The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is down to 873. That’s the lowest it’s been since July 4th. Louisiana reported 20 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday bringing the state’s death toll to 4,841.

LSU has reported 366 COVID-19 cases since August 15th…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

In a couple of weeks, the state health department will begin reporting COVID-19 cases by campus on their website dashboard.

Just how bad is the damage to Entergy’s infrastructure in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes? Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says he’s worked in the industry for 35 years and the most destruction he’s seen was 560 towers down statewide at one time. May says what Laura did in southwest Louisiana is unbelievable…
cut 9 (08) “….the ground”
The company expects it will be two to three weeks before power is available to customers in the Lake Charles area.

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors is telling storm victims to be on the lookout for fraudulent contractors. State Compliance Director Brad Hassert says if a contractor asks for a large payment upfront that should be a red flag…
cut 14 (11) “…question for me”

It was a week ago today Hurricane Laura made landfall as a destructive Category Four storm. Calcasieu and Cameron Parish residents will have to wait for another two to three weeks for power to be restored. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Cleco says they still have 31-thousand customers without power, nearly half of those outages are in Rapides Parish.

And the number of Laura-related deaths has increased to 17. The state health department reports two Beauregard Parish residents died from heat-related illnesses.

LSU interim president Thomas Galligan says the university has reported 366 COVID-19 cases since August 15th. In addition to a symptom tracker feature, Galligan says the LSU website has a COVID dashboard that will be updated Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 4 PM with the latest data.
Cut 4 (10)“ …from a person.”
Galligan says four student organizations are under investigation after videos surfaced showing them holding large student parties.

The state is pushing to hire more poll workers ahead of the upcoming November 3rd election. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says you have to be a registered voter in Louisiana who does not need assistance, take a training course, be at least 17, and have availability…
cut 10 (07) “…early voting”
Visit electionworker.sos.la.gov.

Governor John Bel Edwards says Hurricane Laura has displaced thousands of Louisianans as the state is sheltering 11-thousand individuals, most of them are staying at hotels paid for by FEMA…
cut 11 (12) “…all together”
Edwards, who is touring damaged areas of southwest Louisiana this afternoon, says over 200-thousand are without power and 170-residents are without clean water.

A New Orleans woman is arrested, accused of setting fire to her apartment building after being given an eviction notice earlier in the day. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the suspect, 25-year-old Jazlynn Major, was located and arrested in Huntsville, Texas.
Cut 12 (09) “…of aggravated arson.”
Browning says the fire displaced 26 residents who lived in the apartment complex and a dog also died in the blaze.

A Monroe Senator calls on high school football families to hold their local superintendent’s feet to the fire and support firm start dates for contact practices and the season. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The House Education Committee will meet at the State Capitol on Friday and LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine has been invited to address the committee.

Saints Owner Gayle Benson was spotted at practice today. It was reported last week that Benson tested positive for the coronavirus, but team officials say she was undergoing daily medical care at her home.

FEMA approves an additional ten Louisiana parishes for individual assistance following Hurricane Laura, bringing the total number of parishes eligible for aid to 16. The ten parishes added yesterday were Acadia, Ouachita, Vermilion, Rapides, Natchitoches, Sabine, Winn, Grant, Jackson and Lincoln. Individuals who sustained damage from Laura are urged to apply for FEMA assistance at FEMA-dot-gov.

Edwards says residents in these parishes are also eligible for disaster unemployment…
cut 11 (05) “….for state benefits’

Edwards is also advising residents affected by Laura to preregister for disaster food stamps. Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says disaster food stamps are for people who lost food as a result of the disaster and income restrictions are loosened…
cut 13 (09) “…should register”
And you can register at the department of children and family services website.

Southwest Louisiana’s prolific chemical industry is temporarily out of commission due to Hurricane Laura. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards says 237-thousand utility customers are without power, down from a peak of 615-thousand. It could take a month before power is restored in Calcasieu Parish. Edwards says the state is also sheltering 11-thousand evacuees in 46 hotels, most of these storm victims are staying in New Orleans.

The state health department reported 667 more coronavirus cases yesterday and 34 more deaths. Next week, the governor will make a decision on the state’s Phase Two status and whether the state is ready to move into Phase 3. John Bel Edwards is concerned about the upcoming three-day holiday weekend and whether it will lead to another surge in cases…
cut 10 (11) “…and deaths”
Today Governor Edwards will head to Lake Charles to get a first-hand look at hurricane response efforts.

Chemical plants in southwest Louisiana are offline because of a lack of power. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser says workers at those plants are also scattered across the region…
cut 8 (08) “…Baton Rouge”

Two Eunice men file a recall petition against Governor John Bel Edwards. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Saints and Alvin Kamara are working on a new contract as the star running back is entering the final year of his rookie deal that pays him just over two million dollars a year. There were reports that New Orleans was seeking trade offers for Kamara, but the latest reports now say the two sides will continue to talk about a contract that keeps him in the Big Easy.

16 of 23 Hurricane Laura damaged parishes have been approved for FEMA individual assistance. Ouachita, Vermilion, Rapides, Natchitoches, and Lincoln are among the parishes who are now eligible for aid that includes temporary housing and home repairs. Governor Edwards says households who are displaced are also eligible for 500-dollar grants…
cut 12 (09) “….can advantage of”
Go to disaster-assistance-dot-gov for more information.

Lee Joseph Vidrine and Michael Lyn Vidrine have filed a petition seeking to recall Governor John Bel Edwards out of office. State law says the Vidrines need to get 20-percent or just over 600-thousand signatures to force a recall election. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat…
cut 6 (08) “…governor”
The Vidrines have not said why they are seeking to recall Edwards.

Much of southwest Louisiana is without power and that means chemical plants in that region are sitting idle. Plus workers at those plants have been scattered from Houston to New Orleans. Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser says some workers are looking at long commutes once plants are online, but that’s not feasible so they’re asking FEMA to supply temporary housing units….
Cut 9 (09) “…repaired.”

Disaster food stamps are expected to be available a week from Thursday. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says the disaster food stamps are for people who have lost power as a result of Laura, spoiling food in their refrigerator. Walters on why they wait a couple of weeks before the disaster food stamps are available…
cut 14 (12) “…..to buy it”

FEMA approves an additional ten Louisiana parishes for individual assistance following Hurricane Laura, bringing the total number of parishes eligible for aid to 16. The ten parishes added yesterday were Acadia, Ouachita, Vermilion, Rapides, Natchitoches, Sabine, Winn, Grant, Jackson and Lincoln. Individuals who sustained damage from Laura are urged to apply for FEMA assistance at FEMA-dot-gov.

Edwards says residents in these parishes are also eligible for disaster unemployment…
cut 11 (05) “….for state benefits’

Edwards is also advising residents affected by Laura to preregister for disaster food stamps. Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says disaster food stamps are for people who lost food as a result of the disaster and income restrictions are loosened…
cut 13 (09) “…should register”
And you can register at the department of children and family services website.

Southwest Louisiana’s prolific chemical industry is temporarily out of commission due to Hurricane Laura. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Cleco says it’s restored power to over 100-thousand of the 140-thousand customers affected by Hurricane Laura. The utility company still has over 16-thousand customers without power in Rapides Parish. Entergy is reporting 119-thousand outages. The Louisiana National Guard says they’ve cleared 14-hundred miles of roads which is helping to get the power back on.