Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin warns under the election plan the state was ordered to adopt by a federal judge it is unlikely we will know the full results of the November 3^rd election until the next day.

Cut 9 (12) “…strange times”

The plans calls for Louisiana to adopt the election plan used in the summer, which allowed people to request absentee ballots if they or someone in their household were high-risk COVID individuals, or if they were diagnosed with, or feeling symptoms of COVID-19.

A depression in the southern Gulf could be a hurricane by late Sunday night. National Weather Service Meteorologist Donald Jones says the system is disorganized and slow…

Cut 4 (11)“ …end up” 

Once it hits tropical storm strength it’ll be known as Tropical Storm Alpha.

More than 12 million dollars in D-SNAP benefits have been paid out to low to middle-income residents in hurricane-ravaged parishes. DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard says 60,000 have applied, but another 100,000 could be eligible…

Cut 14 (09) “…in and apply.”

21 parishes are eligible for D-SNAP.

Coach Ed Orgeron will get the national spotlight when the LSU coach’s story is told on Sunday night on CBS’s 60 minutes.  Special assistant to the head coach Derek Ponamsky says production was originally set to take place in March with spring practice but got pushed back to the summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cut 6 (11)  “…dealing with COVID.”  

Viewers will also get a chance to meet O’s mom, Coco.

A Tropical Depression in the southern Gulf of Mexico is close to tropical storm strength. There’s a chance it could become a hurricane late Sunday night, early Monday morning. National Weather Service Meteorologist Donald Jones says there’s not a lot of confidence in the forecast track

Cut 3 (12)  “…few days.”  

The current forecast track shows the system crawling up the Texas coastline towards Louisiana as a tropical storm.

Governor Edwards has altered the Phase 3 order to allow on-premise sale and consumption of alcohol until 11 PM, instead of 10 PM at restaurants, casinos, and bars in parishes that are eligible to opt in to reopen bars. Bars have been open in Acadia, Jefferson Davis, St. Landry and Plaquemines Parish. The owner of City Bar in Crowley Chad Monceaux says he’s glad to be back, but wonders how long the state will remain in Phase 3…
Cut 8 (11) “…families.”
St. James and St. Charles parishes voted last night to allow bars to re-open in their parishes.

The 2021 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction class features one of the best receivers to play for the Saints, LSU’s most decorated player on defense, and a college basketball legend. Former LSU basketball star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is also part of the 2021 class. Hall of Fame Chairman Doug Ireland says the high-scoring guard for the Tigers was the SEC player of the year as a freshman and sophomore.
Cut 12 (11) “…college basketball.”
Inductions take place in June.
DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard says so far a little over 60,000 have applied for DSNAP in the areas impacted by Hurricane Laura, but they were expecting about 100,000 more.Depending on their situation, those eligible families could be leaving lots of available assistance on the table.
Cut 15 (08) “…assistance that’s available.”
Step-by-step instructions on how to apply can be found at dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.

Governor John Bel Edwards has changed his Phase 3 executive order to allow bars and restaurants to sell alcoholic beverages until 11 PM, instead of 10 PM. There’s only a handful of bars that are open in the state. Chad Monceaux opened City Bar in Crowley on Wednesday and says the eleven o’clock cutoff is still a problem…
cut 9 (07) “…laughs”
The governor’s office says four parishes have opted in to allow on-site consumption of alcohol, but that number grew last night with St. James, St. John and St. Charles opting in.

The state will see cooler and dryer air as a cold front sweeps across Louisiana today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says summer weather is not over with yet, but this is a welcomed break.
Cut 4 (12)“ …in the 80s.”

The 2021 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction class features one of the best receivers to play for the Saints, LSU’s most decorated player on defense, and a college basketball legend. Hall of Fame Chairman Doug Ireland says the Saints all-time leading receiver Marques Colston will be enshrined in June…
Cut 10 (10) “…in New Orleans.”
Also going into the Hall are LSU legends Glenn Dorsey and Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

ULM will host the first college football game in Louisiana with fans tomorrow night when the Warhawks host Texas State. Athletic Director Scott McDonald says Malone Stadium will operate at 25-percent capacity…
cut 17 (13) “….football”
Kick-off is at 6:30.

Bars in a limited number of parishes have begun inviting patrons back for the first time in months. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

As you heard Matt say, restaurants and bars that are allowed to open must serve its last drink by 11 PM. When the Phase 3 order came out last week, 10 PM was last call, but Edwards has announced he’s giving these establishments another hour. Bars must still close at 11 PM.

Sad news report, Remy Hidalgo, the Denham Springs football player who collapsed during practice on Tuesday has died at a New Orleans hospital.

The first day of Fall is Tuesday and it will feel more like fall starting today as a cold front moves through the state, which will lower our temperatures and humidity. But there’s also a Tropical Depression in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the forecast models have this system eventually growing into a hurricane, but a Texas landfall seems most likely at this point…
cut 6 (11) “….the next week”

LSU legends Mahmoud Abdul Rauf and Glenn Dorsey are entering the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame as they will go in as the Class of 2021. Hall of Fame Chairman Doug Ireland says Dorsey was a two-time All American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2007…
cut 11 (09) “….senior year”
The Saints all-time receiver Marques Colston will also be enshrined in June.

Bars are reopening in select Louisiana parishes that have less than a five percent positivity rate on COVID tests for a two week period. City Bar in Crowley opened Wednesday night. Owner Chad Monceaux (mon-so) says his patrons were ready to return.
Cut 7 (09) “…good stuff.”
Bars have reopened in four parishes, Acadia, Jefferson Davis, St. Landry, and Plaquemines. St. Charles and St. James parish opted in last night.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services reports 12-million dollars in disaster food stamps have been paid out to Hurricane Laura victims and Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard says they expected another 100-thousand to apply…
cut 14 (09) “….in and apply”
Residents who lost food as a result of power outages and damages to their home from Hurricane Laura could be eligible for disaster food stamps.

Two of the best to ever play football in the Bayou State will be enshrined into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in Natchitoches. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

According to a post from the family of Remy Hidalgo, the Denham Springs football player passed away this morning at a New Orleans hospital. Hidgalo collapsed at practice on Tuesday and his condition continued to deteriorate. His friends have described Remy as a great guy and would give the shirt off his back if someone asked for it.

Governor Edwards has altered the Phase 3 order to allow on-premise sale and consumption of alcohol until 11 PM, instead of 10 PM at restaurants, casinos, and bars in parishes that are eligible to opt in to reopen bars. Bars have been open in Acadia, Jefferson Davis, St. Landry and Plaquemines Parish. The owner of City Bar in Crowley Chad Monceaux says he’s glad to be back, but wonders how long the state will remain in Phase 3…
cut 8 (11) “…families”
St. James and St. Charles parishes voted last night to allow bars to re-open in their parishes.

A cold front moves through the state today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll see lower humidity and dew points…
cut 5 (08) “….be absolutely fantastic”

The Department of Children and Family Services reports a little over 60,000 have applied for disaster food stamps in Hurricane Laura impacted areas. Barnhart has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

7,600 unemployment claimants received notices that they’d been overpaid due to a technical error with a Louisiana Workforce Commission vendor. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame welcomes  Saints receptions leader Marcus Colston, LSU defensive legend Glen Dorsey, and Former LSU basketball star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, formerly known as Chris Jackson, into the hall this year.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says he’s suffered a lot of damage that’s going to cost him a lot of money. The damage is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest. Lincoln says he invested extra care into the crop that would have been harvested by the first of October.

Cut 8 (13) “…what it was.”

Haunted houses can open in Louisiana this year but will be limited to 50 total people in the building and guests will be limited to groups of six with mask-wearing and social distancing enforced. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says each facility will have guidelines to follow.

Cut 11 (06) “…threat.”

To open each facility will have to check in with the state on OpenSafely.la.gov to get guidance on what they need to do to begin.

A technical issue resulted in 76-hundred unemployment claimants receiving an erroneous message claiming they owed overpayment money to the state and feds. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says they are working with their vendor to resolve the issue, and it should be taken care of without most claimants needing to get involved.

Cut 3 (07)  “…contend with.”  

The error resulted in some receiving requests for over ten thousand dollars of back payments.

Haunted Houses will be allowed to open this year but under strict permitting requirements and pandemic health restrictions. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says only 50 people total will be allowed in the building…

Cut 9 (11) “…escort”

Group sizes will be limited to six people.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted. Lincoln says the damage to his nuts is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest. On a good year, his operation will move about 3 million pounds of nuts, but this year, he anticipates it will be closer to a quarter-million pounds.
Cut 7 (05) “…on the ground.”
Lincoln says he invested extra care into the crop that would have been harvested by the first of October. Nuts that were knocked out of trees are not salvageable.
Utility provider B-E-C-i says they’ve restored power to 60-percent of their membership as power has nearly been restored to all of their customers in Vernon and Rapides Parishes. The goal of getting power restored to those that can receive it is by the end of the month. Spokesperson Danielle Tilley says in addition to the over 100 employees working in their offices, they still have plenty of boots on the ground to finish the job.

Cut 14 (07) “…area working hard.”