82% disapproval rating, according to a University of New Orleans poll of about 600 likely voters. UNO pollster Ed Chervenak says this survey indicates that there is a wholesale rejection of Duke’s candidacy by Louisiana voters.

CUT 7 (09)  “rating”

Chervenak says 9 in 10 respondents in the 2^nd and 3^rd congressional districts in south Louisiana disapproved of Duke. He says Duke’s most favorable rating came from the 5^th district in the northeastern part of the state.

Cut 8  (08)  “senate primary”

The poll found that 13% of respondents say they would vote for Duke. Chervenak says young voters were twice as likely to rate him favorably.

Cut 9 (08)  “towards him”

_______________________________________________

Drivers will now pay double what they used to for not wearing a seatbelt because of a new law that’s now in effect. Interim Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Ken Trull says the fine for a first offense has doubled from $25 to $50, and second offense fines have increased from $50 to $75. He says this is not about money, it’s about driver safety.

Cut 10 (09) “buckle up”

Trull says the seatbelt compliance rate in Louisiana is nearly 86%, which is just below the national average. He hopes these increased fines will boost that rate, like it has in other states.

cut 11 (08) “seatbelt fines”

Trull says this new law applies to everyone in the vehicle, not just the driver. He says they hope this new law convinces people who normally don’t buckle up to wear a seat belt, because it could save your life.

cut 12 (08) “50%”

___________________________________________________________

About 48-thousand Louisiana residents will receive a check as a result of a $310 million settlement with the manufacturers of dynamic random access memory devices, or DRAM (dee-ram), for overcharging customers. Attorney General spokesperson Ruth Wisher says DRAM was used in electronic devices, like computers and gaming consoles, from 1998 to 2002.

Cut 13 (08) “of DRAM”

Louisiana and many other states filed a lawsuit in 2007 to get back the money consumers lost. Wisher says that lawsuit was settled and Attorney General Jeff Landry recently mailed checks to the people who made claims against the DRAM manufacturers.

cut 14 (09)  “$56″

Those payments averaged 56-dollars per scammed customer. Wisher says the A-G’s office is glad to get this money back to the people who were overcharged.

Cut 15 (10) “Louisiana people”

___________________________________________________________

The Southeastern Louisiana football team reports to campus today to begin preseason practice. After winning back-to-back Southland championships, the Lions went 4-and-7 last year. Coach Ron Roberts says the team is chomping at the bit to start a new season

Cut 16  (14)  “part of it to”

The Lions open the season at Oklahoma State on September 3rd. S-L-U’s Southland opener is September 24th at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond against Northwestern State. Last year the Demons went 4-and-7, but won four of their last six games. Demons Head Coach Jay Thomas likes what he has at quarterback, which includes Ragin Cajuns transfer Brooks Haack

Cut 17 (21)  “this time”

The Demons homecoming game this year is October 22nd against McNeese State. The Cowboys were 10-0 in the regular season last season. First-year Head  Coach Lance Guidry plans to be aggressive on offense this year…

Cut 18 (24) “bit more”

Expectations are low for second-year Nicholls State head coach Tim Rebowe. The Colonels were 3-and-8 last season and their top two running backs from a year ago, Michael Henry and Tobias Lofton, have departed. Rebowe says they’ll be tough to replace…

Cut 19 (10) “of that”

Strippers who dance in clubs in Louisiana will now have to be at least 21-years-old because of a new law that goes into effect today. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Under a new law going into effect today, municipalities must post a sign within 500 feet of a red light camera. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A new law goes into effect today that means strippers at clubs in Louisiana will have to be at least 21 years old and sources say the dancers are considering legal action. John Geiger is a bouncer at the Crazy Horse club in Port Allen. Geiger says this means dancers under the age of 21 will have to perform other jobs in the clubs or go out of state, which could be more dangerous.

CUT 3 (10)  “dance there”

Geiger says he knows there are concerns about sex trafficking, but he says he’s never seen that happen at any of the clubs he’s worked. He says the dancers are just trying to earn a living.

CUT 4 (10)  “to do”

Geiger says they believe the law is unconstitutional because it infringes on a person’s right to work. He says they will pursue legal action.

CUT 5 (08)  “it overturned”

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The Louisiana Department of Revenue has put out a warning that some Louisiana taxpayers are being targeted by scam artists. L-D-R spokesperson Byron Henderson says one woman in East Baton Rouge parish received a phone call in which she was told she was prequalified for a program that could help her resolve a tax lien.

CUT 6 (11) “was fraudulent”

Henderson says scammers often use public information to target a taxpayer. He says another method tries to convince people to reveal private financial information, which is called ‘phishing.’

CUT 7 (08) “of fraud”

Many of these scam artists claim to be with the Department of Revenue, the IRS, or other state agencies. Henderson says they will never contact a taxpayer to request personal information over the phone, instead they will typically request some form of documentation.

CUT 8 (09) “to them”

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A 5-year-old has died after a boating accident in Lafourche Parish. Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 5-year-old Ethan Hancock and his father were frogging in the Intracoastal Waterway when they ran out of gas. He says the father tried paddling out, but two barges came too close to their mudboat, so they jumped into the water.

CUT 9 (11) “tugboat”

Einck says they were both wearing lifejackets. He says the boy’s body was recovered at 7:30 yesterday morning, and father was not injured in the incident.

cut 10 (07)  “that aspect”

Einck says this waterway is heavily trafficked by these large boats. He says you should let someone know when you will be on the water so they can get help if you don’t return. He says it’s best to always be prepared when out on the water.

Cut 11 (07) “of power”

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Drivers will soon know where red light cameras are located under a law going into effect today requiring municipalities to post a sign within 500 feet of each light. New Orleans Sen. Troy Carter says if a city wants to have red light cameras, that’s fine, but motorists should be warned if one is up ahead…:

cut 12 (09) “posting signs”

Carter says under this law, if a sign is not posted, then the motorists have the opportunity to challenge a ticket and go to court to have it ruled inadmissible. He has felt the red light cameras are somewhat of a money grab, but if those in support truly have the best interest of drivers in mind – then they should have no problem with this law…:

Cut 13 (09)  “budget”

Carter says if a city fails to comply with this law they will no longer be able to use photographic or video images collected by the camera to impose a fine on a citizen. He says the goal is to prevent people from running red lights, period…:

cut 14 (09)  “pay for a ticket”

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The “Blue Lives Matter” law goes into effect today. Jeff Palermo reports attacks on law enforcement can now be considered a hate crime…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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UL-Lafayette professor Dr. Heather Stone is working to archive the history of a disappearing Terrebonne Parish island before it’s gone. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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LaFourche Parish Sheriff deputies believe a mother fatally shot her young daughter and then turned the gun on herself. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The “Blue Lives Matter” law goes into effect today in Louisiana, and Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says his bill is now more important than ever after the attacks on police officers in Baton Rouge and Dallas. Harris says crimes committed against first responders, because of the uniforms they wear are now classified as hate crimes, as a result of this new law.

cut 4  (09)  “100 percent”

After the fatal shooting of two police officers and one sheriff’s deputy in Baton Rouge, there were social media threats made against law enforcement in Caddo and St. Charles parishes. Harris says this law applies to those criminal acts as well.

Cut 5  (10)  “their family”

Harris says because of this new law, people who target police officers and first responders will spend more time behind bars.

Cut 6 (07) “in Louisiana”

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A Terrebonne Parish island is disappearing, and one UL-Lafayette professor is working to preserve its history before it’s gone. Dr. Heather Stone says Isle de Jean Charles is home to the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe of Native Americans. She says many tribe members have had to leave the island because the road that connects it to the coast floods often, making it impossible to get to the mainland.

CUT 7 (08)  “a choice”

In 1955, Isle de Jean Charles was about 22,000 acres and home to hundreds of people, but today it has shrunk to about 320 acres because of coastal erosion. The roughly 70 people who still live on the island will eventually relocate, thanks to a $48 million federal grant. Stone says she is passionate about preserving the tribe’s heritage because she understands having a connection to a place.

Cut 8  (07)  “personal experience”

Stone says the Biloxi-Chitimacha-Choctaw tribe came to the island when they fled the Trail of Tears. She says the people have been so helpful she doesn’t feel like she is writing their story, but more that they are writing it together.

Cut 9 (12)  “their history”

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Louisiana is ready for the possibility of local transmission of the Zika Virus. There are four confirmed cases of Zika in Florida in people who did not travel out of the country or have contact with someone who did. State Health Officer Dr. Frank Welch says Louisiana has been preparing since January…

Cut 10 (11) “local transmission”

Welch says Zika is such a mild illness in the vast majority of people that four out of five people who get the virus don’t even know they have it. He says those who do notice may confuse the illness with hay fever.

cut 11 (07) “goes away”

Welch says the biggest risk is when a pregnant woman contracts Zika because while the mother could experience no symptoms, the fetus is developing severe birth defects. He says there are ways for the public to help reduce local transmission by keeping the mosquito population down.

cut 12 (11) “in Louisiana”

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A 26-year-old mother and her five-year-old daughter were found shot to death in a residence in Thibodaux. LaFourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Brennan Matherne says investigators believe the mother, Nakesha Carrere shot Abigail Creamer and then turned the gun on herself…

Cut 13 (07) “enter the residence”

Matherne says investigators are still processing the evidence, but they are confident this was a murder-suicide…

cut 14 (08)  “the scene”

Matherne says Creamer’s father discovered the horiffic scene and called 9-1-1 just before noon on Sunday….

Cut 15 (07) “to the head”

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Through the first few days of training camp, Saints rookie wide receiver Mike Thomas has made several impressive catches. Coach Sean Payton likes Thomas’ passion and that he continues to make a play or two every day. Thomas says he wants to gain his teammates’ confidence that he can make the difficult catch..

Cut 16  (17)  “be that person”

Thomas is a six-foot-three, 212 pounds and the Saints selected him with the 47th overall pick. Payton says they don’t want the former Ohio State star to just be a pass catcher, they also hope he can develop into an outstanding blocker…

Cut 17 (17)  “good in that area”

Payton is also pleased with what he’s seen from last year’s third round pick, cornerback PJ Williams. The former Florida State star missed all of last season with a hamstring injury, but Payton says he’s looked good this year in training camp…

Cut 18 (19) “little faster”

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Two more arrests have been made in the case of a 4-month-old baby who was found dead of alcohol poisoning in his home in Lake Charles. Halen Doughty has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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With the voucher program being cut during the legislative session, 1/3 of kids who applied are now on a waiting list. Michelle Southern has more on what this means….

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Police have located and arrested the father of a 4-month-old baby who was found dead at home in Lake Charles, and an additional person has been booked in connection with the incident. The mother, 25-year-old Courtney Moore, was arrested at home shortly after the warrant was obtained. Police Chief Don Dixon says they received a call to investigate a death at an apartment complex two weeks ago.

CUT 3 (07)  “face down”

40-year-old Larry Champ and Moore each face charges of 2^nd Degree Murder. 23-year-old Danielle Allen was booked with Accessory after the fact. Dixon says disturbing toxicology results came back from the child’s autopsy.

CUT 4 (06)  “alcohol content”

Champ is being held on $1.2 million dollars bond, and Moore $800,000. District Attorney John DeRosier called the child’s death a tragedy.

CUT 5 (09)  “represent themselves”

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As the new school year is right around the corner, about one in three students who thought they would receive a voucher to attend a private school are now on a waiting list. President of the Louisiana Federation for Children Ann Duplessis says it’s very devastating to these families. She says over 400 young people who anticipated being placed in a private school have now been told a week before school starts, they won’t have a spot.

CUT 6 (09) “before school”

Duplessis says these students could be forced to go to some of the worst schools. She says we now have situations where siblings are split up and won’t be attending the same school.

CUT 7 (10) “disruption”

The state cut the voucher program by 2.5 million dollars for the 2016-2017 school year because of Louisiana’s massive budget deficit. But Duplessis says she’s hopeful legislators can resolve this issue soon because this is a huge problem.

CUT 8 (09) “through this”

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Grand Isle’s biggest event of the year, the International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, is underway. The massive fishing festival draws thousands of people every year. Event spokesperson, Heather Martin says on the first day of the 88^th annual rodeo, a man from Houma caught a 167 pound fish that took him 45 minutes to reel in.

CUT 9 (03) “pretty big”

The fishing rodeo began in 1928 and is informally referred to as the Mardi Gras of Grand Isle. Martin says in addition to the fishing, there will be live bands playing tonight and Saturday night as well. She says every registered fisherman is also entered to win a 20 foot boat. She says the even draws huge crowds every year.

cut 10 (03)  “daily”

Martin says plenty of fisherman have already started reeling them in, but she expects even more to come out for the final day of the event on Saturday.

Cut 11 (09) “out there”

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The Louisiana Lottery is calling 2016 the year of the jackpot as once again we’re seeing a huge prize up for grabs tomorrow. Saturday’s Powerball jackpot has jumped up to 478 million dollars. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says this jackpot has been growing since May 7^th when it was last hit at 430 million dollars. She says it doesn’t matter how big the jackpot is, the odds are always the same…

cut 12 (10) “in 25”

Chopin says the cash value is 330.6 million dollars. She says the big jackpots are happening more often after Powerball underwent a matrix change to correspond with the increase in player population.

Cut 13 (10)  “million”

Chopin says these jackpots just keep getting bigger and bigger. She says this is Powerball’s 5^th largest prize.

cut 14 (08)  “2012”

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Drug arrests have plummeted in Baton Rouge since the fatal officer-involved shooting of Alton Sterling. Crime analyst Jeff Asher says they saw similar occurrences in other cities that had police shootings, like Ferguson, Chicago, and Baltimore.

cut 15 (09) “narcotics arrests”

Asher says the homicide rate also increased during the same time period, which raises the question as to what will happen in Baton Rouge. He says this could just be a natural response to dealing with protests.

cut 16 (09) “the protests”

Asher says dealing with protests is a plausible explanation for the initial drop in narcotics enforcement, but it doesn’t explain why that drug arrest rate has stayed down.

cut 17 (09) “on there”