Tropical Storm Sally is getting a little stronger as it moves towards the Louisiana-Mississippi coast. Its maximum sustained winds are up to 65-miles per hour and tropical storm winds are expected to arrive along Louisiana’s southeastern coast this morning. Sally is expected to develop into a hurricane as it crawls past Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a storm surge of seven to eleven feet is expected from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Ocean Springs, Mississippi…
cut 8 (07) “…surge”
Governor Edwards says since Sally will be a slow-moving storm, heavy rainfall is expected in far southeastern Louisiana,
cut 14 (13) “….amounts of rain”

Unemployment workers will receive their last federally boosted checks this week. Brooke Thorington has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

CenturyLink in Monroe is now known as Lumen Technologies. That’s according to a news release from the Monroe-based Fortune 500 company. Lumen says the new name comes with a new purpose to help lead companies through the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Saints won their season opener over Tampa Bay, while Ragin Cajuns football is ranked in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in modern-day history after beating Iowa State.

Tropical Storm Sally is now 120 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Storm Surge and rainfall of up to 10 inches is possible for Louisiana’s most southeastern parishes…
cut 1 (27) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Hurricane Isaac was 2012 and caused three-billion dollars in damage in the United States. But there is some good news for us when it comes to Sally. Its forecast track has shifted to the east and landfall along coastal Mississippi is more likely. The worst of the weather could occur in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida panhandle.

The extra 300-dollars a week in federal unemployment benefits are set to expire in Louisiana and across the country. The final checks go out this week. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says President Trump created this temporary boost in unemployment benefits, so Congress could approve another pandemic relief package, but that never happened…
cut 11 (08) “….fashion”
Dejoie urges unemployed workers to check the Lousiana Workforce Commission’s website for available jobs.

Mosquito swarms have invaded southwest Louisiana following Hurricane Laura leaving some livestock dead. The bugs either bite the animals into exhaustion or form globs in nasal passages, suffocating them. In an effort to protect herds, Ag Commissioner Mike Strain recommends keeping animals in a barn with forced airflow.
Cut 4 (07)“ …a big fan (x2).”
Strain says local governments are doing the best they can with aerial sprays to reduce the mosquito population.

Sally threatens to bring life-threatening storm surge and over a foot of rain to southeast Louisiana when it makes landfall Tuesday. Matt Doyle has the story.

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 Unemployment recipients will be receiving their last federally boosted checks this week. Brooke Thorington has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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Sally is expected to impact southeast Louisiana as a hurricane early Tuesday, bringing lots of rain.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

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Mosquito swarms have invaded southwest Louisiana following Hurricane Laura leaving some livestock dead. The bugs either bite the animals into exhaustion or form globs in nasal passages, suffocating them. In an effort to protect herds, Ag Commissioner Mike Strain recommends keeping animals in a barn with forced air flow.

Cut 4 (07)“ …a big fan (x2).” 

Strain says local governments are doing the best they can with aerial sprays to cut down on the problem, but adds sprays are available for ranchers to apply to the animals.

Cut 5 (09)  “…down the mosquitos.”

Reports indicate a large part of the swarm was pushed out of the marsh by Hurricane Laura, with rains in the days following making the situation worse. Strain recommends draining anything that might hold standing water where mosquito eggs may be laid.

Cut 6 (10) “…growth of mosquitos.”

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Tropical Storm Sally is now expected to make landfall as a category one hurricane near the mouth of the Mississippi River Tuesday, bringing heavy rain and life-threatening storm surge.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says unfortunately once Sally makes landfall it’s projected to slow down significantly…

Cut 7 (07) “…Louisiana”

Keim areas between the mouth of the Mississippi River and Ocean Spring Mississippi could face up to 11 feet of storm surge, and Lake Ponchartrain could see six feet if Sally keeps her current track.

Cut 8 (07) “…surge.”

Keim says Sally may only be a category one at landfall but its track and slow pace make it look a lot like 2012’s Hurricane Isaac.

Cut 9 (05) “…coast”

Isaac caused mass power outages in New Orleans, overwhelmed pumping stations in Slidell, and forced evacuations in parts of Tangipahoa Parish due to river flooding.

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The final round of 300 dollar federally boosted unemployment checks goes out this week, with no apparent efforts to replace the money on the horizon.

Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says they’ve been informed by the feds the checks will cease after the payment week ending September 5^th.

Cut 10 (09) “money”

The round of payments that were administered mid-August and were retroactive to August 1^st were funded by FEMA emergency response funds.

Dejoie says these five weeks of benefits were a stopgap measure done by executive order while Congress was supposed to deliberate the next pandemic relief package.

Cut 11 (08) “…fashion.”

Dejoie says the unemployed should start searching LWC’s job listing for an opportunity now that benefits will be limited to the 247 max you can collect from the state.

Cut 12 (05) “…fairs”

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Tropical Storm Sally is expected to make landfall in southeast Louisiana as a hurricane early Tuesday morning.  Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana residents should not underestimate this storm.

Cut 13 (07) “…outside of that”

Edwards says the storm is a slow-moving system with the possibility of dropping overwhelming amounts of rain on the New Orleans area.

Cut 14 (13) “…amounts of rain.”

Edwards says there are no COVID-19 measures keeping power restoration workers from entering the state for the storm.  Edwards adds there are currently no plans to evacuate the Hurricane Laura evacuees who are currently sheltered in New Orleans hotels.

Cut 15 (09) “…of New Orleans.”

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For the first time since 1943, the Ragin Cajuns are ranked in the AP Top 25. Lousiaina Football caught the attention of national writers with a 31-14 victory over Iowa State, who was ranked 23rd in the country. The Cajuns are now ranked 19th in th media poll, 21st in the coaches poll. Quarterback Levi Lewis says it feels good to see that their hard work is paying off…

Cut 16 (10) “…pay off” 

Saturday’s win over the Cyclones was the Cajuns second-ever win over a top-25 team and first road win over a ranked opponent. Coach Billy Napier says based on the amount of resources the university has put into the program, they expect to be successful

Cut 17  (24) “…five operation” 

The Ragin Cajuns will be in Atlanta this Saturday for an 11 AM matchup against Georgia State on ESPN 2.

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The Saints took down Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 34-23 season opening win in front of a fanless Superdome on Sunday. If Who Dat nation was present, they would standing on their feet and cheering the performance of running back Alvin Kamara, who had two touchdowns. Coach Sean Payton says it’s nice to see healthy Kamara…

Cut 18  (15) “…our team”     

Before the game, Kamra signed a five-year, 75-million dollar contract. A-K says he’s glad the deal got done…

cut 19 (15) “…its great”  

Even though the Saints put up 34 points. It wasn’t a great performance by the offense. Drew Brees threw for just 160 yards and the Black and Gold averaged just two yards a rush. Payton was upset with how he called the game.

But the defense stepped up with a big play early in the third quarter when Janoris Jenkins intercepted a Brady pass and ran for 36 yards into the end zone for a score. Jenkins says he knew that pass play was coming

cut 20 (15) “ double out”  

Tropical Depression 19 is forecast make landfall as a hurricane near the Louisiana/Mississippi line as early this upcoming week. It is expected to reach tropical storm strength today. If none of the other tropical systems strengthen into a tropical storm first, TD19 will take on the name Sally and would be the earliest “S” named storm in recorded history.

The state enters Phase Three of the pandemic economic reopening plan, but bars in most parishes will remain closed for now. Jeff Palermo has the story.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the state moving into Phase Three likely means more in-person education for K-12 students. Brumley says classrooms can also open up, and some beloved extracurricular activities can resume as well…
Cut 7 (10) “…band.”
The Superintendent warned the transition to more in-person education won’t happen overnight.

Mosquito swarms have invaded southwest Louisiana following Hurricane Laura leaving some livestock dead. The bugs would either bite the animals into exhaustion or form globs in nasal passages, suffocating them. In an effort to protect herds, Ag Commissioner Mike Strain recommends keeping animals in a barn with forced air flow.

Cut 4 (07)“ …a big fan (x2).” 

Strain says local governments are doing the best they can with aerial sprays to cut down on the problem, but adds sprays are available for ranchers to apply to the animals.

Tropical Depression 19 is forecast to become a named storm today. If none other tropical systems strengthen into a tropical storm first, TD19 would take on the name Sally. It could possibly hit hurricane strength before making landfall on the Louisiana or Mississippi Gulf Coast as early as late Monday or as late as Wednesday.

Phase Three will provide public school students with more opportunities for in-person education. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

Friday the state transitioned into Phase Three of economic reopening. Governor John Bel Edwards announces that bars in most parishes will remain closed and those that can open heavy restrictions will be put in place in Phase Three. Edwards says a parish must show a two week period with less than five percent positivity before bars can begin a limited reopening.

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Restaurants, gyms, spas, salons, retail, and other businesses will be allowed to increase capacity to 75 percent, masks will still be required in businesses, and gathering sizes have been increased.

Cleco says it has restored power to 99% of the 140,000 customers who lost service due to Hurricane Laura. Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says that’s thanks to the over 4,000 restoration workers were on the ground.

Cut 10 (06) “…history of Cleco.”

Tropical Depression 19 formed near Miami yesterday and is moving into the Gulf of Mexico today. The forecast calls for the storm to hit Tropical Storm strength later today or tonight and possibly hit hurricane strength before making landfall on the northern gulf coast. National Weather Service Meteorologist Kevin Gilmore…

Cut 3 (10)  “…Wednesday”  

Cleco says it has restored power to 99% of the 140,000 customers who lost service due to Hurricane Laura. Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says as restoration teams’ infrastructure rebuilding efforts move forward, remaining customers could be seeing the lights come on soon.

Cut 9 (08) “…another couple days.”

B-E-Ci reports they have energized the co-op’s first substation in a hard-hit area of Calcasieu Parish restoring power to 450 customers.

Governor Edwards says bars will remain closed in parishes with high incidence rates, per White House Coronavirus Guidelines for Phase three reopening, masks will still be required in businesses. So far only five parishes qualify to reopen bars and those bars will have to stop serving by 10 PM and close by 11 PM, and you can’t walk up to the bar to order…

Cut 13 (06) “seated”

No one under 21 will be allowed in any bar, and live music is still prohibited.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell announces there will be no tailgating on city property for Sunday’s Saints season opener, and no fans in the Dome for all of September. Cantrell says many long-running city traditions are now outlawed…

Cut 15 (12) “tailgating” 

The Saints kick off at 3:25pm Sunday against Tom Brady’s Bucs.

Governor John Bel Edwards announces that bars in most parishes will remain closed and those that can open heavy restrictions will be put in place as the state enters Phase Three tonight. So far only five parishes qualify to reopen bars, Orleans, St. John, Bienville, Jefferson Davis, and Plaquemines. Bar capacity will be highly restricted and social distancing must be enforced.

Cut 14 (10) “…outdoors” 

Tropical Depression 19 formed near Miami this afternoon. National Weather Service Meteorologist Kevin Gilmore says the depression is set to cross south Florida early on Saturday and move northwestward over the north-central Gulf of Mexico on Monday.

Cut 3 (10)  “…Wednesday”  

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the state moving into Phase Three likely means more in-person education for K-12 students. Brumley says one of the biggest differences in Phase Three is relaxed school bus capacity limits.

Cut 6 (09) “…campus.”

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell announces there will be no tailgating on city property for Sunday’s Saints season opener, and no fans in the Dome for all of September. And while limited fan attendance is being allowed in other NFL stadiums, that won’t be the case for the Superdome at least through week three when the Saints return to the Dome on the 27^th.

Cut 16 (13) “…New Orleans.” 

The Saints kick off Sunday at 3:25 PM against Tom Brady’s Buccaneer’s

The state enters Phase Three of the pandemic economic reopening plan tonight, but bars in most parishes will remain closed for now. Jeff Palermo has the story.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Today the state topped 5-thousand deaths from COVID-19 with now 5032 deaths attributed to the virus. The state reported an increase of 844 cases today and hospitalizations decreased by 39 for a total of 723.

Tropical Depression 19 formed near Miami on Friday afternoon. National Weather Service Meteorologist Kevin Gilmore says the depression is set to cross south Florida early on Saturday and move northwestward over the north-central Gulf of Mexico on Monday. Gilmore says residents along the northern Gulf Coast should monitor the progress of this system.

Cut 5 (05)  “…storm status”

Cleco says it has restored power to 99% of the 140,000 customers who lost service due to Hurricane Laura. Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says as restoration teams’ infrastructure rebuilding efforts move forward, remaining customers could be seeing the lights come on soon.

Cut 9 (08) “…another couple days.”

B-E-Ci reports they have energized the co-op’s first substation in a hard-hit area of Calcasieu Parish restoring power to 450 customers.