Polls are open across the state for today’s election. Polls will remain open until 8PM tonight. Secretary of State Tom Schedler expects polling places to be busy today…

cut 4 (07) “people voting”

He says if you can hit the polls sometime in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon you may have a little shorter wait time to cast your ballot.

Voters in the fifth and sixth congressional districts will choose from a large number of candidates to represent them in the US House. Former Congressman and four-term governor Edwin Edwards has the highest name recognition in the sixth district and LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Edwards has the best shot at making the run-off out of the 12-person race…

cut 10 (11) “to the runoff”

Hogan says it’s hard to say which republican will be the run-off against Edwards.

With Election Day underway, political observers believe there will be a runoff in Louisiana’s US Senate race. Analyst Clancy Dubos says, as with anything on the ballot, it’ll all come down to voter turnout…

cut 7 (12) “vote early”

Most polls show Senator Mary Landrieu winning in the primary but losing in the runoff.

According to the state department of education, 44-percent of voucher students reached a “basic” achievement level on standardized tests last year. That’s up from 42-percent the year before.

The US Senate and tightly contested Congressional races in the fifth and sixth district hightlight tomorrow’s ballot. But there’s also 14 constitutional amendments. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Scott says amendment two would allow hospitals to use state tax dollars to match with Medicaid money, to help compensate care given to the uninsured…
cut 4 (13) “….budget priorities”
For information on the constitutional amendments go to par-louisiana-dot-org.

According to the state department of education, 44-percent of voucher students reached a “basic” achievement level on standardized tests last year. That’s up from 42-percent the year before. Also 23 of the 125 participating voucher schools did not perform well enough to accept new voucher students next year.

Site Selection magazine ranks the Bayou State second for business climate. Editor in Chief Mark Arend says they came up with their rankings by talking to company executives and Louisiana ranked high on that survey, plus there’s other information that shows the state is a great place to do business…
cut 8 (09) “….going on there”

Taylor Swift apparenlty likes Louisiana too..She’ll kick-off her world tour in Bossier City next yea and then headline the Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge. Michelle southern…
cut 2 (30) “…reporting’

In addition to the US Senate and Congressional races, Tuesday’s ballot features 14 Constitutional Amendments. Eric Gill has more…

CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

There was an early performance announcement for the 2015 Bayou Country Superfest. Taylor Swift will start the North American tour in North Louisiana on May 20th, and then Visit Baton Rouge President Paul Arrigo (ah REE go) says…

CUT 13 (04) Q: “probably”

And that will be for the show Friday night May 22nd in Tiger Stadium.

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A single car crash in Assumption Parish has taken the life of a four year-old sitting in the front seat of a car driven by her aunt. Four year-old Cason Willoughby was reportedly only restrained by the lap portion portion of the seat belt as the vehicle left the road, went into a ditch and struck a culvert…

CUT 11 (12) Q: “12 year-old”

That’s Tropper Evan Harrell who says 22 year-old Toniska Willoughby of Napoleonville is facing charges in connection with the little boy’s death.

Some good economic news for Louisiana today, as Site Selection Magazine has put us in second place on the Top Business Climate list, and we’re sixth in a separate survey of business executives…

CUT 7 (06) Q” very impressive

That’s Site Selection Editor in Chief Mark Arend.

Besides the US Senate and Congressional races, Tuesday’s ballot features 14 Constitutional Amendments. Amendment 1 protects the financial system that has been set up for nursing homes and care facilities, that are matched by Medicaid, to reimburse them for the care they give…

CUT 3 (09) “this new amendment”

That’s Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott.

Site Selection magazine names Louisiana number two in the nation in it’s Top Business Climate list for 2014, based on a survey of corporate real estate executives and the magazine’s proprietary New Plant Database…

CUT 6 (12) “this year

That’s Site Selection Editor-In-Chief Mark Arend.

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A single vehicle crash in Assumption Parish has claimed the life of a 4-year-old boy last night. Trooper Evan Harrell says the vehicle, driven by the boy’s aunt, 22-year-old Toniska Willoughby of Napoleonville, went off the road into a ditch and struck a culvert…

CUT 10 (08) Q: crime lab”

The little boy – 4 year-old Cason Willoughby was pronounced dead at the scene.

Some celebrity news out today, the Taylor Swift North American concert tour will be opening at the Century Link Center in Bossier City on May 20th and the Bayou Country Superfest on Friday night May 22nd. Visit Baton Rouge President Paul Arrigo (ah REE go) says the Department of Tourism has done a good job in branding Louisiana as a top travel destination…

CUT 14 (06) Q: “of 2015”

For tomorrow’s election, besides the Congressional and senate races, there are 14 constitutional amendments on the ballot, including Amendment 7 dealing with disabled veterans and homestead exemptions…

CUT 5 (12) Q: ‘all in there’

That’s Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott Scott (who says you can get more information at parlouisiana-dot-org.

Louisiana may not be the top state for Site Selection Magazine’s Top Business climate for 2014, but Editor-In-Chief Mark Arend says taking second place is not too bad..

CUT 8 (09) Q: ‘going on there”

Georgia took the top spot on the list.
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Test scores for Louisiana school students for the LEAP and iLeap are improving, according to the Department of Education report issued this morning. However, less than half of voucher students score at grade level. Voucher students are those who qualify for some financial assistance who choose to attend private schools.
Promoters announce the opening of Taylor Swift’s brand new “1989″ tour will kick off in Bossier City next year, then headline Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge.

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

According to Site Selection magazine, Louisiana is No. 2 in the nation for business climate. Editor Mark Arend says one of the main reasons we ranked so high is because we came in 6th in another business executive survey…:
CUT 7 (06) “very impressive”
He says the coming industrial boom in Louisiana is another reason for the high rank.

State Police say a crash in Assumption Parish has claimed the life of a 4-year-old boy. Trooper Evan Harrell says the wreck happened last night when a vehicle driven by the mother, 22-year-old Toniska Willoughby of Napoleonville, went off the road into a ditch and struck a culvert…:
CUT 9 (11) “a child seat”
He says the mother suffered moderate injuries in the crash and will be cited once released from the hospital.

Louisiana got some big celebrity news today as promoters announce the opening of Taylor Swift’s brand new “1989” tour will kick off in Bossier City, and headline Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge. The Century Link Center show will be May 20th, then Swift plays the May 22nd Friday night show in Tiger Stadium. Visit Baton Rouge President PAul Arrigo…:
CUT 12 (11) “years ago”
Tickets for the North American leg of Swift’s tour will go on sale to the general public on November 14th.

Don’t forget to vote tomorrow. The polls for the mid-terms in Louisiana, which include huge Senate and Congressional races and 14 Constitutional amendments, will be open 6am-8pm. You can find your polling location online at geauxvote.com.

Site Selection magazine names Louisiana number two in the nation in its Top Business Climate list for 2014. Editor-In-Chief Mark Arend says the list is compiled based on a survey of corporate real estate executives and the magazine’s proprietary New Plant Database…:
CUT 6 (12) “this year”
Lousiana economic development officials say the state is set to enter an industrial boom and Arend says their ranking reflects that.

A Sunday morning single vehicle accident in Livingston Parish has taken the life of an Independence woman. Louisiana State Police say 42-year-old Stephanie Prattini, for unknown reasons, ran off the road where her vehicle entered a ditch, struck a culvert, and overturned. Prattini, who was reportedly unrestrained at the time of the accident, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In addition to the US Senate and Congressional races, Tuesday’s ballot features 14 Constitutional Amendments. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says Amendment 2 would give hospitals in the state tax money, that they would be able to match with Medicaid dollars, to help compensate for the care they give to the uninsured…:
CUT 4 (13) “budget priorities”
You can get more information on the amendments at parlouisiana-dot-org,.

In addition to the US Senate and Congressional races, Tuesday’s ballot features 14 Constitutional Amendments. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “reporting”

The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s office says a 4-year-old child is dead and his mother was injured in a crash last night near Napoleonville. State Police report 22-year-old Toniska Willoughby was traveling on Highway 308 when her car went off the road and into a ditch. The 4-year-old child was not properly restrained and in the front seat of the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say the mother is in the hospital with moderate injuries.

Starting next spring, public school students in Louisiana will take Common Core exams on paper instead of on a computer as was originally planned. Superintendent of Education John White says now teachers can concentrate on making sure students on prepared for the more rigorous tests…:
CUT 10 (06) “issues later”
About 300-thousand students will take the Common Core tests in March and there’s a second session in May. They’ll replace the LEAP and I-Leap exams.

Nobobdy won Mega Millions over the weekend so the prize for tomorrow night’s drawing now goes to $321 million dollars. The Powerball wasn’t hit either and it climbs to an estimated $178 million dollars for the next drawing which will be held Wednesday.

There will be 14 Constitutional Amendments on tomorrow’s ballot in addition to the Senate and Congressional races. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says Amendment 1 protects the financial system that has been set up for nursing homes and facilities that are matched by Medicaid:
CUT 3 (09) “this new amendment”
He says you can get a full non-partisan explanation of the amendments online at parlouisiana.org.

Louisiana State Police say they are looking for someone wanted for questioning in a Ville Platte homicide. They say 21-year-old Chris Goodley is wanted for questioning in the death which was discovered yesterday. He is considered armed and dangerous but if you know where he might be State Police says please call 911.

The end of daylight savings time means many of us will now be driving home from work in the dark.
CUT 3 (27) “reporting”

Promoters of Bayou Country Superfest in Baton Rouge announce Taylor Swift will headline this year’s Tiger Stadium concerts the night of May 22nd. Swift’s 1989 World Tour will kick off in Bossier City at the CenturyLink Center on May 20th. Tickets go on sale November 14th.

A University of New Orleans Survey Research Center poll shows that a majority of respondents feel the state is moving in the wrong direction. Scott Carwile reports…

cut 1 (31) “reporting”

Shreveport Police have arrested a suspect in a shooting that took place early this morning near a night club. 26-year-old Michael Falcon is charged with second degree murder in the incident. Authorities say the victim, 25-year-old Malcolm Perry, was taken to a local hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

Third through eighth grade students in public schools will take Common Core exams next spring on paper, instead of on a computer as originally planned. State Education Superintendent John White says after talking with teachers, he thought it was best to go with a paper-and-pencil exam for the first year…

cut 12 (09) “student achievement”

About 300-thousand students will take the Common Core tests in March and there’s another session in May.

A Sunday morning single vehicle accident in Livingston Parish has taken the life of an Independence woman. Louisiana State Police say 42-year-old Stephanie Prattini, for unknown reasons, ran off the road where her vehicle entered a ditch, struck a culvert, and overturned. Prattini, who was reportedly unrestrained at the time of the accident, was pronounced dead at the scene.