Early voting is underway as of today and people started lining up at the 8:30am opening to cast their ballot for the November 4th election. The Secretary of State’s Office is calling this the biggest election Louisiana has had in decades and these voters we spoke with today told us why they prefer to early vote…:
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To find out where you can early vote download the Geaux Vote app.

ULM Athletic Director Brian Wickstrom says the freshman basketball player who is charged with the forcible rape of a female student is suspended indefinitely from the team. Officials with the university say 18-year-old Roderick Taylor allegedly arranged on social media to meet the victim in a parking lot on campus where she reported the incident took place. Taylor is booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center.

Officials say a third man involved in the 2010 murder of Rayville Police Sergeant Thomas Alexander has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the case. Alexander was killed while responding to a burglary at a home in Richland Parish. District Attorney Mack Lancaster says they are glad to have a third plea in this case…:
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Previously, Richard Long pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and Robert Walker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Both are serving life sentences.

State Education Officials have released the performance grades for Louisiana public schools and while there are no longer anymore F districts according to the report, there are 104 F schools. The DOE says the good news is that schools earning an A or B has gone up from 575 a year ago to 607 this year.

You can cast your ballots early for the November 4th election now and through October 28th. The hours are 8:30am to 6pm, excluding Sunday. The Secretary of State’s office says this is the biggest election Louisiana has had in decades and you can bring a set sample ballot with you to the polls with the app GeauxVote (geaux spelled the cajun way.)

There was a big rally for US Senator Mary Landrieu Monday staring former President Bill Clinton…:
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The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s office says a 20-year-old sprinter on LSU’s track team was arrested for allegedly raping a woman at an off-campus party over the weekend. They say Nathaneel Joseph Mitchell-Black was booked into prison and remained in jail Monday afternoon on a $100,000 bail after a woman reported the alleged incident to cops. The suspect denies the allegation.

The Louisiana Heroin Summit hosted by State Police is underway today with the purpose of addressing the recent rise in heroin use and overdose deaths from the drug here. Trooper Jared Sandifer says they encourage the public to attend the all day event at BREC Independence Park in Baton Rouge as heroin is a huge problem and it’s important to sit down and address it…:
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He says in Louisiana last year there were at least 310 heroin-related arrests which is significantly higher than the year prior.

The early voting period for the November 4th election kicks off today and runs through October 28th. Michelle Southern reports…

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A University of Louisiana at Monroe freshman basketball player has been arrested on a charge of forcible rape. Authorities say 18-year-old Roderick Taylor, Jr. was taken into custody after allegedly raping a victim on campus who he arranged to meet with online. Taylor has been suspended indefinitely from the basketball team.

Louisiana State Police and several other agencies will host a “Heroin Summit” today to educate the public about the increase of heroin use in Louisiana. Trooper Jared Sandifer says last year there were at least 310 heroin-related arrests made by LSP and law enforcement agencies across the state…

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The event is being held at the BREC Independence Park Theatre and the public is urged to participate.

Two St. John the Baptist Parish utilities workers have been indicted for falsifying records that lead to the discovery of a deadly amoeba in the parish’s drinking water supply in August. Kurt Wall with the state Attorney General’s office says the parish government is fully cooperating and taking corrective steps to ensure that this doesn’t happen again…

cut 12 (10) “from here forward”

Kevin Branch of LaPlace and Danielle Roussel of Pauline were each charged with one count of malfeasance in office and one count of filing and/or maintaining false public records.

Former President Bill Clinton spoke at a campaign rally for Senator Mary Landrieu in Baton Rouge Monday. During a nearly 30-minute speech, Clinton spoke about Landrieu’s efforts to help college students afford their education, her support for a higher minimum wage and chairmanship of the Senate Energy Committee…

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Election day is November fourth, but early voting begins today. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says for sample ballots and early voting locations, you can go online to geauxvote-dot-com. Schedler says he expects a voter turnout between 45 and 50-percent for this US Senate election…

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Early voting will take place through October 28th from 8:30AM to 6PM, excluding Sunday.

Louisiana State Police and several other agencies will host a “Heroin Summit” today to educate the public about heroin use and address the recent rise in heroin deaths. Michelle Southern reports…

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The woman killed in the French Quarter Sunday morning after a drunk driver crashed into a pole that fell on her, has been identified. The victim has been identified as 21-year-old Taylor McGonigle of Baker. The driver, 37-year-old Tevest Vance has been charged with vehicular homicide. McGonigle would have turned 22 on Monday.

Former President Bill Clinton was in Baton Rouge Monday and spoke at a Senator Mary Landrieu campaign rally. Landrieu’s main opponent, Bill Cassidy, constantly ties Landrieu and her voting record to policies supported by President Obama. But Clinton says Louisiana voters should not look at the Senate race as a chance to vote against Obama…

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Clinton says Landrieu has a history of getting things done in the Senate.

Louisiana State Police and several other agencies will host a “Heroin Summit” today to educate the public about heroin use and address the recent rise in heroin deaths. Trooper Jared Sandifer says Col Mike Edmonson is going to be the keynote speaker and joined by several other people from around the state who know a lot about heroin…

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Sandifer says last year there were at least 310 heroin-related arrests made by LSP and law enforcement agencies across the state.

Early voting for the November 4th election kicks off today. This year’s election is highlighted by a hotly contested US Senate race. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voters should expect a lengthy ballot…

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Early voting will take place through October 28th, excluding Sunday.

Two St. John the Baptist Parish utilities workers have been indicted in connection with an investigation into a deadly amoeba which was found in the parish’s drinking water in August. Kurt Wall with the state Attorney General’s office says the workers were reporting satisfactory chlorine levels, but DHH did random testing and discovered, instead, the amoeba. He says that’s when State Police stepped in and decided to check GPS coordinates on the employees’ vehicles…

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Kevin Branch of LaPlace and Danielle Roussel of Pauline were each charged with one count of malfeasance in office and one count of filing and/or maintaining false public records.

Former President Bill Clinton tells a crowd of Mary Landrieu supporters he doesn’t see how the senior senator is not a clear favorite in Louisiana’s US Senate race over her republican challengers. Clinton says Landrieu has a history of getting things done…

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Clinton spoke at a Landrieu rally in Baton Rouge Monday.

The early voting period for the November 4th election kicks off today. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says early voting will take place through October 28th from 8:30AM to 6PM, excluding Sunday. Schedler says early voter participation is on the rise…

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Schedler says, statewide, this is the biggest election in the state in decades.

A grand jury indicted two St. John the Baptist Parish utilities workers in connection with an investigation into a deadly amoeba which was found in the parish’s drinking water in August. Kurt Wall with the state Attorney General’s office says there was a question about whether or not samples being collected were accurate…:

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Kevin Branch of LaPlace and Danielle Roussel of Pauline were each charged with one count of malfeasance in office and one count of filing and/or maintaining false public records.

Former President Bill Clinton tells a crowd of Mary Landrieu supporters he doesn’t see how the senior Senator is not a clear favorite in Louisiana’s US Senate Race over Republican Challengers Bill Cassidy and Rob Maness. Clinton says Landrieu has a history of getting things done…:
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Clinton spoke at a rally in Baton Rouge today.

The Department of Health and Hospitals says they plan to stop billing rape victims for exams and tests. Advocacy groups and lawmakers were critical of the fact that women who had been raped were getting big hospital bills after checking in to be treated for the assault. DHH says they now plan to seek reimbursement for such visits from the Crime Victim’s Reparation Board.

Cleanup crews are continuing to work a major crude oil spill in Caddo Parish that has killed dozens of fish and some reptiles. The oil leaked into Tete Bayou due to the rupture of a Mid-Valley pipeline. Workers were able to stop the spill from reaching into Caddo Lake. It’s estimated that approximately 4,000 barrels of crude oil flowed into the Bayou.

The Gonzales Police Department has released new information about the man who was found dead in his car in the Wal-Mart parking lot over the weekend. They say 26-year-old Lucas Sanchez of Pascagoula, Mississippi was seen on video purchasing computer keyboard cleaner at the store then returning to his car. Sgt. Stephen Nethken says foul play is not suspected in this case and they believe Sanchez died of a drug overdose…:
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He says they are waiting on the coroner to determine official cause of death.

The Department of Health and Hospitals says they plan to stop billing sexual assault victims for exams and tests. DHH spokeswoman Olivia Watkins says they intend to work with the legislature to prohibit the cost of hospital visits by rape survivors to be charged to the victims for the care they receive:
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She says, under the plan, hospitals would be able to seek reimbursement for such expenses from a fund that gets money from fines paid by violent criminals.

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is urging parents to set rules for their kids before they get the keys. Lt. Col John LeBlanc says parents should tell there teens the “5 to drive Rules” – No cell phones, no extra passengers, no speeding, not alcohol and EVERYONE must be buckled up. He says nobody has more of an impact on our children than their parents…:
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LeBlanc says according to a recent survey, only one in four parents had talked seriously with their teens about what it means to be a safe driver.

According to location marketing firm Development Counselors International, the business climate in Louisiana is the 10th best in the nation. Additionally DCI said the Louisiana Economic Development agency is the nation’s second best.

An investment group has agreed to buy Pineville based Cleco for a reported $3.4 billion. Eric Gill has more…:
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The Department of Health and Hospitals says they plan to stop billing sexual assault victims for exams and tests. DHH spokeswoman Olivia Watkins says they intend to work with the legislature to prohibit the cost of hospital visits by rape survivors to be charged to the victims for the care they receive:
CUT 12 (06) “of that nature”
She says, under the plan, hospitals would be able to seek reimbursement for such expenses from a fund that gets money from fines paid by violent criminals.

This week is National Teen Driver Safety Week and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is urging parents to set rules for their kids before they get the keys. Lt. Col John LeBlanc says parents should tell there teens the “5 to drive Rules” – No cell phones, no extra passengers, no speeding, not alcohol and EVERYONE must be buckled up. He says nobody has more of an impact on our children than their parents…:
CUT 8 (04) “some lives”
LeBlanc says according to a recent survey, only one in four parents had talked seriously with their teens about what it means to be a safe driver.

According to location marketing firm Development Counselors International, the business climate in Louisiana is the 10th best in the nation. Additionally DCI said the Louisiana Economic Development agency is the nation’s second best.

An investment group has agreed to buy Pineville based Cleco for a reported $3.4 billion. Eric Gill has more…:
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The Department of Health and Hospitals says they plan to stop charging rape victims for care they receive at hospitals after an assault. DDH spokeswoman Olivia Watkins says they intend to work with the legislature to also do away with the provision that victims be sober in order to get money from the fund for hospital bills…:
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The announcement comes after certain lawmakers were critical of the fact that women who had been raped were getting big hospital bills after checking in for tests and exams.

Two St. John Parish employees have been incited on two counts each of malfeasance in office and filing or maintaining false public records after a state police amoeba investigation & low chlorine levels. The accused are Kevin Branch and Danielle Roussel. DHH asked LSP to investigate after the state found no mandated chlorine residuals in the water system on August 12th but did find indications of the deadly amoeba. More on this as it develops.

An investment group has agreed to buy Pineville based Cleco for a reported $3.4 billion. Cleco Power has approximately 284,000 customers in Louisiana. President Darren O’Lages (O-lay-jes) says other than no longer being a publicly traded company, it will be business as usual under the new ownership…:
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He says customers should not expect any change in utility rates or service as part of the sale.

Governor Bobby Jindal issued an executive order stating that state agencies and departments develop new policies and reporting mechanisms for certain individuals who travel to Ebola stricken countries as a result of educational or work related missions. Included in the order are public employees, students faculty and staff of higher education institutions who go to countries the CDC says have the threat of contracting the Ebola virus.