Qualifying began today for this fall’s statewide elections and the four major gubernatorial candidates all qualified before 10AM. Eric Gill reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Eric Gill”

The motoring public continues to enjoy falling prices at the pump. The American Automobile Association says the current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $2.11 down almost twenty five cents from the month before.

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva said today that an announcement about refunds for the cancelled McNeese State game will be made this afternoon.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of two suspects who are accused of trying to kill deputies who were on patrol last week in Marrero. Sheriff Newell Normand says, on September 2nd, the cops were investigating an area that officials described as high crime when they noticed a laser on the windshield…:
CUT 13 (10) “officers”
No one was struck. 21-year-old Malcolm Hall and 20-year-old Terrance Carter were charged in the incident. Normand called the suspects cop killers who admitted they knew they were shooting at the police.

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell was the first candidate to sign up for the fall elections at the start of qualifying this morning…:
CUT 10 (11) “proud of that”
West Baton Rouge Parish Prosecutor Marty Maley is trying to unseat Caldwell as is former congressman Jeff Landry from Iberia Parish. Both also Republicans.

The sign up period for the October 24th primary elections started today. Republican David Vitter was the first gubernatorial candidate to qualify then it was Republican Scott Angelle then Democrat John Bel Edwards. The lone Democrat in the race doesn’t think last year’s attitude among voters in the US Senate election is still around…:
CUT 8 (07) “those lines”
Republican Jay Dardenne says he will be there for the people of Louisiana…:
CUT 9 (09) “in the state”
The other major races coming up this fall are lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer and insurance commissioner.

Officials with Barksdale Air Force Base have identified the airman who died over the weekend at Muddy Bottoms in Webster parish. They say 24-year-old Dustin Reinhart was in an accident at the ATV Park and was killed. A 30-year-old female also died in a separate accident. The incidents are both under investigation.

Louisiana motorists are enjoying gas prices around two dollars a gallon, but there is a downside. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

In the USA Today coaches poll released today, LSU moved down two spots to number 15 after the season opener against McNeese State was cancelled. Ohio State holds steady in the top spot followed by #2 Alabama. LSU plays Mississippi State at 8:15pm Saturday night in Starkville.

Qualifying for the fall elections got underway this morning at the Secretary of State’s Office in Baton Rouge. The main races include governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer and insurance commissioner. Republican Senator David Vitter was the first gubernatorial candidate to qualify. He says Louisiana faces enormous challenges…:
CUT 6 (10) “ahead of us”
Republican Scott Angelle says he’s confident this campaign will be about issues and not about money…:
CUT 7 (09) “enough money”
The next candidates for governor to qualify were Democrat John Bel Edwards then Republican Jay Dardenne. The primary is October 24th, the runoff voting day is November 21st.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a house fire in East Carroll Parish has taken the life of a Lake Providence man. 54-year-old Kenneth Jefferson died en route to the hospital from injuries suffered while trying to put out the fire. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says they believe unsafe habits likely played a part in the blaze…:
CUT 3 (10) “caused this fire”
Browning says Jefferson’s girlfriend told them that they often smoked in bed.

The Shreveport Police Department has identified the suspect in the fatal officer involved shooting as 28-year-old Mohamed Ibrahim. The suspect was shot and killed by police officers after investigators say he got out of a vehicle following a pursuit and manhunt brandishing a gun. They also say he fired his weapon at officers earlier but he did not strike them. As per department policy, several cops are on paid administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.

All four major candidates in the governor’s race have qualified. Republicans David Vitter, Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne and Democrat John Bel Edwards. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell arrived first to the Secretary of state’s office this morning. Running for Lt. Governor, Republicans John Young, Elberty Guillory and Billy Nungesser have also officially signed up. Qualifying ends Thursday.

A study finds we might be seeing the end of an active hurricane period that we’ve been experiencing since the mid-1990s. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Department of Heath and Hospitals is working to get cucumbers linked to a multi-state Salmonella outbreak out of stores. The FDA has issued a recall of the cucumbers distributed by Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry:
CUT 12 (09) “fevers”
There were three cases reported in Louisiana, but Guidry says they didn’t result in long-term health effects. 285 people reportedly contracted the Salmonella from the produce nationwide.

Some LSU fans are concerned that because there was no McNeese State game Saturday, the Tigers will be at a disadvantage in the new season opener. But Coach Les Miles says that will not be an excuse for how they perform against Mississippi State…:
CUT 17 (13) “hinder us”
He adds quarterback Brandon Harris prepared well for the Cowboys and expects that same level of preparation to continue this weekend.

Qualifying for the fall elections is underway and runs through Thursday. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says at this point in the process, voters know an election is coming up, but don’t know who all the candidates are. He says people have started seeing the signs but have not really taken the time to get information…

cut 6 (09) “most voters”

The gubernatorial primary is October 24th.

According to a study in the Nature Geoscience Journal future hurricane seasons in the Atlantic could bring weaker and fewer storms. State Climatologist Barry Keim says only time will tell whether we are entering a quieter period for hurricanes…

cut 15 (12) “slowing down”

Keim says we’ve been in an active period since the mid 1990s.

State Police say one person is in custody following a high speed chase in Lafayette Parish. They say a trooper tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver of the vehicle refused and sped off. Authorities say during the chase, the suspect threw contraband and a weapon from the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped in Scott where authorities found more contraband inside the vehicle.

While Louisiana motorists are enjoying gas prices around two dollars a gallon, there is a downside. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Qualifying for the fall elections begins today and runs through Thursday. Michelle Southern reports on the official kickoff of the campaign season…

cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of the shooting death of his roommate over the weekend. They say 64-year-old Randall Austin and 40-year-old Sidney Moore, Jr. were in an argument when Austin grabbed a shotgun. A struggle ensued and the shotgun went off striking Moore. Moore passed away as a result of his injuries. Austin confessed to authorities and has been charged with manslaughter. The investigation is ongoing.

The Insurance Information Institute says more people are driving now because of low gas prices and when more people drive, there are more accidents, which leads to higher insurance costs. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, says it’s up to the motoring public to help reduce the number of crashes on our roads and law enforcement has role in that as well….

cut 9 (11) “necessary standards”

Donelon says there are several factors that go into how a person’s insurance premium is determined.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is assisting in the recall of cucumbers because of a salmonella outbreak across several states. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says if you have cucumbers in your kitchen, make sure they are not Andrew and Williamson Fresh Produce…

cut 11 (07) “this company”

There have been three cases in Louisiana that could possibly be linked to the contaminated cucumbers.

Qualifying for the October 24 elections begins today. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross still sees Republican Senator David Vitter and Democrat John Bel Edwards making the runoff in the governor’s race. He says Republicans Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne will be making hard pushes to get past Edwards…

cut 5 (08) “desperate”

If necessary, the runoff election would be November 21.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is assisting in the recall of cucumbers because of a salmonella outbreak across several states. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says we’ve seen three cases in Louisiana that could possibly be linked to the contaminated cucumbers and they’re working with distributors to get the vegetable off the shelves…

cut 10 (11) “prevent it”

Guidry says there aren’t many restaurants or stores that were carrying these cucumbers.

When gas prices are low, more drivers are on the road causing more wrecks, and that could raise your insurance rates according to the Insurance Information Institute. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, says a recent bankrate-dot-com study shows why Louisiana insurance rates are so high…

cut 8 (08) “of those analysis”

He blames distracted driving for an increase in wrecks.

Future hurricane seasons in the Atlantic could feature weaker and fewer storms, according to a study in the Nature Geoscience Journal. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve been in an active period since the mid 1990s and there’s a possibility that we could be taking a brief pause….

cut 14 (12) “a change”

Hurricane researchers say changes in ocean patterns have caused hurricane activity to increase or decrease for long periods of time since the 1800s.

Qualifying for the fall elections begins today and runs through Thursday. The gubernatorial primary is October 24th and in the event of a runoff, voting day would be November 21. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says traditionally this is the official kickoff of the campaign season…

cut 4 (10) “to the election”

Cross says at this point voters know an election is coming up, but don’t know who all the candidates are.

According to a study in the Nature Geoscience Journal, future hurricane seasons in the Atlantic could feature weaker and fewer storms. State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is evidence that we could be entering a period where the tropics are relatively quiet…

cut 13 (08) “named storms”

Keim says only time will tell whether we are entering a quieter period for hurricanes.

There’s actually a downside for Louisiana motorists when gas prices are low. And that is higher insurance rates. The Insurance Information Institute says more people are driving now and when more people drive, there are more accidents, which leads to higher insurance costs. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner, Jim Donelon, blames distracted driving for an increase in wrecks…

cut 7 (10) “every stop light”

Donelon says there are several factors that go into how a person’s insurance premium is determined.

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva says they may notify fans as early as today on how ticketholders for the McNeese State game will be refunded.