A report on Louisiana voter registration finds a decline in white Democrats and steady gain of Republican and Independent voters…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

65% of students are submitting FAFSA paperwork this year compared to 58% last year. Senior Educational Technology consultant Stephanie Marcum says they expect the numbers to continue to go up when filling out FAFSA becomes a requirement for seniors next year…:
CUT 11 (05) “they’re eligible”

Governor Bobby Jindal’s ex-budget chief, Angele Davis, joins the pool of candidates running for state treasurer. Republican state senator Neil Riser, Republican former state representative John Schroder and Democratic attorney Derrick Edwards are the others seeking the post vacated by U.S. Senator John Kennedy. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says none of the candidates are known statewide…:
Cut 12 (07) “stand for”
Qualifying begins Wednesday.

A Baton Rouge teen was arrested for allegedly beating and critically injuring an 89-year-old man and 70-year-old woman with a hammer inside their Kenner home on Sunday. Kenner Police Lt. Brian McGregor says the brutal attack happened after a petty argument with the juvenile and the victims…:
Cut 7 (09) “said no”
The teen faces charges of two counts of attempted first degree murder, theft of a motor vehicle, and aggravated burglary.

A Kenner teen has been arrested for allegedly beating an elderly couple with a hammer in their home. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The East Feliciana Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect in the case of a 61-year-old man who was found shot and killed outside his home near Clinton. They identify the victim as Thomas Bass and say it’s the first official homicide investigation for the parish so far this year. A a $2,500 reward for any information pertaining to this case is offered.

The number of high school seniors filling out financial aid forms for post-secondary education is up 7 percent over last year. Senior Educational Technology consultant Stephanie Marcum says they’ve been making a big push to let students know that FAFSA isn’t just for traditional college…:
CUT 9 (11) “to pay for”
She says they also saw an increase in financial aid applications when TOPS wasn’t fully funded last year.

Popular Monroe Chef Cory Bahr remains in the competition to be the next Food Network Star after being deemed safe in the bottom five Sunday.

The percentage of white Democrats in Louisiana is at 18, down from 35% in 2001. That’s according to JMC Analytics and Polling analyst John Couvillon. He says 22-percent of the electorate consisted of registered Republicans in 2001, now the percentage is up to 30-percent. He says the percentage of registered Independents is also up eight-percent…:
Cut 4 (11) “major parties”
He says Black voter registration comprised 29-percent of the electorate in 2001 and is 31-percent today.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a man is under arrest accused of setting fires at three Wal Mart locations in Tagipahoa Parish to act as a diversion while the suspect stole laptops. They say Larry Schouest Jr. is charged with two counts of aggravated arson and six counts of felony theft.

A 16-year-old has been arrested after allegedly beating an elderly couple with a hammer inside of their Kenner home because they wouldn’t give him a ride. Cops say a 70-year-old woman walked to her neighbor’s home covered in blood asking for help for she and her 89-year-old husband. Lt. Brian McGregor is with the Kenner Police Department…:
Cut 6 (07) “Baton Rouge”
He says the 16-year-old was then detained and charged with attempted first degree murder, theft of a motor vehicle, and aggravated burglary.

Abortions in the Bayou State have decreased by 4-percent from 2015 to 2016, according to numbers by the state Department of Health. Ben Clapper with Louisiana Right to Life says this is the second year in a row that abortion numbers have dropped…:
Cut 10 (08) “our community”
Pro-choice organizations did not immediately respond for comment.

Abortions in the Bayou State have decreased by 4-percent from 2015 to 2016, according to numbers by the state Department of Health. Ben Clapper with Louisiana Right to Life says many women who had abortions last year were unmarried and 35 girls under the age of 15 had an abortion….:
Cut 12 (10) “adoption”
Pro-choice organizations did not immediately respond for comment.

There’s been a substantial decline in the number of whites registered as Democrats in Louisiana since 2001. JMC Analytics and Polling analyst John Couvillon says when President George W. Bush was inaugurated in 2001, white Democrats comprised 35-percent of the Louisiana electorate or 951-thousand voters. Today, the percentage of white Democrats is down to 18-percent…
cut 3 (05) “…registered Democrats”
Couvillon says meanwhile there’s been a steady gain in registered Republicans and Independents.

During an apperance on “Fox News Sunday” U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy said the Senate GOP bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act is probably “dead” and President Donald Trump’s proposal to just repeal so-called Obamacare is a non-starter. Cassidy said the chances Republicans can pass broader legislation in the next week three weeks is 50-50.

A new study finds our pets are getting bigger and bigger, and a local vet warns against letting your furry friend get too fat. Michelle Southern reports..:
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

21 young diamondback terrapins return home to the Louisiana barrier island….:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Elio Motors is scheduled to appear before the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission this morning. The company which that plans to build 3-wheel vehicles in Shreveport was summoned earlier this year to answer questions about possible state violations, but failed to appear. The commission believes that Elio’s pre-purchase program may be breaking laws against car companies selling directly to consumers. Elio has yet to start production at the old GM plant in Shreveport.

Have you ever thought of your pets as being fat or skinny? A Banfield Pet Hospital’s 2017 State of Pet Health report found Louisiana ranks No. 5 for non-obese dogs, and No.6 for slim cats. But Dr. Nancy Welborn with the LSU School Of Veterinary Medicine says while your pet may not be obese, even an overweight furry friend faces serious health risks…:
Cut 4 (10) “about the obese”
She says owners should be mindful about over-feeding your pet.

SEC Football Media Days begin today in Hoover, and running back Derrius Guice, wide receiver D.J. Chark and defensive end Christian LaCourture will join coach Ed Orgeron. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says we might get an indication of how Guice will be used in the Tigers new offense:
Cut 14 (11) “Derrius Guice”

A group of 21 11-month old diamondback terrapin turtles are back at a Louisiana Barrier Island after being moved during restoration work after the BP oil spill. LDWF endangered species biologist Keri Landry says their actions are helping to protect the diamondback population…:
Cut 7 (10) “islands”
She says the turtles had to be moved because they would not survive during the restoration project.

SEC Football Media Days begin today in Hoover, and LSU Coach Ed Orgeron will be there along with running back Derrius Guice, wide receiver D.J. Chark and defensive end Christian LaCourture. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says he’s interested to hear from Coach O how LSU’s defense will be just as dominated as they were last year, despite losing so many impact players to the NFL…:
Cut 15 (08) “Kendall Beckwith”

Experts are urging pet owners to keep an eye on their furry friends weight. A Banfield Pet Hospital’s 2017 State of Pet Health report found that one in three pets who visited their facilities in 2016 was overweight or obese. Dr. Nancy Welborn with the LSU School Of Veterinary Medicine says one of the problems is that owners show dogs and cats love with food…:
Cut 5 (11) “Oreo cookies”
She says you should always measure your pets food and never feed from the table.

Abortions in the Bayou State have decreased by 4-percent from 2015 to 2016, according to numbers by the state Department of Health. Ben Clapper with Louisiana Right to Life says many women who had abortions last year were unmarried and 35 girls under the age of 15 had an abortion….:
Cut 12 (10) “adoption”
Pro-choice organizations did not immediately respond for comment.

The number of abortions in Louisiana decreased by 4 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to the state Department of Health. Ben Clapper with Louisiana Right to Life credits the decrease to more people valuing the life of an unborn child…:
Cut 11 (10) “the womb”
Pro-choice organizations did not immediately respond for comment.

Have you ever thought of your pets as being fat or skinny? A Banfield Pet Hospital’s 2017 State of Pet Health report found Louisiana ranks No. 5 for non-obese dogs, and No.6 for slim cats. But Dr. Nancy Welborn with the LSU School Of Veterinary Medicine says while these numbers are good, owners should always watch what their furry friends eat and never feed from the table because your pet won’t know the difference anyway…:
Cut 6 (09) “like we do”

SEC Football Media Days begin in Hoover, Alabama today. Jeff Palermo reports the LSU Tigers are one of the first teams to appear at the annual media blitz…:
Cut 3 (30) “Jeff Palermo”

Popular Monroe Chef Cory Bahr remains in the competition to be the next Food Network Star after being deemed safe even in the bottom five Sunday. He held a watch party with fans last night at the Flying Tiger Brewery in Monroe and will continue to do so as long as he remains in the show which airs Sunday nights at 8pm on Food Network.

SEC Football Media Days begin today in Hoover, and LSU Coach Ed Orgeron will be there along with running back Derrius Guice, wide receiver D.J. Chark and defensive end Christian LaCourture. Coach O was also at SEC Media Days a decade ago as the leader of Ole Miss, before the Rebels went 3-9 that year and Orgeron was fired. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says Coach O will certainly be asked numerous times today how he’s changed:
Cut 13 (10) “receives him”
The 2017 SEC Media Days are held at Hyatt’s Winfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama from July 10 through Thursday. The Tigers are sharing the day with Tennessee and Arkansas. Florida coach Jim McElwain highlights the second day, and Alabama coach Nick Saban will appear on day three. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn will lead the group of coaches wrapping up the final day.

LSU pitcher Alex Lange is officially a member of the Chicago Cubs’ organization after the two sides finally agreed to a deal shortly before the deadline on Friday. He signed for $1.9 million, and multiple reports say that Lange was offered lower than the $2.1 million that the 30th overall pick in the draft was slotted due to his physical exam, although details were limited. LSU could have used Lange in 2018 with Eric Walker out for the season due to arm problems.

The Sun Belt Conference announced who will be attending their Media Day on Monday, July 24th at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. UL-Lafayette coach Mark Huspeth will be with offensive lineman Grant Horst and defensive back Tracy Walker. ULM will bring senior offensive lineman Frank Sutton and senior defensive end Caleb Tucker.

There seems to be no stopping the Astros as the final game before the All Star break saw Houston pounding Toronto 19-1 on Sunday. The stros have won seven of its last 10 days and have a record of 60-29. The 88th All Star game takes place tomorrow in Miami at 6:30pm and will be televised by Fox.

Nicholls State has set kickoff times for its five home games in the 2017 season. The Colonels will open the season on the new turf of Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 31 with a 7 p.m. contest against rival McNeese.

Abortions in the Bayou State have decreased by 4-percent from 2015 to 2016, according to numbers by the state Department of Health. Ben Clapper with Louisiana Right to Life says this is the second year in a row that abortion numbers have dropped…:
Cut 10 (08) “our community”
Louisiana Radio Network placed calls to Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights for comment, but they went unreturned.

A group of 21 11-month old diamondback terrapin turtles are back at a Louisiana Barrier Island after being moved during restoration work after the BP oil spill. State Wildlife and Fisheries endangered species biologist Keri Landry says the turtles had to be moved because they would not survive during the project…:
Cut 8 (08) “hatch out”
She says terrapins are not endangered lists, but they monitor the population because they believe the animals’ numbers are slipping.

LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron returns to SEC Football Media Day today in Hoover, Alabama. Orgeron’s last appearance was in 2007 as the head coach of Ole Miss. The Rebels went 3-9 that year and Orgeron was fired. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says Coach O will be asked numerous times today how he’s changed as a coach..:
Cut 13 (10) “receives him”
LSU running back Derrius Guice, wide receiver D.J. Chark and defensive end Christian LaCourture will be with Orgeron at SEC Football Media Day.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office arrests a man accused of setting a string of fires at three Wal Mart stores in Tangipahoa. They say Larry Paul Schouest Jr. allegedly set the fires while he left the stores with laptops. He is charged with charged with two counts of aggravated arson and six counts of felony theft.

One of the officers wounded in the deadly ambush on cops in Baton Rouge last year is suing leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement. On July 17th, 2016, 29-year-old Gavin Long killed three officers and wounded three others in a targeted attack. The suit accuses Black Lives Matter of inciting violence. But legal analyst Tim Meche doesn’t see this going far
CUT 12 (10) “first amendment right”
The lawyer for one of the defendants says Black Lives Matter doesn’t have anything to sue.

Congressman Ralph Abraham has secured a $1.5 million federal grant to boost the CenturyLink-IBM Century Village project in Monroe. The funding would create a new access road that would link Century Village and IBM. Abraham said the grant could stimulate up to $20 million in economic development and create at least 80 new jobs.

Expect big delays on I-10 into New Orleans today as the eastbound lanes are closed while workers reattach the now-missing section of the elevated on-ramp from Airline Highway northbound to I-10 westbound. You’ll have to detour down Airline or plan ahead and take I-12 to I-55. The interstate is slated to re-open by Monday morning.

A 73-year-old Slidell man is recovering after he was beaten by two young men in what authorities are describing as a road rage incident. Slidell Police spokesperson Daniel Seuzeneau says one of the two suspects, 19-year-old Brett McCraney, said the elderly man nearly hit them as they were crossing the road, so a shouting match started and the victim pulled his car over…
cut 10 (10) “…was up”
26-year-old Adonis Young was also arrested.