At the State Capitol Friday morning, tense exchanges during a Joint Medicaid Oversight committee meeting wherein lawmakers questioned LDH’s attorney about nursing home evacuations plans. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02             (34)      “…Thorington”

Shreveport Police arrest a Texas woman for allegedly tossing her three kids off a bridge into the city’s Cross Lake. An 18-month old baby is reported drowned, but two other siblings – ages 6 and 8 – are going to be OK. Fast police work and tips from witness led to an arrest before 2pm Friday. As of news time, the suspect’s name has not been released.

LSU AgCenter experts say the state’s agriculture industry suffered at least 584-million dollars in damages as a result of Hurricane Ida. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says timber was hit the hardest as a total of 168-thousand acres of trees were affected costing the industry more than 300-million dollars…:

CUT 06             (09)      “…to be salvaged”

You may be surprised to learn that only 22 livestock animals were killed by Ida, but still – many older ranchers say they’re getting out of the business.

Already approved by the U.S. Senate by a bipartisan vote, the $1-trillion infrastructure bill goes to a vote Monday in the U.S. House. Louisiana DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson hopes for final passage, as the bill will mean about $6-billion for road, bridge and other projects in our state. Wilson says that amount is about a billion dollars in federal funds more than we’d normally get over five years. Opponents of the bill says too much of it is social programs and pork.

Tough questions asked by state lawmakers today at the Capitol; wanting to get to the bottom of the deaths of nursing home residents from four parishes who were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish before Hurricane Ida. Committee members questioned why people were evac’ed to an area IN the storm’s path. Abbeville Senator Bob Henssgens says legislation or amended legislation is clearly needed to prevent a repeat…:

CUT 14(02)      “…solve the problem”

Bob Dean, a Baton Rouge businessman owns the nursing homes and the warehouse in Independence. He AND L.D.H. are being sued by residents and family members of the deceased.

Shreveport Police report an infant was found dead today in Cross Lake, and another child was rescued from the water and will be OK. He says his mother threw him and his siblings off a bridge into the water. The third child was found safe and alive. At this hour police report they have made an arrest – a Texas woman, but the suspect’s identity has not been revealed.

An organization called “Schoolplies” and others are working to help kids get back to school after Ida. CEO Allie Casey has a Sunday school supplies giveaway in Terrebonne and Lafourche. She says her group will keep working to get more supplies where they need to be..:

CUT 10(06)      “…the efforts going”

More information is online at “Schoolplies.com”

Still plenty of hurricane recovery problems in Lafourche Parish. The town of LaRose still has a foot of water & muck in places. Lafourche President Archie Chaisson says it’s frustrating for residents, but he asks for their continued hope…:

CUT 05(10)      “…and better”

He says clearing all roads and ditches could take another two or three weeks.

During a Joint Medicaid Oversite Committee meeting today at the Capitol, River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot questioned Attorney Stephen Russo, with the Department of Health, over who approves nursing home evacuation plans. This comes just after a mass evacuation to a Tangipahoa warehouse that’s resulted in several deaths. Talbot questioned Russo as to why patients from the Orleans, Jefferson, Terrebonne, and Lafourche were sent to Tangipahoa when storm models indicated it was in Hurricane Ida’s path…:

CUT 13(09)      “…advice of counsel”

Baton Rouge businessman Bob Dean owns the nursing homes AND the warehouse. He and LDH are being sued by residents and some surviving family members.

A District Court judge in Lafayette tosses out a lawsuit filed by employees of one of two Acadiana hospitals, who say being ordered to get a COVID vaccination or face firing is unconstitutional. The judge says employers are within their rights as a business to make COVID shots a condition of continued employment. A hearing for the other hospital is scheduled for Saturday.

In Shreveport … one child is dead and another injured – while crews search for a third missing child; all related to an incident at Cross Lake. It’s believed all three kids are siblings and one source says they were thrown off a bridge over part of the lake. Little else is known at this time. We’ll have updates as they become available.

Hurricane Ida’s negative fiscal impact on Louisiana agriculture is estimated at over a half-billion bucks. More from Jeff Palermo…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Palermo”

There were several tense exchanges during a Joint Medicaid Oversite Committee meeting Friday where lawmakers questioned LDH’s attorney about the approval of nursing home evacuations plans. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

A north Larose neighborhood that endured a ten-foot storm surge is dealing with almost a foot of sludge and standing water. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says he completely understands that residents are frustrated and tired, but he tries to encourage them to remain hopeful.

LSU AgCenter experts say the state’s agriculture industry suffered at least 584-million dollars in damages as a result of Hurricane Ida. Economist Kurt Guidry says about 139-thousand acres of sugarcane are projected to have somewhat lower yields due to storm damage. He says much of the affected sugarcane is recovering, but it will come at a price…

Cut 7 (07) “…35-million dollars”  

Organizations including Schoolplies are working to help kids get back in school after Hurricane Ida’s devastation in parishes that include Terrebonne and Lafourche.  CEO Allie Casey says, that in partnership with the United Way of South Louisiana, hundreds of school supply kits will be given away this Sunday

Cut 9 (12) “…back to school” 

The weekend event will take place Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fletcher Technical Community College.

At a Joint Medicaid Oversite Committee meeting today River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot questioned Louisiana Department of Health Attorney Stephen Russo about who approves nursing home evacuation plans submitted to the department, weeks after a mass evacuation of Bob Dean nursing home patients to a Tangipahoa warehouse that’s now resulted in 15 deaths.

Cut 12 (12) “….anywhere there.”  

LDH has pulled the licenses from the seven Bob Dean Nursing homes. LDH along with Bob Dean are also facing litigation.

Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says after posting his frustration on social media he’s now getting feedback from FEMA on housing for residents.

Cut 4 (08) “…long-term housing.”

The LSU AgCenter estimates Hurricane Ida produced 584-million dollars in damages to the state’s agriculture industry. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (33) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

LSU AgCenter experts say the state’s agriculture industry suffered at least 584-million dollars in damages as a result of Hurricane Ida. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says timber was hit the hardest as a total of 168-thousand acres of trees were affected costing the industry more than 300-million dollars

Cut 6 (09) “…salvaged”

A north Larose neighborhood that endured a ten-foot storm surge is dealing with almost a foot of sludge and standing water. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says the Industrial Park neighborhood was inundated with muck and mud from marsh waters that made it over the levees.

Cut 3 (06) “…in the back.”

Chaisson says the Corps of Engineers, municipal crews, and private contractors are working to help clear roads, drainage ditches in addition to resident’s yards. He expects it will take another three weeks.

A former Monroe area State Trooper is under federal indictment for excessive force in the May 2019 roadside beating of arrestee Aaron Bowman. Jacob Brown’s bodycam footage shows him striking Bowman 18 or more times with his MagLite. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s important to remember a federal indictment is not for committing a violent crime.

Cut 13 (09) “…jurisdiction over that.”

More than three weeks after Ida made landfall, the Louisiana National Guard and others are still helping out in many ways, but the number of soldiers still on duty has diminished significantly.

Cut 12 (11) “…thousand service members.”

Spokesperson Noel Collins says the guard still has 12 points of distribution for meals, water, ice, and tarps operating in four parishes, down from 80 pods at the start statewide.

A federal grand jury indicts a former Monroe area State Trooper for excessive force in the May 2019 roadside beating of arrestee Aaron Bowman. Jacob Brown’s bodycam footage shows him striking Bowman 18 or more times with his MagLite. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s important to remember a federal indictment is not for committing a violent crime.

Cut 13 (09) “…jurisdiction over that.”

There are 25-thousand people living in hotels paid for by FEMA because their homes are currently uninhabitable due to Hurricane Ida. Governor John Bel Edwards says they are waiting on a final decision from FEMA on the next steps for temporary housing…

Cut 8 (09) “…and barges?”
Edwards hopes FEMA will make these announcements very soon.

Thousands of Louisiana National Guard members are still on the job helping victims of Ida in the southeast coastal communities. Spokesperson Noel Collins tells us what some of the citizen-soldiers are doing to assist in the recovery.

Cut 10 (09)  “…generator support missions.” 

Louisiana State Police are taking part in this Saturday’s national program to check child passenger seats. Sergeant James Anderson says the event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon and the National Seat Check is being held in nine locations around the state. Anderson says the focus will be on helping participants with the proper installation of a child seat.

Cut 5 (12) “…to be installed.”