US Senator David Vitter has sent a letter to Florida Governor Rick Scott asking him to intervene in the matter of the Gator/LSU game not being moved from Gainesville on Saturday, as a Category 4 hurricane heads to the state. Vitter says the people of Louisiana are very familiar with the dangers associated with hurricanes of this magnitude, and the University of Florida should consider moving or rescheduling the game. Florida has said they only plan to change the time and that announcement is coming at noon.

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear former-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s appeal of his 2014 public corruption conviction. Legal analyst Chick Foret says this means Nagin will have to serve out the remaining 8 years of his 10 year sentence, because there is no other court that can hear his appeal…:
CUT 3 (08) “were meritless”
Nagin is the first New Orleans mayor to be convicted of public corruption.

LSU announces the search has begun to find a new live mascot to replace the ailing Mike VI. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says a traffic stop along I-10 in Port Allen resulted in the seizure of millions of dollars worth of cocaine. They say 44-year-old Jesus Alberto Villafranco, of Deer Park, Texas, was arrested after a search of his vehicle turned up nearly 70 pounds of cocaine hidden in a compartment beneath a tow trailer. Authorities said the total street value of the drugs is more than $3 million.

After announcing the grim news that LSU’s Mike the Tiger has only one to two months to live, LSU says they’re searching for a new young tiger to become Mike VII. But Manager of Captive Wildlife Protection with the Human Society Debra Leahy says the Humane Society has started a petition to end the live mascot program because it would be tragic, if LSU contributes to the cruel animal trade industry.
CUT 7 (10) “deficient diet”

We’re expecting an announcement shortly from The University of Florida updating fans on the time for this Saturday’s LSU-Florida game in Gainsville as Hurricane Matthew is rapidly approaching. LSU’s Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says they are looking at all of their options, but the safety of the fans and the players is most important.
Cut 15 (08) “in Gainesville”

The federal government has set a goal for zero traffic deaths within the next 30 years. The federal transportation department says self-driving cars could make that possible. Louisiana Highway Safety Commissioner Dr. Katara Williams believes autonomous vehicles could play a role in safer highways. But she says it’s too early to tell just yet, as many of these self-driving cars are still in the prototype phase.
Cut 13 (08) “our highways”

Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson is expected to be the new president of the University of Louisiana System, being the only candidate to go before the Board of Supervisors at 11 o’clock today. Henderson says he has immense love for the Natchitoches school, but he says he has ties to many Louisiana universities.
Cut 9 (11) “Southeastern grad”

In the wake of heartbreaking news that Mike the Tiger’s cancer is spreading, LSU announces the search is on for a new live mascot. Mike’s veterinarian Dr. David Baker says they intend to find a young male tiger in need of a good home. He says many times the government places animals in sanctuaries and doesn’t provide the fund for their care…:
cut 4 (09) “will take”
But those who don’t want to see live tigers being used as mascots accuse LSU of fueling exotic animal trade.

Florida football officials believe they’ll still be able to host LSU in Gainesville on Saturday despite the approaching category 4 Hurricane Matthew. The Gators say they start time of 11am may have to change.
LSU Athletics spokesman Michael Bonnette says they are looking at all of the options..:
CUT 16 (09) “into this”
More news is coming down today on this at noon.

The Transportation Department has outlined a plan it says works towards the federal government’s goal of zero traffic fatalities within the next 30 years. Louisiana Highway Safety Commissioner Dr. Katara Williams says self driving cars could eventually be a potential solution but it’s way too early to tell just yet…:
CUT 13 (08) “our highways”
She says they are working hard always to raise awareness about safe driving habits like buckling up, getting off your phone and not driving drunk.

Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson is expected to become the new president of the University of Louisiana System. He goes before the board today as the only candidate. Henderson says if the job didn’t allow him to continue to work with Northwestern, he wouldn’t even consider it. He says he cares about Louisiana’s universities and has ties to many…:
CUT 9 (11) “Southeastern grad”
Henderson has been the Northwestern president since January of 2015.

As Hurricane Mathew churns towards the Florida coast, University of Florida officials say they will not move Saturday’s LSU-Florida game out of Gainesville. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

LSU is looking for a new live mascot now that Mike VI has sadly been given only a couple more months to live due to his cancer spreading. His vet Dr. David Baker says they will focus on finding the tiger that’s best for LSU to become Mike VII…:
Cut 5 (09) “wildlife conservation”

The UL-System Board of Supervisors today is expected to select Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson as its next leader. Henderson is the only candidate being interviewed for the job. He says he wants to do what he can to provide more opportunities for students in Louisiana…:
CUT 10 (07) “that direction”
He says one of the major things he would address as UL-System president is the rising cost of higher education.

A Grand Jury in Baton Rouge has formally charged the former assistant principal accused in the death of Lyntell Washington and her unborn baby. 39-year-old Robert Marks was handed a true bill for second degree murder and second degree feticide. Washington was positively identified as the badly decomposed body found in a ditch in Rosedale in June.

Cops in Monroe say a man is charged for allegedly speeding in excess of nearly 150 miles per hour in his Corvette so his front seat passenger could get the travel reading on Snapchat. John Pruett was booked for one count of reckless operation.

Hurricane Matthew is forecast to be a category 4 storm as it approaches the east coast of Florida, where it’s expected to hit the warning areas late today and spread north through the state tomorrow. But officials with the University of Florida say the LSU game Saturday will not be moved out of Gainesville. But LSU Sports Information Director Michael Bonnette says the Gators may have to move to a neutral location…:
CUT 16 (09) “into this”
Bonnette says they’re doing their best to keep Tiger fans in the loop about game decisions.

Mike the Tiger’s latest prognosis of only living another couple of months has LSU looking for another live mascot, but not everyone is happy about it. Manager of Captive Wildlife Protection with the Humane Society, Debra Leahy, says no reputable facility would turn over a tiger to be used as a mascot…:
Cut 6 (06) “somewhere”

The new president of the University of Louisiana system has all but been selected, as there is only one candidate for the position. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The federal government has set a goal for zero traffic fatalities within the next 30 years. Louisiana Highway Safety Commissioner Dr. Katara Williams says drivers must put down their cellphones when they’re behind the wheel, buckle up, and never drive drunk…:
cut 12 (09) “right choices”

The University of Florida announces that Saturday’s LSU-Florida game will not be moved out of Gainesville, even as Hurricane Matthew is approaches the Sunshine State. But it’s still up in the air on whether or not the 11am kickoff will have to be delayed. LSU’s Sports Information Director, Michael Bonnette, says they expect to have more information by noon today.
cut 14 (07) “to do”

LSU announces the search has begun to find a new live mascot to replace the ailing Mike VI. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The federal government has set a goal for zero traffic fatalities within the next 30 years. The Transportation Department has outlined a plan that includes increasing seatbelt use and more rumble strips. Louisiana Highway Safety Commissioner Dr. Katara Williams says that’s the perfect ultimate goal, because even one traffic fatality is one too many.
cut 11 (08) “slight increases”

Northwestern State University President Jim Henderson is expected to become the new president of the University of Louisiana System, as he is the only candidate that will go before the Board of Supervisors today. Henderson says if selected for the position, there are some obvious problems he plans to tackle.
Cut 8 (11) “address that”

Research by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity finds Louisiana has more opioid prescriptions than residents. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Residents of Jefferson Parish are demanding that Parish President Mike Yenni resign as a result of allegations that claim he sent a 17-year-old boy sexually explicit texts. This resident urges the council to take action..
cut 11 (10) “…don’t hide’
Yenni was absent from the council meeting.

Sad news today about L-S-U’s live mascot, Mike the Tiger. His veterinarian, Doctor David Baker, says the tumor on his face has resumed growing and his cancer has spread, and the 420-pound Tiger only has one to two months to live. Baker says Mike will no longer receive radiation treatment and their plan is to give the LSU community time to say their goodbyes…
cut 4 (11) “…hospice care”
The doctor says they plan to euthanize Mike, once it gets to become too painful for him to live. Baker added that LSU has instructed him to find another live mascot.

Despite Hurricane Matthew’s threat on the east coast, the LSU-Florida game is still scheduled to be played in Gainesville, but it’s unclear whether it will kick-off at 11 AM on Saturday. Officials say a final decision on the start time will be made by noon central time tomorrow. But there are no plans to move the game out of Gainesville.