A study from the transportation research group TRIP shows Louisianians pay about $514 extra per year for car upkeep due to poor road conditions. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

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Three Louisiana jockeys have been arrested in an alleged horse race fixing scheme. Emelie Gunn has more…

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today is LSU’s live mascot, Mike the Tiger’s 10th birthday. Ginger Guttner, spokesperson for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine says Mike VI was crafted a birthday cake made of meat, wrapped in bacon, topped with boiled eggs and hardened goats milk to create the number 10.

CUT 3 (05)  “meat artists”

Guttner says Mike is in the prime of his life and as Bengal tigers living in captivity typically live about 16 years, when in the wild their lifespan is closer to 9 years.

CUT 4 (06)  “while longer”

Traditionally, LSU’s live mascot is part of the pregame activities inside Tiger Stadium on gamedays. But this Mike usually stays in his habitat. Guttner says LSU will release a statement later about having Mike involved in pregame activities for the upcoming football season. However, she still encourages fans to come out to visit him at his habitat.

CUT 5 (10) “in Louisiana”

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According to a study from the transportation research group TRIP, Louisianians pay about $514 extra per year for car upkeep due to poor road conditions. Associate Director of Research, Carolyn Kelly, says the additional costs come in the form of accelerated vehicle depreciation, tire wear, fuel consumption, and repair costs…

CUT 6 (07)  “damage repaired”

The report shows 36-percent of roads in Shreveport are considered in poor condition, 38-percent in Baton Rouge, and 42-percent in New Orleans. Kelly says the costs to maintain your vehicle in these cities is considerably higher than the state average…

CUT 7 (11) “$653 each year”

The study ranks New Orleans 11th nationally for having the worst roads among mid-sized cities. Kelly says she hopes this study serves as a wake-up call so the public and elected officials can make transportation funding a top priority…

CUT 8 (08)  “to a minimum”

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The State Department of Health and Hospitals has confirmed the presence of a brain eating ameba in the St. Bernard Parish Water System. The site was tested by DHH as part of the state’s new drinking water surveillance program. Spokeswoman Olivia Hwang (WONG) says the water is safe to drink, but they are conducting a 60-day chlorine burn out of an abundance of caution…:

CUT 9 (11)  “high up their nose”

Hwang says Naegleria Fowleri (nuh-GLEER’-ee-uh FOW’-lur-eye) is an ameba that occurs naturally in water. She says the Department urges residents to avoid getting water in their noses but know that getting an infection is extremely rare…:

cut 10 (10) “residents”

Hwang says fewer than 10 deaths in the US have been traced back to the ameba with three in Louisiana over the last several years. The ameba was identified in the St. Bernard Parish Water System in 2013, but the CDC confirmed it was gone in February 2014. Hwang says they are glad there is a system in place where this ameba can be identified…:

cut 11 (09) “residents health”

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Three  jockeys at Evangeline Downs Race Track in Opelousas have been arrested for taking part in a race fixing scheme. State Police arrested 46-year-old Joseph Patin Jr. and his brother, 51-year-old Billy Patin, as well as, 24-year-old LeSean Conyers. Master Trooper Brooks David says the investigation started after receiving a complaint from the Louisiana Racing Commission.

cut 12 (10)  “to win”
David says the three suspects engaged in the questionable riding tactics in a race on June 19th. He says the Patin brothers also faces charges for using an illegal shocking device on horses during two races on July 4th…

cut 13 (09)  “any time”

David wants the public to know, State Police watches for those who try to fix horse races or those who use dishonest gaming practices.

cut 14 (11)  “deemed necessary “

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State Police say a single-vehicle crash in Richland Parish has claimed the life of a 96-year-old Delhi man. Trooper Michael Reichardt says James Coleman was driving his truck south of Delhi when he lost control of the vehicle…

cut 15 (05) “pronounced dead“

He says Coleman, who was unrestrained, traveled off the roadway, struck a ditch embankment, and his vehicle overturned. Coleman was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Reichardt says Coleman was well known in the Richland Parish area…  (The crash remains under investigation, but authorities do not suspect speed nor impairment to be a factor. )

cut 16 (06) “in the community‘”

Today, Seth Fontenot will be re-sentenced on his manslaughter and aggravated battery conviction in a 2013 shooting that killed 15-year-old Austin Rivault and injured two others.  Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The summer heat these days in Louisiana has been brutal. Michelle Southern speaks with State Climatologist Barry Keim…:

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A Lithuanian based company will transform an idle Grant Parish facility into an ammonia plant. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today, Seth Fontenot will be re-sentenced on his manslaughter and aggravated battery conviction in a 2013 shooting that killed 15-year-old Austin Rivault and injured two others. In July, Fontenot was sentenced to 3 years at hard labor with all but 13 months suspended. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the state filed a motion for re-sentencing after Judge Ed Rubin handed down his decision…

cut 4  (06)  “original sentence”

State law prevents a judge from suspending the sentence of someone convicted of a crime of violence. Prosecutors want Judge Rubin to sentence Fontenot to at least 10 years in prison while Fontenot’s attorneys want a lighter sentence of 13 months. Meche says the decision rests on Judge Rubin’s shoulders…

Cut 5  (11)  “appropriate sentence”

A digital billboard has popped up in Lafayette featuring a photo of Rivault asking Judge Rubin to get the sentence right this time. Meche says judges are not supposed to be swayed by pubic opinion, but points out that judges in Louisiana are elected to the bench by popular vote…

Cut 6 (09)  “is affected”

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The summer heat these days in Louisiana has been brutal. State Climatologist Barry Keim says in Shreveport the last 5 days have had maximum temperatures of 96 degrees or greater, and even 99 on Tuesday. He says Baton Rouge has gone six straight days with temperatures of 96 degrees or greater and 98 on Monday…:

CUT 7 (11)  “maximum temperatures”

Keim says, while this is miserable, it’s not as bad as some other temps we’ve seen in the not-so-distant past. He says in late June, early July of 2012, The Capitol City went 13 out of 14 days with the temperatures greater than or equal to 95 degrees. Keim says in Shreveport, in 2011 86 of 92 days in the summer were 95 degrees or greater…:

Cut 8  (10)  “on two of those days” 

Keim says the cause of these runs of extremely warm weather is a dome of high pressure that’s sitting over the southeastern United States. He says that and the clear skies are causing the sun to bake the surface…:

Cut 9 (11) “big favor”

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The Tabasco Sauce Factory in Iberia Parish is set to open a new restaurant, museum and expanded tours at their  Visitors Center on Avery Island. Vice President of Administration  Cecil Hymel says visitors will now be able to see parts of the plant never seen before.

Cut 10 (11) “being processed”

Hymel says the museum is set to open in the fall and will hold pre-Civil War artifacts and give insight to the McIhenny family and Avery Island. He says there will be an exhibit exploring each of Tabasco’s presidents since the opening of the facility.

cut 11 (09)  “into this”

Hymel says the new restaurant called “1868”, will open around August 10th and offer a variety of Louisiana foods incorporated with each of the 7 different flavor Tabasco pepper sauces.

cut 12 (05) “you know”

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A plant that has sat idle in Grant Parish will be transformed into a $265 million  ammonia plant. A Lithuanian based company is making the investment which will create  85 new direct jobs and generate over 500 construction jobs. State Representative Terry Brown says the plant will be located near Pollock.

Cut 13 (09)  “from Lithuania”

The plant will produce 500-thousand tons of ammonia per year. Brown says Grant Parish continues to grow and new job opportunities help the area flourish.

Cut 14 (11) “Louisiana”

Construction is expected to start in the spring of 2016 and it’ll take just over two years to complete. Brown says the facility orignially opened in 1977 but has been sitting idle for the last several years.

Cut 15  (10)  “plus benefits”

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Louisiana Tech heads into the upcoming season as the favorites to win the West Division of Conference USA. The Bulldogs have about a dozen starters back from last year’s team that won the West, plus they add former Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel, who begins the season as the starter. Driskel spoke at Conference USA Media Days about transferring from the Gators

Cut 16  (18)  “really close”

Bulldogs Head Coach Skip Holtz says Driskel has earned the team’s respect

Cut 17 (19) ” him play” 

Tech went nine and five last season and won the Heart of Dallas Bowl. A big reason for their sucess was all of the turnovers they forced. They led the FBS with 42 takeaways. Holtz seems confident they can duplicate those results, if they can put pressure on opposing quarterbacks

Cut 18 (17) “of defense”

The city council in Hammond refuses to allow establishments that only severe alcohol to open on Sundays. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, oil and gas jobs in Louisiana continued their decline in June, dropping to the lowest level in almost 10 years. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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The city council in Hammond refuses to allow establishments that only severe alcohol to open on Sundays. During a meeting last night, the vote was 3-2 against changing the longtime law. Several people attended to speak in favor of bars selling alcohol on Sundays including Todd Delaune, owner of Red, White and Brew on Hammond’s main street…:

CUT 3 (11)  “discriminatory”

Delaune says this is an issue of fairness that’s taken a small segment of people who run businesses and saying they don’t have the right to earn money 7 days a week like their counterparts. He says, to him, the religious argument doesn’t hold up…:

CUT 4 (11)  “Friday and Saturday”

There was a woman who spoke to oppose the proposal saying it would hurt Hammond’s family city image to sell alcohol on Sundays. Delaune says bars police the sale of alcohol better than most other establishments that offer liquor and beer 7 days a week such as restaurants and gas stations…:

CUT 5 (12) “age of 21”

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A Harvey woman was arrested after allegedly shooting three of her five children with a BB gun and choking them as punishment. 34-year-old Tomeka Stair was charged with three counts of cruelty to a juvenile. Col. John Fortunato with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department says a family member alerted authorities about the abuse.

CUT 6 (11)  “their heads”

The victims were ages 9 to 11. Forturato says Stair’s 21-year-old girlfriend, Shebria Turner was also arrested on similar charges. He says Turner confessed to the police and confirmed what the children were saying about their mother.

CUT 7 (05) “both females”

Forturato says the children were originally released to child protective services but are now with a relative. He says this is obviously not the way to punish children for bad behavior.

CUT 8 (08)  “your children”

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According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, oil and gas jobs in Louisiana continued their decline in June, dropping to the lowest level in almost 10 years. Eric Smith, Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute, says these jobs are some of the best jobs in the state…

CUT 9 (08)  “in manufacturing”

Mining and logging jobs, where many oil and gas jobs are classified, fell by another 300 jobs last month, bringing the total number of jobs lost this year to 6,000. Smith says the price of crude oil is the leading factor in the decrease in jobs…

cut 10 (10) “of the country” X2

The total number of mining and logging jobs has dropped to 47,700, the lowest in the state since May 2006. But Smith says the June job report isn’t all bad news…

cut 11 (08) “those people”

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A survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more teenage girls are using the morning after pill. The report indicates about 1 in 5 teens girls have used the morning after pill, when ten years ago it was 1 in 12.  Dr. Valerie Williams,with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, says more teens are taking the pill now because it’s easier to get over the counter…:

cut 12 (11)  “insurance”

Williams hopes easier access to the morning after pill will lead to a drop in teen birth rates because  80% of teenage pregnancies are unplanned. She says unfortunately, Louisiana is above the national average for teen pregnancy rates.

cut 13 (09)  “other countries”

Williams says there are both negatives and positives to this trend. She says it’s great for young women to have an emergency option, but it shouldn’t be used as a primary form of contraception.

cut 14 (09)  “contraceptives”

The political news website Politico reports that Governor Bobby Jindal is still not polling high enough to be included in the first Republican televised debate. Scott Carwile has more…

CUT 1 (30) “Scott Carwile”

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According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding caused at least 27 percent of traffic fatalities in Louisiana in 2013. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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The lifestyle digital publication PureWow has named Thibodaux as one of the 12 cutest small towns in America. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The political news website Politico reports that Governor Bobby Jindal is still not polling high enough to be included in the first Republican televised debate. They are basing their prediction on a recent Washington Post/ABC poll where Jindal received just two-percent of the vote. LaPolitics-dot-com Publisher Jeremy Alford says this does not bode well for the governor…

cut 4  (05)  “not be there”

Fox News will host the first debate on August 6th and only the top 10 contenders based on an average of recent polls will be invited. Alford says that while Jindal would prefer to be on that stage, his exclusion would kind of play into his hands…

Cut 5  (09)  “in recent weeks”

Jindal’s campaign says a recent Monmouth University poll showing the governor with a 59-percent favorability rating among Iowa voters is a sign that Jindal is gaining momentum. However, Alford says Jindal is definitely behind where he wants to be at this point in the campaign…

Cut 6 (09)  “an accomplishment”

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According to  the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed accounted for at least 27 percent of traffic deaths, killing 193, in Louisiana in 2013.  State Police Sgt. Nick Manale says the faster the vehicle is going, the less reaction time the driver has.

CUT 7 (05)  “as possible”

The data found that young male drivers out of all age groups were most likely to be speeding at the time of fatal crashes. Manale says getting young men to slow down is a combination of educating and enforcing.

Cut 8  (07)  “a reason” 

34 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2013 were also speeding. Manale says the majority of motorcycle accidents they see are single vehicle crashes. He says state police offers additional training for motorcyclists to ensure they learn how to stay safe on the road.

Cut 9 (09) “the motorcycle”

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The lifestyle digital publication PureWow has named Thibodaux as one of the 12 cutest small towns in America. The article says the picks were based on places which loads of charm, festivals and quaint locations. Kathy Benoit, President of the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce, says they are thrilled about this latest designation…:

Cut 10 (10) “know it also”

Also on the PureWow list are places like Levenworth, Washington, Carmel-By-The-Sea, California, Charlottesville, Virginia and Fayetteville Arkansas. Benoit says Thibodaux is very historic with plenty of spots on the National Register…:

cut 11 (11)  “live and visit”

Benoit says they had a young man come into their office earlier this week for some information about the town as he was moving there from another city. She says he couldn’t stop raving about how friendly the people of Thibodaux are…:

cut 12 (08) “from an outsider”

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A spokesperson for the Louisiana National Guard says they are still putting a policy in place so they can follow Governor Bobby Jindal’s executive order that allows guardsmen to be armed at military facilities. Colonel Pete Schneider says as part of their planning, they are determining which officers should be issued a government weapon for security purposes while on national guard property…

Cut 13 (09)  “of force briefed”

Jindal issued the executive order last Friday after a gunman fatally shot four Marines and a sailor at two military centers in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Schneider says Louisiana’s major national guard bases have full-time force protection personnel, but their armories and recruiting offices do not have this type of security

Cut 14 (10) “training process”

Schneider says unit commanders will determine which guardsmen will be armed once they arrive at a National Guard facility

Cut 15  (07)  “will be issued”

__________________________

Some Tangipahoa Parish parents are petitioning to change the start date of school to after Labor Day because of the extreme heat. Emelie Gunn has more….

CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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In an effort to re-establish the species, the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has released juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles into the Calcasieu River Basin. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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State Police say a woman is dead after being struck by a vehicle on I-12 in Livingston Parish. Trooper Bryan Lee says 57-year-old Maggie Lynn of Independence and 56-year-old James Kinchen of Tickfaw were attempting to load a car on the back of a trailer when a car, driven by 26-year-old Mekdad Zidan of Baton Rouge, approached…

CUT 3 (10)  “of the trailer”

He says it is believed that Zidan was traveling over the speed limit when he lost control of his vehicle and struck the pair Monday afternoon. Lee says Lynn was pronounced dead at the scene…

CUT 4 (05)  “Lake hospital”

Kinchen was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. Zidan received minor injuries in the crash. Lee says Zidan was placed under arrest for reckless operation and negligent homicide…

CUT 5 (10) “negligent driving”

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A group of parents in Tangipahoa Parish are asking district leaders to delay the August start of school because of the extreme heat. The change.org petition says buses don’t have air conditioners and the kids are riding home during peak hours of heat. They suggest kicking off time in the classroom after the Labor Day Holiday. Erin Hunt, whose children go to school in Kentwood, says she’s supportive because this high heat is too brutal for children.

CUT 6 (10)  “the gym”

Hunt says many people don’t understand the majority of school buses are independently owned and drivers don’t make enough to install air conditioners throughout them. She believes some parents are hesitant to sign the petition because they think their kids will get a shorter summer, but that isn’t the case.

CUT 7 (12) “for summer”

The Tangipahoa Parish School Board Superintendent Mark Kolwe (Cole-lay) says he knows it’s hot outside but students need to get as much classroom instruction as possible before taking their state exams in March and April 2016. He says it would be hard to get this approved now because school is scheduled to begin in two weeks.

CUT 8 (08)  “calendar”

Kolwe says a school board meeting is scheduled for tonight at 6 and it’s expected some parents will come forward to make a petition. He believes this should be considered a statewide issue.

CUT 9 (09)  “of school”

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In an effort to re-establish the species, the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has released juvenile Alligator Snapping Turtles into the Calcasieu River Basin. LDWF Natural Heritage Program Manager, Amity Bass, says the turtle is a Species of Concern in Louisiana. Bass says this is the culmination of three years of work…

cut 10 (08) “this fall” 

LDWF’s head start program raises these turtles in captivity until they are 3-years-old before they are released, giving the animals a better chance of survival. Bass says they initially released eight Alligator Snapping Turtles into the wild with another 50 scheduled for release this fall…

cut 11 (07) “next year, per year”

Bass says next year LDWF will begin releasing a minimum of 100 turtles per year. The US Fish and Wildlife Service will determine whether or not to list the Alligator Snapping Turtle under the Endangered Species Act in 2017. Bass is hopeful it will not come to that…

cut 12 (09)  “that’s our goal”

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The latest numbers for the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Louisiana added jobs in June and the state’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 6.4 percent. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive director Curt Eysink says employers added 13,400 jobs over the year.

cut 13 (04)  “really positive”

Eysink says he expects to see a steady increase in the number of jobs to continue. He says the current job growth is across many different professions.

cut 14 (04)  “total ever”

Payrolls rose by 5,000 from May to June but Eysink admits although the dropping price of oil is affecting energy sector jobs.

cut 15 (10) “of oil”

According to a report from the Annie E Casey Foundation, more children in Louisiana are living in poverty than during the Great Recession. Scott Carwile reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “Scott Carwile”

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Gas prices keep falling in Louisiana. Emelie Gunn finds out how much more fuel prices could fall…..

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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A Monmouth University survey finds Governor Bobby Jindal is gaining support among likely caucus goers. Jeff Palermo has more…..

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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According to a report from the Annie E Casey Foundation, more children in Louisiana are living in poverty than during the Great Recession. The 2015 Kids Count Data Book shows 28% of children here are living in disadvantaged families, up from 25% in 2008. Anthony Recasner, CEO of Agenda for Children, says many Louisianians are searching for work…:

cut 4  (06)  “family of four”

Recasner says the percent of kids living in high-poverty areas increased to 19 percent between 2009-2013 which is up from 17 percent between 2006-2010. He says race and ethnicity tends to shape a child’s economic stability…:

Cut 5  (07)  “stable employment”

The same report indicates the percentage of children without heath insurance is going down and the percentage of high school kids graduating on time is going up. But Recasner says Louisiana ranks 48th overall for child well-being. He says more higher paying jobs translates into a family’s ability to provide more for their children:

Cut 6 (09)  “terms of education”

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New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu travels to the Vatican with other mayors, governors, and UN Representitives to meet with Pope Francis to discuss global issues.  Topics will range from climate change, human trafficking, and sustainable development.  Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says this is part of the Pope’s effort to engage and motivate political and community leaders around the world…

CUT 7 (10)  “confront New Orleans”

The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences is hosting a workshop and symposium over the next two days.  Dubos says the subject of climate change is something Pope Francis takes very seriously…

Cut 8  (10)  “on Sundays” 

The mayor’s office says Landrieu will offer remarks about the challenges New Orleans has faced and how the city has become a model for resilience and sustainability.  Dubos says Landrieu could extend an invitation for the Pontiff to visit New Orleans during his visit to the US in September…

Cut 9 (07) “who knows”

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We’re seeing gas prices at the pump continue to fall in Louisiana. Gregg Laskosi with GasBuddy.com says this is great news for consumers right now because the statewide average is now $2.48 per gallon for regular gasoline, a 4 cent drop since last week.

Cut 10 (10) “average price”

Laskosi says we’re already seeing stations in the state with prices as low as $2.14.  He expects prices per gallon in September to be under two dollars and drop even more throughout the winter months.

cut 11 (09)  “the pump”

Laskosi credits the drop in gas prices to the decrease in the price of crude oil. He says the supply of gasoline in North America outweighs consumer demand.

cut 12 (08) “the year”

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A new survey of likely Iowa caucus goers shows Governor Bobby Jindal is gaining momentum. The Monmouth University poll gives Jindal a 59 percent favorable rating, 5th highest among Republican presidential candidates and 4 percent of the respondents said they would support Jindal if the presidential caucus was held today. Radio Iowa News Director Kay Henderson says many people are responding warmly to Jindal on his “Believe Again Tour.”

Cut 13 (12)  “Republicans”

Previous surveys had Jindal polling at one to two percent. Henderson says he is getting large crowds for every event he’s holding across Iowa but that doesn’t mean he’s turning that into caucus support.

Cut 14 (11) “Walker has”

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker leads the Monmouth University poll with 22 percent of respondents favoring him over the rest of the field. Henderson says while Iowans like Jindal’s religious liberty message, it’s very difficult to receive a large amount of support among the evangelical christian groups, when there’s several candidates going after that vote.

Cut 15  (10)  “voting block”

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Ragin Cajuns football coach Mark Hudspeth will not name a new starting quarterback until the September 5th season opener against Kentucky. Hudspeth says he plans to keep that information top secret…

Cut 16  (14)  “get here”

Brooks Haack, Jalen Nixon and redshirt freshman Jordan Davis are all seeking to Terrance Broadway, who has been the starting QB the last three seasons. UL Lafayette has been to the New Orleans Bowl for four straight years. Hudspeth says the annual trip to the Big Easy is not getting stale, but playing in a major bowl game is the goal

Cut 17 (15) ” not the destination” 

The Ragin Cajuns were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Preseason Poll. ULM was picked to finish seventh, but sixth-year Warhawks Head Coach Todd Berry believes this year’s team is the best he’s had since arriving in Monroe, even though they don’t have an established starter at quarterback

Cut 18 (18) “the position”

Brayle Brown, Earnest Carrington and Garrett Smith are the three QBs seeking to replace Pete Thomas. ULM struggled to run the football last season, averaging just 70 yards a game on the ground. Berry expects better results this season

Cut 19 (14) “with that”

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US Senator David Vitter announces he has raised $1.3 million in the second quarter for his gubernatorial campaign. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

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The Shreveport Police Department says a 10-year-old boy who is believed to have accidentally shot himself last week has died. Michelle Southern reports…:

CUT 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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State Police are investigating a weekend hit and run that seriously injured a 14-year-old boy in Albany. Trooper Bryan Lee says, at last report, the teenager was listed in critical condition. Lee says the crash occurred on LA 43 in Livingston Parish…

CUT 3 (11)  “southbound lane”

Lee says the truck was trying to pass another vehicle on the roadway when it struck the teen. He says the suspect vehicle then made a U-turn and fled the scene. Lee says they were able to get a description of the suspect vehicle…

CUT 4 (09)  “GMC pickup”

According to witness statements, LSP believes the unknown vehicle may be a dark, newer model GMC or Chevrolet pickup with possible damage to the front end and a broken left headlight. Lee says the crash remains under investigation and are they asking the public for assistance in locating the pickup truck…

CUT 5 (08) “8-5-0-0”

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US Senator David Vitter announces he has raised $1.3 million in the second quarter and has more than $5 million in cash on hand for his gubernatorial campaign. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that’s a huge amount of money compared to his competitors. Pinsonat says Vitter being a sitting US Senator is a big advantage…

CUT 6 (11)  “their Senator”

The other gubernatorial candidates have yet to announce their second quarter fundraising totals. Pinsonat says this announcement is another sign that Vitter is the guy everybody’s chasing in this race…

CUT 7 (09) “in the runoff”

The Fund for Louisiana’s Future, a political action committee supporting Vitter, also announces they have more than $4 million available to spend on the Senator’s behalf. Pinsonat says Vitter released his fundraising totals first to show that his opponents in the governor’s race can’t keep up…

CUT 8 (07)  “in the runoff”

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The Shreveport Police Department says a 10-year-old boy who is believed to have accidentally shot himself last week has died. Corporal Marcus Hines says the child gained access to the gun in his home on July 17th…:

CUT 9 (07)  “shot in the head”

Hines says the child was shot in the head and succumbed to his injuries over the weekend. He says the investigation into the boy’s death is ongoing…:

cut 10 (06) “at this point” 

Hines says in almost every case they see in which a child is killed by a weapon they’ve somehow gotten their hands on, the accident is completely avoidable…:

cut 11 (12) “access it”

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Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell would like to see the federal “ConnectHome” program expanded in Louisiana to include the Monroe area. Campbell says, per capita, the Monroe area has the poorest people living in the US and no one needs it worse than they do…

cut 12 (10)  “high-speed internet” 2X

The program will provide free or low-cost high-speed broadband internet access to low-income families in 27 cities across the country, including Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Campbell says his request does not seek to remove Baton Rouge or New Orleans from the program…

cut 13 (10)  “of the state”

Campbell says he will write to President Obama, the Louisiana Congressional Delegation, and others asking that the Louisiana Delta and Monroe be included. He encourages residents to contact their congressman and push for the area to be incorporated into the program…

cut 14 (05)  “more important”

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LSU’s athletic department announces they’ve transferred ten million dollars over to the main campus, which will be used on academic and research initiatives. That’s about three million dollars more than what university leaders were expecting. LSU Senior Associate Athletics Director Eddie Nunez says few athletic departments across the country are able to provide financial assistance for academics

cut 15 (10) “to the campus”

The athletic department has agreed to give the university at least seven-point two million dollars every year. Nunez says by giving an additional two-point-eight million dollars this year, the school will be able to benefit even more…

cut 16 (09) “not expected'”

A recent Fox News poll on the Republican presidential field shows Governor Bobby Jindal polling at less than one-percent. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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State lawmakers will not return to Baton Rouge for a veto session. Michelle Southern has the story…:

CUT 2 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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A recent Fox News poll on the Republican presidential field shows Governor Bobby Jindal polling at less than one-percent. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says this is obviously not good news for Jindal. Cross says the governor did not see a real boost in his numbers after his official announcement…

CUT 3 (06)  “at this moment”

Cross says it’s too early in the process to take too much stock in any of these surveys. Donald Trump topped the poll with 18-percent of voters, followed by Scott Walker and Jeb Bush with 15- and 14-percent, respectively. Cross says the Jindal campaign has enough money available to get in the game, but these poll numbers could have a serious effect on fundraising efforts going forward…

CUT 4 (09)  “at the polls”

He says it’s also important for the governor to get into the top 10 of Republican hopefuls so he is invited to the upcoming debates. Cross says, at this point, Jindal should keep doing what he’s doing and hope that something sticks with voters…

CUT 5 (10) “to his side”

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According to the National Weather Service, a good portion of north Louisiana is under a heat advisory and a hazardous weather outlook has been issued for south Louisiana due to extreme heat. State climatologist Barry Keim says rain chances remain low this weekend, but there’s the potential for a pop-up severe thunderstorm.

CUT 6 (07)  “temperatures are”

Keim says we’ve dry and hot because of a strong high pressure system. He says we can continue to expect temperatures in Louisiana to be in the mid 90’s and possibly increase into the triple digits next week.

CUT 7 (07) “vengeance”

Keim says it’s been dry across the state for the last week but rain chances are a little higher  today and through the weekend.

CUT 8 (06)  “right now”

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Louisiana once again ranks number one among southern states in the number of major business projects per capita according to Southern Business and Development magazine. This is the sixth year in a row the Bayou State has received this honor. State Economic Development Secretary Steven Grissom says this is a very important ranking for the state…

CUT 9 (06)  “development area”

Louisiana earned 105 points in the rankings, easily outdistancing second-place Kentucky with 63 points. The publication also designated Lake Charles as their Small Market of the Year. Grissom says the magazine bases their ranking on large capital investment projects and large job creation projects…

cut 10 (10) “200 or more” 

Louisiana now ranks among the top 10 states in the US in five national business climate rankings. Grissom says the state has done so well in this ranking because Louisiana offers a strong business climate for companies looking to invest…

cut 11 (09) “choice for them”

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U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and David Vitter introduce the National Disaster Relief Tax Act that would give tax relief to victims of natural disasters that have taken place in recent years. This would include people affected by the recent Red River flooding and Hurricane Issac. Cassidy says the legislation allows victims to use the tax code to fund their own recovery.

cut 12 (11)  “buy in”

Cassidy says this legislation extends tax benefits which are commonly used for other natural disasters, and allows it to cover natural disasters which occurred from 2012 to 2015. He says the proposed legislation has bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

cut 13 (06)  “Sandy”

Cassidy says the legislation would give disaster victims a break on their taxes and they can use that money to help in their recovery . He says this will greatly help those affected by the Red River flooding, because the President did not approval individual assistance for those victims…

cut 14 (11) “own needs”

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Federal authorities announce a bust of a huge illegal computer hacking forum which resulted in the arrest of 70 alleged cyber-criminals including a man from Louisiana. 28-year-old Rory Stephen Guidry of Opelousas is charged with a count of computer fraud. Andrew Ludlum is the FBI’s Assistant Special agent in charge of the New Orleans field office:

cut 15 (13) “from businesses”

Investigators say this exclusive group was the largest known English faction in the world which manufactured malicious computer software until the FBI got a court order to shut it down. Ludlum says “Operation Shrouded Horizon” has taken away hackers ability to sell identity information they were stealing from personal electronic devices…:

cut 16 (07) “different servers”

Guidry’s arrest record indicates the accused hacker operated and sold access to a botnet in which security breached computers are controlled by a malicious third party. Ludlum says officials will eventually catch up to these clever cyber criminals…:

cut 17 (07) “criminal enterprise”

The chairman of the Republican Legislative Delegation is providing an avenue for residents to provide suggestions on how to improve Louisiana. Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Expect more traffic delays on the I-10 corridor in Slidell. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor Bobby Jindal begins his “Believe Again Tour” today in Iowa. Scott Carwile has more….

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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The chairman of the Republican Legislative Delegation is providing an avenue for residents to provide suggestions on how to improve Louisiana. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the effort is called “Take Back Louisiana.” Harris says this is an attempt to engage voters before the 2016 legislative session…

cut 4  (06)  “in Louisiana”

Harris says the initial Facebook page is up now, with a website being launched at the end of the month. He says the goal of this initiative is to correct the state’s structural issues, focusing on the budget, education, transportation, and state’s rights. Harris says tax reform is at the top of the list…

Cut 5  (11)  “operate on”

He is hopeful voter input through “Take Back Louisiana” will give legislators ideas on how to fix issues that boxed lawmakers in last session. Harris says this is a true grassroots effort with no donations being accepted from anyone…

Cut 6 (07)  “the process”

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The state department of transportation says there’s the potential for more traffic delays in the Slidell area as a result of lane closures on Interstate 10. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says a lane on westbound I-10, near the Louisiana welcome center, will close at 6 tonight and will reopen on Monday afternoon. He says travelers heading on I-10 east in that area will face morning and nighttime lane closures throughout the weekend.

CUT 7 (11)  “morning”

The last few weekends drivers have experienced delays in eastern St. Tammany Parish because of an ongoing 40-million dollar construction project. Last weekend there were delays up to 13 miles in the Slidell area. Mallett says drivers should use U.S. 90 as an alternate route and they are taking steps to reduce the traffic nightmare.

Cut 8  (12)  “about it” 

The ongoing construction has frustrated drivers, especially those who are either leaving or returning from Mississippi and Alabama. Mallett says DOTD chose to do construction during the summer months because school is out and it’s the least busiest time of year.

Cut 9 (10) “system“

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Governor Bobby Jindal announces he’ll visit all 99 counties in Iowa as part of his “Believe Again” presidential campaign. Jindal started the tour last night in Waterloo. LSU Political Science professor Robert Hogan says many candidates use this strategy to get more name recognition.

Cut 10 (07) “level”

Other GOP candidates have also committed to visiting each Iowa county. Hogan says Jindal’s main goal is to create an intense following at the grassroots level.

cut 11 (05)  “ads”

The tour means that Jindal will not spend much time in Louisiana. Hogan says the governor has more time on his hands, now that the legislative session is over. Hogan says that gives Jindal more time to get his conservative message out to Iowa caucus goers…

cut 12 (09) “don’t know”

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The Louisiana High School Athletic Association announces it has finalized a four-year agreement with the officials association, which means high school sporting events will go on as scheduled this fall. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says this is an agreement that needed to be done and he’s happy they were able to take the final step…

Cut 13 (08)  “of fall sports”

This agreement prevents a threatened work stoppage by Louisiana High School Officials Association referees. Bonine says he is happy that a multi-year deal was struck…

Cut 14 (06) “until ’18-19”

The LHSAA says the agreement results in raises for officials in seven sports, including football. The deal still needs to be approved by state principals during their January meeting.  Bonine says the agreement also allows for the establishment of a sports officials sub-committee to discuss future negotiations for fee schedules and other items…

Cut 15  (06)  “and so forth”

The President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association has concerns the Iran nuclear deal will negatively impact oil producers in Louisiana.  Jeff Palermo reports…

CUT 1 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A group of pro-life Louisiana lawmakers announce plans to craft “Abortion Pill Reversal” legislation for the 2016 session. Scott Carwile reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Scott Carwile”

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Governor Bobby Jindal is asking the Inspector General to investigate allegations Planned Parenthood is selling body parts from aborted fetuses. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association has concerns that the Iran nuclear deal will negatively impact oil producers in Louisiana and the United States. Don Briggs says the agreement will allow Iran to export crude oil into an already flooded market…

cut 4  (10)  “my concern”

He says with crude oil prices currently in the mid-$50 a barrel range, the addition of Iran’s oil to the marketplace will continue to suppress prices, perhaps for the next two years. Briggs says says the oil industry here is going through a major downturn and this is a cruel reminder that American oil producers are still not allowed to sell their crude oil supplies overseas…

Cut 5  (07)  “can’t export”

Briggs says Iran could add 500,000 barrels of crude oil a day to the world market by the end of this year. He says, if the addition of oil from Iran supresses crude oil prices, it could have devastating effects on Louisiana…

Cut 6 (11)  “key personnel” 2X

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A group of pro-life Louisiana lawmakers announce plans to craft “Abortion Pill Reversal” legislation for the 2016 session. West Monroe Representative Frank Hoffman says the proposal would likely require clinics to make patients aware of the reversal pill. He says the technique involves stopping the two-pill abortion medication process:

CUT 7 (11)  “started again”

Hoffman says Louisiana has been named the top pro-life state in America for 6 years in a row and they want to continue to pass laws that re-enforce the designation. He says if a woman goes into a clinic and takes the abortion pill, she should be aware that a reversal exists should she change her mind…:

Cut 8  (09)  “to do that” 

Hoffman says he’s been told that women change their mind about abortions all the time and most of the time it’s too late. He says many people don’t even know that if they go through the abortion pill process there is a reversal pill that exists…:

Cut 9 (10)  “it is working”

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Louisiana Tech announces a record for donations made to  LTAC, which is the organization that helps fund the school’s athletic programs. The school says  during the 2014-2015 fiscal year, 1.1 million dollars was donated to LTAC and the athletic department received another 1.5 million dollars in unrestricted donations. Senior Associate Athletic Director Marco Borne says success on the field and court helped reel in a record number of donations.

Cut 10 (11) “step up”

Tech football won a bowl game in December and the men’s basketball team just won its third straight regular season conference championship. Borne says the money supports the student athletes and keeps them competitive with their opponents at other schools.

cut 11 (08)  “for that”

Previous donations have helped Tech build a 22 million dollar athletic complex, that will open in August. Borne says their newest goal is to break more records and raise even more funds. He says he expects more contributions in the next year as the program continues to grow.

cut 12 (08) “even more”

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The Steve Gleason Act is heading to President Obama’s desk for his signature. The legislation is named after former Saints player Steve Gleason, who has A-L-S. The measure will make speech generating devices more accessible to people who battle this disease that impacts the brain’s ability to control muscle movement. US Representative Steve Scalise of Metairie says this adds to Gleason’s legacy as a leader in the fight against A-L-S

Cut 13 (08)  “other peoplet”

Gleason pushed this legislation after he learned that Medicare funding for these type of devices was significantly scaled back.  Scalise says through Gleason’s lobbying efforts, the thousands who suffer from A-L-S will have their voices heard…

Cut 14 (10) “that voice”

New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says Gleason spurred Congress into action and he’s glad the federal government came through by passing this important piece of legislation

Cut 15  (08)   “we represent”

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An internal investigation finds that Department of Children and Family Services staff members did not violate criminal laws in the case of a 15-year-old Baton Rouge boy found in poor living conditions and weighing only 47 pounds. Family members and lawmakers criticized the state agency for not doing enough to help the special needs child.  DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier would not talk about the specifics of this case, but says communication is important in these type of situations

Cut 16  (06)  “or neglect”

One of the recommendations calls for legislation that creates a felony offense when a third party misrepresents facts to a DCFS employee during a child protection investigation. Sonnier says they support this recommendation and others…

Cut 17 (05) ” with us” 

The report contains seven different recommendations. Sonnier says they’ve already implemented one and that’s involving medical professionals in cases where the child is unable to verbally communicate

Cut 18 (10) “those recommendations”