A poll of nearly 600 registered Louisiana voters by the University of New Orleans Survey Research Center shows 52-percent of respondents feel the state is moving in the wrong direction. Respondents were given the opportunity to provide a “free response” as to what they thought was the biggest problem facing the state. UNO Political Science Professor Ed Chervenak says the number one response was education…

cut 5 (07) “with Common Core”

Chervenak says this poll also shows 53-percent of voters disapprove of Governor Bobby Jindal’s job performance.

Instead of using a computer as originally planned, third through eighth grade students in public schools will take Common Core exams next spring on paper. State Education Superintendent John White says even though they will use a paper exam in 2015, the substance of test will not change

cut 11 (12) “think independently”

There have been concerns some schools are not equipped to handle computerized testing.

Now that Daylight Saving Time is over and it is getting dark much earlier, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is asking motorists to be more attentive. Spokesperson Elaine Rougeau says there are no hard statistics that show there’s an increase in accidents in the days following a time change, but highway safety officials do see more accidents at night…

cut 8 (06) “falls earlier”

Rougeau says fatigue from drivers is another concern with the time change.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man for allegedly attacking a 76-year-old man, shooting at another man, and running over two victims. They say 49-year-old David Arthur Smith of West Monroe beat the first victim to the point of unconsciousness, then attacked a 72-year-old man who had armed himself to aid the first victim. Smith disarmed the man and fired at him, missing. Smith then stole the neighbor’s vehicle and ran him over as well as the his wife. Smith was arrested and charged with 3 counts of attmepted first degree murder, among other charges. The three victims were transported to area hospitals. Their conditions are unknown at this time.

A University of New Orleans Survey Research Center poll of nearly 600 registered Louisiana voters shows that a majority of respondents feel the state is moving in the wrong direction. 52-percent disapproved when asked about the current direction of the state. UNO political science professor Ed Chervenak says people are unhappy regardless of race, gender, or party affiliation…

cut 4 (07) “of the state”

Respondents say the biggest problem facing the state is education.

Third through eighth grade students in public schools will take Common Core exams next spring on paper, instead of on a computer as originally planned. State Education Superintendent John White says this decision was made so that teachers can concentrate on making sure students are prepared for the more rigorous tests…

cut 10 (06) “issues later”

About 300-thousand students will take the Common Core tests in March and there’s a second session in May.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is asking motorists to be more alert now that Daylight Savings Time is over and it will get dark much earlier. Spokesperson Elaine Rougeau says the chance of an accident increases as darkness falls earlier…

cut 7 (07) “travel environment”

Rougeau says there are no hard statistics that show there’s an increase in accidents in the days following a time change, but highway safety officials do see more accidents at night.

Louisiana State Police report a Sunday morning single vehicle accident in Livingston Parish has taken the life of an Independence woman. Authorities say 42-year-old Stephanie Prattini, for unknown reasons, ran off the road, then over-corrected and ran off the other side of the road where her vehicle entered a ditch, struck a culvert, and overturned.

State Superintendent of Education John White announces students will take Common Core tests next spring with pencil and paper, instead of on a computer. There have been concerns some schools are not equipped to handle computerized testing. White says after talking with teachers, he thought it was best to go with a paper exam for the first year…
cut 12 (09) “…student achievement”
About 300-thousand students will take the Common Core tests in March and there’s a second session in May.

Grambling State is facing a three-million dollar deficit this year. Interim President Cynthia Warrick says a decrease in the fall enrollment has led to the shortfall. Warrick says to address the situation, they will increase faculty teaching loads, provide early retirement packages for some faculty members and maybe even close Grambling Lab schools.

A new Glascock group survey reveals some good news for Republican candidate Graves in the sixth district congressional race. Jeff Palermo has the story…
cut 1 (28) “…reporting”

No LSU football today….but homecoming festivities are taking place on three Louisiana campuses. Louisiana Tech can become bowl eligible with a win over Western Kentucky this afternoon at Joe Aillet Stadium. The Ragin Cajuns will look to stay undefeated in the Sun Belt when they face South Alabama. And in Thibodaux, Nicholls State goes after its first win of the season against Incarnate Word.

State Police announce the driver who struck and killed two girls in Breaux Bridge Thursday will be charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. A 15-year-old and 14-year-old were killed, while a 13-year-old is in stable condition. Lt. J.B. Slaton says a blood sample was taken from the driver,32-year-old Jeremy Abraham…
cut 7 (10) “Abraham’s system”
Abraham is still in a Lafayette hospital being treated for injuries.

Several children were injured in a Halloween related accident in Livingston Parish last night. State Police say about 20 children were riding on a utility trailer pulled by an A-T-V as they were taking a “hayride.” Authorities say the A-T-V did not have proper lightning and it was struck from behind by another vehicle. Eleven children were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries and an adult male passenger was also hurt.

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says incinerator ash associated with the recent Dallas Ebola victim will be not be disposed in Louisiana. On October 13th, Caldwell’s office obtained a restraining order to keep the Ebola Waste out of Louisiana. He says now there’s been an out-of-court agreement which will keep the Ebola ash from going into a Louisiana landfill.

Third through eighth grade students in public schools will take Common Core exams next spring on paper, instead of on a computer as originally planned. State Education Superintendent John White says this decision was made so that teachers can concentrate on making sure students are prepared for the more rigorous tests…
cut 10 (06) “…issues later”
About 300-thousand students will take the Common Core tests in March and there’s a second session in May. It replaces the LEAP and I-Leap exams.

State Police say several children were injured in Livingston Parish last night in an ATV “Hayride” Crash. State Police say an A-T-V pulling a utility trailer loaded with kids did not have proper lighting and another vehicle struck it from behind. An adult male passenger in the A-T-V suffered moderate injuries, while 11 of the 20 children on the trailer were sent to local hospitals with minor injuries.

Students, teachers and staff at Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles are mourning the death of a 16-year-old student who fell off the top of an S-U-V. Commander James McGee, with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s office, says Kaleb Franks and another teen were sitting on the roof and their feet were inside an open sunroof. McGee says a 15-year-old driver made a sudden motion with the steering wheel and Franks fell and died from head injuries….
cut 13 (09) “…the investigation”

The man who struck and killed two students walking to school Thursday in Breaux Bridge faces 2 counts of vehicular homicide. State Police Lt. J-B Slaton says 32 year-old Jeremy Abraham was traveling at twice the posted speed limit down a city street when he hit the teenage girls…
CUT 8 (05) Q: “the investigation”
Abraham is still in a Lafayette hospital. His mother told a Lafayette TV station that Abraham, who served 13 years in the army, suffered from P-T-S-D.

A new poll in the sixth congressional district shows former governor Edwin Edwards receiving 34-percent of the vote for Tuesday’s primary. Pineville-based pollster Darrel Glascock says two republicans, Garret Graves and Paul Dietzel are battling for that second run-off spot. Glascock says he’s also seeing evidence that Edwards might win in a run-off…
cut 4 (09) “…over 47”

State Police announce the driver who struck and killed two girls in Breaux Bridge Thursday will be charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. A 15-year-old and 14-year-old were killed and a 13-year-old was seriously injured. Lt. J.B. Slaton says a blood sample was taken from 32-year-old Jeremy Abraham to see if he was impaired when the crash occurred…
cut 7 (10) “Abraham’s system”
Abraham is in a Lafayette hospital being treated for injuries.

In Calcasieu Parish, a Sam Houston High School student is dead after he fell off the roof of a moving S-U-V driven by an unlicensed 15 year-old. Sixteen year-old Kaleb Franks suffered serious head injuries when the driver made a quick, unexpected jerking motion with the steering wheel.
CUT 14 (06) Q: “they would”
That’s Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Commander James McGee, who says it appears the kids were just goofing around when the terrible accident occurred.

Governor Bobby Jindal and Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere say Senator Mary Landrieu should apologize for comments she made to NBC News. Landrieu said the South has not always been the friendliest place for African-Americans, when speaking about President Obama’s disapproval ratings. Villere says race has nothing to do with Obama’s popularity, he blames the President’s policies.

Select Office of Motor Vehicle locations will be open around the state on Saturday from 8 A-M until noon to allow those individuals 60-years and older a chance to take advantage of various O-M-V services, without the long lines…
cut 10 (10) “…wait for”
A list of locations participating is on the O-M-V website and this service will be available to those 60 and over during the first Saturday of every month for the next six months.

The driver of the pickup truck that slammed into three Breaux Bridge girls who were on their way to school is facing vehicular homicide charges. Jeff Palermo has the story…

CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

Education Superintendent John White announced today that The new Common Core standardize tests will be given entirely on paper this year. Previously it was thought the testing would be given on computers for some students. Education leaders reported earlier that some districts were not prepared for computer testing.

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In the 6th Congressional Distrct race, Edwin Edwards has some encouraging news, courtesy of a new Glascock Poll released about the election. The 86 year-old former governor has 34% of the vote, with Republican Garret Graves in 2nd place with 22 percent in the primary. Even with most experts saying Edwards is a long shot in a run-off, pollster Darrell Glascock says name recognition is important…

CUT 5 (05) Q: “at this point”

The Edwards numbers in a runoff is right at a 50 percent, according to this poll.
The Office of Motor Vehicles will begin a “Senior Day” pilot program tomorrow at various OMV offices in the state. Sgt. Nick Manale says this program is designed for senior citizens aged 60 and older…

CUT 9 (12) “wait times, altogether”