New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell ordered mandatory evacuations for residents in low-lying areas outside of the city’s levee system. Cantrell says those needing to evacuate should do so immediately as storm conditions should reach the city late Saturday. Residents inside the city’s levee system are under voluntary evacuations in preparation for Ida.

Forecasters warn conditions in the Gulf are ripe for Hurricane Ida to rapidly develop into a major hurricane. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (27)…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says get all of your hurricane preparations done today and tomorrow. Steele says Ida will pose a major threat well inland as it moves through Sunday night into Monday morning…

Cut 8 (08) “…power lines come down”

Utility providers are prepping for Ida’s arrival on Sunday and in an effort to restore power as safely and quickly as possible if needed. Vice President of Distribution at Entergy Louisiana John Hawkins Jr says personnel is going through their pre-storm checklists and making sure that additional supplies, including poles, transformers, and other equipment, are on hand.

Cut 13 (07) “…safely.”

Residents should be prepared for the possibility of lengthy outages due to the expected intensity of Ida.

Now Hurricane Ida is projected to be a category three hurricane when it makes landfall sometime late Sunday night but forecasters warn it has the potential to hit category four. The hope is that Ida fizzles out as it approaches the coast, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says right now the trend is in the opposite direction…

Cut 5 (10) “…advisories.”

Utility providers are prepping for Ida’s arrival on Sunday and in an effort to restore power as safely and quickly as possible if needed. Vice President of Distribution at Entergy Louisiana John Hawkins Junior says their crews are on standby and they’ve called on extra contractors to assist.

Cut 12 (09) “…this storm.” 

The National Hurricane Center says Ida has reached hurricane status.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging Louisiana residents to get their preparations done before Ida’s arrival. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The state reports 3,428 new COVID-19 cases today and 61 new fatalities. Hospitalizations have decline, by 45 from the previous day now at 2,684. Hospitalizations are down 315 over the last week.

Soon-to-be Hurricane Ida is projected to be a category three hurricane when it makes landfall sometime late Sunday night but forecasters warn it has the potential to be a category four. State Climatologist Barry Keim says all the ingredients are there for rapid strengthening once it enters the Gulf later tonight.

Cut 3 (10) “…Louisiana” 

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in response to Ida’s arrival as a major hurricane. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says to be prepared for multiple days without power, especially if you live in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 7 (09) “..now”  

The governor will hold a 3:30 press conference this afternoon.

As Louisianans prep for Ida’s arrival, it was a year ago today when Laura made landfall in southwest Louisiana. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says there are still plenty of homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana but says it’s members of the community that have kept each other going.

Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”  

A hurricane watch is posted along Louisiana’s coast as Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs it will deliver a massive blow to Louisiana and could reach almost Category 4 status.  The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Ida most likely make landfall near Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. The eye of the storm could move over Morgan City. Mayor Lee Dragna says they are prepared…

Cut 14 (10) “…come through it, always.”

Tropical Storm Ida is almost at hurricane status now with winds at 65 miles per hour and the latest track shows Ida reaching Terrebonne Parish on Sunday night as a category three hurricane. Christopher Bannon with the National Weather Service says we should be prepared for several bands of rain…

Cut 5 (13) “…surge.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in response to Ida’s arrival as a major hurricane. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says get all of your hurricane preparations done today and tomorrow

Cut 6 (12) “…to make.” 

Steele says also prepare for multiple days without power.

Tropical Storm Ida is now expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along Louisiana’s coastline Sunday night. A landfall near St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parishes seems most likely at this point. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says whenever a storm heads their way, residents take the proper precautions, and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.

Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says they’ll be visiting Children’s Hospital with Governor Edwards and other State Department of Health staff.

Cut 8 (06) “…outreach.” 

2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week but still about 700 higher than at any point in the previous three waves.

A top Biden Administration official will visit New Orleans today to survey some of the state’s COVID-filled hospitals. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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A year ago, today Hurricane Laura made landfall but yet the City of Lake Charles continues to wait for major disaster relief. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m  Brooke Thorington” 

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The hurricane fortress of Morgan City prepares to take on yet another storm system as Tropical Storm Ida barrels its way towards the Louisiana coast. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Tropical Storm Ida has formed in the Caribbean, and she is forecast to approach the northern Gulf coast at or near major hurricane strength on Sunday, bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. Christopher Bannon with the National Weather Service in New Orleans says Ida is picking up speed.

Cut 4 (13) “…Saturday evening.”

Unlike hurricane Laura that made landfall a year ago today, Laura developed off the coast of Africa giving forecasters a week to issue warnings. But Ida was a tropical wave on Wednesday, then a Tropical storm on Thursday in the Caribbean.

Because the system developed so quickly and conditions in the Gulf of Mexico are expected to only intensify Ida. Bannon says we should be prepared for several bands of rain…

Cut 5 (13) “…surge.”

Bannon says Ida eerily reminds him of Gustav that formed quickly and made landfall much quicker than anticipated. He says on Wednesday it appeared Ida would make landfall in the northern gulf coast on Monday…

Cut 6 (12) “…Saturday evening.”

Bannon says right now, your main concern should be prepping for and getting your supplies in order for Ida and to stay up to date on changing conditions.

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US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients amidst the 4^th wave.

Congressman Troy Carter will accompany him. Carter says he formally requested additional aid from the Biden Administration to help our beleaguered hospitals.

Cut 7 (08) “…issues.”

2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week but still about 700 higher than at any point in the previous three waves.

Carter says they’ll be visiting Children’s Hospital with Governor Edwards and other State Department of Health staff.

Cut 8 (06) “…outreach.” 

Becerra will also attend a roundtable with the Governor and Mayor to discuss vaccination efforts. Carter says Becerra’s presence should underscore the need to increase our vaccination rate.

Cut 9 (09) “…big deal.”

Afterward, Becerra will visit a community health center in New Orleans East.

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As Louisianans are watching the Gulf of Mexico in what could be the first storm to impact the state this hurricane season, the City of Lake Charles continues to struggle with the devastation of Laura that made landfall a year ago today. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they’ve also endured Hurricane Delta, a winter storm, and a major flood in May.

Cut 10 (12) “…rebuild.” 

According to the Louisiana Office of Community Development, the unmet housing need is $326 million. Hunter says he remains diligent in lobbying Congress for significant funding.

Cut 11 (07) “…continue.”

Hunter says Lake Charles is a much different city than it was before Hurricane Laura, he says there are still plenty of blue tarps and homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana but he says it’s members of the community that have kept each other going.

Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”  

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Tropical Storm Ida is expected to make landfall just west of Morgan City as a category two hurricane sometime Sunday afternoon.

Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says prep is underway and as usual whenever a storm heads their way the people start clearing out the decks and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.

Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”

Dragna says they have a powerful pumping system and high sea walls so water isn’t that much of a concern, and they’ve already done their yearly trimming of branches near powerlines.

Cut 14 (10) “…come through it, always.”

Should this track maintain Lafourche Parish will be on the nastier northeast side of the storm and is bracing for storm surge, heavy winds, and the potential for a lot of water to fall across the region.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Brennan Matherne says if this current track holds we could start seeing some evacuation orders issued as early as today.

Cut 15 (05)“…Fourchon.”

Matherne says if evacuation orders are issued shelters will be made available either in Lafourche or other, potentially safer areas. That may result in you being around a lot of other people at a time when COVID transmission is high.

cut  16 (09) “…to go.”

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Third-round pick Paulson Adebo has a chance to be a starting cornerback for the Saints. Even if he doesn’t start, expect the former Stanford standout to get a lot of playing time in the New Orleans defensive secondary. Adebo didn’t play last season at Stanford, but he says there were some benefits to that decision

Cut 17 (19) “… day by day.”  

The Saints have one more preseason game left and that’s this Saturday against Arizona. Defensive end Cam Jordan says he’s ready for the regular season…

Cut 18 (16)”…week one.”

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The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2021 class this weekend in Natchitoches. LSU legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is finally getting in. He was known as Chris Jackson when he played for the Purple and Gold set the NCAA freshman scoring record when he averaged 30 points a game during the 1988-89 season. Ronnie Rantz is the CEO of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation

Cut 19 (16)  “…stats.” 

Rantz says the 2021 class also features a member of LSU’s 2007 national championship team, a former Southern baseball standout, and the Saints’ all-time leading receiver…

Cut 20 (19)  “…teammate ever.” 

Tropical Storm Ida has formed in the Caribbean, and she is forecast to approach the northern Gulf coast at or near major hurricane strength on Sunday, bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. Christopher Bannon with the National Weather Service in New Orleans says Ida is picking up speed.

Cut 4 (13) “…Saturday evening.”

It was exactly year ago when Louisianans were waiting on Laura to make landfall in southwest Louisiana with advance notice for several days. However, on Thursday Ida was a just tropical wave in the eastern Caribbean but has quickly developed into a storm and is expected to become a Hurricane once it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.

Cut 24 heads up :08

Governor John Bel Edwards will address tropical storm Ida preparations tomorrow in his afternoon press conference. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell says now is the time to make sure we are prepared for this next threat. She advises Louisiana to visit get-a-game-plan-dot-org…

Cut 12 (12) “…already” 

Body camera footage of a State Trooper beating a Black man in Monroe during a 2019 traffic stop was released by the AP. 46-year-old Aaron Bowman is seen being beat about 18 times with a metal flashlight during a traffic stop where police allege, he committed a minor traffic violation then resisted arrest. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says her client has been continually harassed by local law enforcement due to the color of his skin…

Cut 8 (11) “…activity”

Tropical Depression Nine has formed in the western Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center expects this system will likely become Hurricane Ida or Julian when it enters the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, and a Louisiana landfall is highly likely. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s concerned about how quickly this storm could come together…

Cut  11 (13) “…pay attention to it”  

Edwards says this tropical depression has a chance to strengthen rapidly once it enters the Gulf of Mexico…

Cut 14 (10) “..this storm”

Edwards advises Louisianans to visit get-a-game-plan-dot-org. Friday is the one-year anniversary of when Laura made landfall.

The AP obtained disturbing body camera footage from 2019 showing a State Police Trooper savagely beating a Black man in Monroe during a traffic stop. Aaron Bowman is shown being pummeled with a flashlight 18 times by Trooper Jacob Brown. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says Bowman suffered a broken wrist, jaw, and ribs as a result.

Cut 5 (05) “…reliving it.”

Troopers accused Bowman of resisting arrest.

23-year old Davonta (Dah-von-tah) Verret was arrested in Mississippi this morning for the shooting death of 8-year old Treyce (Trace) Bryant of Houma last March.  Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says Bryant, who was in the car with her mother was never the intended victim, Verret was involved in a dispute with another man.

Cut 4 (10) “…her death.” 

A major hurricane could hit Louisiana early next week. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

The state reports 2,729 COVID hospitalizations today, down 115 from Wednesday. The state also reports 5,131 new COVID cases There were more reported cases in kids ages five to seventeen than those 50 and older. 72 COVID fatalities were also added to the statewide total today.

The AP obtained body camera footage from 2019 showing a State Police Trooper savagely beating a Black man in Monroe with a metal flashlight during a traffic stop. 46-year-old Aaron Bowman is shown being pummeled 18 times by Trooper Jacob Brown. Troopers accuse Bowman of committing a traffic violation and resisting arrest and the beating was defended by Brown who called it “pain compliance”. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says that’s “bull”.

Cut 6 (10) “…the least.” 

Video and audio captured from the incident do not appear to show Bowman resisting as he is held down by several troopers.

Cut 7 (11) “…*beep*.”  

Bowman suffered a broken wrist, broken jaw, and ribs as a result.

Tropical Depression Nine has formed in the western Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center expects this system will likely become Hurricane Ida when it enters the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says landfall is likely on Sunday and rapid intensification is expected once the developing storm starts moving through the Gulf of Mexico.

Cut 10 (09) “…these storms”

23-year old Davonta (Dah-von-tah) Verret was arrested in Mississippi this morning for the shooting death of 8-year old Treyce (Trace) Bryant of Houma last March.  Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says Bryant, who was in the car with her mother was never the intended victim, Verret was involved in a dispute with another man.

Cut 4 (10) “…her death.” 

Verrett is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder

The state reports 2,729 COVID hospitalizations today, down 115 from Wednesday. The state also reports more than five thousand new COVID cases There were more reported cases in kids ages five to seventeen than those 50 and older.

The AP releases graphic body camera footage of a State Police trooper hammering a Black man with a metal flashlight during a 2019 traffic stop in Monroe. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (40) “ …I’m Matt Doyle” 

Tropical Depression Nine has formed in the western Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center expects this system will likely become Hurricane Ida when it enters the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a landfall in Louisiana is likely

Cut 9 (11) “…Gulf coast area.”

Keim says landfall is likely on Sunday.

23-year old Davonta (Dah-von-tah) Verret was arrested in Mississippi this morning for the shooting death of 8-year old Treyce (Trace) Bryant of Houma last March.  Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says once it was confirmed they had Verret in custody the arrest was emotional.

Cut 3 (11) “…occurred.” 

Verrett is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

The AP obtained disturbing body camera footage from 2019 showing a State Police Trooper savagely beating a Black man in Monroe during a traffic stop. Aaron Bowman is shown being pummeled with a flashlight 18 times by Trooper Jacob Brown. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says Bowman suffered a broken wrist, jaw, and ribs as a result.

Cut 6 (05) “…reliving it.” 

Troopers accused Bowman of resisting arrest.

LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward says the Tiger Stadium vaccination policy does not apply to tailgating, but he hopes tailgaters practice social distancing…

Cut 15 (12)“…tailgating.”

LSU season ticket holders who do not want to attend games this year and want a refund, have until tomorrow to ask for one.