Now Hurricane Ida is projected to be a category three hurricane when it makes landfall sometime late Sunday night but forecasters warn it has the potential to hit category four. The hope is that Ida fizzles out as it approaches the coast, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says right now the trend is in the opposite direction…

Cut 5 (10) “…advisories.”

Utility providers are prepping for Ida’s arrival on Sunday and in an effort to restore power as safely and quickly as possible if needed. Vice President of Distribution at Entergy Louisiana John Hawkins Junior says their crews are on standby and they’ve called on extra contractors to assist.

Cut 12 (09) “…this storm.” 

The National Hurricane Center says Ida has reached hurricane status.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging Louisiana residents to get their preparations done before Ida’s arrival. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The state reports 3,428 new COVID-19 cases today and 61 new fatalities. Hospitalizations have decline, by 45 from the previous day now at 2,684. Hospitalizations are down 315 over the last week.

Soon-to-be Hurricane Ida is projected to be a category three hurricane when it makes landfall sometime late Sunday night but forecasters warn it has the potential to be a category four. State Climatologist Barry Keim says all the ingredients are there for rapid strengthening once it enters the Gulf later tonight.

Cut 3 (10) “…Louisiana” 

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in response to Ida’s arrival as a major hurricane. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says to be prepared for multiple days without power, especially if you live in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 7 (09) “..now”  

The governor will hold a 3:30 press conference this afternoon.

As Louisianans prep for Ida’s arrival, it was a year ago today when Laura made landfall in southwest Louisiana. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says there are still plenty of homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana but says it’s members of the community that have kept each other going.

Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”  

A hurricane watch is posted along Louisiana’s coast as Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs it will deliver a massive blow to Louisiana and could reach almost Category 4 status.  The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Ida most likely make landfall near Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. The eye of the storm could move over Morgan City. Mayor Lee Dragna says they are prepared…

Cut 14 (10) “…come through it, always.”

Tropical Storm Ida is almost at hurricane status now with winds at 65 miles per hour and the latest track shows Ida reaching Terrebonne Parish on Sunday night as a category three hurricane. Christopher Bannon with the National Weather Service says we should be prepared for several bands of rain…

Cut 5 (13) “…surge.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in response to Ida’s arrival as a major hurricane. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says get all of your hurricane preparations done today and tomorrow

Cut 6 (12) “…to make.” 

Steele says also prepare for multiple days without power.

Tropical Storm Ida is now expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along Louisiana’s coastline Sunday night. A landfall near St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parishes seems most likely at this point. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says whenever a storm heads their way, residents take the proper precautions, and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.

Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says they’ll be visiting Children’s Hospital with Governor Edwards and other State Department of Health staff.

Cut 8 (06) “…outreach.” 

2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week but still about 700 higher than at any point in the previous three waves.

A hurricane watch is posted along Louisiana’s coast as Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs it will deliver a massive blow to Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Ida will be a major hurricane when it makes landfall, most likely near Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. The eye of the storm could move over Morgan City. Mayor Lee Dragna says they are prepared…
cut 14 (10) “…come through it always”
Today marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura which tore through southwest Louisiana with 100-mile per hour winds. Many residents are still hoping for more federal assistance to rebuild their homes. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter keeps asking…
cut 11 (07) “…continue”
Governor Edwards says there are three billion dollars in unmet needs.

A top Biden Administration official will visit New Orleans today to survey some of the state’s COVID-filled hospitals. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond has resigned. Mayor Adrian Perkins asked Raymond to step down nearly three months ago. The mayor says the city is experiencing an inexcusable surge of violent crime and the police department needs change. Raymond says a shortage in public safety personnel has led to historical increases in homicides for many cities.

Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs of strengthening as it moves northwest at 15 miles per hour. It’s currently located south of Western Cuba and is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along the Louisiana coast. Christopher Bannon is with the National Weather Service in New Orleans…
cut 4 (13) “…Saturday evening”
A landfall near Lafourche-Terrebonne Parish is most likely. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Brennan Matherne, says if this current track holds, he expects evacuation orders will go out today…
cut 15 (05) “….Fourchon”
Governor Edwards has declared a state emergency. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging all Louisianans to plan accordingly.

Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s landfall in Cameron Parish. Laura came ashore with 150 mile per hour winds and left behind an estimated 17.5 billion dollars in damage in Louisiana. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says there are still plenty of blue tarps and homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana, but he says the city’s residents have kept each other going.
Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”
Hunter is upset the federal government has yet approve millions of dollars in grant money that can help hurricane victims rebuild.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says he formally requested additional aid from the Biden Administration…
Cut 7 (08) “…issues.”
2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week.

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Ida is strengthing over the northwest Caribbean Sea and Ida is forecast to be a Category 3, major hurricane at landfall on Sunday. A landfall near Terrebonne-Lafourche Parishes seems most likely at this point. Christopher Bannon is with the National Weather Service…
cut 6 (12) “…Saturday evening”

Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s devastating landfall in southwest Louisiana. That region also experienced Hurricane Delta, a winter storm in February and more flooding in May. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they are still waiting on the federal government to provide assistance to rebuild homes…
cut 10 (12) “…rebuild”

According to the National Hurricane Center’s official forecast track the eye of Ida could pass right over or very close to Morgan City. Matt Doyle says the coastal city in St. Mary Parish is ready…
cut 3 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Ida is expected to enter the Southeastern Gulf tonight or early Saturday and reach major hurricane status right before it makes landfall on Sunday. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for coastal Louisiana. Forecasters are expecting storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall.

Tropical Storm Ida is now expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along Louisiana’s coastline Sunday afternoon. A landfall near St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parishes seems most likely at this point. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says whenever a storm heads their way, residents take the proper precautions and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.
Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”
So far only Grand Isle has issued a voluntary evacuation, which may become mandatory later today. But more evacuation orders are likely. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Lt. Brennan Matherne…
cut 16 (09) “…to go”
Ida is expected to become a hurricane tomorrow once it gets into the Gulf.

A year ago today, Hurricane Laura made landfall but yet the City of Lake Charles continues to wait for major disaster relief…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) is in New Orleans today to meet with Governor Edwards and Mayor LaToya Cantrell to get an update on the state’s fight against COVID, including vaccination efforts. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter…
cut 9 (09) “….big deal”
41-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated.

A top Biden Administration official will visit New Orleans today to survey some of the state’s COVID-filled hospitals. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

___________________________________

A year ago, today Hurricane Laura made landfall but yet the City of Lake Charles continues to wait for major disaster relief. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m  Brooke Thorington” 

_________________________________________

The hurricane fortress of Morgan City prepares to take on yet another storm system as Tropical Storm Ida barrels its way towards the Louisiana coast. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

_______________________________

Tropical Storm Ida has formed in the Caribbean, and she is forecast to approach the northern Gulf coast at or near major hurricane strength on Sunday, bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. Christopher Bannon with the National Weather Service in New Orleans says Ida is picking up speed.

Cut 4 (13) “…Saturday evening.”

Unlike hurricane Laura that made landfall a year ago today, Laura developed off the coast of Africa giving forecasters a week to issue warnings. But Ida was a tropical wave on Wednesday, then a Tropical storm on Thursday in the Caribbean.

Because the system developed so quickly and conditions in the Gulf of Mexico are expected to only intensify Ida. Bannon says we should be prepared for several bands of rain…

Cut 5 (13) “…surge.”

Bannon says Ida eerily reminds him of Gustav that formed quickly and made landfall much quicker than anticipated. He says on Wednesday it appeared Ida would make landfall in the northern gulf coast on Monday…

Cut 6 (12) “…Saturday evening.”

Bannon says right now, your main concern should be prepping for and getting your supplies in order for Ida and to stay up to date on changing conditions.

_____________________

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients amidst the 4^th wave.

Congressman Troy Carter will accompany him. Carter says he formally requested additional aid from the Biden Administration to help our beleaguered hospitals.

Cut 7 (08) “…issues.”

2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week but still about 700 higher than at any point in the previous three waves.

Carter says they’ll be visiting Children’s Hospital with Governor Edwards and other State Department of Health staff.

Cut 8 (06) “…outreach.” 

Becerra will also attend a roundtable with the Governor and Mayor to discuss vaccination efforts. Carter says Becerra’s presence should underscore the need to increase our vaccination rate.

Cut 9 (09) “…big deal.”

Afterward, Becerra will visit a community health center in New Orleans East.

________________________________________

As Louisianans are watching the Gulf of Mexico in what could be the first storm to impact the state this hurricane season, the City of Lake Charles continues to struggle with the devastation of Laura that made landfall a year ago today. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they’ve also endured Hurricane Delta, a winter storm, and a major flood in May.

Cut 10 (12) “…rebuild.” 

According to the Louisiana Office of Community Development, the unmet housing need is $326 million. Hunter says he remains diligent in lobbying Congress for significant funding.

Cut 11 (07) “…continue.”

Hunter says Lake Charles is a much different city than it was before Hurricane Laura, he says there are still plenty of blue tarps and homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana but he says it’s members of the community that have kept each other going.

Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”  

_____________________________

Tropical Storm Ida is expected to make landfall just west of Morgan City as a category two hurricane sometime Sunday afternoon.

Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says prep is underway and as usual whenever a storm heads their way the people start clearing out the decks and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.

Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”

Dragna says they have a powerful pumping system and high sea walls so water isn’t that much of a concern, and they’ve already done their yearly trimming of branches near powerlines.

Cut 14 (10) “…come through it, always.”

Should this track maintain Lafourche Parish will be on the nastier northeast side of the storm and is bracing for storm surge, heavy winds, and the potential for a lot of water to fall across the region.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Brennan Matherne says if this current track holds we could start seeing some evacuation orders issued as early as today.

Cut 15 (05)“…Fourchon.”

Matherne says if evacuation orders are issued shelters will be made available either in Lafourche or other, potentially safer areas. That may result in you being around a lot of other people at a time when COVID transmission is high.

cut  16 (09) “…to go.”

_______________________________________________________

Third-round pick Paulson Adebo has a chance to be a starting cornerback for the Saints. Even if he doesn’t start, expect the former Stanford standout to get a lot of playing time in the New Orleans defensive secondary. Adebo didn’t play last season at Stanford, but he says there were some benefits to that decision

Cut 17 (19) “… day by day.”  

The Saints have one more preseason game left and that’s this Saturday against Arizona. Defensive end Cam Jordan says he’s ready for the regular season…

Cut 18 (16)”…week one.”

________________________________________

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2021 class this weekend in Natchitoches. LSU legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is finally getting in. He was known as Chris Jackson when he played for the Purple and Gold set the NCAA freshman scoring record when he averaged 30 points a game during the 1988-89 season. Ronnie Rantz is the CEO of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation

Cut 19 (16)  “…stats.” 

Rantz says the 2021 class also features a member of LSU’s 2007 national championship team, a former Southern baseball standout, and the Saints’ all-time leading receiver…

Cut 20 (19)  “…teammate ever.”