Governor John Bel Edwards testified before Congress today and said federal help isn’t coming fast enough for people who have lost their homes and have nowhere to go. Congressman Cedric Richmond says many of the FEMA agents on the ground are brand new to the job and the process of getting aid to victims has been extremely confusing…:

CUT 5 (08)  “in red tape”

A representative from FEMA was present and gave updates on the number of flood victims they have assisted.

A new poll finds State Treasurer John Kennedy is leading the US Senate race with 18-percent and Democrat Caroline Fayard and Republican Congressman Charles Boustany are tied at 13-percent. UL-Lafayette Political Science professor Pearson Cross says Anzalone poll was paid for by  a group that supports Fayard.

cut 10 (10)  “of campaigning”

A Hineston man was killed in a crash after he failed to yield to construction workers and hit an excavator in the road in Rapides parish. State Trooper Scott Moreau says 61-year-old Kenneth Keele was wearing a seatbelt, but he was pronounced dead at the scene on Thursday afternoon. Moreau says drivers should yield to workers in construction zones for their own safety and the safety of those working on the road.

CUT 8 (09) “their instructions”

State police are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Krotz Springs. Authorities say a Krotz Springs Police Officer fired one shot that struck a suspect around 2:30 am. The individual was reportedly treated for non-life threatening injuries and the investigation is ongoing.

LSU coach Les Miles says running back Leonard Fournette is a game time decision on whether he’ll play tomorrow night against Jacksonville state. Fournette injured his lower leg towards the end of the loss to Wisconsin.

Elected officials from Louisiana went before a Congressional hearing today to talk about the problems they are having with FEMA when it comes to the flood recovery. Florida Congressman John Mica was on their side and asked a FEMA represenative about the roll out of manufactured homes as a temporary housing solution…
cut 6 (14) “…acceptable either”

Louisiana officials are pleased President Obama has announced the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts from 75-percent to 90-percent. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says this will help state and flood-impacted local governments tremendously…
Cut 13 (09) “its repairs”

Two new polls have been released on the state’s U.S. Senate race. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the survey conducted by The Remington Research Group and The Hayride confirms what we’ve been hearing, Republican Treasurer John Kennedy with a comfortable lead. But he says the other survey is quite different…
cut 9 (09) “…number”
The Anzalone poll finds Kennedy leads with 18-percent and Democrat Caroline Fayard and Republican Congressman Charles Boustany are tied at 13-percent. That poll was paid for by a group that supports Fayard.

US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge expressed his frustration over FEMA’s response to the devastating flooding during a Congressional hearing on Capitol Hill this morning. Graves says the federal agency could be doing more and was baffled on why the director of FEMA was not at this meeting…
cut 4 (08) “…here today”
Florida Congressman John Mica toured the flood damage with Graves and expressed concern over the slow rollout of manfufactured homes for displaced residents.

President Barack Obama has announced the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana from 75-percent to 90-percent. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the match also extends to local governments…:
Cut 15 (08) “25-percent level”
Governor Edwards is still seeking two-billion dollars in his aid for his state.

A Hineston man was killed in a crash after ignoring construction zone warnings. State Trooper Scott Moreau says 61-year-old Kenneth Keele was driving a Jeep Liberty down the middle of Highway 461 in Rapides Parish when a flagman attempted to have him slow down.
CUT 7 (12) “excavator”
Keele was pronounced dead at the scene on Thursday afternoon, while the driver of the excavator was not injured.

KNOE-TV reports that two ambulances were shot at while traveling through Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish last night. Both ambulances were damaged from what appears to be gun shots, but no one was injured. An investigation is ongoing.

Tonight, former LSU star Shaquille O’ Neal is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Leaders in Louisiana whose communities were devastated by historic flooding are speaking before members of Congress today. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss FEMA’s response to this disaster. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the speed at which aid is getting to people is far too slow:

CUT 3 (09)  “more resilient”

A representative from FEMA is present at the meeting to testify and give updates on the number of people they have been able to help.

The mayors of Central, Walker, and Denham Springs are also in Washington today. Denham mayor Gerard Landry says he will address the lack of information and misinformation many flood victims received from FEMA.

cut 12 (07) “our folks”

Landry says he will also voice concerns that many flood victims may have to elevate their home under FEMA guidelines.

President Obama announced the federal government will increase its cost share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the feds will cover 90-percent of the cost for repairs to public roads and infrastructure. He says the 90-10 match will include first responder expenses, debris removal, and other costs associated with flood relief.

cut 14 (10)  “evacuate people”

Dardenne says the 90-10 match also extends to local governments.

A New Orleans bakery is launching hand pies today, similar to Hubig’s pies which haven’t been available since the Hubig’s Pie factory burned down four years ago. Haydel’s Bakery spokesperson Christine Adams you can get the pies at Haydel’s and at Fleurty Girl stores in New Orleans, but they hope to be able to share with more establishments in the future…:

Cut 9 (04)  “distribute them”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is being bashed by members of Congress right now over the response to the devastating flooding in South Louisiana. Congressman Garret Graves says the people affected got out and helped each other in a major way during the flooding, but right now everyone just seems to be in a holding pattern…:
CUT 1 (10) “response here”

The President says the federal government will cover 90-percent of Louisiana’s flood relief costs. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Tomorrow is the statistical peak of the hurricane season and State Climatologist Barry Keim says on September 10th, sea surface temperatures in the breeding grounds for tropical storms are at the maximum. He says typically the hurricane season is front loaded for Louisiana, but he says we have seen some late season storms like Hurricane Rita and Juan…:
Cut 6 (11) “we go”
He says so far this season we’ve had eight named storms, which puts us on track for 16 this season.

The National Hurricane Center says it’s monitoring three weather systems across the Atlantic basin. The first is about 1200 miles east of the Lesser Antilles, and forecasters say it’s forecast to be favorable for a tropical depression to form this weekend or early next week. The other two systems are not favorable for additional development.

Governor John Bel Edwards, Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry, Central Mayor Jr. Shelton and Walker Mayor Rick Ramsey are among those testifying today in Washington D.C. before members of Congress. Landry said in a prior phone interview that he’s concerned about the fact that homeowners could potentially spend 100-thousand dollars to lift a home that’s only been flooded once…:
cut 11 (08) “do so”
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss FEMA’s response to this disaster.

President Barack Obama has announced the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana from 75-percent to 90-percent. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the match also extends to local governments…:
Cut 15 (08) “25-percent level”

The statistical peak of hurricane season is this Saturday. Emelie Gunn has more of what we can expect in the second half…:
CUT 1 (27) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

If you like hand pies and you miss Hubig’s, there’s another bakery in New Orleans that has you covered. Haydel’s began distributing the tasty pastries today. Haydel’s spokesperson Christine Adams says these pies will be baked, and not fried like Hubig’s…:
Cut 8 (09) “they’re delicious”
She says they are offering four flavors to start; apple, lemon, chocolate and cherry.

The Walker, Central, and Denham Springs mayors are in the nation’s capital to discuss FEMA’s performance during last month’s historic flooding. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

President Barack Obama has announced the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana from 75-percent to 90-percent. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the state has to pay for a lot of the repairs up front, so decreasing the state and local share will help tremendously…:
Cut 13 (09) “its repairs”

September 10th is the technical peak of hurricane season. State Climatologist Barry Kiem says up to this point, Louisiana has been pretty lucky in terms of named storms, however a tropical wave brought south Louisiana record flooding last month. He says we’ll likely end the season a little above the average of 12 named storms…:
Cut 5 (08) “general context”
He says it’s all downhill from this point but people still need to realize that we still have a half of a season out in front of us.

A middle school football team in Livingston Parish which lost everything in the unprecedented flooding has received a $20,000 donation to rebuild their program. Southside Junior High in Denham Springs nearly had to cancel the season, but after a post on Facebook expressing the team’s needs went viral, donations started pouring in. NFL players Charles Tillman and Benjamin Watson gave $5,000 each.

LSU Football Coach Les Miles says as far as he knows, running back Leonard Fournette will play in tomorrows’s home opener against Jacksonville State, but declined to say whether Fournette has practiced this week.

The mayors of Walker, Central and Denham Springs will testify before Congress today in Washington DC on the federal response to the historic flooding. Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry says he will voice concerns that many residents who suffered flood damage may have to either tear down their home or raise their house under FEMA guidelines…:
Cut 10 (08) “necessary”
Landry says if a home has been flooded multiple times, it does make sense for FEMA to require the home to be elevated, but not in this situation.

Tomorrow is the statistical peak of the hurricane season and State Climatologist Barry Keim says on September 10th, sea surface temperatures in the breeding grounds for tropical storms are at the maximum. He says so far this season we’ve had eight named storms, which puts us on track for 16 this season…:
cut 4 (08) “of us”

Hubig’s fans will be happy to learn that another New Orleans bakery is launching its own hand pies beginning today. The Hubig’s Pie factory burned down four years ago, and the popular pastries have not been around since. Haydel’s Bakery is now selling its debut New Orleans hand pie, similar in size and shape to Hubig’s. Haydel’s spokesperson Christine Adams…:
CUT 7 (08) “individually”
She says today you can get the pies today at the bakery and also Fleurty Girl stores in New Orleans.

President Barack Obama says the federal government will cover a larger share of the costs to repair the damage done to public buildings and infrastructure that are the result of the historic flooding in south Louisiana. The larger cost share, means the feds will pick up 90-percent of the costs and that includes emergency response expenses.