11:30 LRN Newscast

The United Cajun Navy says Hurricane Ian is comparable to Katrina. Spokesperson Brian Trascher says overnight they assisted with more than two dozen rescues in the Ft. Myers area and their work is far from over.
Cut 6 (09) “…help we can get”
There are about 20 to 25 United Cajun Navy members from the Florida chapter conducting rescue efforts and Trascher says more members are en route to assist.

Nearly 250 Louisiana National Guard soldiers have been deployed to Florida. Lt. Colonel William Saint says they are trained to respond to a variety of events…
cut 11 (11) “…civil authorities”
The Department of Children and Family Services is sending a shelter taas force to Florida and there’s also a hazard incident management team from the State Fire Marshal’s office en route.

Tulane University has received a five million dollar federal grant to see if sand from crushed bottles can be used in coastal restoration projects. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”

LSU says it’s freshman class has set a record for academic quality, with an all-time high median GPA of 3.78 and an ACT composite of 25.5. The school says about one-third of the freshman class are first-generation college students. Also, overall enrollment has set a new all-time high of 37,354.