Candidates for the US Senate seat being vacated by David Vitter are already in the race to raise campaign funds. Michelle Southern has more…

CUT 2 (30)  “I’m Michelle Southern”

Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore says he will not prosecute 100 of the 185 protestors who were arrested on misdemeanor charges. He says he will prosecute those who are repeat offenders or who have engaged in assaults, resisting arrest or other violent acts. Only four protestors remain in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison at this time due to other matters.

Thousands of people gathered at Southern University this morning to mourn the death of Alton Sterling. Among those was a woman who bought CDs from Sterling outside the convenience store where he was shot. She says he was a really nice guy and something must be done to put an end to the violence.

Cut 8 (06) “big changes”

People came from around the country to support the family and demand justice for Sterling.

State Police say a Calhoun man died in a fiery crash after driving the wrong way down Interstate 20 near Monroe last night. Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says 31-year-old Christopher Moss crossed the median for unknown reasons and smashed into a big rig.

CUT 3 (09)  “for injuries”

Reichardt says they are unsure why Moss crossed the median and if he was wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash.

Thousands came together today at the Southern University F.G. Clark Activity Center as Alton Sterling was laid to rest. People from all over came to pay their respects to the family and other were calling for justice. Barry Davison of Baton Rouge says he came to support the family during this difficult time. He is hopeful something positive can out of this tragedy.
CUT 7 (08) “is enough”

Police were involved in another shooting this morning in Jefferson Parish. Sheriff Newell Normand says deputies were involved in a high speed chase after seeing a vehicle linked to multiple car burglaries. He says 40-year-old Melissa Belanger used her truck as a weapon against officers so a deputy fired shots hitting her wrists. The sheriff says she’ll be charged once released from the hospital.
Cut 11 (10) “stolen vehicle”

Republicans in the US Senate race are leading in campaign fundraising. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says US Representative John Fleming reports $2.4 million in his campaign funds and State Treasurer John Kennedy has collected $1.4 million. Stockley says name recognition give Kennedy an advantage.
cut 14 (09) “to Kennedy”

Congressman Charles Boustany had the best recent fundraising period with $1.1 million raised and $2.5 million in the bank.

A Calhoun man died in a firey crash in Monroe last night after driving the wrong way down I-20, according to State Police. Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says 31-year-old Christopher Moss crossed the median and ran into a big rig. He says both the driver and the passenger in the 18-wheeler were properly restrained.
CUT 4 (05) “injuries”

Thousands are gathered at the Southern University today F.G. Clark Activity Center for Alton Sterling’s funeral service, and to call for justice. Dr. Gary Clark is a professor at Dillard University in New Orleans who grew up in Baton Rouge. He hopes reform in police departments will become a political platform for national leadership…:
CUT 9 (08) “election year”
Sterling was killed by Baton Rouge Police last Tuesday morning.

There was another police shooting today. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Newell Normand says his deputies were involved in a high speed chase early this morning after spotting a vehicle linked to a number of car burglaries. He says one of his deputies fired shots at 40-year-old Melissa Belanger, who was using her vehicle as a weapon…:
cut 10 (11) “shots fired”
He says Belanger was injured in the wrists and when she gets out of the hospital she’ll be charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

An Ascension Parish jury says a Prairieville man is guilty of aggravated cruelty to animals for beating a dog to death with a baseball bat in 2014. 33-year-old Merritt Evans argued that the dog was injured from being stuck in a barbed wire fence, but doctors testified that the animal died of blunt force trauma. Jackson faces up to 10 years in prison.

Republicans are leading in campaign fundraising for the US Senate race for the seat being vacated by David Vitter. ULM political science professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says US Representative Charles Boustany had the best recent fundraising period with $1.1 million raised, and $2.5 million in the bank..:
Cut 13 (11) “Fleming”
US Representative John Fleming reports $2.4 million in his campaign cofers and State Treasurer John Kennedy has a total of $1.4 million in the bank.

Funeral services were held this morning for Alton Sterling, and thousands of mourners came out to stand in unity with the family and demand justice for Sterling. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Baton Rouge Police are investing a fatal morning crash that claimed the life of a motorcyclist. They say an investigation revealed a 60-year-old was traveling on Scenic Highway when it struck a pickup truck that was making a left turn in the other direction. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at a hospital, and the driver of the truck was cited for failure to yield. The investigation is ongoing.

State Police say a pedestrian was killed in Monroe last night. Trooper Michael Reichardt says 53-year-old Matthew Davis was struck and killed as he was trying to cross US Hwy 165 at a busy intersection…:
CUT 5 (05) “last night”
A wrong way driver on I-20 in Monroe last night also died in a fiery crash following a head on collision with an 18 wheeler. 31-year-old Christopher Moss of Calhoun crossed the median for unknown reasons then smashed into the big rig.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says the parents of the 15 month old child who somehow got out of the house and was located in a briar patch covered in ant bites have been cited in the incident. They say James and Santana Bates face one count each of Child Desertion.

Hundreds of mourners are paying their final respects to Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man who was fatally shot after a confrontation with two white police officers last week. Protesting was not allowed inside the F-G Clark Center on Southern’s campus, where the funeral is taking place. But there were groups outside of the arena that were holding up signs and calling for justice…
cut 6 (10) “…at all”
Sterling’s family has asked that there not be any large-scale demonstrations today.

A New Orleans woman has been charged with attempted murder of a debuty in Jefferson Parish. Sheriff Newell Normand says 40-year-old Melissa Belanger attempted to run down a deputy with her truck after a high speed chase. Authorities shot at her and she was struck on the wrists. Belanger will be booked in jail after she’s released from the hospital.

The fire at the Old Governor’s Mansion and a museum, both in Opelousas, have both been ruled arson by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 2 (27) “….I’m Emelie Gunn”

State Police say a Calhoun man died in a fiery crash after driving the wrong way down Interstate 20 near Monroe last night. Trooper Michael Reichardt says 31-year-old Christopher Moss crossed the median for unknown reasons and smashed into a big rig…
cut 3 (09) “…for injuries”
Routine Toxicology samples were obtained and will be submitted for analysis.

The funeral for Alton Sterling begins at 11 today at the Southern University F.G. Clark Activity Center. Gary Chambers is the spokesperson for the family and expects between three and 5 thousand people to attending, as well as a few big name speakers.
cut 4 (12) “Alton Sterling”
Chambers says the funeral cost is being covered by private donors.

The fire at the Old Governor’s Mansion and a historical museum in Opelousas has been ruled as arson by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Chief Deputy Brant Thompson says the Civil-War era Governor’s Mansion has been deemed a total loss due to major damage to the property. But he says there’s better news for the other structure that caught on fire…
Cut 8 (09) “that facility”

Ex-KKK Grand Wizard and former state representative David Duke says he is thinking about running for Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District seat. Duke lives Mandeville and has authorized a campaign committee to judge whether he should get in the race for Congress in November. He says the people of his district are pushing him to run….
cut 12 (09) “real thing”

The Cajun Music and Food Fest begins today in Lake Charles. The festival is held in the Burton Coliseum, so festival goers can sit in the A/C and get out of the heat. Event Spokesperson Janet Piraro says the festival brings in anywhere from 3 to 5-thousand people every year, who come out to see two days of live Cajun music.
cut 14 (12) “11pm”

Admission to the festival is $8 a day for adults, and kids 12 and under get in free.

A large crowd of people are gathered at Southern University in Baton Rouge this morning for the funeral of Alton Sterling. The Sterling family’s spokesperson, Gary Chambers, says between 3 and 5-thousand people are expected to attend, including big names like Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. He says the cost of the funeral is being covered by private donors…:
Cut 5 (10) “the service”
Chambers says they have asked that today be about celebrating Sterling’s life, but he expects protests to resume on Saturday.

State Police say a fiery two vehicle crash in north Louisiana claimed the life of a Calhoun man who was traveling the wrong way on I-20. They say 31-year-old Christopher Moss had crossed the median for unknown reasons, and hit an 18-wheeler head on. After impact both vehicles caught fire. Moss was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ouachita Parish Coroner’s office.

Ex-KKK leader and former state representative David Duke is considering running for US Congress. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The 29th annual Cajun Music and Food Fest kicks off today in Lake Charles. spokesperson Janet Piraro says the event is family friendly and features lots of activities and authentic Louisiana cuisine…:
Cut 15 (09) “good music”

Thousands of people are expected to attend the funeral service for Alton Sterling today. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

A Jefferson Parish sheriff’s deputy shot a woman who authorities say was trying to ram him with the truck she was driving. Col. John Fortunato said in an email that 40-year-old Melissa Belanger of New Orleans sent the deputy on a high speed pursuit before eventually stopping and trying to hit him with her vehicle when he got out of his unit. He says the cop shot the suspect in the wrists and when Belanger gets out of the hospital she’ll be charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

Arson is being blamed for two fires in Opelousas at historic buildings, including Louisiana’s Civil War Old Governor’s Mansion. Brant Thompson with the State Fire Marshal’s Office says it’s a shame the site where Governor Thomas Moore lived is gone, as it was being renovated to be turned into a Civil War Museum…:
CUT 9 (07) “total loss”
He says they are working to determine who tried to burn down the structures, and they aren’t ruling out the possibility the two are connected.

Former KKK grand wizard and failed Louisiana gubernatorial candidate David Duke says he’s thinking about running for Congress in November against Steve Scalise in the 1st Congressional District. He says he wants to take up for white Americans in this times of racial unrest because white lives matter too:
CUT 11 (08) “we have”
A statement on his website said that Duke had been encouraged by “enormous numbers of people” in his district to run.

Al Sharpton, Reverend Jesse Jackson and US Congressman Cedric Richmond are among some of the names slated to attend the funeral of Alton Sterling today at Southern University in Baton Rouge. Gary Chambers is the spokesperson for the Sterling family. He says today is for honoring Sterling, but expects more protests…:
CUT 6 (08) “police departments”
He says between 3 and 5-thousand people are expected to attend.

Several leaders in Louisiana are issuing responses to the horrible tragedy in Nice France in which a truck slammed into revelers on Bastille Day, killing at least 80 people. Governor John Bel Edwards says The Bayou State and France have one of the oldest and strongest bonds, and today is about unity. He says we stand behind the country that’s credited for shaping our culture in the wake of this unconscionable act of hate and terrorism.

The fire at the Old Governor’s Mansion and a museum, both in Opelousas, have both been ruled arson by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Cajun Music and Food Fest kicks off today in Lake Charles. Event spokesperson Janet Piraro says this festival is a tradition in southwest Louisiana that celebrates Cajun heritage…:
Cut 13 (07) “Lake Charles”
Admission to the festival is $8 a day for adults, and kids 12 and under get in free.

The funeral for Alton Sterling will be held today at the Southern University F.G. Clark Activity Center. The Sterling family’s spokesperson, Gary Chambers, says between 3 and 5-thousand people are expected to attend, including some big name speakers…:
cut 4 (12) “Alton Sterling”
Chambers says the viewing is scheduled today from 8:30 to 10:30 am, and the service will begin at 11am.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled arson in the fires at the Louisiana governor’s Civil War mansion in Opelousas, and another historical site. Chief Deputy Brant Thompson says they’re working both scenes separately. He says they are unsure if the fires are connected but it’s not being ruled out…:
CUT 7 (09) “Opelousas”
He says the Old Governor’s mansion is considered a total loss.

Former state representative and ex-KKK leader David Duke says he is thinking about running against Republican incumbent Steve Scalise in Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District. Duke says the media coverage of the recent police shootings have been slanted against white Americans and he’ll go to Washington DC and speak the truth of what’s happening…:
Cut 10 (07) “all Americans”
Duke has authorized a campaign committee to judge whether he should get run for Congress this November.

BP says the final number on how much the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill cost the company stands at $61.6 billion dollars. The company says it expects to spend a total of $44 billion after tax deductions.