The U.S. House is scheduled to vote this week on a Senate-approved one-trillion-dollar infrastructure bill. Louisiana Secretary of Transportation Shawn Wilson says the bill will be a boon to Louisiana’s road & bridge needs and he’s encouraged it received bipartisan support in the Senate.

Cut 4 (10) “…generations and decades.”

Some schools in Lafourche Parish reopen today for the first time since Hurricane Ida. Lafourche school superintendent Jarod Martin says some schools are still not ready to re-open, so many students will attend classes at a different school…

Cut 12 (12) “…Meadow Lower Elementary.”
If you’ve had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago and you’re 65 and older, or 18 and older with an underlying health condition, or either work and/or live in a high-risk setting you are eligible. In an effort to remove any barriers State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says you only need to self-attest for the booster shot and there’s no need for a prescription.

Cut 8 (09) “…before.”

Healthy Blue and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System are offering a scholarship program to help healthcare students complete their degrees. LCTCS Spokesperson Quinton Taylor says even students on a full-tuition scholarship can have difficulty paying for supplies.

Cut 13 (12) “…coming back.”

The U.S. House is scheduled to vote this week on a Senate-approved one-trillion-dollar infrastructure bill. Louisiana Secretary of Transportation Shawn Wilson says the bill’s passage will mean about $6-billion for Louisiana infrastructure projects. That’s over a billion more than the state would normally get in federal funds over five years. He says passing the bill will mean real progress for Louisiana.

Cut 6 (13) “…can invest in”

Some kids in the Lafourche Parish school system will head back to classes today, but not all. Superintendent Jarod Martin indicates it’s a bit of a Rubik’s Cube initiative getting at least some of the schools back open after the devastation from Ida and some buildings just aren’t ready for students to come back.

Cut 11 (07) “…to be sharing.”

Booster shots are now available for some who received two doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine at least six months ago. LDH says those who are 65 and older, along with those 18 and older with an underlying health condition, or those who live or work in a high-risk setting are eligible. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says while boosters are significant, they will not end the pandemic.

Cut 7 (08) “…be vaccinated.”

Healthy Blue and Louisiana Community and the Technical College System are offering a scholarship program to help healthcare students complete their degrees and pay for supplies. LCTCS Spokesperson Quinton Taylor says to apply visit LCTCS.edu and look for the Healthy Blue Scholarship link.

Cut 15 (12)  “…spring semester.”

There were several tense exchanges during a Joint Medicaid Oversite Committee meeting Friday where River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot questioned Louisiana Department of Health Attorney Stephen Russo about nursing home evacuation plans. The meeting came weeks after hundreds of nursing home residents were crammed into a Tangipahoa Parish warehouse resulting in several deaths

Cut 12 (12) “….anywhere there.”  

A north Larose neighborhood that endured a ten-foot storm surge is dealing with almost a foot of sludge and standing water. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says the Industrial Park neighborhood was inundated with muck and mud from marsh waters that made it over the levees.

Cut 3 (06) “…in the back.”

He says crews are working in the neighborhood to assist with the mud.

Organizations including Schoolplies are working to help kids get back in school after Hurricane Ida’s devastation in parishes that include Terrebonne and Lafourche.  CEO Allie Casey says, that in partnership with the United Way of South Louisiana, hundreds of school supply kits will be given away this Sunday

Cut 9 (12) “…back to school” 

The weekend event will take place Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fletcher Technical Community College.

LSU AgCenter experts say the state’s agriculture industry suffered at least 584-million dollars in damages as a result of Hurricane Ida. Economist Kurt Guidry says about 139-thousand acres of sugarcane are projected to have somewhat lower yields due to storm damage. He says much of the affected sugarcane is recovering, but it will come at a price…

Cut 7 (07) “…35-million dollars”  

At a Joint Medicaid Oversite Committee meeting today River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot questioned Louisiana Department of Health Attorney Stephen Russo about who approves nursing home evacuation plans submitted to the department, weeks after a mass evacuation of Bob Dean nursing home patients to a Tangipahoa warehouse that’s now resulted in 15 deaths.

Cut 12 (12) “….anywhere there.”  

LDH has pulled the licenses from the seven Bob Dean Nursing homes. LDH along with Bob Dean are also facing litigation.

Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says after posting his frustration on social media he’s now getting feedback from FEMA on housing for residents.

Cut 4 (08) “…long-term housing.”

The LSU AgCenter estimates Hurricane Ida produced 584-million dollars in damages to the state’s agriculture industry. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (33) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

A federal grand jury indicts a former Monroe area State Trooper for excessive force in the May 2019 roadside beating of arrestee Aaron Bowman. Jacob Brown’s bodycam footage shows him striking Bowman 18 or more times with his MagLite. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s important to remember a federal indictment is not for committing a violent crime.

Cut 13 (09) “…jurisdiction over that.”

There are 25-thousand people living in hotels paid for by FEMA because their homes are currently uninhabitable due to Hurricane Ida. Governor John Bel Edwards says they are waiting on a final decision from FEMA on the next steps for temporary housing…

Cut 8 (09) “…and barges?”
Edwards hopes FEMA will make these announcements very soon.

Thousands of Louisiana National Guard members are still on the job helping victims of Ida in the southeast coastal communities. Spokesperson Noel Collins tells us what some of the citizen-soldiers are doing to assist in the recovery.

Cut 10 (09)  “…generator support missions.” 

Louisiana State Police are taking part in this Saturday’s national program to check child passenger seats. Sergeant James Anderson says the event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon and the National Seat Check is being held in nine locations around the state. Anderson says the focus will be on helping participants with the proper installation of a child seat.

Cut 5 (12) “…to be installed.”

The Louisiana National Guard is still busy at work helping those victimized by Hurricane Ida almost four weeks ago.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

To handle the large call volume, the Department of Children and Family Services says they are extending DSNAP call hours today and tomorrow from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm  Go to their website to see if it is the week for your parish to call in.

Hurricane Ida left an estimated eight thousand homes unlivable and some of those individuals are living in tents and rubble where their homes once stood. Thousands of others are displaced. Governor John Bel Edwards says his administration is pushing FEMA to speed up the decision-making on long-term housing for these individuals…

Cut 7 (09) “…available to that.”

A federal grand jury indicts a former Monroe area State Trooper Jacob Brown for excessive force in the May 2019 roadside beating of arrestee Aaron Bowman. Legal Tim Analyst Meche says this is an example of how body cameras can lead to better transparency. He says Brown’s defense has its work cut out for it.

Cut 15 (13)  “…gonna be the key.”

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is taking the state’s GOP congressional members to task. He said they voted earlier this week against a continuing resolution to keep the government running with a higher debt ceiling, even though the legislation included 28-billion-dollars in emergency relief for Louisiana and elsewhere.

Cut 12 (09) “….all against it”  

Governor Edwards reports from his DC trip to secure disaster funding. He says the main focus of this trip is to gain funding for unmet housing needs after the 2020 hurricanes and while there he’s also laying the foundation for Ida needs.

Cut 5 (08) “…Louisiana.”

The governor has been meeting with decision-makers since Monday and today is his last day in DC.

Hurricane Ida delivered another devastating blow to the state’s seafood industry. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The St. Tammany Parish coroner’s office confirms the remains found in an alligator’s stomach are those of Timothy Satterlee Sr, who was last seen in a death roll with an alligator as he was walking in knee high water on his property the day after Ida made landfall. His wife went to get help because she couldn’t call 9-1-1 after the storm with phone lines down and when she returned his body, and the alligator were gone, weeks later the gator was located and killed.

Governor Edwards reports from his DC trip to secure disaster funding. He says the main focus of this trip is to gain funding for unmet housing needs after the 2020 hurricanes and while there he’s also laying the foundation for Ida needs.

Cut 5 (08) “…Louisiana.”

The governor has been meeting with decision-makers since Monday and today is his last day in DC

The DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson says the I-10 Calcasieu Bridge is closed after a vehicle fire last night. He suspects damage was confined mostly to the deck of the bridge compared to an earlier fire near the 310.

Cut 10 (08)  “…burn as long” 

The bridge will remain closed pending inspection.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins isn’t happy with talks on Capitol Hill about money proposed for hurricane disaster aid to Louisiana and hiking the federal debt limit.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says the I-10 Calcasieu Bridge is closed to traffic after a vehicle fire last night.

Cut 9 (12) “…as we speak” 

The bridge will remain closed pending an inspection. Meanwhile, DOTD has temporarily opened two lanes to I-10 East to the East flyover ramp and two lanes to the I-210 eastbound to the I-10 westbound flyover to ease congestion.

Governor Edwards reports from his DC trip that legislation for disaster relief the nation has been introduced in both chambers. He says there’s significant help in the bills for housing needs and others as well.

Cut 4 (12) “…grant portion.”

The 16-year-old driver of a fatal crash that killed two teens in Madisonville last month has been arrested after a toxicology report came back indicating she was under the influence during the crash. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Captain Lance Vitter says the driver faces numerous charges for the August 4th single-car crash.
Cut 13 (09) “…seriously injured.”

The State Department of Education launches the Reimagine School Systems Program.  Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley says a 35-million-dollar grant will improve student access to high-quality schools and the grant money will be divided up among those chosen for the program, with no funding limit in place.

Cut 6 (o9) “…any individual idea”

Designated schools will receive technical assistance in implementing their plan and financial resources to fund it.

Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins opposes a proposal to raise the federal debt ceiling by about 15 trillion dollars. He says it’s not something he’s about to vote in favor of, even though he did during the Trump administration. Higgins says he draws the line at increasing the nation’s debt limit.

Cut 8 (11) “…increase the debt limit.”

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is traveling to Ida impacted areas this week to see what changes need to be made for election sites that were damaged. If you’re a displaced voter who might not be in back in your hometowns to vote, Ardoin says you can either show up at your polling location for early voting or on election days…

Cut 12 (11) “…that online.”

For more info visit the Secretary of State’s website.

The 16-year-old driver of a fatal crash that killed two teens in Madisonville August 4^th has been arrested after a toxicology report came back indicating she was under the influence. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Captain Lance Vitter says speed was also a factor in the tragic Guste Island Road crash that killed two 16-year old girls and severely injured another.

Cut 14 (07)  “…an arrest.”

The Louisiana Department of Education launches what it’s calling the Reimagine School Systems Program.  Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley says it’s being funding by a 35-million-dollar grant to improve student access to high-quality schools. Recipients will receive funding and technical assistance to implement their plan.

Cut 5 (09) “…that they deserve.”

Brumley says the grant money will be divided up among those chosen for the program.