11:30 Newscast, August 24th, 2015

The state is mourning the death of a Louisiana State Trooper who was shot in the head by a suspected impaired driver near Lake Charles. Forty-three-year-old Steven Vincent died Monday morning by a gunman who has been identified as 54-year-old Kevin Daigle of Lake Charles. State Police Colonel Mike Edmonson says Vincent leaves behind a wife and 9-year-old son…:
CUT 6 (09) “wake up”
Edmonson says Vincent was assisting Daigle who had driven off the road and that’s when Daigle fired at the trooper with a sawed-off shotgun. Daigle will be charged with first-degree murder of a police officer.

The National Hurricane Center says it has issued its final advisory regarding Danny. They say the system has now become a trough of low pressure about 45 miles west-southwest of Guadeloupe. Forecasters will watch to see if the system moves into a more favorable area for development, but most models do not anticipate any reformation.

Within minutes of opening this morning, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by more than 1,000 points, the largest single day point decline in the index’s history. Many believe the sell-off was triggered by China recently devaluing its currency. LSU Economist Jim Richardson says investors should not panic about this record plunge…:
CUT 3 (08) “slow things down”
The Dow has partially recovered from this morning’s historic drop.

More campaign signs are starting to pop up around the state, but for the most part with the Louisiana governor’s primary two months from today – voters haven’t seen much from the candidates. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the clock is ticking for the two candidates polling lowest — Republicans Jay Dardenne and Scott Angelle..:
CUT 9 (04) “very short”
Most see Republican David Vitter as the front runner in this race followed by Democrat John Bel Edwards.

10:30 Newscast, August 24th, 2015

State Police Col Mike Edmonson says Lake Charles Trooper Steven Vincent, who was shot in the line of duty Sunday afternoon, has died. They say the 43-year-old husband and father of a 9-year-old son was pronounced dead at 8am this morning. Edmonson says Vincent stopped a suspected drunk driver who pulled a shotgun out and shot the trooper in the head..:
CUT 30 (05) “saw it happen”
The entire incident was caught on video. Witnesses were able to detain the gunman, 54-year-old Kevin Daigle.

The National Hurricane Center says Danny, which became a Category 3 storm over the weekend, continues to weaken and is now a tropical depression. The Air Force hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that the maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 35 miles per hour with higher gusts. They say further weakening is forecast as the center of Danny moves across the southern Leeward islands before moving into the northeastern Caribbean Sea later today.

The Louisiana governor’s race is two months from today but so far we haven’t seen much action from the candidates on the campaign trail. Most see Republican David Vitter as the front runner in this race followed by Democrat John Bel Edwards. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the relative inactivity of the campaigns is an advantage for Vitter…
Cut 8 (10) “to need it”
He says once qualifying begins on September 8th, the race for governor should really heat up.

The new 12.6 million dollar culinary arts building at Nicholls State opens for the first time today. Senior Faculty and Spokesperson for the John Folse Culinary Institute Chef Randy Cheramie says they hope more students will be interested in becoming a future chef now that the larger facility is open…:
CUT 5 (09) “300 students”

 

09:30 Newscast August 24, 2015

A Lake Charles State Trooper has died after being shot in the line of duty Sunday afternoon by a suspected drunk driver. Authorites say Trooper Steven J. Vincent was responding to a call of a vehicle driving erratically when he was allegedly shot by 54-year-old Kevin Daigle. Vincent succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital this morning. He leaves behind a wife and a 9-year-old son. Daigle will be charged with first degree murder of a police officer.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate sits at 6.2 percent so we asked the four candidates running for governor how they would put people to work. Republican Scott Angelle says it’s time to ramp up work force development and tackle the serious issue of welfare reform…

cut 13 (11) “innovative ideas”

Complete candidate responses can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

Danny, which reached Category 3 hurricane status over the weekend, has now weakened to a tropical depression. The National Hurricane Center reports the storm’s winds have decreased to near 35 miles per hour and is not a threat to the Gulf of Mexico at this time. However, the Center is keeping an eye on two areas of disturbed weather off the African coast that could further develop.

Today, future chefs will begin using the new 12.6 million dollar Chef John Folse Culinary Institute building at Nicholls State. Emelie Gunn has more…

cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

08:30 Newscast August 24, 2015

A State Trooper is in critical condition after being shot by a suspected drunk driver in Calcasieu Parish. State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson says 54-year-old Kevin Daigle of Lake Charles shot Trooper Steven J. Vincent in the head with a sawed off shotgun. Edmonson says video showed Daigle shooting Vincent…

Cut 27 (13) “die soon”

Daigle faces an attempted first degree murder of a police officer charge.

The latest employment numbers show the state’s unemployment rate at 6.2 percent, so we asked the four gubernatorial candidates how they would put people to work. Republican David Vitter suggests accelerating the Jump Start program so high school students can begin job training to get valuable work force experience…

cut 12 (11) “good job”

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested two women accused of stealing a total of $400,000 from the bank account of a 96-year-old woman. They say the victim’s granddaughter, 39-year-old Jennifer Smith of Shreveport, and a personal sitter for the woman, 39-year-old Alice Haralson of Stonewall, each had power of attorney for the woman’s estate at separate times. Each allegedly took $200,000 from the victim. Smith and Haralson are each charged with exploitation of the infirmed.

Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary is two months from today and there hasn’t been much action on the campaign trail. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

07:30 Newscast August 24, 2015

A State Trooper was shot and critically wounded following a incident involving a suspected drunk driver in Calcasieu Parish. State Police Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson says 54-year-old Kevin Daigle of Lake Charles pulled a shotgun and shot Trooper Steven J. Vincent in the head. Edmonson says some passersby were able to detain the gunman…

Cut 26 (13) “to the guy”

Vincent is hospitalized in critical condition.

With the state’s unemployment rate at 6.2 percent, we asked the four gubernatorial candidates how they would put people to work. Democrat John Bel Edwards says unemployment hurts families and he intends to fix that by investing in higher education like never before.

cut 11 (11) “growing industries”

Candidate responses can be found at louisianaradionetwork-dot-com.

Louisiana’s gubernatorial primary is two months from today and not much is happening on the campaign trail. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the one word he would use to describe the race up to now is lethargic. He says no one seems to be making an all out push to grab the governor’s chair…

cut 7 (09) “two months out”

Cross says once qualifying begins on September 8th, the race for governor should really heat up.

Crude oil is trading at a level that hasn’t been seen since 2009 as it’s hovering around 40-dollars a barrel. Executive director of the LSU Center for Energy Studies, David Dismukes, says concerns over China’s troubled economy and an overall global slowdown are pushing oil prices lower…

cut 14 (08) ” very, very week”

The low oil prices are making it tough on the state’s oil and gas industry.

06:30 Newscast August 24, 2015

State Police say a Lake Charles trooper was shot and critically wounded following a shooting incident involving a suspected drunk driver in Calcasieu Parish. Superintendent Colonel Mike Edmonson says during a traffic stop, 54-year-old Kevin Daigle of Lake Charles pulled a shotgun and shot Trooper Steven J. Vincent in the head. Edmonson says Vincent is hospitalized in critical condition…

Cut 24 (09) “to do”

Daigle will be charged with attempted first degree murder of a police officer.

The latest employment numbers show the state’s unemployment rate is at 6.2 percent. We asked the four candidates running for governor how they would put people to work. Republican Jay Dardenne says he expects to see the economy grow over the next decades only if we have an educated workforce…

Cut 10 (11) “higher education”

The gubernatorial primary is two months from today.

Future cooks will begin using a new 12.6 million dollar culinary arts building for the first time today on the campus of Nicholls State University. Senior Faculty and Spokesperson for the John Folse Culinary Institute Chef Randy Cheramie says it’s going to be a great place to teach students the culture and tradition of south Louisiana cooking.

cut 4 (09) “come true”

Cheramie says the old facility was only 9,000 square feet and now the Lanny D. Ledet Culinary Arts Building is 33-thousand square feet equipped with six kitchens, three classrooms and a study area.

**Update: Please Note that Danny is now Category 1 Storm** 10:30 Newscast

Hurricane Danny is back once again to a Category 1 storm. The first hurricane of 2015 in the Atlantic dropped two levels over the past 24 hours and forecasters expect it will weaken even further in the days to come. The storm continues to slowly move west-northwest and the National Hurricane Center believes it will speed up today and take a turn more to the west. On that path Danny will pass through the Lesser Antilles on Monday and close to Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

The Driver Sober or Get Pulled over campaign is underway. State Police Sgt Nick Manale says law enforcement throughout Louisiana is getting grants to pay overtime for more patrols and DUI checkpoints…:
CUT 11 (10) “the roadways”

Former US Representative Vance McAllister wants to get back into politics. The “so called” Kissing Congressman says he plans to run against West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth saying that District 33 “needs somebody who hasn’t been in the pocket of Governor Bobby Jindal.” District 33 includes parts of Claiborne, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Union and West Carroll parishes.

The fall shrimp season opened this week, and local shrimpers are having big financial struggles. Louisiana Shrimp Association President Clint Guidry says shrimpers are getting up to 65-percent less for their catches this year compared to last year, because of a large influx of imported shrimp…
CUT 8 (09) Q: “back us up”

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis’ lawsuit against his former employer has been tossed out. That means the legal battle will now be decided in Louisiana as the courts will consider LSU’s lawsuit against Chavis. LSU claims that Chavis must pay a 400-thousand dollar buyout for getting out of his contract early.

 

10:30 Newscast, August 22nd, 2015

Hurricane Danny is back once again to a Category 2 storm. The first hurricane of 2015 in the Atlantic dropped a level last night and forecasters expect it will weaken even further in the days to come. The storm continues to slowly move west-northwest and the National Hurricane Center believes it will speed up today and take a turn more to the west. On that path Danny will pass through the Lesser Antilles on Monday and close to Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

The Driver Sober or Get Pulled over campaign is underway. State Police Sgt Nick Manale says law enforcement throughout Louisiana is getting grants to pay overtime for more patrols and DUI checkpoints…:
CUT 11 (10) “the roadways”

Former US Representative Vance McAllister wants to get back into politics. The “so called” Kissing Congressman says he plans to run against West Monroe Senator Mike Walsworth saying that District 33 “needs somebody who hasn’t been in the pocket of Governor Bobby Jindal.” District 33 includes parts of Claiborne, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Union and West Carroll parishes.

The fall shrimp season opened this week, and local shrimpers are having big financial struggles. Louisiana Shrimp Association President Clint Guidry says shrimpers are getting up to 65-percent less for their catches this year compared to last year, because of a large influx of imported shrimp…
CUT 8 (09) Q: “back us up”

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that former LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis’ lawsuit against his former employer has been tossed out. That means the legal battle will now be decided in Louisiana as the courts will consider LSU’s lawsuit against Chavis. LSU claims that Chavis must pay a 400-thousand dollar buyout for getting out of his contract early.

 

09:30 Newscast, August 22nd, 2015

As predicted, Hurricane Danny lost strength last night and has downgraded from a Category 3 to a Category 2. Additional weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours, and Danny is expected to become a tropical storm on Sunday as it approaches the Leeward Islands. National Hurricane Center forecaster Jack Beven says it could even dissipate after five or six days because it’s relatively small storm…:
CUT 5 (06) “its weakening”
The official forecast calls for Danny to weaken to a depression Wednesday after passing near or over Haiti.

The Kissing Congressman Vance McAllister tells a Monroe newspaper that he plans to run against State Senator Mike Walsworth for the Senate District 33 seat. The former US Representative says his wife has forgiven him over the scandal in which he was caught on video kissing a woman who worked for him — and it’s behind him. McAllister says District 33 needs better than Walsworth who he calls a “Jindal Puppet.”

Authorities in St. Tammany Parish have arrested an 18-year-old in connection with three overdoses that happened at Covington High School. Thursday afternoon, three students were taken to an emergency room after smoking “mojo,” a synthetic cannabinoid that mimics the effects of marijuana according to deputies. 18-year-old Caleb Badeaux of Folsom is charged accused of supplying the synthetic marijuana to the teens. The students have been released from the hospital.

Law enforcement around Louisiana are participating in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

 

08:30 Weekend Newscast, August 22, 2015

Hurricane Danny weakened from a Category 3 to a Category 2 storm late Friday night, as it moves across the Atlantic far from land. National Hurricane Center forecaster Jack Beven says it doesn’t surprise him that the storm has lost strength. He says it will most likely downgrade back into a tropical storm this weekend…:
CUT 4 (09) “the moment”
Beven says it’s too early to tell what Hurricane Danny’s next move is and if it will make its path through the Gulf of Mexico after passing through the Caribbean.

Law enforcement around the state begin participating today in a national campaign called Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. It will last through the Labor Day weekend. State Police Sgt. Nick Manale says the goal is to catch those who are driving drunk.
CUT 9 (07) “our roadways”

Former US Representative Vance McAllister reportedly wants to get back into politics. The so called Kissing Congressman told the News Star that he plans to run for the state Senate seat representing northeast Louisiana and unseat two-term incumbent Mike Walsworth of West Monroe. McAllister asserts that the scandal, in which he was caught on camera making out with a staffer, is behind him and that his wife supports his bid for the District 33 seat serving parts of Claiborne, Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Union and West Carroll parishes.

It’s the first week of the fall shrimp season and Louisiana Shrimp Association President Clint Guidry says the they look a lot better than the prices at the dock. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (28) “I’m Eric Gill”