Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards files a lawsuit against Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry because his office has rejected at least 40 contracts that have an anti-discrimination clause providing protections for L-G-B-T citizens. Landry says he’s trying to protect the taxpayer…
cut 16 (10) “…the state”
But Edwards says apparently the A-G believes the state should discriminate against a certain group of people…
cut 15 (06) “….particular issue”
Back in April, the governor issued an executive order that prohibits state government from discriminating against gay and transgender individuals.

Governor John Bel Edwards will be out of the country next week. His office released a statement today that says he’ll be in Cuba on a trade mission.

The President has signed a proposal that would put $400 million towards disaster aid in Louisiana, but it could still be months before we see it. Michelle Southern reports…:
voicer 2 (31) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

The creepy clown story won’t go away. Major Malcom Wolfe with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says they put to rest a sighting on Thursday near the wood line behind an apartment complex, as an 11-year-old boy came forward…:
CUT 6 (09) “his friends”
The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office has received threats related to clowns and had to put the schools on a soft lockdown as a result.

Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards plans to sue Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry for blocking state contracts that contain clauses preventing LGBT discrimination. Edwards says Landry is over stepping his constitutional powers…

Cut 13 (10) “his own”

But Landry says the governor is going against the will of the legislature, because they have rejected proposals to provide protections for gay and transgender individuals.

Four hundred million dollars in flood recovery aid is coming to Louisiana. Executive Director of the state Office of Community Development, Pat Forbes says Congress is expected to approve another relief package in December.

Cut 8 (10) “get that”

Forbes says it will take a couple of months to get the first installment of money in the hands of flood victims, because a federal agency has to sign off on the plans.

An opioid epidemic in Louisiana is leading to more deaths and higher insurance costs. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says one in six injured workers in Louisiana had longer term use of prescription painkillers than workers in the other 24 states in a study by Workers Compensation Research Institute. He says this is a cost factor for employers accessing coverage for the workers in the workers comp market.

Cut 11 (09) “the employer”

Donelon says in 2014, 750 people died of opioid overdoses in Louisiana.

More creepy clowns are showing up around the state, as there were two more sightings in Terrebonne parish. Maj. Malcom Wolfe with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says both of the incidents were reported Wednesday.

Cut 5 (12) “light on”

Governor John Bel Edwards said today that he plans to sue Attorney General Jeff Landry for his refusal to approve contracts that contain non-discrimination clauses. The AG’s office isn’t to sign off on legal matters that contain protections for the LGBT community, and Edwards says Landry is on the wrong side of the law and history over the matter. Landry says the governor’s executive order regarding the non-discrimination clauses goes against the will of the legislature.

Mortality rates in the US are rising and Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it’s due in part to more people overdosing on drugs. He says in 2014, 750 people died of opioid overdoses in Louisiana and this is causing workers comp insurance to rise — but that’s the least of the concern…:
cut 12 (11) “loved ones”

More and more creepy clowns are popping up around the Bayou State. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Louisiana National Guard says the bunker that exploded at Camp Minden operated the way it was designed to handle such a blast, as it contained and controlled the M6 propellant. Matt Harris with Louisiana State Police says no people or property were hurt in the explosion…:
Cut 13 (07) “surrounding area”
Explosive Service International is responsible for the destruction of all 15 million pounds of explosives being stored at Camp Minden.

$400 million in federal disaster aid is coming to Louisiana, but it could still be months before we see the “down payment.” The federal government needs to make rules on how that money can be spent, then state and local leaders need to assign how it plans to use the dollars. State Office of Community Development head Pat Forbes says this first shot of money is a sure sign we can expect more help from Washington moving forward…:
CUT 9 (10) “in their homes”
Congress is expected to approve another relief package in December.

Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry had a sit down at the Capitol today to discuss their several disagreements. The governor’s office has stalled Landry’s budget requests, and the AG’s office has refused to approve some state contracts. Edwards is holding a news conference this afternoon to discuss the meeting.

The clowns just won’t go away and now law enforcement throughout the state is on high alert to try to diffuse these incidents that are freaking people out. Malcom Wolfe with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says they put to rest a sighting on Thursday near the wood line behind an apartment complex, as an 11-year-old boy came forward…:
CUT 6 (09) “his friends”
The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office has received threats related to clowns and had to put the schools on a soft lockdown as a result.

Hurricane Matthew has now been upgraded to a category 3 storm with winds of 115 miles per hour. Matthew is a threat to Jamaica and Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center. Forecasters do not expect Matthew to reach the Gulf of Mexico.

President Obama has signed the bill that provides 500 million dollars in federal disaster aid. Executive Director of the state Office of Community Development Pat Forbes says Louisiana is expected to get a little over 400 million dollars of that to help where it’s needed most…:
CUT 7 (10) “mortgage assistance”
Forbes says it will take a couple of months before the money appropriated by Congress gets in the hands of flood victims.

Rapides Parish Schools are on a soft lockdown after the Sheriff’s Office received a nonspecific Instagram threat believed to be linked to the creepy clown sightings. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Tommy Carnline…:
CUT 3 (10) “it seriously”
Carnline reminds these clowns that it is against the law to wear a mask in public outside of Halloween and Mardi Gras.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is concerned about the rising number of deaths from prescription opioid overdoses in Louisiana, and the costs associated with prescription pill addiction. Donelon says for the first time since the Vietnam War, the life expectancy has gone down for white males ages 25 to 35, and he says that’s due in part to the opioid epidemic in the US…:
cut 10 (09) “white males”
Donelon says in 2014, 750 people died of opioid overdoses in Louisiana.

The Louisiana National Guard says the bunker that exploded at Camp Minden operated the way it was designed to handle such a blast, as it contained and controlled the M6 propellant. Matt Harris with Louisiana State Police says they still aren’t sure exactly why the M6 went off spontaneously, but their investigation into the matter is ongoing…:
Cut 15 (09) “the future”

The movie “Deepwater Horizon” premieres in theaters across the country tonight. It promises to give movie goers an inside look at what happened before the 2010 disaster that killed 11 oil rig workers. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says he’s already seen it and it’s well done…
cut 6 (08) “…their life”
The movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Kate Hudson and Kurt Russell.

A preliminary investigation into yesterday’s morning explosion at Camp Minden in Webster Parish ahs determined it occurred in a storage bunker where no one was working. State Trooper Matt Harris says the earth covered bunkers are made to withstand that kind of blast to keep the debris and the damage to minimum….
cut 14 (07) “…years ago”
Harris says on the other side of the facility, work continues to destroy the M-6 propellant.

New flood insurance rate maps go into effect today in the New Orleans area. About 60-thousand homeowners will be shifted from a high risk mandatory purchase area to a low to moderate risk area, which means flood insurance is no longer required. David Maurstad, with FEMA, says if a homeowner’s risk goes down, they still need to be ready for the next flooding event…
cut 8 (11) “…affordable policy”

The Wildest Show in the South gets underway this weekend, as the Angola Rodeo returns Sunday on the grounds of the state prison. Angola spokesperson Gary Young says the rodeo is held every Sunday in October, and the gates open at 9am…:
Cut 10 (10) “and crafts”
For more information, visit angolarodeo.com.

The Deepwater Horizon movie opens in theaters nationwide today. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser was the president of Plaquemines Parish when the rig exploded off the coast of Louisiana, killing 11 and causing the worst offshore oil disaster in US history. He says many things can be learned from this horrific experience and by watching the reenactment…:
Cut 5 (07) “valuable lessons”
The movie was filmed in Louisiana.

The Angola Prison Rodeo kicks off this weekend. The Wildest Show in the South takes place annually every Sunday in October, and is arguably one of the most popular events in the state. Many people go just for the low prices on beautiful arts and crafts made by the inmates, and Angola spokesperson Gary Young says the prisoners get to keep some of that cash:
CUT 12 (09) “their self-esteem”
Get your tickets early at angolarodeo.com.

LSU fans will be watching close tomorrow night to see how interim head coach Ed Orgeron is going to handle the team and, particularly, the offense. The Bayou Bengals take on Missouri in Death Valley. College Football analyst Mike Detillier says the players to this point have needed jumper cables…:
CUT 18 (08) “under Orgeron”
The game kicks off at 6:30.

Beautiful weather is on tap for this weekend as cool, crisp air is pushing in from Canada, according to forecasters. They say this morning most areas woke up to temperatures in the 50s for the first time since early May. High temperatures today will be in the low 80s. Tomorrow it’ll be more of the same but a slight warm up is expected Sunday.

Hurricane Matthew continues to be strong over the central Caribbean. Strengthening is forecast and Matthew could be a Category 3 major hurricane today. The east coast may be threatened early next week, but the National Hurricane Center thinks Matthew will steer clear of the Gulf.

One of the most popular annual events in the state gets underway this weekend. The Angola Prison Rodeo, dubbed The Wildest Show in the South, takes place every year on Sundays in October and there are 5 in 2016. Angola spokesperson Gary Young says it’s more than just inmates riding bulls…:
cut 11 (09) “at 2pm”
The event is best known for its arts and crafts.

The Louisiana National Guard says the bunker that exploded at Camp Minden operated the way it was designed to handle such a blast, as it contained and controlled the M6 propellant. Matt Harris with Louisiana State Police says no people or property were hurt in the explosion…:
Cut 13 (07) “surrounding area”
Explosive Service International is responsible for the destruction of all 15 million pounds of explosives being stored at Camp Minden.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office says area schools are on a “soft lock down” because of what they call nonspecific social media threats that may be linked to clown sightings. They say initial indications show that this message may have also circulated in south Louisiana yesterday. Deputies are on higher alert than usual and extra patrols in Rapides Parish have been dispatched to keep watches on schools.

Tomorrow night will be the first time LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron will get to show whether he has what it takes to turn the season around. Halen Doughty reports…:
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Deepwater Horizon film premieres in theaters nationwide today. Emelie Gunn spoke with Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser who was Plaquemines Parish president during the 2010 rig explosion…:
CUT 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Matthew could become a major hurricane later today or tonight. They say it’s continued to strengthen overnight to become Category 2. On the forecast path, Matthew would not threaten the Gulf of Mexico. It could be a threat to the US East Coast next week.

New flood insurance rates are going into effect today and it means good news for the three southeast Louisiana parishes impacted. Officials say with the new maps, residents in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Bernard Parishes can expect flood insurance to be more affordable than ever. But FEMA Assistant Administrator, David Maurstad, says even though they’ve improved flood control infrastructure in these areas, it’s still a risk for flooding…:
Cut 9 (08) “maintain it”

The Wildest Show in the South gets underway this weekend, as the Angola Rodeo returns Sunday on the grounds of the state prison. Angola spokesperson Gary Young says the rodeo is held every Sunday in October, and the gates open at 9am…:
Cut 10 (10) “and crafts”
For more information, visit angolarodeo.com.