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

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

cut 4  (08)  “in December”

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

Cut 5  (10)  “overcome that”

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

Cut 6 (07) “flood zone”

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

CUT 7 (11)  “in the city”

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

Cut 8 (09) “way it is”

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

Cut 9 (08)  “well before”

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

Cut 10 (10) “thus far”

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

cut 11 (05) “time ago”

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

cut 12 (05) “their bounds”

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

Cut 13 (08) “involved in”

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

cut 14 (10)  “over that”

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

Cut 15 (08) “school system”

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

Cut 16  (17)  “on Saturday”

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

Cut 17 (20)  “home”

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

Cut 18 (24) “pretty impressive”

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

Cut 19 (13) “progresses”

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

Cut 20 (14) “things will happen”

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

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

CUT 3 (12)  “on himself”

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

CUT 4 (09)  “pleasant relationship”

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

CUT 5 (10)  “this matter”

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

CUT 6 (10) “terrorizing”

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

CUT 7 (06) “to arrest”

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

CUT 8 (05) “do come”

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

CUT 9 (07) “return home”

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

cut 10 (08)  “to flood”

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

Cut 11 (11) “we need”

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

cut 12 (10) “of tests”

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

Cut 13 (10)  “accountability system “

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

cut 14 (09)  “do it”

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

cut 15 (10) “with officers”

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

cut 16 (06) “this was”

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

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

CUT 1 (26) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 3 (32) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

cut 4  (09)  “mind blowing”

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

Cut 5  (10)  “uncomfortable summer”

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

Cut 6 (06) “be amazing” 2x

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

CUT 7 (09)  “that bill”

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

Cut 8 (11) “and Flint”

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

Cut 9 (09)  “the election”

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

Cut 10 (11) “its actions”

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

cut 11 (10) “taxpayer funds”

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

cut 12 (10) “every day”

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

Cut 13 (08) “in place”

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

cut 14 (11)  “one extremity”

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

Cut 15 (11) “dark brown”

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

Cut 16  (11)  “this victim”

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

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

Cut 17 (11)  “better offense”

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

Cut 18 (09) “smart doing that”

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

Cut 19 (10) “any set”

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

Cut 20 (10) ” our head coach”

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

CUT 1 (32) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 3 (08)  “certain age”

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

CUT 4 (10)  “with that”

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

CUT 5 (03)  “ultimately”

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

CUT 6 (10) “each would favor”

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

CUT 7 (07) “general terms”

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

CUT 8 (10) “that we’ve seen”

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

CUT 9 (08) “had before”

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

cut 10 (10)  “Tiger Stadium”

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

Cut 11 (11) “national event”

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

cut 12 (11) “stay on TV”

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

Cut 13 (07)  “folks stand”

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

cut 14 (09)  “those loose”

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

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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

cut 4  (11)  “our state”

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

Cut 5  (12)  “others are”

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

Cut 6 (11) “specific ideas”

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

CUT 7 (10)  “in August”

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

Cut 8 (11) “get this done”

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

Cut 9 (10)  “also electronics”

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

Cut 10 (07) “throwing it”

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

cut 11 (11) “game management”

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

cut 12 (11) “be excited”

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

Cut 13 (08) “we love”

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

cut 14 (09)  “their lives”

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

Cut 15 (09) “rebuilding”

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

Cut 16  (19)  “seven points”

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

Cut 17 (19)  “we lost”

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

Cut 18 (19) “look out”

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

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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

CUT 2 (26)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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

CUT 3 (10)  “for Americans”

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

CUT 4 (08)  “this city”

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

CUT 5 (10)  “community”

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

CUT 6 (10) “the field”

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

CUT 7 (09) “and so forth”

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

CUT 8 (08) “ratchet down”

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

CUT 9 (08) “for em”

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

cut 10 (08)  “entire time”

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

Cut 11 (07) “a coach”

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

cut 12 (11) “their lives”

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

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

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

cut 14 (06)  “on offense”

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Tonight’s Saints-Falcons games marks the 10^th anniversary of the reopening of the Mercedes Benz Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Congressman Garret Graves has introduced a bill that would get flood insurance claims to people quicker. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Shocked and sad is the reaction from the LSU players over the firing of LSU Head Coach Les Miles and Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Tonight’s Saints-Falcons game marks the 10th anniversary of the Mercedes Benz Superdome reopening after Hurricane Katrina. Former Governor Kathleen Blanco prioritized the repair of the iconic stadium. Blanco says the building’s roof was badly damaged and it was a symbol of despair for New Orleans. The former governor says despite criticism, she knew they could turn the dome into a symbol of victory.

cut 4  (10)  “nasty place”

Blanco says repairing the stadium in nine months rather than the predicted 2 years was a huge endeavor. She says Saints owner Tom Benson promised if they could open the Superdome before the 2006 season, he wouldn’t move the franchise.

Cut 5  (08)  “dire moment”

Blanco faced criticism, as many wondered why fix the Superdome when thousands of people needed help. The former governor says the money could only go into repairs of the building and they received funds from the NFL and FEMA. She says in the end, she received many public apologies.

Cut 6 (10) “or losing”

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Over a month after the historic flooding in south Louisiana, many flood victims are still struggling to recover. Congressman Garret Graves of Baton Rouge has introduced a bill to help future disaster victims get assistance in a timely manner. He says the biggest complaint he’s heard is that it’s taking too long to get money from flood insurance claims.

CUT 7 (10)  “federal program”

Graves’ bill would require the national flood insurance program to make determinations within 30 days of the claim being filed. He says people need this assistance now, and he wants to push this bill through in an expedited process.

Cut 8 (07) “the Congress”

Graves says schools, police and fire departments, and drainage systems are all funded by property taxes. He says if people can’t get their homes repaired quickly, it will cause major problems for the entire community because there will be less tax revenue coming in.

Cut 9 (11)  “public services”

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After 114 wins, a BCS National Championship and two SEC championships, Les Miles is no longer the head coach at LSU. Miles, along with LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron were let go, after a bad loss to Auburn to drop their record to 2-2. Safety Jamal Adams says Miles spoke with the team before he left…

Cut 10 (11) “lettin go”

Senior wide receiver Travin Dural of Breaux Bridge says he showed up to a 5:00 meeting and never thought he would be told that Miles was let go….

cut 11 (07) “this program”

South LaFourche High School and Northwestern State grad, Ed Orgeron, takes over as the interim head coach. He was the Tigers defensive line coach and a former head coach at Ole Miss and interim head coach at USC. Dural looks forward to what Coach “O” can bring to the team…

cut 12 (09) “success”

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A new book about the murders of prostitutes in Jefferson Davis parish is surrounded by controversy. Murder in the Bayou by Ethan Brown documents the author’s investigation into the murders of 8 prostitutes between 2005 and 2009. The book alleges that Congressman Charles Boustany may have been involved with the women. Brown, who appeared on the Jim Engster Show, says Boustany’s response to the accusation is included in the book.

Cut 13 (08) “in the book”

The book claims that a staffer at Boustany’s office also worked at the hotel where these women would perform the services. Brown says there is no question that staffer worked at the Boudreaux Inn.

cut 14 (09)  “the staffer”

Brown says a lot of independent media outlets have been reporting the claims against the congressman. He says in all the stories he’s seen, reporters have noted that they have not been able to independently verify the allegations.

Cut 15 (07) “been made”

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The Saints are 0-2 heading into their Monday night matchup with their NFC South rival the Atlanta Falcons. A loss tonight and it will be very difficult for the boys in Black and Gold to make the playoffs. Quarterback Drew Brees is confident this team can string some wins together…

Cut 16  (12)  “this week”

Brees has thrown for nearly 700 yards and 5 touchdowns through two games, but New Orleans has yet to get tight end Coby Fleener involved in the offense. Fleener was signed a free agent in the offseason and has just three catches on the young season. Brees expects Fleener to be a major contributor as the season moves along…

Cut 17 (15)  “come”

The Saints have struggled to convert on 3rd down this season, as they have moved the chains on 3rd down only 7 times on 24 opportunities. Brees on how they can improve that percentage…

Cut 18 (20) “3rd down”

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LSU beat Auburn, but then they didn’t. It turns out Danny Etling’s touchdown pass to DJ Chark never happened, because the Tigers didn’t get the play off, before the clock struck triple zero. After a penalty on the Tigers, there was one second left, when LSU lined up for a potential touchdown pass. Coach Les Miles on what happened…

Cut 19 (15) “I’m told”

Auburn’s 18-13 over LSU leaves the Tigers with a 2-2 record for the first time since 2001. The Bayou Bengals chances of playing in the college football playoffs are dashed and LSU’s continuing problems on offense make it hard to think they can win the SEC West. Miles, whose coaching seat is getting hotter, looks forward to the rest of the season…

Cut 20 (18) ” back end”

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves says he is unsatisfied with the proposal to get Louisiana $500 million dollars in federal aid to assist flood victims because it’s wrapped up in politics. The money is part of a short-term budget fix and is earmarked as disaster assistance for multiple states. Graves says this money would be spread across 16 different major disasters…:
CUT 9 (04) “to Louisiana”

Graves says when you look at the tens of thousands of people that need assistance to get back in their homes, $500 million doesn’t go anywhere.

Take Em Down Nola, an activist group in New Orleans, is protesting today in Jackson Square when they say they will take down the statue of Andrew Jackson. The group seeks to remove all confederate monuments in the Crescent City. Group member Malcom Suber says they want to rename the area Freedom Square.
CUT 3 (08) “our city”

 
The Advisory Council on Student Behavior finds over one-thousand kindergartners were suspended last school year. New Orleans attorney and chairwoman of the council, Jennifer Coco, says they hope to find better ways to discipline students than kicking them out of class.
Cut 12 (08) “feel safe”

Hunters for the Hungry’s annual Cleanout your Freezer Day is tomorrow from 1 to 4 p.m. Hunters with leftover meat from last hunting season are encouraged to donate. H-F-H Executive Director Jimmy Anthony says the program began 25 years ago when a group of hunters thought it was a shame to waste all of last year’s frozen game.
Cut 6 (11) “new meat.”

Visit hunters4hungrylouisiana.org for more information.

A New Orleans activist group has announced plans to take down the statue of Andrew Jackson during a protest Saturday. Don Molino has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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US Congressman Garret Graves says he’s frustrated that the proposal to get $500 million dollars in federal aid to flood victims is wrapped up in politics. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A New Orleans activist group is planning a protest tomorrow in Jackson Square when they say they will take down the statue of Andrew Jackson. Malcom Suber is a member of Take Em Down NOLA, a group that seeks to remove confederate monuments from the city. He says they want to remove the statue of Jackson and rename the area Freedom Square.

CUT 3 (08)  “our city”

Suber says the protest will begin at 1pm, and they expect hundreds of people to come. City officials say they support peaceful protests, but vandalism of public property is a crime.  But he says they see this as an issue of civil rights.

CUT 4 (08)  “this city”

Suber says they feel they are within their rights because the city council voted to remove confederate statues in New Orleans. He says their position has always been to remove any monuments that represent white supremacy.

CUT 5 (10)  “come down”

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Hunters for the Hungry is hosting their annual “Clean out your Freezer Day” to benefit food banks throughout Louisiana. On Sunday, September 25^th from 1 to 4 p.m., hunters with leftover meat are encouraged to donate before they stock up again during hunting season. H-F-H Executive Director Jimmy Anthony says the program started 25 years ago when a group of hunters thought it was a shame to waste all of last year’s frozen game.

CUT 6 (11) “new meat”

The donations will be directly distributed to nearly 400 agencies across Louisiana. Anthony says typically the Baton Rouge Food Bank stores all of the meat but there is no room this year after the flooding so a New Orleans Food Bank will be collecting the food. He says they will also be collecting canned goods.

CUT 7 (06) “Food Bank”

H-F-H collected more than 230-thousand pounds of fish, game, and other meats in years past. Anthony says there are 12 collection sites and to find one in your area visit hunters-the-number-4-hungry-louisiana-dot-org (hunters4hungrylouisiana.org). He says they are not collecting any meat over a year old

CUT 8 (10) “and dated”

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US Congressman Garret Graves says he’s frustrated that the proposal to get $500 million dollars in federal aid to flood victims is wrapped up in politics. The money is part of a short-term budget fix and is earmarked as disaster assistance for several states. Graves says this money would be spread across 16 different major disasters…:

CUT 9 (04) “to Louisiana”

Graves says when you look at the tens of thousands of people that need assistance to get back in their homes, $500 million doesn’t go anywhere..:

cut 10 (09)  “drop in the bucket”

Graves says he’s been trying to collect as many flood stories as he can so that he can get the message out to Congress how dire the situation in Louisiana is…:

Cut 11 (06) “up here”

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A state panel has made surprising discoveries about student discipline in Louisiana. The Advisory Council on Student Behavior found that over a thousand kindergartners were suspended during the last school year. New Orleans attorney and chairwoman of the council, Jennifer Coco, says they want to find better ways to discipline students than kicking them out of class.

cut 12 (08) “feel safe”

The council found that nearly 8-thousand students between pre-kindergarten and third grade received out of school suspensions during the 2015-16 school year. Coco says the primary reasons students are getting suspended is being disrespectful or disobedient. But she doesn’t think that kicking a child out of school will teach them to be more respectful.

Cut 13 (11)  “by that”

Coco says the 24-member council is required to meet three times a year and discuss their findings. She says they will put together an annual report and present it to the education committees in the legislature and BESE.

cut 14 (07)  “might be”

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Livingston Parish Schools have received more than $100,000 in donations, grants and gifts to assist teachers, staff and students with flood recovery efforts. Superintendent Rick Wentzel says the St. Tammany Parish Public School System and their surrounding communities stepped up in a huge way…:

cut 15 (10) “over $8000”

Wentzel says they also got a massive donation from a huge celebrity…:

cut 16 (14) “means a lot to us”

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Louisiana’s highways rank 34^th in the nation for overall performance, according to the Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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 State and federal officials are defending the Shelter at Home program as criticism increases about the quality of the work done to the flooded homes. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Lafayette police release more details about the deceased woman found in a toolbox. Halen Doughty has more on the bizarre story…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Monday is the deadline for Livingston parish pet owners to claim pets that were lost in the flood, and then shelters will start adopting them out. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson, says they have been sheltering over 500 pets from the Livingston parish area since the flood, but they could only hold them for 45 days.

cut 4  (09)  “rescue partners”

Dorson says people who lost a pet should check the Livingston Reuniting Pets Facebook page or contact the Humane Society of Louisiana. He says adoption counselors can help people find their lost pets.

Cut 5  (07)  “long way”

Dorson says pets are being sheltered around Louisiana and in other states, so finding a pet after this deadline will be a challenge. He says there is a local shelter people can visit if they want to adopt a pet that was displaced during the flood.

Cut 6 (07) “30 dogs”

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The Reason Foundation’s Annual Highway Report ranks Louisiana’s roadways 34^thin the nation for overall performance, up 6 spots from the previous year. Louisiana ranked poorly in the areas of fatality rate and urban interstate pavement condition. DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the state has announced two different interstate widening projects that should lead to safer and smoother traveling on I-10 in the Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.

CUT 7 (10)  “these investments”

The Bayou State came in 40^th for the number of deficient bridges in the state. Wilson admits the state is not spending enough to keep up with the maintenance of our bridges.

Cut 8 (09) “as a bridge”

Wilson says there’s almost a $13 billion backlog in transportation projects, and it will take more consistent funding resources in order to improve Louisiana’s overall ranking.

Cut 9 (11)  “we need”

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State and federal officials are defending the Shelter at Home program after there have been complaints that the jobs aren’t done to the flood victim’s satisfaction. Deputy Chief of Staff with the Governor’s Office Julie Baxter Payer says the Shelter at Home program is for temporary basic repair. She says the state is constrained by FEMA guidelines so they cannot help with permanent rebuilding.

Cut 10 (11) “at home”

Alice O’Connor of Baton Rouge, is a shelter at home program recipient. O’Connor says she’s appreciative of the program because she is finally able to live in her house, which is close to work, rather than living in a crowded apartment with family members. She says the first thing contractors did was kill the live electrical wires that could electrocute her.

cut 11 (10) “for sure”

There are also concerns by many about the Temporary Housing Units and why there aren’t more flood victims already living in the manufactured homes. FEMA representative Tito Hernandez says these mobile homes are a last resort, because it takes a long time to get them set up in a flooded homeowner’s yard.

cut 12 (10) “putting them”

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An unusual homicide in Lafayette becomes more and more bizarre as the details unfold. Lafayette Police Officer Karl Ratcliff has confirmed the body of 23-year-old Alannah Montalvo was dismembered in a toolbox on the side of the road, four days after her boyfriend, 36-year-old Barrett Farabee, was shot while trespassing in someone’s backyard.

Cut 13 (08) “the victim”

Montalvo’s body parts were found on Tuesday. Ratcliff says a few days before that Farabee was fatally shot by a homeowner after he spotted him naked and armed with two guns in his backyard on Fanny Street. He says at this time, they are still not sure why the man was naked at 8am.

cut 14 (08)  “was armed”

Ratcliff says they are not releasing any details about Montalvo’s murder at this time out of respect for her family. He says Montalvo and Farabee had been in a relationship for quite some time prior to these horrific events.

Cut 15 (07) “that relationship”

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It’s LSU versus Auburn tomorrow on the Plains in a big SEC Western Division contest. Last year Tigers running back Leonard Fournette rushed for 228 yards and three touchdowns against Auburn. Last week, Fournette had two fumbles and Coach Les Miles says Fournette has worked hard on protecting the ball….

Cut 16  (16)  “ball security period”

LSU quarterback Danny Etling will make his first road SEC start. Miles says spent the week at practice getting him ready for the atmosphere he’ll face at Jordan-Hare Stadium…

Cut 17 (16)  “to play”

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The Ragin Cajuns and Tulane meet Saturday at Yulman Stadium in a non-conference instate match-up. UL Lafayette is 2-1, while the Green Wave are 1-and-2 under first-year head coach Willie Fritz, who runs a spread-option offense. Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth says it’s difficult to defend…

Cut 18 (16) “somebody miss”

Hudspeth likes how his defense has performed since defensive coordinator Melvin Smith was replaced by Mike Lucas after the season-opening loss to Boise State….

Cut 19 (13) “think a lot”

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Louisiana Tech begins Conference USA play by visiting Middle Tennessee. After losing 59-45 to Texas Tech, Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz says we can see another shootout in Murfreesboro…

Cut 20 (14) “40 points a game”