Louisiana’s highway system ranks 40th in the country according to a report released today by the Reason Foundation, which is a Los Angeles-based libertarian think tank. Jeff Palermo has more…

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According to new Census data, Louisiana has the nation’s largest gender pay gap. Figures from 2013 show that Louisiana women are paid about two-thirds of what men are paid. Men’s average pay in Louisiana ranked in the top half nationally, while pay for women ranked 44th among all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Lafourche Parish officials are alerting residents that a North Larose resident was found deceased last week and the Department of Health and Hospitals confirmed he had the West Nile Virus. Parish Administrator Archie Chaisson says they are spraying insecticides in the area to try to kill mosquitoes in every stage of life…

cut 4 (08) “West Nile either”

The last West Nile report from DHH indicates this year’s total reported infections is 92.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office has arrested a man they believe is responsible for the death of a woman who was a bystander in a gun fight. 43-year-old Antonio Cummings surrendered to authorities today and was booked on one count of second degree murder. 47-year-old Bobby Ann Turner died last night after being shot when Cummings allegedly opened fire during an argument with another man.

According to The Reason Foundation, the condition of Louisiana’s highways rank 40th in the nation. A state Department of Transportation spokesperson says Louisiana has spent six-point-four billion dollars since 2008 in highway improvements. But study author, David Hartgen, says their ranking also takes into account highway safety and Louisiana doesn’t fare well in that category…

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The Los Angeles think tank says Louisiana has fallen 16 spots from its previous report.

Officials in Lafourche Parish are alerting residents that a Larose resident was found deceased last week and the Department of Health and Hospitals confirms he had the West Nile Virus. Parish Administrator Archie Chaisson says they’ve started a very aggressive spraying campaign…:

cut 3 (08) “different insecticide”

According to DHH this makes the 5th death from the disease in Louisiana this year.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office says a United States Postal worker is under arrest for allegedly stealing marijuana from packages he was supposed to be delivering. CPSO spokesman Bobby Herring says they got an anonymous tip that 31-year-old Russell Leon Ellis of Shreveport was stealing the mail he thought contained pot…

cut 6 (09) “these packages”

Herring says Ellis was charged with possession of schedule I marijuana.

The Louisiana Film Entertainment Association announces a plan to commission a study on the economic impact of Louisiana’s film tax credit incentive program. LFEA President Will French says this study will look at every component that could be providing an economic benefit to the state because of the industry and try to account for what that benefit likely is…

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The group will launch a Kickstarter campaign later this month to help with the cost of the study.

The condition of Louisiana’s highways rank 40th in the nation in a report released today by The Reason Foundation. Author of the study, David Hartgen, says the pavement condition of the state’s rural and urban interstates contributed to the poor ranking…

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Louisiana fell 16 spots from the foundation’s 2011 highway report.

The US House votes to give President Obama authority to train and arm Syrian rebels in the effort to defeat ISIL forces in the Middle East. Republican Minden Congressman John Fleming, the only member of the Louisiana delegation to vote against the authorization, says this move to train Syrian rebels will not help us build a coalition to fight ISIL…

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Fleming feels this is a situation US troops need to handle. The Senate is expected to vote on this today.

The DA in DeSoto Parish is expected to dismiss criminal charges against the Yogi and Friends Exotic Cat Sanctuary in Frierson this morning. Michelle Southern has more…

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The Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested seven adults connected with the alleged sexual abuse of a teenage victim. Authorities say “a series of incidents” involving the teenage victim happened at several locations in the Jonesville and Lake Larto areas. They say more arrests are expected.

The President has been given approval by the lower chamber to train and arm Syrian rebels to help defeat ISIL forces in the middle east. Republican Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany, says this first step will show America’s resolve and pull this coalition together. He says that’s why he voted for it…:
CUT 18 (08) “the United States”
The main argument of those in opposition is this is the wrong path to take.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office is talking to a woman over an incident where she allegedly shot her parents. They say 27-year-old Jamie Kristen Fontenot was discovered sitting on her porch in Washington bearing a firearm last night. The dad is in critical condition and the female victim was treated and released. Detectives say charges are pending and more information will be released later.

The Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office says they are looking for a man they believe is responsible for the death of a woman who was a bystander in a gun fight. They say 47-year-old Bobby Ann Turner died last night after Antonio Cummings allegedly opened fire during an argument with another man and the victim was hit. They are asking for the public’s help in locating Cummings.

The Louisiana Film Entertainment Association announces a plan to commission a study on the economic impact of Louisiana’s film tax credit incentive program. Scott Carwile reports…:
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The US House voted to give President Obama authority to train and arm Syrian rebels in the effort to defeat ISIL forces in the Middle East. Republican Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany voted in favor of the measure but says it’s not enough. He indicates we need a broader strategy that involves a coalition…:
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Republican Minden Congressman is the only member of the Louisiana delegation to vote against the proposal saying this is not the right path to take.

The Louisiana Film Entertainment Association announces a plan to commission a study on the economic impact of Louisiana’s film tax credit incentive program. LFEA President Will French…:
CUT 13 (09) “to quantify”
The study is estimated to cost $150,000. The group will launch a Kickstarter campaign later this month to help with the cost of the study.

A TV station in New Orleans says Jefferson Parish President John Young indicated a federal health official has told him a critically ill patient taken from a freighter docked in Belle Chasse has malaria. Officials from the US Centers for Disease Control were looking into the matter because the ship had been docked in Western Africa. But unlike Ebola, the mosquito-borne malaria does not spread person-to-person.

How do you feel about co-sleeping with your baby? Many parents feel strongly about the matter one way or another. Jennifer Kelley, who is a pediatrics instructor at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, says an estimated 45-percent of families co-sleep which is dangerous. She suggest room sharing instead…:
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She says room sharing means having your baby in the same room with you in a bassinet or crib their first year.

The US House voted to give President Obama authority to train and arm Syrian rebels in the effort to defeat ISIL forces in the Middle East:
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Tough news for us in a new nation wide review of roads. According to the 21st Annual Highway Report by the Reason Foundation, Louisiana’s highway conditions dropped to 40th in the nation and only California and Hawaii were rated worse than us in the urban interstate pavement category.

The DA in DeSoto Parish is expected to dismiss criminal charges against the Yogi and Friends Exotic Cat Sanctuary in Frierson this morning. LDWF was trying to secure a court order to physically remove 9 exotic cats at the location citing safety concerns. But Yogie and Friends Executive Director Jenny Senier says they have tried extremely hard to comply:
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LDWF still has the cats seized on paper only and say it’s up to their lawyers on how next to proceed.

Drew Brees chimed in on the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson domestic abuse cases. The Saints Quarterback is considered one of the faces of the NFL and says with the league dealing with all these PR hits, he understands it’s more important than ever to represent properly on and off the field…:
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The US House voted to give President Obama authority to train and arm Syrian rebels in the effort to defeat ISIL forces in the Middle East. Republican Minden Congressman John Fleming is the only member of the Louisiana delegation to vote against the authorization. Fleming says he feels we are going down the wrong path in dealing with the militant group…:
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The authorization passed on a 273-156 vote that crossed party lines.

The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s office says a man from Utah is under arrest for terrorizing after he allegedly called in a bomb threat to a plant in Geismar on September 11th. They say this week the call was eventually traced to 34-year-old Terry Randal Cox II of Roy Utah. The man reportedly worked as a contractor with the same company, PCS Nitrogen, at the time of the incident in which 540 employees had to be evacuated.

It’s a question many new parents deal with, should your children sleep in your bed? Jennifer Kelley, who is a pediatrics instructor at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, says an estimated 45-percent of families co-sleep. She says proponents claim it encourages breastfeeding and babies seem to sleep better, but she says it’s also dangerous…:
CUT 10 (10) “all night”
She suggests room sharing at night, but does NOT recommend having your baby sleep in your bed.

The Louisiana Lottery says a man from Haughton claimed a $1 million dollar Powerball prize from the drawing which was held on September 10th. They say 44-year-old Louis Sims Jr’s ticket hit all five white balls but did not make the red Powerball.