With the sad news of Mike VI passing, the man who raised LSU’s live mascot from birth until he came to the university at two years old, Steve Cotner, remembers the playfulness of the sweet tiger. Cotner says right after ‘Roscoe’ was born, the tiger cub wouldn’t bother anyone else but followed him wherever he went. He says the two of them became best friends…:
cut 4 (10) “bad day”
LSU’s Student Government announced it will host a memorial service for Mike this evening in front of Mike VI’s habitat.

Embattled Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni has voluntarily decided to suspend himself from school functions, just minutes before the school board was slated to vote on a resolution banning him from campuses. Yenni last week admitted to sending “improper” text messages to a 17-year-old boy. The board will still vote on the matter at their regular meeting in three weeks.

More than three months after Alton Sterling, a black man, was fatally shot during a confrontation with two white Baton Rouge police officers, US Attorney Walt Green says the investigation is still ongoing. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the Justice Department should take it’s time when investigating these kind of shootings…:
CUT 7 (07) “it’s appropriate”
The US Attorney’s statement says a team of federal prosecutors, FBI agents, and other personnel have devoted hundreds of hours to the investigation.

The state school board has agreed to redesign Louisiana’s teacher training requirements, though Governor John Bel Edwards opposes. The vote was by a one-member margin. The changes would require educators to get more training, including a one-year residency.

LSU’s live mascot, Mike the Sixth, has passed away after a four month battle with cancer. Doctor David Baker at the LSU Vet school says Mike had the characteristics you wanted in a school mascot…
cut 11 (05) ‘…interactive”
The 420-pound Tiger had been on LSU’s campus since 2007 and he was 11-years-old at the time of his death.

A new poll finds that 15-percent of Americans say their health insurance has gotten better in the last year, but twice as many say it got worse. Doctor Jay Kaplan of New Orleans is the president of the American College of Emergency Physicians and he says deductibles are rising and this is leading to a higher cost for patients…
cut 14 (10) “….out of pocket”
Kaplan says deductibles have risen over 40-percent in the last several years.

During an appearance on the Jim Engster Show, the executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Stephen Handwerk says he’s disturbed by the recorded lewd comments made 11 years ago by Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump…
cut 7 (11) “…excuse yourself”
But the new state republican party deputy chairman Tim Breaux says he’s known Trump for years and calls him a dedicated husband and father.

The Jefferson Parish School Board plans to vote on a resolution that would ban Parish President Mike Yenni from being on school property. Yenni is the subject of a sexting scandal. School Board member Mark Morgan says the controversy surrounding Yenni can lead to classroom disruptions…
cut 5 (10) “…taking place’
Yenni has refused to resign despite calls that he should step down.

LSU says it’s live mascot, Mike the Sixth, has lost his battle with cancer and he was euthanized this morning. Doctor David Baker at the LSU Vet School has cared for Mike since he arrived on campus in 2007 and he says it’s a heartbreaking day for LSU fans, but he’s thankful for all of the support…
cut 12 (10) “….I’m very thankful”
Mike VI will be cremated and his remains will be given to the school’s Andoine museum.

The Jefferson Parish School Board is expected to vote on a resolution tonight that would ban Parish President Mike Yenni from public school campuses. It’s the result of Yenni’s sexting scandal involving a 17-year-old boy. School board member Mark Morgan says some action is needed because Yenni allegedly had contact with the victim on school property…
cut 3 (10) “…that of us”

The new Republican Party deputy chairman of Louisiana, Tim Breaux, says he will stand by Presidential candidate Donald Trump amid an 11-year-old recording that had Trump making lewd comments about women. Breaux, from Lafayette, says he’s been around Trump on many occasions and…
CUT 6 (10) “him elected”
But Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Stephen Handwerk, says even if we dismiss the tape, we only have to go back a week to find more inappropriate tweets or comments…:
CUT 9 (10) “believing that”

US Attorney Walt Green of Louisiana’s Middle District says the investigation into the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling is ongoing and there’s no timetable on when they’ll be finished.

LSU’s live mascot, Mike the Sixth, has passed away after a four month battle with cancer. Doctor David Baker at the LSU Vet school says Mike Six had the characterisists you wanted in a school mascot…
cut 11 (05) ‘…interactive”
The 420-pound Tiger had been on LSU’s campus since 2007 and he was 11-years-old at the time of his death.

The new Louisiana GOP deputy chairman stands by Donald Trump even after the recently released recordings of the presidential candidate’s lewd remarks against women 11 years ago. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (27) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

A study paid for by the American College of Emergency Physicians found 30-percent of respondents nationwide say their health insurance coverage has gotten worse. Doctor Jay Kaplan is an emergency physician in New Orleans and says the study also found one in four patients have lost access to their physican because insurance companies are narrowing down their networks…
cut 15 (12) “…their doctors”

The Jefferson Parish School Board plans to vote on a resolution that would ban Parish President Mike Yenni from being on school property. Yenni is the subject of a sexting scandal. School Board member Mark Morgan says the controversy surrounding Yenni can lead to classroom disruptions…
cut 5 (10) “…taking place’
Yenni has refused to resign despite calls that he should step down.

LSU announces that its live mascot, Mike VI, was euthanized today at the age of 11 following a four-month battle with cancer. His vet, Dr. David Baker, says one of the things he loved the most about Mike is that he was never shy, even from the first day he met him at the Great Cats of Indiana nonprofit rescue facility…
CUT 10 (09) “up where the people were”
LSU says there will not be a formal memorial service for Mike VI.

One in four Americans report having a medical condition worsen because of delaying emergency medical attention for fear of insurance gaps. That’s according to a poll by the American College of Emergency Physicians. The survey also found more than half of respondents are paying more for insurance coverage. ACEP president, Dr. Jay Kaplan, is not surprised:
Cut 13 (10) “emergency care”

The new Republican Party deputy chairman of Louisiana, Tim Breaux, says he will stand by Presidential candidate Donald Trump amid an 11-year-old recording recently released with the businessman making lewd comments about women. Breaux, from Lafayette, says he’s been around Trump on many occasions and has never heard him make statements of this nature…:

CUT 6 (10) “him elected”
But Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Stephen Handwerk, says even if we dismiss the tape from 11 years ago, we only have to go back a week to find more inappropriate tweets or comments…:
CUT 9 (10) “believing that”
Today is the last day to register to vote for the November 8th election.

Again our breaking news at this hour is that LSU’s live mascot Tiger, Mike VI, has died.

A central Louisiana woman created a GoFundMe account which benefits a man who had a part in raising LSU’s dying mascot, Mike IV. Steve Cotner of Indiana posted online that he wished there was a way he could come say his final goodbyes to the tiger he knows as Roscoe. Jeri Guinn of Pineville said Cotner’s story touched her so launched a GoFundMe:
CUT 10 (08) “five hours”
She says they’ve reached the goal of raising over $3000 and hopes Cotner can be here by the end of the week.

The US Justice Department has released a statement to update the status of the criminal investigation into Alton Sterling’s death by Baton Rouge Police Officers. US Attorney Walt Green says it’s ongoing and there is no timetable on when the investigation will be finished. He says a team of career federal prosecutors, FBI agents and support personnel have devoted hundreds of hours to the investigation.

Tonight the Jefferson Parish Public School Board is scheduled to take a vote on whether Parish President Mike Yenni will be allowed at school functions. Yenni said he has no plans to step down in the wake of an apparent sexting scandal that he admitted to and apologized. School board member Mark Morgan says tonight’s motion would ban Yenni from schools:
CUT 4 (09) “on school campuses”
He says the boy Yenni admitted to texting he met at a school which makes this an important matter.

The former assistant principal accused of killing and dumping a pregnant teacher’s body in a ditch pleaded “not guilty” in court Tuesday morning. 39-year-old Robert Marks was arraigned on charges of second degree murder and first degree feticide.

Following Jefferson Parish President Mike Yenni’s admission to sexting a teenage boy, the Jefferson Parish School Board wants to ban him from being on public school campuses. School board member Mark Morgan says the fact that Yenni made contact with the boy on a school campus makes it even more important that Yenni not be allowed there…:
CUT 3 (10) “that of us” 2x
Yenni maintains he didn’t break any laws and has no plans to resign.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation has launched a campaign to promote roundabout safety tips. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they receive a lot of positive feedback from motorists about the roundabouts…:
Cut 10 (08) “overall”
DOTD has installed about 30 roundabouts and 100 more have been proposed.

A central Louisiana woman is creating all sorts of waves on social media for her GoFundMe account which benefits a man who had a part in raising LSU’s live mascot. Steve Cotner is from Indiana and said on Facebook he wishes there was a way he could come say his final goodbyes to Mike VI aka Roscoe — before the Bengali-Siberian hybrid tiger succumbs to cancer. Jeri Guinn of Pineville said Steve’s story touched her. The help Steve Reunite with Mike VI GoFundMe raised over $3000 in 3 days.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler has unveiled a very special “I Voted” sticker..:
Cut 3 (20) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Department of Children and Family Services announces they’ve received federal approval for a second round of disaster food stamps for the 11 hardest hit parishes by the August flooding. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says there is a history of getting additional aid from their federal partners after really big disasters, but typically not this many parishes are included.
Cut 8 (10) “so many”

The Secretary of State’s Office has created a new way to get people out to vote in the November 8th presidential election. A new “I voted” sticker features the Louisiana Blue Dog in front of an American flag. The late blue dog artist’s wife Wendy Rodrigue says they searched within what George had already designed and found a solution.
Cut 14 (09) “Sept. 11”

Today is the last day to register to vote.

 
A new state taskforce aims to put a stop to opioid abuse in Louisiana. Bob Johannessen with the Department of Health says the goal of this commission is to have recommendations for the legislature by February. He says they’re working to improve communications between physicians to avoid over prescribing.
Cut 6 (10) “lead to”

Johannessen says patients who are over prescribed these medications often build up a tolerance, which leads to addiction.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation launches a roundabout safety campaign as the state is introducing more of these intersections on our roadways. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says motorists slow down, but don’t stop when entering a roundabout so it helps will congestion. He says this type of intersection is safer than a stop light.
Cut 11 (09) “T-bone.”

The Department of Children and Family Services says DSNAP benefits will continue to be distributed for a second month for the 11 parishes most impacted by the August flood. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they are just trying to help people in any way they can during this difficult recovery process…:
Cut 9 (12) “to do”
She says recipients cards will be loaded by next Tuesday.

A state task force charged with tackling the opiod problem in Louisiana just had their first meeting. Department of Health spokesman Bob Johannessen says Louisiana has received more than $2 million in federal dollars to assist with this effort…:
Cut 5 (09) “behavioral health”
He says Louisiana has the seventh highest rate of painkiller prescriptions in the country.

The Department of Transportation is getting the message out to Louisiana motorists how to navigate a roundabout. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The chief aide to US Senate candidate David Duke’s campaign has resigned. Mike Lawrence told the Baton Rouge Advocate that the two disagreed over how Duke should present his past as Imperial Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, but Duke refused to downplay it. Duke’s campaign has not done well according to several polls that show him with little support…most in the single digits.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler, who is charged with increasing the voter turnout in Louisiana, introduces new “I Voted” stickers featuring artist George Rodrigue’s iconic Blue Dog for the November 8th election. Schedler says the art is also on display in an exhibit called “Blue Dog for President” at the Rodrigues gallery in New Orleans.
Cut 15 (11) “I don’t know”
He says they have distributed 4 million stickers to precincts throughout the state and everyone who votes will get one. Today is the last day to register to vote for the November 8th election.

Tonight the Jefferson Parish Public School Board is scheduled to take a vote on whether Parish President Mike Yenni will be allowed at school functions. Yenni said he has no plans to step down in the wake of an apparent sexting scandal that he admitted to and apologized. Yenni insists he broke no laws and isn’t the target of an investigation.

You’re starting to see more and more roundabouts pop up in Louisiana and the Department of Transportation is getting the word out on how to navigate them properly. DOTD spokesman Rodney Mallett says the key is to slow down, yield to traffic, proceed right, and follow signs. He says roundabouts are found to reduce traffic related fatalities by 90-percent:
cut 12 (09) “severe accidents”
DOTD has installed about 30 roundabouts and 100 more have been proposed.

A new task force aims to address the epidemic of opioid abuse in Louisiana. Bob Johannessen with the Department of Health says Louisiana has the seventh highest rate of painkiller prescriptions in the country..:
cut 4 (07) “they treat”
The Commission on Preventing Opioid Abuse was established in the 2016 legislative session, and they just had their first meeting.