Voters are wrapped around the State Archives building for the first day of early voting. Matt Doyle spoke with a few of them as they waited in the chilly weather.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

Early voting hours and days are extended due to the pandemic from 8am until 7pm, Monday thru Saturday and ends on Tuesday, October 27^th. For locations use the Geaux Vote App, that’s G-E-A-U-X.

Legislators are coming under fire for passing a $22.6 million dollar bill full of 113 projects that some say is old-school pork-barrel legislation. HB 39 contained items like lighthouse improvements, construction of a sports complex, and other small-ticket items. Governor Edwards says he’ll take a look at the appropriations bill before signing it and might line-item veto a few of the more questionable expenditures. Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue countered…

Cut 15 (08) “state” 

LSU Student Body President Stone Cox wants the University to require students participate in mandatory monthly Covid-19 testing to move the school into phase 3. Student lead organizations is one area that would benefit from phase 3.

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Long lines have been reported at early voting locations as today is the first day of early voting. These voters say they’re eager to cast their ballot despite the wait and some of the pandemic hassle…
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Early voting at select locations will run through October 27th from 8 AM to 7 PM, except on Sundays.

A U-S Senate race is also on the ballot. According to the latest campaign finance reports, Republican Incumbent Senator Bill Cassidy has four-point-five million dollars on hand, while his main Democratic challenger, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins has 680-thousand. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that’s not enough to make an impact…
cut 8 (12) “…second term”

State lawmakers are facing criticism for approving a supplemental budget bill that contains 22-million dollars in so-called pet projects that lawmakers requested to have in the legislation. There’s money for a lighthouse in Madisonville, fire hydrants for Assumption Parish and a sports complex in East Baton Rouge Parish. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says the amended bill never received a public hearing.
Cut 13 (12) “…projects”
House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue…
cut 14 (11) “…parishes”
The supplemental budget bill heads to the governor’s desk, where he will have the option to use his line-item veto powers.

Voters are wrapped around the Secretary of State’s office for the first day of early voting. Matt Doyle spoke with a few of them as they waited in the chilly weather.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson was the victim of an attempted auto theft last Saturday. Police say the incident happened in Uptown when a man barged in and apparently tried to steal the vehicle with Benson inside. Benson was reportedly shaken but unharmed.

Legislators are under fire for passing a $22.6 million dollar bill full of 113 construction projects that some say is old-school pork-barrel legislation. HB 39 contained items like lighthouse improvements in Madisonville, construction of a sports complex in Central, and other items. Public Affairs Research Council head Robert Travis Scott says it’s disappointing…

Cut 12 10) “…governments”

Campaign finance reports indicate U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has raised as much money in the last quarter as his main Democratic challenger, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins. UL-Lafayette Poli-Sci Professor Pierson Cross says if Perkins can force Cassidy into a run-off, it greatly increases his chances of more campaign contributions.

Cut 7 (09) “…national recognition”

Cassidy’s war chest however is much larger.

Campaign finance reports indicate U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has raised as much money in the last quarter as his main Democratic challenger, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins. But overall, Cassidy’s war chest is much larger.  UL-Lafayette Poli-Sci Professor Pierson Cross says numbers indicate Perkins is appealing to both state and national democrats.

Cut 6 (09) “uphill slope”

It’s the first day of early voting and a long, socially distanced line wrapped around the Secretary of State’s office. This voter says she’s a frequent early voter and has never seen this many people in line before. She says when she first saw the line she turned around but decided to come back…

Cut 9 (11) “do it”

LSU Student Body President Stone Cox sent a letter to Interim President Thomas Galligan, suggesting monthly COVID-19 testing for all students, an effort to move into Phase Three.

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Taylor Sharp”  

LSU Student Body President Stone Cox has sent a letter to University Interim President Thomas Galligan suggesting that all students participate in mandatory monthly Covid-19 testing to move the school into phase 3.  Cox says that moving into phase 3 would be a big step in the right direction.

Cut 3 (13)  “…Now”   

The state has only had 495 reported cases of COVID in K-12 students and 1,063 cases in school staff since the school year began. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says that’s thanks in large part to educators and the Louisiana Department of Health’s early warning system currently in place in two-thirds of schools…

Cut 11 (09) “walls”

Twelve days are left in the special session where Republican lawmakers are attempting to pass legislation to reduce a governor’s authority when imposing restrictions during a public emergency. During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards reiterated he feels the special session aimed at attacking his authority is unwarranted…

cut 8 (08) “…irresponsible”

Republican House Members are waiting to see if the Senate approves a resolution to overturn the governor’s emergency order. It’s already passed the lower chamber.

A cold front is moving through the state and it will keep our high temperatures in the 60s and 70s today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will also help keep tropical storms away…
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The National Hurricane Center is watching a broad area of low pressure in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, but it has a low chance of development.

Long lines are being reported as 10 days of early voting begins today. You can’t vote Sundays but Monday through Saturday polls open at 8 am and close at 7 pm. There’s a lot of interest in this election but Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says don’t assume the worst when you see a long line.

Cut 24 (11) “…be discouraged”

Early wraps in Louisiana and wraps up October 27^th.

The House has now passed a number of measures aimed at limiting the Governor’s public health authority and Governor Edwards says if they make it to his desk he’s likely to veto them.

Edwards touted his record handling the pandemic and says the public health authority granted to him by the State Constitution has helped him guide Louisiana through this crisis.

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So far, the state has only had 495 reported cases of COVID in K-12 students and 1,063 cases in school staff since the school year began, despite higher predictions.  Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says in spite of the success they have identified a few problem areas where infections are most likely to occur.

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Louisiana has been blessed by a cold front this morning with north Louisiana temperatures in the 50s and south Louisiana temps in the 60s with little humidity. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this cold front should help ward off any tropical systems in the area as well. So how long should we expect this wonderful weather to last?

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Today is the first day of early voting and long lines have already been reported at polling sites. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says 201-thousand mail ballots have been requested and the deadline to do so is October 30th and they must be returned by the end of the day on November 2nd…
cut 6 (10) “…be counted”

So far the state has seen 495 reported cases of COVID in K-12 students and just over one-thousand cases among school staff since the school year began. There’s been a concern about school-based outbreaks causing major community spread, but Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says that hasn’t been the case.
Cut 10 (08) “…feared.”
Kanter credits teachers for keeping their classrooms safe.

Governor Edwards says he refuses to acquiesce to the vast majority of House-backed legislative efforts that aim to limit his broad authority to order public health restrictions. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Fair Wayne Bryant has been released from Angola after serving 24 years of a life sentence for stealing a pair of hedge clippers. The 63-year-old Bryant received the life sentence under the state’s habitual offender law. The state’s parole board granted his release after the Chief Justice for the Louisiana Supreme Court called Bryant’s life sentence grossly disproportionate to the crime.

Early voting has started in Louisiana and it will run until October 27th, excluding Sunday and the polls will be open 8 AM to 7 PM. Over 200-thousand mail ballots have been requested. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says if you have an underlying health condition you can request a mail ballot at your local election office, along with other reasons…
cut 5 (12) “….absentee ballot’
The deadline to request a ballot by mail is October 30th.

The special session ends October 27th and it sounds like Governor Edwards will have his veto pen ready for any bill that hits his desk that seeks to limit his authority for issuing public emergency orders…
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Republican legislators believe they should have input on orders that last over 30 days.

Dire predictions of K-12 school reopenings resulting in the mass transmission of coronavirus have not come true so far. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

WWL-TV in New Orleans reports another student in Jefferson Parish was suspended for handling a BB gun during virtual learning. The father of Timothy Brown in Grand Isle says his 11-year-old son was suspended for three days because he showed off a BB during virtual class. State lawmakers are working on legislation after a fourth-grader was suspended six days for a similar incident.

Early voting begins today for the November third election and turnout is expected to be record-breaking. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says preparation is key
Cut 1 (32) “ I’m Brooke Thorington”

Family members for Ronald Greene watched the body camera video of the encounter he had with State Police troopers in May 2019 that’s now the subject of a federal civil rights investigation. Greene, a black man from West Monroe died in police custody. An attorney for the Greene family says the footage shows troopers choking and beating him.

There are twelve days left in the special session where Republican lawmakers are attempting to pass legislation that would reduce a governor’s authority when imposing restrictions during a public emergency. During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards reiterated that he feels the special session aimed at attacking his authority is unwarranted…
cut 8 (08) “…irrresponsible”
Republican House Members are waiting to see if the Senate will approve a resolution that would overturn the governor’s emergency order. It’s already passed the lower chamber.

A cold front is moving through the state and it will keep our high temperatures in the 60s today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will also help keep tropical storms away…
cut 14 (09) “…gulf”
The National Hurricane Center is watching a broad area of low pressure in the southwestern Carribbean Sea, but it has a low chance of development.

Early voting begins today in Louisiana and wraps up October 27th. You can’t vote Sundays, but Monday through Saturday polls open at 8 am and close at 7 pm. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says don’t assume the worst when you see a long line.
Cut 4 (11) “…be discouraged”
Ardoin says 201-thousand mail ballots have been requested statewide. The deadline to request a ballot by mail is October 30th and the mail ballot must be received by the end of the day on November second.

A cold front is moving through the state and that will keep our high temperatures in the upper 60s today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll have fantastic weather this weekend.
Cut 13 (10) “offer.”

Governor Edwards says he refuses to acquiesce to the vast majority of House-backed legislative efforts that aim to limit his broad authority to order public health restrictions. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”