As the COVID pandemic rages on, the funeral industry has seen families hold multiple funerals in a short period of time. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU President William Tate will take part in a briefing at the White House this afternoon where he and others will meet with President Biden and his Covid 19 Response Team to discuss the success of mitigation strategies in the battle against the coronavirus.  Tate says LSU’s strategies have worked, noting that more than 82-percent of the university’s student body has been vaccinated, along with monthly testing protocols in place to monitor the presence of the virus on campus.

As Nicholas continues on its east, northeastwardly track, State Climatologist Barry Keim says bands of rain will only continue to increase rainfall totals for southeast and central parts of the state.

Cut 5 (07) “…occurred.”

Keim says the slow movement of Nicholas is allowing the storm to saturate areas of the state, even more so than south Louisiana already is.

Senator Bill Cassidy is taking a staunch approach to those who. for whatever reason. are shunning COVID-19 approved vaccines in favor of ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug that is used to treat river blindness and intestinal roundworm infection in humans.

Cut 13 (10) “…FDA approved vaccine.”

Cassidy says if anything, there are far lower hospitalizations and deaths for those who have been vaccinated, versus the number of deaths for those hospitalized with the coronavirus and who had relied on ivermectin.

The state health department reported 121 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday, bringing the death toll to 13,241. Zondra Wright is Charbonnet Funeral Home Director in New Orleans and says unfortunately her business has been very busy since March 2020 and she fears the number of COVID deaths will not let up anytime soon…
cut 12 (09) “….Christmas 2021”
Wright says she’s seeing more people die in their 40s, 50s, and 60s from COVID than last year.

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy, who is also a doctor, continues to advise people to get the COVID vaccine. He says using the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin is not the answer…
cut 15 (07) “…and who died”

Nicholas is now a tropical depression but the flood threat still exists. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the slow movement of Nicholas allows the system to saturate the area…
cut 4 (09) “…the problem”
Numerous roads in Evangeline Parish are closed due to high water. Schools are closed in Avoyelles Parish due to flooding concerns. A flash flood warning is in effect for St. Tammany and Washington Parish until 11:15.

Entergy Louisiana says they’ve restored power to 90-percent of its customers who lost power as a result of Hurricane Ida. But John Hawkins with Entergy says they still have more work to do in the River Parishes and the Bayou Region of Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes…
cut 9 (09) “…work there”
Entergy Louisiana reports nearly 65-thousand customers without power.

Much of South and Central Louisiana are under a flash flood watch today as Tropical Depression Nicholas moves through the state. Rainfall totals are expected to range from five to ten inches and locally higher amounts are possible. A number of roads in Evangeline Parish are closed due to high waters.

As the COVID pandemic rages on, the funeral industry has seen families hold multiple funerals in a short period of time. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission reports 85-thousand customers are still without power due to Hurricane Ida. Most of the outages are in St. John, St. Charles, Lafourche, and Terrebonne Parishes. Entergy says they restored power to 90-percent of its customers that lost electricity due to Ida. John Hawkins, the utility’s Vice President of Distribution Operations, says lessons learned from previous storms helped in this restoration effort…
cut 8 (12) “…the next event”

There are many still taking the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat COVID. Senator Bill Cassidy, who is also a doctor, advises against it…
cut 13 (10) “…FDA approved vaccine”

Nicholas has been downgraded to a tropical depression, but the flood threat lingers. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 6 (06) “….of time”
That’s what happened in Avoyelles and Evangeline Parish early this morning, which led to flooded roads and school closures.

Over 13,000 have died from COVID in Louisiana and the pandemic has made it difficult for some families to plan a funeral for a loved one…
cut 10 911) “…will recover”
That’s Zondra Wright who is the director at the Charbonnet Funeral Home in New Orleans. Wright says before the pandemic they averaged nine to eleven funerals a week. She says they can easily do that many in a weekend now.

There is more progress to report on getting electricity flowing once again to Entergy customers in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida. Dave Brannen has an update.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

The federal government has approved the use of disaster food stamps for residents in 25 parishes hit by Hurricane Ida. D-SNAP as it’s officially called provides financial assistance to households who need help buying groceries due to lost income or damages following a disaster. The virtual application process begins Monday. Got to the D-C-F-S website for more information.

Nicholas continues to move slowly to the east at three miles an hour. The center of the storm is 35 miles west of Lake Charles and it still has the potential to produce a lot of rain in Louisiana…
cut 1 (29) “….I’m Brooke Thorington”

Roads are flooded in Avoyelles and Evangeline Parishes this morning. So schools are closed there. Meanwhile in southeast Louisiana, the National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning until 8:30 for St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington Parishes.

Entergy Louisiana announces 90-percent of its customers have had their power restored post- Hurricane Ida. John Hawkins, the utility’s Vice President of Distribution Operations, sums up the situation this way.
Cut 7 (05) “…is unprecedented.”
Entergy says they continue to work to restore power to the 72-thousand customers who are still without electricity. About 45-percent of the customers in St. John, St. Charles, Lafourche, and Terrebonne Parishes remain in the dark.

The state health department reported 22-hundred new COVID-19 cases yesterday and 121 additional COVID deaths, bringing the death toll to 13,241. Senator Bill Cassidy is urging Louisiana residents to get the vaccine and do not rely on the dewormer ivermectin to treat COVID symptoms…
cut 14 (09) “….its complications”
Cassidy says he has personal experience with people who refused the vaccine and took ivermectin, but died from the virus.

Nicholas continues to inch his way into the Bayou State and he’s bringing plenty of rainfall with him. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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There is more progress to report on getting electricity flowing once again to Entergy customers in Louisiana following Hurricane Ida.  Here’s Dave Brannen with an update.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

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As the pandemic rages on those in the funeral industry have seen changes among those they are burying, and their loved ones are faced with even more concerns. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (32)  I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Nicholas continues to inch into the Bayou State today and is dropping significant amounts of rainfall along his journey. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the slow movement of Nicholas allows the system to saturate the area.

Cut 4 (09) “…the problem.”

As Nicholas continues on its east, northeastwardly track, Keim says bands of rain will only continue to increase rainfall totals for southwest and central parts of the state.

Cut 5 (07) “…occurred.”

Keim says if we could spread the rain out it would be much better but the bands of rain and slow movement with Nicholas are making this system more problematic.

Cut 6 (06) “…of time.”

________________________________________

Entergy continues to make progress in getting power restored to the more than 900-thousand that were left in the dark by Hurricane Ida.  More than 90-percent of Entergy’s customers have had their power restored post-Ida. John Hawkins, the utility’s Vice President of Distribution Operations, sums up the situation this way.

Cut 7 (05) “…is unprecedented.”

The utility reported Tuesday that all but 87-thousand customers are still waiting to get their electricity back on.

Hawkins praised the thousands of linemen and other utility workers for the speed of repairing Entergy’s electrical system and notes how Entergy keeps learning from previous storms how to effect repairs faster when the next storm hits.

Cut 8 (12) “…the next event.”

Hawkins says Entergy has been able to make significant progress in the heavily impacted river parishes, Bayou Region, and I-55 corridor.

Cut 9 (09) “…of work there.”

In all, Hawkins says Ida damaged more than 30-thousand poles, 36-thousand spans of wire, and about six thousand transformers.

____________________________________________

More than 13,000 have died from COVID in Louisiana and the increase has changed business as usual for the funeral industry. Funeral Director Zondra Wright with Charbonnet Funeral Home in New Orleans says the fourth wave of COVID has made it extremely difficult for some families to plan a funeral for a loved one.

Cut 10 (11) “…will recover.” 

Wright says business has been consistent since March of 2020 and before the pandemic they averaged nine to eleven funerals a week, she says they can easily do that many in a weekend now.

Early in the pandemic, Wright says most of their burials were nursing home patients and older adults with comorbidities

Cut 11 (07) “…has changed.”

And now they are burying those with COVID in their forties, fifties, and sixties.

Wright who grew up in the funeral home business says relatives often talked about the Spanish Flu pandemic and told her she too would most likely experience something similar one day. Since March of 2020, those in the funeral industry have remained busy and Wright fears things are not letting up anytime soon.

Cut 12 (09) “…Christmas 2021”  

______________________

Senator Bill Cassidy is taking a staunch approach to those who for whatever reason are shunning COVID-19 approved vaccines in favor of ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug.

Cut 13 (10) “…FDA approved vaccine.”

Cassidy says if anything, there are far lower hospitalizations and deaths for those who have been vaccinated, versus the number of deaths for those hospitalized with the coronavirus and who had relied on ivermectin.

Cassidy says it is hard to understand why someone would choose ivermectin as their choice to battle the coronavirus.

Cut 14 (09)  “…and its complications.”

Cassidy says, unlike the Covid-19 vaccines that have saved lives, he’s fully aware of the outcome of using ivermectin to battle the virus.

Cut 15 (07)  “…and who died.”

_______________________________________

LSU Coach Ed Orgeron announces running back John Emery is out for the rest of the season as he’s been ruled academically ineligible. Orgeron did not provide any specifics on what resulted in Emery being ruled ineligible. There are some asking how could this happen? Orgeron says lack of communication is not a problem…

Cut  16 (14) “…all around.”

Freshman Jack Bech has been a bright spot for the offense. The freshman from St. Thomas More has caught five passes in his first two games. Boutte knew Bech would have an impact on this team as a freshman

Cut 17 (18) “…catch it.”  

__________________________________________________

ULM will welcome Deion Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers to Malone Stadium on Saturday for the Warhawks home opener. The Tigers are off to a 2-0 start and have been receiving national attention because Coach Prime is leading the program. ULM football coach Terry Bowden says Sanders has raised the talent level at J-S-U

Cut 18 (25)”…for us.

Deion played for Terry Bowden’s dad, Bobby Bowden at Florida State so they will use this game to honor the late great coach. Both teams will wear decals in honor of Bowden on their helmet. Bobby Bowden died last month and Terry already misses their morning phone calls…

Cut 19 (21)  “….she can watch.” 

Entergy continues to make progress in getting power restored to the more than 900-thousand that were left in the dark by Hurricane Ida.  More than 90-percent of Entergy’s customers have had their power restored post-Ida. John Hawkins, the utility’s Vice President of Distribution Operations, sums up the situation this way.

cut 23  (05) “…is unprecedented.”

The utility reported Tuesday that all but 87-thousand customers are still waiting to get their electricity back on.

Senator Bill Cassidy is taking a staunch approach to those for whatever reason are shunning Covid19 approved vaccines in favor of ivermectin, an antiparasetic drug.

Cut  21     (10)   Fda approved vaccine.

Cassidy says if anything, there are far lower hospitalizations and deaths for those who have been vaccinated, versus the number of deaths for those hospitalized with the coronavirus and had relied on ivermectin.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is prepared to take action if flooding rains from Tropical Storm Nicholas materialize as expected.  Spokesperson Ashley Rodrique says the staging of dozens of boats for potential water rescues took place Monday in Lafayette. Tthe area of flooding rains is likely to stretch across south Louisiana and she says there are numerous assets ready to respond as heavy rains from Nicholas sweep across the state.

Cut 7 (12) “..home fire stationsl”  

By the way, if you’re hoping to offset the money you’ve shelled out for a generator or chain saw FEMA may be able to offset those expenses.  But, Nate Custer says there are restrictions for reimbursement requests and if denied you can appeal.

Cut 13    (10)   ought to get.

Reimbursement for generators is 800-dollars, and 250 for chainsaws.

The storm named Nicholas. A Category One hurricane when it hit the Texas coast, now downgraded to a tropical depression, but still expected to drop huge amounts of rain across Louisiana for the next couple of days. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the National Guard is standing for rescues, should they be needed … and other first responders are standing by…:

CUT 04                  (07)        “…that happen”

Calcasieu is asking motorists to stay off the roadways now through Wednesday evening.

Did you have to buy a generator because of Hurricane Ida? How about a chainsaw? FEMA is offering up to $800 reimbursal for either, with some restrictions. Spokesman Nate Custer…:

CUT 12                  (07)        “…of the disaster”

This is for purchases made between August 25^th and September 25^th. For details, go to DisasterAssistance.gov.

Nicholas continues to make its way eastward across Louisiana; expected to give us a healthy dowsing of rain and possible flash floods. National Weather Service forecaster Stacy Denson…:

CUT 09                  (06) “…we’re currently seeing”

Some meteorologists expect we’ll see Nicholas break up and fizzle out over our state within the next 24 to 36 hours.

And, just in time for Nicholas…utility company Entergy reports they have restored power to about 90% of their customers left powerless by Hurricane Ida. It took 15 days to get this far, but Ida was the 5^th strongest storm to ever hit the U.S.A. Entergy says, as of this morning, about 87-thousand customers remain without power. The storm originally killed power for over 900-thousand Entergy accounts. They hope to have ALL power restored by the month’s end.