Cleanup and recovery continues in the coastal parishes. In Terrebonne Parish, President Jason Bergeron (BAA-zher-on) says one of the biggest challenges is that power poles are in hard to reach areas such as marshes and swamps.

Cut 6 (09) “…and those lines.”

Bergeron says they also had to take time to document the damage, including taking pictures, for FEMA so that the parish can be promptly reimbursed.

As of noon today, 114-thousand utility customers are without power. Entergy of Louisiana Vice President of Customer of Service Michelle Bourg says in Assumption, Terrebonne and Lafourche, full restoration will take a few days.

Cut 5 (08) “…two to three days.”

Points of distribution areas have opened in Morgan City, Houma, Montegu, Chauvin and Schrieber. Residents without power can get meals, bottled water and ice at these locations. Go to emergency.la.gov for exact locations.

Second Harvest Food Bank is mobilizing to address the immediate needs of communities in parishes impacted by Hurricane Francine. The organization has provided food, water, and essential supplies to those affected by the storm. President and CEO Natalie Jayroe says Second Harvest aims to ensure that necessities reach those in need as quickly as possible.

Cut 10 (09) “…lives back together.”

Hurricane Francine spared southwest Louisiana so in Lake Charles, they are getting ready for a big football game between McNeese and Stephen F Austin. Cowboys Coach Gary Goff on the S-F-A defense…

Cut 14 (16) “…protection”

Kick off is at 7 PM. LSU will play at South Carolina at 11 AM.

Entergy Louisiana crews are working around the clock to restore power as quickly as possible. VP of Customer Service Michelle Bourg (BORG) says crews are especially making progress in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas.

Cut 4 (12) “…restored before then.”

In the coastal parishes, full restoration will likely take a couple more days.

Governor Landry, Senator John Kennedy and others took a helicopter tour of Terrebonne Parish to survey the damage left behind by Hurricane Francine. Afterwards, Landry said one purpose is to come up with ways to improve coordination with federal partners like FEMA.

Cut 10 (09) “…some weak links.”

Landry says while damage was extensive, it would have been much worse had investments in hurricane safety not been made years earlier.

A Ruston elementary school PE teacher is under arrest after allegedly threatening a third-grade class. Union Parish Sheriff’s Investigators say 70-year-old Robert Mitcham became angry and told the kids he had a gun and would use it. The sheriff’s office says while Mitcham maintains that he wasn’t genuinely threatening the kids, they must take threats seriously – even though it is usually students who make threats and unfortunately, act on them.

The 16th ranked LSU football team kicks off SEC play on Saturday by facing a confident South Carolina squad, coming off a 31-to-6 road win against Kentucky. Tigers Coach Brian Kelly expects the Gamecocks to use their run game to move the ball down the field…

Cut 13 (12) “…early on.” 

It’s an early kick in Columbia as this one gets underway at 11 a.m.

Just over 120-thousand customers are without power from Hurricane Francine. Entergy Louisiana Vice President of Customer Service Michelle Bourg (BORG) says with manpower quadrupled, crews have been very effective thus far.

Cut 3 (15) “…Hurricane Francine’s landfall.”

Bourg says residents in St Bernard, St. Martin and Plaquemines Parish should be restored today.

The Federal Highway Administration is sending the state an additional 104 million dollars that will help the state pay for construction projects that have gone over budget because of inflation. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says 22-million dollars will go to the I-10 rehab project in Acadia Parish…

Cut 6 (06) “…thousands of people”

A Downsville Community Charter School PE teacher was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening a third-grade class. Union Parish Sheriff’s Investigators say 70-year-old Robert Mitcham became angry and told students he had bullets for his gun, and he would bring it to the school and shoot, adding, some of the students would not survive. Sheriff Dusty Gates…

Cut 13 (12)  “…Ruston, Louisiana.”

Mitchem told the authorities he was overwhelmed and wanted to say something to settle the children down.

LSU is at South Carolina tomorrow. The Tigers have yet to get their run game on track, but offensive tackle Emery Jones says it continues to be a point of emphasis

Cut 16 (11)   “…better at it”

Kick off is at 11 AM.

Governor Landry, Senator John Kennedy and others took a helicopter tour of Terrebonne Parish to survey the damage left behind by Hurricane Francine. Senator Kennedy reiterated to those affected by the storm that the state will get the federal money that it’s entitled to under President Biden’s emergency declaration.

Cut 12 (07) “…worry about that.”

Morgan City was hit especially hard by Francine. Franklin Senator Robert Allain says the cooperation of all agencies greatly mitigated the damage.

Cut 9 (09)  “…fund that program.”

Allain says the rain was coming down so hard and so fast there that there was no way that the pumps in the area could keep up. The pumps are designed to stop working when rainfall exceeds ten inches. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna and a group of volunteers secured two pumps to spare one neighborhood near Lake Palourde of any major flooding..

A Ruston elementary school PE teacher is under arrest after allegedly threatening a third-grade class. Union Parish Sheriff’s Investigators say 70-year-old Robert Mitcham became angry and told the kids he had a gun and would use it. Sheriff Dusty Gates says they must take threats seriously.

Cut 15 (06) “…this way.”

Mitcham has also been barred from the campus.

DOTD is awarded $104 million in redistributed funds by the Federal Highway Administration. DOTD Spokesman Rodney Mallet says the money will help pay for new roadways, bridges, and other large essential projects.

Cut 5 (10) “…funding.”

This redistribution occurs annually, allocating unused federal funds from other states to those that have met certain requirements and can use the funds efficiently.

Hurricane Franciene left behind damage, but it could have been worse. During a press conference in Terrebonne Parish. Governor Jeff Landry credited the millions of dollars in federal and state investments into hurricane and flood protection…

Cut 11 (18) “…in this area”

State and local officials also acted as the storm was approaching. Franklin Senator Robert Allain says Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna and a group of volunteers secured two pumps to spare the Lakeside subdivision near Lake Palourde of any major flooding.

Cut 8 (09) “…into Lake Palourde.”

In the River Parishes, an estimated 300 homes were flooded as nine inches of rain fell in St. Charles Parish.

The state has received an additional 104-million-dollars in federal funds as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s annual redistribution of unused federal transportation dollars. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A Lafayette businessman was killed in a plane crash yesterday morning. The private aircraft went down on the golf course at Oakbourne Country Club, shortly after takeoff from Lafayette Regional Airport. The owner of Manuel Companies, Greg Manuel, was the lone occupant and died in the crash.

The cleanup from Hurricane Franciene will be extensive in places like Morgan City, where landfall was 30 miles south of the St. Mary Parish city. Franklin Senator Robert Allain says the rain was coming down so hard and so fast that there was no way the pumps could keep up.

Cut 7 (12) “…over 20 inches.”

St. Mary Parish President Sam Jones says Francine was not a massive storm, but it will force many homeowners to repair their roofs and fences.

Governor Jeff Landry along with other state officials surveyed the damage in Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary parishes by airplane yesterday. Landry says they were joined by FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell…

Cut 10 (09) “…some weak links”

The biggest need right now is power for those who do not have electricity, 123-thousand customers are without power. The P-S-C says at the storm’s peak there were 450-thousand people in Louisiana.

A Downsville Community Charter School teacher has been arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot a group of third graders. Colleen Crain has the details…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Avoyelles Parish Courthouse was evacuated yesterday after a Florida man entered the building with fake plastic guns, carrying packages and bags and wearing items to cover his face. It turned out he did not have any explosives. Avoyelles Parish Sheriff deputies say Jaymes Baker of Mulberry, Florida is upset with civil proceedings in a child custody matter.

125-thousand utility customers remain without power because of Hurricane Francine. It could be until Monday before the power comes back on for some customers in Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes. But residents and businesses in St. Bernard, St, Martin and Plaquemines should get their power back today.

Morgan City and surrounding areas have an extensive cleanup ahead of them. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A P-E teacher at Downsville Community Charter School in Union Parish has been arrested after he allegedly got angry with several third-grade students and threatened to shoot them. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates says 70-year-old Robert Mitcham of Ruston admitted to deputies he got overwhelmed and wanted the children to settle down…

cut 14 (06″…very lightly”

Gates says as part of his bond Mitcham is barred from returning to Downsville Community Charter School.

DOTD has been awarded $104 million in redistributed federal funds by the Federal Highway Administration. This redistribution occurs annually, allocating unused federal dollars from other states to those that have met certain requirements and can use the money efficiently. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says the dollars will be distributed throughout the state
cut 4 (07) “…areas too”

The state has received an additional 104-million-dollars in federal funds as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s annual redistribution of unused federal transportation dollars. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

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Morgan City and the surrounding areas have a more extensive cleanup task ahead of them. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

A Downsville Community Charter School teacher has been arrested for allegedly threatening a classroom of third graders. Colleen Crain has the details…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

_____________________________________________

DOTD has been awarded $104 million in redistributed federal funds by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This redistribution occurs annually, allocating unused federal funds from other states to those that have met certain requirements and can use the funds efficiently. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says the money will help pay for new roadways, bridges, and other large essential projects…

Cut 4 (09) “…those areas too.”

This year’s redistribution will allow the DOTD to continue making progress on projects that aim to reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety, and promote efficient transportation. Mallett says the funds are needed due to inflationary pressures…

Cut 5 (10) “…funding.”

Mallett emphasized the importance of these additional funds in accelerating critical projects that will enhance the state’s transportation network. The funding will contribute to existing and future infrastructure projects, Like the larger I-10 rehab in Acadia Parish for over $22 million.

Cut 6 (11) …thousands of people.”

This amount represents the second largest allocation ever received by DOTD, only surpassed by last year’s record funding of 210-million-dollars.

__________________________________________________

Cleanup will be an extensive process in places like Morgan City, which was hit especially hard by Francine. Franklin Senator Robert Allain says the rain was coming down so hard and so fast there that there was no way that the pumps in the area could keep up.

Cut 7 (12) “…over 20 inches.”

Some neighborhoods, however, were spared major damage. Senator Allain says Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna and a group of volunteers secured two spare pumps to spare the Lakeside subdivision near Lake Palourde of any major flooding.

Cut 8 (09) “…into Lake Palourde.”

Allain says he was very impressed with how well all agencies worked with one another.

Cut 9 (09)  “…fund that program.”

The storm ripped down power lines, leaving nearly the entire area in the dark.

_____________________________________________________

Governor Landry, Senator John Kennedy and others took a helicopter tour of Terrebonne Parish to survey the damage left behind by Hurricane Francine. Afterwards, Landry said one purpose is to come up with ways to improve coordination with federal partners like FEMA.

Cut 10 (09) “…some weak links.”

Landry says while damage was extensive, it would have been much worse had investments in hurricane safety not been made years earlier.

Cut 11 (18) “…in this area.”

Senator Kennedy reiterated to those affected by the storm that the state will get the federal money that it’s entitled to under President Biden’s emergency declaration.

Cut 12 (07) “…worry about that.”

Kennedy also expressed his appreciation for FEMA’s cooperation during and after the storm.

_____________________________________________________

A Downsville Community Charter School PE teacher was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening a third-grade class. Union Parish Sheriff’s Investigators say 70-year-old Robert Mitcham became angry and told students he had bullets for his gun, and he would bring it to the school and shoot, adding, some of the students would not survive. Sheriff Dusty Gates…

Cut 13 (12)  “…Ruston, Louisiana.”

A parent of one of the frightened students reported the incident to the Union Parish Sheriff’s office Tuesday. Mitchem told authorities he was overwhelmed and wanted the children to settle down. He said he wasn’t threatening them, but Gates says the arrest was appropriate.

Cut 14 (12) “…terrorizing.”

Gates says they must take threats seriously though it is usually students who make threats and unfortunately, act on them.

Cut 15 (06) “…this way.”

_______________________________________________

LSU will leave for South Carolina today as the Tigers will kick-off SEC play on Saturday against the Gamecocks. LSU has yet to get its run game on track, but offensive tackle Emery Jones says it’s a point of emphasis

Cut 16 (11)   “…better at it”

This is a big game for the Tigers. They can not afford to start the season 1-and-2 and lose their conference opener. Jones says every game is a pivotal one..

Cut 17 (18) “…win a game”

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Louisiana Tech looks to knock off  a Power Four school when it visits North Carolina State at 11 AM. The Wolfpack are led by quarterback Grayson McCall, who was a dominant signal caller in the Sun Belt when he played at Coastal Carolina. Bulldogs coach Sonny Cumbie says this McCall’s fifth year playing college football…

Cut 18 (16)  “…sums thatup.”

N-C State also features a talented receiver in K-C Concepion. Cumbie is interested to see how his defense matches up with last year’s A-C-C Rookie of the Year…

Cut 19 (19) “….different ways”