The Louisiana Department of Education is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 school year. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1(30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Governor Edwards declares a state of emergency after multiple tornados touched down across the state. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Small business owners have more optimism now compared to the beginning of the year but still face inflation disparities along with worker shortages. Whitney Thomas reports.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

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Applications for the Louisiana Department of Education scholarship program are being accepted for the 2023-2024 school year. Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley says students can receive scholarships to attend a participating private school.

Cut 4 (12)  “…non-public school.”

The household income for eligible students must not exceed 250% of the federal poverty level. Brumley says the program allows parents more freedom in choosing their child’s educational journey.

 Cut 5 (11) “…they qualify.”

Brumley says 136 schools and approximately 6,000 students participate in the scholarship program.

Cut 6 (09)  “…their child.” 

The online application can be found at LouisianaBelieves.com and the deadline to apply is January 27^th.

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After a front moved across the state Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday night and sparked multiple tornados, Governor John Bel Edwards declares a state of emergency.

Cut 7 (11) “…this disaster.”

On Tuesday a 30-year-old mother and her 8-year-old son were killed in Caddo Parish after a twister touched down in the Keithville area and in St. Charles Parish a 56-year-old woman was killed after a tornado struck her home in the Killona area Wednesday afternoon.

Cut 8 (09)  “…can bare.”

With a cold front moving in behind the storms and numerous power outages, Edwards reminds residents to practice generator safety to avoid a tragic outcome.

Cut 9 (07)  “… disaster itself.”

Edwards says they are already providing aid to those who lost their homes or received significant damage as a result of the storms. The governor asked residents to report their storm damage online at Damage.LA.gov.

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Small business owners are more optimistic compared to the beginning of the year, but still face problems with inflation,  with 32% of owners reporting inflation to be their single most important problem. Other owners saw Supply chain disruptions along with worker shortages.

NFIB Louisiana spokesman Todd Pack says these factors are making it difficult on small business owners.

Cut 10 (09) “…have that.” 

The percentage of owners raising their average selling prices increased as a result of the ongoing supply chain issues. Pack says owners have tried to keep prices low, but it’s impossible when the price of everything has surged.

Cut 11 (12)  “…a challenge.”

Forty-four percent of owners reported job openings that were hard to fill with a historically high and untypical recession period. Pack says owners are doing what they can to bring in more workers.

Cut 12 (11) “…still a challenge.”

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A tornado in the St. Charles Parish town of Killona caused significant damage to homes and a school on Wednesday afternoon. One person is dead, a 56-year-old female, and at least seven other people are injured.  Parish president Matthew Jewell says authorities responded quickly.

Cut 13 (13) “…every-bodies out.”

About 600 people are without power with an active gas leak. Jewell says the parish hasn’t caught a break from hazardous weather.

Cut 14 (12)  “…likely tornado..”

Jewell says residents need to stay off the road, and away from the affected areas.

Cut 15 (08)  “…later time.”

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Louisiana Tech Coach Sonny Cumbie met with reporters on Wednesday to talk about the death of Mississippi State Coach Mike Leach. Cumbie played for Leach at Texas Tech and also served on his staff. Cumbie says he’s still in shock over Leach’s sudden death…

Cut  16 (20)  “..through my heart.” 

Cumbie had a chance to coach against Leach in last year’s Liberty Bowl when Cumbie served as an interim coach for the Red Raiders. He says meeting up with Leach after the game was a special moment…

Cut 17 (17) “…thought of him.” 

Cumbie says he will always admire the belief that Leach had in his players…

Cut 18 (26) “…also.” 

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Cut 19 (18) “….way they do”

Cut 20 (20) “…with us”

In the last 24 hours at least seven tornadoes have been reported in Louisiana. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says one person was killed in a St. Charles Parish twister this afternoon and two fatalities were reported Tuesday in Caddo Parish.  Authorities say 30-year-old Yoshiko Smith and her eight-year-old son Nikolus Little were killed in Keithville when a tornado struck their home Tuesday afternoon.

A tornado destroyed a neighborhood in Farmerville last night. Jeff Palermo spoke with mayor John Crow….

Cut 1(27)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

New Iberia officials are also reporting tornado damage. Captain Leland Lasiter with the New Iberia Police Department says two tornadoes hit their town this morning…

Cut 13 (12) “…as well”  

A temporary shelter has been set up at the gym of New Iberia High School.

In ten months, Louisiana voters will go to the polls to elect the state’s next governor. Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s supporting the first Republican, Attorney General Jeff Landry, who officially announced his candidacy. In the video ad, Higgins is shown driving his vehicle and talking to the camera about Landry.

Cut 10 (11) “… people.” 

Just days after Senator John Kennedy was re-elected to a second term, he indicated he was highly considering running for governor in 2023.

Numerous tornadoes have hit the state over the last 24 hours or so. One of the twisters killed 30-year-old Yoshiko Smith and her eight-year-old son Nikolaus Little. Marsanne Golsby has more…
cut 2 (29) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby”

A tornado also hit Union Parish last night. Farmerville Mayor John Crow says the twister hit the northern part of the town.
Cut 4 (09) “…left standing”
No major injuries reported in Farmerville.

The tornado outbreak did not spare south Louisiana as New Iberia officials say two twisters were spotted in their town, causing damage in a residential area and at a hospital. New Iberia Police Captain Leland Lasiter says first responders were deployed to the Southport Subdivision area and it appears everyone survived the harrowing experience…
cut 14 (11) “…local hospitals”
The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office says a tornado hit the town of Kilona and deputies have reported heavy damage to homes in the area of Schoolhouse Road.

In other news, since a law that allows those 24 and older who are adopted access to their original birth certificate went into effect more than 600 have applied. Leesville Representative Charles Owen, who authored the legislation says he’s grateful the legislature realized it’s ok to change a law you believe was intended to protect individuals but instead it hurts people.
Cut 22 (09) “…right a wrong.”
The law went into effect on August 1st.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed a state of emergency as a result of tornado damage across the state. In Caddo Parish, a mother and her eight-year-old son died from a twister that hit Keithville yesterday. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says the search for the victims was difficult because of the amount of damage in the neighborhood…
cut 9 (15) “…horrible situation”
The Caddo Parish Coroner says they both died of blunt force trauma.

New Iberia officials are also reporting tornado damage. Captain Leland Lasiter with the New Iberia Police Department says two tornadoes hit their town this morning…
Cut 13 (12) “…as well”
No fatalities reported in New Iberia.

Southeast Louisiana remains under a tornado watch until 8 o’ clock tonight. The watch box also covers New Iberia and St. Martin Parish. In Union Parish, clean-up is underway after a twister destroyed an apartment complex and a small trailer park. Farmerville Mayor John Crow says 20 people were checked for minor injuries. Crow says help is pouring into the town….
cut 6 (10) “…help us”
Governor Edwards will be in Farmerville later today.

In other news, southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins endorsed Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry for governor. Higgins also applauds the Louisiana Republican Party for endorsing Landry, even though the election is still ten months away….
cut 12 (08) “…certainly am”
It remains to be seen if Republican Senator John Kennedy will get into the race.

Authorities have identified the mother and son killed in the powerful tornado that struck near Keithville yesterday. The Caddo Parish coroner’s office says thirty-year-old Yoshiko Smith and eight-year-old Nikolus Little were killed when the storm stuck Tuesday afternoon. Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says Smith’s husband was at work when the storm stuck and when he came home, he tried to find them.

Cut 7 (12)  “…them missing.”

About 20 deputies searched for the house which was completely destroyed.

New Iberia officials are also reporting tornado damage at a subdivision and the Iberia Medical Center. Captain Leland Lasiter with the New Iberia Police says they two tornadoes hit their town this morning and a temporary shelter has been set up at New Iberia Senior High School in the gym…

Cut 15 (11) “…has been displaced.”

A tornado destroyed a neighborhood in Farmerville last night. Jeff Palermo spoke with mayor John Crow….

Cut 1(27)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s supporting the first Republican, Attorney General Jeff Landry, who’s officially announced his gubernatorial candidacy. Higgins also supports the state party’s endorsement.

Cut 11 (11)  “…and strategic.”

In Caddo Parish 30-year-old Yoshiko Smith and her 8-year-old son, Nikolus Little were killed by a tornado Tuesday afternoon in Keithville. Their bodies were found hours later.

In Union Parish, Farmerville Mayor John Crow says a tornado hit the northern part of the town. He says it flipped over cars at an apartment complex, then crossed Lake D’Arbonne and caused damage on the lake’s south side.

Cut 5 (07) “…some barns”

Crow believes about 20 people were checked for minor injuries from that tornado.

Governor John Bel Edwards along with officials from his Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will travel to areas of the state where the National Weather Service believes six possible tornados hit in Caddo, Union, Rapides, Madison, East Carroll, and Franklin Parishes. The weather remains a threat in Louisiana until this evening.

In ten months, Louisiana voters will go to the polls to elect the state’s next governor. Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s supporting the first Republican, Attorney General Jeff Landry, who’s officially announced his candidacy. In the video ad Higgins is shown driving his vehicle and talking to the camera about Landry.

Cut 10 (12) “… people.” 

Since a new law allowing adopted children access to their original birth certificate went into effect on August 1^st, the Louisiana Vital Records Registry has received 640 requests and about 520 have been located. Leesville Representative Charles Owen, who authored the legislation, says some of those who’ve found their birth parents have thanked him personally.

Cut 11 (07)  “… 102-year-old mother.”

Adopted individuals age 24 or older can request their original birth certificate at the Louisiana Department of Health.

A 30-year-old mother and her eight-year-old son were killed last night from a tornado that tore through the Caddo Parish town of Keithville. In Union Parish, Farmerville Mayor John Crow says a twister hit a northern part of his town…
cut 4 (09) “…left standing”
Crow says several people were injured, but no serious injuries or deaths.

Children’s Hospital in New Orleans announces it’s open the first center in the Gulf South that’s designed to treat eating disorders involving kids. Doctor Amy Henke, pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans says even if a family does not live in New Orleans, they could still provide treatment with virtual visits…
cut 26 (08) “…across the sate”
Henke eating disorders among children has risen significantly since COVID.

State lawmaker Blake Miguez represented the USA in the 2022 ISPC World Shoot on their way to a silver medal.
Cut 30 (29) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick”

A National Treasure series filmed in Baton Rouge debuts tonight on Disney Plus. The series uses multiple locations in Baton Rouge, like the Old State Capitol, the Old Governor’s Mansion, and the USS Kidd. Film Baton Rouge Executive Director Katie Pryor says when attractions like that are featured in a Disney production it’s a visual postcard on a global scale.
Cut 8 (04) “…unbelievable.”