The number of Hurricane Laura related deaths is up to 14 after a 57-year-old man in Calcasieu Parish died from a head injury after falling from a roof. Another resident in Calcasieu Parish died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The state health department has verified eight Hurricane Laura-related deaths to carbon monoxide poisoning. Governor Edwards says for those residents who do not have power, he’s pleading with them not to run generators in their home…

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The recovery continues today in hot conditions. North and southwest Louisiana are under a heat advisory. And the National Hurricane Center is monitoring four disturbances in the tropics, but none of them are a threat to Louisiana.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser wants you to lend a hand and help with recovery efforts.

cut 1 (30) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Tulane researchers receive a Fast Grant for a second-generation COVID-19 vaccine. There’s hope a vaccine will be available soon, but Tulane microbiologist Doctor Lisa Morici points to polio as an example of another disease that required more than just one round of vaccines…

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Thousands of Louisiana residents are facing a difficult recovery from Hurricane Laura and residents in six parishes are eligible for FEMA assistance. Residents in Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vernon Parish can apply for disaster aid at disaster-assistance-dot-gov, calling 1-800-621-FEMA or through the FEMA app. Edwards says so far more than 52-thousand people in Louisiana have applied and he expects additional parishes will become eligible
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If you are looking to assist in the recovery effort, Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says check out volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov…
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Tulane researchers have been awarded a 150,000 dollar grant to begin making a second-generation COVID-19 vaccine. A first-generation vaccine is not available yet, but Tulane Microbiologist Dr. Lisa Morici says the sooner version 2.0 is available the better.
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Morici’s work will involve adding bacteria-based adjuvants to vaccines that are already in development with the goal of strengthening those existing vaccines.

LSU star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase will reportedly opt out of the 2020 season to prepare for next year’s NFL draft. Chase broke LSU and SEC records with 1,780 yards receiving, 20 touchdowns, and 84 catches last year. NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier says the Tigers will miss this playmaker…
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Detillier says Chase is likely to be the first wide receiver taken in the 2021 draft and possibly a top-five pick.

Getting the electricity back on in southwest Louisiana will be a long process. Governor John Bel Edwards says the Louisiana Public Service Commission’s initial damage estimate in the Lake Charles area found 172 towers damaged or destroyed
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As of 3 PM yesterday, the state had 368-thousand customers without power and the outages can be found in north Louisiana as well. There are also 87 water systems that are not operating.

LSU’s big-play receiver Ja’Marr Chase has reportedly decided to opt-out and instead of playing for the Tigers in 2020, he’ll get ready for the 2021 NFL draft. Draft analyst Mike Detillier says it’s not a surprise to see Chase come to this decision…
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Chase will likely be a top-five pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

For Louisiana residents looking to help in the Hurricane Laura recovery efforts, the state has a website called volunteer-Louisiana-dot-gov. On that site, you can view current disaster recovery volunteer needs. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is confident the state will recover because citizens came together in 2016 after the south Louisiana flood and rebuilt 15 years ago after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
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You can also follow Volunteer Louisiana on Facebook and Twitter.

Governor Edwards and members of his cabinet will conduct a flyover of central and north Louisiana today to survey the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Laura. In Rapides Parish, chief of Staff Tommy Carnline says they had no idea they’d be hit so hard so far inland…
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A curfew is in place for Rapides Parish from 9 PM to 6AM.

Lake Charles took the brunt of what Hurricane Laura had to offer. There’s damage throughout the city and on the McNeese State University campus. Spokesperson Candace Townsend says their new health and human performance complex along with many other buildings suffered wind damage…
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Thousands of workers are trying to restore power following Hurricane Laura. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Getting water turned back on is another issue. The state health department says Hurricane Laura has knocked 67 water systems offline. L-D-H’s Chief Engineer Amanda Ames says some of the systems could be functional again as soon as power is restored, but…
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Ames says depending on how long water service may be out, bottled water may be delivered to an area.

In a Facebook Post, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter tells residents that if you plan on coming to Lake Charles, the best option is to look and leave, as water and power are not available and there’s no timetable on restoration. Governor Edwards says there are 21-hundred people sheltered by the state, most of them in hotels and motels paid for by FEMA…
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Entergy Louisiana says they have 62-hundred workers trying to restore power. Vice President of Customer Service Melonie Stewart says some customers could be without power for weeks and restoration has to be prioritized to benefit the health and safety of communities…
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Entergy reports nearly 240-thousand of its customers are without power.

Governor Edwards is expected to tour storm damage in Alexandria and Ruston this afternoon. Ruston Mayor Ronnie Walker says 95-percent of the city lost power, compared to the 70-percent that lost power when an EF-3 tornado did damage to Ruston in April of 2019…
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In Rapides Parish, numerous trees are down and power is out in most of the parish. Tommy Carnline with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office…
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Hurricane Laura is responsible for six deaths in Louisiana. Four of the victims died when a tree came crashing into their home. A 24-year-Calcasieu Parish man also died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator inside his home. Another death in Calcasieu has been classified as a drowning. The victim was on a sinking ship.

The videos and pictures of damage from Hurricane Laura in southwest Louisiana are heartbreaking and the recovery will be lengthy. Many people are returning to Calcasieu Parish to find their homes no longer habitable. Those needing shelter are encouraged to text LA Shelter to 898-211. Governor Edwards says Disaster food stamp assistance is not yet available but encourages residents in impacted areas to pre-register.
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The governor’s office says there are 530-thousand customers without power. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says there’s widespread damage with broken utility poles. down wires and structural damage…
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The damage from Hurricane Laura is not just confined to southwest Louisiana. Central and North Louisiana also took a big hit. Matt Doyle has more…
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State Police is investigating the death of an individual who was in the custody of the Monroe Police Department. Authorities say the individual caused a serious two-vehicle crash on Wednesday night and attempted to leave the scene after officers arrived. Monroe Police subdued the individual and the person was taken to a hospital and later passed away. No other details have been provided.