The United Health Foundation’s annual America’s Health Rankings lists Louisiana as the least healthy state in the country. United Health Foundation’s Rhonda Russell says Louisiana fell two spots from last year. She says several factors lead to the state’s low ranking…:
CUT 6 (09) “graduation rate”
She says Louisiana also ranks 50th in the country in the percentage of children living in poverty.

The 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 1 (05) “December 15th”
Open enrollment ends on January 31st.

Famed Angola Warden Burl Cain will resign at the end of the year. The 73-year-old has been warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary since 1995.

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 match up. The survey was commissioned for the super PAC supporting Kennedy. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he can see Kennedy on top of this one:
Cut 13 (11) “know who he is”
Other GOP potential candidates included in this poll are Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Congressmen Charles Boustany and John Fleming, and Retired Col Rob Maness.

A motorcyclist in Ascension Parish died late Wednesday after running off the side of the road according to State Police, who also believe the man was drunk. They say 43-year-old John Carrizal of Decatur Alabama was also not wearing a helmet when he slammed into a mailbox and was pronounced dead on the scene.

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 Kennedy might be one of the most popular politicians in the state, but a shake up in the race would be imminent if another Democrat decided to run…:
CUT 15 (11) “great deal”
The US Senate seat is being vacated by David Vitter who isn’t seeking another term.

The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections announce Burl Cain will be resigning from his job as Angola Prison Warden at the end of the year. Cain has been warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary for 21 years. He’d recently been the subject of some controversy over reports of alleged side private business dealings with favored inmates and their families.

State Police say a 14-year-old Prairieville boy was killed when he was struck by a vehicle as he was riding his bicycle in Ascension Parish. They say yesterday evening, Brennan Rube was on his bike on LA 73 and a 2000 Dodge truck driven by 26-year-old Joshua Ashford hit the teen from behind causing him to be ejected from his bicycle. Rube was pronounced dead at the scene and Ashford charged with negligent homicide for suspected speeding.

A Baton Rouge based pharmaceutical company has developed a new vaccine for prostate cancer. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Longtime Angola warden Burl Cain says he will step down at the end of the year. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

St. Gabriel Police say two employees of the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center were arrested after one was caught having sex with an inmate. They say 41-year-old Preshous Hartford was caught in a compromising position with a male inmate on December 2nd while 52-year-old Monique Jackson stood lookout. Hartford is charged with malfeasance in office with sexual acts. Jackson is booked with malfeasance in office. Both women are no longer employed at the facility.

The Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment deadline to purchase insurance coverage that begins January 1st is December 15th. Kevin Counihan, CEO of Health Insurance Marketplaces, says the fee for choosing to not have health insurance, when you can afford it, will increase next year…

cut 6 (06) “$695 or more”

Open enrollment ends on January 31st.

A pharmaceutical company out of Baton Rouge has created a therapeutic vaccine for prostate cancer called ProsaVax. OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals CEO Jonathan Head hopes the trial period will show that ProsaVax can allow prostate cancer patients to live a normal life while undergoing treatment…

cut 12 (09) “great success”

Head says they hope the vaccine will be widely available in three years.

The first published poll on next year’s US Senate race shows Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell and Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy leading the field in a hypothetical matchup…

cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

It’s reported that Angola Warden Burl Cain has decided to give up his post at the end of the year after nearly 21 years on the job. Cain’s resignation comes weeks after published articles questioned whether his real estate deals with relatives and friends of inmates violated Department of Corrections rules. Cain is 73 and is the longest serving warden in Angola history.

A Baton Rouge pharmaceutical company has created a therapeutic vaccine for prostate cancer. OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals CEO Jonathan Head says ProsaVax is a therapeutic vaccine that’s injected into the body after someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer. He says the goal is for this to be an alternative to radiation or surgery…

cut 11 (05) “and toxicity”

Phase one of the therapy vaccine has been approved by the FDA.

A state legislature task force has begun work on developing legislation dealing with the use of police body cameras. 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. Louisiana NAACP attorney Alfreda Bester says the goal is to have something that could be submitted for the 2016 legislative session…

cut 9 (10) “criminal justice system”

Democratic Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell and Republican State Treasurer John Kennedy lead the field in a hypothetical matchup in the first published poll on next year’s US Senate race. There are four other possible GOP candidates in the poll and UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says if all 5 Republicans run, things will get interesting…

cut 14 (11) “the runoff”

The seat is being vacated by Republican David Vitter.

The state legislature has formed a task force to begin work on developing legislation regarding the use of police body cameras. Lt. Colonel David Stanton, with State Police, says body camera technology is developing and that needs to be considered as they discuss rules for funding and training agencies…

cut 8 (06) “next year”

A bill was proposed earlier this year requiring all law enforcement officers in the state to have body cameras within the next two years.

December 15th is the deadline for Louisiana residents to purchase health insurance coverage that begins January 1st through the Affordable Care Act. Andy Slavitt, Acting Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, urges consumers to not wait until the last minute and give yourself time to shop around for insurance coverage on healthcare-dot-gov…

cut 5 (06) “save some money”

Open enrollment ends on January 31st.

A pharmaceutical company out of Baton Rouge has created a therapeutic vaccine for prostate cancer. Phase one of the therapy vaccine, ProscaVax, developed by OncBioMune Pharmaceuticals Inc, has been approved by the FDA. CEO Jonathan Head says there is a huge need for this product and so far in trials it’s been a success with very little side effects…

cut 10 (06) “no toxicity”

Head says ProsaVax is a therapeutic vaccine that’s injected into the body after someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer.

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.