The National Flood Insurance Program has issued over one billion dollars to help Louisiana policyholders impacted by the historic August flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (24) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A record number of Louisianians turned out to early vote in the November 8th election Tuesday — at just over 87,000, a 58% increase over the 2012 Presidential race. The top three early voting parishes were Orleans , East Baton Rouge, and St Tammany. You can cast your ballot now through November 1st except on Sunday, and get voter information including polling location online at geauxvote.com.

The Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center is making donations to community groups assisting with flood relief efforts in south Louisiana. Executive Director Cashauna Hill says $200-thousand dollars from their Baton Rouge Revitalization Fund will be distributed among faith-based and nonprofit organizations…:
Cut 10 (09) “to recovery”
Hill says organizations in the greater Baton Rouge area will receive a portion of these grants.

A traffic stop in Covington led deputies to a disturbing discovery that alarmed law enforcement authorities, and netted a couple behind bars. Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says Monroe Myers and his girlfriend, Winter Flowers, had heroin, methamphetamine, a large amount of cash, and drug paraphernalia — and a sawed off 20 gauge shotgun disguised as a children’s toy…:
cut 14 (11) “dangerous weapon”
The couple was residing in a Covington area hotel, and each face many charges.

Louisiana flood victims have received over one billion dollars in flood insurance payments in less than three months after the historic flooding. Wayne Berggren (Berg-gren) with the National Flood Insurance Program says they’ve seen over 29-thousand claims submitted for review and payment and of that 48-percent have been closed out…:
CUT 7 (08) “flood insurance”
Berggren says the average payment a homeowner covered under the National Flood Insurance Program is about $68,000.

A dangerous couple is behind bars following a traffic stop in Covington that led to a disturbing discovery. Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says Monroe Myers and his girlfriend, Winter Flowers, were pulled over for a missing taillight…:
Cut 13 (07) “drug paraphernalia”
He says deputies also discovered a sawed off 20 gauge shotgun disguised as a children’s toy. The two face several charges.

LSU Health New Orleans is offering free well water testing in areas affected by the historic flooding in August. Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Adrienne Katner says test kits that could be used to analyze for metals and bacteria will be distributed to French Settlement in Livingston Parish this week…:
cut 4 (10) “the well”
To learn more about the study email well-testing-at-L-S-U-H-S-C-dot-edu.

Two former high ranking officials at Angola are expected to turn themselves in today amid allegations they stole at least $160,000 dollars from a fund intended to benefit employees at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Col. Shirley Whittington and former Lt. Col. Deborah Leonard, are each wanted on warrants of felony theft over $25,000.

Research from the American Cancer Society finds Louisiana ranks fifth in the nation for the number of smoking-related cancer deaths. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A dangerous couple is behind bars following a traffic stop in Covington that led to a disturbing discovery. Capt. Daniel Seuzeneau with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office says Monroe Myers and his girlfriend, Winter Flowers, were pulled over for a missing taillight. He says detectives discovered methamphetamine, heroin, and paraphernalia, as well as a gun that was disguised as a children’s toy.

Voters around the state are exercised their right to vote on this first day of early voting. Charles and Kathleen Gendusa were among those that cast their vote on the first day the polls opened. They were so eager to vote, they even showed up a day early.

Cut 12 (09) “back today”

Early voting will be open every day but Sunday until November 1.

There is serious conversation about an east-west interstate that would cross central Louisiana through Alexandria, connecting western Texas to Georgia. Malcom Morris with the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, says they’re working on getting a federal designation and Texas has already been issued one.

Cut 3 (11) “designation”

Morris says I-14 is probably 10 years out from being constructed.

Early voting for the November eighth election started today at locations around the state. This displaced flood victim traveled a long way so she can vote where she is registered…
cut 14 (09) “…get it done’
Early voting is 8:30 to 6 PM through November 1st except on Sunday.

Party leaders on both sides in Louisiana seem to agree that US Senate candidate & former KKK leader David Duke should be allowed to participate in the debate if he polled high enough. Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party Stephen Handwerk says they also share the same opinion on whether or not they would like to hear what Duke has to say…:
CUT 7 (10) “opinion”
Duke is one of six candidates who will participate in a November 2nd debate at Dillard University in New Orleans.

Louisiana ranks fifth in the country when it comes to the percentage of cancer deaths that are attributable to smoking. The percentage is 33-percent and it’s higher for men. Chronic disease director with the Louisiana Department of Health, Melissa Martin, says the state is doing what it can to decrease exposure of second hand smoke…
cut 10 (09) “…or restaurants”
Martin says the state also offers a free comprehensive quit line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

There’s talk about building an interstate that would run east and west through central Louisiana. Malcolm Morris of Leesville, who is with the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition, says they are awaiting for a possible route to receive a federal designation…
cut 4 (09) “…Mississippi” .
Morris says once a corridor is selected, it could take another 10 years before construction starts.

Today has been the first day to early vote for the November 8th presidential election. Raymond Jensen works at the East Baton Rouge Registrar of Voters Office and says early voting turnout has been good so far. He says there’s usually a lot of early voters during a presidential election, and the lines show it….
cut 13 (07) “…15 minutes”
There was about an hour wait to vote in Kenner today, because of issues with the secure, fiber line, which means election officials had to manually verify voters.

Taking selfies in the booth of all things has been a big topic during this election cycle. Louisiana GOP executive director Jason Dore says social media is a huge part of the world today and sees this as an extension of that…:
Cut 8 (07) “great thing”
Early voting continues through November 1st, except on Sunday.

Research from the American Cancer Society finds Louisiana ranks fifth in the nation for the number of smoking-related cancer deaths. Michelle Southern reports…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Shreveport Times reports that workers at the Oscar award-winning animation studio, Moonbot Studios, have been laid off. Co-founder Brandon Oldenburgh has declined to comment, citing a non-disclosure agreement. There’s been speculation that Moonbot Studios was leaving Shreveport. The studio is known for its short films, commercials and mobile apps and they won an Academy Award.

Voters in Baton Rouge and around the state are exercising their right to vote today on this first day of early voting. Charles and Kathleen Gendusa were among those that cast their vote on the first day the polls opened. They say they were hoping to go before the lines got long, and they were so eager to vote, they even showed up a day early.

Cut 12 (09) “back today”

Early voting will be open from 8:30 am until 6 pm every day except Sunday through November 1.

With only two weeks to go until the election, there are concerns about parties being able to reunite after US Senate candidates have been bashing one another within their own party. Executive Director of the Louisiana Democratic Party, Stephen Handwerk, expects this will make it harder for the party to come together behind whoever makes the runoff.

Cut 6 (07) “attacking you”

Thirty two percent of all cancer deaths in Louisiana are related to smoking, according to data from the American Cancer Society. Melissa Martin with the Louisiana Department of Health says they’re doing what they can to reduce the number of smokers, which starts with keeping kids from lighting up in the first place.

Cut 9 (07) “our state”

Louisiana came in fifth in the nation on the report.

Conversations are underway about building a new interstate through central Louisiana. Malcom Morris with the Gulf Coast Strategic Highway Coalition says a new interstate that runs east and west would have tremendous benefits for the military bases in and around CENLA.

Cut 5 (12) “…to them”

He says it will be at least a decade before construction begins.