Today is a somber day. The 20^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The costliest natural disaster in the country’s history, claiming 18-hundred lives. Jeff Palermo has more on one of Louisiana’s worst days.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Gas prices for this Labor Day weekend are the lowest they’ve been since 2020. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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The rescue effort in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was practically nonexistent. Andrew Greenstein spoke with the man who single-handedly brought order to a chaotic situation.

Cut 3 (45) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Today is the 20^th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the darkest days in Louisiana history. Bob Mann was the communications director for Governor Kathleen Blanco; and at first, they thought Katrina only produced wind damage. But then, reports came in of rising water.

Cut 4 (12) “…somewhere.”

Katrina produced catastrophic flooding, not only in New Orleans, but also in Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes. Once the storm passed, the mission was to get thousands of stranded people, some of them living on rooftops, out of the flooded waters and onto dry land. Mann says the federal government was not much help.

Cut 5 (09) “…too late.”

Blanco took a lot of criticism for the state’s response to Katrina. It was a major factor in her decision not to run for re-election. Mann says there was certainly failures at all levels of government, but FEMA’s role was to provide federal resources to states dealing with a disaster, but that didn’t happen.

Cut 6 (13) “…sent in.”

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Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm in Plaquemines Parish at 6:10 in the morning on this date. Katrina produced catastrophic flooding. Saint Bernard Parish had widespread flooding and devastation, and current Parish President Louis Pomes (Louie POE-mez) was an employee of the parish at the time.

Cut 7 (09) “…of tears.”

Pomes was amazed at how fast the water rose as a result of breaches in the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet.

Cut 8 (12) “…as it was pushing.”

He says the population of St. Bernard pre-Katrina was 70-thousand, now it’s 48-thousand.

Pomes says St. Bernard wouldn’t be where it is today without the spirit of the parish’s residents and federal money.

Cut 9 (15)  “…billion dollars recovery.”

Pomes credits local leaders for using the federal recovery dollars wisely. Not only rebuilding schools, hospitals and the sewer system, but also providing new amenities for its residents , like a skate park, dog park and bike paths.

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This is the lowest gas prices have been for a Labor Day weekend in five years. Triple-A’s Don Redman says the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.79, which is 20 cents lower than a year ago. Redman says motorists are enjoying the lowest price at the pump in five years, despite a slight increase over the last week.

Cut 10 (08) “…Labor Day weekend.”

Redman says once we move into September, he expects prices to decline again.

Cut 11 (10) “…rule that out.”

Redman says as long as there is not a disruption in the supply of gasoline, he believes gas prices will be around $2.50 or possibly by the end of September. He says the price of crude oil is why the price at the pump is well below three dollars.

Cut 12 (08) “…64 dollars.”

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If you could sum up the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in one word, “chaos” would be quite appropriate. With most of New Orleans underwater, people were left stranded for days, with no indication of when help would arrive. Needing a strong federal response, they designated Lieutenant General Russel Honoré as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, and he immediately took charge of the rescue effort. General Honoré says he does not blame local officials for the initial response.

Cut 13 (12)  “…a real disaster.”

Honoré said he would have liked to have been in New Orleans earlier, but the city had flooded so badly that he and other members of the National Guard had no way of getting into the city – and, in effect, they had no way of getting people out.

Cut 14 (15) “…bus people out.”

One of the lasting images of Honoré during the immediate aftermath of Katrina is of him shouting to police officers, “weapons down, dammit!” Honoré says those officers were acting on orders from Governor Kathleen Blanco to shoot anyone they found looting. Honoré said he told Blanco to rescind that order.

Cut 15 (09) “…can’t do that.”

A three-star general, Honoré retired from the Army in 2008 and continues to serve as a consultant on disaster preparedness.

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LSU junior linebacker Harold Perkins returns to the field after missing most of the 2024 season with a torn ACL. Perkins decided to come back to LSU and build up his stock, playing in the STAR position. Perkins says he likes how the position allows him to showcase his pass rush abilities as well as his pass coverage.

Cut 16 (13) “…my versatility.”

LSU senior wide receiver Chris Hilton Jr. returns as the longest tenured receiver on the unit. Hilton’s LSU career has stalled due to multiple injuries, but he says he is thankful to be finally be healthy. Hilton says he is looking forward to showcasing what he is made of this season.

Cut 17 (17)  “…for Saturday.”

LSU linebacker Whit Weeks grew up only an hour away from Clemson, South Carolina but has never been to Clemson’s campus. Weeks says he is looking forward to playing in such a hostile environment.

Cut 18 (12) “…excited to go.”

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UL-Lafayette kicks off its season on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Rice. Head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says that he wants starting quarterback Walker Howard to play free while trusting his offense.

Cut 19 (17) “….chance to win.”

The Cajuns defense will be tasked with countering a triple option offensive attack from Rice. Desormeaux said Rice’s offensive attack will be a good first test for the Cajuns.

Cut 20 (16) “…are at.”

State Police are looking for the driver who hit and killed a woman walking along an I-10 frontage road in Jefferson Davis Parish. Trooper Peggy Bourque says the incident at around one yesterday afternoon claimed the life of 53-year-old Bonnie Fontenot of Jennings, who had previously been reported missing.

Cut 12 (11) “…at the scene.”

Tomorrow marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina came crashing ashore, altering life in South Louisiana forever. At that time, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser was a private citizen who rode out the storm at his home in Plaquemines Parish. Nungesser helped rescue 30 people by airboat.

Cut 7 (13) “…luckily, she did.”

The state department of education will use five million dollars in federal money to tutor more students struggling in literacy or math. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Hearts are heavy at Louisiana Public Broadcasting, as one of its on-air personalities died unexpectedly. Dorothea Wilson, who co-anchored and reported for Louisiana: The State We’re In, passed away Tuesday at the age of 42. Wilson was originally from New Orleans and joined LPB last September to be closer to family.

A six-year-old girl is recovering after being shot in Lafayette over the weekend. Lafayette Police Detective Ken Handy says fortunately, the girl will survive.

Cut 3 (05) “…condition has stabilized.”

Two suspects are under arrest. Daylon Andrus was initially arrested and was booked on a charge of attempted second-degree murder. This morning, Ja Andrea Kentrell Willis was arrested in Beaumont, Texas.

State Police are looking for the driver who hit and killed a woman walking along an I-10 frontage road in Jefferson Davis Parish. Trooper Peggy Bourque says the incident at around one yesterday afternoon claimed the life of 53-year-old Bonnie Fontenot of Jennings, who had previously been reported missing.

Cut 12 (11) “…at the scene.”

Bourque says at this time, the exact circumstances of the crash are still unclear.

Back in August of 2005, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser was a private citizen who rode out Hurricane Katrina at his home in Plaquemines Parish. Nungesser says what he experienced that day are things he will never forget.

Cut 6 (13) “…would ever see.”

The Louisiana Department of Education is investing five million dollars into the Steve Carter Tutoring program, which will result in more students receiving high dosage tutoring. Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jenna Chiasson says it offers digital vouchers to eligible families who have students in need of high-quality tutoring.

Cut 10 (10) “…our list.”

Now in its third year, the program has a waitlist of eight-thousand students.

Tomorrow marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina came crashing ashore, altering life in South Louisiana forever. At that time, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser was a private citizen who rode out the storm at his home in Plaquemines Parish. Nungesser helped rescue 30 people by airboat.

Cut 7 (13) “…luckily, she did.”

While parts of New Orleans have never recovered, the Superdome was repaired and reopened about a year later. Doug Thornton, who was the general manager of the dome at the time, says Governor Kathleen Blanco was feeling pressure from the public to use federal dollars to rebuild hospitals, schools, roads and bridges.

Cut 12 (11) “…could be built.”

The state department of education will use five million dollars in federal money to tutor more students struggling in literacy or math. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

You have until a week from Saturday to claim your state tax refund before that money goes into the state’s unclaimed property. Currently, the state has almost 13-million dollars in uncashed tax refunds. Remember, even if that money goes in unclaimed property, it still belongs to the taxpayer, and it always will.

We now know how 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez died.

Cut 13 (14)  “…then subsequently drowned.”

Vasquez was discovered missing on August 14th, and his body was found in a nearby lagoon 12 days later. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says she has formerly requested that LDWF eradicate nuisance alligators from that lagoon, and that work started yesterday afternoon.

A six-year-old girl is recovering after being shot in Lafayette over the weekend. Lafayette Police Detective Ken Handy says fortunately, the girl will survive.

Cut 3 (05) “…condition has stabilized.”

Two suspects are under arrest. Daylon Andrus was initially arrested and was booked on a charge of attempted second-degree murder. This morning, Ja Andrea Kentrell Willis was arrested in Beaumont, Texas.

Twenty years ago, people arrived for work on Friday morning, not thinking that Hurricane Katrina was going to upend their lives that Monday. That’s because Katrina’s original track had it making landfall over Pensacola, Florida. During the day, the track greatly shifted west, catching everyone completely off-guard. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says technology has evolved since then — and so has hurricane forecasting. 

Cut 7 (08) “…of the storm.”

While parts of the city never recovered, the Superdome was repaired and reopened about a year later. Doug Thornton, who was the general manager of the dome at the time, says Governor Kathleen Blanco was feeling pressure from the public to use federal dollars to rebuild hospitals, schools, roads and bridges.

Cut 12 (11) “…could be built.”

Twenty years ago, people in New Orleans were caught off-guard by Hurricane Katrina, with forecasters originally predicting it was going to make landfall several hundred miles east. Andrew Greenstein reports technology has evolved since then.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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On this day 20 years ago, New Orleans residents who had no place to go walked into the Superdome to take shelter from Hurricane Katrina. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (43) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Is tonight the night that Northwestern State football wins its first game since November of 2022? Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

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The 90th annual Shrimp and Petroleum Festival gets underway this evening in Morgan City. It’s a celebration of two of Louisiana’s biggest industries; but last year, genetic testing done at five vendors that claimed to be selling local shrimp found that four of them were actually selling imported shrimp. Festival President Charlie Solar Jr. says there will be no such shenanigans this year – all shrimp is required to be domestically caught, and organizers will make sure of that.

Cut 4 (07) “…their shrimp from.”

Solar says there will be several events through Labor Day, including a shrimp cook-off Saturday morning.

Cut 5 (06) “…do the contest.”

There will also be live music and plenty of activities for kids. Solar says the best part is it costs absolutely nothing to get in.

Cut 6 (06) “…a gate charge.”

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Twenty years ago, people left work on Friday afternoon, not thinking that Hurricane Katrina was going to upend their lives that Monday. That’s because back then, Katrina’s original forecast track had it making landfall over Pensacola, Florida. However, a very sudden westward shift in its track brought it over New Orleans instead, causing the widespread destruction that the city is still trying to recover from to this very day. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says technology has evolved in the last two decades — and so has hurricane forecasting.

Cut 7 (08) “…of the storm.”

Keim says they even have drones that fly into the hurricanes that gather more data than the airplanes do. Keim says predicting where the storms go and how strong they will be has also gotten a lot more precise in the last two decades.

Cut 8 (15) “…going to go.”

Keim says another thing forecasters are doing now that they weren’t doing 20 years ago is what’s called ensemble forecasting – essentially doing many runs of a potential hurricane track with very slight variations in the initial conditions.

Cut 9 (15)  “…might potentially happen.”

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Twenty years ago today, thousands of people entered the Superdome to take shelter from Hurricane Katrina, before it destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and took numerous lives. The next morning on August 29^th, Katrina’s fierce winds peeled off sections of the Superdome roof. Doug Thornton was the general manager of the Dome at the time.

Cut 10 (12) “…helpless.”

The helpless feeling would last as it took several days before those who rode out the storm in the Superdome were bused to Houston. A weary Thornton remembers the helicopter ride out of the city and he couldn’t believe the devastation he saw.

Cut 11 (11) “…my home.”

But Thornton would return and led the effort to get the iconic stadium ready for football in September of 2006. He says it was not easy as the repairs were expensive and getting the necessary materials and workers was also difficult.

Thornton gives credit to the late Kathleen Blanco, who was the governor at the time. He says Blanco was feeling pressure from the public to use federal recovery dollars to rebuild damaged hospitals, schools, roads and bridges

Cut 12 (11) “…could be built.”

FEMA, the state of Louisiana and the NFL paid for the repairs to the Dome. Saints fans and many Louisiana residents will tell you it was worth the 336-million-dollar cost as the Saints won their first game back and the franchise had its best season to date, reaching the NFC title game, lifting the spirits of many.

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We now know how 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez died. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick made the announcement during a brief news conference yesterday afternoon.

Cut 13 (14)  “…then subsequently drowned.”

(Bryan Vasquez died from blunt force due to an alligator and subsequently drowned.)

Kirkpatrick says she has formerly requested that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries eradicate nuisance alligators, and that work started yesterday afternoon.

Cut 14 (14) “…was going on.”

Bryan was a nonverbal autistic boy who disappeared from his home on August 14th, 12 days before his body was found. Kirkpatrick says the circumstances surrounding Bryan’s disappearance is ongoing.

Cut 15 (14) “…made aware of.”

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The LSU football team has no shortage of wide receivers this season after bringing in multiple transfers and several key veterans returned. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier says the Tigers will be fun to watch with all the talent around him.

Cut 16 (16) “…the football.”

Some of the weapons that Nussmeier will have on the offensive side are tight ends Bauer Sharp and Trey’Dez Green. Nussmeier says that he believes in both players’ abilities to execute, particularly in the receiving game.

Cut 17 (17)  “…they’re winning.”

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The ULM Warhawks kick off their season tonight against Saint Francis in Monroe. Head coach Bryant Vincent enters his second year with the program and says that his team is in a much better place this time around.

Cut 18 (08) “…the field.”

ULM ranked 128^th out of 133 in passing offense last season, averaging just over 134 yards in the air. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Aidan Armenta will take control of the Warhawks offense. Vincent says that Armenta has all the attributes needed to help the team go far.

Cut 19 (17) “….do it.”

We now know how 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez died. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick made the announcement this afternoon.

Cut 13 (14)  “…then subsequently drowned.”

Bryan’s body was found in a lagoon near the house he disappeared from 12 days earlier. 

A nonprofit organization says a recent study found that only six out of 39 hospitals in Louisiana comply with a 2019 Executive Order calling for greater transparency in pricing and quality of services. Beth Branley, who’s a supporter of Patient-Rights Advocate-dot-org, says if you’re getting surgery at a hospital, get the costs before your visit – and that information should be provided to you….

Cut 11 (11) “…procedure.”

LIV Golf announces that it’s going to play a tournament in New Orleans’ City Park in late June of next year. Among those expected to play is Gulf Coast native Bubba Watson, who says he can’t wait to play in New Orleans.

Cut 8 (08) “…to get here.”

The tournament is expected to support 11-hundred jobs and deliver an estimated 40-million dollars to the local economy.

The mayor of Ruston says he hopes the upcoming Radiance Technologies microchip packaging site will help Louisiana Tech graduates stay in Louisiana. It’s expected to create about 150 jobs with an average salary of about 85-thousand dollars – and Mayor Ronny Walker hopes those jobs will be filled locally.

Cut 4 (10) “…around our country.”

The Orleans Parish coroner says the 12-year-old boy who was found dead 12 days after disappearing from his home died from blunt force trauma caused by an alligator. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says Bryan Vasquez subsequently drowned in a lagoon not too far from his home.

Smitty’s Supply in Roseland is facing at least five lawsuits because of last Friday’s explosion and fire at the oil and lubricant plant. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

LIV Golf is coming to New Orleans. Governor Landry was on hand to announce that the South Course at New Orleans’ City Park will host a LIV Golf tournament June 26th through the 28th of next year. During the announcement, Landry said New Orleans was meant to host a golf tournament like the ones LIV Golf puts on.

Cut 6 (10) “…again and again.”

The course where the tournament will be held is being renovated by former LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman.

The mayor of Ruston is beaming with pride over the announcement that Radiance Technologies is building a microchip packaging site in the city. Mayor Ronny Walker says the company’s arrival will spur future economic development in the city.

Cut 3 (09) “…components of this.”

The facility is expected to be up and running in the summer of 2027.

This just in to the Louisiana Radio Network newsroom – the Orleans Parish Coroner has ruled that the 12-year-old boy found dead yesterday morning died of blunt force caused by an alligator and a subsequent drowning. Bryan Vasquez disappeared from his home on August 14th, and his body was found by the United Cajun Navy yesterday. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says the investigation is still ongoing.

A nonprofit organization says a recent study found that only six out of 39 hospitals in Louisiana comply with a 2019 Executive Order calling for greater transparency in pricing and quality of services. Beth Branley is a supporter of Patient-Rights Advocate-dot-org…

Cut 9 (09)  “…but it’s not.”

The American Hospital Association says hospitals and health systems have invested significant time and resources to comply with the Hospital Price Transparency Rule.

New Orleans will be hosting a LIV Golf tournament in late June of next year. The event announcing the tournament had an atmosphere more akin to WWE wrestling than professional golf, and LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil said fans attending the tournament can expect much of the same.

Cut 7 (08) “…it is fun.”

The event is expected to support 11-hundred jobs and deliver an estimated 40-million dollars to the local economy.

In Ruston, the 2027 opening of the Radiance Technology microchip packaging plant will mean 150 jobs with an average salary of 85-thousand dollars a year. Mayor Ronny Walker says that’s also expected to spur additional businesses coming to the city, and one big challenge with all that is figuring out where all those new employees are going to live.

Cut 5 (07) “…more homes built.”

As an East New Orleans community continues to grieve the death of 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez, the investigation into his death continues. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick says while investigators are not implicating foul play, they’re not ruling it out either.

Cut 4 (10) “…we’ve been told.”

SeaD Consulting continues auditing local restaurants throughout the state which claim to serve Gulf shrimp; and of the 24 it surveyed in Slidell, it found that 21 were telling the truth. Co-founder Dave Williams says it’s more important than ever that people who eat and enjoy shrimp know where their shrimp comes from.

Cut 12 (15) “…job triply important.”

We continue to reflect on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Bobby Jindal represented Louisiana’s first Congressional district when Katrina came ashore leaving much of southeast Louisiana destroyed. Jindal remembers the outpouring of support from regular citizens, but the federal government was slow to react.

Cut 7 (11) “…red tape.”

And the winner is – Spencer Rattler! Saints coach Kellen Moore says Rattler solidified the starting quarterback role after his performances in practice and against the Broncos last Saturday.

Cut 15 (15) “…some games.”