Qualifying for the fall elections begins today and runs through Thursday. Michelle Southern reports on the official kickoff of the campaign season…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of the shooting death of his roommate over the weekend. They say 64-year-old Randall Austin and 40-year-old Sidney Moore, Jr. were in an argument when Austin grabbed a shotgun. A struggle ensued and the shotgun went off striking Moore. Moore passed away as a result of his injuries. Austin confessed to authorities and has been charged with manslaughter. The investigation is ongoing.

The Insurance Information Institute says more people are driving now because of low gas prices and when more people drive, there are more accidents, which leads to higher insurance costs. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, says it’s up to the motoring public to help reduce the number of crashes on our roads and law enforcement has role in that as well….

cut 9 (11) “necessary standards”

Donelon says there are several factors that go into how a person’s insurance premium is determined.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is assisting in the recall of cucumbers because of a salmonella outbreak across several states. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says if you have cucumbers in your kitchen, make sure they are not Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce…

cut 11 (07) “this company”

There have been three cases in Louisiana that could possibly be linked to the contaminated cucumbers.

Qualifying for the October 24 elections begins today. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross still sees Republican Senator David Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards making the runoff in the governor’s race. He says Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne will be making hard pushes to get past Edwards…

cut 5 (08) “desperate”

If necessary, the runoff election would be November 21.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is assisting in the recall of cucumbers because of a salmonella outbreak across several states. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says we’ve seen three cases in Louisiana that could possibly be linked to the contaminated cucumbers and they’re working with distributors to get the vegetable off the shelves…

cut 10 (11) “prevent it”

Guidry says there aren’t many restaurants or stores that were carrying these cucumbers.

When gas prices are low, more drivers are on the road causing more wrecks, and that could raise your insurance rates according to the Insurance Information Institute. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, says a recent bankrate-dot-com study shows why Louisiana insurance rates are so high…

cut 8 (08) “of those analysis”

He blames distracted driving for an increase in wrecks.

Future hurricane seasons in the Atlantic could feature weaker and fewer storms, according to a study in the Nature Geoscience Journal. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve been in an active period since the mid 1990s and there’s a possibility that we could be taking a brief pause….

cut 14 (12) “a change”

Hurricane researchers say changes in ocean patterns have caused hurricane activity to increase or decrease for long periods of time since the 1800s.

Qualifying for the fall elections begins today and runs through Thursday. The gubernatorial primary is October 24th and in the event of a runoff, voting day would be November 21. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says traditionally this is the official kickoff of the campaign season…

cut 4 (10) “to the election”

Cross says at this point voters know an election is coming up, but don’t know who all the candidates are.

According to a study in the Nature Geoscience Journal, future hurricane seasons in the Atlantic could feature weaker and fewer storms. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is evidence that we could be entering a period where the tropics are relatively quiet…

cut 13 (08) “named storms”

Keim says only time will tell whether we are entering a quieter period for hurricanes.

There’s actually a downside for Louisiana motorists when gas prices are low. And that is higher insurance rates. The Insurance Information Institute says more people are driving now and when more people drive, there are more accidents, which leads to higher insurance costs. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, blames distracted driving for an increase in wrecks…

cut 7 (10) “every stop light”

Donelon says there are several factors that go into how a person’s insurance premium is determined.

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva says they may notify fans as early as today on how ticketholders for the McNeese State game will be refunded.

There’s good and bad news on the state of labor in Louisiana on this Labor Day. The Louisiana Budget Project says between 2012-2014, median wages have increased 39 cents. LBP Director Jan Moller says while we have more people working in the state than ever before, but the gap between the number of low income residents and wealthy individuals continues to get bigger….
CUT 5 (09) “middle class”
Moller says we’re also losing jobs in the construction industry and manufacturing.

According to a recent LSU AgCenter report, in 2013 feral hogs caused more than $74 million dollars in farm damage here. The research was conducted by AgCenter Economist Shaun Tanger. He says that number is just based on reports from farmers and doesn’t even include non-farm land damage:
CUT 13 (07) “considerable bigger”
The Agcenter estimates the feral hog population at 500-thousand.

Franklin Parish remains in shock over the death of 16-year-old Tyrell Cameron, who lost his life from an apparent broken neck sustained while playing football on Friday night. Matt Reynolds is the play-by-play man for the Franklin Parish Patriots and says Cameron was covering a punt and ran into a Sterlington player who was blocking for the returner…:
Cut 17 (08) “instantly”
Cameron was died shortly after the fatal hit. Franklin Parish’s next game is against Wossman and the game has been moved up to Thursday.

By not playing McNeese State on Saturday night, what kind of impact will that have on LSU’s aspirations to get into the four-team playoff. Coach Les Miles is not sure….
cut 15 (17) “…might play”
LSU AD Joe Alleva says he’ll likely inform fans tomorrow about refunds for the McNeese game.

Louisiana is making strides in increased wages and gender pay equality but there is still long way to go for workers on this Labor Day. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (31) “…reporting’

The Calcasieu parish Sheriff’s office says a fight between two roomates left one person dead and the other facing charges of manslaughter. Deputies say 64-year-old Randall Austin fatally shot 40-year-old Sidney “Jody” Joseph during a struggle with a shotgun. Austin is in the Calcasieu Correctional Center.

Franklin Parish is still trying to get over the shock of a high school football player dying after apparently breaking his neck during a game on Friday night. A vigil was held for 16-year-old Tyrell Cameron on Saturday at Franklin Parish High School and Matt Reynolds with KMAR radio says it was great to see Franklin Parish support the team and Cameron’s family…
cut 19 (12) “….terrible event”

And LSU football coach Les Miles agrees with the decision on cancelling Saturday night’s McNeese State game because of lightning. The decision was made around 10:30 and Miles says there was no sense in trying to resume the game around midnight…
cut 14 (12) “…in the morning”
Athletic Director Joe Alleva says they’ll probably notify fans tomorrow about how they will refund those who had McNeese tickets.

It’s Labor Day, a day off for many workers. Jan Moller, director of the Louisiana Budget Project, says there’s evidence that the gender pay gap is shrinking in Louisiana. Mollier says women are beginning to make some headway on their male counterparts…
cut 6 (10) “….with men”
Historically, the gender pay gap in Louisiana is the highest in the nation.

There’s still debate on whether LSU should have played McNeese State on Sunday after lightning prevented them from playing on Saturday night. LSU Athletic director Joe Alleva says Sunday was not a viable option for them or McNeese State…
cut 30 (11) “…to play”
Alleva says they will notify fans by Wednesday about ticket refunds.

The LSU Ag Center increases its estimate on how much damage feral hogs perform on Louisiana farms. Michael Farrar has the story…
cut 2 (30) “….reporting”

The state department of health and hospitals announces that there’s been three cases of salmonella in Louisiana that’s part of a 27-state oubreak. The culprit is cucumbers from Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce of San Diego. DHH says they’ve been working with restaurants and grocery stores to make sure these cucumbers are thrown out.

There’s good and bad news on the state of labor in Louisiana on this Labor Day. The Louisiana Budget Project says between 2012-2014, median wages have increased 39 cents. LBP Director Jan Moller says while we have more people working in the state than ever before, large pay gaps keep getting bigger:
CUT 5 (09) “middle class”
He believes more needs to be done to improve the lives of workers in Louisiana.

The LSU/McNeese State game was cancelled due to lightning Saturday night and Tiger Head Coach Les Miles says he’s not sure how this will impact the 4-team playoff since they only have 11 games while everyone else has 12…:
CUT 15 (17) “might play”
It’s the first cancelled game in nearly 100 years for LSU. Refund information will be announced by Wednesday.

The Shreveport Police Department says an officer involved shooting has left the suspect dead after a wild police chase and manhunt. They say cops were responding to reports from a concerned citizen who said someone had just tried to sell her drugs. When officers caught up with the man’s vehicle matching the caller’s description, the suspect reportedly pulled out a gun and fired at them but nobody was hit. When the chase ended, the suspect got out of the car with a gun and that’s when police responded with gunfire according to the report.

The LSU Ag Center increases its estimate on how much damage feral hogs perform on Louisiana farms. Michael Farrar has the story…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michael Farrar”

Louisiana is making strides in increased wages and gender pay equality but there is still a long way to go for workers on this Labor Day. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The State Department of Health and Hospitals says hundreds of imported cucumbers across Louisiana are being recalled as the FDA believes they are the source of a multi-state Salmonella outbreak. They say there have been about 280 cases linked to the contaminated cucumbers throughout the US including three in Louisiana. They were distributed by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce.

The Franklin Parish community remains in shock today about the death of 16-year-old Tyrell Cameron who collapsed after a hit during a football game Friday night. Franklin Parish Patriots play-by-play man Matt Reynolds says about about 1,000 people came to a vigil at the football stadium Saturday night and it was great to see so much support for the team and Cameron’s family..:
CUT 19 (10) “terrible event”
Though autopsy results are pending, it’s reported that Cameron’s neck broke after the fatal hit.

According to a recent LSU AgCenter report, in 2013 feral hogs caused more than $74 million dollars in farm damage here. The research was conducted by AgCenter Economist Shaun Tanger. He says that number
is just based on reports from farmers and doesn’t even include
non-farm land damage:
CUT 13 (07) “considerable bigger”
He says the most effective way to control the wild animals is to trap and kill them.

There’s mixed news for the workers of Louisiana on this Labor Day. The Louisiana Budget Project found that employee wages in the state are up with a median of $15.63 an hour. That’s a 39-cent increase from 2012-2014. L-B-P Director Jan Moller says that’s the good, but there is some bad…:
cut 4 (10) “get wilder”
He believes we’re not doing nearly enough to improve the lives of workers across the state.

So the LSU game didn’t happen Saturday night. The lightning delays kept coming at Tiger Stadium and it was decided to cancel the game just after 10:30pm. LSU is now getting ready for Mississippi State, without the benefit of having a full game under their belt. But Coach Les Miles says the Tigers will be ready for the Bulldogs…:
Cut 16 (10) “positives there”
LSU says refund information will be announced by Wednesday.

Qualifying starts tomorrow and in our final gubernatorial Q&A we asked candidates ways they feel the staggering STD rate in Louisiana could be improved. Republican Jay Dardenne says the numbers are highest in the bigger cities which he attributes to increased risk for human trafficking which is a problem that needs to be addressed…:
CUT 9 (10) “entire community”
Democrat Jon Bel Edwards says healthcare access is crucial to reducing the rate of HIV, AIDS and STDs..:
CUT 10 (10) “education curriculum”
The primary is October 24th.

Feral hogs continue to be a major problem in Louisiana and cost farmers around 74 million dollars in damage in 2013. LSU AgCenter Economist Shaun Tanger says this problem isn’t going away…:
CUT 12 (06) “continue to escalate”
The LSU AgCenter estimates Louisiana’s feral hog population at a half-million.

There’s no LSU game from Saturday to react to on this Labor Day. The Tigers and McNeese State played a handful of snaps, when lightning near the stadium halted the contest. The decision to cancel the game, came just after 10:30 after the teams waited nearly four hours for the lightning to stop. Coach Les Miles says there was no sense in trying to resume the game at around midnight…:
Cut 14 (10) “in the morning”
LSU says ticket refund information will be available by Wednesday.

Franklin Parish is mourning 16-year-old Tyrell Cameron who died apparently from a broken neck when playing football Friday night. Matt Reynolds is the play-by-play man for the Franklin Parish Patriots. He says this was Cameron’s first varsity game as a starter and his teammates loved him…:
CUT 18 (08) “brought laughter”
Cameron was rushed to a hospital but died shortly after the fatal hit.

To conclude our series of questions to the gubernatorial candidates, we asked them how they would work with state agencies to reduce the number of sexually transmitted diseases. Senator David Vitter says education is a must…:
CUT 7 (09) “early grades”
Louisiana has some of the highest STD rates in the country. Republican Scott Angelle believes parents need to talk to their kids early on about the birds and the bees in addition to sex ed in classrooms…:
CUT 8 (09) “our educators”
Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary is October 24th.

Damage from feral hogs cost Louisiana farmers an estimated 74-million dollars in 2013. That’s according to research conducted by LSU AgCenter Economist Shaun Tanger, who says the hogs caused 53-million in damage to Louisiana crops…:
cut 11 (08) “non-production losses”