The first published poll on next year’s US Senate race shows Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell, a Democrat, and Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy leading the field in a hypothetical matchup. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he can see Kennedy on top of this one…

cut 13 (11) “know who he is”

The survey was commissioned for the super PAC supporting Kennedy.

first deadline for Louisiana residents to purchase health insurance for 2016 through the Affordable Care Act is approaching. Acting Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Andy Slavitt, says time is running out if you want insurance that begins with the new year through the Health Insurance Marketplace…

cut 4 (05) “December 15th”

Louisiana has already surpassed last year’s enrollment numbers as almost 61,000 residents have signed up for coverage as of December 5th.

A task force formed by the state legislature has begun work on developing legislation regarding the use of police body cameras. Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine says the body cameras have been an asset to her police officers and they want to make sure other police departments take advantage of this technology…

cut 7 (12) “90-percent”

The task force is charged with developing rules for proper use of body cameras, guidelines on releasing video data and if there should be any situations where officers do not wear them.

WAFB is reporting that Angola Warden Burl Cain will resign at the end of the year. The report comes a few weeks after articles were published questioning whether Cain’s real estate deals with friends of inmates violated Department of Corrections rules. Cain is 73 and has been warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary since 1995.

The LSU Foundation says the university’s alumni donate back less than any other school in the SEC. LSU Foundation President Stephen Moret says just 6 percent of LSU’s graduates give money to the university. He said on the Jim Engster Show that higher ed has been struggling over the past several years which is why private donations are so important. They want to show people who give that their investment is truly helping LSU…:
CUT 11 (08) “total impact”
He says LSU’s endowment per student is tied for last in the conference at $420 million.

Republican Col. Rob Maness has filed a statement of candidacy for the open Louisiana senate seat being vacated by Senator David Vitter next year. He ran unsuccessfully for US senate in 2014 and says this time around, he’s worked to better the way his campaign team is constructed and has concentrated more on fundraising efforts…:
cut 14 (07) “ready to go”
The first poll on the 2016 US Senate race showed Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy and Democrat Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell leading a hypothetical field.

Louisiana has the lowest percentage of women participating in the state legislature nationally according to Pew Charitable Trusts. UNO Political Science Professor Christine Day says women don’t typically run for office in conservative southern states, but we have had a female governor and US Senator. She says Hillary Clinton’s presidential run could influence other women to jump into politics…:
CUT 5 (05) “interest”

A new report from Pew Charitable Trusts shows that only 12-percent of Louisiana legislators in 2015 were women, the lowest percentage in the nation. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Raising Cane’s announces a major milestone will be made tomorrow as two new stores open in Texas and Oklahoma bringing the total number of the chicken finger restaurants to 250. The Baton Rouge based company now has locations in 20 states and Cane’s CEO Todd Graves says they are extremely excited about reaching this milestone.

A teacher from Calvary Baptist is facing many charges for allegedly sending inappropriate online messages to one of his 16-year-old female students. State Police say 25-year-old Kyle Rutledge of Shreveport ended up chatting with investigators while thinking it was the victim. Trooper Matt Harris says cases like this are shameful…:
CUT 7 (09) “it happens”
He says Rutledge was charged with Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, and Prohibited Sexual Conduct between Educator and Student.

LSU football got some more bad postseason news today. The Tigers did not land a spot on the Southeastern Conference individual awards. The SEC champion Alabama led the pack with four winners including Offensive and defensive player of the year. Tennessee, Texas A&M, Florida and Arkansas were the other teams with players who received individual awards.

Former US Senate candidate and retired Air Force Colonel Rob Maness, a Republican, will run for the US Senate seat that’s being vacated by David Vitter next year. He says even with the large amount of candidates seeking this seat, he feels he’s got a solid following and learned many lessons from his unsuccessful run in 2014…:
CUT 13 (10) “around the state”
Republican US Representative John Fleming announced his candidacy earlier this week and US Representative Charles Boustany has said he’ll announce soon.

USA Today released it’s annual assistant coaching salaries list Wednesday and found that LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s total pay ranks second nationally at $1.5 million dollars. Auburn’s Will Muschamp topped the list. The numbers also found that the total LSU staff pay tops the nation at $5.4 million dollars with more than $100,000 in built-in raises.

The percentage of alumni who give to LSU on a regular basis is “dead last” in the Southeastern Football Conference according to LSU Foundation head Stephen Moret. He said on the Jim Engster Show only 6 percent of LSU’s graduates donate money to the universty. Moret says LSU students aren’t being told about giving back to their alma mater and why it matters, which is what needs to change…:
cut 10 (08) “at LSU”
He says LSU’s endowment per student is tied for last the conference at $420 million.

Part of the Jindal Administration’s plan to plug money into this year’s $487 million dollar budget deficit is to use more than $28 million in Louisiana’s rainy day fund, and lawmakers voted in favor today. Lawmakers were told if the rainy day fund money couldn’t be used, then cuts could head to higher education. Analysts say this plan leaves Governor-elect John Bel Edwards with major budget problems when he takes office in a little over a month.

Louisiana has the lowest percentage of women lawmakers according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts. The report shows that only 12-percent of Louisiana legislators in 2015 were women. But in 2016, five more women will be serving at the state Capitol. UNO Political Science Professor Christine Day says that’s a good sign…:
CUT 4 (06) “trend nationwide”
The national average of female participation in state legislatures was about 24-percent last year.

Republican Col. Rob Maness has filed a statement of candidacy for the open Louisiana senate seat being vacated by Senator David Vitter next year. Maness unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2014. He says the experience of people running and being elected these days is very limiting and he believes it’s his duty to provide leadership and expertise…:
cut 12 (08) “run for it”

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office says the man accused of killing his girlfriend then fleeing to Colorado has waived extradition. They say 27-year-old Miles Guidry allegedly murdered 26-year-old Clair Walley last month. Deputies say Guidry will be brought back to Lafayette in the next few days and booked with second degree murder.

A Calvary Baptist Academy teacher has been arrested for inappropriate conduct through online messaging with his student. State Police Trooper Matt Harris says 25-year-old Kyle Rutledge of Shreveport contacted the 16-year-old victim who then told her parents. He says investigators busted the teacher in the act…:
CUT 8 (11) “correctional center”
He says Rutledge faces many charges. Harris says they take situations like these extremely serious and if convicted, Rutledge could face up to 70 years in prison and fined up to 75-thousand dollars.

The LSU Foundation says the percentage of alumni who give to LSU on a regular basis is “dead last” in the Southeastern Football Conference. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former US Senate candidate and retired Air Force colonel Rob Maness will run for the US Senate seat that’s being vacated by David Vitter next year. He officially declared his intention to run in a filing with the Federal Elections Commission. Maness ran for US Senate in 2014, finishing third behind Mary Landrieu and Senator Bill Cassidy.

A Calvary Baptist Academy teacher is under arrest accused of engaging in inappropriate conduct with a student through online messaging. According to State Police, 25-year-old Kyle Rutledge of Shreveport contacted a 16-year-old female student online. Trooper Matt Harris says the victim immediately told her parents who then notified the school and authorities:
CUT 6 (10) “and him”
Harris says Rutledge was charged with Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, and Prohibited Sexual Conduct between Educator and Student.

The Breaux Bridge Police Department arrests a woman accused of driving drunk in a crash that left a 9-year-old dead. They say 35-year-old Leah Kilchrist of Breaux Bridge crossed the center line on a roadway and hit another vehicle that was occupied by a family of four, including the child who died. Kilchrist is charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular negligent injury, driving left of center and no driver’s license.

A new report from Pew Charitable Trusts shows that only 12-percent of Louisiana legislators in 2015 were women, the lowest percentage in the nation. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

The US Justice Department announces they will not seek federal criminal civil rights charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White, who died from a gunshot wound sustained while in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff’s deputy patrol vehicle. White’s family has questioned how the 22-year-old man shot himself in March of 2014, while handcuffed in the back of the police car. The Iberia Parish Coroner ruled the death a suicide.

Only 6 percent of LSU’s graduates donate money to the university, and LSU Foundation President Stephen Moret says that’s last in the SEC. The average is 16%. Moret says LSU students aren’t being told about giving back to their alma mater and why it matters, which is what needs to change…:
CUT 10 (08) “at LSU”
He also says LSU’s endowment per student is tied for last the conference at $420 million.

An attorney for Rachel Respess, one of the Destrehan high school teachers accused of having sex with a student last year says he thinks the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s office will make a decision on charges by early February. Respess is accused, along with fellow teacher Shelley Dufresne, of engaging in sex acts with a 16-year-old male student at Respess’ apartment in Kenner.

A new report from Pew Charitable Trusts shows Louisiana has the lowest percentage in the nation of women participating in the state legislature. The report shows that only 12-percent of Louisiana legislators in 2015 were women. UNO Political Science Professor Christine Day says this is not a surprise as the bottom 10 of this list are generally Republican, conservative states…:
CUT 3 (06) “liberal states”
She points out that Louisiana has had a woman in the US Senate, Mary Landrieu, and a woman governor, Kathleen Blanco.

Millions of dollars from Louisiana’s “rainy day” fund will go towards re-balancing this year’s budget. State lawmakers voted on the appropriation with an overwhelming majority, agreeing to take $28.2 million from the budget stabilization fund. Without the approval from legislators, Jindal’s administration warned funds for higher education could have been cut.

The percentage of alumni who give to LSU on a regular basis is “dead last” in the Southeastern Football Conference. That’s according to LSU Foundation Head Stephen Moret. He said on the Jim Engster Show that only 6 percent of LSU’s graduates donate money to the university…:
CUT 9 (09) “objective”
He says the average donation for all SEC school’s is around 14 percent.

A group called the Monumental Task Committee says they have collected over 31-thousand signatures from people who oppose the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans. The organization says they want their voices heard before the city council holds a special committee meeting tomorrow that will discuss the removal of the structures. MTC supports the instillation of interpretive plaques to help gain a better understanding of the original and current context of these monuments.

Two national studies show Louisiana ranks last in the country for volunteering. Emelie Gunn finds out how accurate these reports are…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Part of the Jindal Administration’s plan to plug money into this year’s $487 million dollar budget deficit is to use more than $28 million in Louisiana’s rainy day fund, and lawmakers voted in favor today. Analysts say this plan leaves Governor-elect John Bel Edwards with major budget problems when he takes office in a little over a month.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office says five middle school girls and one of their fathers are under arrest following a fight at T.O. Rusheon Middle School. They say the students were charged with disturbing the peace by fighting, and 42-year-old Lemale James of Shreveport was charged with battery of a school official. Cops say the father allegedly threw the assistant principal to the ground as he tried to stop more violence.

Louisiana does a poor job in efforts to prevent people from smoking according to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Spokesman John Schachter (Shack-Ter) Louisiana will collect nearly $398 million dollars this year from the 1998 tobacco settlement and tobacco taxes, but will only spend about 2% of that on prevention programs. He says their report also found that tobacco claims 7200 lives in Louisiana and costs the state $1.9 billion in health care bills annually…:
Cut 12 (11) “of the state”

The Justice Department announces there’s insufficient evidence to pursue criminal civil rights charges against any official with the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s office in connection with the fatal shooting of Victor White…

cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Lafayette Police say a woman is hospitalized after being shot during a home invasion. The unidentified 24-year-old victim informed authorities that three men, armed with guns, forced their way into her home Tuesday night. One of those men shot the woman in the chest. All three intruders then fled the home. At last report, the victim was listed in serious but stable condition.

Over 31-thousand signatures from people who oppose the removal of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans have been colleted by the Monumental Task Committee. President Pierre McGraw says they have received credible reports that Mayor Mitch Landrieu has contracted the removal of the monuments without opening it up to public bid…

cut 9 (08) “store them”

He says there is concern regarding the qualifications of those removing the monuments and if they would be stored safely.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids’ annual report card on how states are doing with efforts in keeping young people from smoking, Louisiana gets a failing grade. Spokesman John Schachter says the smoking industry spends $31 to promote their product for every $1 Louisiana uses on tobacco cessation and prevention programs…

cut 11 (06) “especially kids”