As the state heads into the heart of hurricane season, the state run last-resort property insurer, Louisiana Citizens, has doubled its number of properties covered in just two years.   Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Citizens was covering 50-thousand before Hurricane Laura in 2020, But after Laura and Delta – followed by Hurricane Ida last year – another 50-thousand have had no choice but to go with Citizens. He says that’s nearly 100-thousand policies…:

CUT 13  (11)        “…last spring.”

Donelon says Citizens’ customer needn’t fear they will not be covered if there is a disaster this year. They will.

A Shreveport man is under arrest for allegedly possessing images and videos of child porn and bestiality. A cybercrimes investigation turned up the images on 25-year-old Jacob Butler’s PC and devices. He’s in the Caddo jail without bond for now. More charges are likely as the investigation continues.

When plans were announced to move juveniles from the Bridge City Center for Youth to Angola, a complaint was filed that the move violates the juvenile’s due process rights. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says it has merit because the US Supreme Court says you can’t treat juveniles the same as adults…:

CUT 04(10)      “…productive adults.”

New LEAP test results – showing a decline in literacy – have one state lawmaker saying “I told you so,” after his literacy & retention bill failed to pass this year. Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson’s bill to hold 3^rd graders back a year if they continuously failed reading assignments failed to win passage. He says, despite objections from colleagues, the same law worked well one state over…:

CUT 10(11)      “…out of the water.”

He says the bill WILL help here and he’ll bring it back next year.

The latest LEAP results show that 41-percent of fourth-grade students read below their grade level. That’s why Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says he will bring back his legislation next year that would require third-graders to pass a literacy test before advancing to the fourth grade. Nelson says it’s imperative reading challenged students get the help they need…
cut 11 (12) “….throughout society”
Nelson’s bill failed to pass in the final days of the legislative session”

We are seeing heavy rainfall across northeast Louisiana this morning. In fact a flood warning is out for Franklin, Morehouse, Richland and West Carroll Parishes until 9:15 tonight. The National Weather Service says four to eight inches has already fallen in this area and another two to five inches is expected.

The miniseries Five Days at Memorial is currently streaming on Apple TV. It looks back at what happened in the chaotic and frustrating days at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The series is based on the book written by Sheri Fink…
cut 5 (11) “….the story”
45 patients died during these difficult days.

According to the state department of transportation, 194 people were killed in Louisiana in traffic deaths during the first three months of 2022. That’s down slightly from the 202 who died in the first quarter of 2021. State Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says efforts are underway to significantly reduce traffic deaths…
cut 9 (08) “…trend downward”

New LEAP test results indicate a literacy bill that failed to pass the legislature was likely a good idea. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

If you’re a fan of Only Murders in the Building on Hulu, here’s a clue, the actor who plays Martin Short’s son is a ULL alum. 32-year-old Ryan Broussard of Beaux Bridge used to play baseball in his hometown and at ULL and now he’s gone to playing a role on the hit tv show, the season finale is tonight.

Nationally traffic deaths from January to March this year were the highest since 2002, But in Louisiana, they were down slightly compared to the same period last year. Louisiana DOT spokesperson Rodney Mallet says drivers need to take precautions and improve their focus and remove any distractions.

Cut 8 (:10)  “…pay attention.”

In Louisiana, there were 194 traffic deaths for the first quarter of the year.

The Apple TV series Five Days at Memorial is based on actual events during Hurricane Katrina. It chronicles the choices hospital caregivers were forced to make during the crisis without resources and how 45 people died as a result. It’s adapted from the book by Sheri Fink who says it’s important to tell the story, so we are prepared for the next crisis.

Cut 4 (09)  “…learn from it.”

The U-S Secretary of Homeland Security will be in Louisiana today and Governor John Bel Edwards will join him as they look at how southeast Louisiana is prepared for a potential hurricane. They will take a tour of the Carrollton Pump Station in New Orleans and then they’ll visit the Terrebonne General Health System in Houma.

The Apple TV series Five Days at Memorial is based on actual events during Hurricane Katrina. Brooke Thorington has more from the book’s author.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The weather system that produced flash flooding in north Texas is moving through north Louisiana. Radar indicates heavy rain falling in northeast Louisiana this morning. National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Hemingway says a flash flood watch is in effect for a large portion of Louisiana until seven o’ clock tonight….
cut 14 (11) “…ahead of that front”

According to the state department of transportation, 194 people were killed in Louisiana in traffic deaths during the first three months of 2022. That’s down slightly from the 202 who died in the first quarter of 2021. State Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says efforts are underway to significantly reduce traffic deaths…
cut 9 (08) “…trend downward”

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson says he’s determined to pass his bill that requires third graders to pass a literacy test in order to advance to the fourth grade. Nelson says the latest LEAP results show 41-percent of fourth-grade students read below their grade level. Opponents to the legislation say it will hurt minority students, but Nelson says his measure would do just the opposite…
cut 12 (10) “…later in life”

The miniseries Five Days at Memorial is currently streaming on Apple TV. It looks back at what happened in the chaotic and frustrating days at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. The series is based on the book written by Sheri Fink…
cut 5 (11) “….the story”
45 patients died during these difficult days.

Federal officials say nationally the traffic death numbers for the first quarter of this year are the worst in twenty years. State officials say there’s a glimmer of good news here, but only a glimmer. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby”

Another rainy day across Louisiana and a large portion of the state, all of north and central Louisiana, is under a flash flood watch until 7 PM tonight. Matt Hemingway is with the National Weather Service in Shreveport….
cut 15 (08) “…after seven o’ clock”

A state lawmaker says new LEAP test results indicate a literacy bill that failed to pass the Legislature this year was likely a good idea….
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Anywhere between two to six inches of rain fell across north Louisiana yesterday and we could see a repeat performance today. Matt Hemingway is with the National Weather Service in Shreveport…
cut 13 (08) “…north Louisiana”
The Flash Flood Watch covers much of central Louisiana and as far south as Beauregard Parish.

New research has determined the mounds on LSU’s campus near Tiger Stadium are the oldest known manmade structures in North America. LSU Geology and Geophysics Professor Emeritus Brooks Ellwood says the age estimate is based on studying sediment from the bottom of the mounds which is ash from burned reed and cane plants as well as charred mammal bone fragments…
Cut 20 (10) “. these mounds’
The mounds on LSU’s campus are among the more than 880 man-made, hill-like mounds in Louisiana.

Have you been watching the Apple TV series “Five Days at Memorial.” It’s based on what happened at Memorial Hospital in New Orleans where dozens of patients were suffering and hospital staff had limited options in the days after Hurricane Katrina. The series is adapted from a book written by Sheri Fink…
cut 6 (12) “….the future”
45 bodies were recovered from the facility. Then Attorney General Charles Foti charged Doctor Anna Pou and two nurses with second degree murder, but a grand jury in Orleans Parish refused to indict them.

New LEAP test results – showing a decline in literacy – have one state lawmaker saying “I told you so,” after his literacy & retention bill failed to pass this year. Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson’s bill to hold 3rd graders back a year if they continuously failed reading assignments failed to win passage. He says, despite objections from colleagues, the same law worked well for our neighbor to the east…:
Cut 10 (11) “…out of the water.”
The LEAP results show that 41 percent of 4th-grade students read below their grade level.

Federal officials say nationally, traffic deaths from January through March of this year were the highest since 2002. State Department of Transportation spokesman Rodney Mallet says Louisiana numbers are slightly down from last year. But 194 traffic deaths in Louisiana through the first quarter of this year is still very high
Cut 7 (:11) “…driving distracted”

The Apple TV series Five Days at Memorial is based on actual events during Hurricane Katrina. Brooke Thorington has more from the book’s author.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Apple TV series Five Days at Memorial is based on actual events during Hurricane Katrina. Brooke Thorington has more from the book’s author.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

________________________________________________

Federal officials say nationally the traffic death numbers for the first quarter of this year are the worst in twenty years. State officials say there’s a glimmer of good news here, but only a glimmer. Marsanne Golsby has more.

Cut 2 (31) “….I’m Marsanne Golsby” 

________________________________________________

New LEAP test results indicate a literacy bill that failed to pass the legislature was likely a good idea. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

________________________________________________

The Apple TV series Five Days at Memorial is based on actual events during Hurricane Katrina. It chronicles the choices hospital caregivers were forced to make during the crisis without resources and how 45 people died as a result. It’s adapted from the book by Sheri Fink who says it’s important to tell the story, so we are prepared for the next crisis.

Cut 4 (09)  “…learn from it.”

Fink, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist says the eight-episodes cover what happened just before, during, and after Katrina. When the levees broke and the city flooded, the New Orleans hospital lost power for five days. Caregivers were forced to prioritize patient care under extreme circumstances.

Cut 5 (11) “…the story.”

The series examines how unprepared the hospital was to shelter and care for patients. Fink says for many the realistic portrayal is extremely difficult to watch, especially for those who lived through Katrina seventeen years ago.

Cut 6 (12)  “…the future.”

The Apple TV series premiered on August 12^th and new episodes can be streamed on Fridays.

________________________________________________

Federal officials say nationally, traffic deaths from January through March of this year were the highest since 2002. State Department of Transportation spokesman Rodney Mallet says Louisiana numbers are slightly down from last year. But 194 traffic deaths in Louisiana through the first quarter of this year is still very high

Cut 7 (:11) “…driving distracted”

Mallet says they need drivers to double down on taking precautions to avoid serious crashes. Especially by focusing on driving and by putting away distractions.

Cut 8 (:10)  “…pay attention.”

Mallet says the goal is zero fatalities. He hopes this year’s slight drop in fatalities is the beginning of a downward trend similar to the one between 2017 and 2019.

Cut 9 (08)  “…trend downward.”

________________________________________________

New LEAP test results – showing a decline in literacy – have one state lawmaker saying “I told you so,” after his literacy & retention bill failed to pass this year. Mandeville Republican Representative Richard Nelson’s bill to hold 3^rd graders back a year if they continuously failed reading assignments failed to win passage. He says, despite objections from colleagues, the same law worked well for our neighbor to the east…:

Cut 10 (11) “…out of the water.”

The LEAP results show that 41 percent of 4th-grade students read below their grade level. Mississippi adopted the same law in 2013 and has seen its students excel and surpass Louisiana’s in literacy. Nelson says it’s imperative that reading-challenged students get the help they need before they leave 3^rd grade…:

Cut  11 (12)  “…throughout society.” 

Under Nelson’s proposal, 3^rd graders held back due to literacy would get intensive instructional help to assure they were prepared, and have the reading proficiency to move up in grade level. Critics argued the law would unfairly punish minority students, but Nelson says the bill would have done just the opposite…:

Cut 12 (10) “…later in life.” 

________________________________________________

A flood watch remains in effect for the northern half of the state. Meteorologist Matt Hemmingway with the National Weather Service in Shreveport says in the past 24 hours some areas north of Alexandria received anywhere from two to three inches of rain on the low end while other areas had as much as five to six inches of rain.

Cut 13 (08) “…north Louisiana.”

Hemmingway says while the small disturbance off the coast of Texas was a slight contributing factor to the rains, we’re seeing in the northern half of the state…

Cut 14 (11)  “…ahead of that front.”

He says in general a rich tropical air mass was already in place leading up to the frontal boundary stalling out.

Rain chances should begin to taper off in north Louisiana as we go into the evening hours, but Hemmingway says don’t put away the umbrella too quick.

Cut 15 (10)  “…after seven o’clock.”

_________________________________________________

Former Rummel star Chandler Fields has beat out Ben Wooldridge for starting quarterback duties at U-L Lafayette. Cajuns Coach Michael Desormeaux says Fields gives them the best chance to win….

Cut 16 (19)  “…operating it.”

Fields has been with the Cajuns since 2019. Wooldridge transferred to U-L after appearing in five games at Fresno State in 2020 as a sophomore. Desormeaux says Wooldridge took the news hard that he would not start the season opener against Southeastern Louisiana…

Cut 17 (20) “..keep competing” 

_______________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech plans to start TCU transfer, Matthew Downing,

at Q-B when the Bulldogs open the season at Missouri a week from Thursday. Downing beat out Parker McNeil. Downing says there are no hard feelings between him and McNeil…

Cut  18 (15)“…lot of fun.”

Downing played for head coach Sonny Cumbie in 2020, when Cumbie was the offensive coordinator for the Horned Frogs. Before that Downing was at Georgia….

 Cut 19 (23) “…play this year” 

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre suffered a medical emergency overnight and is currently under a physician’s care. The news was posted on the department’s Facebook page, and a spokesperson for the office says his family is requesting privacy and no visitors so he can rest. His health condition will be addressed at a later date.

Baton Rouge state Representative Larry Selders is charged with DWI, reckless operation, and driving under suspension after he was busted over the weekend speeding and doing burnouts near the LSU campus. State Trooper Christian Reed…:

Cut 10 (10) “..was subsequently arrested.” 

State Police declined to say why Selders had a suspended license. Selders has since issued a written statement of apology.

Data from the CDC and FBI indicate the homicide rate for rural Louisiana in 2020 was just under 17 per 100 thousand people. Almost three times higher than the national average. LSU Health New Orleans Criminologist, Peter Scharf says the federal government needs to assist with funding to address the immediate issue and we also need to think about long-term solutions.

Cut 8 (07) “…their kids.”

The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch through tomorrow night. National Weather Service meteorologist Davyon Hill says a stalled frontal boundary has set up over the I-20 corridor…:

Cut 3 (10) “…24 to 48 hours” 

Hill says four to six inches is likely across the area, but there’s the potential for as much as eight inches for some areas.