A federal judge sentences Holden Matthews to 25 years in prison for setting three black churches a blaze in St. Landry Parish last year. Matthews pleaded guilty to the fires in both state and federal court. He was credited 18 months for time already served, and the judge asked the Bureau of Prisons to ensure he is placed in a facility near his family and receives substance abuse counseling and mental health treatment.

Power should be back on for most Zeta-impacted customers by Wednesday but could be out for pockets of customers in the lower southeast parishes until Saturday according to Entergy. But Entergy CEO Phillip May says right now the priority is restoring electricity to those polling stations and getting them back on the grid.

Cut 14 (10) “pods” 

Amendment 7 on the statewide ballot would protect unclaimed property money in a new trust fund. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says each year if new collections entrusted to the Treasurer exceed what’s collected by rightful owners, the difference goes into the state’s general fund.

Cut 6 (11) “…general fund”

Opponents say the program has existed for close to 50 years and has never had more claims than collections in a year. Proponents say it protects money that belongs to the people.

A UNO Research Center survey indicates a 56-percent job approval rating for Governor John Bel Edwards. The random poll of 755 respondents asked participants to rate his job performance. Research Center Director, Professor Ed Chervenak…

Cut 9 (11) “job approval”

Power outages across Louisiana are down to the tens of thousands as opposed to the hundreds of thousands we saw just after Zeta made landfall near Cocodrie last week. Entergy CEO Phillip May says they expect most customers should be back online by Wednesday but the lower portions of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Jefferson, and Lafourche Parishes could be out until Saturday.

Cut 12 (07) “ .damage” 

Overall, crews have found damage to 2,747 poles, 573 transformers and 1,794 spans of wire.

A UNO poll shows Governor Edwards sitting pretty with a 56 percent job approval rating, a pandemic boost for the Governor that was in the low 50s post-reelection. UNO Research Center Director, Professor Ed Chervenak says 67-percent of respondents feel COVID is a serious problem…

Cut 10 (11) “overwhelmingly disapprove”

Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chief of Engineering Rudy Simoneaux says they’re working on fixing the Burrito Levee in Grand Isle that breached during Zeta. He says it will need some repairs.

Cut 3 (10)  “…levee”  

Despite the breach, most Grand Isle homes are reportedly ok due to being highly elevated on stilts.

Amendment 7 on the statewide ballot would protect unclaimed property money in a new trust fund. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says each year if new collections entrusted to the Treasurer exceed what’s collected by rightful owners, the difference goes into the state’s general fund. Scott explains some of what makes up unclaimed property…

Cut 8 (12) “..to the state”

A University of New Orleans survey of 755 respondents finds that 56-percent of them approve of Governor John Bel Edwards’ job performance. Half of the males surveyed approve of the governor’s work, while 61-percent of females give the governor’s work a thumbs up. UNO Pollster Ed Chervenak says nationally women tend to vote Democrat…
cut 11 (09) “…Republican State’
The telephone survey was conducted on October 22nd.

There are seven constitutional amendments on tomorrow’s ballot. Amendment seven has to do with unclaimed property and whether to protect the money in a new trust fund. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says State Treasurer John Schroder wants to keep unclaimed money from being used in the state budget…
cut 7 (11) “…general fund”
Polls open tomorrow from 6 AM to 8 Pm.

Louisiana’s flood protection systems weathered five named storms this year and appear to be doing ok. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “ I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU Police have made an arrest in the case of an alleged hazing fraternity incident. 21-year-old Terry Pat Reynolds the Second has been charged with criminal hazing and failure to seek assistance. Reynolds is an LSU student and member of Phi Kappa Psi. According to a police report, a pledge at the fraternity was hospitalized with a blood alcohol level near six times the legal limit. The alleged hazing victim has been released from the hospital.

A UNO Survey shows Governor Edwards has a 56-percent job approval rating. Brooke Thorington has more
cut 2 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

LSU student and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity member Terry Pat Reynolds the Second has been charged with criminal hazing and failure to seek assistance. LSU has been investigating the fraternity for over a week after a male student was hospitalized. The arrest report says the victim had a blood alcohol content of nearly six times the legal limit. The freshman has since been released from the hospital.

Entergy still has 62-thousand customers without power following the Wednesday night landfall of Hurricane Zeta. That includes some polling sites without electricity. Entergy CEO Phillip May says for polling stations that don’t have power by then, they will provide a “power pod”…
Cut 13 (07) “…available”
But May says the priority right now is restoring electricity to those polling stations and getting them back on the grid.

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says repairs will be needed to the Burrito Levee in Grand Isle, which breached in three places when Zeta made landfall. Engineering Division Chief Rudy Simoneaux says they also need to do further inspections in lower Terrebonne Parish near Cocordie, but he says southwest Louisiana fared well despite being hammered by Laura and Delta…
cut 5 (09) “…also”

The breaching of the Burrito Levee in Grand Isle appears to be the only significant damage the state’s flood protection systems sustained as a result of a record five named storms that made landfall in Louisiana this season. But Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chief of Engineering Rudy Simoneaux says their surveys aren’t complete yet and they’re aiming to get down into lower Terrebonne Parish near Cocodrie where the storm made landfall for further inspections.

Cut 4 (09)   “storm”   

Governor Edwards scores a 56 percent approval rating in a new poll from UNO. UNO Research Center Director, pollster, and Professor Ed Chervenak…

Cut 9 (11) “job approval”

The survey was conducted October 22^nd and polled 755 Louisianans.

The Saints come back from a frigid Soldier Field with their fourth straight W after taking down the Bears 26-23 in overtime. Each of those four wins has been by six points or less and Safety Malcolm Jenkins says they knew they would have to grind this victory out…

Cut 15 (14) “.each other”

The defense sacked Bears QB Nick Foles five times and intercepted him once. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for 280 yards and two touchdowns on a windy night. Alvin Kamara had 163 total yards. The Saints are 5-2 and tied with Tampa Bay for first place in the NFC South.

Amendment 7 on the statewide ballot would protect unclaimed property money in a new trust fund. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says each year if new collections entrusted to the Treasurer exceed what’s collected by rightful owners, the difference goes into the state’s general fund.

Cut 6 (11) “general fund”

Opponents say the program has existed for close to 50 years and has never had more claims than collections in a year.

State Police Captain Lamar Davis has been promoted to LSP Superintendent, replacing Col. Kevin Reeves who retired after three years running the department. Governor John Bel Edwards says Davis is a 25-year LSP vet who has worked a lot of different jobs in the department.

Cut 8 (06) “..technology.”

The Saints won their fourth straight last night pulling off a hard-fought victory in Chicago by beating the Bears 26-23 in overtime on a Wil Lutz 35-yard field goal. It was redemption for Lutz, who missed a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter, his first miss of the season…

Cut 14 (13)     “go through” 

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority believes the state’s flood protection systems are in good shape even after being tested by a record hurricane season. CPRA Chief of Engineering Rudy Simoneaux says one problem area was the Burrito Levee in Grand Isle that was breached during Zeta. He says it will need some repairs.

Cut 3 (10)  “…levee”  

Senator Bill Cassidy faces his first reelection effort with Democrat and Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins his biggest threat on tomorrow’s ballot. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “   I’m Matt Doyle”

Holden Matthews, who is charged with intentionally setting fire to multiple African American churches in Opelousas spring of 2019, will be sentenced in court at 1:30 today. Matthews was originally scheduled to be sentenced in state and federal court last month and it was rescheduled twice. A judge set a continuance due to new evidence last week, the nature of the new evidence is unknown.

State Police Captain Lamar Davis has been promoted to LSP Superintendent, replacing Col. Kevin Reeves who retired after three years running the department. Governor John Bel Edwards says Davis is a 25-year LSP vet who has worked a lot of different jobs in the department. Edwards, a former paratrooper, says he’s a fan of Davis’ military background.

Cut 9 (12) “Guard”

A department of Justice grant to the LSU Law Center and Innocence Project New Orleans will establish a Wrongful Conviction Clinic at the school. Assistant Dean of Experiential Education Robert Lancaster says the half a million grant will allow students to learn about the causes and remedies of wrongful convictions and procedures.

Cut 11 (08) “wrongfully convicted”

Voters are facing a large ballot tomorrow. The country has been focused on the presidential election and in Louisiana there’s also a Senate race, plus Congressional races and seven constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is the main challenger to Republican Incumbent Bill Cassidy in the Senate race…
cut 5 (10) “…career”
Cassidy says his work as a doctor has helped to lower health insurance premiums and looks forward to working on an infrastructure spending package in 2021.

The Saints won their fourth straight last night pulling off a hard-fought victory in Chicago by beating the Bears 26-23 in overtime on a Wil Lutz 35-yard field goal. It was redemption for Lutz, who missed a 27-yard field goal in the first quarter, his first miss of the season…
Cut 14 (13) “go through”

Louisiana State Police has a new Superintendent, Lamar Davis…
cut 2 (30) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Thanks to a 500-thousand dollar grant from the Department of Justice, the LSU law school is establishing a Wrongful Conviction Clinic, with the cooperation of the Innocence Project New Orleans. Professor Robert Lancaster says the goal is to enroll six to eight law students each semester…
cut (13) “…practice rule”

Louisiana’s quiet U-S Senate race could end tomorrow night as Republican Senator Bill Cassidy could win re-election without the need for a runoff. His main challenger is Adrian Perkins, a Democrat, who is the mayor of Shreveport. During the campaign that’s mostly consisted of TV commercials, Perkins has hammered Cassidy for his vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act early in the Trump presidency…
cut 6 (09) “….Louisianans”
Cassidy, a doctor, doesn’t regret his vote to repeal what he calls the “Unaffordable Care Act”. He says middle-class families can’t pay Obamacare premiums, but even so, he’s worked to fix that…
Cut 7 (09) “year”
Polls are open tomorrow from 6 AM to 8 PM. All absentee ballots must be returned by 4:30 PM today.

LSU’s law center has received nearly 500-thousand dollars from the US Justice Department to establish a Wrongful Conviction Clinic that will also include the Innocence Project New Orleans, which works to clear people who have been wrongfully convicted. Professor Robert Dean says the clinic will allow the Innocence Project to expand its capacity to review cases and allow LSU law students to gain practical experience…
cut 12 (10) “…in-law school”

After an embarrassing 48-11 loss to Auburn, the worst loss for the Bayou Bengals since 1996, the calls continue from the fan base for the removal of Bo Pelini as LSU defensive coordinator. But Coach Ed Orgeron does not plan on making any midseason coaching changes…
cut 19 (10) “….everything”

Republican Bill Cassidy is seeking a second six-year term in the U-S Senate on the Tuesday ballot and faces 14 challengers headlined by Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, a black Democrat. Cassidy says if given another term he’ll focus on reducing healthcare costs, improving the VA, and passing a substantial infrastructure package that would spur construction.
Cut 4 (12) “Louisiana”

But Perkins, an Army Veteran, says Louisianans need a leader in D.C. who will focus on COVID-related issues like reinstating federal unemployment benefits and winning aid for struggling local governments.
Cut 5 (10) “…career”

LSU’s Law School and Innocence Project New Orleans receive a Department of Justice grant to establish a Wrongful Conviction Clinic. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Captain Lamar Davis is the new Superintendent of State Police, replacing the retiring Kevin Reeves. Davis takes over as controversy swirls around the L-S-P over accusations they had a role in the death of a black man while in custody last year and the use of racial slurs among troopers. Governor Edwards believes Davis will lead this agency with utmost professionalism…
cut 10 (06) “…colleagues”