The Division of Administration says most online services are available today following the attempted ransomware attack on state government, but Office of Motor Vehicle locations remain closed for the rest of the day. State Police and several federal agencies are investigating this attempted ransomware attack.

Top Republican contenders stayed out of this year’s Governor’s race, but reports say a number of state GOP stars are heavily weighing a run in 2023. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Eleven more juvenile whooping cranes have been brought to the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area near Gueydan as the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries attempts to re-establish the population of the rare bird. LDWF Biologist Sara Zimorski says the large birds have tracking transmitters on them and will be released next week, with the hopes they stay in Louisiana.
Cut 9 (12) “…throughout the year.″
The current state population is in the dozens.

The Office of Motor Vehicles remains closed today after an attempted ransomware attack on the state’s computer system forced a temporary closure Monday. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry…
Cut 15 (11) “…one by one.”

Louisiana reports its first vaping-related death. Kevin Barnhart has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

The 2019 election season is over and when you look ahead to next year, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy is up for re-election. All of Louisiana’s U-S House delegation is up for re-election in 2020. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the only question is whether Congressman Ralph Abraham will retire. Stockley says a decision should be made soon…
Cut 6 (08) “decisions”

This past weekend voters in the small Livingston Parish towns of Livingston and Albany overwhelming approved the sale of liquor. Albany Mayor Eileen Bates-McCarroll says the new ordinance will boost the local economy by incentivizing development along the I-12 exit and hopefully bring a few new restaurants into town…
Cut 11 (10) “decision”

The Office of Motor Vehicles will open at noon today after an attempted ransomware attack on the state’s computer system forced a temporary closure Monday. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry…
Cut 15 (11) “…one by one.”

Louisiana reports its first vaping-related death. Kevin Barnhart has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

The 2019 election season is over and when you look ahead to next year, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy is up for re-election. All of Louisiana’s U-S House delegation is up for re-election in 2020. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the only question is whether Congressman Ralph Abraham will retire. Stockley says a decision should be made soon…
Cut 6 (08) “decisions”

This past weekend voters in the small Livingston Parish towns of Livingston and Albany overwhelming approved the sale of liquor. Albany Mayor Eileen Bates-McCarroll says the new ordinance will boost the local economy by incentivizing development along the I-12 exit and hopefully bring a few new restaurants into town…
Cut 11 (10) “decision”

After a ransomware attack brought most of the state government to a halt on Monday the Department of Motor Vehicles is expected to open at noon today. The attack forced the shutdown of state agency websites as well as email and internet access. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says a similar attack took place over the summer with some of the state’s school systems.

Cut 14 (05) “…kind of thing.” 

No personal data has been leaked as a result of the attack.

Louisiana sees its first vaping related death.   Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says the identity of the deceased has not been released due to privacy laws.  Kanter says there is still much mystery surrounding vaping and what is causing the lung injuries to happen.

Cut 8 (10) “…nicotine in it.”

The Governor’s race is over, and Louisiana’s politicos turn their attention to the 2020 races.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Drew Brees is venturing into yet another new business enterprise. According to The Advocate the Quarterback is the co-owner of Surge Entertainment Center in Lafayette set to open this Saturday. The Center will feature a trampoline park, bowling lanes, karaoke room, golf simulator, batting cages and a restaurant. This is not his first business venture, he’s the co-owner of a restaurant and owns several franchises and is an investor in Waitr.

Governor Edwards activates the state’s cybersecurity team in response to an attack on state government computer systems. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana sees the first death from the outbreak of vaping related illness.  Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says there is only one recommendation in mitigating the risk of injuries from vaping.

Cut 9 (11) “   …addiction to quit.”

The identity of the victim has not been released due to privacy laws. For help quitting call 1-800-Quit-Now.

This year’s big election is over in the Bayou State but it’s never too soon to start looking towards 2020.  ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says even though many feel Donald Trump was on the ballot instead of Eddie Rispone in the Governor’s race this year, Stockley says it’s not a reflection on Trump in the Presidential race.

Cut 5 (13) “…in play.”

Livingston and Albany, two towns in Livingston Parish ended their prohibition on liquor sales in overwhelming votes Saturday. Albany Mayor Eileen Bates-McCarroll says the process started last year at a Livingston Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Cut 10 (10) “…Margarita.”

Louisiana reports its first vaping-related death. Kevin Barnhart has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

I-T officials are trying to get the state’s servers back up after an attempted ransomware attack forced the closure of the state’s O-M-V offices and D-C-F-S could not accept food stamp applications. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry…
cut 15 (11) “…one by one”
Full restoration of services could take a few days.

The 2019 election season is over and when you look ahead to next year, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy is up for re-election. All of Louisiana’s U-S House delegation is up for re-election in 2020. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says the only question is whether Congressman Ralph Abraham will retire. Stockley says a decision should be made soon…
Cut 6 (08) “decisions”

This past weekend voters in the small Livingston Parish towns of Livingston and Albany overwhelming approved the sale of liquor. Albany Mayor Eileen Bates-McCarroll says the new ordinance will boost the local economy by incentivizing development along the I-12 exit and hopefully bring a few new restaurants into town…
cut 11 (11) “…decision”
Opponents of the liquor law change could result in more impaired drivers.

An attempted ransomware attack is causing website issues and disrupting business for most state agencies. The attack forced several state agency websites to shut down and many state workers were left without email. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says upon detection, the Office of Technology Services initiated security protocols.
Cut 13 (05) “…state’s network traffic.”
In a social media post. Governor Edwards says there is no anticipated data loss and the state did not pay a ransom. The governor’s office says it could take days to restore all websites and online operations.

Louisiana has reported its first vaping-related death. Nationally, there have been 40 deaths. Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says so far, 30 cases of vaping lung injuries have been diagnosed in the state.
Cut 7 (09) “…that they deserve.”
The identity of the deceased has not been released due to privacy laws.

The Governor’s race is over and Louisiana’s politicos turn their attention to the 2020 races. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Today on Capitol Hill, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will vote on legislation that would increase offshore revenue sharing between the federal and state governments from 37.5-percent to 50-percent, bringing the percentage in line with onshore energy production. If the legislation is approved, it will move to the full Senate for its approval.

The Louisiana Health Department has reported its first death from a vaping-associated lung injury. Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter say vapers who use a combination of nicotine and-or THC are most at risk…
cut 9 (11) “…addiction to quit”
Kanter says vapers needing assistance to quit should call 1-800-Quit-Now.

The 2019 election season is over and we can start to look ahead to 2020, as Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is up for re-election. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says even though Democratic Governor Edwards just won re-election, there’s not another Democrat out there who can seriously challenge Cassidy…
Cut 4 (10) “right now.”
Cassidy won his first term in the Senate in 2014, beating Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu 56 to 44.

Governor Edwards activates the state’s cybersecurity team in response to an attack on state government computer systems. Kevin Barnhart has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”