TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News. Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
Louisiana is using federal funds to make sure rural hospitals are accessible and adequately staffed for the 1.9 million residents who depend on them.
Louisiana Public Radio reporter Brooke Thorington has more:
SOT:
“Julie Foster-Hagen is Executive Director of LDH’s Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability. She says over the next five years they should receive one-point-five billion dollars to transform rural healthcare. This year, she says $38-million will go towards programs to help staffing, through partnerships with colleges and technical schools. Another program will fund incentives to recruit and retain staff, another to modernize rural facilities. “Really make investments the right way, and we'll be able to show the public where these funds went and what difference they were able to make over time. This comes after congress made drastic changes to Medicaid eligibility.”
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INTRO:
As early voting gets underway across Texas, Democratic State Representative James Talarico appears to be holding onto a slight edge over Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race.
A new survey by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Talarico backed by 48% of likely voters, compared to 46% for Paxton, with a margin of error of just over two percentage points.
Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University’s Baker Institute, co-authored the poll and says this is something we haven’t seen in the past 20 years in Texas:
SOT:
“Even in 2018, Beto O’Rourke was trailing in virtually every poll at this point in the race. In contrast, in most polls being done, Talarico has an advantage.”
TAG:
Jones says The poll indicates a small but significant number of Republicans plan to split their ticket and vote for Talarico over Paxton.
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INTRO:
In Louisiana, The latest campaign finance report shows that Republican Julia Letlow has almost half a million dollars more cash on hand than her Democratic opponent Jamie Davis.
Pearson Cross, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana in Monroe says Davis has done well in raising money despite never having run for a statewide office before:
SOT:
“Jamie Davis raised nearly $4 million with individual contributions, which is an extraordinary amount of money for a Louisiana Senate race for a Democratic candidate.”
TAG:
Cross says Letlow has raised nearly $7 million dollars , far less than prior Senate races.
Early voting for the November 3rd election begins today in Louisiana and runs through next Tuesday, October 27th.
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INTRO:
Early voting kicked off Monday in Arkansas and continues through Monday, October 2nd, the day before the general election.
Daniel Breen with Little Rock Public Radio reports on expectations for voter Turnout:
SOT:
“State election officials are forecasting slightly above average voter turnout for this year’s midterms. Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester’s office says they project about 50% of all registered voters will cast their ballots few weeks. That projection is based on average voter turnouts in midterms over the past 16 years in Arkansas. The state saw about 65% voter turnout in the 2024 general election.”
TAG:
Just a reminder… Arkansas voters are required to verify their voter registration with photo identification such as a driver’s license or passport.
If you don’t bring an ID with you to the polls, you can cast a provisional ballot.
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The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
* Sunny conditions today with a high near 78.
* And we can expect more sunny skies in the days to come, with highs in the low 80s for the rest of our work week.
* But that dry air, and extended drought have led to an elevated fire danger throughout our listening area through 7:00 p.m. on Friday.
* Dry air will continue to remain in place every day this week. This combined with dry fuels and drought conditions will promote an environment prone to wildfire ignitions. Please follow your county or parish burn ban guidance.
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