The center of Tropical Storm Claudette has moved 75 miles north-northeast of New Orleans. Claudette’s heavy rain bands have led to flooding in Slidell. The National Weather Service says Slidell received more than ten inches of rain overnight, which resulted in several homes taking on water and high water rescue operations. St. Tammany Parish government says some roadways and neighborhoods are still experiencing high water.

Today is Juneteenth and it’s now a state holiday thanks to legislation passed this year….
voicer 10003 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Real Reform Louisiana delivered tiki torches to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s office in Baton Rouge because auto insurance rates have yet to decline as a result of the tort reform legislation approved last year. Real Reform Louisiana’s executive director Eric Holl says rates have actually gone up
Cut 13 (10) “…car insurance.”
So why tiki torches? Holl says LABI President Stephen Waguespack told radio talk show host, Erin McCarthy of KEEL Radio, in Shreveport that he would grab a tiki torch and go to the Capitol if rates did not go down as a result of legislation that changed the way civil courts handle car crash cases

Saints Coach Sean Payton got married last night to Skylene Montgomery in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico after a 20-month engagement. The two got engaged in November of 2019.

Tropical Storm Claudette came ashore this morning southwest of New Orleans with winds as strong as 60 miles per hour. Much of the heavy rainfall associated with the storm is in Mississippi and Alabama. But several homes have flooded in Slidell. A couple of inches of water made their way into homes in French Branch Estates. The Slidell Police Department says they had to rescue multiple people from their flooded cars, along with a woman, who was on her way to the hospital, possibly going into labor.

In Plaquemines Parish, Emergency Operations Center director Patrick Harvey says they are getting a lot of complaints of alligators in the highway, but Highways 23 and 39 are both open. Harvey told WDSU-TV in New Orleans there has been some coastal flooding in the Myrtle Grove area.

Baton Rouge Police say two people were killed and three others were injured during a shooting outside of the Capitol Park Bar and Grill around two o’clock this morning. No other information has been released.

Today marks Juneteenth. On this date in 1865, enslaved people in America were finally emancipated. This year is the first year it’s a state and federal holiday. Governor John Bel Edwards says today is a day to commemorate the end of slavery and celebrate the contributions African Americans have made to America. He says the nation must recommit itself to the ongoing fight for equity and justice.

The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution that asks the state health department to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory before students can attend public schools, colleges and universities. State law requires students to be vaccinated against polio, smallpox and other maladies before they can attend school, but the COVID vaccine was approved by the FDA on an emergency basis.

Starting Monday at noon, Louisiana residents who are vaccinated against COVID can register to win one million dollars and 13 other cash prizes and scholarships. Go to shot-at-a-million-dot-com for more information.

Tropical Storm Claudette, which formed early this morning has moved inland. At the 7 AM advisory from the National Hurricane Center, the center of Claudette was 30 miles north of New Orleans. Mississippi and Alabama are getting most of the rain, but homes have been flooded in Slidell. About 10 inches of rain fell in the St. Tammany Parish city. Multiple people had to be rescued as the water rose. Slidell Police say several side streets are still covered by water.

State Police has charged an Avoyelles Parish man with vehicular homicide after he was involved in a head-on crash on Louisiana Highway One yesterday afternoon that killed 63-year-old Arlene Juneau of Baton Rouge. LSP says they are still investigating why 42-year-old Kenneth Normand’s vehicle crossed the center line. Impairment is a suspected factor. Normand sustained moderate injuries from the wreck. Juneau was pronounced dead at the scene.

Governor John Bel Edwards has signed legislation that will increase the price for recreational and commercial hunting and fishing licenses. The proposal was opposed by commercial fishermen who say they’ve already taken a beating from the pandemic, but Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says their fee increase will be phased in from July 2022 through 2024 and it is not steep.
Cut 14 (09) “…dollar.”
The rising price for licenses will generate 17 million dollars a year for the fiscal year that begins in 2022.

A bill to legalize recreational marijuana did not make it to the governor’s desk this year. But Governor Edwards expects that will happen before his term ends in 2023…
cut 8 (11) “…before us”

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Claudette formed this morning about 45 miles southwest of New Orleans. Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida are experiencing heavy rainfall at this hour. But there have been reports of flooding in Slidell. The radar shows very little rain falling in southeast Louisiana at this moment.

Today is Juneteenth and it’s now a state holiday thanks to legislation passed in this last legislative session….
voicer 10003 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Governor Edwards takes issue with the label “decriminalization” as a way to describe legislation he signed that removes the possibility of jail time for possession of 4 grams or less of marijuana. Edwards says it’s not legalization and getting caught with a small amount of pot is still a crime…
Cut 7 (06) “…citation.”
And pay a 100-dollar fine.

The governor has also signed legislation that will increase the cost to purchase a hunting and fishing license, starting in July of 2022. The bill’s author, Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says two-thirds of recreational sportsmen will only see their annual costs go up about ten dollars, but with the increase comes more consolidated licenses…
cut 15 (07) “….package”
The cost of a basic fishing license will go from $9 to $17.

Southeast Louisiana is prepping to get inundated from Tropical Storm Claudette with landfall predicted to be sometime early Saturday morning.  National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Schott says basically everything east of I-55 from the coast up to the Mississippi state line is expected to be affected and if you live in that area you need to pay attention.

Cut 5  (12) “…Sunday” 

St. Tammany Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Clarence Powe says they’ve opened up sandbagging stations and they closed a few bridges in anticipation of possible flooding. Powe encourages residents to make storm plans and check around their homes.

Cut  11 (09) “…do it early.” 

Rainfall amounts are the biggest threat with the storm however Schott says don’t discount tropical storm winds of 30 to 40 miles per hour and securing outside items should also be on your immediate to-do list.

Governor Edwards takes issue with the label “decriminalization” as a way to describe legislation he signed that removes the possibility of jail time for possession of a small amount of marijuana. Under the legislation, those found to have 14 grams or less of pot can’t be sent to jail and only can be given a 100 dollar fine. Edwards says don’t confuse that for full legalization.

Cut 6 (09) “…marijauna.”

Governor Edwards signs legislation increasing the cost of annual recreational and commercial hunting and fishing licenses starting next July. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says only two-thirds of recreational sportsmen will only see their yearly costs go up about ten dollars, and with that increase in cost will come more consolidated licenses.

Cut 15 (07) “…package” 

Tropical Storm warnings are in effect for Morgan City east to the Okaloosa / Walton County line in Florida as the disturbance moving north northeast at 16 miles per hour makes its way towards southeast Louisiana. The system is on track to make landfall late Friday or early Saturday.

Jeff Palermo has more on what the area should expect from the soon-to-be named Tropical Storm Claudette.

Cut 1 (27) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

Governor Edwards declared a state of emergency Thursday ahead of the first system to impact the state this hurricane season.

Six to eight inches of rain could fall to the east and south of New Orleans. St. Benard Parish Emergency Preparedness Director John Rahaim says they have been proactive ahead of the storm…

Cut 12 (12) “…amount of time.”

The center of the storm should be in Mississippi by tomorrow afternoon.

Governor Edwards signs legislation increasing the cost of recreational and commercial hunting and fishing fees starting next July. The proposal was opposed by commercial fishermen who say they’ve already taken a beating from the pandemic, but Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says their fee increase will be phased in through 2024 and is not steep.

Cut 14 (09) “…dollar.” 

The fee increases are expected to generate about 17 million dollars a year in the next fiscal year.

A disturbance in the southern Gulf is expected to strengthen overnight into a tropical storm and make landfall in Terrebonne or Lafourche parish early tomorrow morning. National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Schott says rain bands are already impacting southeast Louisiana…

Cut 3 (08) “…the area.”

A tropical storm warning is in effect East of Morgan City to the Okaloosa/Walton County line in Florida.

While we are expected to experience our first named storm landfall of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season projections show the track has shifted east enough that we will likely avoid the worst of it. Despite that GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says residents still need to be prepared.

Cut 9 (11) “…the state”

With a tropical storm warning in effect, St. Tammany Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Clarence Powe says they’ve opened up sandbagging stations and they closed a few bridges in anticipation of possible flooding. Powe encourages residents to make storm plans and check around their homes.

Cut  11 (09) “…do it early.” 

Governor Edwards signs legislation increasing the cost of annual recreational and commercial hunting and fishing licenses starting next July. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala says he had to bring this legislation because the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries was running out of money and we hadn’t raised fees in decades.

Cut 13 (09) “…user pay”

The fee increases are expected to generate about 17 million dollars a year in the next fiscal year, rising to 19 million a year in future years.