Public memorials begin tomorrow in Baton Rouge for former Governor Kathleen Blanco. Her biggest challenge as an elected official was the response to Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo spoke to her about it in 2015…

Cut 1 (31) “..I’m Jeff Palermo”

West Monroe Police have arrested a man they say was in unlawful possession of an AR15-style rifle and body armor. 46-year-old Stewart Wayne Hayes was discovered in his vehicle in the armor, with the gun.

A company that employs 750 people in Minden is threatening to relocate to east Texas if the state does not upgrade several bridges in the area that have structural problems. Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker told KEEL the state is littered with de-rated bridges, and the only routes DOTD can find force his company to make a substantial detour to ship items west.

Cut 10 (12) “…miles”

The Louisiana Department of Economic Development says they will do everything they can to keep the company in state.

St. Landry Parish Sheriffs are trying to identify a body they discovered dumped in the Beggs area. Authorities say it appears to be an African American female in her early 20s. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says it was a shocking discovery, but a sensation that’s not all that unfamiliar to the region at this time.

Cut 14 (10) “…with this .”

Former Governor Kathleen Blanco will lie in state at the Louisiana Capitol tomorrow. Since her death on Sunday, many have looked back at her one term as governor, which was highlighted by Hurricane Katrina. Blanco told L-R-N in 2015 that she hated political fingerpointing that took place…
cut 5 (11) “…political response”

AG Jeff Landry says yesterday an armed law enforcement officer from his office was on campus to help educate students and protect them from crime, which may have triggered the armed intruder false alarm. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says they are reviewing yesterday’s response, adding they have recently trained for a similar scenario.
Cut 6 (09) “…in a training.”
Ballard says campus safety is a shared responsibility and if someone sees something, they should say something.

A major employer in Minden is considering re-locating to Texas because of a several structurally deficient bridges in northwest Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

St. Landry Parish Sheriffs are trying to identify a body they discovered dumped in the Beggs area. Authorities say it appears to be a black female in her early 20s. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the cause of death is unknown and the body did have one specific identifying item.
Cut 13 (05) “…lanyard”
Guidroz says foul play is suspected.

It was about 24 hours ago that LSU sent out a text alert that told students about a possible armed intruder at Coates Hall and they should run, hide or fight. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says while that language may be alarming, it’s encouraged by the federal Homeland Security department.
Cut 8 (10) “…isn’t a joke.”
Attorney General Jeff Landry says the reported armed intruder was actually one of his officers who was on campus to instruct students about social media responsibility.

Public memorials begin tomorrow for former Governor Kathleen Blanco who died from cancer. She was the state’s governor during Hurricane Katrina and during an interview with Louisiana Radio Network in 2015 she recounted her frustration over how the storm overwhelmed the state…
cut 3 (12) “…quickly”

Minden’s largest employer, Fibrebond may re-locate to East Texas, because poor bridges in the area are making it to difficult to ship product. C-E-O Graham Walker spoke with our news partner 710 KEEL earlier today…
cut 12 (09) “…get out”
DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they are aware of the problem and there is money available to fix structurally deficient bridges…
cut 11 (11) “…there”
Fibrebond is a Louisiana owned and operated company that’s been open for the last 37 years.

Slidell police have arrested two people after a school resource officer found cocaine on a five-year-old. Authorities say the child didn’t know he had the drugs. 23-year-old Angelica Stanley and 51-year-old Ellis Cousin were taken into custody at their home and they are facing several charges.

Reports of an armed intruder on LSU’s campus yesterday thankfully turned out to be a non-threatening situation, but the school is still happy with the quick response from law enforcement, students, and staff. LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard…

Cut 7 (12) “…have the problems.”

Just before 3pm the school sent out an alert telling students in the area to run, hide, or fight.

A major employer in Minden is threatening to take their operation to Texas if the state does not fix a series of structurally deficient bridges that force the company to take a substantial detour to ship their 150,000 pound products west.

Cut 10 (12) “…miles”

That’s Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker who spoke with KEEL this morning.

The Louisiana Department of Health announces nine human cases of West Nile Virus, the first reported cases of the year. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

LSU says they are reviewing their response to a report of an armed intruder.  LSU spokesperson Ernie Ballard says it is possible that a plain-clothes police officer in the area of Coates Hall was what sparked the commotion at the campus yesterday.
Cut 6 (11) “…officer walking there.”
Ballard says campus safety is a shared responsibility and if someone see’s something, they should say something.
A company that employs 750 people in Minden is threatening to relocate to east Texas if the state does not upgrade several bridges in the area that have structural problems. Fibrebond builds huge structures that can measure 16 by 75 feet and weigh 150,000 pounds, making them ineligible to cross de-rated bridges. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallet…
Cut 9 (08) “area”

Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker says DOTD routes force his company to make an over 250 mile detour to ship items west.

The trade war with China drags on as Louisiana soybean farmers are preparing to enter the second season in a row under pressure from Chinese tariffs. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

The state’s first human cases of West Nile Virus of the year have been reported in East Baton Rouge, Washington, Livingston, St. Tammany, and Caddo parishes, with a total of nine cases.  The Department of Health says the West Nile season may be off to a later start than usual, as this time last year, there were 53 cases.

The state’s first human cases of West Nile Virus of the year have been reported by the Department of Health. While the West Nile season may be off to a later start than usual, Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says this time last year, there were 53 cases, but he is hesitant to call it an optimistic trend.
Cut 4 (10) “…make any generalizations.”
Five of the nine cases are the more serious form of West Nile and they are from south Louisiana.

Panic spread across the LSU campus yesterday afternoon when the school sent out an alert about a possible armed intruder in Coates Hall. State Climatologist Barry Keim was on campus when the alert was sent and said people in his building near Coates Hall did not take the situation lightly…
cut 14 (08) “…walking around”
Just before 5 PM, another alert was sent, giving the all-clear and LSU officials believe the suspected armed intruder was an off-duty officer with a gun on his belt.

Louisiana soybean farmers are facing a second straight harvest where it could be difficult to sell their crop, because of the U-S-China trade war. Kyle McCann with the Louisiana Farm Bureau says many farmers would be out of business by now if not for the Market Facilitation payments that cover an estimated 80 percent of lost profits, but he says it’s a temporary fix
Cut 11 (08) “…from”
Another round of MFP payments is reportedly on the way to embattled farmers.

The state department of education says a record number of Louisiana high school students achieved college credit on College Level Examination Program exams. Assistant Superintendent of Education Ken Bradford…
Cut 8 (09) “…course”
The number of Louisiana students earning college credit increased 51-percent over last year.

Louisiana soybean farmers are looking at a second difficult harvest because of the ongoing trade war between the U-S and China. Soybean producers had a hard time finding a buyer for their crop last year and the trade dispute with China continues to linger. Kyle McCann, with the Louisiana Farm Bureau President, says a reported Canada-Mexico trade deal won’t help…
cut 12 (10) “…replacement”

A record 8,084 students earned college credit while in high school in the last school year thanks to the College Level Examination Program. Assistant Education Superintendent Ken Bradford says it’s a valuable program that can save students and their families a lot of money.
Cut 7 (08) “…hours.”
He adds the 89 dollar fee is often paid for by the school system.

LSU students and faculty are breathing a sigh of relief after a report of an armed intruder turns out not to be a threat. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

We’re now 10 days away from LSU’s season opener against Georgia Southern in Tiger Stadium. Quarterback Joe Burrow says the offense is close to being game ready…
cut 30 (09) “…better every day”

Louisiana soybean farmers continue to take a beating as the trade war with China drags on with no apparent long term deal on the horizon. Soybeans were going for 10 bucks a bushel before the trade war began, and have dipped noticeably since then. Assistant to Louisiana Farm Bureau President Kyle McCann…
cut 10 (09) “…right now”
McCann says many farmers would be out of business, if not for the Market Facilitation payments that cover an estimated 80 percent of lost profits.

While there turned out to be no threat, it was an intense scene on LSU’s campus yesterday afternoon after police received a report of an armed intruder at Coates Hall. Professor Barry Keim was in front of Coates Hall and saw the cops quickly respond.
Cut 13 (08) “…into Coates Hall.”
LSU officials believe the suspected armed intruder was an off-duty officer who had a gun on his belt.

The Louisiana Health Department has reported the first human cases of the West Nile Virus for the year. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says there are nine cases at three levels of seriousness in East Baton Rouge, Washington, Livingston, St. Tammany and Caddo Parishes…
cut 5 (11) “…in blood donations”
The department recommends people mitigate the risk of contracting the virus by wearing long sleeve clothing and bug repellant that contains DEET.

The state department of education says they’ve had a record number of Louisiana students who have earned college credit by passing the College Level Examination Program exam. Assistant Superintendent of Education Ken Bradford…
cut 9 (11) “…United States”
Bradford says they’ve seen a 51-percent increase in the number of students who achieved college credit by passing the CLEP exam.

It was far from a normal day on LSU’s campus yesterday after the school sent out an alert about a possible armed intruder at Coates Hall. The text alert said students and faculty should Run, Hide or Fight. State Climatologist Barry Keim was near the police activity…
cut 15 (09) “…obviously went down”
LSU officials believe a plain clothes officer with a gun on his belt walking around the building sparked the report of an armed intruder.

The state department of education says a record number of Louisiana high school students achieved college credit on College Level Examination Program exams. Assistant Superintendent of Education Ken Bradford…
Cut 8 (09) “…course”
The number of Louisiana students earning college credit increased 51-percent over last year.

The Louisiana Department of Health announces nine human cases of West Nile Virus, the first reported cases of the year. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

If weather allows, the Coast Guard will do a controlled burn today of about 800 to one-thousand gallons of oil that spilled last week from a flowline at Cox Bay in Plaquemines Parish. The Coast Guard says a controlled burn is the best way to deal with the spill, which has not impacted wildlife. Fire crews will be present to make sur ethe fire doesn’t spread.

Panic spread across the LSU campus yesterday afternoon when the school sent out an alert about a possible armed intruder in Coates Hall. State Climatologist Barry Keim was on campus when the alert was sent and said people in his building near Coates Hall did not take the situation lightly…
cut 14 (08) “…walking around”
Just before 5 PM, another alert was sent, giving the all-clear and LSU officials believe the suspected armed intruder was an off-duty officer with a gun on his belt.

It’s that time of the year to limit your exposure to mosquitos as the state has reported the first human cases of West Nile Virus for this year. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says look for standing water because that’s where mosquitos tend to breed…
cut 6 (08) “…amounts of water”
The state reports nine West Nile Vile virus cases, mostly in south Louisiana from East Baton Rouge to Washington and St. Tammany parishes.

The trade war with China drags on as Louisiana soybean farmers are preparing to enter the second season in a row under pressure from Chinese tariffs. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”