Saturday marks the beginning of a week of early voting for the November 16th run-off election. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”   

A 13-year-old boy suffers an accidental gunshot wound after he and two friends discover an assault rifle in the garage of his Kenner home on Halloween night.  One of his friends picked up the rifle and was holding it when it discharged hitting the boy in the arm, who was later taken to the hospital.  Information on the teen’s condition has not been released.

The 20^th annual Louisiana Renaissance Festival starts this weekend in Hammond.  Festival CEO Alvon Brumfield says when entering the gates, visitors set foot in a village from the 1600’s full of entertainment, education, and shopping.

Cut 12 (10) “…lot of shows.” 

Brumfield says there will be a variety of beers, meads, and food for festival-goers to enjoy.  More details can be found at larf.org.

Theresa Caputo, best known for her TLC’s Reality series The Long Island Medium, will be in the Bayou State this Sunday and Monday. While on tour she walks around the venue and does spontaneous readings. Caputo says she never knows what is going to happen each night and that’s part of the surprise.

Cut 3 (10)   “…fine out.” 

The Raising Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge hosts the sold-out College Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday night. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Federal civil rights abuse sentences have been handed down for the husband and wife out of Amite who were found guilty of a series of abuses against a young autistic girl. Terry and Raylaine Knope will serve 28 years in jail for their actions against the young woman who was forced to eat feces and her own mother’s ashes, locked outside in a chicken wire cage, and a number of other horrific offenses. The two were hit with similar sentences at the parish level as well.

Early voters will be treated to a much smaller ballot, just two statewide races and no amendments when they head to the polls Saturday to cast a ballot for the November 16^th run-off. 374,000 Louisianans early voted in the primary, a state record. Despite the reduced number of races, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is hoping for a repeat performance this time around as well.

Cut 10 (09) “it well”

Early voting runs through the 9^th.

Theresa Caputo, best known for her TLC’s Reality series The Long Island Medium, will be in the Bayou State this Sunday and Monday. While on tour she walks around the venue and does spontaneous readings. Caputo is not immune to her skeptics and at times she does get hecklers at her show. But it still doesn’t deter her.

Cut 5 (12) “…loved ones”

Early voting for the November 16^th run-off begins Saturday, giving voters a chance to weigh in on the two statewide elections left and a slew of local elections. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin recommends using the Geaux Vote app to save yourself time at the booth, but…

Cut 9, 9 seconds, formed

No constitutional amendments are up for a vote, and only the only statewide races remaining are Governor’s race and Secretary of State.

The College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony begins at 530PM Saturday in Baton Rouge at the Rasin’ Canes River Center. President and CEO of Sports BR Patrick Coogan says it will be a great event for college baseball fans with no shortage of recognizable names.

Cut 7 (08) “…Skip Bertman.”

If the event goes well, Baton Rouge may be in for a permanent College Baseball Hall of Fame facility.

The Long Island Medium, TLC’s Theresa Caputo, will be in Shreveport on November 3^rd and Baton Rouge November 4^th. It’s not the first time she’s been to Louisiana, she visited the Saenger Theatre last summer in New Orleans. Caputo said the show made a lasting impression on her because she felt spirits physically pushing her around the theatre.

Cut 4 (12) “…like that.”

While on tour she walks around the venue and does spontaneous readings.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 AM this Sunday, giving all of us an extra hour of sleep.

The Pels shock Denver in an upset win 122 to 107 for the team’s first win of the season. Offseason acquisition, forward Brandon Ingram once again put on a show, dropping 25 points and five assists, including one thunderous dunk that got injured rookie Zion Williamson off his seat and celebrating almost onto the court. The former Laker is now averaging 27 points a contest through the first five games on 51 percent shooting, and 50 percent from three. Jahlil Okafor also impressed, putting up 26 points and five boards in 34 minutes. Team leader Jrue Holliday had a bounce back game with 19 points and seven assists.

In the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers remain the N-F-C’s lone unbeaten team as they held off Arizona last night 28-25. The Saints will meet San Fran December eighth in the Dome.

In college football, Baylor stays undefeated after a 17-14 win over West Virginia. But 20th ranked Appalachian State suffered its first loss as Georgia Southern defeated the Mountaineers for the second straight season as the Eagles flew into Boone, North Carolina and left with a 24-21 win.
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Here’s your college football schedule for Saturday, the Ragin Cajuns host Texas State, Arkansas State is at ULM. Northwestern State will be in Lake Charles to face McNeese. Southeastern Louisiana hosts Stephen F Austin, Nicholls is at U-I-W. Winless Texas Southern visits Grambling and Southern hosts Alabama A-and-M.

LSU and Louisiana Tech are both off.

But LSU and La Tech will play each other in an exhibition basketball game at 4:00 on Saturday in Ruston. Coach Will Wade is optimistic about the year, and says this year’s team is good, but the margin of error is smaller than it was last year….

cut 18 (22) “our strenghts”

Middle and high school vaping rates have doubled since 2017 in Louisiana according to data from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living. In 2019 an estimated 32 percent of high schoolers and 15 percent of middle schoolers reported using vape products more than once. Tobacco-Free Living Director Tonia Moore says it’s a growing trend.

Cut 7 (08) “…2015.” 

55 percent of those who reported vaping say they used a JUUL product, the most popular form of vape.

Baton Rouge is the host city of the College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this weekend. President and CEO of Sports BR Patrick Coogan says there has never been a physical building for the Hall, but says there is certainly interest from the city to be the site if one is constructed.

Cut 6 (08) “…a natural fit.”

The ceremony will be held on Saturday at 530PM.

Theresa Caputo, best known for her TLC’s Reality series The Long Island Medium, will be in the Bayou State this Sunday and Monday. While on tour she walks around the venue and does spontaneous readings. Caputo says she never knows what is going to happen each night and that’s part of the surprise.

Cut 3 (10)   “…fine out.” 

Caputo will be in Shreveport on the 3rd, and Baton Rouge on the 4th.

The Popeye’s chicken sandwich that captured the attention of the world this summer returns to the restaurant’s menu this Sunday.  How did the sandwich make its way into the spotlight?  Marketing faculty at UNO Lisa Palumbo says much of the hype can be traced to Popeye’s use of social media.

Cut 10 (11) “…especially their Twitter.”

The sandwich’s return on a Sunday seems to be a direct shot at Chick-fil-a.

32 percent of high schoolers and 15 percent of middle schoolers in Louisiana say they’ve used E-cigarettes on multiple occasions. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I”m Matt Doyle”

A 13-year-old boy suffers an accidental gunshot wound after he and two friends discover an assault rifle in the garage of his Kenner home on Halloween night.  One of his friends picked up the rifle and was holding it when it discharged hitting the boy in the arm, who was later taken to the hospital.  Information on the teen’s condition has not been released.

LSU online programs enrollment grows 20% over last year. 1,200 students are now enrolled online. Currently the university offers 15 online programs, but Vice provost of digital and continuing education Sasha Thackaberry says the goal is to grow that to 50 by the fall of 2021.

Cut 14 (11) “…programs every term.” 

LSU’s growth outpaces the national rate of 4% for the same time frame.

The Popeye’s chicken sandwich that captured the attention of the world this summer returns to the restaurant’s menu this Sunday.  Marketing faculty at UNO Lisa Palumbo says the item’s national disappearance due to running out of sandwiches ultimately adds to marketing buzz around the restaurant, despite the loss of sales.

Cut  12 (11) “…the Popeye’s sandwich.” 

Democrats in the House were successful in passing a rules package for its impeachment probe into President Trump. Louisiana’s Republican House delegation voted against it. Congressman Mike Johnson says it’s an affront to the Founding Father’s vision for America…
cut 4 (13) “….fears”
New Orleans Democratic Congressman Cedric Richmond says the probe is attempting to reveal the truth on whether the president held back foreign aid in exchange for information on a political rival.

The popular Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich returns Sunday on the day Chick-Fil-A is closed. UNO marketing professor Lisa Palumbo says a good-natured jab is ok in marketing…
cut 11 (11) “…over really well”

The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living releases a report that finds 32-percent of high school students and 15-percent of middle schoolers used vape products more than once. That’s double from 2017. Tobacco Free Living Director Tonia Moore says the increase in vaping among youths is largely the result of a calculated marketing campaign…
cut 9 (13) “…hooking them”

LSU says they’ve seen a 20-percent growth in enrollment for its online programs over the last year. Vice provost of digital and continuing education Sasha Thackaberry says the online courses are created with a collaboration between the faculty and learning experience design team so it is a rich and involved online experience.
Cut 15 (12) “…some amazing stuff.”

LSU’S Online program enrollment is up 20% over the year, outpacing the national growth rate of 4%. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The House votes 232 to 196 to authorize public Impeachment hearings, the first step in what ultimately may be a formal impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Northwest Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson voted against the resolution. He called it an affront to the Founding Father’s vision for America.
Five of Louisiana’s six Congressmen voted against the resolution, the sole supporter being New Orleans Representative and Democrat Cedric Richmond.
The Congressman says it’s clear Democrats were plotting to try to undo the results of the 2016 election from the moment the final vote was counted. He says this is just another partisan assault.
Cut 6 (11) “achieve”

Middle and high school vaping rates have doubled since 2017 in Louisiana according to data from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living.
In 2019 an estimated 32 percent of high schoolers and 15 percent of middle schoolers reported using vape products more than once. Tobacco-Free Living Director Tonia Moore says it’s a growing trend.
55 percent of those who reported vaping say they used a JUUL product, the most popular form of vape.
Smoking rates in the state continue to decline among youth at the same time that vaping rates have exploded. Moore says that appears to be because kids aren’t even aware the product is dangerous.
Cut 8 (09) “…or not”

Early voting starts tomorrow. Contact your local registrar of voters to find out where you can early vote.

Following a national disappearance, last summer’s wildly popular Popeye’s chicken sandwich makes its return this Sunday. Kevin Barnhart has the story behind the sandwich’s massive popularity.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The House votes 232 to 196 to authorize public Impeachment hearings, the first step in what ultimately may be a formal impeachment of President Donald Trump.
Northwest Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson voted against the resolution. He called it an affront to the Founding Father’s vision for America.All House Republicans and two Democrats voted against the resolution.
Johnson raised concerns about how Democrats have handled the Ukraine Scandal investigation. He says the majority party in the lower chamber is besmirching the reputation of the House.
Cut 5 (09) “…itself”

Middle and high school vaping rates have doubled since 2017 in Louisiana according to data from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living.
In 2019 an estimated 32 percent of high schoolers and 15 percent of middle schoolers reported using vape products more than once. Tobacco-Free Living Director Tonia Moore says it’s a growing trend.
Cut 7 (08) “…2015.”

LSU online programs enrollment grows 20% over last year. 1,200 students are now enrolled online, with the goal to boost that to 30,000 over the next decade. Vice provost of digital and continuing education Sasha Thackaberry says LSU’s growth outpaces the national rate of 4% for the same time frame.
Cut 13 (07) “…world class education.”

The Pelicans won their first game of the season last night and they beat a good team too, knocking off Denver 122 to 107. Jahlil Okafor had a huge game with 26 points, Brandon Ingram added 25 points and Frank Jackson scored 21 points off the bench. The Pels shot 53-percent from the field.

In the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers remain the N-F-C’s lone unbeaten team as they held off Arizona last night 28-25. The Saints are one game back of San Fran for the top spot in the NFC. The two teams will meet December eighth in the Dome.

In college football, Baylor stays undefeated after a 17-14 win over West Virginia. But 20th ranked Appalachian State suffered its first loss as Georgia Southern defeated the Mountaineers for the second straight season as the Eagles flew into Boone, North Carolina and left with a 24-21 win.

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Here’s your college football schedule for Saturday, the Ragin Cajuns host Texas State, Arkansas State is at ULM. Northwestern State will be in Lake Charles to face McNeese. Southeastern Louisiana hosts Stephen F Austin, Nicholls is at U-I-W. Winless Texas Southern visits Grambling and Southern hosts Alabama A-and-M.

LSU and Louisiana Tech are both off.

But LSU and La Tech will play each other in an exhibition basketball game at 4:00 on Saturday in Ruston. Javonte Smart is the Tigers new point guard and Coach Will Wade expects the sophomore will do a good job, it just won’t be as pretty as it was with Tremont Waters running the offense
Cut 16 (22) to put it