A state judge has ruled a Metairie man, who spent 17 years in prison for an attempted rape he did not commit, is entitled to up to $330,000 in compensation. Scott Carwile has the story…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

______________________________________

According to a LSU Public Policy Research Lab survey, Republican voters in Louisiana are following the election more closely and are more committed to casting ballots than Democratic voters. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

According a recent Public Policy Poll, support for marijuana reform continues to grow in Louisiana. Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

A state judge has ruled a Metairie man, who spent 17 years in prison for an attempted rape he did not commit, is entitled to up to $330,000 in compensation.  40-year-old Nathan Brown was released from prison in June after DNA tests proved his innocence.  Innocence Project New Orleans attorney Kristin Wenstrom says Brown is not immediately eligible for the entire sum…

Cut 4  (11)  “was in prison”

State law caps compensation for wrongful imprisonment at $250,000 regardless of how long the person was incarcerated.  Brown is entitled to petition the court for an additional $80,000 for loss of life opportunities.  Wenstrom says that additional money can be for medical expenses, education, and job training…

Cut 5  (12)  “wait for months”

Wenstrom says this money doesn’t make up for 17 years of wrongful incarceration, but it will help Brown restart his life…

Cut 6 (10)  “foundation whatsoever”

______________________________________

Public Service Commission member Foster Campbell says many Entergy Customers will soon receive a small refund after they were victorious in a fight to expose inflated bills. Campbell says the typical residential customer is in line for a one-time refund of $8. He says they brought the suit against Entergy after finding some red flags in their billing process…:

CUT 7 (08)  “a refund”

Campbell says the refund on a typical Gulf States residential customer bill will be about $15. He says they are voting on the refund at the PSC meeting today…:

Cut 8 (11)   “immediately”

Campbell says it’s the job of the PSC to make sure utility companies like Entergy are doing everything they can to keep bills accurate and not overcharge customers…:

Cut 9 (12)  “we’re gonna get it back” 

______________________________________

According to a recent survey, Republican voters in Louisiana are following the election more closely and are more committed to casting ballots than Democratic voters. The results are part of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab’s 2014 Election Report. Research Director, Dr. Michael Henderson, says the report shows Republicans, statewide, are more enthusiastic about the November elections…

Cut 10 (13)  “vote and turnout”

The survey shows 60-percent of Republicans surveyed are closely following the candidates and campaigns, compared to 41-percent of Democrats. The survey polled over 1,000 Louisiana adults. Henderson thinks the lack of enthusiasm among Democrats could hurt Senator Mary Landrieu…

cut 11 (07)  “to show up”

However, he says black Democrats in the Baton Rouge area are particularly engaged. The report shows an amazing 87-percent say they intend to vote in November. Henderson says that’s likely due to the 6th District Congressional race, in part, because it’s an open seat…

cut 12 (13)  “Democratic voters”

______________________________________

According a recent Public Policy Poll, support for marijuana reform continues to grow in Louisiana. The survey done last week of a sampling of registered voters here found that 78% oppose sentences of longer than 6 months for pot possession — up from 59% last year. Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union Executive Dir Marjorie Esman

Cut 13 (08)  “possessing marijuana”

According to the results, 71% oppose life sentences for marijuana possession up from 65% last year. Esman says 2/3 of those surveyed also acknowledged they knew someone who has been in possession of marijuana…:

Cut 14 (10)  “that they know someone”

The survey also shows that 68% of people support letting certain seriously ill patients use medical marijuana with a doctor’s prescription — up 3% from last year. Esman believes the numbers are rising because people are starting to realize Louisiana is so out of sync with the rest of the country on this issue…:

Cut 15  (11)   “thinking about it now“

_____________________________________________

U-L Lafayette will look to snap a three game losing streak on Saturday when they return to Cajun Field to host Georgia State. It’s the Sun Belt opener for the Cajuns who haven’t won since beating Southern in the season opener. Coach Mark Hudspeth hopes the adversity his team has faced in September will help them in conference play

Cut 16  (22)   “somebody else”

The Cajuns beat Georgia State 35-21 last season. The Panthers were winless last season, but Hudspeth says they have a much better team this year

Cut 17  (16)   “ahead of us”

__________________________________________________________________

True freshmen wearing purple and gold will play big roles in Saturday’s SEC tilt between 15th ranked LSU and fifth ranked Auburn. Wide receiver Malachi Dupre was playing for John Curtis High School last season, but is not surprised by the increased playing time as the season goes on

Cut 18 (11)  “to that statement”

In his last two games, Dupre has caught seven passes, three of them have been for touchdowns. The six-foot-three wideout from New Orleans believes he’s getting better every week

cut 19 (13)  “team win”

Safety Jamal Adams, running back Leonard Fournette and quarterback Brandon Harris are three other true freshman who will see significant playing time Saturday. Harris will make his first start and Dupre says Harris will be handle the big stage

Cut 20 (12) ” is presented”

The state’s annual survey of seat-belt use found that Louisiana motorists are buckling up at record high rates in 2014. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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

A restaurant in Port Allen is getting national attention for a sign hanging up informing customers packing heat they get a 10 percent discount. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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

A US Senate candidate forum takes place tonight in Kenner. Senator Mary Landrieu and republican candidate Rob Maness are expected to attend, but Congressman Bill Cassidy will reportedly not be there. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says forums like this and televised debates do matter for undecided voters

CUT 3 (08) “make a difference”

Dubos says candidates usually play it safe during debates and forums like tonight, but an election can be lost if a candidate commits a costly flub…

CUT 4 (11)  “make a difference”

Cassidy has been criticized for only participating in two televised debates and skipping out on many forums like tonight. Dubos says that could come back to hurt Cassidy….

CUT 5 (06) “could be the difference “

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

The state’s annual survey of seat-belt use found that Louisiana motorists are buckling up at record high rates in 2014. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says over 84% of drivers and front-seat passengers were buckled up in 2014 which is up 1.6 percentage points from last year. LA Highway Safety Commission Executive Dir. John LeBlanc:

CUT 6 (09)  “information campaign”

LeBlanc says this survey proves that we are on the right track in the work that’s being done to save lives by increasing seat-belt use.

CUT 7 (11) “below the state level”

LeBlanc attributes much of the recent years’ improvements in seat-belt use to Click It or Ticket, a nationwide enforcement and public information campaign. He says state law says everyone in your car needs to be restrained and it’s one of the best ways to protect lives…:

CUT 8 (08) “remain safe”

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

The Baton Rouge Police Department says the daughter and granddaughter of an elderly woman who was found dead Monday are under arrest for cruelty to the infirm. Corporal Don Copolla says officers were called to a residence where they discovered 82-year-old Bessie Looney dead and unclothed in her wheelchair…:

CUT 9 (05)  “total disgust”

Copolla says the victim was severely malnourished and had severely infected bed sores all over her body. He also says the condition of the residence was deplorable…:

CUT 10 (07)  “had occupied”

Coppola says detectives detained the victim’s daughter, 53-year-old Joleslie Looney, and her 17-year-old granddaughter, Lauren Looney. He says both admitted to being the main caregivers of the deceased and being aware of her condition but not seeking medical attention. Coppola says the suspects could face additional charges…:

CUT 11 (08) “a murder charge“

___________________________________________________

A restaurant in Port Allen is getting national attention for a sign hanging up informing customers packing heat they get a 10 percent discount. The owner of Bergeron’s Restaurant, Kevin Cox, says he originally had a sign posted offering law enforcement officers a discount for eating there…:

CUT 12 (12) “in the program”

The sign says, “Thank you for carrying your gun today, 10% Discount.” Cox said the support he’s been hearing from people all over the country has been phenomenal…:

CUT 13 (12) “for doing that”

Cox says he’s always felt that his establishment is safer when people bring their guns inside. He says they’ve been so busy since word of the promotion got out that parking at his Highway 415 West Baton Rouge location has been a problem. Cox says he hasn’t heard a single negative thing about his gun toting discount program…:

cut 14 (08) “a little louder”

According to a study by the American Pet Products Association (or APPA), people are spending more money on their furry friends than ever before. Scott Carwile reports.

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

______________________________________

Louisiana State Police and the Department of Transportation announce the installation of several “Move Over for Emergency Vehicle” signs across the state. Eric Gill has more…

Cut 2 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

The Louisiana Association of Educators has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of using public school budget money to fund certain types of charter schools. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

According to a study by the American Pet Products Association (or APPA), people are spending more money on their furry friends than ever before. They estimate overall spending on pets for 2014 will reach $58 billion which is up almost 5 percent over last year. Louisiana SPCA spokeswoman Alicia Haefele (Hafe-A-Lee) isn’t surprised…:

Cut 4  (11)  “as family members”

Bob Vetere (Va-Teery) is the president and CEO of APPA. He says over the last several years they’ve seen people “humanizing” their pets and you can date it back to the recession times…:

Cut 5  (11)  “the family pet”

Vetere says people are thinking of their pets almost like they would a child and don’t think of rewarding “Sparky” in pet terms, but rather in human terms…:

Cut 6 (10)  “to go up”

______________________________________

Louisiana State Police and the Department of Transportation announce the installation of several “Move Over for Emergency Vehicle” signs across the state. Superintendent Col. Mike Edmonson says the signs are a reminder of the state’s “Move Over” law…

CUT 7 (11)  “the left side”

The “Move Over” law requires drivers, when approaching a stopped vehicle utitlizing warning lights, to change to a non-adjacent lane to the parked vehicle. If a lane change is not possible, you should slow down before passing the stopped vehicle. Edmonson says if someone is broken down on the side of the road, that person is owed certain amount of consideration…

Cut 8 (10)   “in that area”

More first responders are killed by traffic crashes than by any other line-of-duty cause. The “Move Over” law not only applies to first responders, but also to highway workers, tow truck operators, and any vehicle utilizing hazard lights. Edmonson says the signs are going up to bring awareness to the “Move Over” law and hopefully save lives…

Cut 9 (08)  “of the road” 

______________________________________

The Louisiana Association of Educators has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of using public school budget money to fund certain types of charter schools. $60 million from the budget, also known as the MFP, has been designated to fund those charter schools. LAE President Debbie Meaux says the Louisiana Constitution is clear on this issue…

Cut 10 (13)  “it provides for”

Education Superintendent John White says this lawsuit is a money grab for unions and school boards and an attempt to keep parents from choosing the school they think is best for their children. Meaux says the LAE is not against charter school education…

cut 11 (11)  “parish entities”

She says the charter schools in question are schools not controlled by city or parish school boards and, therefore, not eligible for funds from the public school budget. LAE successfully challenged the funding of voucher schools in 2012. Meaux is hopeful this lawsuit will produce similar results…

cut 12 (10)  “lawsuit upon”

______________________________________

A federal judge receives an update today on progress abortion providers have made when it comes to obtaining privileges to admit patients at local hospitals. A state law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges has been put on hold. Center for Reproductive Rights attorney, Janet Crepps, says the doctors they represent still have applications pending

Cut 13 (06)  “applications”

Louisiana’s new abortion restrictions law was set to go into effect September first, but a US judge in New Orleans blocked enforcement, so abortion clinic doctors can obtain privileges. Crepps says since the doctors they represent haven’t made any progress, she expects the judge will rule  legal abortions can continue….

Cut 14 (10)  “or February”

There’s five abortion clinics in the state, but Crepps says only one doctor in Shreveport has adequate admitting privileges. She doesn’t suspect hospitals are purposely dragging their feet when it comes to reviewing applications from the other doctors

Cut 15  (10)   “out of the ordinary”

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True freshman Brandon Harris is the new starting quarterback at LSU. Coach Les Miles says Harris deserves a chance to start this Saturday against fifth ranked Auburn after leading the Tigers on seven consecutive touchdown drives against New Mexico State on Saturday. Miles says Harris made quality decisions with the football and likes his ability to ad-lib

Cut 16  (12)   “can happen”

Harris will make his first collegiate start at Auburn and raucous crowd is expected for this SEC West clash. Miles expects Harris and the rest of the team to handle the hostile environment well

Cut 17  (11)   “will get that”

__________________________________________________________________

Saints Coach Sean Payton says there needs to be a sense of urgency this week to correct the mistakes that has led to a 1-and-3 start. On Monday, Payton listed several reasons why the team has struggled. He says a negative turnover ratio of negative six, which is tied for worst in the NFL is near the top of the list

Cut 18 (20)  “to change”

One way to force turnovers is to put pressure on the quarterback. But in four games, the Saints only have five sacks. Payton says stopping opposing offenses from running the football and making them throw more can help improve their sack totals…

cut 19 (09)  “more challenge defensively”

A CNN poll on Louisiana’s US Senate race has Democrat Mary Landrieu as the leading vote getter in the primary, but three-percentage points behind republican Bill Cassidy in a runoff. Jeff Palermo has the story

CUT 1 (31) “reporting”

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

State and local officials are expressing displeasure over the fact that rape victims are getting large hospital bills for treatment. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

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

A CNN poll on Louisiana’s US Senate race shows democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu winning the primary, but trailing by three-percentage points in a runoff with republican Congressman Bill Cassidy. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says this poll confirms what many analysts suspect

CUT 3 (12) “neck and neck”

Stockley says a closer look at the survey, which was conducted last week, also shows Landrieu will have to make sure registered democratic voters get to the polls and she needs more support from white voters

CUT 4 (08)  “that’s phenonmal”

Stockley says the poll shows Maness will take votes away from Cassidy on November fourth, but the US Representative from Baton Rouge should be pleased that the survey indicates he has a good shot at defeating Landrieu in the December runoff

CUT 5 (09) “President Obama”

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

There is a group of Louisiana lawmakers and other state leaders expressing outrage about Louisiana hospitals charging rape victims for care. Among them is Slidell Representative Kevin Pearson. He says it’s completely wrong that women who have reported sexual assault are getting these massive hospital bills…:

CUT 6 (09)  “for the crimes”

A standard rape kit at a hospital has to be free under federal law, but they can still charge for HIV testing, pregnancy testing or medication that could prevent a rape victim from getting an STD. Pearson says it would be terrible if a woman didn’t report assault because she’s scared of the hospital bill…:

CUT 7 (07) “should provide”

Pearson believes part of the reason this is happening is because Louisiana privatized state hospitals which previously covered all medical expenses for rape victims. He says rape separates itself from other types of violent crimes because they so very often go unreported…:

CUT 8 (14) “from the hospital for”

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

Louisiana State Police report that two people were killed, including a Fort Polk soldier, in a fiery single vehicle accident in Vernon Parish. Trooper Scott Moreau says the crash occurred near US Highway 171 early Sunday morning…

CUT 9 (08)  “really, really bad”

He says the vehicle burst into flames upon impact. The passenger of the vehicle has not been identified at this time due to the severity of the burns incurred. Moreau says they have identified the driver…

CUT 10 (08)  “at Fort Polk”

The identity of the driver will not be released until notification of next of kin, but Moreau says he was a soldier at Fort Polk. He says authorities are working diligently to find out what exactly happened…

CUT 11 (08) “about the crash“

___________________________________________________

State Police say a 38-year-old passenger from DeRidder is dead after a 13-year-old driver hit a cow. Sgt James Anderson says troopers responded to a crash on Highway 112 about 10 miles east of DeRidder last night around 9:20pm…:

CUT 12 (13) “as a result of the crash”

Anderson says the victim is identified as 38-year-old Jason Mitchell Brooks and he was pronounced dead at the scene. He says there was another 16-year-old passenger in the vehicle and nobody was buckled up. Anderson says the reason the 13-year-old was driving is still under investigation…:

CUT 13 (10) “vehicle you’re in”

Anderson says impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash and the condition of the cow is not known at this time. He says this incident is under investigation…:

cut 14 (07) “of travel”

Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann is holding a Town Hall Meeting today on Common Core at Sam Houston High School. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

US Senate candidate Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy released a television ad over the weekend featuring former supporters of incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

According to the Army Environmental Command, Fort Polk has received the most supporting public comments of any of the 30 Army bases across the country facing military cutbacks.  Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann is holding a Town Hall Meeting today on Common Core at Sam Houston High School. He invites the public to come out and disucss Common Core and get answers to any questions or express any concerns you might have…:

Cut 4  (11)  “make a chance”

Geymann says they hope to hear from parents at the meeting to discuss what their frustrations are as it relates to Common Core and what they like about it or what they don’t like about it. He says they will have a panel of people there to listen and address concerns…:

Cut 5  (11)  “and principal”

The meeting will begin at 5:30 this evening. Geymann says with Common Core in place, the biggest complaint they are hearing from parents is about the math. He says they’ll have people on hand today who have done extensive research on the education standards and will be happy to answer any questions…:

Cut 6 (12)  “answer those”

______________________________________

US Senate candidate Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy released a television ad over the weekend featuring former supporters of incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu. In the spot, three women say they will not vote for Landrieu this year because of her support of the Affordable Care Act. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this is a good move on the part of Cassidy…

CUT 7 (06)  “this election”

One of the women says she voted for Landrieu before, but when the Senator voted for Obamacare she knew she’d made a mistake. Pinsonat says Obamacare is the main issue of this Senate race…

Cut 8 (08)   “in the primaries”

Another woman states that she’ll vote for Cassidy because he’ll stand up to President Obama. Pinsonat says President Obama and Obamacare remain extremely unpopular in Louisiana. He says attaching Landrieu to Obama is a smart strategy for Cassidy…

Cut 9 (07)  “he can have” 

______________________________________

According to the Army Environmental Command, Fort Polk has received the most supporting public comments of any of the 30 Army bases across the country facing military cutbacks.  Michael Reese, with Fort Polk Progress, says last year during this process, the military received about 8,000 comments with over half coming from Fort Polk…

Cut 10 (11)  “in the country”

He says out of about 110,000 comments received this year, over 34,000 comments supported Fort Polk.  The Vernon Parish Army base avoided significant cutbacks last year, losing only about 250 troops.  Reese says they learned last year that community support of the base makes a big difference…

cut 11 (05)  “wanted most”

The public comment period is the first step in the military’s force reduction process.  The report lists Fort Polk’s maximum troop reduction at 6,500, out of a current military population of just under 11,000.  Reese says the next step of the process is a public listing session in March…(Reese says the Army will make an announcement next June.)

cut 12 (13)  “for Fort Polk”

______________________________________

Freshman Brandon Harris made his case to be the starting quarterback as he threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers 63-7 win over New Mexico State. Harris also rushed for two TDs as LSU scored in all seven positions he was in at quarterback. But Coach Les Miles says a decision on who will be the starting quarterback will be made to the team first

Cut 13 (13)  “through the paper”

Harris relieved a struggling Anthony Jennings, who completed two passes for 11 yards,  threw two interceptions and also lost a fumble. Miles was asked if Jennings lost his confidence…

Cut 14 (21)  “sustained”

Harris was very diplomatic when asked if he should be the starting quarterback this Saturday against defending SEC champion Auburn…

Cut 15  (14)   “over that”

_____________________________________________

The Saints had an opportunity to move into a first place tie in the NFC South with a win last night in Dallas, instead New Orleans got off to a slow start and lost to the Cowboys 38-17. It took until the fourth quarter for the Saints to score a touchdown, while the defense allowed Tony Romo to throw for three touchdowns and DeMarco Murray to rush for 149 yards. Coach Sean Payton says they struggled in all areas of the game…

Cut 16  (07)   “we’re playing”

With Atlanta and Carolina both losing on Sunday, a win for the Saints would have put them at two and two and in a tie for first place in the NFC South. Instead, the Saints are tied for last in the division with Tampa Bay at one-and-three. Payton says it’s been a frustrating start to the season

Cut 17  (15)   “that’s important”

For the third straight game, the Saints defense failed to produce a turnover. Meanwhile the offense turned it over three times. Payton says you can’t win many games when the turnover ratio is negative three…

Cut 18 (20)  “wanted to”

Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann is holding a Town Hall Meeting today on Common Core at Sam Houston High School. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

US Senate candidate Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy released a television ad over the weekend featuring former supporters of incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu. Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

According to the Army Environmental Command, Fort Polk has received the most supporting public comments of any of the 30 Army bases across the country facing military cutbacks.  Scott Carwile has more…

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

______________________________________

Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymann is holding a Town Hall Meeting today on Common Core at Sam Houston High School. He invites the public to come out and disucss Common Core and get answers to any questions or express any concerns you might have…:

Cut 4  (11)  “make a chance”

Geymann says they hope to hear from parents at the meeting to discuss what their frustrations are as it relates to Common Core and what they like about it or what they don’t like about it. He says they will have a panel of people there to listen and address concerns…:

Cut 5  (11)  “and principal”

The meeting will begin at 5:30 this evening. Geymann says with Common Core in place, the biggest complaint they are hearing from parents is about the math. He says they’ll have people on hand today who have done extensive research on the education standards and will be happy to answer any questions…:

Cut 6 (12)  “answer those”

______________________________________

US Senate candidate Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy released a television ad over the weekend featuring former supporters of incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu. In the spot, three women say they will not vote for Landrieu this year because of her support of the Affordable Care Act. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says this is a good move on the part of Cassidy…

CUT 7 (06)  “this election”

One of the women says she voted for Landrieu before, but when the Senator voted for Obamacare she knew she’d made a mistake. Pinsonat says Obamacare is the main issue of this Senate race…

Cut 8 (08)   “in the primaries”

Another woman states that she’ll vote for Cassidy because he’ll stand up to President Obama. Pinsonat says President Obama and Obamacare remain extremely unpopular in Louisiana. He says attaching Landrieu to Obama is a smart strategy for Cassidy…

Cut 9 (07)  “he can have” 

______________________________________

According to the Army Environmental Command, Fort Polk has received the most supporting public comments of any of the 30 Army bases across the country facing military cutbacks.  Michael Reese, with Fort Polk Progress, says last year during this process, the military received about 8,000 comments with over half coming from Fort Polk…

Cut 10 (11)  “in the country”

He says out of about 110,000 comments received this year, over 34,000 comments supported Fort Polk.  The Vernon Parish Army base avoided significant cutbacks last year, losing only about 250 troops.  Reese says they learned last year that community support of the base makes a big difference…

cut 11 (05)  “wanted most”

The public comment period is the first step in the military’s force reduction process.  The report lists Fort Polk’s maximum troop reduction at 6,500, out of a current military population of just under 11,000.  Reese says the next step of the process is a public listing session in March…(Reese says the Army will make an announcement next June.)

cut 12 (13)  “for Fort Polk”

______________________________________

Freshman Brandon Harris made his case to be the starting quarterback as he threw for 178 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers 63-7 win over New Mexico State. Harris also rushed for two TDs as LSU scored in all seven positions he was in at quarterback. But Coach Les Miles says a decision on who will be the starting quarterback will be made to the team first

Cut 13 (13)  “through the paper”

Harris relieved a struggling Anthony Jennings, who completed two passes for 11 yards,  threw two interceptions and also lost a fumble. Miles was asked if Jennings lost his confidence…

Cut 14 (21)  “sustained”

Harris was very diplomatic when asked if he should be the starting quarterback this Saturday against defending SEC champion Auburn…

Cut 15  (14)   “over that”

_____________________________________________

Check back later for Saints soundbites.

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is inviting Louisianians to take part in National Hunting and Fishing Day Saturday. Michelle Southern reports.

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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

US Senator David Vitter is making it known, he doesn’t want fellow Senator Mary Landrieu to return for a fourth term. Eric Gill has the story…

CUT 2 (25) “reporting”

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

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is inviting Louisianians to take part in National Hunting and Fishing Day Saturday. All 50 states take part in this event which is a specific day to celebrate the conservation contributions of our nation’s hunters and anglers. LDWF Secretary Robert Barham…:

CUT 3 (09) “in Louisiana”

NHFD events will be held tomorrow in Baton Rouge, Monroe, Minden and Woodworth. Barham says the goal is to get people outdoors to enjoy what Louisiana has to offer…:

CUT 4 (10)  “with Louisiana”

All four events are absolutely free and you can get all of the information online at wlf.louisiana.gov. Barham says the number and types of activities vary at each location but all will include exhibits on LDWF management programs, shooting and fishing demonstrations and more…:

CUT 5 (09) “all ages”

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

US Senator David Vitter will campaign this weekend against his colleague in the senate, democrat Mary Landrieu. Vitter will knock on doors in Baton Rouge Saturday morning, with representatives of the national anti-abortion group, the Susan B. Anthony list. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says it’s uncommon for a US Senator to actively campaign against the other Senator from their state…

CUT 6 (09)  “about it”

Landrieu is Catholic and has said she believes women should have the right to make their own decisions over whether to terminate their pregnancy. Cross says for many voters, a candidate’s view on abortion helps them decide who to vote for….

CUT 7 (07) “their vote”

Cross says it’s also rare for a sitting US Senator to spend time knocking on the doors of voters’ homes…

CUT 8 (09) “something new”

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

According to the mayor’s office in Shreveport, Fire Chief Ronald Craig Mulford was fired Friday. Mulford has been on paid leave since being indicted in June on charges stemming from his handling of complaints against several firefighters under his command. Political analyst Elliot Stonecipher says there is a lot of cover up happening in this case but there are some things we know for sure…:

CUT 9 (14)  “with disabled people”
Assistant Chief James Thomas Carpenter was also dismissed today after an inquiry discovered that he also allegedly violated internal policies. One of the allegations against Mulford is that he knew for quite some time that a group of firefighters paid a woman to have sex with a disabled man while they watched. Stonecipher says Mulford is accused of not reporting criminal activity..:

CUT 10 (10)  “long period of time”

Also Friday one of the firefighters pleaded guilty to hiring a prostitute and acting cruelly toward an intellectually disabled man. Stonecipher says the Mayor’s office should have taken action against the chief and others sooner…:

CUT 11 (09) “of it yet“

___________________________________________________

With the autumn season in Louisiana comes the festival season and there’s no shortage of celebrations this fall 2014. Jacques Berry is the Communications Director with the Lt. Governor’s Office. He says starting with this weekend we’ve got the huge Sugar Cane Festival happening in New Iberia and the Balloon Festival in Gonzales…:

CUT 12 (11) “in October”

Berry says you’ve got the big festivals coming up like the Festival Acadien in Lafayette, Rice Festival in Crowley and of course VooDoo Festival which happens every Halloween in New Orleans. He says then you’ve got the classic cult following Louisiana Festivals…:

CUT 13 (10) “on the Northshore”

Berry says Louisiana festivals more than just food and music. He says they all have themes and traveling the state for these parties is also a great opportunity to learn about your state…:

cut 14 (15) “in the Gumbo pot”

Flu season is coming up fast and that means it’s time for your vaccination. Scott Carwile has more…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

Governor Bobby Jindal is spending yet another weekend visiting key presidential campaign states.  Eric Gill reports…

Cut 2 (28) “reporting”

______________________________________

US-Senator David Vitter isn’t hiding the fact that he’s glad to see Attorney General Eric Holder step down. Michelle Southern reports..:

Cut 3 (30) “reporting”

______________________________________

Flu season is right around the corner and that means it’s time for your flu shot. Bill Schaffner with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases says everyone older than six months of age should be getting a vaccination because there is no excuse not to do it.

Cut 4  (12)  “into the grave.”

Schaffner says you can get flu shots at any doctors office, clinic or even pharmacy. He says young adults get hit the hardest when it comes to getting sick because they are the hardest demographic to get vaccinated.

Cut 5  (09)  “to get it.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 100 children lost their lives to the flu last season and 90 percent of them were not vaccinated. Schaffner says the vaccine is tailored to attack the viruses they think will be the most common during this season.

Cut 6 (07)  “to get vaccinated.”

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Governor Bobby Jindal is spending yet another weekend visiting key presidential campaign states.  Jindal is still considering a presidential bid in 2016, although recent poll numbers do not have the governor performing well against other contenders.  LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says it’s still early in the process and a lot could happen before the first primary…

CUT 7 (14)  “want to hear”

Jindal is in New Hampshire today with Republican gubernatorial candidate Walt Havenstein (HAV-en-styn) for education-related events.  Hogan says, even if Jindal runs and doesn’t win the Republican presidential nomination, he still has lots of options…

Cut 8 (07)   “for him”

Saturday, Jindal returns to Iowa to make an appearance at an Iowa State University tailgate for Republican Senator Bill Dix and give a speech to the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition.  The governor has said he will not announce a possible presidential bid until after the November elections.  Hogan says, given Jindal’s activity, it’s hard not to think he’s leaning toward running…

Cut 9 (11)  “ready to go” 

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US-Senator David Vitter isn’t hiding the fact that he’s glad to see Attorney General Eric Holder step down. When it came down Thursday, Vitter tweeted almost right away that it was welcome news…:

Cut 10 (11)  “in Louisiana”

Vitter says no AG in the nation’s history has attacked Louisiana more than Holder…:

cut 11 (15)  “kids prayed there”

Vitter says Holder also tried to release personal information of Louisiana voters and has overall been a complete disaster. He says he’s proud to have voted against Holder’s Senate confirmation..:

cut 12 (08)  “wish I hadn’t been”

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New Orleans Senator JP Morrell leads a new study commission trying to determine how much Louisiana agencies spend on the death penalty.  Morrell, a Democrat, says the idea came to mind when the current combination of drugs used for lethal injection became unavailable and seeing what happened in other states…

Cut 13 (14)  “unusual punishment”

Morrell says they want to find out if it is too expensive for the state to enforce the death penalty.  He says several factors must be considered when determining the cost of the death penalty…

Cut 14 (07)  “of executing them”

He says, right now, when the state budget is so bad, the actual cost of enforcing the death penalty should be considered.  Views differ widely on the topic.  Morrell says prosecutors will say the cost of executing someone is negligible, while defense attorneys say it cost millions of dollars…

Cut 15  (04)   “actually is”

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The Saints go after their second straight win on Sunday night when they visit the Dallas Cowboys. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says for the Black and Gold to come away with a win, they have to slow down Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray and the Saints have to establish their running game…

Cut 16  (15)   “keep away”

The Saints have won the last three games played between these two teams. New Orleans scored 30 or more points in each contest and Detillier expects a lot of points to be scored on Sunday night…

Cut 17  (14)   “football better”

The Saints have lost their last five regular season road games, but Detillier says the Saints are 9-and-0 in Sunday night games, when Coach Sean Payton is on the sidelines…

Cut 18 (11)  “in a shootout”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana has filed a lawsuit against the Abbeville Police Department claiming they are violating the First Amendment with their social media policy. Michelle Southern has the story…:

CUT 1 (32) “reporting”

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The investigation into the shooting death of a 14-year-old allegedly by a Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s deputy continues today and Sheriff Larpenter is calling the incident a freak and tragic accident. Michelle Southern has that..:

CUT 2 (31) “reporting”

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The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana has filed a lawsuit against the Abbeville Police Department claiming they are violating the First Amendment with their social media policy. Executive Director Marjorie Esman says the rule basically states that employees can’t post anything on social media which casts the city in a negative light…:

CUT 3 (10) “what that means”

Esman says they filed the lawsuit on behalf of a man who says he made comments on his private Facebook page about working conditions at the Police Department. She says these employees could be banned from doing anything on social media because they don’t know how the city would interpret the policy…:

CUT 4 (09)  “free speech”

Colt Landry decided to take action because he felt the policy at the police station violated his right to free speech. Esman says social media is just another form of speech…:(The Abbeville Police Department is not commenting on the suit.)

CUT 5 (14) “first amendment”

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The LSU Police Department says a man is under arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in an RV on campus following a tailgate party. Spokesman Captain Corey LaLonde says they were called out to a hospital in Gonzales where they spoke with the victim and her mother…:

CUT 6 (09)  “tailgating activities”

LaLonde says the victim told officers the sexual battery occurred at night while she was sleeping in the RV…:

CUT 7 (09) “in the RV”

LaLonde says after they got evidence back from the hospital this week they were able to obtain an arrest warrant for 47-year-old Daniel Sanchez of Gonzales…: (Sanchez is charged with two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and two counts of sexual assault.)

CUT 8 (07) “with a juvenile”

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Louisiana State Police is reporting another officer involved shooting, this time in Beauregard Parish where a man was killed after allegedly tried to run over authorities during a pursuit. Sgt. James Anderson says officers responded to a disturbance in Dry Creek. Anderson says they were trying to apprehend the subject, who was in a vehicle…

CUT 9 (08)  “driving the vehicle”

He says the suspect, identified as 25-year-old Jacob Navarre, tried to run over the deputies who shot and killed the him while he was driving. Navarre was pronounced dead at the scene. Anderson says no one else was seriously hurt…

CUT 10 (04)  “during the incident”

Anderson says the injured deputy is expected to make a full recovery. Anderson says the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office called LSP to investigate…

CUT 11 (06) “gathering evidence“

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The investigation into the shooting death of a 14-year-old allegedly by a Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s deputy continues today and Sheriff Jerry Larpenter is calling the incident a freak and tragic accident. He says the cops were responding to a report of armed men entering a house in a Houma subdivision where drugs have been a problem:

CUT 12 (10) “a decision”

The weapon the teen had was reportedly a BB gun but family members are apparently saying the juvenile had no weapon. Larpenter says the incident could have been avoided…:

CUT 13 (12) “gonna be coming”

Louisiana State Police is investigating the incident. Larpenter says he’s spoken with the family of Cameron Tillman and it doesn’t sound like he was a teenager who would be looking for trouble…:

cut 14 (04) “with a weapon”

State Police say an on-duty St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot by a fellow deputy yesterday during a domestic dispute in LaPlace. Eric Gill has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

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Sugar cane harvest season starts to ramp up with the beginning of grinding season today.  Scott Carwile reports…

Cut 2 (32) “reporting”

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The debate over how many debates there should be between Us Senator Mary and her main Republican challenger Congressman Bill Cassidy rages on. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 3 (32) “reporting”

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State Police say an on-duty St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot by a fellow deputy yesterday during a domestic dispute in LaPlace. Spokesperson Melissa Matey says the St. John Sheriff’s Office received a call of a deputy involved in a domestic dispute brandishing a weapon. She says when officers arrived, they found that Lt. Nolan Anderson was armed…

Cut 4  (10)  “of their own”

She says when deputies arrived, they found that Anderson had fired several shots in the air, and he then turned the gun on the officers. Matey says, at that point, the deputies were forced to take action…

Cut 5  (07)  “pronounced deceased”

She says deputies then fired at Anderson. Anderson was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Matey says Anderson was a 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office. She says this is a very tragic and difficult time for the St. John Sheriff’s Office…

Cut 6 (05)  “of their own”

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Sugar cane harvest season starts to ramp up with the beginning of grinding season today.  American Sugar Cane League’s Jim Simon (SEE-moan) says this year’s start-up is a week to ten days later that normal.  Simon says the crop looks to be a little short compared to the last few years…

CUT 7 (08)  “see better production”

He says this year’s crop appears to be an average crop for the state, after a couple of year’s of bumper crops.  Simon says weather conditions really affected Louisiana’s sugar cane beginning with the cold winter…

Cut 8 (09)   “as we’d like”

He says a couple of sugar mills will begin operation today and all 11 mills in the state will be up and running by October 10.  Simon says with the harvest getting into gear, you’ll begin seeing more trucks loaded with sugar cane on the roads.  He asks drivers to be cautious…

Cut 9 (11)  “poor driving decisions” 

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Baton Rouge Congressman and Senate candidate Bill Cassidy has agreed to two public debates before the November 4th election which Senator Mary Landrieu, says signals a lack of courage. But Cassidy says Landrieu’s record is well known and there’s no need to debate it over and over…:

Cut 10 (08)  “of the time”

Cassidy, Landrieu and the other Republican challenger, Col Rob Maness, will appear together at a debate in Shreveport on October 14th and Baton Rouge on October 29th. Cassidy says meeting voters face to face is a better way to discuss the issues…

cut 11 (09)  “of meeting voters”

Landrieu says debates are routine in elections and the fact that Cassidy is dodging so many speaks volumes…:

cut 12 (10)  “of this state”

Landrieu says she’s been traveling the state asking different media outlets to hold debates and invite Cassidy but he continues to decline…:

Cut 13 (15)  “of the race”

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Survey results released by the Louisiana Department of Education show that future teachers need more time in the classroom. The survey polled more than 6,000 educators. Superintendent John White agrees, but says the extra time in the classroom should be used for teaching and not observation…

Cut 14 (11)  “classroom professional”

The survey found that half of teachers say they were not fully prepared for the realities of the classroom. White says it makes all the sense in the world that those preparing to be teachers, have taught under a mentor teacher…

Cut 15  (07)   “improving our programs”

The survey also found that few school systems and teacher prep programs collaborate regularly to identify future employment needs of schools. White says the department is moving toward a model where the educator is a classroom teacher for a year, as an apprentice, under a mentor teacher before entering their own classroom…

Cut 16  (11)   “an obvious thing”

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ULM has the opportunity to improve to 2-and-0 in the Sun Belt on Saturday when they host Troy at Malone Stadium. The Trojans are off to an 0-and-4 start and lost 66 to nothing against Georgia last week. But Warhawks Coach Todd Berry says Troy has had some tough breaks this season, but it’s still a quality football team…..

Cut 17  (11)   “very, very athletic”

The Warhawks are favorite by 13-and-half-points. But Berry says in today’s college football, anything can happen

Cut 18 (12)  “to be true”

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The Saints are back on the practice field, looking to even up their record at 2-and-2. New Orleans is preparing to face Dallas in Sunday night game and Quarterback Drew Brees says he hopes last week’s win over Minnesota is the start of a long winning streak

cut 19 (14)  “focused on”

Statistically, the Saints offense ranks in the top ten in the NFL in several important categories like total offense and points scored, but has not been as explosive as it has been in previous seasons. Brees believes this offense can achieve another level….

Cut 20 (18) ” more of those”