The first of three public meetings discussing the I-10 Corridor Expansion Project in Baton Rouge kicks off today at 530PM. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “I’m Matt Doyle”

The nation continues to remember Senator John McCain who passed away over the weekend at age 81.  Louisiana public buildings will fly their American and state flags at half staff for seven days following the orders of Governor John Bel Edwards.  Edwards tweeted, it’s a small token of our appreciation for his life of service to this country.

Louisiana Tech has received the top spot for 2018 for colleges in Louisiana from BestColleges.com.  For the rankings, the website analyzes admissions and retentions with data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator.  Executive Director of Communications, Tonya Oaks Smith adds the website cited the school’s wealth of online offerings as a strong contributing factor for its favorable ranking.

Cut 12 (12) “…within their schedule.”

After a summer long quarterback competition, the Tiger’s finally have a winner, and that man is Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow.  Burrow, the former four star prospect, was fighting a reportedly losing battle for the OSU starting position before he transferred to LSU. During his time with the Buckeyes he had a sky high 78 percent competition rating on a fairly small sample size of only 74 attempts.

An official with the Archdiocese of New Orleans says Christ the King school has rescinded its policy that prohibits students from wearing hair extensions. But we don’t know if a sixth-grader who left the school in tears after violating the rule will return to the Jefferson Parish school. A meeting between a lawyer of the family and the diocese is expected this afternoon.

After a summer long quarterback competition, the Tigers finally have a winner, and that man is Ohio State graduate transfer Joe Burrow. Burrow was favored by most analysts to win the job the moment he arrived on campus. Tight end Foster Moreau says Burrow locked down the gig by being all business from day one.
Cut 13 (11) “…hard worker.”
Coach Ed Orgeron says other position battles continue at left cornerback, right tackle and tail back.

The department of transportation is preparing to widen Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge to three lanes, which will require the state to buy at least 17 homes and four businesses. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson….
cut 4 (07) “…required’
Wilson says the plan is to borrow 360-million dollars to pay for the contruction and three days of public meetings begins tonight at McKinley Middle Magnet School.

If your child is having a hard time getting enough sleep on school nights, Louisiana Department of Health regional medical director Martha Whyte says set a regular bedtime and rise time, even on weekends….
cut 9 (08) “….a little more flexible”
Whyte also suggests a media or screen time curfew. She says ban the use of technology after a certain time or just remove the devices from the bedroom.

The Louisiana Department of Health encourages parents to set a regular bedtime and rise time, even on weekends, if your children are not getting enough sleep on school nights…
voicer 2 (27) “….Kevin Barnhart”

Best Colleges-dot-com ranks Louisiana Tech University as the best university in the state when it comes to academic quality, affordability and online programs. University spokesperson Tonya Oaks Smith says La Tech usually fares well in these type of rankings….
cut 11 (07) “….and the nation”

Joe Burrow will get the start at quarterback on Sunday night when the Tigers face the Miami Hurricanes in the season opener. But Coach Ed Orgeron says he will not hesitate to use Myles Brennan, if Burrow struggles. LSU tight end Foster Moreau says the team has confidence in Brennan, if his number is called…
cut 15 (09) “…had happened”
Kick off on Sunday night is at 6:30.

The state department of transportation begins a series of public meetings tonight in Baton Rouge to go over plans to widen Interstate 10 from the Mississippi River Bridge to the I-10-12 split. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson calls it the holy grail of transportation projects and it’s important for the public to see the plans…
cut 5 (07) “…with that”
State transportation officials say 17 homes and four businesses will have to be bought out for the 360-million dollar project to happen.

A federal judge in Monroe has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to stop the removal of a Confederate monument outside of the Caddo Parish courthouse. It clears the way for the Caddo Parish Commission to move ahead with plans to put the monument somewhere else. The Shreveport chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy claims the statue sits on private property.

The state transportation department says 17 homes and four businesses will have to re-locate, if Louisiana moves forward with plans to expand Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge between the Mississippi River bridge and the I-10-12 split. Three days of public meetings on the proposal begin tonight. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they’ll also show motorists how construction will not exacerbate the city’s already tortuous traffic…
cut 6 (09) “….lot better’

Schools are back in session and for some students getting enough sleep is already a problem. Louisiana Department of Health Medical Director Dr. Martha Whyte says getting the proper amount of sleep helps students stay focused and improves academic performance.
Cut 7 (08) “…memory as well.”
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends kids between the ages of 6 and 12 should get between 9 and 12 hours of sleep, 13 to 18 year olds should get eight to 10 hours.

BestColleges-dot-com ranks Louisiana Tech as the best university in the state. The website compared colleges on academic quality and affordability. University spokesperson Tonya Oaks Smith says the site also named Tech as the Best Online University in Louisiana…
cut 12 (12) “…within their schedule”

The department of transportation is preparing to widen Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge to three lanes, which will require the state to buy at least 17 homes and four businesses. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson….
cut 4 (07) “…required’
Wilson says the plan is to borrow 360-million dollars to pay for the contruction and three days of public meetings begins tonight at McKinley Magnet School.

Louisiana Tech has received the top spot for 2018 for colleges in Louisiana from BestColleges.com. The website looks at admissions and retention rates. University spokesperson, Tonya Oaks Smith, says it’s an honor that reinforces the school’s commitment to its students.
Cut 10 (09) “…for Louisiana Tech.“

Is Joe Burrow the man to take the Tigers to the Promised Land? One Tiger says he’s made some strong impressions heading into the season opener against Miami on Sunday…
Cut 3 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The first of three public meetings discussing the I-10 Corridor Expansion Project in Baton Rouge kicks off today at 530PM. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30)  “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Louisiana Department of Health is reminding parents of the importance of kids getting the proper rest as it relates to health and well-being. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (27) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Is Joe Burrow the man to take the Tigers to the Promised Land? One Tiger says he’s made some strong impressions heading into the season opener against Miami on Sunday…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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The Department of Transportation will hold a series of three public meetings to discuss the 300 million dollar I-10 Corridor expansion project that’s set to break ground in the near future. The expansion will require building on 97 parcels of currently private land, which DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says is mostly vacant property, or tiny land plots, but acknowledges…

Cut 4 (07) “…be required”

The state slapped together the funds for the expansion by applying for GARVEY Bonds from the feds, which Louisiana will have to pay off over the next 12 years.

Baton Rouge traffic is notorious for being the worst in the State, and was ranked by the Texas Transportation Institute as the 13^th worst in the nation, and was by far the smallest population of any city in the top 15. Wilson says the people of BR are dying to have the problem addressed, which is why they are holding these public meetings.

Cut 5 (07) “…with that”

Wilson says estimates indicate without the expansion project, Baton Rouge’s current level of expansion would threaten to push rush hour wait times to even higher levels.

And for Baton Rouge residents terrified that the construction will exacerbate the city’s already tortuous traffic…

Cut 6 (09) “…lot better”

The first meeting will be held today at McKinley Middle School starting at 5:30PM, with the second meeting on Wednesday at the Addis Community Center, and the third meeting Thursday at the Baton Rouge Marriot.

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The summer break is in the rearview mirror as schools are back in session. The Louisiana Department of Health is reminding parents of the importance of kids getting the proper rest as it relates to health and well-being.  LDH Medical Director Administrator Dr. Martha Whyte says the lack of adequate sleep can have adverse effects.

Cut 7 (08) “…memory as well.”

Whyte says between the popularity of electronics, high caffeine beverages, and other factors, the age of children getting improper amounts of sleep is getting younger.

Cut 8 (11)  “…for their kids.”

Whyte says even on the weekends, the importance of the proper amount of sleep needs to be reinforced.

Cut 9 (08)  “…a little more flexible.”

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Louisiana Tech has received the top spot for 2018 for colleges in Louisiana from BestColleges.com.  For the rankings, the website analyzes admissions and retentions with data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and College Navigator.  Executive Director of Communications, Tonya Oaks Smith says it’s an honor that reinforces the school’s commitment to it’s students.

Cut 10 (09)   “…for Louisiana Tech.“

Smith says she believes much of the value comes down to the value.

Cut 11 (11) “…and the nation.” 

Smith adds the website cited the school’s wealth of online offerings as a strong contributing factor for its favorable ranking.

Cut 12 (12) “…within their schedule.”

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After a summer long quarterback competition, the Tiger’s finally have a winner, and that man is Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow. Burrow was favored by most analysts to win the job the moment he announced he was putting on the Purple and Gold. Tigers’ tight end Foster Moreau says Burrow locked down the gig by being all business from day one.

Cut 13 (11) “…hard worker.”

Burrow, the former four star prospect, was fighting a reportedly losing battle for the OSU starting position before he transferred to LSU. During his time with the Buckeyes he had a sky high 78 percent competition rating on a fairly small sample size of only 74 attempts. Moreau says he shocked the team day one with his explosive athleticism.

Cut 14 (10) “…right way”

But Head Coach Ed Orgeron says if Burrow can’t hack it out the gate and stumbles early, he’ll have no hesitations putting in redshirt freshman Myles Brennan who he says came close to getting the job in final grading. Moreau says he’s confident Brennan could take the helm if he were to get called up.

Cut 15 (09) “…bad happened”

Joe Burrow is listed on the depth chart as the starting quarterback on Sunday night against eighth ranked Miami. Coach Ed Orgeron held off on publicly announcing a starter when he met with the media earlier today, because he wanted to tell the team first. Coach O says Burrow and Myles Brennan were told of the decision this morning

Cut 12 (11)   “second team quarterback”

O warned that any early stumbles will result in Burrow handing the reigns over to backup Myles Brennan.

Despite the digital revolution, the forestry industry continues to grow in Louisiana. A new report says forestry accounts for 13 billion dollars in economic output to the state, and one billion in inflation adjusted with state and local taxes. LSU Ag Center Professor Shaun Tanger says while paper is down, paper related products are up.

Cut 3 (11) “…middle class”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries have issued a quarantine on the transportation and transplanting of Roseau Cane out of Southern Louisiana.  A small invasive insect known as the Roseau can scale was first discovered in the state in fall of 2016, and has destroyed wide swaths of the plant in coastal Louisiana.  LDWF Biologist Director Todd Baker says hunters often use the plant to build hunting blinds.

Cut 6 (05) “…cannot move cane.”

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season has delivered on its projections for below-average or near normal storm activity.  The season has only produced five named storms with two becoming hurricanes.  The hurricanes fizzled out in the Atlantic.  With nearly a month and a half without a hurricane, State Climatologist Berry Keim says we are currently in the often most-active portion of the season.  History will show late August hasn’t always been kind to the Bayou State.

Cut 10 (11) “…Isaac in 2012.”

Authorities say a Facebook post threat towards Louisiana Tech and Grambling State turned out to be fake. Don Molino has the story….

Cut 2 (26) “I’m Don Molino”  

Joe Burrow is listed on the depth chart as the starting quarterback on Sunday night against eighth ranked Miami. Coach Ed Orgeron told the team first today. Coach O says the battle to be LSU’s starting quarterback went right down to the end…

Cut 13 (06) “won out”

Despite the digital revolution, the forestry industry continues to grow in Louisiana. A new report says forestry accounts for 13 billion dollars in economic output to the state, and one billion in inflation adjusted with state and local taxes. LSU Ag Center Professor Shaun Tanger says  the industry accounts for roughly 50,000 jobs state wide through direct and indirect employment, and that it’s been on a statewide uptick for nearly a decade.

Cut 4 (09) “…upward trend”

The 2018 Atlantic hurricane season has delivered on its projections for below-average or near normal storm activity.  The season has only produced five named storms with two becoming hurricanes.  The hurricanes fizzled out in the Atlantic.  With nearly a month and a half without a hurricane, State Climatologist Berry Keim says that’s a relief that doesn’t occur often.

Cut 9 (07) “…August the 27th.”

Keim says we are currently in the often most-active portion of the season.