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…
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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.
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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.
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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…:
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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…:
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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…:
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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…:
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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:
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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…:
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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…:
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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…:
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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…:
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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.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson says he was impressed at the way President Obama handled discussions about improving relations between law enforcement and the public at a recent meeting in Washington DC. Edmonson says a big issue they discussed is the importance of listening.

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Edmonson says we must find ways to move forward and solve the problems our country is facing.

A new study from AAA shows 80% of drivers have road rage. The report shows that males ages 19 to 39 are more likely to exhibit road rage than females. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says males are three times more likely to be aggressive drivers than females.

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Redman says if you become the target of someone’s road rage, it’s important not to escalate the situation.

LSU Coach Les Miles took time out at SEC Media Days to talk about the tumultuous week in Baton Rouge since the Alton Sterling shooting. Emelie Gunn has more…

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office has ruled both the fire at the Old Governor’s Mansion and another incident in Opelousas as arson. Chief Deputy Brant Thompson says they are working two separate fire scenes in Opelousas, both of which carry historical significance. The Old Governor’s Mansion is considered a total loss. Thompson says they aren’t sure if the arsons are connected but that’s not being ruled out.

LSU coach Les Miles hopes his football team can unite Baton Rouge, which has dealt with civil unrest following the shooting of Alton Sterling. Miles says he’s encouraging his players to do what they can to affect change…
cut 14 (11) “…all of us”
Miles was not hestitant to talk about the Alton Sterling situation during his appearance at SEC Media days.

State Police Col Mike Edmonson came away very impressed with a meeting he attended in Washington DC that featured President Obama and other leaders from around the country. Edmonson says they discussed the divide between the public and law enforcement. He says police have a difficult job to do, and for the most part, they do it well.
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Edmonson says everyone at the meeting walked away with a renewed strength to say we can do better.

About 80% of drivers have road rage, according to a new survey from AAA. Halen Doughty has more…:
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The National Hot Air Balloon Championship and Red River Balloon Rally is underway in northwest Louisiana. Event manager at the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commision, Shelia Norman, says they expect 25-thousand visitors…
cut 8 (11) “…concerts”

Community leaders from around the country, including Governor John Bel Edwards and State Police Col. Mike Edmonson, met with President Obama to discuss ways to build community trust and ensure justice for all Americans. Edmonson says one of the key things they discussed in the meeting is the importance of listening.

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Edmonson says everyone at the meeting walked away with a renewed strength to say we can do better.

At today’s SEC Media Day, LSU football coach Les Miles discussed the shooting of Alton Sterling. Miles says building up a football team is similar to building up a community that has been ripped apart by this tragic incident. He says everyone needs to be respectful of the lives of others and who they are as a person.

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80% of drivers admit to having road rage, according to a new survey from AAA. Spokesperson Don Redman says it’s important not to escalate a situation if you become the target of someone’s road rage. He says we can’t control everyone else on the road, but we can control how we respond.

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The report shows males are three times more likely to have road rage than females.

The 2016 U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships are underway in Shreveport-Bossier, an event that’s expected to have a 6 million dollar economic impact on the area. Event Manager Sheila Norman says this weekend is comprised of two different events, in the morning 31 hot air balloons will compete against each other in different tasks. She says the afternoons will have a family fun atmosphere…

CUT 6 (08) “on Saturday”

LSU Coach Les Miles took time out at SEC Media Days to talk about the tumultuous week in Baton Rouge since the Alton Sterling shooting. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 2 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Both the fire at the Old Governor’s Mansion and another incident in Opelousas have been ruled arson by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. Chief Deputy Brant Thompson says they are working two separate fire scenes in Opelousas, both of which carry historical significance. The Old Governor’s Mansion is considered a total loss. Thompson says they aren’t sure if the arsons are connected but that’s not being ruled out.

According to a new survey from AAA, 8 out of 10 drivers admit to having road rage. The report shows males are three times more likely to have road rage than females. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says this is especially true for men ages 19 to 39…:
cut 10 (08) “situation”
Redman says as drivers, it’s important not to escalate a situation if you become the target of someone’s road rage.

The 2016 U.S. National Hot Air Balloon Championships are underway in Shreveport-Bossier. It’s the first time the city has played host to the big contest, and Event Manager Sheila Norman says everyone is loving it…:
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The National Hot Air Balloon Championship and Red River Balloon Rally are expected to bring 25-thousand people to the area.