09:30 Newscast, October 18th, 2016

A new presidential survey in Louisiana shows Republican Donald Trump is losing some support in the Bayou State. Democrat Hillary Clinton polled with JMC Analytics at 38 percent, while Trump had 45 percent. The margin has closed by 8 points since the last survey. Pollster John Couvillion says Trump is polling strong in rural areas…:
CUT 12 (10) “parishes”
Couvillon still believes Trump will win Louisiana by a high single digit margin.

In a lawsuit filed by Governor John Bel Edwards, a judge ruled in favor of Attorney General Jeff Landry for his refusal to sign state contracts that protect against LGBT discrimination. Political analyst Clancy Dubos believes Landry is politically motivated in this fight…:
CUT 15 (09) “right now”
The governor is looking into other legal options.

Two interstate highways that stretch across Louisiana are ranked among the most dangerous roads in the country, according to a new report from the finance website ValuePenguin. Interstates 10 and 20 came in at numbers four and 8 respectively on the list. Research analyst Craig Casazza says I-20 came in as the fifth darkest and eighth most dangerous highway with a fatality rate of 43 fatal crashes per 100 miles…:
Cut 5 (08) “looked at”
He said I-10 ranked poorly in darkness and also drunk driving incidents.

US Senate candidate Troy Hebert, who was not successful in his lawsuit seeking to be a part of tonight’s televised debate, has made a video in response where he essentially mocks LBP, CABLE and the five candidates who were invited to participate. In his suit Hebert argued, among other things, that it wasn’t fair only the wealthiest candidates were included. The YouTube video response, which includes Hebert dressing up as the candidates, is called, “The 2016 Who is a Millionaire US Senate Debate.”

08:30 Newscast, October 18th, 2016

A survey of 800 likely Louisiana voters finds the margin between Presidential candidates Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton is shrinking. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Louisiana Tech running back Jaqwis Dancy will miss the rest of the 2016 season as he’s been diagnosed with cancer. Coach Skip Holtz says the sophomore has Stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Dancy complained about lymph nodes while rehabbing an ankle injury and tests came back positive earlier this month.

Governor John Bel Edwards was not successful in his suit seeking to force Attorney General Jeff Landry to abide by the executive order protecting rights of the LGBT community by signing off on contracts that contain those clauses. The judge said the AG’s office has discretion on contracts. Legal analyst Clancy Dubos says how this plays out remains to be seen…:
CUT 14 (06) “from over”
The Governor’s Office says its reviewing additional legal options.

Five of the 24 candidates for US Senate will take part in a first statewide televised debate tonight. They are Democrats Foster Campell and Caroline Fayard, and Republicns John Kennedy, Charles Boustany and John Fleming. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says with Boustany accusing Kennedy of spreading the rumor the Congressman was involved with prostitutes, you can be sure that will be discussed.
CUT 8 (11) “to continue”
The debate airs at 7 tonight on LPB.

 

07:30 Newscast, October 18th, 2016

The top five candidates for US Senate are taking the stage tonight for the first statewide televised debate, which will air at 7pm on LPB. Don Molino has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

A judge in Baton Rouge says he’s not going to force Attorney General Jeff Landry to sign off on contracts with discrimination clauses. The suit filed by Governor John Bel Edwards was heard Monday. At issue is wording that is aimed at protecting members of the LGBT community. The ruling indicated that legally Landry has discretion of whether to accept state contracts.

Interstates 10 and 20 that run through Louisiana have been ranked 4 and 8 respectively on the most dangerous roads in the country list. That’s according to research analyst Craig Casazza with Value Penguin. He says I-10 is the number 2 darkest interstate and known for impaired driving incidents..:
CUT 4 (08) “lit areas”
He says I-20 ranked 5th darkest and has a fatality rate of 43 fatal crashes per 100 miles.

A poll of 800 likely Louisiana voters shows the presidential race in the state is tightening up. The survey conducted by JMC Analytics finds Donald Trump at 45-percent, while Hillary Clinton has creeped up to 38-percent. In July, Trump had a 15-percentage point lead. Pollster John Couvillon says white female Democrats are helping to narrow the gap…:
Cut 10 (07) “race up”
The survey was conducted after a recording was released of Trump making lewd comments about women.

 

06:30 Newscast, October 18th, 2016

A Baton Rouge judge has ruled in favor of Attorney General Jeff Landry for his refusal to sign state contracts that protect against LGBT discrimination, in spite of an executive order signed by Governor John Bel Edwards. Legal analyst Clancy Dubos…:
Cut 13 (10) “any contract”
The Governor’s Office says they are reviewing other legal options.

LBP will carry a US Senate forum tonight with the top five candidates in the race. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley…:
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Republicans Charles Boustany, John Fleming and John Kennedy, along with Democrats Foster Campbell and Caroline Fayard are the candidates who will participate tonight at 7pm.

According to the finance website ValuePenguin, Louisiana is home to two of the most dangerous highways in the country. Jeff Palermo has more..:
ut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

FEMA has extended the program for flood survivors that allows them to stay in participating hotels temporarily if they can not return home. The Transitional Sheltering Assistance checkout date is now Friday November 18th.

18:30 Newscast October 17,2016

A state judge in Baton Rouge has ruled against Governor John Bel Edwards and his attempt to get Attorney General Jeff Landry to sign off on state contracts that contain language to protect against LGBT discrimination in the workplace. Judge Don Johnson threw the case out and the governor’s legal team is reportedly looking at their options now.

Louisiana’s high school graduation rate has hit a new high, as has the overall US rate. Michelle Southern reports on today’s numbers released by the White House….
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

 

A survey from the American Farm Bureau finds food prices at the grocery store are down from last year. Steak prices are down 11-percent and chicken breast costs have dropped 16-percent. Louisiana Farm Bureau specialist Neil Melancon says there was a spike meat prices a few years ago, because demand outweighed supply, but that supply has been rebuilt.
Cut 4 (08) “are now”

Prices for eggs have plummeted a whopping 51-percent, and whole milk is down 10-percent.

Chairman of the Public Service Commission and former Congressman Clyde Holloway of Forrest Hill has passed away at the age of 72. Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party Roger Villere says Holloway was one of the founders of the conservative movement in the state…:
Cut 8 (10) “state well”

Holloway was on the PSC from 2009 and served in the US House from 1987-93.

17:30 Newscast Oct 17

Attorney General Jeff Landry won a battle in state court today over Governor John Bel Edwards. The governor took the AG to court for refusing to sign state contracts that protect against LGBT discrimination in the workplace. The Governor insists that Landry is overstepping his authority by not signing the contracts, while Landry says he’s representing the will of the legislature. A state judge says the law is not clear on this subject, so Edwards can’t force the AG to sign the contracts.

PSC Chairman and former Congressman Clyde Holloway of Forrest Hill has died at the age of 72. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A JMC Analytics US Senate poll commissioned by John Fleming shows Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell in the lead with 23-percent. Pollster John Couvillion says it will be a fight for the second runoff spot, with Fleming trailing John Kennedy by just one point.

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Couvillion says Republican Congressman Charles Boustany is also a contender for the runoff.

High school graduation rates are higher than ever across the country and in Louisiana. State Superintendent of Education John White says there’s more of an emphasis to improve graduation rates.

Cut 13 (08) “sure it happens”

Louisiana’s graduation rate is just over 77-percent, compared to the nationwide rate of about 83-percent.

16:30 Newscast Oct 17

JMC Analytics has released a new poll that shows Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell leading with 23-percent. Pollster John Couvillion says support for Democratic opponent Caroline Fayard is waning, down to just 9-percent. He says Campbell is getting his message out to minority voters.

Cut 9 (07) “governor”

John Fleming’s campaign commissioned the poll.

Like the rest of the country, Louisiana has a graduation rate that’s higher than it’s ever been. The White House released a report showing the state’s graduation rate for the 2014-2015 school year is up almost three percentage points from the prior year. State Superintendent John White…

Cut 12 (09) “future for life”

Louisiana’s rate of almost 78-percent is still well below the national average of over 83-percent.

Public Service Commission Chairman and former Congressman of Forrest Hill Clyde Holloway has died at the age of 72. Woody Jenkins was a close friend of Holloway, and he says Holloway was driven and never hesitated to do what was needed to be done.

Cut 6 (10) “mobilize people”

No cause of death was given.

A new quarterly food cost survey by the American Farm Bureau shows the cost of groceries has gone down 13-percent over the last year. Louisiana Farm Bureau specialist Neil Melancon says they’ll release another survey before Thanksgiving, and he expects that trend to continue.

Cut 5 (09) “out there”

Whole milk prices are down 10-percent, and the cost of eggs dropped a shocking 51-percent.

15:30 Newscast Oct 17

Louisiana’s high school graduation rate has hit a new high, as has the rest of the country. Michelle Southern has more on the numbers released by the White House…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Another creepy clown has been arrested in Louisiana. Authorities say three witnesses called to report that 21-year-old Bradley Mock of Deridder was wearing a clown mask and brandishing a gun inside a vehicle in Vernon parish. When Mock was arrested, police learned the firearm he had was actually an air-soft gun resembling an M-4. Mock has reportedly been arrested on one count of terrorizing, and his bond was set at $50-thousand.

A survey from the American Farm Bureau shows that food prices at grocery stores are down from last year. Louisiana Farm Bureau specialist Neil Melancon says the numbers from their most recent quarterly survey found prices have dropped 13-percent.

Cut 3 (08) “year ago”

Melancon says only three of the 16 items on their list went up in price- bagged salad, apples, and potatoes.

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is at the top of a new poll by JMC analytics at 23-percent. Pollster John Couvillion says Campbell is a lock for the runoff, but we can expect to see the three major Republicans ramp up their ads even more.

Cut 11 (07) “et cetera”

The poll was paid for by the John Fleming campaign.

14:30 Newscast October 17,2016

A survey conducted by JMC Analytics finds Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is on top, polling at 23-percent. Pollster John Couvillon says Republicans John Kennedy, John Fleming, and Charles Boustany all on each other’s heels for the second spot. He says right now Kennedy is one point ahead of Fleming , but Fleming could make the runoff.
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The poll was commissioned by the Fleming campaign.
The graduation rate in the United State is at an all-time high and so is Louisiana’s. The overall US graduation rate went up to 83- percent. Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White says years ago Louisiana committed that graduating from high school would be a part of our state’s high school rating system…:
Cut 13 (08) “to make sure it happens”

Louisiana’s graduation rate for 2014-2015 is 77.5 percent.

 

Chairman of the Public Service Commission and former Congressman Clyde Holloway has passed away at 72. Former state representative and close friend of Holloway, Woody Jenkins, says the chairman was an honest man with strong conservative principles. He says Holloway worked hard to help his hometown of Forrest Hill and would run for any political office.
CUT 7 (09) “the effort”

A cause of death as not given.

A survey from the American Farm Bureau finds food prices at the grocery are down 13-percent from last year. Steak prices are down 11-percent, chicken breasts are down 16-percent and bacon decreased by 3-percent. Louisiana Farm Bureau specialist Neil Melancon says there was a spike in the cost of meat a few years ago because the demand outweighed the supply of livestock but that supply has now been rebuilt.
Cut 4 (08) “are now”

Melacon expects this trend with continue…

13:30 Newscast, October 17th, 2016

Louisiana’s graduation rate is at an all time high of 77.5 percent, up from 74.6 percent the prior year. The White House also announced that the US graduation rate is 83.2%. State Superintendent of Education John White says Louisiana outpaces the nation in terms of improvement, but there is still a long way to go…:
cut 14 (10) “here at home in Louisiana”
He says this is great news, but there is more work to be done.

Chairman of the Public Service Commission and former Congressman Clyde Holloway of Forrest Hill has passed away at the age of 72. Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party Roger Villere says Holloway was one of the founders of the conservative moment in the state…:
Cut 8 (10) “state well”

A new survey released by JMC Analytics finds democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell tops the poll, coming in at over 23-percent. Pollster John Couvillon says support for fellow democratic candidate Caroline Fayard, who polls at 9-percent, is dropping so Campbell’s message seems to be getting out to the minority vote…:
Cut 9 (07) “governor”
Couvillon says it looks like it’s now a fight for the second spot in the runoff now with Republicans John Kennedy, John Fleming, and Charles Boustany all on each other’s heels.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has ruled Belaire High School must forfeit all five of its wins this season for scholastic rules violations. The school principal and coach were placed on paid leave while the LHSAA investigated whether an ineligible player was used after his grade was changed.