A U-turn in the early voting pattern here in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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With over 110,000 residents leaving the state for other parts of the U.S. since 2020, Louisiana is experiencing a net outmigration according to the Council for a Better Louisiana.

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Early voting is over in Louisiana; and unlike in previous years, Republicans outnumbered Democrats in casting their ballots early. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says part of that is because of a strong desire to return Donald Trump to the White House.

Cut 3 (13) “…by 58 percent.”

Of course, while the registered party of the early voters is known, how they voted is not. Hogan says while opinion polls show Trump with a comfortable lead, it’s unclear whether he will increase his win margin in the state from four years ago.

Cut 4 (13) “…or from Republicans.”

Hogan says another reason for the increase in the Republican vote is that the Republican Party is coming around to accepting early voting as an important part of the election process.

Cut 5 (15) “…haven’t yet voted.”

Finally, Hogan points out that in the last four years, more newcomers to the state have registered with the Republican Party than with the Democratic Party. If you didn’t take advantage of early voting, your final chance to vote is on Election Day on Tuesday at your assigned precinct’s polling place.

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It’s a sweet time to be a sugar cane grower in Louisiana this year. The state’s sugar cane crops are on pace to produce two-million tons of sugar this year.

Cut 6 (16) “…part of the industry.”

LSU AgCenter Sugarcane Production Specialist Kenneth Gravois (GRAV-wah) says Hurricane Francine affected sugar cane growth in the southernmost parishes.

Cut 7 (15) “…in sugar recovery.”

Gravois says cane tonnage per acre overall is good and should offset some sugar recovery losses in those affected parishes.

Cut 8 (16) “…two-million tons.”

Gravois says while the state could use some rain, it doesn’t need a lot of rain. And he hopes that the state can avoid any significant freezes.

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Louisiana has been experiencing a steady net outmigration trend, with over 110,000 residents leaving the state for other parts of the U.S. since 2020. That’s according to the Council for a Better Louisiana. In 2023 alone, the state saw a net loss of over 29,000 people. CABL President Barry Erwin says this pattern highlights a broader trend in domestic migration within the U.S.

Cut 9 (08)  “…than moving in.”

Erwin says high crime rates, concerns over the education system and limited job opportunities are primary reasons for why people are moving out of the Bayou State…

Cut 10 (05) “…real opportunity.”

Governor Landry says he can turnaround the years of out migration if the legislature approves meaningful tax reform in a special session that begins next week. Erwin says a tax system that promotes job growth can lead to a better Louisiana..

Cut 11 (10) “…better about staying.”

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The Saints have lost six in a row, their longest losing streak since 2005. So how does Owner Gayle Benson feel about the team’s losing ways? In an interview on WWL Radio, General Manager Mickey Loomis says he speaks with Mrs. Benson nearly every day

Cut 12 (14) “…solution.”

Loomis says Benson is in the locker room following every game to talk with the coaches, staff and players. He says the entire organization wants to get this season back on track…

Cut 13 (10)  “…thing around.”

The Saints have an excellent chance to snap the skid this Sunday as they visit Carolina, who has just one win on the season.

Louisiana has been experiencing a steady net outmigration trend, with over 110,000 residents leaving the state for other parts of the U.S. since 2020. That’s according to the Council for a Better Louisiana. In 2023 alone, the state saw a net loss of over 29,000 people. CABL President Barry Erwin says this pattern highlights a broader trend in domestic migration within the U.S.

Cut 9 (08)  “…than moving in.”

New parents know all too well how expensive it is to care for newborns. A new study by Bankrate shows that Americans on average spend just over 14-thousand dollars during the first year of their child’s life. Alex Gailey, an analyst with Bankrate who conducted the study, says on average, Louisianians pay slightly less.

Cut 29 (11) “…dollars per month.”

A U-turn in the early voting pattern here in Louisiana. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Early voting is over in Louisiana; and unlike in previous years, Republicans outnumbered Democrats in casting their ballots early. LSU Political Science Professor Robert Hogan says part of that is because of a strong desire to return Donald Trump to the White House.

Cut 3 (13) “…by 58 percent.”

DOTD launches the Buckle Up Phone Down High School Showdown pilot program in nine high schools. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says this program aims to promote safe driving habits by encouraging students to pledge to buckle up and to avoid using their phones while driving.

Cut 23 (10) “…save peoples lives.”

The school with the highest pledge participation will receive a $5,000 donation from Triple-A.

Little ghouls and goblins will be out in full force on a hunt for fun-sized treats tonight, so be especially on the lookout for them while driving. Lisa Freeman, the executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says since 2019, more than three-thousand people have been injured or killed in crashes on Halloween.

Cut 7 (12) “…Year’s Eve holidays.”

Will Mother Nature put a damper on trick-or-treating? LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says scattered showers and storms are expected during the day, but the weather is expected to improve in the nick of time.

Cut 13 (08)  “…down to about 30-percent.”

So that said, you should still make contingency plans just in case rain puts a damper on things.

Little ghouls and goblins will be roaming neighborhoods everywhere this evening, looking for some fun-sized treats. As they do, make sure they know how to stay safe. Lisa Freeman, the executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says if there’s a sidewalk, use it. If not, walk against the traffic. 

Cut 9 (16)  “…with oncoming vehicles.”

Since 2019, more than three-thousand people have been killed or hurt in crashes during Halloween.

As for what the weather holds in store for trick or treating, chances are it will be dry, despite what the weather may look like at this hour.

Cut 14 (08) “…that you could.”

So LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says families should make contingency plans just in case.

Nine high schools are participating in DOTD’s Buckle Up Phone Down High School Showdown pilot program. Spokesman Rodney Mallett says the program aims to reduce traffic fatalities by promoting lifelong safe driving practices among young Louisianans.

Cut 6 (05) “…for safety programs.”

The school with the highest participation receives a five-thousand dollar donation from Triple-A; the second-place school gets 25-hundred.

A new study by Bankrate shows that Americans on average spend just over 14-thousand dollars on infant care. Alex Gailey, an analyst with Bankrate who conducted the study, says one way for parents to offset some of those costs is to take advantage of tax credits.

Cut 12 (10) “…in your pocket.”

The state with the most affordable infant care by percentage of income is South Dakota at just under nine-percent. The least affordable, according to the study, is New Mexico at just over 20-percent.

Depending on where you’re at, the skies may be a little on the dark side with rain approaching. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says with a little luck, trick-or-treaters will be able to enjoy their Halloween festivities rain-free. Still, families should make contingency plans just in case.

Cut 15 (09) “…doing your thing.”

DOTD launches the Buckle Up Phone Down (BUPD) High School Showdown pilot program in nine high schools.  Spokesman Rodney Mallett says data from 2019-2023 shows a high risk among young drivers.

Cut 5 (11) “…wont wear their seatbelt.”

The program encourages students to pledge to buckle up and avoid using their phones while driving, with the highest participating school receiving a five-thousand-dollar donation from Triple-A for safety programs.

As most new parents know all too well, caring for infants can get very expensive. How much are Louisianians paying? For the answer, here’s Sean Richardson.

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The high school graduation rate in Louisiana is on the rise. The State Department of Education says in the 2022-23 academic year, the graduation rate ticked up to 83.2-percent, up a half a point from 82.7 the previous year. National figures from 2022-23 are not yet available, but based on the previous year’s figures, Louisiana’s graduation rate ranks above the national average of 79-percent.

According to highway safety officials, three-thousand people have been killed or injured in vehicle crashes during Halloween since 2019. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman has this message for Trick or Treaters and motorists….

Cut 8 (08) “….just for Halloween”

And Freeman says if you consume alcohol, do not drive.

A study from Bankrate finds that infant care, costs nearly 10-thousand dollars a year per child in Louisiana that’s slightly below the national average. Bankrate’s Alex Galley encourages families to look into subsidy programs that can help pay for daycare…

Cut 11 (14) “,,,higher incomes”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation says nine Louisiana high schools are competing in the Buckle Up Phone Down High School Showdown. Colleen Crain has the story.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged a 12-year-old girl with terrorizing-menacing after the child allegedly bragged about a ‘hit list” she produced. The girl was taken out of Leblanc Middle School in Sulphur.

And a 14-year-old in St. Tammany Parish was also taken into custody after sending threatening text messages to students at a private school in Covington.

Little ghouls and goblins will be roaming neighborhoods this evening, looking to fill their bags with treats. As they do, make sure they know how to stay safe. Lisa Freeman, the executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says Halloween is historically one of the deadliest nights of the year in terms of vehicle-pedestrian crashes.

Cut 7 (12) “…Year’s Eve holidays.”

Since 2019 in Louisiana, three-thousand people have been killed or injured in vehicle crashes during Halloween, according to data out of LSU.

Rain is in the forecast for today, but LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says scattered showers and thunderstorms are more likely during the daytime than trick or treat times…

Cut 14 (08) “….that you could”

The St. Tammany Parish coroner is warning you about a supplement that’s widely available but could be deadly. Over the summer, a 36-year-old woman died in part of an overdose of the legal drug Kratom. Dr. Christopher Tape says since it’s readily available, people might not realize that it’s lethal in excessive doses.

Cut 28 (07)  “…think it’s safe.”

Kratom is not regulated by the FDA, so there are no standards to ensure its safety.

Nine Louisiana high schools are participating in the Buckle Up Phone Down High School Showdown. State transportation spokesman Rodney Mallett says this competition encourages students to pledge to buckle up and avoid using their phones while driving.

Cut 4 (10) “…save peoples lives.”

The participating high schools are Berwick, LaGrange, Terrebonne, Plain Dealing, Plainview, Chalmette, Ponchatoula, Walker, and Neville.

Louisiana saw a record 849-thousand voters participate in early voting which ended Tuesday. Deputy Secretary for the Secretary of State, Joel Watson, says the next big deadline is absentee balloting. Watson says voters have until tomorrow afternoon to request an absentee ballot and it must be returned by Monday at 4:30…

Cut 26 (07) “….requests in right way”

So far more Republicans have voted compared to Democrats, 430-thousand to 344-thousand.

A new study by Bankrate shows that Americans on average spend just over 14-thousand dollars during the first year of their child’s life. Alex Gailey, an analyst with Bankrate who conducted the study, says on average, Louisianians pay slightly less.

Cut 10 (11) “…dollars per month.”

That translates to about 14-percent of a typical family’s income, which is slightly under the national average.

When your little ghouls and goblins are out casing the neighborhood for yummy treats, make sure they know the dos and don’ts about staying safe.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Rain is expected to develop across Louisiana today, But LSU Health Climatologist Barry Keim says most of the showers and thunderstorms should dissipate before Trick or Treat times…

Cut 13 (08) “.,.down to 30-percent”

It will be warm and dry through the weekend.