US Representative Garret Graves of Baton Rouge expressed his frustration over FEMA’s response to the devastating flooding during a Congressional hearing on Capitol Hill this morning. Graves says the federal agency could be doing more and was baffled on why the director of FEMA was not at this meeting…
cut 4 (08) “…here today”
Florida Congressman John Mica toured the flood damage with Graves and expressed concern over the slow rollout of manfufactured homes for displaced residents.

President Barack Obama has announced the federal government will increase its cost-share for flood relief efforts in Louisiana from 75-percent to 90-percent. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the match also extends to local governments…:
Cut 15 (08) “25-percent level”
Governor Edwards is still seeking two-billion dollars in his aid for his state.

A Hineston man was killed in a crash after ignoring construction zone warnings. State Trooper Scott Moreau says 61-year-old Kenneth Keele was driving a Jeep Liberty down the middle of Highway 461 in Rapides Parish when a flagman attempted to have him slow down.
CUT 7 (12) “excavator”
Keele was pronounced dead at the scene on Thursday afternoon, while the driver of the excavator was not injured.

KNOE-TV reports that two ambulances were shot at while traveling through Sicily Island in Catahoula Parish last night. Both ambulances were damaged from what appears to be gun shots, but no one was injured. An investigation is ongoing.

Tonight, former LSU star Shaquille O’ Neal is inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.