Thousands are without power as a result of those strong storms that rolled through last night. The National Weather Service in Shreveport is investigating whether a tornado caused major damage in Coushatta in Red River Parish. The weather service also received reports of hail as large as baseballs. A chilly day is in store for Louisiana today.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has yet to detect any cases of chronic wasting disease in Louisiana deer. L-D-W-F Deer Program Manager Jonathan Bordelon says they’ve tested 188 deer in East Carroll, Madison and Tensas Parishes after C-W-D was found in a buck just five miles away from the Louisiana-Mississippi border. Bordelon says C-W-D is a neurodegenerative disease and it causes irreversible brain damage and infected deer can spread the disease even before symptoms develop
Cut 15 (11) “this time”

Wrestlemania 34 goes down Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. When the city hosted Wrestlemania in 2014, the economic impact was 164-million dollars. WWE Superstar Alexia Bliss….
Cut 6 (08) “WWE”

LSU Engineering Seniors are hard at work on a project that could mean a lot to a local girl with a neuro-muscular disorder….
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says they have yet to find any positive results for chronic wasting disease in Louisiana. L-D-W-F was put on alert when a case was confirmed in the Mississippi Delta just five miles away from the Louisiana border. LDWF Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon says they’ve sampled 188 deer from East Carroll, Madison and Tensas parishes
Cut 14 (08) “any of them”
Bordelon says they hope to sample over 100 more deer in northeast Louisiana.

An LSU survey finds 70-percent of state residents believe women face a lot or some discrimination in society and that’s a seven-percent increase from a year ago. LSU Public Policy Research Lab director, Doctor Michael Henderson, says most Louisiana residents agree gender inequality is a real problem in this state
Cut 7 (07) “with these issues”

Cajun Navy Relief is holding its first Search and Rescue Games this morning in the Atchafalaya Basin. Spokesperson Amy Jones says markers will be “hidden” in several locations and will need to be “rescued” just like in a real disaster scenario…
Cut 25 (10) “return them.”

An on-duty Louisiana State Trooper shot at a juvenile Thursday night in New Orleans as a young man allegedly attempted to get into his vehicle.
voicer 1 (30) “I’m Jim Shannon”

A strong cold front last night and during the overnight hours dropped heavy rainfall, hail and there are reports of tornado damage. K-T-B-S TV reports multiple trees are down in Red River Parish and there’s some structural damage. Authorities also say a home in south Natchitoches Parish had its partially torn off on LA Highway 484. No injuries reported.

Southeast Louisiana is getting over a billion dollars in federal money that can be used to pay for flood protection projects in southeast Louisiana…
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Cajun Navy Relief is holding its first Search and Rescue Games today in the Atchafalaya Basin. The games will serve as a training exercise for disaster rescue scenarios in extreme flooding. Spokesperson Amy Jones says the Games also give the volunteer rescue group a chance to work with new GPS equipment…
Cut 24 (11) “natural disaster.”

Authorities have charged a juvenile with attempted carjacking after he allegedly tried to steal an unmarked State Police unit in New Orleans last Thursday. Sergeant Jared Sandifer says an on-duty trooper was sitting in the vehicle at the time and fired his weapon at the teen after he tried entering the vehicle…
cut 5 (13) “….apprehend him”
No one was injured.

Louisiana is receiving a 1.2 billion dollar block grant from the federal government to construct flood protection projects in southeast Louisiana. There’s been a push for this funding after the 2016 August flood caused an estimated 8.7 billion dollars in damage. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the block grant will go right to the state and skip the red tape.

Cut 12 (10)   “for decades.”

Graves expects the money to be available by summer.

The northern half of Louisiana is under an enhanced risk for severe weather this afternoon and into tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front will sweep through the state bringing the chance for flash flooding, but more concerning is the chance for tornadoes

Cut 9 (08) “pretty bumpy”

Some scary moments for a Louisiana State Trooper last night in New Orleans as a yet unidentified man attempted to get into his vehicle. Police later apprehended a juvenile and charged him with attempted carjacking of the unmarked police vehicle. Sergeant Jared Sandifer says it started when a strange car just pulled up.

Cut 3 (09) “troopers vehicle”

Big crowds are expected this weekend for Wrestlemania 34 which will take place Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. 75-thousand pro wrestling fans are expected to pack the Superdome and millions will watch on the WWE television network. WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss will defend her RAW Women’s Championship when she battles Nia Jax on Sunday and says its the wrestling fan’s Mecca.

Cut 7 (11)  “forward to”

A pair of bills are heading to the House floor that require TOPS students to perform better in order to be eligible for the scholarship and also achieve a higher minimum GPA in order to keep it. It’s uncertain if the legislation has enough votes to pass the House. Opposition comes from the Taylor Foundation, its executive director James Callier….
cut 30 (10) “….to school”
Baton Rouge Representative is the author of the proposals.

Louisiana is set to receive one-point-two billion dollars in federal money that will go towards the construction of stalled flood control and flood prevention projects. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says which projects will get funded has yet to be decided, but they want to make sure the money is well spent….
cut 13 (09) “…different folks”
The money comes from a 90-billion dollar disaster recovery project approved by Congress in February.

Louisiana State Police say a juvenile tried to carjack a Trooper’s unmarked unit last night in New Orleans. Sergeant Jared Sandifer says the Trooper observed the juvenile trying to gain entrance into his vehicle and fired his gun.
Cut 4 (11) “for that.”
The suspect has been charged with attempted carjacking.

Big crowds are expected this weekend for Wrestlemania 34 which will take place Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Hotel occupancy in the Big Easy is expected to be around 95-percent and when the city hosted Wrestlemania in 2014, the economic impact was 164-million dollars. WWE Superstar Alexia Bliss….
Cut 6 (08) “WWE”

Authorities have charged a juvenile with attempted carjacking after he allegedly tried to steal an unmarked State Police unit in New Orleans last night. L-S-P Sergeant Jared Sandifer says an on-duty trooper was sitting in the vehicle at the time and fired his weapon at the teen after he tried to enter the vehicle…
cut 5 (13) “….apprehend him”
No one was injured. Sandifer says they are still looking for the driver who helped the juvenile flee the scene.

State Police have arrested a 61-year-old convicted felon after authorities executed a search warrant of his Ponchatoula home and found 17 guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Edward Sutter is banned from possessing firearms, because he was previously convicted of domestic abuse battery.

The federal government will allocate one-point-two billion dollars in grant money that can be spent on flood-control and prevention projects. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says they are still waiting on full details from the federal government regarding how these funds can be spent, but he anticipates Louisiana will have access to the money soon…
cut 14 (06) “….this summer”
Graves says this money can likely be spent on several stalled flood control projects in southeast Louisiana.

Big crowds are expected in New Orleans for Wrestlemania 34 which goes down on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. A fan convention called WrestleMania Axxess is underway at the Morial Convention Center. WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss says it should be an amazing few days in the Big Easy…
Cut 8 (11) “over again”
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the economic impact for Orlando, who hosted Wrestemania last year, was 184-million dollars.

Southeast Louisiana is getting over a billion dollars in federal money to pay for flood protection projects in southeast Louisiana. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

A massive search is underway for a four-year-old black male who went missing in Claiborne Parish. Authorities have been searching for Junior Phillips says yesterday afternoon. His mother reported him missing around 12:30 after he appartenly wandered away from home, while the father was working outside.
Severe weather is expected tonight and through the overnight hours as a strong cold front moves through the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim says once this cold front moves through, be prepared for a chilly weekend. He says temperatures will be around 50 degrees in north Louisiana on Saturday and in 60s for south Louisiana
Cut 11 (10) “the state”
The weather shouldn’t stop the big party in New Orleans as pro wrestling fans will storm the city for Wrestlemania 34 on Sunday. 75-thousand fans are expected to pack the Superdome and millions will watch on the WWE television network. WWE Superstar Alexa Bliss will defend her RAW Women’s Championship when she battles Nia Jax and she can’t wait…
cut 7 (11) forward to”

Louisiana is receiving a 1.2 billion dollar block grant from the federal government to build up flood protection projects in parishes impacted by the historic 2016 floods that caused an estimated 8.7 billion dollars in damage. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the block grant will go right to the state and skip the red tape.

Cut 12, 10 seconds, for decades

The northern half of Louisiana is under an enhanced risk for severe weather this afternoon and into tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a cold front will sweep through the state bringing the chance for flash flooding, but more concerning is the chance for tornadoes

Cut 9 (08) “pretty bumpy”

Expect temperatures as low as 50 in north Louisiana this weekend.

Big crowds are expected this weekend for Wrestlemania 34 which will take place Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. A fan convention called WrestleMania Axxess is underway at the Morial Convention Center. Bliss says it should be an amazing few days in the Big Easy…

Cut 8 (11) “over again”

75-thousand pro wrestling fans are expected to pack the Superdome and millions will watch on the WWE television network.

Louisiana State say an unidentified male tried to enter a Troopers car last night in New Orleans. Police later apprehended a juvenile and charged him with attempted carjacking of the unmarked police vehicle. Sergeant Jared Sandifer says the trooper observed the juvenile attempt to gain entrance into his vehicle and pulled his gun.

Cut 4 (11) “for that.”