A state judge has ruled a constitutional amendment that bars certain convicted felons from running for an office in Louisiana is unconstitutional. Jeff Palermo asked former governor Edwin Edwards what this means for him…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Today is the deadline to register to vote or make changes to your voter registration for the upcoming October 24^th election. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case of a 1-year-old who was discovered wandering Holly Beach alone, while her parents were jogging naked four miles away. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A state judge has thrown out a 1997 constitutional amendment that prohibits convicted felons from running for public office in Louisiana until 15 years after their prison sentence is completed. The case involves former state senator Derrick Shepherd, who spent 37 months in prison and is seeking a state House seat this fall. Former Governor and convicted felon Edwin Edwards agrees with the ruling

cut 4  (07)  “to vote on it”

Judge Wilson Fields agreed with Shepherd’s attorneys who said the language on the ballot in 1997 did not match-up with what the legislature passed. This same constitutional amendment kept Edwards from qualifying for this year’s governor’s race. An election Edwards said he would have won, but is glad he couldn’t…

Cut 5  (10)  “practices”

Judge Fields’ ruling will be appealed. If it stands, Edwards says it’s unlikely he’ll seek public office in the state

Cut 6 (06)  “Father Time”

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Today marks the first day of fall and hopefully that means we’ll start to feel cooler temperatures in Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we can expect normal temperatures for the next three months and we’ll also be getting some relief to the dry conditions across the state with higher than average rainfall.

CUT 7 (10)  “this winter”

Keim says Louisiana will be cooling down shortly with the arrival of cold fronts. He says we will start seeing temperatures in the 80s over the next few days but that might not last too long.

Cut 8  (09)  “comes through ” 

Keim says most Louisiana residents are probably glad fall is finally here, as this summer was the hottest we’ve experienced in two years. He says humidity was much higher than usual and we saw dew points sky rocket.

Cut 9 (10) “than normal” 

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Today is the deadline to register to vote for the upcoming gubernatorial election. Secretary of State Tom Schedler is reminding Louisiana residents to get engaged in all of the important elections that will take place on October 24^th.

Cut 10 (10) “the task”

Schedler says the easiest way to register or make changes to your registration is to go online at Geaux Vote dot com. He says if you use the website, you have a couple more hours to complete the process.

cut 11 (10) “state offices”

Schedler says we have more than 600 statewide elections coming up and hopes more people will get involved, as we only have a few weeks left. He says Louisiana is third in the country, at 85 percent, for the number of registered voters and hopes everyone will get out and cast their ballots.

Cut 12 (10) “even voted”

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The Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case of a 1 year old child who was discovered wandering Holly Beach alone, while her parents were jogging naked 4 miles away. Sheriff Ron Johnson says when authorities responded, they noticed a Ford Explorer which had been left running a short distance from where the child was found:

Cut 13 (09)  “no clothes on”

Johnson says child protection services was called to assist in this case and the two parents, 32-year-old Cody Bourgeois and 35-year-old Monique Bourgeois are charged with child desertion and obscenity. Johnson says he’s not sure why the parents left the baby and started running with no clothes on but they believe drugs are involved…:

Cut 14 (06) “high on something”

The citizen who discovered the baby all alone and went to assist her was Chuck Pierson of Carlyss. He says the little girl was thirsty and had mosquito bites on her and finds it incomprehensible that her parents were so far away with no clothes on…:

Cut 15  (07)  “my kids you know”

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LSU could face Syracuse’s third, fourth and even fifth string quarterbacks in Saturday’s game at the Carrier Dome. The Orange’s starter suffered an achillies injury in the season opener and then freshman Eric Dungey suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit last week and is not expected to play against LSU. Tigers defensive coordinator Kevin Steele is more of a running team anyways

Cut 16  (19)  “option in it”

LSU’s defense has played well under its new defensive coordinator, aside from some yards and points they gave up in the second halves of both of their victories. Steele says the transition has been smooth

Cut 17 (15) “very focused” 

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UL Lafayette hosts Akron Zips this Saturday night at Cajun field. Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth says the Zips show a lot of looks on defense…

Cut 18 (18) “each week”

Akron comes into the game with a 1-and-2 record, while the Cajuns are 1-and-1. UL Lafayette is averaging just over 300 yards on the ground this season and Hudspeth expects the Zips to try and take away their running game

Cut 19 (19) “team too”

The Council for a Better Louisiana has released their 2015 Election Agenda which provides the group’s recommendations for roads, education, and health care to the next governor and legislature. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (28)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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Will he or won’t he play against the Carolina Panthers. Jeff Palermo has the latest on Drew Brees’ status for Sunday’s game…

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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State Senate President John Alario will be among the guests welcoming Pope Francis at the White House Wednesday morning. The pope arrives in the US tonight and his visit will see stops in Washington, DC, New York City, and Philadelphia through Sunday. Alario says the invitation to attend came out of the blue…

CUT 3 (06)  “said yes”

Alario says he’s excited to be among those welcoming Pope Francis to the United States. The ceremony is scheduled for 8:15 Wednesday morning on the South Lawn of the White House. Alario says he’s very humbled to have received the invitation from President Obama…

CUT 4 (05)  “we’re there”

Alario says he feels he’ll be representing the people of Louisiana and will ask for a blessing for the entire state while he’s there. He feels the pope’s message of forgiveness has really resonated with Catholics…

CUT 5 (07) “to hear him”

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The Council for a Better Louisiana has released their 2015 Election Agenda. It provides the group’s recommendations for roads, education, and health care to the next governor and legislature. CABL President Barry Erwin hopes the next governor looks at raising the gas tax in an effort to increase investment in highway infrastructure…

CUT 6 (08) “of the state”

The agenda recommends restructuring the TOPS scholarship program to ensure its sustainability for the future. Erwin says the cost of TOPS should not automatically grow with an increase in tuition…

CUT 7 (09)  “appropriate them”

The agenda also supports Medicaid expansion in Louisiana. Erwin says this would afford the state more federal money to strengthen medical education and provide more health care for Louisiana citizens…

CUT 8 (09)  “other states” 

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Democrat John Bel Edwards has released a television ad that says he’s the only gubernatorial candidate who supports an increase in minimum wage. Edwards spoke about his support for raising the wages of the state’s lowest paid workers during a forum in Baton Rouge.

CUT 9 (11)  “to do it”

Republican Jay Dardenne also addressed the topic and disagreed with an increase. He says raising the minimum wage has proved to be counterproductive in many different ways.

cut 10 (10)  “is education”

Republican candidate David Vitter did not attend the forum. Republican Scott Angelle says raising minimum expectations is what we should be focusing on rather than increasing the minimum wage. He says education is the key to getting higher paying jobs.

Cut 11 (08)  “program”

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The Jefferson Parish Republican Executive Committee has announced their endorsements for the October 24th primary election. In a surprise, the group backs former Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser in the Lt. Governor’s race over Jefferson Parish President John Young. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this is not good news for Young…

cut 12 (10)  “for Nungesser”

He says this is a big win for Nungesser. Dubos says this clearly shows that Young has issues with his fellow Republicans in his home parish…

cut 13 (07)  “a runoff”

In the governor’s race, the group endorses Republican David Vitter. However, Dubos says this was not an overwhelming endorsement from Vitter’s home parish…

cut 14 (09)  “one vote”

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At a forum in Baton Rouge, Gubernatorial candidates Scott Angelle, Jay Dardenne and John Bel Edwards took turns blasting absent candidate David Vitter. Jeff Palermo has more….

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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There are concerns Quarterback Drew Brees will miss Sunday’s game against Carolina. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Many LSU fans are expected to travel to Syracuse this weekend to watch the Tigers play the Orange in LSU’s first game in the Northeast since 1947. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Gubernatorial candidates Scott Angelle, Jay Dardenne and John Bel Edwards took turns taking shots at David Vitter, who did not attend a forum in Baton Rouge. Angelle, a republican from Breaux Bridge, was asked about a recent ad from Vitter that compared the Public Service Commissioner with President Barack Obama…

cut 4  (11)  “David’s attacks”

Dardenne, a republican from Baton Rouge, says Vitter was not original in a commercial that called him a liberal. He says Vitter used the same attacks that have been used by all his opponents for the past decade.

Cut 5  (09)  “the public”

Edwards says the reason Vitter hasn’t publicly made accusations about him is because he’s still trying to dig up information and Vitter’s goal is to distract and divide. The democrat from Amite says Vitter isn’t much different than our current governor, Bobby Jindal…

Cut 6 (11)  “mistake again”

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There are wide-ranging reports on the health of Saints quarterback Drew Brees’ shoulder. The NFL Network said Brees could miss several games, while ESPN’s Ed Werder said that treatment on his injured shoulder will determine if he can play this Sunday at Carolina. Saints sideline reporter Kristian Garic says an M-R-I showed no structural damage, so now it depends on how Brees’ shoulder responds

CUT 7 (05)  “game or two”

There’s been internet rumors that Brees tore his rotator cuff after getting hit hard during a play in the first half of the loss to Tampa Bay. But Garic says Brees wouldn’t have played in the second half with a torn rotator cuff…

Cut 8  (12)  “1991 ” 

If Brees can’t play this Sunday against Carolina, former Louisiana Tech standout Luke McCown will start against the Panthers. Garic says the Saints are already off to an 0-and-2 start and they could be in a bigger hole, if Brees can’t play for a couple of weeks….:

Cut 9 (12) “…this offense” 

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The Department of Health and Hospitals has received a donation of almost 9-thousand doses of EVZIO (EV-Z-OH) Naloxone (Nuh-lox-own) Auto-Injectors, which prevents fatal Opioid overdoses. EVZIO is the first and only F-D-A approved medicine for this emergency treatment. DHH Spokesperson Ashley Lewis says they’ve distributed the medicine to police and fire departments and E-M-T’s around the state to try to prevent as many fatal overdoses as possible.

Cut 10 (10) “get there”

Lewis says this is a step in the right direction to help keep the increase of heroin and other Opioid related deaths down. She says more than 17-thousand Americans die every year from prescription opioid overdoses.

cut 11 (11) “our state”

Lewis says the hand-held auto-injector gives step by step voice directions for those administering the injection.  She says during an opioid overdose breathing can slow and the auto-injector prevents that process.

Cut 12 (11) “stop that”

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A large contingent of Tiger fans are heading to upstate New York later this week for LSU’s first football game in the Northeast since 1947. Jason Ramezan, Vice President of LSU Alumni Relations, says LSU has sold its allotted 5-thousand tickets but he expects more than that inside the Carrier Dome for the Saturday kickoff against Syracuse.

Cut 13 (09)  “those areas”

Ramezan says the Traveling Tigers are leaving on Thursday for New York and are scheduled to visit the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown. Syracuse is averaging 28-thousand fans for their three home games this year but he says The Orange fans will be out in full force because they’re playing a Top 10 team.

Cut 14 (08) “on Saturday”

Ramezan says they’re planning on waking up their Traveling Tigers early on game day and heading over to a tradition LSU tailgate party. He says they were able to work with the Syracuse ticket office, so the purple and gold will be well represented in the Carrier Dome.

Cut 15  (11)  “to be had”

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After a career-high 228 yard and three touchdown performance against Auburn, LSU running back Leonard Fournette is considered an early favorite to win the Heisman Trophy. Les Miles was asked about the Fournette for Heisman Talk and the Lsu Head coach says that’s not his focus at the moment…

Cut 16  (17)  “strongest consideration”

LSU’s 2-and-0 start has vaulted them into the top ten teams in both major college football teams. Miles wants his team to keep looking to improve as they get ready for their next game…

Cut 17 (19) “we’re in good shape” 

LSU will play for the first time ever at Syracuse this Saturday. The Orange are only averaging 28-thousand this season in three home games. But Miles says the Syracuse fans will be ready for the LSU Tigers…

Cut 18 (17) “play well”

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US News and World Report has ranked Louisiana Tech number one among public universities in the nation for lowest average student debt. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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State Police say they’ve seized more than 34 pounds of cocaine and an airplane from a Texas man in Terrebonne Parish. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 2 (28)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested an Abbeville man accused of taking photos of a woman undressing in a Galliano department store fitting room. Spokesman Brennan Matherne says 52-year-old Aaron Merritt is charged with one felony count of video voyeurism. Matherne says the woman noticed a cell phone under the door of the dressing room snapping photos of her…

CUT 3 (10)  “at that time”

He says the woman opened the door of the dressing room and was able to get a glimpse of the suspect. Matherne says with the help of surveillance video and an anonymous Crime Stoppers tip, they were able to identify and arrest Merritt. He says this activity is happening more and more in stores across the country…

CUT 4 (07)  “of that nature”

He says Merrit was released after posting a $5,000 bond. Matherne says they encourage victims of this type of crime to contact authorities…

CUT 5 (06) “felony crime”

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US News and World Report has ranked Louisiana Tech number one among public universities in the nation for lowest average student debt. Tech is the first public institution to appear on the list of National Universities in this category. Tech spokesperson Dave Guerin says this ranking is something the school is very proud of…

CUT 6 (06) “students receive”

Overall Tech ranks sixth along side colleges like Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and Cal Tech. Guerin says Louisiana Tech recruits very highly prepared and accomplished students and that’s one thing that keeps the debt rate down…

CUT 7 (09)  “college educations”

Tech has also been recognized for highest return on investment and highest mid-career salaries for graduates. Guerin says when you combine all these accolades, Louisiana Tech is hard to beat…

CUT 8 (05)  “rival that” 

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After a weekend of sweltering temperatures across Louisiana, State Climatologist Barry Keim says some relief is on the way. Keim says, in fact, a cold front has already moved across the state…

CUT 9 (07)  “couple of days”

He says this front will bring significantly dryer air into the state for at least the next couple of days. Keim says most of Louisiana can expect lows in the upper 60’s and highs in the upper 80’s to near 90 degrees for the next couple of days…

cut 10 (10)  “air in place”

Keim says the humidity drop will make temperatures feel much more comfortable. He says these dryer conditions could linger across the state for the next three or four days. But Keim says we’ll gradually going to rebound into some warmer temperatures…

Cut 11 (10)  “a few days”

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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton spoke to a crowd of supporters in Baton Rouge today. The former Secretary of State is in town recruiting local volunteers to help her campaign’s efforts ahead of the state’s primary election on March 5th. Clinton says she’s always been a fan of Louisiana and she and her husband visited often.:

cut 12 (10)  “financial crises”

The large crowd of a reported 1200 people applauded loudly when Clinton talked about her support of the Affordable Care Act. The former First Lady will also hold a private fundraiser in Baton Rouge tonight. She says she remembers well coming to New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina and meeting with survivors as a US Senator from New York…:

cut 13 (10)  “Louisiana needed”

There were several cheers when she criticized Governor Bobby Jindal’s refusal to expand Medicaid in Louisiana. She says she helped former US Senator Mary Landrieu in getting federal aid to Louisiana following disasters..:

cut 14 (11)  “anywhere (cheers)”

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The Baton Rouge Press Club is hosting a gubernatorial forum today and three of the four major candidates are expected to attend. Jeff Palermo has more….

CUT 1 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The latest US Census data shows Louisiana had the third highest rate of poverty in the country in 2014. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton makes a campaign fundraising stop in Baton Rouge today. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The Baton Rouge Press Club is holding a gubernatorial forum today and three of the four major candidates are expected to attend. Senator David Vitter will not be at the forum. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says even with the other debates he’s missed, he doesn’t think this will hurt Vitter’s chances of making the runoff.

cut 4  (10)  “big risk”

Pinsonat says Vitter’s base is strong and want him as the next governor because he’s proven to be a strong conservative. He says Vitter supporters aren’t worried about his prostitution scandal and the fact that he isn’t attending this press club forum won’t change how they view him.

Cut 5  (09)  “their guy”

Pinsonat says even though Vitter is missing today’s forum, he has enough money to get is message out through TV commercials.

Cut 6 (09)  “the runoff”

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The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the number of people employed in mining and logging, and that includes the oil sector, is at its lowest level since December 2005. There are 46-thousand people employed in this sector of the state’s economy, a decline of 78-hundred over the last year. Executive director of the L-W-C Curt Eysink says you can blame the low price of oil…

CUT 7 (07)  “those impacts”

Eysink says job losses in the oil sector are starting to impact other areas of the state’s economy

Cut 8  (04)  “transportation ” 

But Eysink says overall the state has added more jobs in the last year because of an industrial construction boom happening across south Louisiana. He says the state has nearly 25-thousand more workers than in August 2014…

Cut 9 (04) “…tremendous rate” 

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According to the latest U.S. Census data, Louisiana had the third highest rate of poverty in the country for 2014, just below 20 percent. Jan Moller, Director of the Louisiana Budget Project, says he hopes the gubernatorial candidates will create plans to reduce poverty in the state because it’s often a topic that gets swept under the rug.

Cut 10 (08) “solutions”

Moller says we have a lot of work to do to create an economy that works for everybody. He says there are policies out there that could easily help us move the needle.

cut 11 (11) “do so”

Almost 897-thosuand of Louisiana residents lived below the poverty line, which is 24-thousand dollars for a family of four. Moller says the rate of children living in poverty in the state was even higher and estimated at 28 percent.

Cut 12 (10) “poverty rates”

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Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton makes a campaign fundraising stop in Baton Rouge today. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s been a rough few weeks for the former Secretary of State because of an email scandal…:

Cut 13 (10)  “kinds of things”

The fundraiser is being held at businessman Jim Bernhard’s home and it costs $2700 to attend. Even though Clinton’s poll numbers have drastically declined over the summer, Cross believes she still has a good shot at the White House…:

Cut 14 (11) “one in four chance”

This morning, Clinton will be in the Capitol City at what’s being described as a “grassroots organizing event” aimed at building up local volunteers who will help the campaign leading into Louisiana’s March 5th primary. Cross says Clinton is working to stay the course:

Cut 15  (08)  “succeeding right now”

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LSU’s Leonard Fournette is the biggest star in college football after his jaw dropping performance in a 45-21 win over Auburn. Fournette had a career-high 228 yards rushing and three touchdowns. The sophomore says he had a blast running around and through Auburn tacklers.

Cut 16  (11)  “I was”

Fournette’s showing through two games has him as an early front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. But the New Orleans native is not thinking about post-season awards…

Cut 17 (10) “its them” 

The victory for LSU gives them a 2-0 record, with both victories coming an SEC west division foes. With Alabama suffering a loss on Saturday, LSU is now one of the favorites to win the division. Fournette likes where his team is at

Cut 18 (08) “right now”

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The Saints are 0-2 on the season after losing to Tampa Bay 26-19 in front of home crowd at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. The Saints had a brief lead in the 2nd quarter, but the Buccaneers took control in the 3rd quarter and three New Orleans turnovers were too much to overcome. Coach Sean Payton says the Bucs were the better team.

Cut 19 (12) “ball over”

Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw for 255 yards and one touchdown. But he was intercepted once and sacked four times. The defense allowed rookie quarterback Jameis Winston to get settled and there were mistakes on special teams. Payton says it’s easy to see why they lost.

Cut 20 (18)  “good football”

According to numbers from Gasbuddy-dot-com, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has officially dropped below two-dollars a gallon. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (28)  “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A Thursday fundraiser in New Orleans raised $350,000 for Governor Bobby Jindal’s presidential campaign. Emilie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (31)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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According to numbers from Gasbuddy-dot-com, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has dropped below two-dollars a gallon. Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski says the average price has fallen to $1.99 a gallon. He says this downward pressure on gas prices was something they noticed in August…

CUT 3 (08)  “fall season”

South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama also have statewide average gas prices below two-dollars a gallon. Laskoski reminds motorists that $1.99 is Louisiana’s average price…

CUT 4 (07)  “$1.67”

He says there are several stations in the West Monroe area have regular gas prices as low as $1.67. Laskoski doesn’t know just how low gas prices will go, but expects them to continue to fall through the rest of the year. He says today’s prices are a huge difference from last year…

CUT 5 (07) “a gallon”

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Former state Senator Derrick Shepherd, who spent time in jail on a money laundering charge, has been disqualified from the October 24^th election. But a 1998 constitutional amendment prevents convicted felons from running for election unless they’ve been pardoned or 15 years since their prison sentence. Legal Analyst Chick Foret says Shepherd tried to use a technicality to get his name on the ballot.

CUT 6 (12) “vote on”

Shepherd was seeking a return to the state legislature and qualified to run for a House seat based in Jefferson Parish. But state Judge Stephen Enright ruled on Friday that Shepherd’s name should be removed from the ballot. Foret says Shepherd can take his case to the Court of Appeals.

CUT 7 (09)  “and see””

Shepherd was elected in 2003 to the state legislature and convicted in 2008 for being involved in a money laundering scheme. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Foret says the outcome of Friday’s ruling was very predictable and does not believe Shepherd can win on appeal.

CUT 8 (11)  “even qualify” 

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Governor Bobby Jindal raised $350,000 during a campaign fundraiser in New Orleans Thursday. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says despite mixed reviews the governor received for his performance in Wednesday’s debate, Jindal is still able to raise funds for his presidential campaign…

CUT 9 (10)  “anti-big government”

In an email, the Jindal campaign says the fundraiser shows the governor’s debate performance resonated with supporters in Louisiana. Hogan feels many Republican candidates, including Jindal, are betting that front-runner Donald Trump will lose support and those votes have got to go somewhere…

cut 10 (08)  “in the polls”

The governor will resume campaign efforts in Iowa this weekend. Hogan says the key for Jindal is to beat expectations…

Cut 11 (09)  “second look” 2X

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The US House of Representatives passed two abortion related bills Friday. The Defund Planned Parenthood Act would freeze government funding for Planned Parenthood for one year. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany supported passage of the measure. He says he became an original co-sponsor of the bill after viewing the controversial leaked videos…

cut 12 (09)  “of atrocious”

The bill passed on a 241-187 vote. Boustany says investigations are underway into the group’s practices and the public deserves to know the truth…

cut 13 (08)  “of activity”

The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would establish criminal penalties on medical personnel who do not aid an infant born alive after an attempted abortion. Minden Representative John Fleming voted in favor of the bill saying it will put a stop to the double murder attempt on a baby’s life…

cut 14 (06)  “medical attention”

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A Moody’s Investors Service analysis says we’ll continue to see low oil prices and cuts to oil companies into 2016. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A record number of Louisianians have signed up to quit smoking through Quitline and the Smoking Cessation Trust. Eric Gill has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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Education officials in Lafayette say they are spending more than $26,000 on heightened security at Northside High following a shooting after last Friday night’s football game which injured a student. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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During a candidate forum, the four men running for Lt. Governor were asked about their stance on the removal of Confederate monuments in New Orleans. Republican Opelousas state Senator Elbert Guillory says we can’t tear pages out of history books and ruin them. He says many tourists come to Louisiana to see these monuments…

cut 4  (06)  “to visit”

Democrat Baton Rouge Mayor President Kip Holden believes the public should be engaged in conversation about the issue before action is taken that could flare the situation up…

Cut 5  (07)  “same community”

Republican former Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser says he’s absolutely against the removal of the monuments. He says these monuments are part of Louisiana’s history…

Cut 6 (07)  “our history”

Republican Jefferson Parish President John Young is also against removing or destroying the monuments. Young doesn’t think removing Confederate monuments will solve current racial issues…

CUT 7 (10)  “their background”

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A Moody’s Investors Service analysis says low oil prices will most likely continue and result in more cuts to oil companies in 2016. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says because oil prices are so low, it’s difficult for energy companies to borrow money to continue to drill, which could result in a loss of jobs.

Cut 8  (10)  “going forward” 

Scott says Louisiana is the number two state for oil and natural gas production, so this is depressing news to us because these cuts are negatively effecting businesses and people in the state. He says currently crude oil is selling for about 47 dollars a barrel and they expect it to only slightly go up.

Cut 9 (09) “….towards 100″ 

Moody’s projects companies like Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron could see cash flow shrink by as much 20-percent this year. Scott says there’s concern about another oil bust, like the one in the 1980s. He doesn’t see it getting that bad….

Cut 10 (06) “going forward”

______________________________________

A record number of Louisiana residents have signed up to quit smoking through Quitline and the Smoking Cessation Trust. DHH Assistant Secretary for Public Health J.T. Lane says nearly 2,700 Louisianians signed up for free smoking cessation services in July…

cut 11 (09) “of the state”

The Smoking Cessation Trust offers free services for Louisiana residents who started smoking prior to September 1, 1988 to quit. Lane believes the recent increase in the state cigarette tax could be a factor in the increased number of residents looking to kick the habit…

Cut 12 (09) “great music”

Louisiana recently increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes by 50-cents. The American Lung Association says for every 10-percent increase in the price of cigarettes, adult consumption falls by 4-percent. Lane thinks the state’s Well-Ahead Louisiana initiative also has had an impact on the number of residents looking to quit smoking…

Cut 13 (08)  “the habit”

______________________________________

Education officials in Lafayette say they are spending more than $26,000 on beefed up security at Northside High following a shooting after last Friday night’s football game which injured a student. Bobby Badeaux is the athletic director of the Lafayette Parish School system. He says now a minimum of 12 cops will staff the home games:

Cut 14 (10) “day capabilities”

Cops say the September 11th incident in which a 17-year-old was shot in the arm after the game is still under investigation. Badeaux says the school system will purchase four security light systems to improve visibility in the school’s parking lot and add 20 high-definition surveillance cameras…:

Cut 15  (10)  “safety”

Badeaux says additional officers will be dispatched at the other high schools in Lafayette Parish to address heightened concerns over security…:

Cut 16  (06)  “every game”

______________________________

A high of 95-degrees is forecasted for Baton Rouge on Saturday when the LSU Tigers host the Auburn Tigers in what should be a sweaty Tiger Stadium. Coach Les Miles says boys will be drinking a lot of water prior to game time…

Cut 17 (18) “your shelves” 

Brandon Harris will be at quarterback for LSU for his first official start in Tiger Stadium. Harris started as a true freshman against Auburn last season and the results were not good in a 41-7 loss. But Miles says Harris is much different player now

Cut 18 (17) “forward to it”

After a solid win on the road last week, Miles is anxious to see how his team performs against Auburn at home. He believes this team has enough talent to go a long way this season…

Cut 19 (15) “kind of commitment”

Political analysts say Governor Bobby Jindal failed to stand out in last night’s CNN Republican presidential candidate debate. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 1 (29)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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With flu season quickly approaching, it’s time to get your annual flu shot. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Political analysts say Governor Bobby Jindal failed to stand out in last night’s CNN Republican presidential candidate debate. Jindal was among four candidates who appeared in a debate of lower tier candidates. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says last night’s performance shows why Jindal continues to remain at the bottom of the pack…

CUT 3 (10)  “positive fashion”

He says Jindal didn’t provide anything new in this debate to attract new supporters. Stockley feels the governor really flopped when asked about the 14-year-old Muslim student in Texas who was arrested after bringing a homemade clock to school that a teacher thought was a bomb…

CUT 4 (08)  “around him”

Stockley says Jindal failed to give viewers insight on who he is. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat describes Jindal’s performance as adequate. He doesn’t think Jindal’s opening attack on front-runner Donald Trump worked as intended…

CUT 5 (06) “everybody else”

He says this doesn’t mean the end for Jindal as he is focused on doing well in the Iowa caucus. But Pinsonat says these debates are certainly not helping Jindal on the national stage…

CUT 6 (04) “White House”

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It’s almost flu season again so that means it’s time to get your flu shot. The Center for Disease Control’s Flu Expert Michael Jhung says last year’s flu season was a rough one so if the vaccination is available, you should get one as soon as possible. He says this year’s flu shot will provide better protection from the virus than last year’s

CUT 7 (09)  “the vaccines””

Jhung says everyone needs to be vaccinated but those over 65 and children under five are at a high risk for catching the virus. He says the flu shot is safe and it can only cause local side effects, like redness at the injection site.

CUT 8 (09)  “infection” 

Jhung says the earlier you get vaccinated the better because it takes about two weeks to be fully protected.

CUT 9 (10)  “yesterday”

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The Many Police Department says a Texas man arrested on drug charges tried to tell police that the pants containing the alleged illegal narcotics were not his pants. Police spokesperson Dean Lambert says 41-year-old Demontra Nelson was apprehended after trying to cash a false check at a grocery store. Lambert says K-9 dogs found the cocaine and marijuana on Nelson’s possession…

cut 10 (10)  “charged anyway”

Lambert says during the car chase that led up to the arrest, Nelson and the driver, 47-year-old Hurpe Miles, threw a fraudulent check and fake I-D out the window of the vehicle. He says once they stopped, officers called the narcotics K-9 unit to the scene.

Cut 11 (10)  “bank fraud” 

Lambert says he’s been in law enforcement a long time and only heard this excuse one other time.

cut 12 (06)  “never works (2x)”

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During a Lt. Governor’s candidate debate, Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden said he was appalled that state Senator Elbert Guillory used the “n-word” in a campaign commercial. Holden, who is an African-American, let his frustrations known when asked about the commercial that Guillory aired which has former President Lyndon Johnson using the racial slur…

cut 13 (10)  “a shame”

Guillory, who is a black lawmaker from Opelousas, said he included the phrase in the ad for “educational purposes”. Guillory then took a shot at Holden’s intelligence…

cut 14 (06)  “you made”

Guillory said only an idiot, who had not seen his commercial, would make the comments that Holden made. Holden then responded to being called an idiot by Guillory…

cut 15 (10) “Baton Rouge” 

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The new president of the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association wants to work with the new governor to resolve the state’s film tax credit cap. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Seven parish leaders in southeast Louisiana want to see the next governor establish a passenger rail service between New Orleans and Baton Rouge? Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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So why are Facebook users so excited about the social media site possibly getting a “dislike” button? Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The new president of the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association is eager to work with the new governor and legislature on removing or altering the current 180-million dollar cap that was put on the state’s film tax credit program this year. Robert Vosbein, CEO of the Silver Screen Group, took over for Will French and says his message to policy makers will be that thousands of jobs are at stake.

cut 4  (10)  “job creator”

Vosbein says he’s very concerned, because the state of Georgia has a similar film tax credit program and is getting a lot of Louisiana’s business because our state has a cap on the number of credits redeemed.

Cut 5  (11)  “stop that”

Vosbein says raising the cap would be a step in the right direction but doesn’t really think we need to have it at all.

Cut 6 (10)  “oil and gas”

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After years of talk about a passenger train between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, seven parish leaders in southeast Louisiana say it’s time for the talk to end and call on the next governor to make it happen. Kristen Palmer, chairwoman of the Louisiana Super Region Rail Authority, says passenger rail service in this region can give residents better access to jobs…

CUT 7 (08)  “settle here”

Palmer says there will be huge demands on the transportation system, as over 20-billion dollars in economic development projects are planned for the region. She says the rail service would operate on existing freight lines and the average trip between B-R and New Orleans would be about 90 minutes.

Cut 8  (09)  “transportation options” 

The Southern Rail Commission plans to present funding options to the gubernatorial candidates later this fall. Palmer says they estimate the rail line would have an annual ridership of over 210-thousand people. She says over 30-thousand people commute between Baton Rouge and New Orleans every day.

Cut 9 (09) “the region”

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So why are Facebook users so excited about the social media site possibly getting a “dislike” button? Co-founder Mark Zuckerberg announced this week that they are working on a tool that will allow people to show empathy for posts, but it’s not clear if it would actually be called a “dislike” button. Jensen Moore is an assistant professor of strategic communication with LSU’s Manship School…:

Cut 10 (11) “vote down”

Moore says if someone posts that they lost their dog, a friend might hit the “like” button to show their support — but it doesn’t really mean that they liked that your dog died. She says a tool like a dislike button lets a friend show condolences in this case…:

cut 11 (10) “hit the button”

Zuckerberg had previously stated he didn’t want Facebook to be an avenue for people to be mean or negative which is why there has never been a “Dislike” option. She says the change of heart shows social media companies are becoming more receptive to their audience…:

Cut 12 (08) “we’re saying”

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Governor Bobby Jindal continued to go after Donald Trump, the republican presidential front-runner, in Wednesday night’s CNN republican presidential debate. Jindal was not invited to the debate that featured Trump and 10 other main candidates, but he participated in a debate featuring  lower-tier candidates and didn’t hold back on his criticism of the Trump campaign

Cut 13 (10)  “Donald Trump”

After discussing Trump, the candidates gave their views on immigration. Jindal received a loud applause for his call for immigrant assimilation…

Cut 14 (10) “secure the border”

During the debate, Jindal was asked about the 14-year-old Muslim in Texas who brought a homemade clock to school and was arrested because a teacher thought it was a bomb. Jindal said he’s glad the child was released and then turned the discussion about Kim Davis, the clerk of court in Kentucky, who was thrown in jail for her refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses

Cut 15  (10)  “talk about that”

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The season started off on a down note for the Saints with a loss to Arizona and there’s some in Who Dat nation who wonder if the Black and Gold are headed for another losing season. But Quarterback Drew Brees expects big things from this year’s team

Cut 16  (20)  “execute that”

The Saints offense could get a lift this weekend if running back CJ Spiller returns. Spiller has been sidelined by a knee injury, but practiced yesterday for the first time since undergoing surgery. Spiller hasn’t had much time to work with Brees. But the veteran Q-B is optimistic the two can click right away

Cut 17 (18) “comfort level” 

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LSU is a seven and a half point favorite to beat Auburn this Saturday in Tiger Stadium. Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn on what the War Eagles need to do to get their first win in Baton Rouge since 1999

Cut 18 (19) “third down”

Last year Auburn crushed the Fighting Tigers 41-7 in what was Brandon Harris first start at quarterback in an LSU uniform. Malzahn says Harris looks more confident heading into this Saturday’s game

Cut 19 (12) “more comfortable”

Auburn heads into Death Valley with a 2-0 record, but in the season opener they nearly blew a big lead to Louisville and last week almost lost to FCS member Jacksonville State. Malzahn says they are not dwelling on previous performances…

Cut 20 (20)  “to improve”

A study from the National Center for Health Statistics finds children eat about 12 percent of their daily calories on fast food. Emelie Gunn has more…..

CUT 1 (28)  “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Sad news out of Grambling as Doris Robinson, the wife of legendary football coach Eddie Robinson, has passed away. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Eric Gill”

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State Police say an attempted hit and run in Iberia Parish has left a Grant Parish woman dead. Master Trooper Brooks David says 35-year-old Angela Brown of Pollock crossed the center line of LA 86 and side swiped another vehicle…

CUT 3 (07)  “hit a tree”

He says as Brown tried to flee the scene, she ran off the road and struck a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene. David says authorities have linked Brown to a second hit and run that occurred just before the fatal crash…

CUT 4 (10)  “hitting a tree”

He says it’s believed Brown was involved in a hit and run crash in St. Martin Parish just before the Iberia crash that claimed her life. David says the investigation is ongoing and a toxicology sample was taken… (Impairment is believed to be a factor in the crashes.)

CUT 5 (03) “those crashes”

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The National Center for Health Statistics finds children consume an average of 12 percent of their daily calories from fast food.  Professor with the LSU Health Sciences Center, Dr. Melinda Sothern, says the study shows younger children eat 9 percent of their calories at fast food establishments compared to 17 percent of teens, which shows parents of younger kids are more cognizant of what their kids eat…

CUT 6 (10) “years ago”

Sothern says when studies like this come out, it could make parents more aware of what their teens are actually eating. She says with this research, she hopes to try to better understand the marketing associated with fast food because unhealthy food advertising is often targeted at teens and try to make healthy options less expensive.

CUT 7 (10)  “unhealthy options”

Sothern says the report showed no effect of poverty, so children from poorer families were the same across the board as kids coming from more well off families. She said the only difference they saw was by ethnicity.

CUT 8 (10)  “that ate more” 

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State Police have identified the man fatally shot by a St. Bernard Sheriff’s deputy after a Tuesday altercation. Trooper Evan Harrell says 21-year-old Tyrone Bass of New Orleans was shot dead after attacking a deputy with an object…

CUT 9 (08)  “St. Bernard Parish”

He did not explain why the officer approached Bass. The injured deputy was released from the hospital a couple of hours after the incident. Harrell says during the initial altercation, the deputy was able to call for backup and more officers arrived on scene…

cut 10 (06)  “under investigation”

He says investigators are working to determine how many officers shot at Bass and how many shots were fired. The deputy’s name and the type of object used in the attack have not been released. Harrell says State Police will conduct a thorough investigation to determine exactly what happened…

Cut 11 (04)  “this process” 

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Some sad news out of Grambling as Doris Robinson, the wife of legendary football coach Eddie Robinson, passed away this morning at the age of 96. A university spokesperson says Mrs. Robinson had been in the hospital after suffering from a recent illness. Grambling head football coach Broderick Fobbs says Mrs. Robinson meant a great deal to the school…

cut 12 (10)  “State University”

Mrs. Robinson is referred to as the “Eternal First Lady of GSU Football”, having stood by her husband for over five decades as he coached the Tigers. Fobbs says in recent years, Mrs. Robinson’s declining health made it difficult for her to get out as much as she used to. But he says that doesn’t mean she didn’t keep up with the Tiger football program…

cut 13 (06)  “two cents in”

Fobbs says he first got to know Mrs. Robinson as a player at Grambling in the 90’s. He says she always looked at the football players for Grambling as her own kids…

cut 14 (06)  “great angel”

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