New labor data shows Louisiana’s jobless rate continues to drop for the 19^th straight month. More from Michelle Southern…:

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern.”

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LSU’s offense is humming along now as the Tigers put together another solid performance in handing Ole Miss its first loss of the season in a 45-20 victory. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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Since the Mississippi River water levels have dropped the rare opportunity to see the remains of a ferry boat that sank in 1915 has arisen. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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New federal labor numbers show Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was just 3.4-percent. The lowest rate in the state’s history. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says this marks 19 consecutive months of declines in jobless claims. She says August saw big gains in jobs in education, construction, and the leisure & hospitality industries…:

Cut 4 (11)  “…in the labor force.” (2x)

Cates says this is the lowest jobless rate since 1976 when they first started tracking such numbers. Some of the state’s bigger cities posted job losses for August, but all have seen measurable job gains over September 2021. Cates says it’s a good indicator the state is moving past the setbacks of the pandemic…:

Cut 5 (08) “…is a good thing.”

Cates says the Workforce Commission is committed to training programs to help people acquire needed skills to get decent-paying jobs…:

Cut 6 (10)  “…really qualified workforce.” 

To view all the labor figures, or find out more about job training visit “laworks.net.”

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Early voting for the November 8^th election begins tomorrow, and voters will have eight Constitutional Amendments to decide, as well as local and congressional races. LRN will break them down for you, one at a time. Today: Amendment One. Steven Procopio with the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR) says CA 1 proposes raising the current cap on moneys in state funds that can be invested in the stock market…:

Cut 7 (09) “…65% of the funds”

Voting “yes” on Amendment One would allow the State Treasurer more leeway in investing and growing state funds. Though not mentioned implicitly in the amendment, lawmakers intend that any investment windfalls from passing CA 1 go toward education in Louisiana. Procopio says it’s a sound idea when the markets are stable…:

Cut 8 (10)  “…short-term losses.”

Procopio says voting “no” on the amendment will maintain the same 35-percent limit on investing state funds; playing it “safe”…:

Cut 9 (10)  “…fund education primarily.”

Early Voting for the November 8^th election begins tomorrow and runs through Tuesday, November 1^st. By the way, there are another three Constitutional amendments coming on the December ballot.

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About two weeks ago remains of the Brookhill ferry that sank more than 100 years ago washed ashore in Baton Rouge due to low water levels on the Mississippi River. State Archeologist Chip McGimsey says the ferry was partially visible in 1992 when the river was low but then it was full of mud.

Cut 10 (09) “…of her.” 

The ferry sank after a major overnight storm in 1915. McGimsey says archives indicate only a nightwatchman was on board at the time and he survived.

McGimsey says so far thousands have turned out to view the ferry boat in person and he hopes it inspires future archeologists.

The Brookhill was one of the two ferry boats that serviced Baton Rouge and Port Allen in 1915 and ferries operated consistently between the two cities before the I-10 bridge was completed in 1968.

McGimsey says you can find her just over the levee near the intersection of North Street and River Road in the capital city.

Cut  11 (06)  “…about it.”

For the most part, McGimsey says visitors have been respectful of the boat but unfortunately a few have decided to take parts of the vessel for a souvenir. And because it’s considered state property it’s illegal.

Cut 12 (06) “…the wreck.” 

He says everything below normal pool level in the river in Louisiana is considered state property and that includes shipwrecks.

McGimsey encourages visitors to see the boat in person while the Mississippi River remains low before it’s underwater once again. The sister ferry to the Brookhill was the Istrouma which broke loose during a 1915 hurricane and sank down the river.

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The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office and parish sheriff’s offices will distribute free child ID kits to students in kindergarten through fifth grades. A-G Jeff Landry says every 40 seconds a child goes missing in the U-S and when a child goes missing , time matters…

Cut 13 (08) “…that child.”

East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says parents can use the kits to store their child’s fingerprints, a DNA sample, physical identification information, and recent photos that can be given to law enforcement in abduction and runaway cases…

Cut 14 (10)  “..that investigation.”

The National Child ID program is celebrating its 25th anniversary and has distributed more than 75 million child ID kits nationally via public-private partnerships. National Child ID Program Director Kenny Hansmire says the kits do not enter a database, instead, it allows parts to store their children’s vital information in their own homes…

Cut 15 (08)  “…parent and law enforcement.”

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Ragin Cajuns Quarterback Ben Wooldridge threw for a career-high 316 yards and tied a school record with five touchdown passes as U-L Lafayette defeated Arkansas State 38-18 to improve to 2-and-2 in Sun Belt play. Wooldridge says he just focused on the little things…

Cut 16 (15)  “…on the field.” 

The Cajuns’ next game is Thursday night at Southern Miss.

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Louisiana Tech suffered a hard-fought loss on homecoming to Rice on Saturday as the Owls defeated the Bulldogs 42-41 in overtime. Tech Coach Sonny Cumbie decided to go for two and the win after scoring a touchdown in overtime, but freshman QB Landry Lyddy’s pass was incomplete. Cumbie on his decision to go for two…

Cut 17 (16) “…went for two.” 

Tech will be in Miami on Friday night to face F-I-U.

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The LSU Tigers spotted Ole Miss a 17-3 lead on Saturday but dominated the rest of the way as the Bayou Bengals knocked off the seventh-ranked Rebels 45-20. LSU held Ole Miss to 112 yards of total offense and the Rebels only rushed for three yards a carry. Coach Brian Kelly believes he and defensive coordinator Matt House were overthinking it too much on defense at the beginning of the game…

Cut 18 (17) “…let’s go play.” 

LSU got another outstanding performance from quarterback Jayden Daniels who accounted for five touchdowns. He threw for 248 yards and two scores and rushed for another 121 and 3 TDs. Daniels says the offense has come a long way since the season opener…

Cut 19 (15) “…play football.”

The offensive line continues to get better. Kelly gives a lot of credit to the players and offensive line coach Brad Davis…

Cut 20 (19) “…with that.”

Baton Rouge Police announced late Friday a total of 11 people came forward with injuries sustained in a shooting at a frat party near Southern University’s campus early Friday, and 2 arrests have been made for charges on accessory after the fact. Sources say the person or persons responsible for the shooting itself remain at large. It was a Homecoming party and we spoke with a student who was there…:
CUT 11 (09) “started running”
All of the victims sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact Crimestoppers.

Attorney General Jeff Landry and others announced Friday a partnership with the National Child ID Program to provide child ID kits to Louisiana elementary students. He says every 40 seconds a child goes missing in the United States..:
CUT 13 (09) “that child”
The kits will be delivered by each parish sheriff’s office.

50 nurse positions are coming to the Department of Children and Family Services, for infants that were exposed to drugs while the mom was pregnant…:
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Lafayette Police Department now has its first ever female police chief. Captain Judith Estorge has been with LPD since 1993 and will take over the chief’s position on November 1st. The Department has had five chiefs of police since January 2020.

The Baton Rouge Police Department says a total of 11 people were injured in the shooting near Southern University’s campus early Friday morning, and 2 arrests have been made. BRPD Chief Deputy Myron Daniels said in a news conference late Friday they booked 28 year old Daryl Stansberry and 24 year old Miles Moss in connection with the incident…:
CUT 19 (12) “dangerous instrumentality”
The shooting happened at a Homecoming Party at a frat house off campus, and sources say the actual gunman remains at large.

As gas demand remains low, the price at the pump keeps dropping ever so slightly. AAA says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $3.35, down a penny from the prior day and 5 cents lower than a week ago.

In a decision Friday, the State Supreme Court refused to allow the ban on non-unanimous jury verdicts be retroactive. But Loyola Law Professor Dan Ciolino says there is still hope for the 1500 inmates impacted by the ruling to get a new trial. He says the legislature could change the law for one, and…
Cut 14 (12) “end of the road”

The Department of Children and Family Services says they plan to hire 50 nurses to help make home visits to families whose babies were exposed to drugs while the mother was pregnant. The plan comes amid a continued opioid epidemic and several investigations into abuse and neglect in Louisiana. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters the status of a nurse makes a difference when talking to moms…:
CUT 7 (11) “their child”

There are now two people under arrest in a shooting that injured 11 people at a frat house near Southern University early Friday morning, but Baton Rouge Police say they are still looking for the shooter or shooters. The two men arrested were booked with accessory after the fact. BRPD Chief Deputy Myron Daniels says they believe this shooting was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat…:
CUT 28 (10) “Crimestoppers”
It’s Homecoming week at Southern and there have been several parties, but the University issued a statement after the shooting saying this gathering was not a school sponsored event and it did not happen on campus.

The Lafayette Police Department has a new chief who becomes the first female to ever hold the position. Mayor-President Josh Guillory announced Friday Captain Judith Estorge, who has worked at the Lafayette Police Department since 1993, brings all of the qualities necessary to lead the LPD as their next Chief.

The ban on nonunanimous jury verdicts won’t be applied retroactively under a decision Friday by the Louisiana Supreme Court. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino…:
CUT 12 (12) “judicial districts”
In the ruling the judges noted the Legislature may determine whether more people should get post-conviction relief.

A gun buyback program begins at noon today in Jeanerette. Organizer Felton Hogan says they’ll pay up to $300 depending on the gun and this is a no questions asked program…:
CUT 4 (11) “hurting somebody or themselves”
The event is being held at Jeanerette’s King Joseph Recreational Center.

Homecoming at Southern University is marred by a shooting during an off-campus homecoming celebration. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

A nine-year-old lawsuit against oil and gas companies over damages to wetlands in Louisiana will return to a state court for trial after federal judges upheld a January decision from the late U.S. District Judge L.C. Feldman of New Orleans. The suit filed by Plaquemines Parish against Chevron USA, Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, BP America and Shell returns to state court in Plaquemines Parish

The Department of Children and Family Services plans to hire 50 nurses to make home visits to infants who were exposed to substance abuse by their mothers while pregnant. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says five years ago the department was ordered to come into compliance with follow-up visits for those infants.

Cut 6 (10)  “…for a while.” 

DCFS came under fire after a two-year-old’s overdosed death from fentanyl after the agency received multiple warnings about the child and other child welfare incidents.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled the state’s ban on non-unanimous verdicts for violent offenses cannot be used retroactively. The decision impacts about 15-hundred inmates hoping for a new trial. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the U-S Supreme Court declined to make non-unanimous verdicts retroactive two years ago and the state supreme court ruled six to one against it…

Cut 13 (13) “..retroactively” 

Nine people were shot last early Friday morning at a southern University frat house, as that school’s Homecoming Week draws to an end. Baton Rouge Police spokesman Lt. Don Coppola says officers responded to the Kappa Alpha Psi House at around 2 am…:

Cut 9 (10)  “…the time”

The investigation is ongoing.

There’s a gun buyback program scheduled for Saturday in Jeanerette. The program is a faith-based effort to get guns off the street and help prevent further violence. Organizer Felton Hogan says the buyback will start at noon Saturday at Jeanerette’s King Joseph Recreational Center. Hogan says his group had a successful buyback in New Iberia recently as well…:

Cut 3 (12) “…one life at a time.” 

The Department of Children and Family Services plans to hire 50 nurses to make home visits to infants who were exposed to substance abuse by their mothers while pregnant. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says the purpose is for nurses to check that the mother understands how to protect their child and…

Cut 7 (11) “…their child.”

The State Supreme Court refused to allow non-unanimous jury convictions be retroactive. It denies new trials for as many as 15-hundred inmates. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says when the state law passed the law it specifically addressed that non-unanimous verdicts would not be retroactive, but lawmakers are free to change that law.

Cut 14 (12)  “…end of the road” 

In Baton Rouge, Homecoming at Southern University is marred by a shooting during an off-campus homecoming celebration. Jeff Palermo has that…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Palermo.”

Police with the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe make an arrest in the death of 17-year-old Giah Berrere, whose body was found at the paragon Casino Resort October 3^rd. 21-year-old Alexis Dauzat, of Marksville, has been charged with “failure to seek assistance.” Barrerre’s cause of death has not been made public, but we know she was not a victim of violence and did have problems with substance abuse.

The state Supreme Court has ruled the state’s ban on non-unanimous jury convictions – passed two years ago – will NOT be retroactive. Loyola University law professor and legal analyst Dane Ciolino says this is big news…:

CUT 12(12)      “…judicial districts.”

There’s a gun buyback program scheduled for Saturday in Jeanerette. The program is a faith-based effort to get guns off the street and help prevent further violence. Organizer Felton Hogan says they’ll pay up to $300 per gun and he encourages young people to step up and take advantage – no questions asked…:

CUT 04(11)      “…or themselves.”

Hogan had a successful buyback in New Iberia recently ad plans more to occur all across the state.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled the state’s ban on non-unanimous verdicts for violent offenses can not be used retroactively. The decision impacts about 15-hundred inmates who were convicted on a 10-2 or 11-1 decision and hoping for a new trial. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the U-S Supreme Court declined to make non-unanimous verdicts retroactive two years ago and the state supreme court ruled six to one against it…
cut 13 (13) “…retroactively”

Baton Rouge Police are still searching for the person who fired a gun at a fraternity party near the Southern University campus early this morning. Authorities say nine people suffered non-life threatening wounds. We spoke with a Southern student who was there…
cut 11 (09) “…started running”
It’s homecoming weekend for Southern University.

The Department of Children and Family Services says they are in the process of hiring 50 nurses who will make home visits to infants who were exposed to substance abuse by their mothers while pregnant. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says if a nurse encounters a visit where they sense the child is in danger, they will act…
cut 8 (12) “…into foster care”
DCFS has been criticized for failing to prevent the overdose death of a two-year child earlier this year, even though they were warned about the mom’s behavior.

A gun buyback event will be held in Jeanerette on Saturday, starting at noona t the Jeanerette King Joseph Recreational Center. Organizer Felton Hogan says they’ll pay up to 300-dollars to get a gun off the streets…
cut 5 (10) “….in the cities again”
Hogan says they held a gun buy back in New Iberia in August and collected 25 guns and plan to hold one in Abbeville early next year.

Multiple people were rushed to the hospital early this morning after a shooting this morning at a fraternity house located just off the Southern University campus in Baton Rouge. BRPD’s Lt. Don Coppola says it happened around 2 AM, and the investigation is currently active…:

CUT 10(06)      “…at 344-7867.”

One student who was there tells LRN it was great party, but suddenly gunshots rang out and the crowd ran for cover. Nine victims sustained non-fatal injuries.

New Orleans Police say two juveniles were shot – one fatally – while they were burglarizing a car during the late night hours. A 15-year-old boy was killed and 14-year-old is in the hospital. Police are seeking the persons who pulled the trigger, who fled the scene.

Two men are under arrest in Lincoln Parish; accused of indecent behavior with a juvenile and possessing child porn. One of them is a visiting guest professor at Louisiana Tech. Both men awaiting bond.

Louisiana will add 50 nurse positions to the Department of Children and Family Services for infants that were exposed to drugs while in utero…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington>”

A Shreveport man is suing gaming giant Caesar’s, claiming the company shortchanged customers during cashouts. Caesar’s owns Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City. Plaintiff Mike Young says this happens consistently as they “round down” slot machine cash payments, and keep the remainder. So far no official comment from Caesar’s.

Nine people were shot last night at a southern University frat house, as that school’s Homecoming Week draws to an end. Baton Rouge Police spokesman Lt. Don Coppola says officers responded to the Kappa Alpha Psi House at around 2 am…:

CUT 09  (10)        “…at the time.”

The investigation is ongoing.

There’s a gun buyback program scheduled for Saturday in Jeanerette. The program is a faith-based effort to get guns off the street and help prevent further violence. Organizer Felton Hogan says the buyback will start at noon Saturday at Jeanerette’s King Joseph Recreational Center. Hogan says his group had a successful buyback in New Iberia recently as well…:

CUT 03  (12)        “…one life at a time”

He says they’ll pay up to $300, depending on the gun. He encourages young people – who shouldn’t have dangerous weapons anyway – to take advantage…no questions asked.

Senator John Kennedy says he’s not afraid or reluctant to debate his Democrat challengers, he’s just too busy. He says a prior commitment made him refuse a most recent request by the Baton Rouge Advocate..:

CUT 11  (11)        “…people coming out.”

A very hoarse Kennedy talked with 710 KEEL in Shreveport. Challengers Luke Mixon and Gary Chambers have both called Kennedy a coward for not debating them. Polls show he leads them both by a margin of over 30-percent.

…and now a look at today’s markets…: