Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne unveils the next round of Louisiana’s out of state “Pick Your Passion” ad campaign. Michelle Southern reporting.

CUT 1 (33) “reporting”

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The Louisiana Democratic Party endorses Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo in the 5th district Congressional race. Jeff Palermo has the story….

CUT 2 (32) “reporting”

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The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office says a man is in jail for allegedly shooting his brother over a $2 debt. Spokeswoman Cindy Chadwick says they were called by the Vivian Police Department to assist in the shooting at an apartment complex Monday afternoon…:

CUT 3 (09) “by his brother”

Chadwick says detectives believe that 24-year-old Cardarrio Watson shot his brother, 28-year-old LaMichael Watson, in the stomach. She says the suspect fled the apartment after the shooting…:

CUT 4 (11)  “found him”

Chadwick says the victim was taking to a local hospital where he is being treated for a life threatening injury. She says they found that the two got into this altercation over an extremely small amount of money…:(The suspect was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center on a charge of aggravated second-degree battery.)

CUT 5 (10) “shooting his brother”

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Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne unveils the next round of Louisiana’s out of state “Pick Your Passion” ad campaign. In 2013 the state Department of Tourism celebrated the year of music, this year the marketing focused on Louisiana culture. He says next year the ads will be all about food in The Bayou State…:

CUT 6 (10)  “doing so with music”

Dardenne says the ads will run spring 2015 likely in Memphis, Denver, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Chicago and Atlanta. He says the marketing efforts are working well and they just learned this week that there was a 7.6% increase so far in 2014…:

CUT 7 (14) “up as well”

Dardenne says one of the ways they are going to make sure tourism efforts stay alive throughout the entire state, he’ll be making stops in growing high profile areas in Louisiana; Lake Charles, Shreveport and Monroe…:

CUT 8 (14) “on before”

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The Louisiana Democratic Party announced its endorsement of Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo today as he seeks to represent Louisiana’s Fifth Congressional district. Mayo is the only democrat in the ten person field and state democratic party chairman Karen Peterson says Mayo is the only candidate who will represent all of the people in the Fifth Distirct…

CUT 9 (12)  “the district”

Mayo has served as Monroe’s mayor the last 13 years. Peterson says he’s the only candidate running who will put aside partisan politics and work for what’s best for the people of the district….

CUT 10 (11) “fight for”

Peterson says the endorsement will provide Mayo with the resources he needs to run an effective campaign

(Mayo ran in last year’s special election in the 5th district and finished third in the primary.)

CUT 11 (10) “November fourth“

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The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a former LSU football player for allegedly choking his girlfriend. 25-year-old DeAngelo Peterson, an LSU tight end from 2008-2011, was booked on one count of simple battery. Spokeswoman Casey Rayborn Hicks says deputies responded to a call from an apartment on Nicholson Drive…

CUT 12 (09) “choked her”

The victim claims Peterson attacked her during an argument and tried to choke her. Hicks says the victim then told authories she broke away and locked herself in the bathroom…

CUT 13 (09) “from her as well”

The victim says Peterson broke into the bathroom and took her phone as she was calling law enforcement. But, Peterson has a different view of events. Hicks says Peterson claims the victim grabbed a knife during the argument…

cut 14 (09) “talk to her”

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that a 40-year-old Pineville man is dead after a confrontation with officers from the Pineville Police Department.  Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, who is planning on running for governor in 2015, lays out what he thinks should be the priorities of Bobby Jindal’s successor. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 2 (29) “reporting”

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5th District Congressman Vance McAllister apparently does not have the support of the “Duck Dynasty” patriarch as he seeks re-election this fall.  Eric Gill has more…

Cut 3 (33) “reporting”

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The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office reports that a 40-year-old Pineville man is dead after a confrontation with officers from the Pineville Police Department.  RPSO Lt. Tommy Carnline says Pineville Police received a 9-1-1 call Monday morning claiming a subject had threatened another person with a weapon and officers responded to the scene…

Cut 4  (10)  “of the officers”

He says officers were confronted by a subject brandishing a large sword.  Carnline says the suspect then charged toward one of the officers…

Cut 5  (10)  “at the scene”

He says the officer fired and hit the subject to stop his advance.  Carnline says the officer immediately called for medical assistance, but the subject, Christopher Shane Leblanc, was unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene…

Cut 6 (07)  “is ongoing”

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Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne, who is planning on running for governor in 2015, lays out what he thinks should be the priorities of Bobby Jindal’s successor. Dardenne says there would be a much more transparent administration than what we’ve seen in that office since 2008…:

CUT 7 (04) “is secretive”

US Senator David Vitter is considered a favorite for the job of Governor and Dardenne says even though the two have a lot of the same policies, there are big differences. Dardenne says, for one, he’s spent his entire career in the state…:

CUT 8 (12)   “concerned about that”

Specifically Dardenne said he felt the privatization of LSU hospitals was a good idea, but he felt the implementation needed work. He also didn’t dismiss the idea of Medicaid expansion but said it was something that should be looked at and considered. Dardenne says the next Governor needs to listen and make decisions for the right reasons…:

CUT 9 (11) “for Louisiana”  

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5th District Congressman Vance McAllister apparently does not have the support of the “Duck Dynasty” family as he seeks re-election this fall.  Phil Robertson reportedly took some jabs at McAllister at a couple of events over the weekend.  LaPolitics-dot-com’s publisher Jeremy Alford says Robertson’s first jab came at a Lake Charles fundraiser for his nephew, Zach Dasher, who is challenging McAllister…

cut 10 (09)  “God-fearing candidate”

He says Robertson continued his criticism of McAllister the following night at a speaking engagement in Bossier City.  Alford says McAllister is disappointed that Robertson is speaking against the words he writes about in his books…

cut 11 (08)  “in the house” 

He says McAllister is referring to Robertson’s own dark past, which Robertson has been open about.  Alford says Phil Robertson never technically endorsed McAllister, although his son Willie did appear in a commercial for McAllister.  He says there is no question that the Robertsons and McAllister are on two different sides of the fence…

cut 12 (11)  “and noisy way”

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Louisiana shrimpers are tying up their boats this week — angry about the low prices they’re getting at the dock. A spokesman with the American Shrimp Processors Association says prices are falling because imports are rebounding and they aren’t the ones to blame. Gulf Seafood Institute President Harlon Pearce says this is a communication breakdown…:

Cut 13 (09)  “these types of changes”

Disease had been killing many Asian farm-raised shrimp which raised the prices for American shrimpers, but that problem is going away so the price is dropping according to processors. But Pearce doesn’t think hanging it up is a good way to make more money…:

Cut 14 (09)  “get it done”

The Louisiana Shrimpers Association says they are in talks with the processors and they are working to figure out ways everyone can make money. Pearce says the two needs need to keep chatting with each other about this…:

Cut 15  (13)   “talk more”

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After two games, LSU quarterback Anthony Jennings is ranked second in the Southeastern Conference in passing efficiency. Jennings has thrown for 427 yards and five touchdowns and Coach Les Miles likes how the sophomore is managing the game….

Cut 16  (16)   “to the offense”

The Tigers host ULM this Saturday night. Miles is impressed with some of their offensive play makers

Cut 17  (18)   “receivers”

______________________________________

The Saints will look to rebound from a tough season opening loss to Atlanta when they visit Cleveland this Sunday. New Orleans Coach Sean Payton says it’s important the players do not allow this loss to linger

Cut 18 (09)  “tough loss”

The Saints defense allowed 568 total yards to the Falcons, the second most in Black and Gold history. Payton says the problems were evident when watching the film…

cut 19 (12)  “we’re playing”

Payton says he was also disappointed they didn’t get more pressure on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan….

Cut 20 (18) ” to cover”

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin reported to a federal prison in Texarkana, Texas today to begin his 10-year sentence on public corruption charges. Michelle Southern on what Nagin’s life will be like..

CUT 1 (33) “reporting”

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According to a new Violence Policy Center report, Louisiana ranks fourth in the nation in the rate of women murdered by men. Eric Gill reports…

CUT 2 (34) “reporting”

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So what will life be like for Ray Nagin for the next 10 years now that his sentence at a federal prison in Texarkana, Texas, began today? Robert English is a professor at Loyola University and former Bureau of Prisons official. He says Texarkana is minimum security but it’s also minimal in terms of privacy…:

CUT 3 (10) “for the duration”

Nagin is reportedly filing an appeal with a public offender because he can no longer afford to pay for a lawyer. English says in terms of personal property, Nagin will only be able to keep what can fit into a prison issued foot locker. He says Nagin will only be able to wear khaki…:

CUT 4 (09)  “all the same color”

English says the prisoners are not allowed to have any form of currency and they can only purchase items approved by officials with money that has been placed in their name usually by family members. English says..as for his time there…:

CUT 5 (10) “that’s basically it”

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

A Slidell police officer remains in critical condition after he was possibly driving drunk in a crash that killed his passenger. State Police Trooper Greg Marchand says the single vehicle wreck occurred early Sunday morning on Highway 433 and 31-year-old John Cole, who was not working at the time, was at the wheel…

CUT 6 (12)  “and overturned”

A 31-year-old passenger in Cole’s vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, Daniel Hanlon. Marchand says impairment is suspected on Cole’s part as bottles of alcohol were found in the vehicle. He says a blood sample from Cole was collected for a toxicological analysis

CUT 7 (06) “at that time”

Marchand says a resident heard the crash around 4:30, but the wrecked Jeep Wrangler was spotted two and a half hours later and Hanlon was pronounced dead at the scene

CUT 8 (12) “survivor also”

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

According to a new Violence Policy Center report, Louisiana ranks fourth in the nation in the rate of women murdered by men. The report applies to 2012, the most recent year data is available. The United Way of Southeast Louisiana’s Kim Sport says this year’s report is particularly concerning…

CUT 9 (05)  “four this year”

Louisiana’s rate of women murdered by men was 1.92 per 100,000 in 2012. Sport says the actual number in the state is higher because this report only covers homicides involving one female murder victim and one male offender…

CUT 10 (10) “these statistics”

Last year, Louisiana was ranked ninth in this report. The state legislature recently passed legislation to help keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. Sport feels confident these firearms restrictions will make a difference…

CUT 11 (09) “laws will have“

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The Louisiana Democratic Party has officially endorsed former governor Edwin Edwards in his quest to become Louisiana’s next sixth district Congressman. LSU political science professor Robert Hogan says the endorsement legitmizes Edwards campaign…

CUT 12 (09) “to himself”

13 candidates have qualified for the sixth congressional district race. Edwards is one of three democrats on the ballot and has the most name recognition. Hogan says the democratic party endorses Edwards, even though he served time in a federal prison on corruption charges

CUT 13 (09) “that seat”

Hogan says the democratic party is trying to rally around Edwards in an attempt to win another seat in the US House, but the sixth congressional district has more republican voters thanks to the last round of re-dstricting

cut 14 (08) “ultimate outcome”

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin begins serving his 10-year prison sentence today at the Texarkana Federal Correctional Institution. Scott Carwile reports…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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One year from today candidates will officially be able to qualify for the 2015 Governor’s Race. Jeff Palermo sees where things stand now…:

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

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The California Legislature approved a bill that would more than triple funding for California’s film and TV tax credit program. What impact will this have on “Hollywood South”? Eric Gill reports…

Cut 3 (35) “reporting”

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Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin begins his prison sentence today. Nagin was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his conviction on bribery and money laundering charges. Loyola University Criminal Justice Professor and former Bureau of Prisons official, Robert English…

Cut 4  (08)  “at Texarkana”

He says Nagin will report to the Texarkana Federal Correctional Institution to serve his time. The judge in this case recommended Nagin serve his time at the Oakdale Federal Correctional Institution, but the final decision rests with the Bureau of Prisons. English says he is not surprised about the location change…

Cut 5  (09)  “administratively possible”

The BOP does this to make it easier for the family to come visit the inmate. The Texarkana facility is closer to Nagin’s current home in the Dallas suburb of Frisco. English says Nagin will be going to a minimum security facility and there’s virtually no difference between Texarkana and Oakdale…

Cut 6 (10)  “to the next”

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One year from today candidates will officially be able to qualify for the 2015 Governor’s Race. So far, Republicans Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne and US Senator David Vitter have declared candidacy. Other potentials Republicans include State Treasurer John Kennedy and PCS Commissioner Scott Angelle. UL-Lafayette Political Science professor Pearson Cross says Vitter is a solid favorite, however…:

CUT 7 (11) “as more moderate”

The only announced democrat so far is state representative John Bel Edwards. Cross says if the Amite lawmaker gets a lot of support, it would put him in the runoff with Vitter…:

CUT 8 (10)   “decides to run”

Cross says even though Edwards is not well known throughout the state, there are plenty of Louisianians who will pull the lever for the “D” no matter what…:

(Democratic New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is a rumored candidate.)

CUT 9 (12) “statewide election”  

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Suppporters of gay marriage in Louisiana have filed an appeal with the US Fifth Circuit of Appeals regarding the ruling last week by federal judge Martin Feldman who upheld Louisiana’s ban on same sex marriages. But Tulane constitutional law professor Keith Werhan says the US Supreme Court will likely rule on this issue, before the federal appeals court in New Orleans has a chance…

cut 10 (10)  “term in october”

Werhan says the US Supreme Court is set to begin a new session in October and ruling on same sex marriages will likely come in 2015

cut 11 (08)  “ends in June” 

Werhan says when the nation’s high court makes a ruling, it will put to rest the argument over whether states have the right to define what constitutes a marriage…

cut 12 (07) “same sex marriage”

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The California Legislature approved a bill that would more than triple the funding for California’s film and TV tax credit program. What impact will this have on “Hollywood South”? Executive Director of Louisiana Entertainment, Chris Stelly, doesn’t think it will have much impact…

Cut 13 (08)  “and nations”

The measure would boost funding for California’s film incentives to $330 million a year for five years. California Governor Jerry Brown is expected to sign that legislation into law. Stelly says California’s move speaks highly of what Louisiana has done over the last several years…

Cut 14 (07)  “within Louisiana”

The legislation hopes to make California more competitive in the TV and film industry with rival states like Louisiana. Stelly says Louisiana has built a great infrastructure for television and film production over the past 10 years. He says it’s more than just tax incentives that make “Hollywood South” attractive to the industry…

Cut 15  (05)   “bottom line”

__________________________________

One of the bigger upsets this past weekend in college football happened in Lafayette as Louisiana Tech trounced the Ragin Cajuns 48-20. The Bulldogs had 533 total yards and they were led by quarterback Cody Sokol, who threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns. Sokul says it was a great performance in a rivalry game

Cut 16  (10)   “our guys”

Tech running back Kenneth Dixon also had a big game as he rushed for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Dixon started the scoring with a 99-yard touchdown run and Sokol says that run allowed them to seize the momentum…

Cut 17  (09)   “of confidence”

______________________________________________________________________

LSU had no trouble beating Sam Houston State 56-0 on Saturday as several true freshmen got into the scoring act. Malachi Dupre, Darrel Williams, Brandon Harris and Leonard Fournette also scored their first touchdowns of their LSU career. Fournette struck the Heisman pose after his score, something head coach Les Miles didn’t like….

Cut 18 (16)  “that run”

It was solid performance from starting quarterback Anthony Jennings, who threw for 188 yards and three touchdowns, all of them went to his favorite target Travin Dural. Here’s Jennings after the game…

cut 19 (11)  “balls off”

The lopsided score allowed for backup Brandon Harris to get plenty of playing time. Harris threw for 62 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for 53 yards. Jennings says the team has confidence in both quarterbacks to do the job…

Cut 20 (14) ” great chance to win”

Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear in New Orleans tomorrow as the featured speaker at a fundraiser for Senator Mary Landrieu.  Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

LSU’s fist home football game is this weekend and that means new traffic patterns.  Scott Carwile reports…

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

According to the LSU AgCenter, even though demand for food and fiber is growing faster than ever, the agriculture workforce and the number of Ag science teachers is shrinking. Don Molino reports…:

Cut 3 (35) “reporting”

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Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to be in New Orleans tomorrow.  He will be the featured speaker at a fundraiser for Senator Mary Landrieu.  Political analyst Clancy Dubos says this should be a nice boost for the Landrieu campaign…

Cut 4  (12)  “star attraction”

The event is being hosted by the Big Easy Committee, a joint fundraising effort by the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee and the Landrieu re-election campaign.  Some may be surprised that Landrieu turned to Clinton and not President Obama to help raise money.  Dubos says, in politics, you always play to your strengths…

Cut 5  (09)  “in Louisiana”

Landrieu is currently in a tight Senate race with Republicans Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness.  The former president is one of the Democratic party’s most successful fundraisers.  Dubos says Clinton has a certain star appeal that even President Obama never had…

Cut 6 (09)  “out of office”

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The Tigers play Sam Houston State for their first home game of the season and there are some new traffic patterns for fans to follow. Tiger Athletic Foundation has made large investments to create more parking for fans. Sports information director Michael Bonnette says additional parking lots have opened allowing for more than 2,300 new parking spaces.

CUT 7 (06) “more parking”

Bonnette says the stadium has been enhanced with new HD video and LED message boards. He says fans at the game will have a better experience by being able to watch replays and have the same perks as watching the game on their home tvs.

CUT 8 (08)   “people away”

Bonnette says LSU met with a consulting firm to try and get traffic flowing as efficiently as possible after games. He says personnel have been hired to help fans exit the parking lots in the correct directions due to contraflow. There are also new patterns for pedestrians leaving the game as well.

CUT 9 (12) “nightmare.”  

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According to the LSU AgCenter, even though demand for food and fiber is growing faster than ever, the agriculture workforce and the number of Ag science teachers is shrinking. Mike Burnett is the executive associate dean with the College of Agriculture at LSU. He says these shortages have been happening for quite some time…:

cut 10 (09)  “and not every year”

Burnett says there are about 230 Ag teachers in 185 Louisiana schools, but many are nearing retirement age. He says surrounding states, like Texas and Mississippi have been actively recruiting Ag teachers from Louisiana…:

cut 11 (08)  “pay our teachers better” 

Burnett says Dr. Bill Richardson, Dean of the college of agriculture, has been putting a big push on recruitment. He says they do have plans to fill the shortage at least in the short term…:

cut 12 (10) “teaching credentials”

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The 2014 Louisiana Second Amendment Weekend Sales Tax Holiday begins today and runs through Sunday. Byron Henderson with the Louisiana Department of Revenue says this is the third sales tax holiday that happens here every year and it’s exclusively for hunters…:

Cut 13 (10)  “or local sales taxes”

Henderson says a wide range of hunting gear is exempt from local and state sales taxes this weekend. He says there are specific categories it applies to, but specific categories that don’t apply..:

Cut 14 (12)  “things like that”

Henderson says items that fall under the sales tax holiday include firearms, ammunition, archery supplies and apparel such as safety gear or camouglage clothing you’d use for hunting. He says you can find out more at revenue.louisiana.gov/second amendment…:

Cut 15  (09)   “sales tax holiday”

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For the first time since 2004, Louisiana Tech and UL Lafayette will face off on the football field. The two head coaches for the respective teams are glad the in-state rivalry has been restored, but Bulldogs Head Coach Skip Holtz says getting a win on Saturday would ease the pain of the loss suffered against Oklahoma…

Cut 16  (17)   “move on”

UL Lafayette opened the season with a win over Southern, while the Tech lost to the third ranked Sooners. Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth wants to change the fact that Tech has won the last six games in the series. He says slowing down Bulldogs running back Kenneth Dixon will be a key…

Cut 17  (14)   “other day”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man who set up a scholarship fund to honor a Slidell woman who died in the car crash is accused of stealing money from the account. Michelle Southern has that…:

CUT 1 (35) “reporting”

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A judge in New Orleans says BP’s reckless conduct is what caused millions of gallons of oil to gush into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (35) “reporting”

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The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says a man who set up a scholarship fund to honor a Slidell woman who died in the car crash is accused of stealing money from the account. 19-year-old UNO student Hayley Howard was missing four days in March before her car was found in water near Lake Ponchartrain. Captain George Bonnett.:

CUT 3 (09) “was missing”

Bonnett says 29-year-old Jonathan Holcomb was one of the people responsible for setting up the charity account and organizing the fundraising run/walk. He says an investigation determined that man opened the bank account and was stealing the proceeds…:(Holcomb is charged with felony theft.)

CUT 4 (11)  “personal bank account”

Bonnett says Holcomb, who is from Mississippi, was not friends with the family before Hayley’s death but had approached them and offered to help raise funds in her name. He says there were other people involved with the fundraiser who noticed a significant amount of money missing from the account so they called the cops…:

CUT 5 (12) “for personal use”

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A judge in New Orleans says BP’s reckless conduct is what caused millions of gallons of oil to gush into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Eric Smith is the Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute. He says this ruling means the bill BP would have to pay for the disaster quadruples under the Clean Water Act…:

CUT 6 (05)  “that is authorized”

There was a trial regarding the spill dealing with fault last year, and the US District Judge Carl Barbier delayed the ruling until today. It says BP is 67 percent to blame for the spill, while rig owner Transocean takes 30 percent and contractor Halliburton takes 3 percent. Smith says the fine is based on the number of barrels of oil spilled..:

CUT 7 (09) “by a factor of four”

Smith says Judge Barbier chose the maximum allowable to charge BP. He says the oil giant will appeal this ruling…:

CUT 8 (13) “18 billion dollars”

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Louisiana State Police announce the arrest of 21 sex offenders in Calcasieu Parish busted for using social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Sgt. James Anderson says “Operation Off Limits” included cooperation with several other law enforcement agencies…

CUT 9 (05)  “networking sites”

State law prohibits registered sex offenders convicted of certain crimes involving minors from accessing social networking sites. He says the investigation revealed that numerous sex offenders were utilizing social networing sites in violation of Louisiana state law…

CUT 10 (04) “them yesterday”

The 21st sex offender was arrested for failing to provide sex offender status notification on her social media page. Anderson says investigators will continue to target registered sex offenders who choose to ignore laws that are designed to protect others…

CUT 11 (04) “are possible“

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According to new a study compiled by Forbes Magazine, the Houma-Thibodaux area ranks No. 8 among America’s fastest-growing small cities. Story contributor Joel Kotkin says they looked at things like job growth, income growth and population growth…:

CUT 12 (13) “energy related towns”

Kotkin says Houma-Thibodaux posted the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at 2.8 percent in February. He says of the top 10 fastest growing small cities, five are energy driven boom towns with high wage employment…:

CUT 13 (05) “are going to do well”

Kotkin says there are many small cities, like Houma-Thibodaux, that are generating lots of good jobs that translate into high wages. He says because the cost of living is so low, people living in those areas are enjoying a middle class lifestyle…:

cut 14 (10) “San Francisco Bay area”

The Louisiana State Police Retirement System Board of Trustees is holding a public meeting this afternoon to discuss what they’ve discovered regarding the so called “Edmonson Act.” Scott Carwile reports.

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

Blue Cross and Louisiana Medicaid will no longer pay for early elective medically unnecessary deliveries of newborns before 39 weeks of gestation. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (27) “reporting”

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In a new poll by the Glascock Group, Republican Dr. Ralph Abraham has taken the lead in the 5th District Congressional race. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

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The Louisiana State Police Retirement System Board of Trustees is holding a public meeting this afternoon to discuss what they’ve discovered regarding the so called “Edmonson Act.” There was concern political maneuvering this past session allowed Col Mike Edmonson to get a massive pension hike. State Treasurer John Kennedy…:

Cut 4  (11)  “is unconstitutional”

Kennedy says certain people called on the board to investigate a state law that gave two troopers, including Edmonson, thousands of dollars more for retirement. Kennedy says the findings clearly state that the proposal is against the constitution and he doesn’t expect much debate today…:

Cut 5  (09)  “bad policy”

Kennedy says the question now is to where to go from here and the board will either do something about it, or it won’t. He believes the right thing to do is to file suit immediately…:(Edmonson says he will refuse the extra retirement money but Kennedy says that’s not enough — the law needs to be removed from the books.)

Cut 6 (11)  “the same”

______________________________________

The Department of Health and Hospitals says Louisiana Medicaid will no longer pay for early elective medically unnecessary deliveries of newborns before 39 weeks of gestation. DHH Secretary Kathy Kleibert says Blue Cross is joining the state in the same effort. Kleibert says these early elective deliveries are called “convenience births”…

CUT 7 (07) “this day and time”

Any births before 39 weeks that are deemed medically necessary will continue to be covered. Kleibert says the goal of this move is to get people to wait until the baby is ready to be born. She says there are definite benefits of giving birth at full term…

CUT 8 (07)   “and the babies”

Early elective deliveries may put the health of the newborn at risk and increase their likelihood of serious medical complications. Kleibert says the payment change will, for most deliveries, push delivery dates to at least 39 weeks…

CUT 9 (07)  “ready to be born”

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In a new poll by the Glascock Group, Republican Dr. Ralph Abraham has taken the lead in the 5th District Congressional race. Abraham comes in at 22-percent followed by incumbent Republican Vance McAllister with 20-percent and Democratic Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo with 15-percent. Pollster Darrell Glascock says Abraham’s support appears to be district wide…

cut 10 (06)  “candidates are”

He says this will be an advantage for Abraham as he is not relying solely on votes from the Monroe area. Glascock believes McAllister’s drop in the poll can be attributed to the addition of Clyde Holloway to the candidate field. He says McAllister has a hard core base of 20-percent. Glascock says in a field this large, that means you shouldn’t write off the incumbent…

cut 11 (14)  “were last week” 

Monroe businessman Harris Brown received 11-percent in the poll and Clyde Holloway garnered 9-percent. Duck Dynasty favorite Republican Zach Dasher polls at 7-percent of the vote. Glascock says he’s not surprised at Dasher’s number…

cut 12 (12) “the game, there”

______________________________________

The National Weather Service says this summer will go down as the wettest on record for Lake Charles. The N-W-S Meteorologist Donald Jones says nearly 37 inches of rain fell during the months of June, July and August, breaking the old record of 33 inches in 1989…

Cut 13 (12)  “across the area”

Jones says it’s unusual to break a record for summer rainfall without the help of a tropical storm…

Cut 14 (10)  “specific area”

Jones says another interesting note about this record is that surrounding areas did not approach a record summer rainfall…

Cut 15  (10)   “of rain”

__________________________________

LSU’s passing game is expected to get better after hitting on some big plays in the victory over Wisconsin. Wide receiver Travin Dural of Breaux Bridge says after a shaky start against the Badgers, quarterback Anthony Jennings and the receivers got on the same page…

Cut 16  (19)   “to a victory”

LSU hosts Sam Houston State this Saturday and Dural anticipates offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will open up the playbook…

Cut 17  (22)   “want to”

The Saints will kick-off the season on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Drew Brees says even though it’s just game one of a 16-game regular season schedule, this weekend’s match-up in the Georgia Dome could have postseason ramifications….

Cut 18 (20)  “playoff implications”

Brees says even tough he missed most of the preseason with an oblique injury, he’s ready for the start of the regular season…

cut 19 (14)  “game like”

A federal investigation is underway into the death of a New Iberia man who was shot and killed while he was handcuffed in March. Michelle Southern chats with Louisiana State Police…:

CUT 1 (35) “reporting”

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Louisiana’s ban on same sex marriages is upheld in a ruling by a federal judge in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

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

Authorities say a 4-year-old child is in critical condition after being injured in a residential fire last night in the DeSoto Parish town of Mansfield. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they believe the blaze started in the living room of the home just after the family went to bed…:

CUT 3 (10) “was still in the home”

Browning says two adults and a 10 year old child were able to escape the home but they soon realized the toddler was still inside. He says a male relative went back inside to rescue the 4-year-old…:

CUT 4 (11)  “child’s body”

Browning says the home was a wood framed structure that was built in the 50’s and they don’t think there were any working smoke alarms in the home. He says the toddler was air lifted to University Hospital in Shreveport…:

CUT 5 (08) “cause of this fire”

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A federal investigation is underway into the death of a New Iberia man who was shot and killed while he was handcuffed in March. The Iberia Parish Coroner ruled that 23-year-old Victor White III committed suicide while in custody but his parents are disputing the conclusion. State Police Cpt. Doug Cain says LSP will submit findings to the feds this week…:

CUT 6 (10)  “to the public”

US Attorney Stephanie Finley said a federal representative has reached out to the White family to assure them that the Department of Justice will examine evidence and take action where needed. Cain says before the investigation is complete the public should reserve judgement…:

CUT 7 (09) “we deal in facts”

Cain says they will all review the case to determine who fired the fatal shot and whether the evidence indicates a civil rights violation took place. He says the role of the Department of Justice in this case is the same as theirs and that is to find out the truth…:

CUT 8 (07) “in Iberia”

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Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson has weighed in on what should be done with the ISIS terrorist group.  The Islamist militant group is behind the beheading of two American journalists. During an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Robertson said there’s only two options

CUT 9 (10)  “kill them”

President Obama says they will not be intimidated by Islamic State militants, but did not provide details on when or how to go after their terrorist operation in Syria. Robertson told Hannity that US will likely need to use lethal force

CUT 10 (10) “this point”

Robertson quoted verses from the Bible when speaking with Hannity and believes the best the way to handle ISIS is either convert them or kill them….

CUT 11 (11) “either one“

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A federal judge in New Orleans has ruled Louisiana’s ban on same sex marriage is constitutional. In a 32-page ruling, Judge Martin Feldman said states have the right to define marriage. But John Dennison, chairman of Forum for Equality Foundation, says numerous judges around the country have ruled the other way on this issue

CUT 12 (11) “appeals court level”

Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills applauds the ruling

CUT 13 (09) “meaning of marriage”

In 2004, Louisiana voters overwhelming approved a constitutional ban on same sex marriages and Mills believes that amendment played a role in Feldman’s decision….

cut 14 (07) “define marriage”

Opponents of the ban say they will appeal  the ruling and Dennison believes they will be victorious when the case goes to the fifth circuit court of appeals….

cut 15 (10) “little farther”

A federal investigation has been launched into the death of 23-year-old Victor White the third, who died in March while in the custody of the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office. Jeff Palermo has the story:

CUT 1 (28) “reporting”

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State Police has been asked by the Department of Health and Hospitals to investigate inconsistencies in water quality reporting in St. John the Baptist Parish. Scott Carwile reports…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

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A new review of judicial candidates qualifying for elections in Louisiana shows a vast majority of judges will be elected or re-elected without opposition this fall. Eric Gill has more…

Cut 3 (33) “reporting”

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According to new research out of Vanderbilt University, college football coaches are worth every penny of their high paid salaries because of the value they bring to the university. Study Co-Author Randall Thomas, a Vandy business and law professor, says many NCAA football programs are extremely valuable…:

Cut 4  (12)  “of value”

Thomas says they undertook a study of college football coach contracts and compared them to CEO employment agreements and found no evidence that the coaches are overpaid the way some fans might clamor. But he says the valued success of the job of a coach is much easier to judge because it’s solely based on wins versus losses..:

Cut 5  (12)  “much murkier”

The study examined 947 college football coach contracts from the NCAA’s top programs. LSU coach Les Miles gets $4.3 million a year and is the 7th highest paid coach. Co-Author Lawrence Van Horn, a Vandy business and law professor, says people can’t look at high numbers and wonder if anyone is worth that kind of compensation..:

Cut 6 (12)  “in the organization”

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State Police has been asked by the Department of Health and Hospitals to investigate inconsistencies in water quality reporting in St. John the Baptist Parish. Parish officials announced last week the discovery of a potentially dangerous amoeba in their water supply. Sgt. Nick Manale says DHH did their own independent testing of the water supply…

CUT 7 (07) “from the parish”

He says there were large inconsistencies between the DHH testing results and those results reported by the parish. Manale says they were asked to investigate because the DHH is concerned about the differences in the reports…

CUT 8 (10)   “very thoroughly”

He says their investigation will determine if the conflicting reports had anything to do with criminal activity. Manale says everyone is being cooperative with the investigation which is in its early stages…

CUT 9 (07)  “that are necessary”

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A new review of judicial candidates qualifying for elections in Louisiana shows a vast majority of judges will be elected or re-elected without opposition this fall. Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch analyzed candidate qualifying data from the Secretary of State’s office. Executive Director Melissa Landry says this should be a reason for concern…

cut 10 (07)  “being left out”

Louisiana Lawsuit Abuse Watch is a non-partisan legal watchdog organization. Their review found that nearly two-thirds of the district judgeships in the state will be filled by candidates who face no opposition. Landry says the lack of voter input in judicial elections is a big problem…

cut 11 (10)  “dangerous thing” 

She says this is detrimental to the overall health of the legal climate because it doesn’t lead to the most experienced or most qualified judge on the bench. Landry says while judicial elections are not very high profile, they are critically important because judges make decisions that are important to our lives on a daily basis…

cut 12 (10) “tremendously important”

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A couple faces several years in prison after being sentenced for leaving their 6-month-old daughter in their locked, unventilated vehicle for nearly an hour in the parking lot of the Walker Walmart in June. Walker Police Captain John Sharp says officers found the couple was under the influence of OxyContin at the time of the incident. Sharp says the couple entered a guilty plea in court yesterday…

Cut 13 (10)  “of hard labor”

The child’s father, 35-year-old Billy Arthur Henry, was sentenced to four years at hard labor. The couple has three other children who were not involved in the incident. Lana Henry, the child’s mother, was sentenced to seven years at hard labor with all the time she has served since her arrest in June suspended…

Cut 14 (13)  “from prison”

Lana Henry has been placed on probation. Any violation of the terms of her probation will result in Henry being sent directly to prison. Sharp is hopeful this case will work out…

Cut 15  (09)   “children deserve”

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The LSU Tigers won their season opener on Saturday, but a couple of their high-profile freshmen did not perform well in their collegiate debut. Leonard Fournette rushed for only 18 yards, while quarterback Brandon Harris couldn’t move the team in his only series of action. Coach Les Miles asks the fans not to be hard on them..

Cut 16  (20)   “a due process”

It was up and down 2014 debut for starting quarterback Anthony Jennings. But Miles took a lot of positives from Jennings’ performance…

Cut 17  (22)   “at his position”

LSU returns home this Saturday to face Sam Houston State. The Bearkats play in a lower tier of college football than LSU, but they’ve been a dominate FCS program. Miles says there’s a lot of talent on the Sam Houston team…

Cut 18 (18)  “very, very quickly”

Residents and visitors to False River and excited about the man-induced draw-down of the lake which begins today. Michelle Southern reports on the start of the False River Restoration project…:

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been selected to test a new drug that’s designed to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (27) “reporting”

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Louisiana State Police say a pedestrian who they believe had been drinking was struck and killed last night in Lafourche Parish. Trooper Evan Harrell says the victim is identified as 26-year-old Jace Sevin of Lockport. He says a vehicle was traveling on North Service Road in Raceland around 8pm Monday…:

CUT 3 (10) “part of the pedestrian”

Harrell says Sevin was transported to St. Anne Hospital where he was pronounced dead from injuries he sustained after being run over. He says alcohol is suspected on the part of the victim..:

CUT 4 (05)  “from the coroner’s office”

Harrell says the driver of the vehicle is identified as 18-year-old Jean Claude Pierre of Raceland. He says alcohol is not suspected on the part of Pierre…:

CUT 5 (09) “of the vehicle”

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says visitors to False River and residents along the water are happy about the planned man-induced draw-down of the lake which begins today. They say it’s the first step in the long awaited False River Restoration project. LDWF Director of Inland Fisheries Mike Wood…:

CUT 6 (14)  “throughout the lake”

Wood says the water reduction will lower its level by two to two and a half feet over the next three weeks. He says once that happens crews will begin working on improving the quality of the water and the fisheries habitat…:

CUT 7 (13) “to protect the island”

Wood says while this first draw-down is not going to do a lot on its own, it’s happening in conjunction with lots of other work…:

CUT 8 (10) “excited about it”

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LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is participating in a new national clinical research study that will test the effectiveness of a new drug that could slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Doctor Jeffrey Keller, with Pennington, says this experimental drug could provide hope to an incurable disease that’s the sixth leading cause of death in the US….

CUT 9 (12)  “number signaling”

Keller says this investigational drug may have the potential to modify the pace of the disease in those who are currently suffering with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease….

CUT 10 (10) “to date”

An estimated five million people in the US already suffer from mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. And Keller says no new drug has been approved by the federal government for Alzheimer’s treatment since 2003, so that’s why they are excited to participate in this important study….

(For more information on the study call (225) 763-3000)

CUT 11 (07) “for the disease“

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The state Department of Transportation says inspection work on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge which began today will go through September 10th. They say different portions of the east and westbound sides between Whiskey Bay and milepost 117 will be closed between 7am and 2pm. DOTD Spokesman Rodney Mallett…:

CUT 12 (12) “for the Basin Bridge”

Mallett says the proposed inspection schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions and traffic queues. He says this is required maintenance performed every two years…:

CUT 13 (08) “federal government”

Mallett says motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes while the bridge inspections are underway. He says drivers should observe message boards in place and drive with caution through the area…:

cut 14 (12) “people working”