Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland is upset 24-million dollars in rental assistance has yet to be distributed to Louisiana families who are struggling to make rent. McFarland says in July the state received the funding from the federal CARES Act, but just under 300-thousand dollars has been distributed. McFarland says he’s requested a meeting with the Division of Administration…
cut 15 (10) “…they need”
McFarland says for the upcoming special session he’ll file legislation to create the Council of State which would provide oversight for gubernatorial actions.

There are 160-thousand Louisiana residents who have yet to claim their economic stimulus check and they have until October 15th to claim the check in order to receive the money this year. I-R-S spokesperson Raphael Tulino says if you don’t claim by October 15th…
cut 12 (08) “…2020”
Tulino says they are sending a letter to those residents who have yet to receive their stimulus check.

The Audubon Nature Institute, which manages the zoo and aquarium in New Orleans, has asked the city if they can borrow 10-million dollars because they are in a dire situation. President of the institute, Ron Forman, says they are set to lose 18-million dollars because of the pandemic, even with some visitors able to return in August…
cut 9 (09) “….do”
Forman says he’s had to lay off two-thirds of its employees.

Before you dress up in your best purple and gold face mask to attend Saturday’s season opener, LSU ticket holders age 18 and older must complete a COVID-19 screening. Senior Associate Athletic Director Robert Munson says the simple questionnaire can be found on the LSU Sports Mobile App
cut 4 (08) “…to go”
The LSU Sports Mobile app will also load your digital ticket.

A 24 million dollar state rental assistance program established in July has so far only distributed just under 300,000 dollars to struggling low-income renters, according to Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland. McFarland says the program has received 40,000 applications and only about 120 people have actually received financial aid…
Cut 13 (10) “…mortgages”
The application period for the program was closed just three days after it opened due to “overwhelming demand” according to the Louisiana Housing Corporation. The L-H-C has not commented on the matter.

The Audubon Institute, which manages New Orleans’ famous Zoo and Aquarium, needs to borrow ten million dollars to stay afloat. Audubon Institute President Ron Foreman says they started off the pandemic losing a million a week, but due to staff reductions are down to 300,000 a week and can’t get any lower.
Cut 7 (10) “…species.”
The loan will come out of an escrow account and is pending city approval.

160,000 Louisianans have until October 15th to claim their 1,200 dollar pandemic stimulus check or they’ll have to wait until next year to see the money. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Lake Charles this morning to talk with local officials about Hurricane Laura recovery efforts. The Lafayette Police Department has revised its use of force policy and officers can no longer use chokeholds and must intervene when they see another officer use unreasonable force.

A state rental assistance program designed to help struggling low-income workers make rent during the pandemic has failed to be of much help…
cut 3 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Jefferson Parish Public school system suspended a fourth-grader for six days after he was seen during virtual class instruction picking up a BB gun that his younger brother tripped over. Officials say Ka Mauri Harrison violated in-class instruction policy, while the student’s family says the school district violated their privacy and didn’t give their child due process.

There are about 160-thousand Louisiana residents who have yet to get their stimulus check. I-R-S spokesperson Raphael Tulino says most of these recipients do not file an income tax return because they do not make enough money or they’re living on social security.
Cut 11 (07) “…payments.”
Tulino says these individuals will receive a letter from the IRS telling them how they can claim their stimulus.

Tomorrow is the long-awaited season opener for the LSU Tigers as Tiger Stadium is set to host 25-thousand fans for the game against Mississippi State. LSU senior associate athletics director Robert Munson says unfortunately because of the coronavirus pandemic, they are asking fans not to tailgate…
cut 6 (12) “….don’t have to”
Saturday is also the home opener for the Ragin Cajuns and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.

Louisiana saw a 15 percent decline in the rate of women who were murdered by men from 2017 to 2018. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported 581 more coronavirus cases today bringing the state’s total to over 163-thousand. The state also reported 16 more deaths which brings the state’s death toll to 5,241. The number of patients hospitalized by COVID fell by 17 to 575.

FEMA is providing manufactured housing units to residents in southwest Louisiana who are not able to live in their homes because of Hurricane Laura damage. FEMA Division Supervisor Gerry Stolar says there are about 92-hundred households in six parishes who qualify for this type of assistance
Cut 3 (08) “homeowner’s site”
Stolar says they are also looking at putting dozens of manufactured homes in lots around Lake Charles.

For the first time in weeks, the National Hurricane Center is NOT monitoring any named systems or disturbances in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. But State Climatologist Barry Keim says he’s still expecting a record this year for named storms…
cut 7 (11) “..of things”
There have been 23 named storms this year and the record was set in 2005 with 27.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has come under fire after the state voter registration portal was shut down for “scheduled maintenance” for hours on National Voter Registration Day Tuesday. New State Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt says this is a case of voter suppression…
cut 13 (11) “…suppression”
The site was down from 8 PM to 11:30 PM. Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin calls it an unfortunate error and reminds voters they have until October 13 to register to vote.

The Louisiana Unclaimed Property Program is once again temporarily short of money. It also happened two years ago. State Treasurer John Schroder says the Legislature draws 10-to-15 million dollars a year out of the program to supplement the budget, but that’s becoming less feasible…
Cut 10 (11) “…Money Out.”
Schroder says the shortfall will mean a delay in claiming Unclaimed Property.

FEMA RVs are headed to southwest Louisiana for residents whose homes are uninhabitable due to Hurricane Laura. FEMA hopes to place trailers on the homeowner’s property, but they may also create R-V parks. FEMA will contact residents whose homes have been identified as uninhabitable. Individual Assistance Supervisor Liz Redferan says if a Laura survivor initially declines the offer, they can reconsider
Cut 5 (12) “calling us back ”

After a frantic pace of named storms, it’s very quiet in the tropics. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the quiet period is due to the nature of tropical systems…
Cut 6 (12) “…energy”
The National Hurricane Center is currently not monitoring any systems in the Gulf or Atlantic.

FEMA has announced that Calcasieu Parish residents who are not able to live in their home because of Hurricane Laura damage qualify for housing assistance, which includes the placing of a FEMA RV or manufactured home on a survivor’s property. FEMA Division Supervisor Jerry Stolar says many of these homes were used four years ago…
cut 4 (10) “…that occurred there”
Stolar says FEMA is reaching out to residents who are eligible for this program.

Thousands of Louisiana residents will start to lose their state unemployment benefits because they run out after six months. Many people filed for unemployment in March and April because of the coronavirus shutdown. But Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says they can get unemployment through the feds…
cut 5 (10) “….benefit”

Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt calls it gross negligence on the part of Republican Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin for allowing routine maintenance on the Secretary of State’s website on Tuesday night, which prohibited people from registering to vote on National Voter Registration Day. Katie Bernhardt says you still have until October 13th to register…
cut 15 (09) “…to vote”
Ardoin says the website error is unfortunate and he takes full responsibility.

Louisiana Treasurer John Schroder says the Unclaimed Property Program is temporarily short of money, so residents who seek to claim money that belongs to them from that fund, will see a delay in getting their cash. Schroder says the shortfall is the result of budget sweeps and he says there’s a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would create the Unclaimed Property Permanent Trust Fund…
cut 12 (12) “….only”

Louisiana residents looking to register to vote in the presidential election were not able to do so on Tuesday night, which was National Voter Registration Day. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the portal was down for regular maintenance and calls it an unfortunate error. But Louisiana Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt says it was grossly negligent…
cut 14 (08) “…pandemic”
You have until October 13th to register to vote for the November election.

Louisiana Treasurer John Schroder says the state’s unclaimed property fund is temporarily running low on cash. Schroder says individuals who find money in the fund that belongs to them, may have to wait until late October before they get their cash…
cut 11 (05) “…to wait”
Schroder says the temporary shortfall is the result of 37-million dollars being used from the fund to help pay for state government.

FEMA is transporting manufactured housing units to southwest Louisiana for residents who are not able to live in their homes because of Hurricane Laura damage. FEMA Division Supervisor Jerry Stolar says there are 92-hundred individuals in Louisiana who qualify for this type of assistance…
cut 3 (08) “….homeowner’s site”
Stolar says are also looking at creating an RV or manufactured home park.

Wednesday is the deadline for U-S citizens to fill out the 2020 census. You can do so at 2020-census-dot-gov. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says federal funding for schools, hospitals and roads are based on the Census count.
Cut 8 (12) “…federal funding”
Nungesser says the census survey only takes a few minutes to complete.