Changes are being made to Louisiana’s food stamp program. The Department of Children and Family Services says, now, able-bodied adults without dependents must work at least 20 hours a week or be enrolled in a federally-approved job training program to qualify for SNAP benefits. Secretary Suzy Sonnier says there are opportunities across the state for recipients to engage in some form of work activity…

cut 16 (08) “working with”

Recipients who do not comply with the requirement changes will only receive benefits for three months over a three year period.

A well known Louisiana tradition kicks off this weekend with the start of the 2015 Angola Prison Rodeo. The annual event runs every Sunday in October at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Warden Burl Cain says this is the only prison rodeo in the United States and if you plan to attend, you should get your tickets in advance…

cut 6 (05) “it’s amazing”

Tickets can be purchased online at angolarodeo-dot-com.

Authorities say the convicted killer who was let go from prison in East Feliciana Parish by mistake on September 23rd, was apprehended by US Marshals in Georgia early this morning. 32-year-old Benjuiel Johnson was taken into custody at an Atlanta area hotel. Johnson was serving a 40-year sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter in a 2010 fatal shooting in Iberville Parish when he was mistakenly released. He is currently awaiting extradition back to Louisiana.

The statewide average price for gasoline in Louisiana has seen a slight rise over the week. Could this mean the end to falling prices? Emelie Gunn has more….

cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Department of Children and Family Services announces changes to the food assistance program to encourage able-bodied recipients without children to move into the workforce. Jeff Palermo reports…

cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

State Police say a two vehicle crash in Concordia Parish has killed three Vidalia residents. They 49-year-old Richard Stewart lost control of his truck and and crossed the centerline of the roadway into the path of an 18-wheeler. Despite evasive actions, the vehicles collided. Stewart and two passengers, 17-year-old Vera Stewart and 15-year-old George Stewart, were pronounced dead at the scene. The crash investigation is ongoing.

Although we’ve been told gas prices would drop during the fall, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has gone up a few pennies over the week to $2.03 according to the American Automobile Association. Triple-A Fuel Analyst Don Redman says this slight uptick in the price per gallon is typical during this time of year.

cut 8 (07) “by November”

Redman says refineries shutting down for maintenance is putting a little dent in the supply of gasoline.

The 2015 Angola Prison Rodeo gets underway Sunday at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Tickets are just $15 each and can be purchased online at angolarodeo-dot-com or by calling (225) 655-2030. Cain says proceeds from the event are put to good use…

cut 5 (06) “the inmates”

The event, which includes arts and crafts, food, and more, draws more than 70,000 spectators to the prison annually.

Changes are being made to Louisiana’s food stamp program. The Department of Children and Family Services says, now, able-bodied adults without dependents must work at least 20 hours a week or be enrolled in a federally-approved job training program to qualify for SNAP benefits. Secretary Suzy Sonnier says there is a specifically goal with this change:
CUT 15 (07) “workforce”
She says there are approximately 62,000 able-bodied SNAP recipients in the state with no dependents.

The Slidell Police Department says they’ve arrested a 14-year-old student from Northshore High School for allegedly bringing an “airsoft” pistol, essentially a BB gun, and knife to school. They say the freshman maintained he was going to get back at other students who rolled his home Wednesday night. The juvenile, who is not being identified, was booked with bringing a dangerous weapon to school and interfering with the educational process.

The man who was serving time on a manslaughter charge but was released by mistake in East Feiliciana Parish last week has been located. Authorities say 32-year-old Benjuiel Johnson was discovered in an Atlanta hotel room last night where he was arrested by US Marshals.

A well known Louisiana tradition kicks off this weekend as the 2015 Angola Prison Rodeo gets underway. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

And it’s going to be gorgeous for this weekend’s rodeo. Forecasters say sunny skies and pleasant temperatures will continue into next week. They say there’s an upper low over the southeastern portion the US which could also usher Hurricane Joaquine more out to sea and away from the east coast.

It was a war of words last night at the WDSU-TV gubernatorial debate. Both of GOP candidate David Vitter’s Republican challengers said the US Senator is lying about their records. Vitter claims Jay Dardenne has voted in favor of abortion six times which the Lt. Governor says is simply not true…:
CUT 12 (07) “this campaign”
On the topic of Common Core, Vitter had originally supported the standards but said he later switched his stance after hearing from parents and teachers throughout the state. Republican Scott Angelle slammed Vitter’s Common Core positions..:
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The primary is October 24th.

US Marshals arrested 32-year-old Benjuiel Johnson at an Atlanta hotel. Johnson was released from prison by mistake last week in East Feliciana Parish.

The price at the pump has gone up a few pennies over the last week, but experts say we’re not in a for a long stretch of increases. The American Automobile Association says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $2.03, up three cents from last week. AAA Fuel analyst Don Redman says refineries are transitioning to winter blend gasoline which is slightly putting a dent in supply…:
CUT 7 (11) “come down”
He says we could see prices go as low as $1.80 by the Holidays.

The popular annual Angola Prison Rodeo event kicks off Sunday. Warden Burl Cain says in addition to the rodeo, the whole family can enjoy arts and crafts, foot and fun stuff for the kids…:
CUT 4 (06) “our carousel”
Tickets are available online at angolarodeo.com but they sell out quick. It runs every Sunday in October at the Louisiana State Penitentiary.

Authorities say the murderer who was let go from prison in East Feliciana Parish by mistake on September 22nd, was apprehended in Georgia early this morning. US Marshals arrested 32-year-old Benjuiel Johnson at an Atlanta hotel.

The four major candidates for Governor all took shots at each other in last night’s gubernatorial debate hosted by WDSU-TV in New Orleans. Democrat John Bel Edwards, who is anti-abortion, said more investigating is needed into alleged inappropriate actions by Planned Parenthood before they are defunded. Republican David Vitter, who brought up his endorsements from several pro-life groups, said Edwards position on Planned Parenthood is the same as his support for President Obama…:
CUT 10 (07) “means anything”
Edwards fired back by saying while he supports the president, there are many positions he doesn’t agree with…:
CUT 11 (07) “David Vitter”
Republicans Jay Dardenne and Scott Angelle both said Vitter is lying about their records.

The Department of Children and Family Services announces changes to the food assistance program to encourage able-bodied recipients without children to move into the workforce. Secretary Suzy Sonnier says a federal waiver was allowed to expire that creates changes in an able-bodied person’s SNAP eligibility…
Cut 14 (10) “SNAP benefits”
Recipients who do not comply with the requirement changes will only receive benefits for three months over a three year period.

GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson will be in New Orleans for a fundraiser tomorrow. A recent poll showed the retired neurosurgeon leads the field of other Republican nominees among Louisiana voters.

A recent poll of Louisiana voters on the presidential race shows Governor Bobby Jindal receiving only three-percent support from state Republicans. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says this has to be disheartening to Jindal…

cut 6 (08) “top spot”

The poll, conducted by Clarus Research Group and paid for by The Advocate and WWL-TV, shows Ben Carson leading the Republican field with 23-percent.

State Treasurer John Kennedy announces that audits of life insurance company policies have found $35 million that should have been paid to Louisiana residents. Kennedy says when a life insurance company learns of a policy holders death, they should actively seek out the beneficiaries and heirs of that person…

cut 14 (05) “doing that”

Kennedy says, so far this year, claimants have received $2.6 million from these life insurance policy audits.

Investigators have discovered that the Eunice mother who shot her two children then took her own life, while also setting her home on fire, purchased a hand gun nine days before the double murder suicide. Deputy Chief with the state Fire Marshal’s Office Brant Thompson says the autopsy results came back and confirmed their suspicions.

cut 3 (10) “the head”

Thompson says the mother, 39-year-old Carla Watford, carefully planned out this murder.

This September will go down as one of the driest for north Louisiana, according to records from the National Weather Service. Senior Meteorologist Jason Hansford says Shreveport Regional Airport recorded only 0.07 inches of rain during the entire month, which just surpassed the previous record set in 1994…

cut 9 (10) “on record”

Hansford says the drought has caused burn bans to be put in place for almost every parish in north Louisiana.

Authorities have new information about the woman from Eunice who killed her two daughters before setting the house on fire and turning the gun on herself. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesman Brant Thompson says 39-year-old Carla Watford carefully planned out the murder suicide and left a note trying to explain…:
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The daughters were 9 and 16.

Most of north Louisiana is under a burn ban as forecasters say the area will go on record for one of the driest September’s in history. National Weather Service Meteorologist Jason Hansford says they got less than an inch of rain the entire month and dry air is expected to stay in place for a while…:
CUT 11 (07) “the state”

State Treasurer John Kennedy says audits of life insurance policies in Louisiana found $35 million dollars in money that was never paid. He says they found about 600 instances in which the beneficiary was not given their money so they are making life insurance companies give that money to the state…:
CUT 13 (10) “to her”
He says his office tries to locate these beneficiaries when they discover an unpaid policy, but you can search online at LATreasury-dot-com to see if you are owed any money.

LSU Coach Les Miles said he could not possibly imagine star sophomore star running back Leonard Fournette sitting out next season so he doesn’t risk getting injured before he’s eligible to be drafted in 2017. The Mad Hatter said on his radio show that this talk is just stirring the pot controversy and he can’t fathom Fournette sitting anywhere inactive for a fall.

Authorities say the mother from Eunice who shot her two daughters, set their house on fire then killed herself had purchased the gun 9 days prior. Brant Thompson with the State Fire Marshal’s Office says 39-year-old Carla Watford, carefully planned out this murder and they don’t believe anyone was aware she had legally purchased the weapon.
CUT 4 (06) “that purchase”
He says the daughters, age 16 and 9, both died from gunshot wounds to the head.

A recent poll conducted on behalf of news organizations of state voters shows that Governor Bobby Jindal would lose in a hypothetical presidential matchup to Democrat Hillary Clinton in Louisiana. But UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross feels if the election was actually between Jindal and Clinton, the Governor would come out on top in Louisiana…:
CUT 8 (07) “back for Jindal”
The poll, conducted by Clarus Research Group, shows Ben Carson leading the Republican field with 23-percent.

The National Weather Service says September will go down as one of the driest months for north Louisiana. Senior Meteorologist Jason Hansford says Shreveport recorded just .07 inches of rain and burn bans are in place for almost all parishes along the I-20 corridor…:
CUT 10 (11) “ground now”
He says unfortunately relief from the dry air isn’t expected any time soon.

The National Hurricane Center says Joaquin has strengthened into an “extremely dangerous” Category 4 storm and could gain steam before heading on a path nearing the US East Coast. They say hurricane warnings are in place for much of the Bahamas. The long term forecast shows that Joaquin could get close to North Carolina and Virginia on Sunday or Monday.

LSU running back Leonard Fournette told the public how feels about the suggestion he should not play next season, so that he’s healthy for the NFL draft in 2017. In a tweet, Fournette said he’ll never jump ship.

A recent Clarus Research Group survey of Louisiana voters on the presidential race shows Ben Carson leading the Republican field with 23 percent followed by Donald Trump with 19 percent. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross feels Carson’s message hits home with voters since Louisiana is a particularly religious state…:
CUT 7 (09) “brash industrialism”
The poll, paid for by The Advocate and WWL-TV, also shows Governor Bobby Jindal receiving three percent support from state Republicans.

State Treasurer John Kennedy announces that audits of life insurance company policies found $35 million that should have been paid to Louisiana residents. He says insurance companies often don’t make concerted efforts to locate beneficiaries or heirs after a policy holder dies. The audits began in 2009..:
cut 12 (09) “over to us”

LSU Coach Les Miles said on his radio show that he can’t imagine running back Leonard Fournette sitting out next season so he doesn’t risk getting injured before he’s eligible for the draft. Jeff Palermo has that…:
CUT 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

On another sports note, Saints fans are not happy about a tweet sent out by former New Orleans tight end Jimmy Graham. The team traded defensive lineman Akiem Hicks to The Patriots and Graham posted that Hicks should feel blessed for getting out of New Orleans. The tweet was quickly deleted but screen shots are circling social media.

Investigators have discovered that the Eunice mother who shot her two daughters then herself purchased the gun nine days in advance. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A man who owns a movie making business in Mandeville is sentenced to six months in jail for cheating the state’s film tax credit program. 38-year-old Daniel Garcia pleaded guilty in 2013 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Authorities caught Garcia writing $3 million dollars in canceled checks to create fraudulent documents indicating the money was for a movie, so that he could collect $900,000 in film tax credits.

According to records from the National Weather Service, this September will go down as one of the driest for north Louisiana. Senior Meteorologist Jason Hansford says Shreveport Regional Airport recorded only 0.07 inches of rain during the entire month, which just surpassed the previous record set in 1994…:
CUT 9 (10) “on record”
Hansford says the drought is having a big impact on agriculture and creating fire issues.

The first televised Louisiana gubernatorial debate featuring all four candidates airs tonight on W-D-S-U-in New Orleans and NBC TV affiliated stations. It will also air online beginning at 6pm.