Most of the Zachary Fire Department emergency response team returned home last night from the Carolinas after a 14 day mission responding to floods and damage from Hurricane Florence in South Carolina. Chief Mike Kimble says Louisiana crews evacuated hundreds of people, and were responsible for saving the lives of six, including a few Carolina firemen.

Cut 6, 11 seconds, the vehicle

Three boats were dispatched and the men returned home safe.

At a 5.9 percent increase, Louisiana has seen a relatively strong growth in personal income in the second quarter of 2018, ranking second in the nation at 6%.  The construction sector was responsible for most of the growth.  LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says two things really stand out.

Cut 3 (12) “…at the national level.” 

The Bayou State is getting a 24-million dollar boost from the federal government to help us rehabilitate opioid addicts and keep them from falling back into the habit that’s killing thousands across the country every year. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Health Office of Behavioral Health Dr. Janice Petersen says it’ll help expand recovery facilities….

Cut 11 (09)   “…provided”

The grant comes courtesy of the CDC and the US Department of Health.

A Fort Polk solider has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for illegally making and deploying a chemical weapon in the woods of the Kisatchie National Forest. The solider grabbed photos of the incident as well, which ultimately ended the careers of two military investigators who later inhaled the Chlorine gas and suffered long term damage as a result. 24- Ryan Taylor plead guilty to the charges.

Visitors to the Louisiana Capitol may have noticed that scaffolding used to restore the building’s limestone and mortar is gone.  But work is still needed on the 86 year old building, so a new walkway is being built to shelter those walking into the front doors from falling mortar.  Louisiana Division of Administration spokesman Jacques Berry says the front doors are expected to be reopened before the end of the calendar year.

Cut 4 (11) “…top of the steps.”
After 15 years on the run, 44 year old Lonnie Payne is returning to East Feliciana Parish in shackles.  Payne had been living in Mexico since his July 2003 escape, when he was serving twelve years for a burglary in Jefferson Parish.  Last month, he attempted to come back to the states, presented border officials with a fake identity and after a few days in a Mexican jail, decided to give up and tell the US Consulate the details of his true identity.

The Bayou State is getting a 24-million dollar boost from the federal government to help us rehabilitate opioid addicts and keep them from falling back into the habit that’s killing thousands across the country every year. The federal grant will go to the state Department of Health. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health Dr. Janice Petersen says it’ll fund a comprehensive recovery program.

Cut 10 (10)   “support services.“

The trust fund that covers unemployment benefits for the state is projected to hit one billion dollars this year.  The trust fund, managed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, is the twelfth strongest in the nation.  Dejoie says the next big milestone for the trust fund will be 1.275 billion, which will trigger beneficial results for employers who pay into the fund as well as those that draw the benefits from it.

Cut 14 (08) “…will go up.”

The Louisiana Restore Homeowners Assistance program has reopened its application process for those who suffered damage in the floods of 2016, on the heels of reports that Congress is nearing a deal that would allow those who received SBA loans to be eligible for federal grant rebuilding money. Division of Administration Executive Director Pat Forbes says the change to “Duplication of Benefits” policy is incredibly meaningful.
Cut 7 (12) “…debt burden”
For more information go to restore-dot-la-dot-gov.

Traffic is backed up on I-10 West in St. Martin Parish, because a construction crane fell on an S-U-V. One person was reportedly airlifted to a nearby hospital. A second crane at the site will be used to remove the fallen crane.

Scaffolding used to restore limestone and mortar at the Louisiana Capitol building is gone, but the job isn’t quite done as it’s been put on hold until more funding becomes available…
Voicer 1 (31) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The Louisiana Health Department has received a 24-million dollar federal grant to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health, Doctor Janice Petersen, says the money will go towards prevention, increasing access to medication-assisted treatment and they’ll also use the dollars to help former addicts find work…
cut 12 (07) “….society”

Louisiana’s Congressional delegation expects legislation will be approved this week that removes the duplication of benefits provision that’s prevented thousands of 2016 flood victims from receiving additional assistance from the federal government. Executive director of the Division of Administration, Pat Forbes, says expanding the Restore Louisiana program to those who received SBA loans will result in an additional 215 million dollars in benefits making their way into flood victims’ hands.
Cut 8 (12) “…additional funds”
Louisiana has reopened the survey that must be completed to receive RESTORE grants, with a new deadline of October 19th. The deadline to finish completing the application for the funds has been pushed back to November 16th.

Louisiana receives a 24 million dollar grant from the feds to help fight the opioid epidemic. Matt Doyle has more.
Voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The front doors to the state capitol have been closed for nearly three years as a result work to repair the mortar and limestone on the first few floors of the 86-year-old building. But Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says they hope to re-open the doors soon, once a covered walkway is constructed…
cut 5 (07) “…to the tourist”
Berry says a covered walkway is needed, because old mortar from the upper floors could still fall to the ground.

Louisiana is the recipient of a 24-million dollar federal grant that will be used to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health Doctor Janice Petersen says half of the grant will go towards improving access to treatment and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths through prevention strategies…
cut 11 (09) “…provided”

The front doors to the State Capitol have been closed for nearly three years as workers repaired the mortar and limestone on the first few floors of the 86-year-old building. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says the work is still not done on the exterior, but they hope to open the front doors for visitors with the construction of a walkway to protect them from pieces of mortar that may fall of the structure…
cut 4 (11) “…top of the steps”

The application process for federal grant rebuilding dollars through the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program has has been reopened for 2016 flood victims…
Cut 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Lake Charles today. At 10 he’ll attend a dedication ceremony for the newly renovated runway at Chennault International Airport. After that event, the governor will welcome the Houston Rockets, who are holding a week-long training camp at McNeese.

The Louisiana Health Department has received a 24-million dollar grant from the federal government to combat the opioid epidemic. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health Dr. Janice Petersen says the money will fund a comprehensive recovery program for addicts…
Cut 10 (10) “support services.“
The CDC says over one-thousand Louisiana residents died from an opioid overdose in 2016.

The trust fund that covers unemployment benefits for the state is projected to hit one billion dollars this year. The trust fund, managed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, is the twelfth strongest in the nation. LWC executive director Ava Dejoie….
Cut 13 (10) “…at this mark.”
Dejoie says the fund also helps sustain the state’s Incumbent Worker Training Program.

The state has reopened its disaster assistance program for those impacted by the 2016 floods as it’s expected Congress will approve legislation to end the duplication of benefits ban, which has prevented thousands of flood victims from receiving additional assistance, because they received an S-B-A loan. Division of Administration Executive Director Pat Forbes says once the legislation is approved two additional hurdles will need to be cleared before the federal dollars become available…
cut 9 (10) “…that difficult”
2016 flood victims have until October 19th to complete the initial survey to secure federal grants through the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program and the application deadline is November 16th.

Present for months, scaffolding used to restore limestone and mortar at the Louisiana Capitol is gone, but the job isn’t quite done as it’s been put on hold until it gets more funding.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31)  “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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 The application process for RESTORE grants has been reopened for those who suffered damage in the 2016 floods.

Cut 2 (30) ”I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Louisiana receives a 24 million dollar grant from the feds to help fight the opioid epidemic. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Visitors to the Louisiana Capitol may have noticed that scaffolding used to restore the building’s limestone and mortar is gone.  But work is still needed on the 86 year old building, so a new walkway is being built to shelter those walking into the front doors from falling mortar.  Louisiana Division of Administration spokesman Jacques Berry says the front doors are expected to be reopened before the end of the calendar year.

Cut 4 (11) “…top of the steps.”

Berry says with the new covered walkway, those entering the building will be able to walk from the first platform at the steps to the doorway.

Cut 5 (07) “…to the tourist.”

Berry says the building is designed to sway a little bit, and when that happens, that’s when you see the chunks of mortar fall.

Cut 6 (10) “…falling on anybody.”

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The Louisiana Restore Homeowners Assistance program has reopened its application process for those who suffered damage in the floods of 2016, on the heels of reports that say Congress is nearing a deal that would allow those who filed for SBA loans to receive federal grant rebuilding money. Division of Administration Executive Director Pat Forbes says the change to “Duplication of Benefits” policy is incredibly meaningful.

Cut 7 (12) “…debt burden”

The Edwards Administration says expanding the Restore Louisiana program to SBA recipients will lead to an additional 215 million dollars in benefits making their way into flood victims’ hands. Forbes says those hundreds of millions will be headed to thousands of households.

Cut 8 (12)  “…additional funds”

Louisiana has reopened the survey that must be completed to receive RESTORE grants, with a new deadline of October 19^th. The deadline to finish completing the application for the funds has been pushed back to November 16^th.

Congressman Garret Graves says the deal to end Duplication of Benefits, and rewrite laws governing FEMA aid to school districts and nonprofits is “99 percent complete.” Forbes says there are two last hurdles the potential new policy would have to clear before the checks get sent out.

Cut 9 (10)  “…that difficult”

Visit Restore.la.gov for more information, and the necessary forms.

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The Bayou State is getting a 24-million dollar boost from the federal government to help us rehabilitate opioid addicts and keep them from falling back into the habit that’s killing thousands across the country every year. The federal grant will go to the state Department of Health. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health Dr. Janice Petersen says it’ll fund a comprehensive recovery program.

Cut 10 (10)   “support services.“

LDH says the funds will help them expand recovery programs in rural areas that are currently under-served.

Petersen says the grant can help pay for more accurate assessments when it comes to finding the right services for each patient, as well as determine which medication may be needed for recovery, and the funds to pay for that medication when people can’t afford it. And that’s not all…

Cut 11 (09)   “…provided”

Petersen says a major part of the initiative is helping addicts support themselves by helping them build the skills necessary to hold down a job that can pay the bills, while they work towards ridding themselves of their opioid addiction. She says there’s cash set aside to help those folks get work.

Cut 12 (07)   “…society.”

The grant comes courtesy of the CDC and the US Department of Health.

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The trust fund that covers unemployment benefits for the state is projected to hit one billion dollars this year.  The trust fund, managed by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, is the twelfth strongest in the nation.  LWC director Ava Dejoie says the size of the fund has exceeded expectations.

Cut 13 (10) “…at this mark.”

Dejoie says the next big milestone for the trust fund will be 1.275 billion, which will trigger beneficial results for employers who pay into the fund as well as those that draw the benefits from it.

Cut 14 (08) “…will go up.”

Dejoie says the milestone is made even more notable considering the fund went broke in the eighties due to a decline in the oil industry, which we are seeing again at present day.

Cut 15  (08) “ part of this”

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LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron wants to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That will be important this week as the Tigers host the SEC’s top passing team. The Ole Miss Rebels are averaging 348 yards through the air. Coach Ed Orgeron says Andre Anthony is a guy who can get after the passer…

Cut 16 (16) “..   job of that  . 

On other side of the ball, Orgeron wants to see more explosive plays on offense…

Cut 17 (15)  “behind the chains” 

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Top ranked Alabama is a 49-point favorite on Saturday as they welcome the Ragin Cajuns to Tuscaloosa. UL Lafayette is coming off a disappointing home loss to Coastal Carolina, while the Crimson Tide have won their four games by an average score of 41 points. Cajuns Coach Billy Napier doesn’t see a weakness with Alabama’s offense

Cut 19 (23) “ the play” 

Napier spent five seasons on Nick Saban’s staff as his wide receivers coach. During that time, the Crimson Tide went 63-7 and won two national championships. Napier says he’s looking forward to playing Alabama on Saturday….

Cut 20 (18) “ head coach” 

The deal to transfer management of two hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe to Oschner and LSU has been finalized. The new system, called Oschner LSU Health System of North Louisiana, will begin October 1st. Health Secretary Rebekah Gee says the partnership will bring new services to the area.

Cut 4 (06) “…specialty care.”

That includes tele-health, and the renovation and expansion of surgical operating rooms and the intensive care unit.

A Many man has been arrested after he attempted to steal an ATM kiosk by driving a stolen vehicle through the front of Curtis Grocery early Sunday morning. Sabine Parish Sheriff Ronny Richardson says 37-year-old Leo Mitchell drove off and a police chase ensued…

cut 9 (10) “…still driveable”

Mitchell was later found hiding in the woods.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is confident legislation will pass Congress this week that would allow thousands of homeowners who flooded in 2016 to receive federal grants through the Restore Louisiana program, even if they received an SBA loan. Graves says that means if you filed RESOTRE paperwork, but were ineligible, you could see the cash soon.

Cut 11 (08“…the law”

Graves says if you’ve completed your paperwork, you shouldn’t have to make any changes or do anything else before your check is mailed.

State Police say a fatal train wreck in Webster Parish this morning left 33 year old Jason Fory of Minden dead. Troop G spokesperson Glenn Younger says the no one on the train was injured and that the incident doesn’t pose a threat to residents in the area.

Cut 16 (10) “…as far as hazmat.”

Police are still investigating why his truck was on the train tracks at that time.