The Restore Louisiana Task Force is discussing how to spend the 438-million dollars the state has received so far from the federal government. Baton Rouge Congressman Garrett Graves says the task force needs to develop specific areas that need disaster funding, like home repair and mental health. He says it will be easier to get federal dollars approved if Congress understands where it will go.
Cut 11 (10) “next request”

A 12-year-old and a 14-year-old have been arrested for vandalizing more than 50 graves and smashing urns in an Independence Cemetery. President of the Colonial Cemetery Association Vincent Spitale says all the name plates were broken and the doors will have to be replaced. He says he wishes he could understand why the teens did a heinous act like this…
Cut 13 (03) “from it”

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has charged the teens with multiple counts of criminal damage to property, desecration of a grave and simple burglary.

 
LSU will have to play without one of their starting safeties tomorrow when the Tigers take on Southern Miss. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says senior Rickey Jefferson suffered a major leg injury and junior John Battle will take is spot. Coach O says the who team is ready to play after an unexpected week off and the death of school’s live mascot.
Cut 16 (12) “Saturday night.”

The Louisiana Department of Health announces there are now 34 confirmed cases of Zika in the state. All of the cases so far are travel related. There have been no reported cases of the virus being locally transmitted. L-D-H also confirms there have been 20 cases of West Nile virus. 17 of those cases were neuroinvasive, 10 were fever, and three were asymptomatic. There have been no deaths linked to West Nile in Louisiana in 2016.