Governor John Bel Edwards has recommended expanding the homeowner assistance program to help more flood victims. The proposed changes include boosting grant amounts and including homeowners who had flood insurance….:
Cut 7 (11) “extremely hard”
The recommendations go before the recovery board today for approval.

After months of investigating, charges have been filed in the case of an obstacle that collapsed at a Warrior Dash in St. Francisville. Chief Deputy Brant Thompson with the state fire marshal’s office says twenty people were injured when the Diesel Dome collapsed…:
Cut 10 (12) “improper nails”
The Red Frog employees face 13 counts of negligent injuring.

A Retina Specialist explains the importance of protecting your eyes during Monday’s solar eclipse. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Harvey became the eighth named storm of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season on Thursday. The National Hurricane Center says that Tropical Storm Harvey is 95 miles east of Barbados.

A Retina Specialist explains the importance of protecting your eyes during Monday’s solar eclipse. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Today the flood recovery board will look at expanding the homeowner assistance program at the recommendation of Governor John Bel Edwards. Halen Doughty has more…

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The South Louisiana Economic Council finds the four-day Manning Passing Academy had an economic impact of more than $1.8 million for the Thibodeaux area. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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While many people are excited to view the solar eclipse on Monday morning, it’s important not to forget to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. LSU Health New Orleans retina specialist Maria Reinoso says to look at the eclipse with your eyes, make sure you wear glasses that are ISO 12312-2 certified because regular sunglasses aren’t enough…

Cut 4  (08) “it better”

There have been recalls of certain glasses that claim to be certified to protect your eyes during the eclipse. Even library officials in Calcasieu had to warn the public to throw away the glasses they received from the parish branches.  Reinoso says a good way to check if your glasses are ISO 12312-2, you should be able to see absolutely no light when you put them on.

Cut 5  (11)  “around it”

For a list of approved vendors of solar eclipse glasses, visit the American Astronomical Association’s website. Reinoso says it’s important to double check your glasses for protection before looking at the eclipse on Monday.

Cut 6 (09) “the sun”

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Governor John Bel Edwards has recommended expanding the homeowner assistance program to help more flood victims. The proposed changes include boosting grant amounts and including homeowners who had flood insurance. The recommendations go before the recovery board today for approval. Edwards says more people need assistance.

Cut 7 (11)  “extremely hard”

Edwards says the US Department of Housing and Urban Development has recognized the state for getting assistance to homeowners as quickly as possible. He says in terms of timing, Louisiana is ahead of any reimbursement program that has ever been undertaken by a state following a disaster.

Cut 8 (12) “million dollars”

Edwards encourages everyone impacted by the floods to complete the 10 minute survey at Restore.La.Gov. He says over 40,000 homeowners have already taken the survey, but that’s far short of the 90,000 homes with FEMA verified loss. He says flood victims cannot get assistance without completing the survey.

Cut 9 (08)  “those individuals”

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After months of investigating, charges have been filed in the case of an obstacle that collapsed at a Warrior Dash in St. Francisville. Chief Deputy Brant Thompson with the state fire marshal’s office says twenty people were injured when the Diesel Dome collapsed.

Cut 10 (12) “improper nails”

Thompson adds event staff failed to follow proper protocol when monitoring the course. He says charges were levied against three employees with Red Frog Events, as well as the contractors hired to set up the obstacles. He notes the contractors were not licensed to practice in Louisiana.

Cut 11 (12) “negligent injuring”

The Red Frog employees face 13 counts of negligent injuring. A lengthy multi-agency investigation followed the October 2016 incident. Thompson says all five individuals charged in this case are from out of state.

Cut 12 (10) “the charges”

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The four-day Manning Passing Academy had a $1.8 million economic impact for the Thibodaux area, according to the South Louisiana Economic Council. SLEC President and CEO Vic Lafont says the study looked into how much revenue the football camp generated for the region.

Cut 13 (10) “bayou region”

Lafont says about 13,000 kids from across country and abroad flocked to Nicholls State University for the camp in June. He says almost all the SEC quarterbacks turned out to assist with coaching. He says the event had a huge economic impact for Thibodaux.

Cut 14 (10) “or agriculture”

Lafont says it meant a lot to have Peyton and Eli Manning on campus to supervise the camp. He says the city got a lot of publicity when ESPN aired interviews during the NFL draft promoting the region. He says you can’t buy that kind of coverage.

Cut 15 (08) “Nicholls State University”

Even with a looming $1.1 billion fiscal cliff looming next year, Republicans have pushed back against the idea of increasing taxes, and many opponents say government has grown too much. But Governor John Bel Edwards says that’s not the case at all. He says the state general fund portion of the budget has actually decreased over the years.

Cut 8 (11) “the government”

LSU Ag Center researchers have received a grant to study a type of small fly that transmits diseases to deer and cattle. Researcher Lane Foil says the conditions spread by these types of flies can lead to internal hemorrhaging that often kill deer.

Cut 12 (06) “after exposure”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $490,000 for the study.

As Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources worries about crawfish found in the state, Lafayette Travels heads up north today to teach the Wolverine State a thing or two about our beloved mudbugs. President and CEO Ben Berthelot says they will hold a one day festival called CrayDay this Saturday.

Cut 3 (11) “etouffee”

Berthelot says their plans to do a live boil were cut short as it is illegal to possess live crawfish in Michigan.

A 2-year-old child has died after being run over by a vehicle in Tangipahoa Parish. State Trooper Dustin Dwight says a choir group had just gotten out of church and were standing in the parking lot.

Cut 9 (11) “the roadway”

Kaleb Dyson of Kentwood was killed in the accident.

The Edwards administration has presented its first ideas for cuts in the current fiscal year, if the operating budget spends too much money. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (25) “I’m Michelle Southern”

A 2-year-old was rushed to a Baton Rouge hospital after being hit by a vehicle in a car dealership parking lot. Authorities say both parties involved were customers at the dealership on Airline Highway. The child is reportedly in stable condition and is being evaluated for injuries.

Scientists with the LSU Ag Center have received a grant to study a type of small fly that causes bleeding in deer and cattle. Researcher Lane Foil says the study will look to identify exactly what type of flying insect is carrying the virus, and how it is able to persist between active transmission seasons…:

Cut 14 (11) “every setting”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $490,000 to researchers at the LSU AgCenter.

After months of investigating, charges have been filed in the case of an obstacle that collapsed at a Warrior Dash in October. According to the state fire marshal’s office, nearly two-dozen people were injured when the Diesel Dome collapsed at the St. Francisville event. Contractors who set up the obstacle were charged with negligent injury and operating without a license.

Governor John Bel Edwards said his talk with House Speaker Taylor Barras on Wednesday was a productive one. They are trying to come up with a plan to address a looming $1.1 billion budget gap next fiscal year. Edwards says it will take more cuts and more money to fill the budget hole.

Cut 7 (10) “balanced approach”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture awards a $490,000 grant to scientists with the LSU Ag Center to study a type of small fly that transmits diseases to deer and cattle. Researcher Lane Foil says these types of viruses limit the United States’ livestock exports.

Cut 13 (12) “population”

Louisianans are heading up to Michigan today to help with the state’s recent crawfish invasion. Emelie Gunn has more…

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Southern University is one step closer to getting medical marijuana into the hands of patients, as the school has narrowed down the list of potential growers to three finalists. The Medical Marijuana Review Committee will discuss the finalists in a private meeting before sending their selection to Southern’s Board of Supervisors for final approval.

The Edwards administration has presented its first ideas for cuts in the current fiscal year, if the operating budget spends too much money. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (25) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Authorities with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office report a child has been rushed to the hospital to be evaluated after being struck by a vehicle. The two-year-old was in the parking lot of Team Mazda on Airline Highway in Baton Rouge when hit. There is no word yet on the child’s condition.

A two-year-old in Tangipahoa Praish is dead after being run over by a vehicle, according to State Police. Trooper Dustin Dwight says Kaleb Dyson of Kentwood entered LA 20 when he was hit by a minivan. He says speed and impairment are not considered a factor but this is still a tragedy for everyone involved.

Cut 11 (06) “lifetime”

Lafayette Travel is heading up to Michigan today as the Wolverine State is seeing a huge unwanted influx of crawfish. President and CEO of Lafayette Travel Ben Berthelot says they are bringing a local Louisiana crawfisherman with them to teach residents how to successfully trap mudbugs. He says at their CrayDay festival on Saturday there will more than just education discussions.
Cut 5 (09) “some cake”
He encourages everyone to follow Lafayette Travel on social media to keep up with their Michigan adventures.

Budget talks are ongoing among legislative and business leaders in the state. Governor John Bel Edwards has met with business owners around the state, as well as House Speaker Taylor Barras, to find a way to fill a $1.1 billion budget gap when temporary taxes expire next year. Edwards called the meeting a good, frank exchange.

Cut 6 (12) “this fiscal cliff”

A two-year-old has died after being hit by a vehicle in Tangipahoa Parish. State Trooper Dustin Dwight says that just as little Kaleb Dyson of Kentwood entered the westbound lane of LA 10, he was struck by a minivan.

Cut 10 (05) “set of circumstances”

Speed and impairment are not considered factors in the accident.

Scientists with the LSU Ag Center have received a $490,000 grant to study a type of small fly that causes bleeding in deer and cattle. Researcher Lane Foil says the conditions spread by these types of flies can lead to internal hemorrhaging that often kill deer…:

Cut 12 (06) “after exposure”

He says they are less dangerous to cattle, but still cause problems.

Lafayette Travel is heading to Michigan to show the northerners how to handle crawfish, after mudbugs were discovered in the Wolverine State. President and CEO Ben Berthelot says this is a great time for Lafayette to promote their great food and happy people.

Cut 4 (08) “big problem”

Plans for a crawfish boil were canned because it is illegal to possess live crawfish in Michigan.

Governor John Bel Edwards met with House Speaker Taylor Barras on Wednesday to continue budget talks and how to fill the $1.1 billion dollar gap next fiscal year. That’s when temporary taxes are slated to expire. He says the state general fund portion of the budget that comes from taxpayers has actually decreased over the years…:
Cut 8 (11) “the government”
Edwards says his office will continue to pursue a balanced approach to resolving the state’s fiscal woes.

There is a new Tiger on the campus of LSU, but he’s not Mike VII just yet. Officials with the university say 11-month old Harvey is currently in a night house where he will be monitored by veterinarians for at least a week while they determine if he’s healthy and a good fit for LSU.

State Police say a 2-year-old child has died after being run over by a vehicle in Tangipahoa Parish. Trooper Dustin Dwight says, around 8:30 last night, a large choir group from Mt. Canaan Missionary Baptist, had just gotten out of church and were standing in the parking lot…:
CUT 9 (11) “the roadway”
Dwight says that just as little Kaleb Dyson of Kentwood entered the westbound lane of LA 10, he was struck by a minivan and later died.

State Police has reportedly suspended a trooper for 14 weeks for being involved in a crash that claimed the life of a person in Pointe Coupee Parish in February. The report says Christopher Kelley was speeding in excess of 110 miles per hour when he slammed into a vehicle that was turning onto a highway. The suspension comes after a grand jury declined to charge the trooper with negligent homicide saying the crash happened because the other driver failed to yield.