As part of Louisiana Radio Network’s continuing Q-and-A with the men running for governor, we asked the four candidates about how transparent their administration will be once they are in office. Democrat John Bel Edwards says he’s the only candidate that voted for a bill that will bring new transparency to the records in the governor’s office…

cut 13 (09) “light of day”

You can hear all candidate responses at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

According to BankRate.com, Louisiana is the worst state for drivers. The website’s research and statistics analyst Chris Kahn says they ranked all 50 states according to the amount of fatal crashes, car thefts, commute times, gas prices, and insurance premiums….

cut 7 (07) “in Louisiana”

Kahn says the one factor that is always dragging Louisiana down is the absurdly high insurance premiums.

A new Louisiana State Police cadet class starts their first full day of training today in Baton Rouge. Sgt. Nick Manale says over the next 16 weeks, they will cover everything from classroom instruction to hands on scenario based training. He says these individuals were carefully selected to ensure State Police has the right people.

cut 4 (10) “new academy”

Manale says 80 cadets will participate in the intense training in hopes of graduating in December and wearing the “Gold Boot” badge.

Ten years ago today, the most destructive storm in US history made landfall in southeast Louisiana. Within hours, much of New Orleans was under several feet of water as man made levees gave way. This morning, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and other elected officials and dignatiries laid wreaths at a Hurricane Katrina memorial site.

Our Michelle Southern spoke with former governor Kathleen Blanco about her memories of Katrina…
voicer 4 (33) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Erika has dissipated near Cuba. Its remants are expected to move into the southeastern Gulf of Mexico on Sunday and no more advisories will be issued unless it regenerates.

LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron says he’s been successfully treated for prostate cancer. Cameron says he had a procedure and received news a couple of weeks ago that he was cancer free. The 54-year-old says he’s ready to roll for the regular season….
cut 30 (16) “…by Monday”
LSU’s first game is a week from today against McNeese State.

The Saints will host the Houston Texans for preseason game number three tomorrow. The Texans feature one of the best players in the game, defensive end JJ Watt. Saints quarterback Drew Brees is not expected to play beyond the first half.

Ten years ago today Hurricane Katrina was causing devastation that led to the flooding of thousands of homes and businesses and killing over one-thousand people. But Kathleen Blanco, who was governor at the time, is proud of how the state has rebounded….
cut 27 (10) “…come alive again”
Many people in the New Orleans area are using the 10-year anniversary as a day of service, getting out doing something to improve their community.

It doesn’t look like we have to worry about Erika. The National Hurricane Center says its no longer a tropical storm as it has dissipated in the Caribbean. The remnant low-level circulation from Erika is expected to move towards the Florida Keys over the next day and a half.

Oil prices are showing signs of life. After a nine-percent increase on Wall Street on Thursday, the price of crude rose another six-percent to $45.22 a barrel.

Monroe-based Centurylink has plans to bring high-speed internet to 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana. Eric Gill has the story…
cut 2 (29) “…I’m Eric Gill”

LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron says he’s ready for the season after he was treated successfully for prostate cancer. Cameron says the worst is behind him….
cut 20 (09) “…clean bill of health’
The Tigers open the season next Saturday at McNeese State.

Most Louisianans are reflecting about what they were doing 10 years ago today as Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras at 6:10 in the morning and then again in St. Tammany Parish. Here’s how it sounded on the Louisiana Radio Network, former LRN anchor Don Grady…

cut 20 (18) “…St. Bernard”
By nine o’ clock in the morning on August 29th, 2005, there was six to eight feet of water in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward.

There is good news in the tropics today. The National Hurricane Center says Erika has dissipated as a tropical cyclone and all tropical storm watches and warnings in the Caribbean have been discontinued.

Visitation has resumed in Lake Charles for fallen state trooper Steven Vincent. A funeral mass will take place at noon at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Vincent, who was fatally shot by an impaired stranded motorist, will be laid to rest at Lacassine Cemetery in Lake Charles.

There’s a report of a shooting invovling a Calcaseiu Sheriff’s deputy. Sheriff Tony Mancuso tells KPLC-TV that one of his deputies shot a suspect in an altercation in Moss Bluff. The suspect, who was accussed of beating his girlfriend, was at last report undergoing surgery.

LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron says he’s received a clean bill of health after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. Cameron says he’ll be ready for next Saturday’s opener against McNeese State…
cut 25 (05) “…this process”
Cameron says he did not undergo radiation, but had a procedure to remove the cancer.

Former President George W Bush touted education successes in New Orleans as he visited the Crescent City for the ten year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Bush says because of the proliferation of charter schools, test scores and graduation rates are up in the Big Easy…
cut 4 (07) “…school reform”
Bush delivered the speech at Warren Easton High School. He also spoke there on the first anniversary of Katrina.

Monroe-based Centurylink announces plans to bring high-speed internet to more than 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana. Centurylink Senior vice-president John Jones says they have accepted money from the Federal Communications Commission to get this work done…
cut 12 (08) “exisiting markets”
He says construction on the project is set to begin early next year.

The latest forecast track of Erika shows the tropical storm could move into the western Gulf of Mexico early next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 10 (09) “…very,very carefully”
Erika is expected to move across Cuba on Saturday and weaken into a depression.

Funeral services are Saturday for Senior State Trooper Steven Vincent, who died from a gunshot wound. Governor Bobby Jindal is expected to be in attendance for the funeral Mass at a church in Lake Charles.

The man who is accussed of fatally shooting a police officer in Sunset this week was taken to the hospital today, but authorities believe Harrison Riley Junior was faking a medical condition. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says Riley was unresponsive inside his cell this morning, but was fine when checked by doctors at a local hospital.

For the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, former President George W. Bush visited New Orleans, giving a speech praising public education…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The man accused of killing a Sunset police officer, and stabbing four people, and killing one-was taken to the hospital after being found unresponsive in jail. Harrison Lee Riley Jr. appeared to be fine when examined, and St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz thinks he was just faking it.
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An anonymous tip has led authorities to the largest cocaine seizure in the history of Plaquemines Parish. Sheriff’s Office Commander Eric Becnel says they seized more than 200 pounds of pure cocaine, with an estimated street value of 18 million dollars. He says the discovery would have never happened without someone coming forward about some suspicious packages…
CUT 08 (05) Q: “wound up”

As Tropical Storm Erika makes its way through the Carribean, she is dropping heavy rains, and creating some forecast uncertainties. Erika is poorly organized, and State Climatologist Barry Keim says that adds to the unpredictability factor of this storm, and we need to watch her closely this weekend…
CUT 11 (09) Q: “the peninsula”
Erika’s landfall is expected on Monday.

Former President George W. Bush spoke at Warren Easton High School today to emphasize how far public education in New Orleans has come since Hurricane Katrina. In his speech, Bush said nine in 10 public school students in Crescent City now attend a charter school and praised hose efforts…
CUT 3 (11) “almost doubled”

Tropical Storm Erika continues to drop heavy rains as it travels through the Caribbean. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the current projected path of Erika has it making landfall in South Florida sometime Monday. First, the good news…
CUT 9 (06) “by that”
That bad news is the cone of uncertainty for the storm now includes the Gulf.
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They are reporting it to be the largest cocaine seizure in the history of Plaquemines Parish: 200 pounds with an estimated street value of 18 million dollars. Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office Commander Eric Becnel says -even though they have no arrests yet-this discovery will have a impact to reduce violent crimes…
CUT 7 (04) Q: “their habit”
He says he appreciates the bond they have with the public, as an anonymous tip led to the discovery.

With some financial help from the Federal Communications Commission, Monroe-based CenturyLink has announced plans to bring high-speed internet to more than 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana. The company says construction is expected to begin early next year….
cut 14 (09) “get too”
That’s Centurylink Senior Vice-President John Jones.

Former President George W. Bush spoke at Warren Easton High School today to emphasize how far public education in New Orleans has come since Hurricane Katrina. He spoke of the successes of the charter schools, and acknowledged the city’s strength and character…
CUT 5 (07) Q: “of this city”
He added the educational entrepreneurs came together to help reform the school system.

The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office seized nearly 200 pounds of cocaine–the largest in the parish’s history–after receiving an anonymous tip about several suspicious packages. Commander Eric Becnel says there is an ongoing investigation with the United States Homeland Security New Orleans office because the wrapping of the cocaine is consistent with drug trafficking…
CUT 6 (05) “in our parish”
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Some 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana are about to get high-speed internet, courtesy of Monroe-based Centurylink…
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Eric Gill”

The alleged Sunset cop-killer and the stabber of four others-where one woman died-was found unresponsive in his jail cell today, and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office report that Harrison Lee Riley was taken to the hospital. Authorities say Riley appeared to be ok when he was checked out by the medical staff. Sheriff Bobby Guidroz suspects Riley was just faking it, but they didn’t want to take any chances.

For the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, former President George W. Bush visited New Orleans and gave a speech praising the recovery of its public schools…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The St. Landry Sheriff’s Office says the suspect accused of killing Sunset Police officer Henry Nelson and stabbing a woman to death earlier this week was found unresponsive in his cell Friday morning. They say Harrison Riley, Jr. was found breathing but would not respond to verbal commands. Riley was checked out at a local hospital and is said to be fine. Authorities believe Riley was faking it.

Monroe-based Centurylink announces plans to bring high-speed internet to more than 24-thousand rural households and businesses in Louisiana. Centurylink Senior vice-president John Jones says they have accepted money from the Federal Communications Commission to get this work done…

cut 12 (08) “exisiting markets”

He says construction on the projecte is set to begin early next year.

Nearly 200 pounds of cocaine was seized by the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office seized after they received an anonymous tip about several suspicious packages. Commander Eric Becnel says they’re grateful that someone in the community felt comfortable enough to contact authorities…

cut 8 (05) “wound up”

This is the largest drug seizure in the history of Plaquemines Parish.

Former President George W. Bush spoke at Warren Easton High School today to emphasize how far public education in New Orleans has come since Hurricane Katrina. In his speech, Bush said nine in 10 public school students in New Orleans now attend a charter school and praised the good work done by these schools…

cut 3 (11) “almost doubled”

Bush said he and wife Laura visited New Orleans to salute the leaders of the city who have helped it and its schools progress since the tragic storm.

An anonymous tip led the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office to seize nearly 200 pounds of cocaine. The drugs were determined to be pure cocaine with an estimated street value of 18 million dollars. Commander Eric Becnel says the seizure has helped prevent the possibility of property and violent crimes that would have been fueled by the drugs…

cut 7 (04) “their habit”

No arrests have been made as of yet.

Heavy rains continue to impact the Caribbean as Tropical Storm Erika moves through. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is good and bad news associated with the storm. He says the good news is Erika is not expected to make hurricane strength. Keim says the bad news is that Erika’s cone of uncertainty now includes the Gulf of Mexico…

cut 10 (09) “very, very carefully”

He says the current projected path of Erika has it making landfall in South Florida sometime Monday.

The average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Louisiana is $2.17 a gallon. That’s down 25-cents from just a month ago.