The Louisiana Book Festival returns to downtown Baton Rouge for its 20th year tomorrow. Events will be held in the State Capitol, the State Library, the Capitol Park Museum and in tents on neighboring streets. Assistant Director of the Louisiana Center for the Book Robert Wilson says there will be scores of authors and presenters on hand.

Cut 4 (08) “…following their programs.”

Annual enrollment for healthcare.gov begins today.  Blue Chief Healthcare Economist Mike Bertaut says Louisiana Blue, the state’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield provider, offers HMO plans with the state’s lowest rates available in every parish, showing an average premium reduction of 9% compared to last year. He says you can work with an experienced, licensed agent at no cost…

Cut 7 (11) “…networks work.”

Louisiana’s film industry will be keeping a keen eye on the tax reform debate in Baton Rouge. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 30 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Governor Landry declares November Wild Game Meat Donation Month.  Landry asks Louisiana hunters to donate part or all of their harvest to families in need during the holiday season and for non-hunters to consider financially supporting organizations like Hunters for the Hungry.

Louisiana’s film industry is bracing for potential changes to the tax credits it currently enjoys as lawmakers debate changes to the state’s tax code in the upcoming special session. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack says reducing or eliminating the tax breaks could put a major damper on the film industry in the state.

Cut 11 (14) “…of that business.”

Governor Jeff Landry is pushing for lawmakers to eliminate many different tax breaks to the lower the state’s income tax rate on individuals and businesses.

The Saints will attempt to end a six-game losing streak on Sunday when they visit the Carolina Panthers. Wide receiver Chris Olave says they have to start playing better…

Cut 17 (07) “….beating ourselves up”

Derek Carr is expected to start at quarterback after missing the last three games with an oblique injury. Kick-off on Sunday is at noon.

Annual enrollment for healthcare.gov begins today. Louisiana Blue Chief Healthcare Economist Mike Bertaut  says if you do not have affordable health insurance through an employer, or you’re losing Medicaid or you need to get covered, look at options on HealthCare.gov. He says enrollment is through January 15…

Cut 6 (07) “…by December 15.”

Bertaut says Louisiana Blue, the state’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield provider, offers HMO plans with the state’s lowest rates available in every parish, showing an average premium reduction of 9% compared to last year.

The Louisiana Book Festival returns to downtown Baton Rouge for its 20th year tomorrow. Robert Wilson, the assistant director of the Louisiana Center for the Book, says there will be something for everyone.

Cut 3 (12) “…as academic titles.”

Events will be held in the State Capitol, the State Library, the Capitol Park Museum and in tents on neighboring streets.

Election Day is Tuesday and then Louisiana lawmakers begin a tax reform special session on Wednesday. The state’s film tax credit program could be eliminated or scaled way back as part of an effort to lower individual and corporate income taxes. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack says the Motion Picture Production Tax Credit has been around for two decades and it’s responsible for thousands of jobs…

Cut 13 (10) “….the top five”

Looking ahead to next year, legislators will discuss ways to bring down the state’s auto insurance rates which are among the highest in the country, if not the highest. Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says the number of bodily injury claims filed by those involved in car accidents is a factor. But Ben Riggs, the director of Real Reform Louisiana…

Cut 30 (09) “…medical data.”

Daylight Saving Time comes to an end on Sunday morning as we’ll turn the clocks back one hour. It’s a good time to check if your smoke detectors are working and change the batteries if necessary. Doctor Kenneth St. Charles, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, says smoke detectors can save lives in the event of a fire…

Cut 15 (11) “…get going”

St. Charles says consider upgrading to newer models if your detectors are more than ten years old.

The 56^th Annual Pecan Festival in Colfax, which is in Grant Parish, gets underway today. Pecan Festival President Danielle Yerby says they have carnival rides, arts and crafts, cooking contests, music, there’s a parade and a fireworks show on Saturday night…

Cut 9 (05) “….open to the public”

Visitors can enjoy homemade pecan treats, jams, and other local goods at The Country Store.

Louisiana’s film industry is bracing for potential changes to the tax credits it currently enjoys. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack says reducing or eliminating the tax breaks could put a major damper on the film industry in the state.

Cut 11 (14) …of that business.”

Tomorrow night, make sure you “fall back” before you go to bed by turning your clocks back one hour. The American Red Cross is urging you to use the occasion to also check your smoke detectors. Dr. Kenneth St. Charles, the regional CEO of the American Red Cross, says it’s very important.

Cut 14 (12) “…still working.”

The 56th Annual Pecan Festival is this weekend in Colfax, Sean Richardson has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is criss-crossing the state tomorrow in a final push for Republicans to get out the vote. He’ll start his day in Minden at eight a-m. From there, he will visit Winnfield, and he will wrap up the day in Ruston. Louisiana Democrats, meanwhile, are holding a get out the vote rally this afternoon at state party headquarters in Baton Rouge. Former Governor John Bel Edwards will be among the speakers.

Louisiana’s film industry will be keeping a keen eye on the tax reform debate in Baton Rouge. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

But there have been studies conducted by the state Economic Development Department and Economist Loren Scott that the film tax credit program actually costs the state more than it produces.

A couple of big high school football games in the state tonight…Airline versus Byrd in Shreveport and St. Thomas More against Teurlings Catholic in Lafayette.

The 56^th annual Louisiana Pecan Festival is this weekend in the Grant Parish town of Colfax. The three day festival draws between 60 and 75-thousand visitors and Louisiana Pecan Festival president Danielle Yerby says natives who have moved away, also come back each year…

Cut 10 (11) “….the Pecan Festival”

The weekend kicks off with a Children’s day and there’s a street dance and fireworks show Saturday night.

At 2 AM Sunday, Daylight Saving Time ends and we fall back one hour. Doctor Kennth St. Charles, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, says check your batteries in your smoke detector and if you’re smoke detector is more than ten years old, it’s a good idea to replace them….

Cut 16 (13) “…save lives”

Next week state lawmakers will tackle tax reform and next year figuring out ways to lower auto insurance rates will be at the top of the agenda for legislators. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple says multiple legislative committees have been meeting regularly since the summer and the medical payments that are made because of a lawsuit or settlement is part of the conversation…

Cut 5 (08) “…better than.”

Temple says Louisiana motorists are more likely to claim an injury following a wreck.

Ben Riggs, director of Real Reform Louisiana, says Louisiana has more bodily injury claims, because its roads are not safe…

Cut 7 (12) “…influence accidents.”

Riggs says lawmakers can reduce auto insurance rates by removing credit score as a factor. He says a driver’s low credit score can sometimes double their premium.

Daylight Saving Time comes to an end on Sunday morning as we’ll turn the clocks back one hour. It’s a good time to check if your smoke detectors are working and change the batteries if necessary. Doctor Kenneth St. Charles, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross, says smoke detectors can save lives in the event of a fire…

Cut 15 (11) “…get going”

St. Charles says consider upgrading to newer models if your dectors are more than ten years old.

The 56^th Annual Pecan Festival in Colfax, which is in Grant Parish, gets underway today. Pecan Festival President Danielle Yerby says they have carnival rides, arts and crafts, cooking contests, music, there’s a parade and a fireworks show on Saturday night…

Cut 9 (05) “….open to the public”

Visitors can enjoy homemade pecan treats, jams, and other local goods at The Country Store.

Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple is pointing at the high number of bodily insurance claims as a reason why insurance rates are so high in Louisiana. Colleen Crain has more…

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

It’s November first, but the hurricane season is not over yet. The National Hurricane Center says there’s a high chance of tropical development in the Caribbean over the next seven days. The next named storm will be named Patty.

Next week will be a busy week in politics. Election Day is Tuesday and then Louisiana lawmakers begin a tax reform special session on Wednesday. The state’s film tax credit program could be eliminated or scaled way back as part of an effort to lower individual and corporate income taxes. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack says the Motion Picture Production Tax Credit has been around for two decades and it’s responsible for thousands of jobs…

Cut 13 (10) “….the top five”

This weekend is the 56^th Annual Louisiana Pecan Festival in the Grant Parish town of Colfax.  Festival president Danielle Yerby says it all gets underway this morning with the Blessing of the Crop…

Cut 8 (10) “…cracking ever since”

The carnival opens at noon and this event attracts thousands of visitors every year.

A tax reform special session will get underway next week. Governor Jeff Landry wants to lower income taxes and to offset the revenue loss he’s proposing legislators do away with several tax credits. The state’s film tax credit program could be eliminated or scaled way back. Film Louisiana President Jason Waggenspack will make the case the film tax credit program is good for the state…

Cut 12 (10) “….the Louisiana economy”

But a Louisiana Economic Development study shows the tax film tax credit program only yielded a return of 39 cents in tax revenue in fiscal year 2022.

Lawmakers will take another stab next year in addressing the state’s auto insurance rates that are among the highest in the country. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple believes one of the primary reasons  is that Louisiana motorists are more likely to claim an injury following a wreck…

Cut 4 (07) “…that’s driving cost.”

Temple says multiple legislative committees have been meeting regularly since the summer and the medical payments that are made as a result of a lawsuit or settlement is part of the conversation.

Today is the last day to request an absentee ballot for the November fifth election. To do so, contact your local registrar of voters office. And completed ballots must be received by your parish registrar of voters by 4:30 PM on Monday.

We still have some lingering rainfall in southeast Louisiana this morning, but we are looking at another dry weekend. It’ will be a perfect weekend for the 56^th annual Pecan Festival in Colfax. Season Richardson has a preview…

Cut 2 (33) “….I’m Sean Richardson”