Governor John Bel Edwards says be prepared for a significant rain and storm surge event from a storm system that’s expected to strengthen into a Category One Hurricane and make landfall in southwest Louisiana over the weekend. Edwards says the yet to be named storm will move slowly towards the Louisiana coast
Cut 6 (12) “…certain areas”
He says they are anticipating a storm surge near the mouth of the Mississippi River between three and four feet. National Weather Service Meteorologist Tim Erickson says the river is expected to hit 19 feet on Friday and a flood warning has been issued for the New Orleans area…
Cut 4 (10) “…at actually developing.”
Levees in New Orleans are built to handle 20 to 21 feet river levels.

Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond launches “Lion Up Recovery,” the first public university collegiate recovery program in the state that will help students who are recovering from drug and alcohol abuse. Interim program coordinator Madison Evans says the program will have on-campus support groups and sober social events.
Cut 13 (09) “…home football games.”
Evans says academic advising and counseling will also be available to students in the program.

12-year-old Owen Osborne of Shreveport appeared on the Food Network’s Chopped Junior cooking competition last night. The 2016 Michelle Obama Healthy Lunchtime Challenge winner has spent several years in the culinary spotlight, and credits his success to learning the basics first…
Cut 8 (09) “…spices”
Osborne is doing a series of cooking demonstrations this summer, the next one is July 11th at the Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport.

Governor Edwards met with his unified command group as the state prepares for a slow moving storm that could drop up to 15 inches of rain in some parts of the state. There’s already been widespread street flooding in New Orleans. Edwards says he plans to call a statewide state of emergency and is asking residents to not take this weather event lightly.

Eddie Rispone and Congressman Ralph Abraham, along with the Republican Governor’s Association are tapping into the President’s statewide popularity with their gubernatorial campaign ads…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Southeastern Louisiana has become the first university in the state to establish a program to help students who are dealing with substance abuse issues. It’s called Lion Up Recovery and S-L-U’s Interim Coordinator of Collegiate Recovery Madison Evans says unfortunately a large portion of college students have abused alcohol and drugs…
cut 14 (10) “….for substance dependency”
Lion Up Recovery will have on-campus support groups and sober social events.

12-year-old Shreveport chef Owen Osborne got “chopped” but showed off some culinary talent while on the Food Network’s Chopped Junior last night. The program challenges young chefs to prepare meals with a seemingly random collection of ingredients, testing the cook’s creativity. Osborne kept a cool head
Cut 7 (10) “…with that.”
Unfornately Osborne’s pasta didn’t taste well enough for the judges.

The National Hurricane Center anticipates Invest 92L will become a tropical depression over the northern Gulf of Mexico by Thursday. Kevin Barnhart reports excessive rainfall for the Bayou State is expected…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The National Hurricane Center says storm surge and wind watches could be issued later today. Governor John Bel Edwards is meeting with his unified command team at this hour. Rainfall totals through Monday could be as high as 15 inches for some areas of the state.

Southeastern Louisiana is the first school in the state to have a voluntary program to help students who are recovering from a drug or alcohol abuse addiction. Interim program coordinator Madison Evans says the program called “Lion Up Recovery” will have on-campus support groups and sober social events. She says the program can also be an important tool in combatting the hazing culture that come with college life…
cut 15 (11) “….to do anything”
Today is day two of testimony in the Matthew Naquin trial. He’s the former LSU student facing negligent homicide and obstruction of justice charges in the suspected hazing death of fratnerity pledge Maxwell Gruver. The coroner says Gruver died from alcohol poisioning. But Naquin’s attorney told the six-person jury that Gruver was not forced to drink, while the prosecution claims Naquin was over the top during a hazing ritual.

A disorganized area of low pressure over the far northeastern Gulf of Mexico is expected to become a tropical depression by tomorrow and head in the direction of Louisiana. National Hurricane Center Senior Hurricane Specialist Jack Bevan says forecasting a weather system of this nature is challenging.
Cut 10 (11) “…it’ll end up.”
Regardless of where this system ends up, it’s expected to bring heavy rainfall to the Bayou State. The National Weather Service projects Lafayette and Houma could see 10 to 15 inches of rain through Monday morning. Baton Rouge and New Orleans could see between eight to 10 inches. Even Alexandria could see four to six inches.

Before the rain gets here, we expect another hot day. The northern half of the state is under a heat advisory. Heat index readings are expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees.

We’re Less than a month away from qualifying for the governor’s race and Republican challenger Eddie Rispone has yet to release any statewide television or radio ads. Rispone has a digital ad, where he spends most of the time talking about his support for President Trump. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Crosss says the Baton Rouge businessman hopes to take advantage of the President’s statewide popularity…
cut 5 (10) “…introduction”
Rispone has money to spend, he’s expected to report about 10-million dollars in his campaign warchest, most of it is his own money.

Did you check out the Food Network’s Chopped Junior reality series competition last night? 12-year-old Owen Osborne of Shreveport was on the show. Osborne says his favorite dish is a vegetarian jambalaya…
cut 9 (13) “….together”
Osborne is doing a series of cooking demonstrations this summer, the next one is July 11th at the Shreve Memorial Library in Shreveport.

The National Hurricane Center says a depression or tropical storm could form in the northeast Gulf of Mexico by Thursday or Friday. Invest 92 is expected to drift off the Florida coast into the gulf and then move towards Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the steering currents are so weak, it’s anybody’s guess on where it might go…
cut 5 (08) “…repeatedly”
There is some concern that we could see a repeat event of the 2016 south Louisiana floods.

There is some good news with this potential storm. LSU biologist Doctor Nancy Rabalais says waves from system can help dissipate the algae blooms that has led to the closure of beaches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Rabalais says it can also help make conditions in the Dead Zone along the Louisiana coast more favorable for marine life…
cut 8 (08) “…but only temporarily”
Governor Edwards’ re-election campaign says their 9.6 million dollars cash on hand is a record for an incumbent Louisiana governor…
cut 2 (30) I’m Matt Doyle”

30-year-old Leslie Aguillard is facing numerous charges after the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s office says she stole a truck with a dog inside, drove to another location, got out of the vehicle and left the dog inside to die…
cut 13 (07) “…charge of theft”
That’s E-B-R Sheriff’s office spokesperson Casey Rayborn Hicks.

The National Hurricane Center says there’s a high chance of tropical development in the northeast Gulf of Mexico by Thursday or Friday. Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness spokesperson Mike Steele says the state has activated its crisis action team and they are asking the public to monitor the forecast …
cut 4 (10) “…type of development”
Meanwhile, most of the state is under a heat advisory today.

The Louisiana-based food delivery service Waitr is preparing to deliver low content alcohol with food orders as a result of a law passed in the recently completed legislative session.Waitr CEO Chris Meaux says in order to have the factory sealed beer or wine included in your order, you’ve got to have some food as well…
cut 9 (09) “….order”

The latest legal battle over President Barack Obama’s signature health care law takes place in a federal appeals courtroom in New Orleans. A three-judge panel hears arguments today on whether the Affordable Care Act is still constitutional after Congress eliminated the penalty for those who choose not to buy insurance. It’s unclear when the panel will rule, but their decision will likely be appealed to the U-S Supreme Court.

Parents who’ve had their drivers license suspended for overdue child support payments will have a chance to get back on the road…
Cut 3 (30) “.Matt Doyle”