Early voting ended yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office says about 363-thousand registered voters casted a ballot. That’s a combination of in person early voting and absentee ballots. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says this was the highest number of early and absentee ballots combined they’ve ever had for a mid-term election…:

CUT 10(04)      “…turnout.”

Election Day is next Tuesday. Polls open at 6 am.

Albany High school says they’d rather forfeit their game against Bogalusa than play in a stadium where security is uncertain. A young man was shot and killed in the Bogalusa High stadium parking lot two & a half weeks ago. Albany’s principal, Sammie Lacara, says parents gave him zero pushback on forfeiting the game…:

CUT 04(11)      “…to do this.”

A Baton Rouge man who set out for a six-mile hike in Arkansas last week has been found alive and safe…:

CUT 02(33)      “…Thorington.”

Add St. Timothy’s church in Mandeville to the growing list of churches to exit the United Methodist Church over the UMC’s advocating for gay ministers and same-sex marriages. 92-percent of St. Timothy’s 6-thousand members voted to leave the UMC. That makes 47 Louisiana churches to do so.

Early voting ended yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office says about 363-thousand registered voters have casted a ballot. That’s a combination of in person early voting and absentee ballots. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says that’s about 55-thousand more ballots than the 2018 election, the last mid-term election….
cut 9 (07) “…in popularity”
Ardoin reminds voters the November eighth election is on a Tuesday, so polls are open from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Governor John Bel Edwards is asking the Louisiana Inspector General to look into the Ware Youth Center in Red River Parish after the New York Times reported rape allegations involving guards and dozens of suicide attempts by incarcerated youth. Office of Juvenile Justice assistant secretary Curtis Nelson Gordon…
cut 13 (08) “…being met”
The New York Times report says there were at least 64 suicide attempts at Ware from 2019 to 2020.

After the location of Friday’s game between Albany and Bogalusa changed a few times over security concerns of the fatal homecoming game shooting at Bogalusa, yesterday Albany opted to forfeit. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Saturday night’s game between LSU and Alabama is now a Top Ten matchup as the first college football playoff rankings were unveiled last night and Alabama is ranked sixth while LSU is ranked tenth. The Tigers are the highest ranked two-loss team.

The final game of the regular high school football season pitting number one Bogalusa against Albany is off after the Hornets opted to forfeit. Over fears of a repeat of gun violence at previous Bogalusa games this season the game was to be played neutral site but Monday it was moved back to Bogalusa. But yesterday Albany High School Principal Sammie Lacara chose to forfeit.

Cut 3 (08) “…that situation.” 

Many Louisiana residents are dreaming of winning tonight’s one-point-two-billion-dollar Powerball jackpot. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison asks everyone to play responsibly…

Cut 15 (08)  “…this evening.”
You have until nine pm tonight to buy a ticket, the drawing is just before 10 PM.

The Houston area schoolteacher who went missing September 22^nd and then her SUV was located in New Orleans the very next day, has been found alive according to the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office. 48-year-old Michelle Reynolds was located Tuesday and has been reunited with her family however the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office says no further information will be given at this time at the request of the family. When her car was located in New Orleans authorities say her purse and phone were inside.

Governor John Bel Edwards calls for an investigation into the Ware Youth Center in Red River Parish after an extensive New York Times report that says the facility is plaqued by rape allegations involving guards and dozens of suicide attempts by incarcerated youth. The Office of Juvenile Justice does not run the facility, but assistant secretary Nelson Gordon says Ware provides services to the state…
cut 12 (11) “…Ware Center”
The governor’s office says Louisiana’s Inspector General will lead the investigation.

Louisiana residents are buying Powerball tickets in the hopes of winning the one-point-two billion dollar grand prize. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says a couple of players recently won a million dollars…
cut 14 (06) “…jackpot run”

A Baton Rouge man who set out for a six-mile hike in Arkansas last week has been found alive and safe. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Early voting ended yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office says they received 363-thousand ballots for the November eighth election. 272-thousand early voted in person and 91-thousand voted absentee. Also 43-percent of the early votes were registered Republicans, 42-percent from Democrats.

State officials say things are going well with juvenile offenders transferred last month to a new facility on the grounds of Angola State Prison. Assistant Secretary of Juvenile Justice Curtis Nelson says the youth facility is about a mile from any building housing adult prisoners at Angola and the juvenile inmates are safe and secure…:

Cut 5 (07) “…within that facility.”

Nelson says there have been no incidents of violence or unrest in the two weeks since it opened.

The Baton Rouge hiker who was last seen on Thursday was found alive yesterday at Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Park spokesperson Cassie Branstetter says 67-year-old Preston Smith was found uninjured about two and a half miles from the trail he was originally hiking.

Cut 10 (09) “…his family.” 

Smith began a six-mile hike along the Hemmed-in-Hollow trail by himself on October 27th and was located shortly after noon on Tuesday.

The multi-state Powerball jackpot reaches $1.2 billion making it the second-largest jackpot in the history of the game.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

Saturday night’s game between LSU and Alabama is now a top-ten ranked matchup as the Tigers are ranked tenth in the first college football playoff rankings of the year. Alabama is ranked sixth and head coach Nick Saban is impressed with LSU…

Cut 16 (07)  “…they’ve made.” 

The state Office of Juvenile Justice says all is well at the temporary juvenile center set up on the grounds of Angola prison. Kevin Gallagher reports…:
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Two more people are under arrest in connection with the fatal overdose death of a 15-year-old Galliano girl last month. Lafourche Parish deputies arrested 21-year-old Anthony Francis, of Larose, and 18-year-old Sergio Perez, of Cutoff, were charged with drug distribution. 18-year-old Blayne Terrebonne was arrested last week.

67-year-old Clinton Preston Smith who got lost while hiking in northwest Arkansas at the Buffalo National River has been found alive. Park spokesperson Casse Branstetter says he set off on his hike last Thursday and it took until yesterday for search crews to locate him….
cut 11 (11) “….outcome is this”
Smith was dehydrated, but in good spirits.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the bird flu has been detected in hunter-harvested blue-winged teal in southwest Louisiana. State wildlife veterinarian Jim LaCour says bird flu is a low risk for for public health, but recommends avoiding contact with infected birds. Lacour says if you come across any unexplained mortality among birds, contact LDWF…
cut 9 (09) “….for testing” (2x)

State officials report all is going well with juvenile offenders transferred last month to a new facility on the grounds of Angola State Prison. Assistant Secretary of Juvenile Justice Curtis Nelson says the facility is named the West Feliciana Center for Youth and it is separated and secure from Angola’s adult population…:
Cut 4 (11) “…can’t see outside.”
Nelson says there have been no incidents of violence or unrest in the two weeks since it opened.

Many Louisiana residents are dreaming of winning tonight’s one-point-two billion dollar Powerball jackpot. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison asks everyone to play responsibly…
cut 15 (08) “…this evening”
You have until nine pm tonight to buy a ticket, the drawing is just before 10 PM.

A Baton Rouge man who set out for a six-mile hike in Arkansas last week has been found alive and safe. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Early voting ended yesterday. The Secretary of State’s Office says they received 363-thousand ballots for the November eighth election. 272-thousand early voted in person and 91-thousand voted absentee. Also 43-percent of the early votes were registered Republicans, 42-percent from Democrats.

The state Office of Juvenile Justice says the decision to house eight youth offenders at a facility at the Louisiana State Penitentiary has worked well. Assistant Secretary Curtis Nelson says the incarcerated juveniles are receiving special treatment and by moving eight youth inmates to Angola, they depopulated the prison population at the troubled Bridge City Center for Youth…
cut 6 (06) “…two and a half weeks”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the bird flu has been found in waterfowl in southwest Louisiana. LDWF veterinarian Jim LaCour says the CDC says bird flu poses a minimal danger to hunters, but he recommends taking extra precautions as you do with any raw meat.
Cut 8 (09) “…or more.”

The multi-state Powerball jackpot reaches $1.2 billion, the second-largest jackpot in the history of the game.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

Saturday night’s game between LSU and Alabama is now a top ten ranked matchup as the Tigers are ranked tenth in the first college football playoff rankings of the year. Alabama is ranked sixth and head coach Nick Saban is impressed with LSU…
cut 16 (14) “…they’ve made’

The state Office of Juvenile Justice says all is well at the temporary juvenile center set up on the grounds of Angola prison. :
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

67-year-old Preston Smith of Baton Rouge has been found alive. He went hiking along the Buffalo National River in northwest Arkansas on Thursday. Park spokesperson Cassie Branstetter says his family reported him missing Friday night and on Tuesday morning he was found….
cut 12 (07) “…space”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries confirms cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Flu (HPAI) in waterfowl. State Wildlife veterinarian Jim LaCour says it’s alarming because this highly contagious form of bird flu can be transmitted to other species.
Cut 7 (11) “…be destroyed.”
LaCour says bird flu can have a huge economic impact when chickens have to be destroyed.

The Powerball jackpot is $1.2 billion for tonight’s drawing with a cash value of $596.7 million making it the second-largest jackpot in the history of the game, and 4th largest jackpot in the U.S. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says the large jackpot has resulted in an increase in sales…
Cut 13 (09) “…picked up.”
The Louisiana Lottery says 35-percent of ticket sales goes to the state treasury, most of that money is used to fund public education.

A Rapides Parish jury found 46-year-old David Anthony Burns guilty of the murder 19-year-old Courtney Coco who was found in 2004 in Texas. Authorities say she was killed in Alexandria. Rapides District Attorney Phillip Terrell says Burns and Coco were in a relationship and even though Burns was questioned numerous times right after the crime he never confessed to law enforcement.

Cut 13 (08) “…people down.” 

Burns is facing a mandatory life sentence on the second-degree murder conviction and will be sentenced November 28th.

A private funeral service for rock n roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis will be held Saturday in his hometown of Ferriday. Services will be at 11 AM at Young’s Funeral Home and it will be live-streamed on Lewis’ Facebook page. A celebration of life is also scheduled for 1 PM Saturday at the Arcade Theater in Ferriday. Lewis died Friday at the age of 87.

Congressman Troy Carter says a Wind Energy Zone Designation in the gulf offshore from Louisiana is significant. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has finalized two Wind Energy Areas in the Gulf and one is off the coast of Lake Charles.

Cut 3 (08) “…for Louisiana.” 

The other zone is located off the coast of Galveston.

State Police released more details today on Sunday’s fatal police shooting in Hammond. Trooper William Huggins says Tangipahoa Sheriff deputies responded to a domestic disturbance call and shortly after they arrived 27-year-old Randall Bass barricaded himself in a vehicle and told officers he had an explosive device, hours later Bass got out of the car with a gun and an explosive, shots were fired, and he died at the scene.

Cut 11 (12)  “..ongoing investigation”