The first televised Louisiana gubernatorial debate featuring all four candidates airs tonight on W-D-S-U-in New Orleans and NBC TV affiliated stations. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says Republican David Vitter has missed several recent forums and debates, but it doesn’t look good for him to miss too many…
cut 6 (10) “….so much”
The debate begins at 6 PM.

An independent poll finds Louisiana Republican voters prefer Ben Carson over Donald Trump for President, while Democrats in this state support Hillary Clinton.

Reward money of up to six-thousand dollars is being offered for information leading to the arrest of 32-year Benjueil Johnson. He’s the man who was mistakenly released from jail last week, when he should be behind bars serving a 40-year sentence for manslaughter. Johnson lived in Plaquemine prior to incarceration.

A record percentage of drivers are wearing seatbelts in Louisiana. That’s according to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. Executive director Colonel John Leblanc says their seat belt observation survey found a record 86-percent of front seat passengers and drivers are buckled up. He attributes the increse to “Click it or Ticket” and other seatbelt campaigns…
cut 12 (10) “…rate up”
Leblanc says they’re still trying to get more young male drivers to buckle up.

Louisiana residents are feeling good about the weather this morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says temperatures are in the low to mid 60s…
cut 13 (08) “…so much better”
Keim says the nice weather will last through the weekend.

The four major gubernatorial candidates will debate tonight and it will be shown on W-D-S-U TV and NBC affiliated stations across the state. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says this is a chance for Republican candidates Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne to gain some traction against frontrunner David Vitter…
cut 4 (09) “…this debate”
The debate will also be streamed online, beginning at 6 PM.

Get ready for lower temperatures and lower humidity as a result of a cold front that’s moved through the state. State climatologist Barry Keim says this weather pattern will persist through the weekend and perhaps into early next week…
cut 14 (10) “…foothold now”
High temps today will be in the mid-80s.

A study shows more Louisiana drivers are buckling up than ever before. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director, Col. John LeBlanc, says their 2015 Louisiana Seat Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Observation Survey found a record 86 percent of front seat passengers and drivers we’re using their seatbelt….
cut 10 (11) “…last year”
Leblanc says they’re still trying to convince more young male drivers to buckle up.

The Department of Children and Family Services announces changes to the food assistance program. Starting today, those who are considered able-bodied adults without dependents must work at least 20 hours a week or be enrolled in a federally-approved job training program to qualify for SNAP benefits. If not, they will only receive benefits for three months over a three-year period. Currently there is no imposed time limit for adults who are not able to work.

Tonight all four major gubernatorial candidates will appear at a televised debate hosted by W-D-S-U-TV in New Orleans. Emelie gunn has more…
cut 1 (31) “….reporting”

According to a poll paid for by The Advocate and W-W-L-T-V, republicans in this state support Ben Carson for President. Twenty-three-percent of the respondents prefer him over Donald Trump, who received 19-percent. Fifty-seven-percent of democrats like Hillary Clinton for president while Joe Biden received 22-percent.

A cold front has moved through the state and cooler weather is on the way as high temperatures will be in the mid-80s today, and around 80-degrees tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim believes for the most part, those long periods of hot sticky weather are over for 2015….
cut 15 (10) “…of Louisiana”

Cash rewards are now being offered for information on the whereabouts of a convicted killer who was mistakenly released from prison last week. Authorities are trying to apprehend 32-year-old Benjueil Johnson of Plaquemine after he was accidentially let out of the East Feliciana Parish jail. A department of corrrections worker was not aware he was convicted of manslaughter after he finished time for other charges.

There is a $6000 reward being offered for information leading to the capture of a murderer from Iberville Parish who was released by mistake:
CUT 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees says he feels good about playing against the Dallas Cowboys…
cut 25 (09) “….about Sunday”
Brees says he took most of the reps at practice and he’ll continue to ramp up the volume leading up to the primetime game against the Cowboys.

There has been a second death this year from the West Nile virus according to DHH and there are now 54 total reported cases. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says the latest death is out of the Baton Rouge area. He says about 90 percent of the cases they see are asymptomatic, but about 10 percent will develop West Nile Fever…:
CUT 4 (06) “highest risk”
He says even though it’s starting to cool off, mosquitoes remain active through the end of the year in Louisiana and it’s important to protect yourself.

A debate has started over whether star LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette should sit out his junior season so he doesn’t risk injury before heading to the NFL. The Heisman Trophy candidate is not eligible for the draft until after next season. But NFL analyst Mike Detillier says this argument is ridiculous…:
cut 12 (09) “like that”
Fournette weighed in on the topic by tweeting, “I will never jump ship.”

The state Department of Health and Hospitals confirms a second death this year from the West Nile Virus — this time out of the Baton Rouge area. Emelie Gunn reports…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

There is now a $6,000 reward being offered for information which leads to the arrest of the convicted killer who was released from prison by mistake in East Feliciana Parish. 32-year-old Benjueil Johnson is a black male, about 5’10 and 190 pounds and he lived in Plaqumine prior to incarceration. A human error allowed Johnson to bond out. If you see him please call 911.

There’s been a bit of a buzz today over Pro Football Talk’s suggestion that it would be smart for LSU’s star running back Leonard Fournette to opt out of playing next year instead of possibly getting injured and ruining his pro career. But NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says this talk is for pure gossip and getting people riled up…:
CUT 14 (06) “in 2016”
Fournette weighed in on the topic by tweeting, “I will never jump ship, I’m drowning with my brothers.”

The Louisiana Chapter of the Americans for Prosperity is out with an ad letting voters know which of their lawmakers up for re-election in the fall voted for tax increases and Medicaid expansion. A-F-P State Director Phillip Joffrion says the radio spot includes information about how legislators dealt with the state’s fiscal crisis in the last session..:
CUT 6 (08) “the budget”
He says the public can view their lawmaker’s record at Louisiana Score Card-dot-com. Louisiana AFP has ties to the Tea Party.

The search continues for the convicted killer who was accidentally released from the East Feliciana Parish jail on September 22nd. 32-year-old Benjueil Johnson was serving a 40 year sentence for a shooting death in Plaquemine back in 2010. State Department of Corrections spokesperson Pam Laborde says they hope they can get Johnson back in custody soon.
CUT 9 (11) “DOC custody”
The state Department of Health and Hopsitals confims a second death in 2015 from West Nile Virus. State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says now there are 54 confirmed cases this year compared to 123 cases and 5 deaths in 2014. He says even though we’re approaching the cooler months, there is still the threat of infected mosquitoes.
CUT 3 (09) “mosquito repellent”
The Louisiana chapter for Americans for Prosperity releases a statewide radio ad to inform voters about lawmakers who voted for tax increases and the expansion of Medicaid. A-F-P State Director Phillip Joffrion says they want to shine a light on those legislators who voted to raise taxes so they aren’t re-elected.
CUT 7 (10) “term fixes”
He says the public can view their lawmakers record at Louisiana score card-dot-com.
There is concern over whether LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette should sit out next season so he doesn’t risk an injury before entering the NFL. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says sure there is always a threat in playing football, but college is where athletes learn to grow…:
cut 13 (07) “would want”
Fournette recently tweeted on the topic saying, “I will never jump ship, I’m drowning with my brothers.”