Like something from a movie, a trio of men were rescued from the Gulf of Mexico Monday, after their boat sank and they fought off sharks as they awaited help. Louisiana Oyster Task Force chairman Mitch Jurisich says sharks have been aggressive this year, and plenty of fishermen like him say they are going after their catch…:

CUT 05(11)      “…feed the sharks.”

By the way, the boaters are all OK, save for some bite wounds to their hands and fingers.

Baton Rouge cops say a hit & run driver who killed a pedestrian last weekend near LSU is in custody. Spokesman Lt. Don Coppola says an eyewitness was a lot of help to them…:

CUT 14(05)      “…suspect vehicle.”

The driver is identified as 21-year-old Water Brister IV from Mandeville. He is the son of former ULM and Pittsburgh QB Bubbie Brister.

BESE approves a new policy for summer remedial literacy instruction for 3^rd and 4^th graders who read below level. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the program is only temporary and intended to offset ill-effects on kids from the pandemic…:

CUT 11(08)      “…few years.”

Brumley says there will be other options for kids who don’t want to do summer school.

Small business owners say inflation is their Number One problem, and National Federation of Independent Business state director Dawn McVea says that’s not good, going into holiday shopping time. She says the feds said the price run-ups would be only temporary, but that was nearly a year ago…:

CUT 06(09)      “…my business.”

Shop owners also say they’re having a tough time getting people to fill job openings, and they’re still having supply chain issues.

Three boaters were rescued Monday from a shark-infested ordeal in the Gulf of Mexico, after their boat sunk. Now professional anglers are saying the sharks are hurting their industry…:

CUT 01  (32)        “…Thorington.”

Shreveport Police are investigating four separate shooting incidents that left three people dead; all happening within the space of a single hour. The deaths take the Caddo Parish homicide rate to 42 for the year; 41 of those occurred IN Shreveport proper.

Baton Rouge Police arrest the son a former NFL star for a fatal hit & run last Saturday. BRPD’s Lt. Don Coppola says the 44-year-old victim was trying to cross a street near LSU, when he was hit by a black Range Rover…:

CUT 13  (06)        “…at the scene.”

21-year-old Walter Brister IV came forward and admitted he was the driver. Brister is the son of former ULM and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Bubbie Brister. If convicted, he could face ten years in prison.

30-percent of small business owners surveyed say inflation is their single most important problem and they worry the holiday shopping surge won’t help much. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says tax reforms could help with their fiscal difficulties and she’s hopeful some tax changes can occur in next year’s legislative session..:

CUT 08(08)      “…business friendly.”

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a summer literacy program for third and fourth grade students who read below their grade level. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says an end of the year screener will determine if a student needs 30 hours of literacy instruction in the summer…
cut 10 (11) “…school year
Brumley says if the student does not want to go to summer school, the parent and school can agree on another option including tutoring.

We’ve entered the fourth quarter of 2022 and the latest national survey from NFIB shows inflation and worker shortages continue to weigh on small business optimism. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says it’s a battle for survival…
cut 7 (06) “…what they love”

Baton Rouge police have made an arrest in a fatal hit and run that happened late Saturday night, early Sunday morning. Lt. Don Coppola says the suspect is charged with felony hit and run driving.
Cut 12 (08) “…Louisiana”
Coppola says Brister turned himself in. He is the son of former ULM and NFL Quarterback Bubby Brister.

Anglers who fish in the Gulf of Mexico say they’ve noticed more sharks and they are getting aggressive. Owner of Delta Marine Mitch Jurisch says many offshore fishermen are complaining about sharks taking a bite out of their catch…
cut 4 (10) “…just unreal”
Jurisich believes federal protections of sharks have only allowed them to grow in numbers and those protections need to be revised due to the threat it’s now having on individuals and the fishing industry.

After boaters were rescued Monday after fending off sharks about 25 miles off the coast of Empire, Louisiana Oyster Task Force Chairman and fisherman Mitch Jurisich the Coast Guard arrived just in time because one man was holding onto an ice chest, and he bravely knew to go for the shark’s eyes.

Cut 3 (11) “…his finger.” 

Jurisich believes federal protections of sharks have only allowed them to grow in numbers and says those protections need to be revised.

The state Department of Insurance has approved a rate increase of 63 percent for customers of the state-run insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens. The increase will take effect on January 1^st, but Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon hopes to have new insurance companies arranged to offer cheaper coverage to those under Citizens’ protection…:

Cut 14 (09)  “…Citizens’ policyholders.”

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a new policy that could result in 30 hours of focused literacy instruction in the summer for third and fourth graders who perform poorly on an end-of-year reading exam. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says students who do not want to participate in the summer program have other options…

Cut 9 (10)  “…K-12 experience”

Brumley says another option is for the student to repeat the grade. He says this policy will only be in effect for the current school year and next.

Thirty percent of small business owners nationwide say inflation is their single most important problem. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says the federal government said the record-high inflation would only be temporary, but it’s stuck around for the whole year

Cut 6 (09)  “..my business.” 

McVea says the national survey also found that 46 percent of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill.

The state Department of Insurance has approved a rate increase of 63 percent for customers of the state-run insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it was a necessary decision, as required by state law but nevertheless he says it was…:

Cut 13 (12) “…a private company.”

A survey finds travelers are making new arrangements this holiday season as prices continue to rise because of inflation. Whitney Thomas has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

According to All Home Connections, the most searched for Halloween costume this year in Louisiana is a witch. They believe the release of Hocus Pocus 2 is responsible for its popularity. In Texas and Arkansas cat costumes top the list and in Mississippi, you’ll see plenty of Elvis costumes. They might want to consider giving trick-or-treaters peanut butter and banana sandwiches this year instead of chocolate.

The state Department of Insurance has approved a rate increase of 63 percent for customers of the state-run insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens. The increase will take effect on January 1^st, but Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon hopes to have new insurance companies arranged to offer cheaper coverage to those under Citizens’ protection…:

Cut 14 (09)  “…Citizens’ policyholders.”

The consumer financial company Bankrate conducted a survey and 80% of holiday travelers are changing their plans this year due to rising costs. Senior Industry Analyst, Ted Rossman says inflation will impact lower-income households at a higher rate, and planning ahead will help keep holiday travel costs more affordable.

Cut 5 (10) “…don’t delay.”

The survey says 25% will make less expensive accommodations this year for the holidays.

John Deere announces plans to expand its Thibodaux plant which will result in 70 new jobs on the Bayou.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Don Molino” 
It was a violent night in Shreveport last night as three separate shootings led to three fatalities. Police say the shootings occurred within an hour of each other and there’s no word from authorities on whether these shootings are connected or if anyone has been arrested.

Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley told the Senate Education Committee the number of teacher vacancies in the classroom statewide has been cut in half in one year from 25-hundred to 12-hundred. Brumley says legislation approved by lawmakers this year helped out.

The state Department of Insurance approves a big rate hike for customers of the state’s last-resort property insurer, Louisiana Citizens…:
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is set to approve a plan today to help third and fourth graders who are struggling to read at the appropriate age level. Under the proposal, students who fail a screening would undergo 30 hours of summer remediation or they could skip summer school and get some other assistance or repeat the grade.

John Deere is investing nearly 30-million dollars to expand operations at its Thibodaux facility. The expansion will result in 70 new jobs. The governor’s office says the state offered John Deere an incentive package, including a performance-based retention and modernization grant of up to one-million dollars. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson
Cut 7 (10) “…to grow”
The 70 new jobs will have an average annual salary of 47-thousand dollars and the expansion will also retain 311 jobs.

The consumer financial company Bankrate conducted a survey and found that 25% of holiday travelers will be making less expensive accommodations for the holidays and 24% will take fewer trips due to higher travel costs. Senior Industry Analyst, Ted Rossman says 43% of Americans are planning to travel this holiday season.
Cut 4 (09) “…of flying..”

Over 100-thousand Louisiana Citizens Policyholders are facing a 63-percent rate increase on their homeowners coverage as a result of rising re-insurance costs. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says state law forced the approval of the rate hike, but he’s looking to bring back an incentive program to attract more private insurers into Louisiana…
cut 15 (09) “…business at Citizens”
The increase will go into effect next year so Donelon encourages Citizen policyholders to shop around now.

For the first time in about a month, there’s a chance of rain across Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we are not looking any significant rainfall totals and more rain will be needed…
cut 11 (13) “…that promising”

John Deere will invest nearly 30-million dollars to expand operations at its Thibodaux facility. The expansion will create 70 new jobs and the Thibodaux plant will eventually produce medium-chassis cotton harvesting models that will replace existing models built in China. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says these new cotton harvesters shows how compeitive Lafourche can be…
cut 9 (07) “…..to work”
The company expects production of the new cotton harvesters to begin within the next two years and reach full capacity by 2025.

Bankrate has found that 79-percent of holiday travelers are changing their plans, opting for shorter trips, cheaper activities and less expensive accomodations because of rising costs. Senior Industry analyst Ted Rossman says the days you decide to fly will impact how much you spend…
cut 6 (12) “…less crowded”

The state Department of Insurance has approved a rate increase of 63 percent for customers of the state-run insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it was a necessary decision, as required by state law but nevertheless he says it was…:
Cut 13 (12) “…a private company.”
The increase will take effect on January 1st, but Donelon says he’s working to bring new insurance companies into the state that will offer cheaper coverage to those under Citizens’ protection.

For the first time in a month, you might need an umbrella with you today as there’s a good chance rain will fall this afternoon and tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says early September was the state’s last significant rainfall…
cut 12 (08) “…broken today finally”
There’s a marginal risk for severe weather for the northern half of the state.

John Deere announces plans to expand its Thibodaux plant which will result in 70 new jobs on the Bayou. Don Molino has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Don Molino”

It was a violent night in Shreveport last night as three separate shootings led to three fatalities. Police say the shootings occurred within an hour of each other and there’s no word from authorities on whether these shootings are connected or if anyone has been arrested.

There’s good economic development news to report this morning. John Deere is investing 30-million dollars to expand its plant in Thibodaux which will add 70 new jobs at an average salary of 47-thousand dollars and the expansion will also retain 311 existing jobs. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says John Deere’s expansion is a huge win for the Bayou…
cut 8 (11) “….next generation”
The expansion involves a new production line and upgraded equipment.

It’s been a month since the state of Louisiana has seen rain. State climatologist Berry Keim says that could change today.
Cut 10 (10) “..the state..”
There’s a marginal risk for severe weather for the northern half of the state.

A survey finds travelers are making new arrangements this holiday season as prices continue to rise because of inflation. Whitney Thomas has more…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

According to Triple-A, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is up another three cents today to $3.39. That’s a 26-cent jump in a week.