HUD’s announcement of $450 million for those recovering from Hurricane Laura is welcome news. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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Breaking news in Beauregard Parish as an F-16 fighter jet crashed there early this morning. Louisiana State Police spokesman Derek Senegal says the pilot was able to eject prior to the crash and is believed to be okay. There is no information at this time on where the flight began or where it was going.

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A powerful EF 3 tornado with winds reaching at least 135 miles per hour tore through Arabi in St. Bernard Parish last night. St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis says they have crews surveying the area and he’s discouraging sightseers. And while Judge Perez Drive is open in both directions, St. Claude Highway remains closed along with the neighborhoods that were hardest hit.

Cut 4 (11) “…recovery stuff.”

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Rescue and recovery continues today, with teams from multiple parish agencies still canvassing the area door-to-door and making damage assessments. State Fire Marshall Butch Browning says the searches need to be done quickly and thoroughly so the next steps in finding necessary resources can begin.

Cut 9 (11) “…need to be.”

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The National Weather Service says it was at least an EF 3 tornado with winds of at least 135 miles per hour that caused significant damage in Arabi in St. Bernard Parish Tuesday night. So far only one storm-related death has been reported. Governor Edwards is touring the storm-ravaged area and meeting with local responders. He will hold a press conference at 1:30. He’s already declared a state of emergency for St. Bernard, Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Tammany Parishes.

The HUD announcement of $450 million for those recovering in southwest Louisiana from 2020’s Hurricane Laura is welcome news in Calcasieu Parish. Alberto Galan who’s overseeing Long Term Recovery says while the state is waiting on the funds those in need can fill out a survey with the state’s Office of Community Development. He says the survey is quick and easy.

Cut 12 (10) “…have a need.” 

The National Weather Service says it was at least an EF-3 tornado that tore through Arabi in St. Bernard Parish killing at least one person. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

There are many in the town of Arabi who suffered significant damage from a powerful tornado that ripped the through St. Bernard Parish community last night. Lifelong resident Tony Vitale says his home was demolished

Cut 5 (11) “…out the house.”

Vitale says thankfully he, his wife, and his nine-year-old son were not injured as the twister ripped his home to pieces.

The HUD announcement of $450 million for those recovering in southwest Louisiana from 2020’s Hurricane Laura is welcome news in Calcasieu Parish. Alberto Galan who’s overseeing Long Term Recovery for the parish says the funding will in large part finally help with those unmet housing needs.

Cut 11 (08)  “…the ground.”  

Galan encourages those in need to first fill out a survey with the state’s Office of Community Development.

River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot’s bills to increase penalties for carjacking and catalytic converter theft passed in committee and are on their way to the Senate. His legislation did receive opposition however from Attorney Sarah Whittington with the Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana who says the bills are repetitive and increasing the penalties is burdensome to the state.

Cut 12 (10) “…the books.”

LSU President William Tate told members of the House Ways and Means Committee the school’s library is on his list of improvements. Tate told lawmakers that the majority of funds will have to come from the state as private donations for libraries across the country have dwindled. If the library is a priority, it’s going to have to be one for all parties involved.

Cut 9 (09)  “…for libraries.”

A new library is estimated to cost $150 million.

First responders are out surveying damage from Tuesday’s tornado that ripped through the New Orleans area of Arabi shortly after sunset. St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis says he believes 40 to 50 homes are completely destroyed.

Cut 4 (11) “…recovery stuff.”

So far only one storm-related death has been reported.

More money for hurricane relief is coming to Louisiana. The announcement of the HUD Community Development Block Grants for housing was made Tuesday. $450 million is allocated for Hurricanes Laura and Delta recovery and $1.2 billion is dedicated for Hurricane Ida.  Governor John Bel Edwards says it will go a long way to help those in Ida’s path…:

Cut 6 (08)  “…was announced today.”

President William Tate has big plans for LSU, but one lawmaker wants to ensure a major project isn’t left out. David Grubb has more…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

New LSU men’s basketball coach Matt McMahon has received a seven-year deal that will pay him about three million dollars a year. McMahon will also reportedly get an extra season if the program is hit with a multi-year postseason ban or multiple scholarship reductions for at least three years. The school allegedly committed recruiting violations under former head coach Will Wade.

There is a lot of cleanup in the New Orleans area from multiple tornadoes last night and the community of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish suffered the majority of the damage. So far only one storm-related death has been reported and St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis says it could have been worse.
Cut 3 (11) “…saved lives.”
Despite one death, he says several individuals received minor injuries and he estimates 40 to 50 homes were destroyed.

Former State Police Sergeant Albert Paxton tells state lawmakers he believes L-S-P officials tried to cover up important details surrounding the 2019 State Police custody death of Ronald Greene. Greene died after body camera shows he was beaten and tased by troopers. Paxton points to the bodycam footage of Lt. John Clary which didn’t emerge until nearly two years after the incident
Cut 13 (05) “…apologizing.”
A use of force expert with State Police called Greene’s death torture and murder.

Louisiana will receive nearly $1.7-billion in federal assistance for continued rebuilding from hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. The money comes from the U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Governor John Bel Edwards says the money comes after HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge visited the state…:
Cut 4 (12) “…made good on.”
Congressman Garret Graves says this is good news, but he’s concerned about the bureaucratic delays that may come in allocating the money.

A Senate committee has approved legislation that would increase the penalties for those convicted of carjacking when a firearm is involved. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot…
cut 11 (12) “…of sentence”
The measure heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.

One person is confirmed dead in the St. Bernard Parish town of Arabi after a large tornado tore through the New Orleans suburb last night. St. Bernard Parish officials say there’s damage throughout the parish. There were multiple twisters. Also, tornado damage was reported in New Orleans East, Gretna and Lacombe.

Legislation to increase penalties for carjackings and catalytic converter theft heads to the Senate floor. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana will receive one-point-seven billion dollars in federal hurricane relief dollars. This on top of the 600-million dollars the state has already received. Governor John Bel Edwards says a significant portion of this new allocation will go to the Lake Chares area…
cut 5 (10) “….those disasters”
Much of the money will be used as community development block grants that hurricane victims can use to pay for repairs on their homes.

Fixing LSU’s deteriorating library has been a source of concern for students and faculty on the Baton Rouge campus. Houma Representative Tanner Magee asked LSU President William Tate about what the school is doing to replace the antiquated building…
cut 7 (08) “….ABCDE model”
Tate is asking for 731-million dollars in state funding over multiple years as the school looks to boost research in the areas of cybersecurity, agriculture, and coastal land loss. A new library would cost around 150-million dollars.

At least one person is dead after a tornado ripped through the St. Bernard Parish town of Arabi. There is extensive damage throughout St. Bernard Parish as several homes were destroyed and cars flipped over. Tornado damage was also reported in Gretna, the Lower Ninth Ward, and New Orleans East.

President William Tate has big plans for LSU, but one lawmaker wants to ensure a major project isn’t left out. David Grubb has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Former State Police Sergeant Albert Paxton told a House Committee investigating the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene that an official from a local district attorney’s office told him that State Police Lt. Colonel Doug Cain got mad when he heard about possible charges against one of the six state troopers that were at the scene….
cut 14 (12) “….John Clary”
District attorney John Belton has said he absolutely believes troopers committed a crime in Greene’s arrest, but he’s letting the U-S Justice Department determine if charges should be filed.

A bill that would result in jail time for those convicted of stealing catalytic converters heads to the Senate floor. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot told a Senate committee about a case where catalytic converters were stolen from 15 buses in East Baton Rouge Parish…
cut 10 (08) “….huge problem”
Under Talbot’s bill, if the theft results in a value over 25-thousand dollars, a prison sentence of at least 10 years should be issued.

A large tornado ripped through the town of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish last night leaving extensive damage and killing one person. Tornado damage was also reported in New Orleans East and Gretna. St. Bernard Parish officials say several buildings were damaged or destroyed and cars overturned throughout the parish.

There is some good news for those still looking to recover from the hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. Kevin Gallagher has more on a large amount of federal aid coming to the Bayou State…
cut 1 (33) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher”

A special House committee looking at allegations of a cover-up involving the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene heard from a former State Police Sergeant who believes there was one. Albert Paxton investigated the Greene death and he believes Lt. John Clary, who was the highest-ranking officer of the six state troopers at the scene of Greene’s arrest tried to obstruct the investigation…
cut 15 (06) “….telling the truth”
Clary’s body camera video did not emerge until two years after the incident.

Also at the state capitol, Houma Representative Tanner Magee told LSU system president William Tate that he would like to see the university put more of an emphasis on using state dollars to build a library to replace the one that’s been deteriorating for years….
cut 8 (10) “…to come up”
Tate is also looking for dollars to boost research in areas of agriculture, cybersecurity and coastal land loss.