Lack of rainfall in Louisiana in the past several weeks has put much of the state in drought conditions. The US Drought Monitor reports that 86-percent of Louisiana is currently dealing with drought conditions. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the last 90 days have been extremely dry in the Bayou State…:
cut 12 (09) “three months”
The report shows that 51-percent of Louisiana is suffering from extreme drought conditions.

The federal government has announced there will not be an increase in benefits for millions of Social Security recipients. Brenda Hatfield with Louisiana AARP says this is especially devastating because next year Medicare costs are expected to increase for seniors, veterans and the disabled:
CUT 9 (10) “from Social Security
The main reason given is low oil prices.

The four candidates for governor will debate tonight at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, but only three were present last night when LPB hosted. Republican David Vitter was heavily critized by his opponents for not showing up and for running attack ads against them. Republican Scott Angelle criticized Vitter for skipping debates because he doesn’t want to answer questions about his prostitution scandal…
CUT 5 (10) “means yes”
Tonight’s TV debate is set for 6pm. Voting day is October 24th.

The 1-4 New Orleans Saints host the undefeated Atlanta Falcons tonight. The Black and Gold are 3.5 underdogs in the game. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is third in the NFL in passing yards and second-year running back Devonta Freeman is the league’s second leading rusher and has also caught 24 passes out of the backfield. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm on CBS.

Republican David Vitter was not at a gubernatorial debate hosted by Louisiana Public Broadcasting, but that didn’t keep the candidates from talking about him. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Another man has been convicted by a federal jury for scamming Louisiana’s film tax credit program. 38-year-old Matt Keith of Pineville was sentenced to six months in prison and was ordered to pay $1.2 million dollars in restitution. Keith conspired with movie maker Daniel Garcia who was convicted and given a similar sentence two weeks ago.

With the help of DNA testing and technology, a Jennings woman was able to find information about her mother, who walked out on her family in Louisiana in 1982 and hadn’t been seen since. Katherine Kratzer filed a missing persons report on her mother, Lee Jan Kratzer. Jeff Davis Sheriff Ivy Woods says the truth came out when a Tennessee woman, Elizabeth Neese, began researching her family tree…:
CUT 6 (10) “LSU Faces”
He said DNA from both daughters confirmed that Elizabeth Neese’s late mother, Lisa Neese and Lee Jan Kratzer were the same person.

The 1-4 Saints and the undefeated Falcons play tonight in Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Can the Black and Gold turn things around? Kickoff is at 7:30 on CBS.

In a gubernatorial debate on Louisiana Public Broadcasting, the three candidates who were there, let out their frustrations over the attack ads during the campaign. Democrat John Bel Edwards says the Republican Governor’s Association is trying to distract and mislead voters in attack ads against him…:
CUT 4 (12) “have taken”
Republicans Jay Dardenne and Scott Angelle also accused fellow Republican David Vitter of running untruthful ads.

Two men are dead after a twin-engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday afternoon at the Hammond airport. Officials say the plane experienced trouble shortly after take off and then nose-dived into the ground approximately 300 yards west of the runway. The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner has yet to identify the victims, but did confirm they were both men.

The 2016-17 Louisiana Economic Outlook report shows the state’s economy will continue to feel the effects of low oil prices, but industrial booms in certain areas will create major job growth. Economist and co-author of the report Dr. Loren Scott says the biggest gains will be seen from Baton Rouge to Lake Charles…:
cut 10 (11) “under construction”
Meanwhile Scott says growth in the northern part of the state will remain mostly stagnant over the next couple of years and oil patch areas around Houma and Acadiana will continue to struggle due to low oil prices.

The New Orleans Police Department says an officer is on unpaid suspension after being arrested in Chalmette for involvement what investigators called “a domestic incident.” In a news release, NOPD says the victim claimed 15-year veteran Officer Robert Hurst choked her and pulled her hair. He is booked with Simple Domestic Battery.

The four major gubernatorial candidates will face off one last time on television before the October 24th primary…

cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

According to the Center for Public Integrity, the Louisiana governor’s race is responsible for nearly two-thirds of all political television ad spending for the October 24th election. The report shows that the governor’s race accounts for $8.3 million of the $12.4 million total spent across all races thus far. 41-percent was spent by political action committees.

In last night’s gubernatorial debate on Louisiana Public Broadcasting, the three candidates present let out their frustrations over attack ads that have occurred during the campaign. Republican Jay Dardenne blamed the attacks on Republican David Vitter, who did not attend the event…

cut 3 (09) “sick of it”

Dardenne denied accusations that the state paid for his wife during an overseas trip and that he voted for pro-choice legislation.

Although it’s mid-October, it will feel like summer today with afternoon highs in the 90s across much of Louisiana. But Brandi Hughes, with the National Weather Service, says it will feel more like fall this weekend as a cold front moves through…

cut 15 (10) “for Sunday”

She says dry conditions across the state are helping to produce this summer like weather.

Two people were killed in a plane crash at the Hammond Airport on Wednesday afternoon. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 3 (27) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state Attorney General’s Office says a Lafayette man is under arrest on counts of possessing pornographic images of children under the age of 13. Cybercrime investigators reportedly found dozens of images of child porn at the home of 66-year-old James Hinson. Hinson was taken into custody and booked on 100 counts of possessing pornography involving juveniles. Officials say Hinson faces 40 years in prison on each count.

The state’s economy will continue to feel the effects of low oil prices, but industrial booms in certain areas will create major job growth, according to the 2016-17 Louisiana Economic Outlook. Economist and report Dr. Loren Scott says the study clearly indicates that Louisiana would really benefit by a rebound in the energy sector…

cut 12 (10) “much much better”

Overall, the forecast projects Louisiana will add 19,600 jobs in 2017.

It’s mid-October but it will feel like summer again today with high temperatures in the 90s across much of Louisiana. Brandi Hughes, with the National Weather Service, says there were high temperatures Wednesday that broke some longstanding records…

cut 14 (11) “particular day”

But Hughes says it will feel more like fall this weekend.

The 2016-17 Louisiana Economic Outlook report shows low oil prices will continue to hurt some areas, while industrial booms benefit others. Michelle Southern reports…:

cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Two men are dead after a twin-engine Cessna crashed shortly after takeoff Wednesday afternoon at the Hammond airport. Officials say the plane experienced trouble shortly after take off and then nose-dived into the ground approximately 300 yards west of the runway. The Tangipahoa Parish Coroner has yet to identify the victims. The FAA and NTSB will investigate to determine the cause of the crash.

The four major candidates for governor will appear in a statewide televised debate tonight at 6PM from the campus of Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says this will likely be the last chance voters will see all four candidates together before the October 24th election.

cut 6 (05) “leading candidates”

Dubos says he expects to see the two front runners, Republican David Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards, maintain their position while the other two candidates, Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne, attempt to break out and distinguish themselves.

LSU Mammal Curator, Jake Esselstyn, has discovered a new species of rodent while surveying in Indonesia. He says this species, called the Hog-nosed rat, has a large pink nose, extremely large ears, and long legs. Esselstyn says there are many other tropical, mountainous islands like Sulawesi that are yet to be surveyed for mammal diversity…

cut 9 (06) “on the planet”

He says they found a similar species last year and expect to find even more in years to come.

The four major gubernatorial candidates will appear in a statewide televised debate from Louisiana Tech’s campus beginning at 6PM. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says Republican David Vitter will likely be a target…

cut 5 (10) “everything else”

In a Raycom Media poll of 600 registered voters, Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards are polling above 21-percent, while Republicans Jay Dardenne and Scott Angelle are in the single digits.

Even though it’s mid-October it will feel like summer again today as high temperatures will be in the 90s across much of Louisiana. Brandi Hughes, with the National Weather Service, says dry conditions are helping to produce summer like weather…

cut 13 (10) “upper 90s”

Shreveport broke a 134 year-old record when temps reached the mid-90s yesterday.

According to the 2016-17 Louisiana Economic Outlook report, the state’s economy will continue to feel the effects of low oil prices, but industrial booms in certain areas will create major job growth. Economist and report co-author Dr. Loren Scott says areas in the oil patch around Houma and the Acadiana region will continue to struggle…

cut 11 (08) “price of oil”

The forecast projects, overall, Louisiana will add 15,400 jobs in 2016.

A new species of rodent was discovered by the LSU Mammal Curator while surveying in Indonesia. Jake Esselstyn says this species, called the Hog-nosed rat, has a large pink nose, extremely large ears and long legs…

cut 8 (10) “beetle larvae”

He says his team trapped the rat while traveling up a mountain on the island of Sulawesi.

The four major candidates for governor will appear in a statewide televised debate at 6PM on Louisiana Tech’s campus. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says he expects to see Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne, attempt to break out and distinguish themselves…

cut 4 (10) “voters attention”

Dubois feels the two front runners, Republican David Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards, will maintain their position.

The LSU Mammal Curator has discovered a new species while surveying in Indonesia. Jake Esselstyn found a new rodent never seen before. He says he and his team trapped a type of screw rat, while traveling up a mountain on the island of Sulawesi…

cut 7 (10) “small range”

Esselstyn says this species is called the Hog-nosed rat.

The 2016-17 Louisiana Economic Outlook report shows the state’s economy will continue to feel the effects of low oil prices, but industrial booms in certain areas will create major job growth. Economist and co-author of the report Dr. Loren Scott says the biggest gains will be seen from Baton Rouge to Lake Charles…

cut 10 (11) “under construction”

Meanwhile Scott says growth in the northern part of the state will remain mostly stagnant over the next couple of years with just a small amount of job losses predicted.