An annual study released today by The Violence Policy Center says Louisiana ranks number 4 in the nation in the rate of women who are murdered by men. The report indicates our state has ranked among the top 10 states in this category for a fifth year in a row. VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand says there are two big factors that leads to Louisiana’s ranking…:
cut 12 (06) “to firearms”
Rand says they urge legislators to enhance enforcement of laws that prohibit domestic abusers from possessing guns and protect victims of domestic violence.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Jay Dardenne has released his first television ad of the campaign. The commercial, which began running statewide this morning, is called “Something Good” and says Dardenne is a straight talker, because he’s not a Washington politician, that he’ll solve problems without drama and has never been involved in a scandal in his 25 years of public service.

The Sulphur Police and Fire Departments will soon be adding “In God We Trust” decals on their vehicles..and not everybody is happy about it. Some feel it’s a breach of the first amendment, but Sulphur Police Chief Lewis Coats says his officers are excited about the decals and it’s impossible to please everyone…:
CUT 8 (06) “going to fail”
He says they view this as a positive for the officers especially in the wake of several police killings.

The SEC Storied documentary tonight will be on the late Bo Rein — LSU’s coach going into the 80s who never saw a game in Tiger Stadium before he died in a plane crash. “The Bo You Don’t Know,” premiers at 8pm on the SEC Network. LSU Senior Associate SID Kent Lowe says the title of the documentary is appropriate because even members of the media didn’t have a chance to get to know Rein as he was so busy recruiting…:
CUT 10 (08) “to Baton Rouge”
Rein was LSU’s coach for 42 days prior to the crash.

US Senator Bill Cassidy was in New Orleans this morning during a US House Natural Resources Committee field hearing to discuss how federal policies impact the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico. Cassidy says federal policies leave over 63 million acres in the Gulf unavailable for oil and gas production…:
CUT 4 (07) “sources of oil”
He says federal regulations need to ease up so that oil and gas production in the Gulf can keep thriving.

Republican gubernatorial candidate David Vitter keeps trying to avoid questions about his cloudy past, but they keep coming. During a forum last night in which just he and Republican Jay Dardenne were present, each were asked if they’ve ever violated any state laws. Dardenne responded no, and Vitter called the question a “gotcha” inquiry which was specifically targeted at him. Vitter says he’s already addressed his past and said he doesn’t appreciate questions planted on behalf of opponents. The forum was hosted by the Alliance for Good Government.

All Sulphur Police and Fire Department Vehicles will soon display “In God We Trust” decals. Emelie Gunn has more on how the community is divided over this addition…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The American Automobile Association says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular gas is $2.05 and the US Department of Energy is forecasting the national average to hit $2 a gallon by December. AAA says historically, Louisiana’s price is about 20 cents cheaper than the national average so we could be looking at prices at about $1.80 before the end of the year.

In southwest Louisiana, the Sulphur Police and Fire Department will be applying “In God We Trust” decals to their vehicles. The community is funding the stickers, but there are still many people not happy about this. Police Chief Lewis Coats says he’s trying to bring some positive into a negative world…:
CUT 6 (06) “the units”
Coats says on the heels of the recent death of Trooper Steven Vincent who was killed in the line of duty near Lake Charles last month, the officers are eager to display the “In God We Trust” stickers on their units.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler feels voter apathy may partly explain why 46% of candidates who signed up for offices in the October 24th primary will run without opposition. He feels this uptick trend points to a public that just doesn’t care:
Cut 13 (09) “away from that”

The SEC Network will air a documentary tonight about the life of Bo Rein, LSU’s coach going into the 80s who died in a plane crash before ever coaching a game for the Tigers. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Senator Bill Cassidy testified this morning during a US House Natural Resources Committee field hearing in New Orleans. The purpose of the hearing was to discuss how current federal policies impact oil and natural gas development in the Gulf of Mexico. Cassidy says policies need to be changed for offshore oil production to flourish…:
CUT 3 (09) “Gulf of Mexico”
Cassidy says it’s vital for the federal government to ease regulations so that oil and gas production in the Gulf can continue to grow.

LSU-Alexandria is reporting they’ve enrolled a record number of students this fall. 3,104 students are attending LSUA which is the largest enrollment in the history of the university. LSU President F King Alexander says this growth shows the university is working hard to meet the needs of central Louisiana.

A documentary will air on the SEC Network tonight about the life of Bo Rein who was named LSU’s head coach after the 1979 season, but died in a plane crash before he ever coached a game for the Tigers. LSU Senior Associate Sports Information Director Kent Lowe says many people don’t know Rein’s story and the excitement he brought to lead LSU into the 80s:
CUT 9 (11) “athletic department”
“The Bo You Don’t Know,” premiers at 8pm.

An annual study released today by The Violence Policy Center says Louisiana ranks number 4 in the nation in the rate of women who are murdered by men. The report indicates our state has ranked in the top 10 states for females murdered by males for the fifth year in a row.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is about $2.05 a gallon..so just how low will it go?
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

Republican David Vitter continues to be pressured about his past. During a gubernatorial debate last night hosted by the Alliance for Good Government, Vitter and the only other candidate present, Republican Jay Dardenne, were asked if they had ever violated Louisiana statue Title 14 — which refers to the entire criminal code. Dardenne said no. Vitter called it a “gotcha” question specifically targeted at him.

A recent study indicates people who drink diet sodas often compensate for the low calorie contend by eating unhealthier foods. The report out of the University of Illinois suggests switching to diet drinks in an effort to lose weight may not be the best approach. Dr. Anne Gilmore of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says, the study aside, we should be looking at all the calories we consume…:
CUT 12 (11) “inferences”
She says more research needs to be done to determine exactly why people who choose diet drinks consume more unhealthy food.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office says the mother of a young child who she reported drowned in July has been charged with second degree murder. They say a grand jury returned the indictment on the charge against 30-year-old Clarissa Hector Of West Monroe. 59-year-old Russell Flowers was booked on the murder charges in July when Hector claimed Flowers told her to tell cops her child drowned or he would kill her and her other children according to the arrest affidavit.

Voter apathy could explain why 46% of candidates who signed up for offices in the October 24th primary will run unopposed, according to Secretary of State Tom Schedler. He says we must get people re-engaged on the Constitution and what this country is all about…

cut 15 (11) “daily lives”

Schedler says in the state legislature, 20 out of 39 senators and 39 out of 105 House members drew no opponents.

With the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline hovering just above $2.00 a gallon, many are wondering just how low it will go? American Automobile Association spokesperson Don Redman says if all goes smoothly, you can expect gas prices to steadily fall for the rest of the year…

cut 9 (08) “Christmas holidays”

He says prices haven’t been that low since early 2009.

A study out of the University of Illinois finds diet soda drinkers often eat more unhealthy foods, which counter acts their attempts to lose weight. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 2 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

According to State Farm Insurance claims data, Louisiana drivers have among the lowest odds of a deer collision in the country. The study shows that the chances of a driver hitting a deer in Louisiana is 1 in 335, which ranks the state 41st nationally. It was also found that drivers are most likely to collide with a deer in the last three months of the year. West Virginia has the worst odds of a driver hitting a deer, 1 in 44.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler says 46% of candidates who signed up for offices in the October 24th primary will run unopposed. Michelle Southern reports…

cut 3 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office say four teenagers are arrested accused of kidnapping and raping an underage girl. Authorities say the girl was lured to a parked car, forced inside, and driven to an abandoned home where the rape occurred. 17-year-old Marlon Grady, 19-year-olds D’Kevin Cleveland and Montrell Davis, and a juvenile, whose name is being withheld, are charged with kidnapping and aggravated rape.

The US House Natural Resources Committee will hold a field hearing in New Orleans today to discuss how current federal policies impact oil and natural gas development in the Gulf. Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, says if the US wants to remain a world leader in energy production, we need to increase production on more than just state and private land…

cut 6 (11) “Coast shores”

The hearing will also touch on the crude oil export debate.

Just how low will will gas prices go? The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is hovering just above $2.00 a gallon and American Automobile Association spokesperson Don Redman says we could see prices near $1.80 by the end of the year. Redman says you’d have to go back to early 2009 to find gas prices that low…

cut 8 (08) “a gallon”

He says these low prices have caused demand to rise about three-percent from last year when prices were roughly $1.10 more per gallon.

The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline is hovering just above $2.00 a gallon and that leaves many wondering just how low will it go? American Automobile Association spokesperson Don Redman says the US Department of Energy forecasts the national average to hit $2 a gallon by December…

cut 7 (10) “in Louisiana”

Redman says you’d have to go back to early 2009 to find gas prices below $1.80.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler feels voter apathy may partially explain why 46% of candidates who qualified for the October 24th primary will run unopposed. He thinks if more people were involved in the process and went out to vote, especially young people, there wouldn’t be such a waning interest in qualifying…

cut 14 (10) “for the future”

Schedler says the cost of running a successful campaign could be another reason potential challengers are turned off.

A field hearing of the The US House Natural Resources Committee will be held in New Orleans today discussing how current federal policies impact oil and natural gas development in the Gulf, including the ban on U.S. oil exports. Utah Congressman Rob Bishop says by not allowing exports, the development of the oil and gas industry is significantly harmed…

cut 5 (07) “will decrease” 2X

Senators Bill Cassidy and David Vitter are scheduled to attend the meeting, along with Congressman Garret Graves.

People who drink diet sodas tend to eat unhealthier, higher calorie food, according to a University of Illinois study. Dr. Anne Gilmore of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says diet soda drinkers often think they are cutting calories in one place, so it’s okay to splurge on another even though that’s not the case…

cut 11 (11) “they consume”

She says these results aren’t surprising.

Secretary of State Tom Schedler feels voter apathy may partly explain why 46% of candidates who signed up for offices in the October 24th primary will run without opposition. He says in 2007, 35% of qualified candidates didn’t have an opponent and in 2011 it was 39%. He feels this uptick points to a public that just doesn’t care:

cut 13 (09) “away from that”

Schedler says 20 out of 39 state senators drew no opponents.

The US House Natural Resources Committee will hold a field hearing in New Orleans today to discuss how current federal policies impact oil and natural gas development in the Gulf of Mexico. Committee chair, Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, says the hearing will focus on federal statutes which could cause a second moratorium in the Gulf…

cut 4 (09) “negative impact”

The hearing begins at 9AM.

A study out of Illinois finds people who drink diet sodas tend to eat unhealthier, higher calorie food, which negates their attempts to lose weight. The research found that many diet soda drinkers feel justified in eating more because they feel guilty about indulging in unhealthy food. Dr. Anne Gilmore of LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center says these results aren’t surprising…

cut 10 (09) “we’re doing”

Gilmore says diet soda drinkers often think they are cutting calories in one place, so it’s okay to splurge on another. She says overall, we need to look at all the calories that we consume.

Governor Bobby Jindal held a prayer rally for law enforcement on the steps of the state capitol today. Jindal called for a statewide day of prayer, because nine police officers have died while on-duty this year. The governor says he also prays for the families of officers who worry each day, if their loved ones will come home…
cut 13 (11) “…enforcement officers”
The mother of Thomas LaValley, a Shreveport police officer fatally shot last month, was one of the attendees.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office says a Shreveport man is behind bars today and charged for the second-degree murder of 29-year-old Robert Earl French, who was fatally shot multiple times in a street in 1980. Authorities say good detective work led to the arrest of 62-year-old Jimmy Lee Tigues and solving this 35-year-old cold case.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office is still trying to make sense of a murder-suicide in Central that left four people dead including three brothers. Spokesperson Casey Hicks says 60-year-old Rodney Chemin (KEY-men) allegedly shot three brothers, who were in their 50s, before turning the gun on himself. Hicks says they were all watching football at a neighbor’s house and got into an argument about music…:
CUT 3 (07) “too long after”
She says the neighbor then went over and found the four dead.

In northwest Louisiana, police say a heated argument over video games led to a shooting that sent one man to the hospital. Many police spokesperson Dean Lambert says 32-year-old Patrick Carhee became angry with 21-year-old Edward Glynn and grabbed a handgun and shot Glynn in the thump. He says Carhee faces some serious charges…
cut 11 (10) ‘…probably forthcoming”
The victim was treated at local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.