There are still about three thousand seven hundred people in the dark in the Shreveport-Bossier City region after a bad storm Wednesday knocked out several trees and downed power lines. SWEPCO says the damage was so bad in some areas that the outages could go into the weekend but they’ve called in out of state crews to help.

LSU AgCenter researchers continue to look at ways to combat feral hog populations throughout the state. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 3 (35) “reporting”

White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, has rolled out the red carpet for the New Orleans Saints who begin training camp there today. The Black and Gold will spend the next three weeks getting ready for the upcoming season at the Greenbrier resort. Kara Dense, with the Greenbrier Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, says  this is a great chance for some out of town Saints fans to watch the team play…:
CUT 8 (11) “watch them practice”
She says the locals aren’t used to seeing big name stars like Quarterback Drew Brees aren’t town and everyone is eating it up.

The annual International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is underway and thousands of people are expected descend on coastal town to enjoy the festivities. The event, which runs through Saturday, is billed as “the oldest fishing tournament in the United States.” Town spokeswoman Bonnie Pizani (piz-annie) says businesses across the island look forward to the economic boost the thousands of people who attend the event bring every year…:
CUT 5 (08) “of the year”
In addition to the fishing, she says the event will also feature family events, craft vendors, crab races, live music, and more.

Governor Bobby Jindal announces specialty chemicals maker Stepan Co. will complete front-end and design work for a potential $60 million to $70 million chemical production facility in Ascension Parish. The Chicago based company authorized the feasibility work and will make a final investment decision next year.

There are still thousands of people without power in the Shreveport Bossier-City area after a bad storm hit the area on Wednesday. SWEPCO spokesperson Scott McCloud says the storm did so much damage that some customer’s estimated time of repair could be into the weekend…:
CUT 14 (13) “16 hour shifts”
He says they are working as quickly as possible to get the lights back on.

Louisiana State Police say a man from PLaquemine was killed in a crash in Iberville Parish last night. They say 64-year-old Winsley St. Pierre ran off La Highway 75 and slammed into a tree. Investigating troopers say he was not buckled up and suffered fatal injuries as a result of the incident which remains under investigation. Impairment is unknown at this time.

The annual International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is underway and thousands of people are expected descend on the coastal town to enjoy the festivities. Scott Carwile has more…:
CUT 1 (35) “reporting”

LSU AgCenter researchers continue to look at ways to combat troublesome feral hog populations throughout the state. They are beginning to look at baits containing sodium nitrite to control the number of hogs. Animal Science researcher Glen Gentry says the chemical could hurt other animals too so they are trying to find something that targets feral hogs…:
CUT 12 (10) “sort of thing”
He says if the feral hogs take this, the process causes them to become drowsy, lie down, and expire.

Looks like the Saints are having a little fun with Jimmy Graham. Pierre Thomas posted a video on Instagram of the tight end arriving to his room at Greenbrier in West Virginia where the team is practicing the next few weeks. The video shows an unhappy Graham walking into a princess suite room covered with pink flower wall paper. You can hear Thomas laughing and saying, “They got you so good.”

SWEPCO is reporting there are still about 3700 people without power in northwest Louisiana after a horrible thunderstorm blew through the Shreveport-Bossier City region on Wednesday. Spokesperson Scott McCloud says they’ve brought in utility crews from surrounding states to get the power back on…:
CUt 13 (14) “safely as possible”
He says unfortunately the storm did so much damage that some customers could be without power into the weekend.

State Police say a crash in East Feliciana Parish claimed the lives of an 86-year-old man and his 19-year-old granddaughter. They say it happened just before 12:30pm Thursday afternoon on Highway 67 near the Mississippi State line. Investigating troopers say William Blalock and his granddaughter Ariel Foster, both of Liberty Mississippi, crossed the centerline and struck a log truck head on. Their car caught fire and each were pronounced dead at the scene.

The Saints are settling into their temporary West Virginia home for the start of  training camp. Matthew Doyle has the story…:
CUT 2 (33) “reporting”

Scientists at LSU are trying to figure out how to get the feral hog population under control in Louisiana. Animal Science researcher Glen Gentry says they are looking at baits which contain sodium nitrite because the chemical has been found to be effective in taking the oxygen out of the hog’s blood. He says they’re testing flavors that the pigs will be attracted to…:
CUT 11 (15) “saltiness flavor”
He thinks it will be about four years before there is a product the public will be able to use.

There was another drop in gas prices last night. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is currently $3.37 which is down a penny from yesterday five cents from last week.

State Police say a now-former Baldwin Police Officer is behind bars for allegedly impregnating a 14-year-old girl. 39-year-old Joseph Brent was under investigation for drug distribution when a minor living with the suspect and his wife gave birth. Although investigators could not prove the drug charges, DNA evidence revealed Brent fathered the 14-year-old’s child. He is charged with molestation of a Juvenile, Malfeasance in Office, Sexual battery, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile.

LSU AgCenter researchers continue to look at ways to combat feral hog populations throughout the state. They are beginning to look at baits containing sodium nitrite to control the number of hogs. Animal Science researcher Glen Gentry says the first step is to find an effective dose of the chemical to eliminate the animal…:
CUT 10 (10) “with these hogs”
Gentry says research shows that 60 to 70 percent of the feral hog population needs to be removed annually just to keep the number of the hogs constant.

The annual International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo is underway and thousands of people are expected descend on coastal town to enjoy the festivities. Anglers from across the area will compete to see who can catch the biggest fish in a number of categories. Property tax clerk for the town of Grand Isle, Bonnie Pizani (piz-annie), says there’s a lot more going on than just fishing…:
CUT 4 (12) “this year”
Grand Isle bills the rodeo, which runs through Saturday, as “the oldest fishing tournament in the United States”.

State health officials have confirmed the first death from West Nile virus in the state this year, and it was in Caddo Parish. They say the case involves a patient who was between 60 and 74 years of age. It’s one of 4 cases confirmed in Caddo this week. The new cases will be included in the weekly West Nile virus surveillance report today.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says that bad storm that blew through northwest Louisiana last night left thousands without power and claimed the life of one person. Senior Meteorologist Jason Hansford says they saw 60-70 mile an hour winds which downed numerous trees and power lines…:

cut 6 :07 sec. Q: “without power”

Even though those numbers have gotten lower, SWEPCO now says several thousand people in the Shreveport area could be in the dark until Sunday.

The efforts of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to hire a law firm to legally challenge the governor’s decision to scrap Common Core is receiving some push-back from the Jindal administration. Commissioner of Adminstration Kristy Nichols says the law firm cannot represent any party that is harmful to the state.
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Over 60-thousand Louisiana residents who purchased insurance through the marketplace set up by the Affordable Care Act are facing a rate increase in the double digits. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
cut V1 :30 sec. Q: ‘reporting’
The oil and gas industry needs more workers in the Gulf to keep up with demand, and the existing workers planning to retire in the next 10 years. So, higher education leaders, state officials and the oil industry have formed a long-term partnership to come up with solutions to meet with those workforce needs. Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association President Chris John…:

cut 9 :12 sec. Q: “that’s workforce”

He’s says it’s important since deep water exploration and production is expected to increase in the Gulf.

Two Central Louisiana women are dead following a one vehicle crash into a tree in Alexandria on Louisiana Highway 1205 just after midnight. State Police Trooper Scott Moreau says things might have turned out different if the two women had wrn seatbelts…:
cut 14 :10 sec. q: “any other factor”
The passenger-29 year-old Ashley Gallien of Pineville was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver – 31 year-old Heather McCormick of Boyce – died later at a local hospital.

Today was reporting day for the New Orleans Saints’ at their training camp facility at the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Black and Gold will spend three weeks up there with 3 new football fields to work on. The first practice is tomorrow morning.
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The National Weather Service in Shreveport says a bad storm that blew through northwest Louisiana last night left thousands without power and claimed the life of one person. Michelle Southern reports…:
cut V2 :33 sec. Q: “reporting”
SWEPCO says thousand of Shreveport area residents may be without power until Monday.

It’s called The Memorandum of Understanding, and it’s the result of a private-public long-term partnership between higher education, the state and the oil industry to get more workers for industry needs in the Gulf. The combination of more demand and 40% of the current workforce retiring within ten years. It’s putting a curriculum on the fast-track to certify new gulf oil workers in two years…:
cut 11 :09 sec. Q: “well paying job”
That’s Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association President Chris John.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says 60-percent of the Louisiana residents who purchased insurance through the marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act face a double-digit rate hike next year. Donelon says that’s based on paperwork filed with the state’s insurance department
CUT 3 (11) “for the subsidy”
Donelon says the big rate hike is the result of a federal premium tax that’s been placed on the policies.

BESe’s efforts to legally challenge Governor Bobby Jindal’s decision to scrap Common Core has hit a snag. As the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education was attempting to hire a lawfirm in the matter, Commissioner of Adminstration Kristy Nichols says the law firm cannot represent a party that is harmful to the state.

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Thousands of people found themselves without power this morning in Northwest Louisiana after a very bad storm that snapped power lines and blew trees down. The very windy storm proved tragic for one woman…:
cut 7 :09 sec. Q: “yesterday evening”
That’s National Weather Service Senior Meteorologist Jason Hansford who says the woman was walking down the street in the height of the storms.

Higher education leaders, state officials and representatives from the oil industry have formed a long-term public-private partnership to come up with solutions to meet with the increased workforce needed for the growing Gulf oil and gas industry. Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association President Chris John says they need to ramp things up now…;
cut 10 :09 sec. Q: “out in the Gulf”
40% of that workforce is expected to retire over the next 10 years.

An Organized Crime Task-Force investigation has led to 7 indictments in North Louisiana for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and other related drug charges. The 2 year-long undercover investigation resulted in the seisure of over a half-million dollars in cash, firearms and 16 pounds of marijuana.

A horrible storm blew through northwest Louisiana last night leaving  thousands without power and one woman dead. The National Weather Service in Shreveport reported 60-70 mile per hour winds were knocking out power lines and trees. Senior Meteorologist Jason Hansford says a woman was walking down a street during the height of the storms when the winds really started picking up…:
CUT 8 (12) “to her injuries”
He says as of this morning there were still over 50,000 people who did not have power.

The 7-week-old baby in Monroe who was allegedly abused by his parents has been placed on a ventilator. Police say 29-year-old James Hall, who reportedly teaches at Carroll High School, and his wife, 27-year-old Emily Hall of Monroe were charged with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile after taking their son to the hospital. Doctors told officers the baby was bleeding from the brain as a result of abuse. Today he is considered in very critical condition.

Over 60-thousand Louisiana residents who purchased insurance through the marketplace set up by the Affordable Care Act are facing a rate increase in the double digits. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (30) “reporting”

Louisiana State Police say two women died in a crash just after midnight in Rapides Parish and they weren’t buckled up. Trooper Scott Moreau says they responded to the crash in Alexandria on La Hwy 1205 around 12:15am and learned a Honda was being driven by 31-year-old Heather McComic of Boyce…:
CUT 12 (10) “collided with a tree”
He says McComic died at a local hospital and her only passenger, 29-year-old Ashley Gallien of Pineville, was pronounced dead at the scene. Neither woman was restrained.

The Vice-Principal in Baton Rouge who was sent to jail this week after being caught allegedly sending naked pictures of himself to an 8th grader has now reportedly been suspended without pay. The suspension, which began Tuesday after Edwin Chastang’s arrest, was changed to unpaid yesterday.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says 60-percent of the Louisiana residents who purchased insurance through the marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act face a double-digit rate hike next year. Donelon says 101-thousand Louisiana residents have health care through the individual marketplace and they anticipate the average rate increase to be about 12 to 13 percent…

cut 4 (11) “10-percent”

Donelon says the hike is the result of a federal premium tax that’s been placed on the policies and the rates have been capped for the elderly and least healthy.

BESE’s attempt to hire a lawyer to pursue a possible lawsuit against Governor Bobby Jindal over Common Core has hit a snag. Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols has requested more information from the state education board in regards to the law firm contract. She says the firm cannot represent a party in an action that adversely affects the state.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says a bad storm that blew through northwest Louisiana last night left thousands without power and claimed the life of one person. Michelle Southern has the story…

cut 2 (33) “reporting”

A commitment is in place to produce more workers for the Gulf of Mexico oil and gas industry. Higher education leaders, state officials, and representatives from the oil industry have formed a long-term public-private partnership to come up with solutions to meet with workforce needs. Louisiana Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association President Chris John…

cut 9 (12) “that’s workforce”

John says about 40-percent of experienced workforce in the Gulf of Mexico will retire in the next ten years. He says that’s a concern, especially since deep water exploration and production is expected to increase.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says 60-percent of the Louisiana residents who purchased insurance through the marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act face a double-digit rate hike next year. Donelon says the rate increase is the result of a federal premium tax that’s been placed on the policies and the rates have been capped for the elderly and least healthy…

cut 5 (15) “national average”

Donelon says 101-thousand state residents have health care through the individual marketplace and they anticipate the average rate increase to be 12 to 13 percent.

The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office says two Zachary men suspected in the armed robbery of the Southern Belle Truck Stop have been arrested. 21-year-old Joshua Wells and 21-year-old Reginald Jackson each face one count of armed robbery. Both men were found in the East Baton Rouge Parish jail being held on unrelated charges.

The National Weather Service in Shreveport says a bad storm that blew through northwest Louisiana last night left thousands without power and claimed the life of one person. Senior Meterologist Jason Hansford says they saw 60-70 mile per hour winds which downed numerous trees and powerlines…

cut 6 (07) “without power”

Hansford says as of early this morning there were still over 50,000 people who did not have power. He says a 64-year-old woman died when a tree limb fell on top of her.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 41-year-old Lake Charles man after a homeowner discovered several firearms and power tools missing from his shop. Their investigation revealed that Shannon Primeaux pawned some of the power tools at a local pawn shop. Primeaux has been charged with simple burglary and theft. The homeowner says he allowed Primeaux to stay in his shed due to him being homeless.