A person of interest in the two deaths last week of two black men in Baton Rouge is free on bond, but he still faces drug charges.  According to Baton Rouge Police, 23 year old Kenneth Gleason was charged with possession of a schedule one substance, marijuana and a schedule three substance, human growth hormone.  Sgt. Don Coppola says the circumstances surrounding both shootings are extremely similar.

Cut 5  (09)  “two together”

The separate killings claimed the lives of 59 year old Bruce Cofield as well as 49 year old Donald Smart.

The Louisiana Democratic Party opposes U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s and three other Republican lawmakers bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.  Party Spokesperson D’Seante Parks says this legislation would end the Medicaid expansion, which covers more than 430-thousand Louisiana residents.

Cut 12 (11) “health insurance” 

Senator Cassidy’s proposed legislation would give block grant funding to each state if it passes.

According to the U.S. Census data Louisiana’s uninsured rate is 10.3 percent.  These were the numbers of uninsured Louisiana residents in 2016.  That’s a small decline from 11.9 percent in 2012.  The trend comes after Louisiana’s Medicaid program was expanded by Governor John Bel Edwards to offer government-financed health insurance to over 430 thousand low-income adults.

Whether or not charges will be filed in the case of the LSU freshman who died in a possible hazing incident is still a long way from being known.  Michelle Southern has the story.

Voicer 2     (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern.”

A person of interest in the fatal shooting of a pair of black men in Baton Rouge last week has been released on bond.  Emelie Gunn has more…

Voicer 1     (28)   “…I’m Emelie Gunn.”

The LSU AgCenter has finalized its contract with GB Sciences which will grow medical marijuana for Louisiana patients who have specific conditions. The marijuana-based medication made by the company is required to be put in oil based medical products.  GB Sciences Louisiana will renovate the production facility and availability to patients is expected by mid-2018.

Pennington Biomedical Research Center has been awarded a 6.7 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to study military nutrition and metabolism research. Researcher Dr. Jennifer Rood (Rude) says they will focus on how to ensure a healthy and fit military…

Cut 7 (11)  “situation”

Rood says this research could change the eating habits of soldiers.

The official cause of death for LSU freshman Max Gruver from the coroner’s office may not be known for several weeks as they await toxicology results. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says some members of the fraternity were fully cooperative with LSU police…:

Cut 10 (08) “yet to be interviewed”

Gruver had elevated levels of alcohol in his body at the time of his death after being transported from the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house on the LSU campus.

Whether or not charges will be filed in the case of the LSU freshman who died in a possible hazing incident is still a long way from being known.  Michelle Southern reports.

Cut 2     (28)  “I’m Michelle Southern.”

An explosion in a home injured three people today including 90 year old Dwena Henry, an alderman for the village of Stanley in DeSoto parish and her daughter Sharon Fletcher who is the Stanley mayor.  William Roe, a friend of the family was also injured in the explosion according to DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle.  Reportedly, Henry was cooking when Roe and Fletcher smelled gas in home on the 600 block of Highway 763.

The White House holds a summit with presidents of black colleges today but Grambling State President Rick Gallot  is not there.  Gallot says that he is not boycotting, but there’s a lot happening on the Grambling campus between the start of the a new semester and football season….

Cut 6     (07)               “… this year.”

Louisiana Democratic Party spokesperson D’Seante Parks says every resident should have affordable healthcare and Senator Bill Cassidy’s legislation to provide block grant funding to the state will make it more difficult for low income individuals to purchase coverage.

Cut 13    (11)  “… lowering costs.”

Phi Delta Theta has shut down its LSU chapter as result of 18-year-old Max Gruver’s death. Gruver was pledging at the fraternity and died from the result of a possible hazing incident. No charges have been filed in the case and East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says that could take awhile. Moore says he’s met with the Gruver family and they are devasted…
cut 11 (08) “….pick up your son”

Baton Rouge police say 23-year-old Kenneth Gleason remains a person of interest in the fatal shooting of two black men last week. Sergeant Don Coppola says Gleason, who is white, was in a vehicle that matched the description from the two homicides and it’s possible the shootings were racially motivated…
cut 4 (08) “….possible motive”
Gleason is facing drug charges and has bonded out of jail.

The White House is holding a summit for leaders of black colleges, but Grambling State President Rick Gallot has decided not to go. Gallot says it’s not a sign of protest and in fact, he’s pleased the White House has re-opened the access to Pell Grants for summer school students….
cut 8 (07) “….right direction”
Gallot says he’s not able to attend, because of his busy schedule.

Senate Republicans, led by Louisiana’s Bill Cassidy, are making one final push to repeal and replace President Obama’s health care law. The Louisiana Democratic Party opposes such an effort. Party spokesperson D’Seante Parks says it’s important to protect the Affordable Care Act, because it has allowed many individuals to finally have access to affordable health insurance….
cut 14 (10) “…their families’
Cassidy needs 50 votes for his legislation to pass.

A person of interest in the fatal shooting of two black men in Baton Rouge last week has been released on bond. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The national Phi Delta Theta organization has removed the charter from the Beta Chapter at LSU, where a pledge recently died in a possible hazing incident. The organization said it suspended operations based on information in the investigation of the death of 18-year-old Max Gruver which found some chapter members were in violation of the alcohol-free housing policy.

The Louisiana Democratic Party opposes U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s and three other Republican lawmakers bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. Party Spokesperson D’Seante Parks says this legislation would end the Medicaid expansion, which covers more than 430-thousand Louisiana residents…:
Cut 12 (11) “health insurance”
She says Democrats believe that all Louisianians should have access to affordable healthcare.

Sports fans of Louisiana’s two most popular teams are down in the dumps today as both LSU and the Saints lost rough games. The Tigers had 9 penalties in a 37-7 loss to Mississippi State which is what bothered Quarterback Danny Etling the most…:
Cut 16 (15) “shoot yourself in your foot”
The Saints dropped a 36-20 decision to the New England Patriots Sunday.

A Baton Rouge man considered a person of interest in the shooting deaths of two black men last week, has bonded out of jail. 23-year-old Kenneth Gleason was arrested over the weekend on drug charges. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola says Gleason has yet to be cleared of the homicides…:
Cut 3 (09) “together”
He says it’s a possibility that these murders were racially motivated, but the investigation is ongoing.

Whether or not charges will be filed in the case of the LSU freshman who died in a possibly hazing incident is still a long way from being known. That’s according to East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore who says some members of 18-year-old Max Gruver’s fraternity were fully cooperative with LSU police…:
CUT 10 (08) “yet to be interviewed”
Preliminary autopsy findings indicated Gruver had high levels of alcohol in his system.

A summit is being held at the White House today for presidents of black colleges, but Grambling State President Rick Gallot did not go. He says it’s not a boycott, they’re just busy at Grambling; and still waiting on a person to be named to head the Washington Initiative on HBCUs…:
Cut 7 (11) “with my schedule”
He says September is the worst time to hold a summit for academics, as it’s the beginning of a semester and the kickoff of football season.

LSU has completed its contract with the company that will grow medical marijuana. The AgCenter says the deal is done with GB Sciences, and the drug is expected to reach patients by mid-2018.

East Baton Rouge DA Hillar Moore says it will probably be a while before they’ll know if charges will be brought in the case of the LSU freshman who died in a possible hazing incident at his fraternity. Preliminary autopsy findings indicated that 18-year-old Max Gruver had high levels of alcohol in his system at the time of death. Moore says this investigation will be long:
Cut 9 (05) “60 people”
Attorneys say whether or not felony charges would be brought likely depends on if there is evidence of hazing.

The White House holds a summit with presidents of black colleges today, but Grambling State President Rick Gallot is not there. Gallot says he’s not boycotting, but there’s a lot happening on Grambling campus’ between the start of a new semester and football season…:
Cut 6 (07) “this year”
New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says he’s not surprised many black college presidents have declined to come.

While the nation saw an increase in median household income in 2016, Louisiana saw the largest decline in the country at 2.1-percent…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

Police in Baton Rouge are investigating two shootings they believe are linked and say could be racially motivated. They still have not made an arrest in the murders, but did have a man in custody on drug charges that is considered a person of interest in last week’s shootings. 23-year-old Kenneth Gleason was released on $3500 bond.

The median household income in Louisiana declined by over 2-percent in 2016, the largest decrease in the nation according to Census Figures. LSU Economist Doctor Loren Scott says this decrease is a result of the struggling oil and gas industry…:
Cut 10 (08) “oil patches”
Those areas in a recession are Houma, Lafayette and Shreveport.

Governor John Bel Edwards and state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson are in Washington DC to discuss federal funding for the Comite River Diversion Canal. Wilson says the flood control project could have reduced the massive flooding that took place in the Baton Rouge area last year and Louisiana is ready to move forward on the plan….
cut 5 (10) “…its obligations”
Wilson says the plan would divert water into the Mississippi River.

The LSU AgCenter has finalized its contract with GB Sciences, which will grow medical marijuana for Louisiana patients who have specific conditions. GB Sciences will renovate the production facility and availability to patients is expected by mid-2018.

If you’re shopping for a car, be on the lookout for flood damaged vehicles. That’s the advice from state attorney general Jeff Landry. Landry says if you suspect someone is knowingly selling a flood damaged vehicle, contact your local authorities or call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 351-4889.
cut 15 (11) “…to justice’
Landry says if a vehicle is being sold for an unrealistically low price, it may have previously been involved in a flood.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Saints have started 0-2 as they dropped a 36-20 decision to the New England Patriots. They travel to Carolina this Sunday, and Coach Sean Payton believes this team can turn things around…:
Cut 9 (13) “made of”
The Saints have now lost 11 of their last 12 games in the month of September.

The median household income in Louisiana declined by over 2-percent in 2016, the largest decrease in the nation according to Census Figures. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says there are definitely signs of optimism for better numbers in 2017. He says the rate of decline in both Houma and Lafayette has significantly lessened…:
Cut 11 (10) “the state”

Jeff Palermo reports on LSU’s 37-7 shocking loss to Mississippi State…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Attorney General Jeff Landry is alerting consumers about buying flooded vehicles from Texas. He says when shopping on the lot, there are some things to watch for that could point to a previously flooded vehicle..:
Cut 14 (11) “of water”

State leaders are in Washington D.C. today meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the Comite River Diversion Canal. Jeff Palermo reports…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The random murders of two black men in Baton Rouge last week were likely racially motivated, police said Sunday. A 23-year-old white man was arrested after being questioned about the slayings, but only booked on drug charges in which he bonded out. Baton Rouge Police say Kenneth Gleason drove a car fitting the description of the vehicle used in the killings, but there wasn’t enough evidence to charge him with murder.

“Tell the truth Monday” will not be kind for the LSU Tigers after they were embarrassed 37-7 by Mississippi State. Quarterback Danny Etling says he’s ready to lead the team back into the win column…:
cut 18 (11) “going again”
LSU is back in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night as they host Syracuse.

Louisiana looks to be improving in the workforce as the state gained 24,200 non farm jobs since August of last year. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says employment was up for May, June and July…:
Cut 12 (10) “oil patch”
But new Census Figures found the median household income in Louisiana declined by over 2-percent in 2016, the largest decline in the country.