As feared, Hurricane Ida has delivered another devastating blow to the state’s seafood industry. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Palermo.”

The St Tammany Parish coroner confirms the human remains found inside an alligator killed near Slidell are those of Tim Satterlee Sr., who was attacked near his home by the animal on August 30^th. The gator was captured and killed two weeks later; its stomach found to contain parts of a person that were an 11-point DNA match for Satterlee.

It looks like it will be some time before the I-10 Bridge in Lake Charles will completely reopen, after a vehicle fire last night. DOTD secretary Shawn Wilson says the bridge will remain closed until further notice to complete an inspection of the span. He says inspectors are evaluating the bridge for any possible structural damage…:

CUT 11(09)      “…it back up.”

This just in – the westbound lanes of that bridge are reopened, but eastbound lanes remain closed at this hour.

State Public Service Commission member Foster Campbell has a few cross words for Louisiana Republican congressional delegates who oppose a spending bill with billion for storm recovery in our state. That bill would raise the country’s debt ceiling by a huge margin. Campbell says folks with no power and broken roofs in Terrebonne and Lafourche don’t care about party politics…:

CUT 13(09)      “…Republican Party”

Congressman Garret Graves is angry that disaster recovery money for Louisiana is embedded in legislation to increase the national debt without limit that’s being sought by the Biden Administration. The debt is currently more than $28-trillion and recent requests would push it to $45-trillion. Graves minces no words with the move by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to intertwine disaster recovery with substantially increasing the debt limit on federal spending…:

CUT 04(10)      “…pill in there.”

A Benton woman faces animal cruelty charges after Bossier Sheriff’s deputies found three horses dead and 13 suffering from severe neglect and malnutrition. Bossier Sheriff’s Deputy Rod White says 52-year-old Sandra Blackmon Driscoll, was arrested, while the surviving horses were rescued…:

CUT 15(12)      “…taken away.”

AT&T faces heavy criticism for its response to Hurricane Ida, and today a member of the PSC tried to get some answers. Jeff Palermo has that…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Palermo.”

Lake Charles Police arrest four men for their roles in a shooting September 6^th near McNeese State University and three of them are McNeese football players. Lathan Adams, Edward Gild and Travis Walker are all freshman defensive backs. Officers say the shooting was related to any armed robbery.

District 6 Congressman Garret Graves pulls no punches when talking about the fate of federal disaster recovery dollars for Louisiana. He says the current amount proposed is under $2-Billion and would be distributed across the nation…:

CUT 03  (10)        “…not a chance.”

District 2 Congressman Troy Carter voted to approve the Extending Government Funding and Disaster Assistance Act. He says there is funding in the continuing resolution to help with South Louisiana’s long-term recovery efforts…:

CUT 06(08)      “…in the past.”

State health officials report another child has died due to COVID-19. The child’s identity is being withheld and we’re only told he (or she) was between 12 and 17. So far, 16 kids have fallen victim to coronavirus in our state.

More than 26-thousand calls were taken during the first two days for DSNAP interviews. 25 parishes are eligible for disaster food stamps however interviews for the parishes are not held on the same weeks. DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavana Howard urges callers to visit their webpage and only call on their designated day. She says, besides their webpage, there is another way to find out your day…:

CUT 08(11)      “…using.”

Current SNAP recipients are NOT eligible for the disaster food assistance.

AT&T had to answer some tough questions from the state Public Service Commission, after customers complained of poor or non-existent service in the wake of Hurricane Ida. PSC member Eric Skrmetta says his office was flooded with complaint calls…:

CUT 12(12)      “…your customers”

An AT&T rep says the company did the best it could under the circumstances.

Overrun with calls, the state Department of Children & Family Services is asking those calling for Disaster food stamp interviews to do so on their assigned day. More from Brooke Thorington…:

CUT 01  (31)        “…Thorington”

A Haughton man is under arrest for alleged sex crimes against juveniles. Bossier Sheriff’s deputies say 38-year-old David McCart was taken into custody after a search warrant of his home turned up child pornography and evidence of molestation. McCart faces 18 separate counts; his bond set at nearly a million dollars.

An AT&T representative went before the state Public Service Commission to answer complaints of spotty and poor service in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. AT&T maintains it did the best it could under the circumstances. PSC member Eric Skrmetta says he’s disappointed the phone company couldn’t tell them how many contractors they brought in-state to restore service…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…unacceptable answer”

Skrmetta believes AT&T should have a published outage map, like the power companies do.

A Benton woman faces 16 counts of aggravated animal cruelty after Bossier Deputies found horses dead and many starving and barely able to walk at her horse training center. 52-year-old Sandra Driscoll had bond set at $100-thousand. Deputy Rod White says the animals were living in deplorable conditions…:

CUT 14  (05)        “…stalls were unkept”

The horses have been taken to another facility for rescue and rehabilitation.

Trying times continue for folks in Terrebonne Parish; among the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Ida. Dave Brannen reports it’s a situation upsetting to Houma State Representative Tanner Magee…:

CUT 02(28)      “…Brannen”

Deputies in Bossier Parish arrest a Benton woman on multiple charges of aggravated animal cruelty. Acting on a tip, officers found over a dozen horses on the property that were extremely malnourished and in such dire conditions some were barely able to walk. They also found three dead horses. 52-year-old Sandra Driscoll’s bond is set at $100-thousand.

Entergy faces a class-action lawsuit by customers in the New Orleans area; alleging gross negligence is the reason the utility’s power suffered long-term outages from Hurricane Ida. Lawyer Juan LaFonta is one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys. He says the suit seeks damages for things like food that was spoiled due to lack of power and even electrical equipment that was harmed when power was restored…:

CUT 04(10)      “…transmission lines”

He says Entergy’s neglected to upgrade transmission lines and that’s why the New Orleans grid was hit so badly. Entergy says they do not comment on pending litigation.

Mayors of Shreveport and Lake Charles have a gentlemen’s bet on which city can get more citizens vaccinated for COVID by Halloween. Shreveport’s Adrian Perkins says both cities win if the vaxxed numbers increase…:

CUT 12(09)      “…Louisiana”

The winner will get a fine seafood dinner at one of the losing city’s finest eateries.

After extensive power outages caused by Hurricane Ida, Entergy now faces a class-action lawsuit from customers. As many as 902-thousand lost power during the storm. New Orleans attorney Juan LaFonta is one of the lawyers representing plaintiffs in the case…:

CUT 03  (10)        “…went down”

How many plaintiffs? As of Monday, 17 and counting. Entergy says they do not comment on pending litigation.

The post-Ida misery in continues, especially in Terrebonne Parish where as many as 13-thousand homes were destroyed or significantly damaged. Houma state Representative Tanner Magee lashed out at apartment owners who gave renters just over a week to vacate damaged residence; offering no options of where they were to go…:

CUT 10(11)      “…be thrown out”

FEMA says temporary living quarters – likely trailers – are still about a month out.

A representative of the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans says the building suffered no serious structural damage when a fire broke out on the roof shortly after noon today. Workers were pressure washing the top of the Dome, when the fire started. Its cause is not yet known. The fire was out within about an hour. One worker was treated for minor burns.

Two Lafayette area hospitals face a lawsuits for mandating their employees get COVID vaccinations or face possible termination. They are Ochsner Lafayette General and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. Lawyer Jimmy Faircloth represents the plaintiffs, who he calls “frontline heroes”, as being vilified for not getting the shots…:

CUT 07(12)      “…drive public policy”

Ochsner hospital has no comment on the lawsuit, but says data and science show the vaccines are working. Our Lady of Lourdes says it is doing what it needs to limit spread of the virus on the hospital campus.

Entergy is facing a class-action lawsuit over extended outages caused by Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has the story…:

CUT 01  (31)        “…Thorington”

At least one person has been injured in a fire on the roof of the Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans. The fire broke out earlier today in a gutter tube while workers were pressure washing the roof. What actually caused the fire is yet unknown. A worker was treated for minor burns.

Two lawsuits are making their way through state court that allege COVID vaccination mandates issued by Ochsner Lafayette and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center violate the state constitution. Attorney Jimmy Faircloth represents the plaintiffs…:

CUT 06  (06)        “…what this is”

He says the 83 plaintiffs working at the two facilities face termination if they refuse the COVID vaccine. Ochsner has no comment as yet. Our Lady says it’s taking appropriate steps to mitigate risks from the virus.

The mayors of Shreveport and Lake Charles have a friendly wager that their city can get more people vaccinated for COVID than the other by October 31^st. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter feels his city is up to the challenge…:

CUT 13  (11)        “…your doctor”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins says no matter who wins, both cities are winners because more people have gotten the shot.

Concerns are growing that Hurricane Ida’s fierce wind and water damage will result in population loss in southeastern Louisiana. Demographer Greg Rigamer says Ida was a devastating blow and it will be very difficult for Lafourche, Terrebonne, St. Charles, and St. John Parishes to recover…:

CUT 12(12)      “…the basis”

Rigamer guesses up to a hundred thousand could migrate away from the region; perhaps even to other states.

Speaking of that devastation from Ida, Governor John bel Edwards will be in Washington DC for the next few days to lobby congress for (quote) “federal assistance to ensure a speedy, full, and robust recovery for the people of southwest and southeast Louisiana who have been devastated by major hurricanes and natural disasters over the last year.” Our state has sustained four hurricanes in the past year.

The Pfizer vaccine trial for children ages five to eleven indicates promising results. Pfizer is expected to ask the FDA for emergency use authorization in the coming weeks. Tulane Epidemiologist Doctor Susan Hassig says parents should be reassured that the FDA will review the data carefully before issuing any type of authorization….:

CUT 08(11)      “…timely”

Since July pediatric cases in the United States have increased by 240-percent.

Terrebonne Parish – among the hardest hit by Hurricane Ida – continues recovery efforts. Parish spokesman Mart Black says water is restored and power back on for all but 16% of residents and businesses. He says housing for storm victims is the biggest problem…:

CUT 09(10)      “…into the parish”

Ida hit the state just three weeks ago.

There are growing concerns that Hurricane Ida could negatively impact the population of southeast Louisiana; much like Katrina did 16 years ago. Brooke Thorington reports…:

CUT 02  (31)        “…Thorington”

Just days after over 20 students at Shreveport’s Southwood High were arrested for fighting, another student is arrested for threatening gun violence at the school. Caddo Parish deputies were alerted Sunday evening to the social media post; threatening a gang-related shooting. A 14-year-old male was arrested and charged with terrorizing.

Terrebonne Parish is still struggling to return to something like normal after the devastation of Hurricane Ida. Parish spokesman Mart Black says utilities hope to have all the power restored by the 29^th. He says garbage pickup has ramped back up and contractors have been hired to clear the curbs of storm debris…:

CUT 11  (10)        “…to permitted sites”

There’s no doubt that Ida took out a HUGE number of trees in its path, as many of you know firsthand. But Whitney Wallace, with Louisiana’s Department of Agriculture & Forestry, says all those downed trees – particularly on the Northshore – have impacted landowners AND agriculture and livestock producers…:

CUT 03  (08)        “…you’re seeing around”

She says this is the worst storm-related tree fall since Katrina.

Terrebonne Parish, among the hardest hit by Hurricane Ida, is still working to get back to some semblance of normal, however long that may take. Dave Brannen has more…:

CUT 01  (27)        “…Brannen”

Just over a hundred Afghan refugees will begin arriving in Baton Rouge & New Orleans soon. Catholic Charities of the Capital Area are helping facilitate the newcomers’ adjustment to their new home in the U.S.A.  Afull background check has been done on each of the refugees, and Catholic Charities will assist them in learning English.

The Pfizer vaccine trial for kids 5 through 11 indicates promising results. Pfizer has asked the FDA for emergency use authorization in the coming weeks. Tulane University epidemiologist Dr. Susan Hassig says there’s been a spike in COVID cases in that age group, especially with school back in session…:

CUT 06  (11)        “…individuals”

In the trial, kids are given the same vaccine as adults but in a lower dose. Hassig says the FDA will likely not blindly rush to approve Pfizer’s request.

Hurricane Ida took a huge toll on south Louisiana’s tree canopy, but Whitney Wallace with state Ag & Forestry says the downed trees mean an impact on livestock producers and agriculture too. Her department is still assessing the damage in dollars, but Wallace says this is the biggest storm-related tree fall since Katrina…:

CUT 05  (11)        “…as we can”