Tropical Storm Nicholas is headed up the Texas Gulf Coast, and will almost certainly affect Louisiana as it makes its inland. Dave Brannen reports we should expect lots of rain…:

CUT 01  (34)        “… Dave Brannen”

The alligator that reportedly attacked and killed a Slidell man has been captured. St. Tammany deputies report the 12-foot long monster was unusually big around and found very near where 71-year-old Tim Satterlee Sr. disappeared August 30^th. It did have human remains inside. Those will be identified.

A Baton Rouge lawyer says he’s suing the owner of the nursing homes who evacuated hundreds of residents from Hurricane Ida, but took them to an allegedly sub-standard warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish. Attorney Ron Haley says his client, Darlene Franklin of New Roads, was among hundreds crowded into the warehouse, left on mattresses on the floor and deprived of food and water for two days…:

CUT 11  (12)        “…there did”

Haley’s also named the state Department of Health as a plaintiff along with Baton Rouge businessman Bob Dean.

St Tammany Sheriff’s deputies say an out-of-state utility repairman has been hit and killed by a drunk driver. The lineman’s identity is withheld until his family are notified. He was hit when an SUV driven by Slidell resident John Kite hit a men working, sign and plowed through several orange cones. Kite was not badly hurt, but tested positive for alcohol impairment. He’s initially charged with suspicion of vehicular negligent injuring. An investigation is underway.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of one of the more than 800 nursing home residents evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida also names the Louisiana Department of Health as defendants. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 02(32)        “…Thorington”

West Monroe Police arrest a man for yelling at cars. Officers found 46-year-old Robert Clinton Jones. Jones sweating profusely, acting erratically and shouting at traffic. Officers suspected drugs and found a small amount of meth on him. He’s a guest of the parish now.

Governor John Bel Edwards declares an emergency state ahead of Tropical Storm Nicholas, whose effects should be with us for several days. Donovan Landreneau with the National Weather Service says expect excessive rain and storm surge in coastal regions…:

CUT 03(11)      “…feet above normal”

He says only the storm’s rain bands will tell how much rain we get.

Deputies in Tangipahoa Parish say a Loranger man committed aggravated assault when he reportedly brandished a gun and threatened a power lineman . TPSO Chief Jimmy Travis says 35-year-old Kendrick James refused to yield to a line team trying to restore power; that’s when the gun came out. Travis says harassing a utility worker is no way to get the power on faster..:

CUT 08(12)      “…save us”

Southwest Louisiana is under a Flash Flood Watch as Tropical Storm Nicholas heads up the southeast Texas coast.  Donovan Landreneau with the National Weather Service says it’s too early to say just which areas of the state will be subjected to the heaviest of rainfall as Nicholas is predicted to twist to the northeast as it exits Texas.

Cut 5 (10) “..threat is there.”

35-year old Kendrick James of Loranger is charged with aggravated assault of a utility worker after branding a gun and threatening a lineman. Tangipahoa Parish Sherriff’s Office Chief Jimmy Travis says this is not the first incident involving harassment of utility workers. He says one man even threatened the power company over the phone.

Cut 7 (11) “…somewhat normal”  

Baton Rouge attorney Ron Haley has filed a lawsuit on behalf of one of the more than 800 nursing home residents that were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during hurricane Ida. The suit names nursing homeowner Bob Dean and the Louisiana Department of Health as defendants. Haley’s client is Darlene Franklin, who is currently in a nursing home in New Roads.

Cut 10 (10)    a victim.” 

Haley says LDH should be held responsible since they approved the evacuation plan in which seven have now died.

The Saints started the 2021 season with an impressive 38-3 victory over the Green Bay Packers in a game held in Jacksonville, Florida Linebacker Demario Davis hopes their win over one of the top teams in the NFC is uplifting for those who are suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida…

Cut 13 (09)    we’re one”

Baton Rouge attorney Ron Haley has filed a lawsuit on behalf of one of the more than 800 nursing home residents that were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during hurricane Ida. The suit names nursing homeowner Bob Dean and the Louisiana Department of Health as defendants. Haley says nursing homes in southern parts of the state are required to file an evacuation plan with the state.

Cut 9 (12) “…blows over.” 

State police are investigating a weekend officer-involved shooting.  It occurred Saturday night involving a Shreveport police office at a West 70^th Street address inside the city limits. He had responded to a call for service at a convenience store and wound up chasing 30-year-old Desmond Lewis who fled on foot. After catching up with Lewis, he and the officer got into an altercation, Lewis pulling out a weapon and the officer responding by fatally shooting Lewis.  The officer escaped injury.

Southwest Louisiana is under a Flash Flood Watch as Tropical Storm Nicholas heads up the southeast Texas coast.  Donovan Landreneau with the National Weather Service says the amount of rain the Bayou State could see could climb as high as 20 inches.  Landreneau says rain bands will likely tell the story of how much rain areas of the state will receive from Nicholas.

Cut 4  (08) “…even 20 inches.” 

The Saints started the 2021 season with an impressive 38-3 victory over the Green Bay Packers in a game held in Jacksonville, Florida, because of the devastation in southeast Louisiana from Hurricane Ida. Quarterback Jameis Winston threw five touchdown passes and dedicates the victory to New Orleans

Cut 12 (12) “resilience”  

Linebacker Demario Davis hopes their statement win over one of the top teams in the NFC revives hope for those suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida…

Most of Southwest Louisiana is under a Flash Flood Watch as Tropical Storm Nicholas heads up the southeast Texas coast.  Donovan Landreneau with the National Weather Service says the amount of rain the Bayou State could see could climb as high as 20 inches and storm surge could be an additional problem.

Cut 3 (11) “..feet above normal.”

In Tangipahoa Parish, a Loranger man is charged with aggravated assault of a utility worker after branding a gun and threatening a lineman. TPSO Chief Jimmy Travis says it happened Friday evening on Highway 445 after 35-year-old Kendrick James refused to yield to a utility crew restoring power.

Cut 6 (12) “…of a utility worker.” 

More than two weeks after Hurricane Ida tore up southeast Louisiana, for the most part, the lights still aren’t back on for homes and businesses in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.  Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May, the repairs will be slow going for the time being.

Cut 13 (11) “…get back on.”

According to the Louisiana Public Service Commission as of this morning, 119-thousand customers remain without power.

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it looks as if COVID hospitalizations peaked in mid-August during the 4^th wave, but he worries progress could be lost due to families having to shelter outside their homes during Ida. Kanter says while the numbers are encouraging, we must remain vigilant with COVID mitigation.

Cut 12 (11) “…future increases.”  

The executive director of the Bayou Community Foundation says the group is focusing its assistance efforts on hard-hit Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.  Jennifer Armand says the organization has raised several million dollars thus far. In looking back to last week, Armand says gasoline has been one of the significant needs of those in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes. And, then there will be educational needs.

Cut 6 (09) “…in the system.”

The second of three planned SWEPCO wind farms is up and running in nearby Oklahoma. The Maverick wind farm is expected to generate 287-megawatts of power for the SWEPCO grid in Louisiana and elsewhere. PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell says the SWEPCO grid will benefit from power generated by the turbines of the two wind farms.

Cut 9 (12) “…in a forward way.”

State police are investigating a weekend officer-involved shooting.  It occurred Saturday night involving a Shreveport police office at a West 70^th Street address inside the city limits. He had responded to a call for service at a convenience store and wound up chasing 30-year-old Desmond Lewis who fled on foot. After catching up with Lewis, he and the officer got into an altercation, Lewis pulling out a weapon and the officer responding by fatally shooting Lewis.  The unidentified officer escaped injury.

In sports…the Saints kicked off the 2021 season with a 38-3 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Cut 3 (30)  I’m Jeff Palermo” 

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says when you look at COVID hospitalizations in the state it appears as if they peaked in mid-August but since a major hurricane has hit the state, he fears things could change.
Cut 10 (11) “…downward trajectory.”
On Friday 1,755 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, down more than 40-percent since the governor issued his latest indoor mask mandate.

The executive director of the Bayou Community Foundation has raised millions of dollars to help residents in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes who need fuel, food and other items following Hurricane Ida. Jennifer Armand says schools in those two parishes suffered significant damage and they are going to figure out how this money can help…
cut 6 (11) “…in the system”

The second of three planned SWEPCO wind farms is up and running in Oklahoma. The Maverick wind farm is expected to generate 287-megawatts of power for the SWEPCO grid in Louisiana and elsewhere. North Louisiana Public Service Commission member Foster Campbell is a proponent of wind energy and the savings it provides for utility customers
Cut 7 (06) “…do for Louisiana.”
Campbell says the new wind farm represents a $1-Billion savings over a 30-year period compared to other energy resources.

Saints fans could not have asked for a better start to the season as the Black and Gold pummeled the Packers 38 to 3 in Jacksonville yesterday. Quarterback Jameis Winston only threw for 148 yards in his first start for the Saints, but he tossed five touchdown passes and he was not intercepted. Linebacker Demario Davis says he’s proud of Winston…
cut 17 (16) “…what they see”
Meanwhile, the Saints defense put the clamps down on the reigning NFL MVP. Aaron Rodgers threw for only 133 yards and he was intercepted twice.

Governor Edwards has declared a state of emergency in advance of Tropical Storm Nicholas which has the potential of bringing heavy rains and flash flooding to Louisiana after it makes landfall in Texas, north of Corpus Christi later today. Southwest Louisiana is under a flash flood watch.

Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes are getting help from an organization that’s among others trying to help Ida storm victims get back on their feet. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

The number of COVID patients in the hospital has declined to 1,755 based on the latest data released by the Louisiana Department of Health. That’s a 40-percent decline since the governor reinstituted an indoor statewide mask mandate. The positivity rate has also fallen in recent weeks. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says he’s concerned the downward trend could be short-lived, given the fact many families were forced to shelter with others due to Ida…
cut 11 (09) “…generator”

SWEPCO Is now delivering energy from a second wind farm in Oklahoma to customers in Louisiana. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell likes to see the growth of renewable power…
cut 8 (07) “…in north Caddo parish.

COVID hospitalizations have dropped to their lowest point since July as the last report from the Louisiana Department of Health had 1,755 people hospitalized with the coronavirus. The positivity rate has also dropped from 14 to 11-percent. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says while the numbers are encouraging, he’s asking citizens to remain vigilant with COVID mitigation practices…
cut 12 (11) “….future increases”

The number of customers still without power continues to decline, but a majority of customers are still without power in St. John, St Charles Lafourche, and Terrebonne Parishes. Entergy President Phillip May…
cut 15 (09) “…what we can”

The executive director of the Bayou Community Foundation says the group is focusing its assistance efforts on hard-hit Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. Jennifer Armand says the organization has raised several million dollars so far.
Cut 4 (12) “…on the ground.”
Armand says money keeps pouring into the foundation’s fund that has helped pay for fuel, food, and other needs.

North Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is celebrating the start-up of the second of three planned SWEPCO wind farms in Oklahoma. Campbell says the 287-megawatt Maverick wind farm is now providing more clean energy for SWEPCO’s Louisiana customers…
cut 9 (12) “…in a forward way”
The Louisiana Public Service Commission unanimously approved Campbell’s motion to endorse the SWEPC wind project in May 2020.

Two weeks after Hurricane Ida and the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports 130-thousand utility customers remain without power. 82-percent of the utility customers in St. Charles Parish does not have electricity, 70-percent in Terrebonne Parish, and around 60-percent are still in the dark in St. John and Lafourche Parishes. Entergy CEO Phillip May…
cut 14 (07) “…light is on”
Entergy has made progress in Tangipahoa and Livingston as less than 20-percent of the customers in those parishes are without power.

The Bayou Community Foundation, which is helping residents in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parish says money keeps pouring into its Hurricane Ida relief fund…
cut 5 (09) “…year ahead”
Bayou Community Foundation Director Jennifer Armand says the money is going towards fuel, food, and various other needs in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parish.

Statewide COVID hospitalizations appear to have peaked in mid-August, but health officials fear Hurricane Ida could reverse the state’s progress…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”