TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
An investigation into Republican U.S. Senate nominee Ken Paxton’s travel reveals that as Texas Attorney General, since he took office in 2015, he's taken more than 275 out-of-state trips, approximately 730 workdays.
There were no entries on his official calendar, and he spent at least $1.9 million in taxpayer-funded security expenses. That’s according to an Associated Press review of Paxton’s travel records.
AP investigative reporter Brian Slodysko wrote the story: “Inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts”:
SOT:
“Some of his former deputies have said this in interviews with impeachment investigators. They repeatedly raised the fact that they didn't have a whole lot of interaction with him at times. Mark Tenley, who was a former deputy attorney general, he told impeachment investigators, they didn't have a lot of contact with Attorney General Paxton because he was gone a lot. He was traveling.”
TAG:
Paxton’s office said while on his trips he received daily briefings.
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INTRO:
Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says Republicans have a better chance of winning the midterms if they "tell the American people the truth" about the cost of living.
Kennedy told NBC's “Meet the Press” that he believes the elections will be close, but GOP candidates must be honest with voters about the high cost of living:
SOT:
“Telling them not to believe their own lying checkbooks, it's--- it's not going to work."
TAG:
Kennedy says he's planning to run for Senate re-election, but did not rule out a future presidential bid.
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INTRO:
Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser predicts at least one upset in the November 3rd election.
Speaking on “Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster,” Nungesser said attack ads during the GOP U.S. Senate primary run-off between Congresswoman Julia Letlow and Treasurer John Fleming still resonate with some voters:
SOT:
“John Fleming supporters, a lot of them I've talked to have vowed that they're just not gonna vote for the person that lied about their candidate."
TAG:
The ads said Fleming was pro-immigration and for carbon capture sequestration, even though his opposition to those issues were the cornerstones of his campaign.
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INTRO:
In Arkansas, a new survey of more than 600 farmers and ranchers found about 1-in-3 reported feelings of anxiety. And, roughly 1-in-6 said they had thought about ending their life, sometime in the past.
As Little Rock Public Radio reports, University of Arkansas researcher Kevin Fitzpatrick says a high number of respondents also reported symptoms of depression:
SOT:
“This is not the kind of symptomatology you would hear farmers talk about, certainly not amongst themselves. And I think the real added value for what we’ve done here, in terms of the survey, is to better understand some of that may be undetected felt need in terms of the problems that they’re having.”
TAG:
And Fitzpatrick says he hopes this kind of research can continue:
SOT:
“Without data it’s really hard to design things for upstream and, you know, what can we do to prevent the kind of outcomes that we want to prevent as opposed to intervene in something that’s already tragically been happening.”
TAG:
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, free help is available by calling or texting 9-8-8.
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The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
- Sunny skies for the rest of the work week, with a high today near 85 on this first full week of October.
- Tomorrow: the high ticks up to 87 then 88 Thursday and Friday and back to 87 Saturday.
- By Sunday, the chance for rain returns and will stick around at least through Columbus Day on Monday.
- NWS: A developing low over the southwestern Gulf has a high probability of organizing into a tropical system later this week and potentially impacting portions of the U.S. Gulf Coast.
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