Authorities in north Louisiana are searching for an arsonist responsible for several fires. Emelie Gunn has more…
cut 1 (27) “….reporting”

We saw record high temperatures in north Louisiana today and more are expected tomorrow. Highs tomorrow in north Louisiana are expected to be in the mid 90s.

A new Orleans television station is reporting that two people were killed when a small merchant plane crashed at the Hammond airport this afternoon. A cause of the crash is not known.

The head of LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab says were seeing a lot more negative commercials for this governor’s race compared to 2003, which was the last compeitive race for governor we had in Lousiaina. Michael Henderson says we can expect to see more negative ads as we approach election day and head into a runoff…
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The four main candidates for governor will be involved in a televised debate tomorrow night.

An Ascension Parish judge has decided that a 16-year-old accused of murder should be tried as an adult. Authorities say Jacob Westbrook stabbed 18-year-old Todd Toups, who went to a trailer home to give a girl a ride to the St. Amant homecoming dance. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s too early in the process to anticipate how this case will turn out…
cut 14 (04) “….make predictions’

Republican David Vitter said he’s opting out of the statewide televised LBP debate tonight, while the other three candidates will be there…:
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Meanwhile a new WAFB-TV/Raycom Media poll shows Democrat John Bel Edwards is leading the race with 24% support, Vitter is in second place at 21% and Republicans Jay Dardenne and Scott Angelle trail with 8% and 7% respectively. However, of the 602 respondents, a whopping 37% percent say they remain undecided on who to vote for governor next Saturday.

The 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing to death an 18-year-old St. Amant High student before the homecoming dance has been identified and he will be tried as an adult. A state judge in Ascension Parish ruled today that Jacob Westbrook of Baton Rouge’s second degree murder trial will not be heard in Juvenile Court. Westbrook is accused of killing 18-year-old Todd “TJ” Toups Jr. with a steak knife on October 10th in Gonzales.

State Ag & Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says they are investigating the cause of wildfires through 6 parishes in north Louisiana which destroyed thousands of acres of land. He says one of the fires was caused by a lightning strike, another caused by a person burning a tree stump, while the others were deliberately set. Strain warns people who commit arson, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law…:
CUT 5 (10) “was lost”
He says the fires were contained about 1am this morning.

Republican David Vitter will be missing tonight’s statewide televised LBP debate, while the other three candidates will be there. Jeff Palermo reports…:
CUT 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Meanwhile a new WAFB-TV/Raycom Media poll shows Democrat John Bel Edwards is leading the race with 24% support, Vitter is in second place at 21% and Republicans Jay Dardenne and Scott Angelle trail with 8% and 7% respectively. However, of the 602 respondents, a whopping 37% percent say they remain undecided on who to vote for governor next Saturday.

The 16-year-old boy accused of stabbing to death an 18-year-old St. Amant High student before the homecoming dance has been identified and he will be tried as an adult. A state judge in Ascension Parish ruled today that Jacob Westbrook of Baton Rouge’s second degree murder trial will not be heard in Juvenile Court. Westbrook is accused of killing 18-year-old Todd “TJ” Toups Jr. with a steak knife on October 10th in Gonzales.

State Ag & Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says they are investigating the cause of wildfires through 6 parishes in northwest Louisiana, which destroyed thousands of acres of land, and appear to have been started intentionally. He says it took until 1am to get all of the blazes under control and warns people who commit arson, they will be prosecuted to the fullest extend of the law…:
CUT 5 (10) “was lost”
He says fires spread quickly in the drought stricken area.

Republican David Vitter isn’t appear on tonight’s Louisiana Public Broadcasting debate. Though his opponents criticize Vitter for not showing up to some debates, his campaign says they’ve participated in 35 debates and forums this year. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says most people say Vitter doesn’t want to risk being questioned about scandals from his past…:
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The other Republicans, Jay Dardenne and Scott Angelle, will be at LPB’s debate tonight as well as Democrat John Bel Edwards. All four will be at Louisiana Tech’s debate tomorrow.

The 2016-2017 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. The forecast projects Baton Rouge and Lake Charles seeing the biggest employment gains.

The 16 year old who is accused of stabbing and killing a senior from St. Amant High in Ascension Parish over the weekend will be tried as an adult. This means he can also be identified. Jacob Westbrook is accused of stabbing to death 18-year year old Todd Toups with a steak knife. Legal analyst Tim Meche a lot can develop in this case before it’s over:
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The judge ordered Westbrook to be transferred to the Ascension Parish Prison.

Authorities say an LSU student is under arrest on terrorizing charges after allegedly screaming into a CB radio statements about guns and shootings on the top of the student union parking garage. LSU police say they found 21-year-old Richard Aaron Bee of Mandeville wearing camouflage when he was taken into custody. Bail had not been set as of Wednesday.

A judge has ruled that the 16-year-old Baton Rouge boy accused in the stabbing death of a St. Amant High School senior will be tried as an adult. Jacob Westbrook faces a count of second degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Todd Toups. Legal analyst Tim Meche says the judge had very little discretion…:
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Authorities accused Westbrook of stabbing to death Toups with a steak knife October 10th in Gonzales.

State Ag and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says they are trying to find the person they believe is setting wildfires in a drought stricken northwest Louisiana. He says 6 parish are affected where thousands of acres have been destroyed and even a home in Bienville Parish. But most of the area was protected as the fires were put out..:
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He says the arsonist will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This year’s governor’s race is being called low profile by many political pundits, but that doesn’t mean the commercial war isn’t in full force. It’s reported that nearly 18,500 gubernatorial campaign ads have aired statewide in as of October 5th. Michael Henderson with LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab says in 2003, negative ads didn’t begin popping up until the week before the primary…:
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He says voters can expect to see many more ads before the October 24th primary.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office says a local comedian has been arrested on counts including identity theft. They say 42-year-old Jennifer Kober, originally from Lake Charles but now living in California, is accused of using a family member’s debit card without permission and stealing her identify to obtain utility services for her current residence. Kober bonded out of jail and promised on her Facebook page that she’d tell the full “hilarious” story at a show next week in Lake Charles.

Authorities in north Louisiana are searching for an arsonist responsible for several fires. Emelie Gunn has more…:
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The 16-year-old accused of stabbing to death an 18-year-old in Gonzales on October 10th will be tried as an adult. A state judge in Ascension Parish ruled today that the suspect can also be identified as Jacob Westbrook of Baton Rouge and he’s charged with second degree murder in the death of Todd “TJ” Toups Jr. Authorities believe Westbook stabbed Toups to death with a steak knife before the St. Amant High homecoming dance.

LSU says a student has been arrested on a charge of terrorizing after authorities say he was on top of the student union parking garage screaming about guns and shootings. The reports came in from a 911 call center in West Baton Rouge Parish. 21-year-old Richard Aaron Bee was allegedly making the statements into a CB radio while wearing camouflage. He was booked into parish prison.

Republican David Vitter is raising eyebrows that he won’t be at the debate today broadcast by LPB. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the fact that Vitter is missing debates may sway some voters away from him, but for the most part people are not paying attention to this race…:
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The four candidates are slated to appear during a debate tomorrow night at Louisiana Tech and it will air and be simulcast on a TV station in Shreveport. Vitter’s campaign said in a statement that he’s participated in 35 debates and forums already this year.

Although many people say this year’s governor’s election got off to a slow start, it appears the ad war is in full swing. It’s reported nearly 18,500 gubernatorial campaign ads have aired statewide as of October 5th. Michael Henderson with LSU’s Public Policy Research Lab says when you compare this race to the state’s last competitive open election in 2003, there are similarities…:
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He says voters can expect to see a lot more negative ads as we approach election day October 24th.

Commissioner of Ag and Forestry Mike Strain says they are searching for the person who’s intentionally been starting fires in 6 parishes in northwest Louisiana. He says more than half of the fires they’ve been dealing with in the dry conditions were caused by arson…:
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He says thousands of acres have been burned but all fires are now contained.

Republican David Vitter will be missing tonight’s statewide televised LBP debate, while the other three candidates will be there. Jeff Palermo reports…:
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An LSU student has been booked into Parish Prison on a count of terrorizing after authorities say he was standing on top of the student union parking garage in camouflage and talking on a citizens band radio about guns and shootings. The threats lead to a lock down Tuesday of the garage according to university police. Bail has not been set for 21-year-old Richard Aaron Bee of Mandeville.