Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says skyrocketing insurance costs threaten the state’s 13-billion dollar timber industry. Strain says in some cases insuring equipment has quadrupled in the last year
Cut 12 (12) “…per truck”
The Forestry Association president in South Carolina says premiums are rising because there are only a few companies offering coverage for log trucks.

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers leave out of Esler Regional Airport in Pineville today for a deployment to Afghanistan. Colonel Ed Bush says these men and women will provide aviation support and all of them have been previously deployed multiple times…
cut 11 (07) “….deploying together”
The deployment is expected to last nine months.

LSU-Texas tickets are a hot commodity ahead of Saturday’s game in Austin. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (27) “..I’m Matt Doyle”

Over 100 Louisiana first responders are back in the Bayou State to catch the big game after a deployment to Florida. They were there to assist with search and rescue efforts, but Hurricane Dorian spared Florida from significant flooding.

The National Hurricane Center is monitoring four tropical systems, but none of them are an immediate threat to the Gulf of Mexico.

Tickets are going fast for The Tiger’s game in Austin against the Longhorns. There’s about 1,600 tickets left and Partnerships and Business Development for Stubhub Adam Budelli says they may not last long.

Cut 4 (09) “…in general”

Roughly 55 percent of ticket purchases have come from within Texas, while around 20 percent were bought in Louisiana. The rest were purchased in 40 other states, plus Mexico and Canada.

Wanhua Chemical has withdrawn it’s plans to build a billion-dollar chemical facility in St. James Parish after previously agreeing to the facility earlier this year. The company is citing increased construction costs are the primary concern, but previously mentioned lower possible profits at the facility based on concerns about the trade war. The facility was also delayed by a lawsuit from St. James citizens over environmental concerns.

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers are set to deploy to Afghanistan out of Pineville as the 18^th anniversary of 9/11 approaches. Colonel Ed Bush of the Louisiana National Guard says Louisiana guard were heavily involved in the conflicts that followed.

Cut 10 (12) “…global war on terror.”

Those deployed are going to provide aviation support.

Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday, and if you’re interested in heading out then A basic hunting license and HIP certificate are needed to legally hunt doves. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay says they have seen a decline in hunters over the years and there’s a couple of reasons why…

Cut 8 (12) “…they do”

Try to dress light, as temperatures are expected to be abnormally high this weekend.

LSU-Texas is the hottest selling game of the year according to StubHub, and tickets prices are at a premium and going fast. Partnerships and Business Development for Stubhub Adam Budelli says it’s clear the hype for this matchup is unlike any in the past two years.

Cut 3, 8 seconds, percent

Texas-LSU is outselling the number two game of the year, Georgia-Notre Dame, by 68 percent. People from 42 states and three countries have purchased tickets.

56 Louisiana National Guard soldiers are set to deploy to Afghanistan out of Pineville. The troops will join two companies to provide aviation support. Colonel Ed Bush of the Louisiana National Guard says the aviation support will bring the Bayou State’s troops to the heart of the action…

Cut 9 (08)  “…where safe.”

Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay (Do-gay) says the population of morning doves looks good for Louisiana hunters. Duguay says the extreme heat this weekend could make it difficult for hunters and their dogs, but it will not impact the doves.

Cut 7 (08) “…every day.”

A basic hunting license and HIP certificate are needed to legally hunt doves, and Duguay says they have seen a decline in hunters over the years.

Drew Brees’ appearance in a Bring Your Bible to School ad sparks controversy when LGBTQ advocates point out the organization who produced the spot has a history of anti-gay campaigning. Brees says he wasn’t aware of Focus on Family’s anti-gay position. Brees adds he lives by the Christian fundamental of love thy neighbor.
Cut 13 (08) “matter”
Brees says he recorded the video in order to encourage kids to live out their faith with confidence.

Dove hunting season gets underway Saturday and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jeff Duguay (Do-gay) says the population of morning doves looks good for Louisiana hunters. Duguay says that prediction is based on their banding data…
cut 6 (12) “…other years”
Duguay says the extreme heat this weekend could make it difficult for hunters and their dogs, but it will not impact the doves.

Seven Louisiana Community Colleges were ranked in the top 100 fastest growing programs in the nation between 2007 and 2017. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Bayou Bengals have a big game tomorrow with Texas, and the LSU Traveling Tigers group will be there. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke….
Cut 10 (10) “…facets to it”
The last time the Longhorns and the Tigers played each other in the regular season was 1954.

LSU is ready to take on Texas tomorrow night at 630 in Austin, and LSU QB Joe Burrow says he has nothing but respect for what Texas Head Coach Tom Herman has accomplished.  It was Herman, who was offensive coordinator at Ohio State at the time, who recruited Burrow to play for Buckeyes

Cut 16  (16) “…great coach”   

After three seasons in Columbus, Burrow transferred to LSU.

It’s not just the players who are itching for kick-off, the Traveling Tigers are hoping to steal a win in the Lone Star State, home to the second-largest number of LSU alums in the nation outside of Louisiana. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke says this trip for the Traveling Tigers sold out quickly for the two-hundred participants.

Cut 11 (04) “with us” 

The last time the Longhorns and the Tigers played each other in the regular season was 1954.

After beating Grambling last weekend, ULM heads to the Florida panhandle to face Florida State on Saturday. The Seminoles lost to Boise State in the season opener as the Broncos rallied to win Tallahassee. Warhawks coach Matt Viator says there’s no doubt that F-S-U has talent

Cut 18 (19) “…heartbeat” 

The NFL season kicked off last night with a nearly unwatchable game between Green Bay and Chicago at Solider field. The Packers and their new offense ended up walking away with a 10-3 win over their hated rivals. The Bears dominant defense seemed to pick up right where it left off last year, but Coach Matt Nagy’s offense looks like it could submarine their season.

This weekend will hopefully be full of more interesting games as the NFL season kicks into gear. The Saints have the 6:10PM Monday night slot against the Texans.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is having to defend himself against those who believe he supports anti-gay views. The controversy stems from his appearance in a video promoting Bring Your Bible To School Day…
cut 14 (11) “…verses”
But the anti-LGBTQ group Focus on the Family produced the video, which has some saying why is Brees associating himself with that organization.

Seven Louisiana two-year colleges rank in the top 100 in the Chronicle of Higher Educations’ ranking of fastest-growing community colleges in the nation. Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan on the type of students they are attracting…
cut 5 (10) “…time”

LSU fans are invading Austin, Texas ahead of Saturday night’s big top 10 matchup with the Longhorns…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Hurricane Dorian made landfall this morning in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina bringing heavy rain, wind and storm surge. Louisiana’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force, which is mostly comprised of firefighters from around the state, is returning home from Florida after that state was spared from Dorian’s wrath. An incident support team from Louisiana remains in South Carolina.

Drew Brees’ appearance in a Bring Your Bible to School ad sparks controversy when LGBTQ advocates point out the organization who produced the spot has a history of anti-gay campaigning. Brees says he wasn’t aware of Focus on Family’s anti-gay position. Brees adds he lives by the Christian fundamental of love thy neighbor.
Cut 13 (08) “matter”
Brees says he recorded the video in order to encourage kids to live out their faith with confidence.

LSU fans are confident about the Tigers Top 10 matchup with Texas on Saturday night. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke says their Traveling Tigers trip to Austin sold out quickly….
cut 11 (04) “….with us”
Because of ongoing renovations to Texas Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns only gave LSU three-thousand tickets to sell.

Seven Louisiana schools are listed in the top 100 fastest growing community colleges in the nation according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Leading the way is Northshore Technical and Community College as the school was ranked seventh with a 145-percent increase in growth from 2007 to 2017. LCTCS president Monty Sullivan…
cut 6 (09) “….there”
The other six community colleges ranked were Nunez, Louisiana Delta, L.E. Fletcher, South Louisiana, River Parishes, and Bossier Parish.

NBC anchor Lester Holt spent two nights at the Louisiana State Penitentiary and his experience will air tonight on Dateline. NBC says the show will focus on criminal justice reform and mass incarceration and producer Dan Slepian says at first Angola officials were reluctant…
cut 9 (11) “…and forth”
Slepian believes the Department of Corrections will be happy with their portrayal of the facility.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is defending himself after his appearance in a video produced by an organization with a history of anti-LGBTQ views. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 3 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

A member of the Byrd High School football staff has been arrested for child pornography. Police records indicate 33-year-old James Allen Opie of Shreveport was booked after a search of his home by local and federal investigators. Opie has been an employee with the Caddo Parish School System since 2010.

You can see how NBC’s Lester Holt spent two nights inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola as part of a look at criminal justice reform. Holt’s stay will be profiled on Dateline and during the show, Holt interviews Henry Montogmery, who has sentenced to life for a killing a cop when he was 17. His appeal of juvenile life sentences led to the US Supreme Court overturning life sentences for child killers without parole…
cut 8 (09) “…decision”
That’s Dateline producer Dan Slepian.

The Bayou Bengals have a big game tomorrow with Texas, and the LSU Traveling Tigers are making the trip to Austin. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke….
Cut 10 (10) “…facets to it”
The last time the Longhorns and the Tigers played each other in the regular season was 1954.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees is having to defend himself against those who believe he supports anti-LGBTQ views. The controversy stems from his appearance in a video promoting Bring Your Bible To School Day…
cut 14 (11) “…verses”
But the anti-LGBTQ group Focus on the Family produced the video, which has some saying why is Brees associating himself with that organization.

Seven Louisiana community college and technical schools are ranked among the top 100 fastest growing two-year institutions in the nation according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. Louisiana Community and Technical College System President Monty Sullivan says it’s not by accident…
Cut 4 (11) “…universities”
The survey looked at the growth rates of 1,100 different schools.

Tonight, viewers across the country will get an inside look at life in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola when Dateline profiles NBC Anchor Lester Holt’s two-night stay at the maximum-security facility..
cut 7 (11) “…revealing”
That’s Dateline Producer Dan Slepian who says tonight’s episode is part of an ongoing series about the effects of “Tough on Crime” legislation passed by Congress in the 90s.

Thousands of LSU fans will spend the weekend in Austin, Texas for Saturday night’s top 10 matchup between the Tigers and the Longhorns. LSU Alumni Chief Operating Officer Steve Helmke says even though Texas allotted just three-thousand tickets for LSU to sell, Fighting Tiger fans will be out in full force…
cut 12 (05) “….and gold”
There will be a big Tiger Nation Tailgate at Stubb’s tomorrow in Austin, beginning at 11 AM.