Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma are the only three states in the nation with gas prices under 2 bucks a gallon. GasBuddy.com spokesperson Patrick Dehaan says the statewide average is 2.24, and Baton Rouge prices are a major reason why.

Cut 6 (09) “…at one station.”

About two dozen stations in Louisiana are selling gas under 2 bucks a gallon.

Tomorrow morning will be your best chance to catch the famed annual Perseid meteor shower. Best viewing will be just after 4AM until sunrise.  LSU Astronomy Professor Brad Schaefer says for best viewing find a wide-open space away from light pollution and give your eyes at least ten minutes to adjust to the darkness.

Cut 9 (11) “…do it”

With optimal conditions, you can see one meteor a minute with the dashes of light emanating from the Perseid constellation.

Be prepared for dangerous heat levels over the next couple of days. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Congressman Ralph Abraham has dropped his first statewide campaign ad of the governor’s race where a series of narrators trumpets the Congressman’s frontrunner status as the Republican best suited and most likely to take on Governor John Bel Edwards…

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Gasoline prices continue to fall, in fact, Louisiana is one of three states in the country that has service stations selling gasoline for lower than two dollars a gallon. Gas-Buddy-dot-com Senior Petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says it’s possible the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline could drop below two-dollars by Thanksgiving, but there are factors that could hinder that…
cut 8 (12) “….go back up”
The current statewide average is $2.24 a gallon.

It’s blistering hot, so hot that the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for the northern half of the state. Meteorologist Gary Chatelain…
Cut 4(10) “…it quickly”
99-degrees is the forecasted high for Shreveport and Monroe. Tomorrow, Alexandria could see a heat index of 110-degrees.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry says the state has seen a drastic decrease in wildfires over the last 10 years from 1,638 in 2008 to 676 last year. Commissioner Mike Strain credits the state’s public awareness campaign that includes the Certified Prescribed Burner program…
cut 13 (08) “…the ground”
Strain also says arson cases are down 82 percent

Matt Doyle has a story on why you should wake up early tomorrow morning to see the famed Perseid Meteor shower…
cut 2 (32) I’m Matt Doyle”

Along with Texas and Oklahoma, Louisiana is one of only three states where drivers can buy gas for under $2 a gallon.  The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline has dipped 8 cents over the last week to $2.24.  GasBuddy.com spokesperson Patrick Dehaan says the escalating trade tensions between the US and China can take credit for the decline.
Cut 7 (09) “…goes down anyway.”
About two dozen stations are selling gas for less than $2.

The National Weather Service has issued its first excessive heat warning of the year for the northern half of the state until Tuesday night. The southern half of the state is under a heat advisory. Heat indices could range from 105 to 113 degrees along the I-10-I-12 corridor. Meteorologist Gary Chatelain says winds out of the southwest are helping to produce the dangerous heat levels. He says we could see a break from the extreme heat on Wednesday

Cut 5 (13) “…rainfall”

A 40-year-old Monroe woman is arrested after mistaking a misquito abatment plane for a drone and opening fire from her yard. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

It’s blistering hot, so hot that the National Weather Service has extended it’s excessive heat warning all the way up to the northern portions of the state. Meteorologist Gary Chatelain says it’s going to stay that way for the next 48 hours, so stay safe, and keep some H2O handy…

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99-degrees is the forecasted high for Shreveport and Monroe. Tomorrow, Alexandria could see a heat index of 110-degrees.

Louisiana is one of only three states in the nation where drivers can buy gas for under $2 a gallon.  The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline has dipped 8 cents over the last week to $2.24, and GasBuddy.com spokesperson Patrick Dehaan says it’s gas stations around the capital city in particular dragging down the state average.

Cut 6 (09) “…at one station.”

Texas and Oklahoma are the other two states where gas can be purchased for under $2.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association is cracking down on human trafficking at hotels across the country, and honing in Louisiana, where 19 cases of human trafficking were reported at state hotels last year. AHLA President and CEO Chip Rodgers says guests should keep a lookout for the signs of trafficking.

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Louisiana sees a 59 percent decrease in the number of wildfires when comparing 2018 to 2008. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says Louisiana had 1,638 wildfires in 2008, but only 676 wildfires last year. He credits the substantial decrease in the potentially deadly events to a successful public education campaign.

Cut 12, 11 seconds, their lives

Strain also credits a crackdown on arsonists, and an effective controlled burning effort last year.

President Trump announces he’s backing stronger background checks for gun purchases and red flag laws allowing authorities to remove firearms from those who are a danger to themselves or others.  Despite the White House’s shift in policy many Congressional Republicans are still strongly against the proposals. Congressman Ralph Abraham says the President’s shift hasn’t changed his mind.

Cut 7 (08) “…tragedies.”

Abraham voted against recent background check and red flag laws that cleared the House on a party-line vote.

The US Small Business Administration is opening tomorrow a disaster loan outreach center in the Ruston City Hall in an effort to issue low-interest loans to those impacted by a tornado outbreak in April.  SBA spokesperson Louise Porter says the SBA issues loans to communities following a disastrous event.

Cut 4 (09) “…Small Business Administration.”

A Monroe woman has been arrested for allegedly shooting at a mosquito abatement aircraft that she says she thought was a drone circling her home.  Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s spokesman Glenn Springfield says they received a call from a woman who said a drone had been circling her home, taunting her, so she shot at it three times with her revolver to knock it out of the sky.
Cut 10 (12) “…control.”
After deputies determined what had actually happened, 40-year-old Stacy Rodgers was arrested on illegal use of weapons.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association announces the “No Room for Trafficking” campaign aimed at helping hotel workers recognize the warning signs to look for when dealing with potential human trafficking situations. Since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported that 756 total cases and over 2,700 contacts came from Louisiana.  AHLA President and CEO Chip Rodgers suggests that other aspects of the tourism industry should as well.

Cut 15 (09) “…and report it.”

President Donald Trump plans to rally Republicans on Capitol Hill behind the idea that the country needs stronger federal background check laws for all gun purchases. But U-S Representative Ralph Abraham says none of the proposals coming from Democrats or the White House would have stopped the recent mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton…
cut 8 (09) “…to go”
The biggest fight over background checks will likely be in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated he’d allow discussion of the issue.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association announces the “No Room for Trafficking” campaign aimed at helping hotel workers recognize the warning signs to look for when dealing with potential human trafficking situations. AHLA President and CEO Chip Rodgers says in 2018, Louisiana had 149 cases with 19 of those in hotels.
Cut 13 (09) “…human trafficking spike.”

40-year-old Stacy Rogers faces a charge of illegal use of weapons after she allegedly fired her a gun at a mosquito abatement aircraft. Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Glenn Springfield says Rodgers thought it was a drone that was invading her privacy. Springfield says there are laws against illegal drone use and harassment, so if you think your neighbor has crossed the line, keep you r gun holstered and call police…
cut 12 (10) “…at it”

The US Small Business Administration will open a disaster loan outreach center at Ruston City Hall tomorrow to assist those who seek a low-interest loan to help rebuild from the April tornadoes. Anyone who received damage is eligible to apply. S-B-A spokesperson Louise Porter says S-B-A loans are flexible when it comes to paying it back…
cut 5 (09) “…an official determination”

President Donald Trump says he’ll take a more active role when it comes to Congress passing legislation that results in meaningful background checks for gun purchases. But Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abrahan is not confident about finding middle ground…
cut 9 (10) “…with that”

The hotel industry is trying to do something about human trafficking. They’ve started a “No Room for Trafficking” campaign which will train hotel workers so they can recognize the signs of human trafficking. American Hotel and Lodging Association president Chip Rodgers says there are signs hotel guests can be on the lookout for as well…
cut 14 (12) “….neglect or abuse”

The National weather service has issued an excessive heat warning for the northern half of the state until Tuesday night. National Weather Service Meteorologist Gary Chatelain says that means heat indices over 110-degrees…
cut 3 (09) “…gets soaked”
Chatelain says know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, such as a sudden lack of sweat.

The U-S Small Business Administration will open a Disaster Loan Outreach Center tomorrow in Ruston to answer questions from the public and business owners who are seeking a low-interest federal disaster loan to help rebuild from the tornado outbreak that hit the area in late April…
cut 6 (08) “….as low as 4-percent”
That’s S-B-A spokesperson Louise Porter who says the disaster loan outreach center will open tomorrow morning at 8 AM at Ruston City Hall.

President Donald Trump plans to push Republicans to pass stronger federal background check laws for guns. Despite the White House’s shift in policy, many Congressional Republicans still strongly oppose it. U-S Representative Ralph Abraham is one…
cut 7 (08) “…tragedies”
Abraham voted against recent background check and red flag laws that cleared the House on a party-line vote.

The American Hotel and Lodging Association has a new campaign called “No Room for Trafficking.” It’s an initiative where the hotel industry is training workers to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking that occurs in hotels. A-H-L-A President and CEO Chip Rodgers…
cut 15 (09) “…report it”
In 2018, there were 19 reported cases of human trafficking in Louisiana hotels.

A 40-year-old Monroe woman is arrested after mistaking a mosquito abatement plane for a drone and opening fire from her yard. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Gas prices continue to drop at the pump. According to Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.27. That’s six-cents cheaper than a week ago and 14-cents lower than a month ago. And the average price in Louisiana is 35-cents cheaper than a year ago.