Today Governor John Bel Edwards will travel to Alexandria for continued meetings with local elected officials and business leaders to address the budget challenges facing Louisiana. While there, he will take part in a statewide blood drive his office has organized. Tina Martinez with LifeShare Blood Centers says, due to Hurricane Harvey, there is a major need for blood:
CUT 9 (11) “the process”
Harvey victims will no doubt need help navigating the red tape of getting federal aid, and CSRA in Bossier City is setting up a call center to help. . Spokesperson Mimi Hedgcock says they  held a job fair for full and part-time positions..:
Cut 5 (10) “Louisiana”

Both of Louisiana’s US Senators voted to appropriate 15-billion dollars in disaster aid for victims of Harvey. Junior Senator John Kennedy says although it hasn’t always been the case, FEMA is doing a good job lately, especially with Administrator Brock Long at the helm. Kennedy says the rest will be up to them, since his job ends with providing the funds…:
Cut 12 (08) “different”
The vote was 80-17 in the Senate and now heads to the House for their approval.

Hurricane Irma is now a Category 4 storm, as it moves towards Cuba. Maximum sustained winds were 150 miles per hour, and it was moving west-northwest. A further turn toward the northwest is expected by late Saturday, and on the track — Irma should move near the Florida Keys and southern Florida Peninsula Sunday morning.

No. 10 Florida State has canceled its home game Saturday against ULM because of impending Hurricane Irma. Florida Governor Rick Scott ordered all colleges in the state closed through Monday.