A recent poll conducted for WWL-TV and The Advocate shows that only 46-percent of Louisiana African-American voters are in favor of removing Confederate monuments. Eric Gill reports…:
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The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office says a St. Amant High School senior was stabbed to death while picking up a girl before the homecoming dance Saturday. They say 18-year-old Todd Toups Jr. got into an argument with a 16-year-old juvenile who allegedly stabbed the victim multiple times. Toups died at a hospital. The 16-year-old charged with second degree murder.

The State Department of Education released “preliminary” results to Common Core tests Monday, and found that just 22-40 percent of Louisiana students show “mastery” in skills it says are needed for the next grade. The tests were administered to grades 3-8 in the Spring. State Superintendent John White says the results are not surprising…:
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He says specific data on individual schools will be released next month.

LSU Coach Les Miles said today that he expects a massive crowd for the Florida game this weekend. The No. 6 Tigers will host the No. 8 Gators Saturday night in Baton Rouge. Before Lunch with Les started today, it was announced that Florida starting quarterback Will Grier is suspended indefinitely for violating the NCAA policy on banned drugs.

UL Lafayette has decided to vacate its victories from the 2011 season as a result of an NCAA investigation looking into recruiting violations. The allegations are that a former assistant coach changed ACT scores for at least six players.

A recent survey conducted for WWL-TV and The Advocate shows that only 46-percent of Louisiana African-American voters are in favor of removing or renaming monuments that honor Confederate leaders. Overall, the Clarus Research Group poll shows 68-percent of voters oppose the move. Pollster Ron Faucheux says Louisiana voters are attuned to the issue of Confederate monuments…

cut 10 (06) “those changes”

Faucheux says he expected a larger number of black voters to be in favor of removing the monuments.

Allergies are beginning to effect Louisiana residents now that fall is here. LSU Health Sciences Center Professor, Dr. Sanjay Kamboj, says ragweed is, by far, the biggest allergy trigger of the season. Kamboj says if you’re allergic to ragweed, you are quite familiar with the symptoms…

cut 4 (10) “of the skin”

He says over-the-counter allergy medications, such as Zyrtec, Allegra, and Claritin, can help manage symptoms.

State Police says an officer involved shooting in Lake Charles has claimed the life of a male suspect. Sgt. James Anderson says the Lake Charles Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance early Sunday morning and saw the suspect, 44-year-old Kevin Lau, standing in the doorway of the house with a gun…

cut 7 (09) “subsequently shot”

Lau was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. No officers were injured in the incident.

The latest from State Police in the case of the missing 6-year-old AMBER Alert Texas child who could be in Louisiana says investigators have located the alleged abductor’s vehicle. The little girl, Lexi Johnson, and 40-year-old Harvey York Jr of Zwolle, were last seen on Sunday in Houston, Texas. Investigators say the vehicle used by York to drive to Louisiana was found abandoned in Sabine Parish. York and the abducted child have NOT been found. Police are actively searching a wooded area near where the truck was located. If you have any information on their whereabouts, you are urged to contact authorities.

A recent poll conducted for WWL-TV and The Advocate shows that less than half of Louisiana African-American voters are in favor of removing or renaming monuments that honor Confederate leaders. The Clarus Research Group survey shows only 46-percent of black respondents support removal of the monuments. Pollster Ron Faucheux…:
CUT 9 (11) “as well”
The poll shows 31-percent of African-Americans oppose the removal of the monuments.

State Police has issued an update in the case of the missing 6-year-old AMBER Alert Texas child who could be in Louisiana. The little girl, Lexi Johnson, and her alleged abductor, 40-year-old Harvey York Jr of Zwolle, Louisiana, were last seen on Sunday in Houston, Texas. Investigators say the vehicle used by York to drive to Louisiana was located in Sabine Parish. York and the abducted child have NOT been found.

Fall is in the air in Louisiana and unfortunately so are allergies. Eric Gill has more…:
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The Louisiana Lottery says the Lotto jackpot was hit Saturday by two tickets sold in Dequincy and Opelouses who will share the $3.2 million dollar prize..

Fall is definitely in the air and so are allergies. LSU Health Sciences Center Professor, Dr. Sanjay Kamboj (KAM-boje), says ragweed is, by far, the biggest allergy trigger of the season. He says ragweed plants produce a lot of pollen as autumn gets underway…:
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He says over-the-counter allergy medications, such as Zyrtec, Allegra, and Claritin, can help manage symptoms.

State Police is investigating an officer involved shooting in Lake Charles which claimed the life of a male suspect. Sgt. James Anderson says the Lake Charles Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence early Sunday morning…:
CUT 6 (08) “a handgun”
Anderson says 44-year-old Kevin Lau pointed the gun at officers when he was shot. He says LCPD asked State Police to investigate the incident.

The community in Ascension Parish remains in shock today over the stabbing death of an 18-year-old senior from St. Amant High School, allegedly at the hands of a 16-year-old from Baton Rouge. They say Todd Toups Jr. was visiting a friend in Gonzales, whom he planned to take to the homecoming dance Saturday night, when an argument ensued between he a juvenile male suspect which led to the stabbing. Toups later succumbed to his injuries and the 16-year-old is charged with second degree murder.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says state revenues for the first quarter of this fiscal year are down 13-percent compared to the first quarter of last year. Kennedy says tax collections from individuals and businesses are down, while sales tax receipts are flat…:
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Kennedy believes the Jindal administration created much of the revenue problem and it has a moral obligation to deal with it.

Voters in Louisiana will have the opportunity to vote on some Constitutional amendments on the October 24th ballot. Eric Gill has more:
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State Police is asking Louisianians to be on the lookout for a little girl who is believed to be with her mother’s ex boyfriend and could be headed here from Texas. Texas authorities have issued an AMBER Alert for 6-year-old Alexis “Lexi” Johnson of Houston. She is believed to be with 40-year-old Harvey York of the Sabine Parish town of Zwolle. Officials say the two could be in a blue 2000 Ford F-150.

The four candidates for Lt. Governor are scheduled to appear at a forum today in Baton Rouge. Political analyst Clancy Dubos says it’s a very close race between the Democrat Kip Holden and Republicans John Young and Billy Nungesser. He expects the GOP candidates to go after each other during the debate…:
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Dubos says the odds favor the only democratic candidate, Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden, entering the runoff.

The Daily Advertiser is reporting that the NCAA has accused the UL-Lafayette football program of major rules violations. The report shows the Association specifically accuses former Cajun assistant football coach David Saunders of manipulating ACT scores and paying cash to one recruit. Officials at UL-Lafayette say they are cooperating fully with the NCAA’s investigation.

State Police has issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory on behalf of the Harris County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office for a 6-year-old girl believed to have been taken by a Zwolle man. They say Alexis “Lexi’ Johnson was last seen with 40-year-old Harvey York, Jr. Sunday in Houston in York’s blue Ford F-150 pickup truck. York, who is not the child’s father, allegedly took the girl following an argument with Lexi’s mother. It’s believed York is heading to Louisiana. If you have any information on their whereabouts, you are urged to contact authorities.

Voters in Louisiana will have the opportunity to vote on four new Constitutional amendments on the October 24th ballot. President of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, Robert Scott, says these amendments could be a bit confusing to voters. He encourages residents to do a little research before entering the voting booth…

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A guide to all four amendments can be found at parlouisiana-dot-org.

State Police say a two-vehicle crash in Acadia Parish has taken the life of a Branch woman. They say when 24-year-old Jean Mouille of Church Point attempted to pass 34-year-old Crystal Castille, he struck Castille’s car causing her to run off the roadway and crash into a utility pole. Castille was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. Impairment is suspected on the part of Mouille. He is charged with vehicular homicide and open container among other charges. The investigation is ongoing.

The LSU Student Senate is asking Facility Services on campus to mark single stall bathrooms as gender neutral…

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The four candidates for Lt. Governor are slated to speak at a forum in Baton Rouge today. Emelie Gunn has more on how the race is going…

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State Police are investigating an officer involved shooting in Lake Charles that left one man dead. When Lake Charles Police responded to a domestic disturbance, they encountered 44-year-old Kevin Lau in the doorway of the home with a pistol. When Lau exited the home, he pointed his gun at officers and refused to drop his weapon. Police were forced to open fire and shot Lau. Lau was transported to a local hospital where he later died. The investigation is ongoing.

According to State Treasurer John Kennedy, state revenues for the first quarter of this fiscal year are down 13-percent compared to last year. Kennedy believes the Jindal administration created much of the revenue problem and it has a moral obligation to deal with it. He says Jindal should at least try to come up with a plan to deal with the reality right now…

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He says declining oil revenues are also part of the problem.

A resolution was passed by the Student Senate at LSU asking Facility Services to change the signs on single stall restrooms on campus to read “gender neutral.” Matthew Patterson, with Equality Louisiana, says often times transgender people don’t feel safe or are denied access to the bathroom of the gender they identify as, because it makes others uncomfortable…

cut 11 (07) “who else is using it”

Patterson says there are several bathrooms on campus that are obviously gender neutral, but they aren’t marked that way.

The Baton Rouge Press Club will host a Lt. Governor’s debate today. Political Analyst Clancy Dubos says a big problem for Republicans Billy Nungesser and John Young is trying to differentiate themselves from each other because they come from similar backgrounds…

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Democrat Kip Holden and Republican Elbert Guillory will also participate in the forum.

Robert Scott, President of the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, says the October 24th ballot will feature four new amendments to the Louisiana Constitution. He says Amendment number one would create a new transportation fund for the state in addition to the existing one…

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You can find a guide to all four amendments at parlouisiana-dot-org.

State revenues for the first quarter of this fiscal year are down 13-percent compared to last year according to State Treasurer John Kennedy. Kennedy says the fact that the legislature raised taxes 800 million dollars last spring is one factor in Louisiana’s declining revenue. He says you can’t raise taxes without having economic implications and the state is still spending more money than we take in…

cut 14 (09) “like a fish”

He says tax collections from individuals and businesses are down, while sales tax receipts are flat.

The Student Senate at LSU has passed a resolution asking Facility Services to change the signs on single stall restrooms on campus to read “gender neutral.” Matthew Patterson, with Equality Louisiana, says this is a cost effective way of ensuring that all students, faculty, and staff feel safe when using the restroom…

cut 10 (09) “already there”