The fight for more flood recovery dollars continues today, as Congress reconvenes after the election. Michelle Southern has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Today is the last day to register with FEMA for disaster assistance. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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It will be a heated GOP-dominated runoff in the 3^rd Congressional District, as Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle and Capt. Clay Higgins go head to head. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Congress reconvenes today, which means Louisiana’s congressional delegation will resume its efforts to get more federal funds appropriated for flood recovery. Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves says right now the state still needs to come up with a plan for spending the $438 million they’ve already received.

cut 4  (10) “an urgency”

The Governor’s Office says the Restore Louisiana Task Force has delayed a vote on how to allocate the funds because the money is tied up in red tape. But Graves says even though they need HUD’s approval, the state should still submit one sooner rather than later.

Cut 5  (09)  “those dollars”

Graves says at this point, they aren’t sure how many payments Louisiana will receive because president-elect Donald Trump’s victory changes the dynamic. He says they’ll probably have to approve a short-term plan before he takes office in January.

Cut 6 (12) “appropriations bill”

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Today is the final day for flood victims to register for Disaster Assistance. Ray Perez with FEMA says approximately 152-thousand individuals have registered for federal aid. He says families are finally able to start the recovery process.

CUT 7 (08)  “or whatever”

Today is also the final day to submit a disaster loan application to the Small Business Administration. Perez says the SBA has already approved $1.15 billion dollars in low interest loans. He says victims are also getting money from National Flood Insurance and even more is expected to be issued.

Cut 8 (09) “been settled”

To apply for federal disaster aid visit disaster-assistance-dot-gov (disasterassistance.org). Perez says just because registration stops today, does not mean that the work stops. He says FEMA will be in Louisiana for the long term because they’re just getting started.

Cut 9 (10)  “file appeals”

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Gas prices have once again dipped below two dollars. Senior Petroleum Analyst with GasBuddy.com, Gregg Laskoski says the nation is seeing prices five cents lower than a week ago, with Louisiana being four cents lower. He says there is a very good chance we will see these gas prices continuing to decline.

Cut 10 (09)          “record high

Laskoski says retail gasoline prices are moving lower and crude oil prices are trading in a steady but narrow range. He says we typically see significant decreases in price through November and December.

cut 11 (08) “refinery production”

Laskoski says these decreases are the continuation of the significant trend of prices dropping lower than they were a year ago.

cut 12 (08) “dramatic”

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Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle is up against fellow GOP contender Capt. Clay Higgins in the runoff for the 3^rd Congressional District seat. Higgins is confident he will win soundly, and he says he feels good going into the runoff. He says if elected, he will not be a part of the corruption in Washington.

Cut 13 (09) “hard work”

Higgins, like many candidates this year, has presented himself as an outsider to voters. He adds that Angelle has been in politics most of his life.

cut 14 (08) “career politician”

Angelle believes he is in a strong position going into the runoff, as he beat Higgins in the polls by three percent. But he says he’s not taking anything for granted.

Cut 15 (07) “great again”

Angelle says he has a long history of disrupting the status quo, which he says is what voters want to see in their elected officials. He says south Louisiana needs a champion in Washington.

Cut 16  (08)  “to work”

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The Golden Boot Trophy is back in Baton Rouge as a result of LSU’s dominating 38-10 win over Arkansas in Razorback Stadium. It’s the Tigers first win over the Hogs since 2013. Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron says the players were determined to get a win in Fayetteville…

Cut 17 (15)” football team”  (2x)

The Tigers won thanks to a stingy defense that forced three turnovers and a ground game that couldn’t be stopped. LSU had 390 yards rushing. Derrius Guice led the way with 252 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Orgeron says he still had faith in his offense after a tough performance against Alabama…

Cut 18 (18) “ against Florida”

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The Saints lost in a shocking manner on Sunday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as Denver blocks an extra point with 1:22 left in the game and returned it for two points for a 25-23 victory. Will Parks returned the blocked kick for a score. It appeared he may have stepped out of bounds, as he raced to the end zone. Coach Sean Payton was ok with the officials not reversing the call…

Cut 19 (10)   “understand”

The Saints nearly won this game, despite committing four turnovers. Quarterback Drew Brees touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks tied the game, but a jubilant Dome went silent when the blocked kick was returned for a score. The loss drops New Orleans record to 4-5. Payton says the team will have to bounce back, with Carolina coming up on Thursday…

cut 20 (09) “next game”

College students in Louisiana have disappointing news heading their way, as letters are being sent out this week reminding them they will owe 60-percent of their spring tuition in January. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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The Louisiana Policy Institute conducted a report on the benefits of the school readiness tax credits. Emelie Gunn has more on the results…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Governor John Bel Edwards is asking a Baton Rouge court to outline Attorney General Jeff Landry’s political power. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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This week thousands of Louisiana college students will have a difficult decision to make, as they’re reminded they will owe almost 60-perent of their semester’s tuition in January. For the first time in its history, TOPS will not cover a recipient’s entire tuition because the legislature was not able to fully fund the program. Higher Ed Commissioner Joe Rallo says some students could be forced to drop out.

cut 4  (09) “in time”

Rallo says there’s scarce resources available to fully fund the scholarship program and the problem could continue as the state is facing more mid-year budget cuts are expected. But he is optimistic TOPS will always be around in some fashion.

Cut 5  (09)  “toward TOPS”

Rallo says higher education is about the student’s future and hopes students make the decision to invest in this opportunity. He says even without TOPS, there are funding options, which is why high school grads are required to file for FAFSA.

Cut 6 (10) “those dollars”

The average LSU student will owe more than $2-thousand for the spring tuition, not including fees.

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The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children released a report on how the school readiness tax credits are benefiting the state. Melanie Brofin with L-P-I-C says the incentive helps working families afford and access early care and education for children up to 4 years old. She says the program is moving in the right direction.

CUT 7 (10)  “gotten credentials”

Over 14-thousand families have claimed the credit to fund early childcare or preschool. Brofin says the school readiness tax credits have been very effective and they’re hoping it will be approved in the upcoming legislative session.

Cut 8 (07) “very effective”

Funding to support early child care and education from kids 0 to 3 has been cut by close to 70-percent. And Brofin says the slots available are of better quality but unfortunately the number of slots has been decreasing because of cuts in funding to the program. She says more than 20-thousand families who qualify are not getting assistance.

Cut 9 (09)  “coming session”

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The quarrel between Governor John Bel Edwards and Attorney General Jeff Landry continues, as the governor is asking a Baton Rouge court to define Landry’s role in state government. Publisher of LaPolitics.com, Jeremy Alford, says Landry has interpreted his role to be much further reaching than his predecessors, and the two officials disagree about how much power the AG should have.

Cut 10 (10)  “traditional boundaries”

Edwards is asking the court to rule that the governor prevails when state leaders disagree about legal matters. Alford says this lawsuit could be a response to another suit the AG filed over an executive order banning LGBT discrimination, in which the court ruled in Landry’s favor. Alford says this new ruling could impact much more than just that executive order.

cut 11 (11) “as well”

If the court rules in the governor’s favor Wednesday, Landry would not be able to prevent Edwards from hiring attorneys to file lawsuits against oil companies for coastal damages. Alford says Louisiana has become increasingly partisan over the past couple of terms, and this dispute is the product of that divide.

cut 12 (10) “for Louisiana”

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Northwestern State University has received the 2017 Military Friendly School designation by Victory Media. N-S-U Vice President of Technology Darlene Williams says they are proud to be recognized for their efforts to provide educational opportunities for military students and their families.

Cut 13 (07) “friendly school”

Williams says they have a long history of working with and serving the military with their relationships with Fort Polk and Barksdale Airforce Base. She says they also have a nationally ranked online degree program.

cut 14 (10) “of honor”

More than 16-hundred schools were considered for the honor. Williams hopes receiving designations like this will bring in more military students to the school. She says they have specific services in order to responsive to the needs of these students.

Cut 15 (10) “that group”

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UL-Lafayette head football coach Mark Hudspeth publicly apologized for the behavior of four of his players who were recorded in the locker room singing an anti-Donald Trump rap song filled with vulgarities. Hudspeth says these young men have shown remorse for their actions.

Cut 16 (15)” promoted there”

Hudspeth says the four players in the video have been punished, but did not say how. He says they also have taken steps to ensure the locker room breeds an environment of discipline, relaxation and comfort.

Cut 17 (18) “headphones”

Hudspeth says the team will also partake in one-thousand hours of community service by visiting every middle school and high school in Acadiana.

Cut 18 (20) “ social media”

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For the second time this season, 16th ranked LSU is getting ready to play a game against the 21st ranked Florida Gators. The two schools were scheduled to play each other October 8th, but Hurricane Matthew postponed the contest. Florida is now 7-3 record, they lead the SEC East at 5-and-2 and they have one of the top defenses in the league…

Cut 19 (13)   “lot of speed” (2x)

According to reports out of Florida, seven starters for the Gators are already ruled out for the game, including quarterback Luke Del Rio, and two more are questionable. Saturday is Senior Day and Coach O says that’s  one of the many reasons the team wants to beat the Gators in a bad way…

cut 20 (17) “ready to play”

The fight for more flood recovery dollars continues today, as Congress reconvenes after the election. Emelie Gunn has the story…

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Today is the last day to register with FEMA for disaster assistance. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

It will be a heated GOP-dominated runoff in the 3^rd Congressional District, as Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle and Capt. Clay Higgins go head to head. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Congress reconvenes today, which means Louisiana’s congressional delegation will resume its efforts to get more federal funds appropriated for flood recovery. Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves says right now the state still needs to come up with a plan for spending the $438 million they’ve already received.

cut 4  (10) “an urgency”

The Governor’s Office says the Restore Louisiana Task Force has delayed a vote on how to allocate the funds because the money is tied up in red tape. But Graves says even though they need HUD’s approval, the state should still submit one sooner rather than later.

Cut 5  (09)  “those dollars”

Graves says at this point, they aren’t sure how many payments Louisiana will receive because president-elect Donald Trump’s victory changes the dynamic. He says they’ll probably have to approve a short-term plan before he takes office in January.

Cut 6 (12) “appropriations bill”

____________________________________________

Today is the final day for flood victims to register for Disaster Assistance. Ray Perez with FEMA says approximately 152-thousand individuals have registered for federal aid. He says families are finally able to start the recovery process.

CUT 7 (08)  “or whatever”

Today is also the final day to submit a disaster loan application to the Small Business Administration. Perez says the SBA has already approved $1.15 billion dollars in low interest loans. He says victims are also getting money from National Flood Insurance and even more is expected to be issued.

Cut 8 (09) “been settled”

To apply for federal disaster aid visit disaster-assistance-dot-gov (disasterassistance.org). Perez says just because registration stops today, does not mean that the work stops. He says FEMA will be in Louisiana for the long term because they’re just getting started.

Cut 9 (10)  “file appeals”

___________________________________________

Gas prices have once again dipped below two dollars. Senior Petroleum Analyst with GasBuddy.com, Gregg Laskoski says the nation is seeing prices five cents lower than a week ago, with Louisiana being four cents lower. He says there is a very good chance we will see these gas prices continuing to decline.

Cut 10 (09)          “record high

Laskoski says retail gasoline prices are moving lower and crude oil prices are trading in a steady but narrow range. He says we typically see significant decreases in price through November and December.

cut 11 (08) “refinery production”

Laskoski says these decreases are the continuation of the significant trend of prices dropping lower than they were a year ago.

cut 12 (08) “dramatic”

______________________________________________________

Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle is up against fellow GOP contender Capt. Clay Higgins in the runoff for the 3^rd Congressional District seat. Higgins is confident he will win soundly, and he says he feels good going into the runoff. He says if elected, he will not be a part of the corruption in Washington.

Cut 13 (09) “hard work”

Higgins, like many candidates this year, has presented himself as an outsider to voters. He adds that Angelle has been in politics most of his life.

cut 14 (08) “career politician”

Angelle believes he is in a strong position going into the runoff, as he beat Higgins in the polls by three percent. But he says he’s not taking anything for granted.

Cut 15 (07) “great again”

Angelle says he has a long history of disrupting the status quo, which he says is what voters want to see in their elected officials. He says south Louisiana needs a champion in Washington.

Cut 16  (08)  “to work”

______________________________________________________________

The Golden Boot Trophy is back in Baton Rouge as a result of LSU’s dominating 38-10 win over Arkansas in Razorback Stadium. It’s the Tigers first win over the Hogs since 2013. Interim Head Coach Ed Orgeron says the players were determined to get a win in Fayetteville…

Cut 17 (15)” football team”  (2x)

The Tigers won thanks to a stingy defense that forced three turnovers and a ground game that couldn’t be stopped. LSU had 390 yards rushing. Derrius Guice led the way with 252 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Orgeron says he still had faith in his offense after a tough performance against Alabama…

Cut 18 (18) “ against Florida”

________________________________________________________

The Saints lost in a shocking manner on Sunday afternoon in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as Denver blocks an extra point with 1:22 left in the game and returned it for two points for a 25-23 victory. Will Parks returned the blocked kick for a score. It appeared he may have stepped out of bounds, as he raced to the end zone. Coach Sean Payton was ok with the officials not reversing the call…

Cut 19 (10)   “understand”

The Saints nearly won this game, despite committing four turnovers. Quarterback Drew Brees touchdown pass to Brandin Cooks tied the game, but a jubilant Dome went silent when the blocked kick was returned for a score. The loss drops New Orleans record to 4-5. Payton says the team will have to bounce back, with Carolina coming up on Thursday…

cut 20 (09) “next game”

All of this dry weather in Louisiana is adding up, and drought conditions have gripped the state. Jeff Palermo reports…:

CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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State Police reminds parents and drivers to be vigilant during Halloween. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Many children in the U.S. are not being vaccinated with the HPV vaccine. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The lack of rain during the month of October in Louisiana has caused drough conditions to develop throughout the region. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the US drought monitor shows 73% of the Bayou State is in drought, and the remaining 27% is considered abnormally dry. He says it’s brutally dry out there…:

cut 4  (10) “of normal rainfall”

Keim says this is considered the 5th driest October since 1895, and it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting any more rain this week either. He says it’s incredible that we went from the August storm event of Biblical proportions and recording breaking flooding, to drought…:

Cut 5  (09)  “use some rain”

Keim says the upside is that this dry weather helps people who are trying to rebuild their homes…:

Cut 6 (10) “for this time of year”

____________________________________________

State Police is giving parents some tips to make sure their trick-or-treaters have a memorable Halloween. Trooper Bryan Lee says it’s a really exciting holiday for kids, so whether you’re taking them out or driving down the roads, it’s important to be vigilant. He says always make sure kids are visible.

CUT 7 (10)  “the street”

Lee reminds parents that masks can often restrict breathing and sight, so make sure your child can see and breathe while wearing their costume. He says it’s always a good idea to check out the sex offender registry before hitting the streets for trick-or-treating at LSP.org.

Cut 8 (08) “are present”

Lee asks drivers to slow down while driving through neighborhoods and avoid distractions. He says historically, Halloween is a deadly holiday when it comes to driving…

Cut 9 (11)  “ride home”

___________________________________________

Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Joe Rallo is visiting north Louisiana this week to engage stakeholders and learn about issues facing that region of Louisiana. Rallo says he will provide an overview and an update on the realities of higher education. He says the upcoming legislative session and how it will impact universities will be a big topic of discussion.

Cut 10 (10) “44%”

Rallo says his message will be that public higher education is an investment, not a cost and hopes people will talk with their legislators to ensure it doesn’t faces more cuts. He says in his two years in this position, he’s learned that each region in Louisiana is different and wants to address all the issues they face.

cut 11 (10) “exciting”

Rallo says he’s excited to get a chance to talk with people in north Louisiana because they are very committed to excelling their communities. He says they are aware of the role higher education plays and how they can help

cut 12 (06) “education”

______________________________________________________

The HPV vaccine is a great way to limit a child’s chance of future cancer. That’s according to CDC Director of Immunization Services Dr. Melinda Wharton who says during the ages of 11 and 12, children should be receiving the two shot vaccine..

Cut 13 (11) “anal cancer”

Wharton says the protection received from this vaccine is long lasting and will continue into adulthood. But she says nationally, only about 63-percent of girls have received at least one dose and that number is even lower for boys and the numbers for Louisiana children are similar.

cut 14 (10) “say okay”

Wharton advises parents to bring this up with your child’s pediatrician if it’s not already mentioned. She says when the vaccine was originally introduced, it was recommended that a child get three separate immunizations.

Cut 15 (09) “months later”