Hurricane Katrina made landfall 20 years ago this week. After the levees broke everything changed. Now the levee boards have been consolidated. Chief Policy Officer for Leaders for a Better Louisiana, Barry Erwin…

Cut 5 (11) “…the levee board.”

It’s Voter Registration Week and Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office wants to remind voters to make sure their information is up to date before the upcoming elections. Updates can be done through the Geaux Vote app or online.

Cut 12 (12) “…and accurate.”

Tangipahoa Parish firefighters were busy all weekend fighting a fire at a lubricant manufacturing facility after an explosion Friday. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The EPA is now leading the cleanup.

North and Central Louisiana are getting a new area code.

Cut 9 (04)  “…3-1-8.”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the 3-1-8 area code has run out of seven-digit numbers and starting today, the area will have to dial their area code plus the other seven digits to make a phone call. Beginning, September 25^th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code.

The EPA has now taken the lead in the cleanup at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland after Friday’s the explosion that caused officials to call for a mandatory evacuation of a 1 mile radius. Among those evacuated were former Governor John Bel Edwards and his wife. A family associate says they’re safe and monitoring the situation. During a news conference Saturday morning, State Police Sergeant William Huggins says there were several small explosions in the hours after the initial explosion.

Cut 14 (09) “…at this time.”

The evacuation remains in effect to give crews space for clean up.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is promoting Voter Registration Week this week. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State office says this there are events throughout the state this week.

Cut 10 (10) “…their registration.”

This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. Jeanne (ZHAHN) Burns reports the storm changed some aspects of the state forever.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Residents in the 3-1-8 area code now have to dial the area code plus the seven other numbers when making a call starting today. Starting September 25^th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell

Cut 8 (08) “…deal with.”

He says they’ve run out of seven-digit numbers for the 3-1-8 area code…

Fire crews spent the weekend battling the fire that resulted from Friday afternoon’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland, in Tangipahoa Parish. As of yesterday evening, Louisiana State Police said the fire is 90-percent contained. Yesterday, crews began removing structural debris and addressing covered hotspots. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says a one-mile evacuation zone remains in effect.

Cut 13 (08)  “…sightseers come by.”

Among those evacuated were former Governor John Bel Edwards and his wife.

The EPA has now taken the lead at the site. They will deal with the collection and disposal of hazardous materials at the site and in area ditches and ponds, and the Tangipahoa River.

This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. As we look back at how the storm changed the state and the lives of so many we see resilience and the rise of new programs. Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says since Katrina we’ve seen the rise of charter schools and he says it started in New Orleans with results that are notable.

Cut 4 (11) “…’B’ school district”

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is joining registrars of voters across the state this week to promote Voter Registration Week. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Starting today, residents living in the 3-1-8 area code will have to dial 3-1-8, plus the seven other numbers when making a call to an existing 3-1-8 phone number. It’s because a new 4-5-7 area code will begin next September. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the ten-digit number is necessary to distinguish between the two area codes…

Cut 7 (12) “…number now.”

There’s a lot more corn in Louisiana this year as farmers are producing much more than last year. Shelly Pate Kerns with the LSU Ag Center says the crop received plenty of rain, so yields are expected to surpass last year’s 183 bushels per acre and input costs were also down…

Cut 13 (10)  “…constant rainfall.”

But Kerns says because of an abundant supply of corn on the global market, prices have fallen.

The Saints wrap up preseason play Saturday in the Dome. Saints’ play-by-play announcer on WWL radio Mike Hoss says the Saints have been busy with trades and there are still many decisions to be made by the time the roster needs to be pared down to 53 by 3:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Cut 8 (11) “…has been injured.”

With the State Department of Insurance announcing that 20 auto insurance companies filing rate decreases, the governor is now urging you to do your part in saving money. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Delays in the construction of the Bucee’s planned for Lafayette have pushed the target date for opening two years later than originally projected. Construction has not yet begun as weather issues have hampered work needed to prepare the site. The new target is 2028 and when the Lafayette Bucee’s opens, it will have 120 gas pumps, 700 parking spaces, and 74,000 feet of retail space.

A teenage boy is killed while riding his bike in his subdivision in Livingston Parish Thursday evening around 7. Sheriff Jason Ard says the driver who hit the boy was very drunk.

Cut 9 (09)  “…in his system.”

Ard says 31-year-old Juan Chavarria from Nicaragua fled the scene but was later caught and arrested.

A week ago, the Department of Insurance announced that 20 auto insurance companies, including many big-name companies, filed for rate decreases. Whether that’s spurred by tort reform legislation, a decrease in crashes, or both, Governor Landry says to take advantage, you need to do your part.

Cut 3 (05) “…giving rate decreases.”

Saturday’s game against the Broncos in the Superdome will complete the preseason for the Saints. We still don’t know who the starting quarterback will be — Spencer Rattler or rookie Tyler Shough. And that’s not the only unsettled competition. Mike Hoss, the Saints’ play-by-play announcer on WWL radio says there’s a battle brewing for backup running back behind Alvin Kamara, who will not play Saturday.

Cut 7 (10) “…situation look like?”

Hoss says the Saints’ roster needs to be pared down to 53 by 3:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Louisiana farmers are producing a big corn crop this year, but producers are not getting a great price for that corn. Shelly Pate Kerns with the LSU Ag Center says the harvest will continue through August because acreage is up significantly…

Cut 12 (14) “…corn.”

Tragedy in Livingston Parish as a teenage boy is killed while riding his bike in his subdivision around 7 PM Thursday. Sheriff Jason Ard says the driver who hit the boy was very drunk and fled the scene but deputies later caught and arrested, 31-year-old Juan Chavarria .

Cut 10 (13) “…DWI first offense.”

In Berwick, a police chase ended when a teenage boy crashed the car he was driving near Berwick Elementary Thursday causing a lockdown of the school. Turns out, police say, the car was stolen from Abbeville and inside they found a handgun, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. The 15-year-old was arrested and charged with aggravated flight in a vehicle, hit and run, drug possession, illegal possession of stolen things, and criminal damage to property.

The Saints wrap up their preseason Saturday at noon against the Broncos. Andre Champagne has a preview.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Last week, the Department of Insurance announced that 20 auto insurance companies filed for rate decreases and Governor Landry is encouraging people to call their insurers. He gave an example of when the husband of a state representative decided to shop his auto insurance premium.

Cut 4 (12) “…down another thousand.”

Statistics suggest the streets of Louisiana are deadly for pedestrians, and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is working to reverse that trend. DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet (le-DAY) says the agency is taking proactive measures to get drivers to slow down in areas where pedestrians are prevalent.

Cut 6 (14) “…crosswalk patrols.”

LPB will air two new Louisiana college football shows this season. Every week, Host Victor Howell will be joined by former linebacker Scott Shanle on Game Notes a weekly preview show airing Saturday mornings and Post Game Notes airing Sunday evenings.

Cut 12 (13) “…Bowl with them.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved Entergy Louisiana’s plan to build three natural gas-powered turbine generators to power Meta’s proposed A-I data center in Richland Parish. It’s estimated Meta’s data center will need roughly three times the amount of electricity that the city of New Orleans uses in a year. Two of the facilities Entergy will build will be in Richland Parish, the other will be built in St. Charles Parish. Renee Carthan of Lake Charles also spoke against Entergy’s plan..

Cut 16 (13) “…corporation.” 

PSC Member Davante Lewis was the only one commissioner to vote against the plan. Fellow Democrat, Foster Campbell, voted for it, because he says Meta’s new data center is projected to create more than 500 jobs for an area of the state that desperately needs it…

Cut 14 (14) “…or Delhi.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved Entergy Louisiana’s plan to build three natural gas-powered turbine generators to power Meta’s proposed A-I data center in Richland Parish. Opponents are concerned that the plan will result in higher bills for Entergy residential customers. But Entergy’s vice president of regulatory and public affairs, Larry Hand, says Meta will pay most of the bill for the new electric generation.

Cut 15 (12) “…this opportunity.”

161 pedestrians were killed on Louisiana roadways last year and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and others are working to change that. Business owner and avid runner Jenni Peters says if you’re going to be walking at night, whether there’s a sidewalk or not, your best line of defense is wearing a reflective vest.

Cut 5 (11) “…magnetic clip-on.”

Starting this year, a college football show just for Louisiana fans. Andre Champagne (SHOM-pahn) reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Governor Landry says over the last several months the federal state and local multi-agency operation tasked with reducing violet crime in the Baton Rouge area has been very successful but the city got a stark reminder earlier this month that crime in the city remains rampant with the intentional fatal hit-and-run of a Baton Rouge police sergeant.

Cut 8 (14) “…go in vain.”

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says over the last ten years, more pedestrians have been killed in motor vehicle crashes than passengers. In 2024, 161 pedestrians were killed on Louisiana roadways – nearly a ten-percent increase from the year before. Yesterday, State Police Captain Bryan Lee issued a challenge for drivers.

Cut 4 (08) “…especially at night.”

A multi federal, state, and local agency initiative to reduce violent crime in the Baton Rouge area resulted in over a hundred arrests. Governor Landry says the operation has been very successful over the last several months but now is not the time to let up.

Cut 9 (13)  “…far too long.”

The Public Service Commission approves Entergy’s plan to provide power for Meta’s massive A-I data center they’re building in Richland Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

LPB is launching two new Louisiana college football shows this season. Host of Game Notes, a weekly preview show and Post Game Notes, Victor Howell says no matter where you are in the state, you can follow your team all season long.

Cut 11 (10) “…we’ll be following.”

Over the last several months, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies joined forces to crack down on crime in the Baton Rouge area. Yesterday they announced the results – 52 federal indictments and 68 people charged with various crimes, including drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. Governor Jeff Landry says with this kind of cooperation, great things can be accomplished.

Cut 7 (11) “…see these results.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission approved Entergy Louisiana’s plan to build three natural gas-powered turbine generators to power Meta’s proposed A-I data center in Richland Parish. More than a dozen people spoke out against the plan, including Logan Wolf from Thibodaux

Cut 13 (10)  “…center itself.”

PSC Member Foster Campbell supports the plan because he says the center is projected to create more than 500 jobs for an area of the state that desperately needs it.

Statistics suggest the streets of Louisiana are deadly for pedestrians, and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is working to reverse that trend. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana Public Broadcasting is launching two new football shows this season – Game Notes, a weekly preview show, airs Saturday mornings, and Post Game Notes airs Sunday evening. Host Victor Howell says the show is all about Louisiana college football.

Cut 10 (09) “…State of Louisiana.”