13 years ago on this date, Hurricane Katrina slammed into southeast Louisiana killing 18-hundred people in the region and leaving much of New Orleans under water. The storm’s fierce winds, combined with flooding made it difficult to communicate. Mike Steele, spokesperson with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says they now have a more secure communication network…
cut 5 (08) “….that was established”

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser visited the Hawkeye state to learn how Iowa promotes agri-tourism. Nungesser says there’s some interesting possibilities for Louisiana…
cut 12 (11) “….organge trees”
Nungesser says Luckett Farms near St. Francisville will open a corn maze in September that will also give the public the opportunity to pick their own vegetables and flowers.

The Mississippi legislature has approved legislation that creates a lottery in the Magnolia state. Chief Legislative economist Greg Albrecht says once Mississippi begins selling lottery tickets, it’s less likely Mississippi residents will buy lottery tickets in Lousiaina, which means less money for our state…
cut 14 (12) “….do that”
At least 35-percent of all lottery proceeds are transferred to the state treasury and the state constitution says that money must go to K-through-12 education.

DCFS is giving parents who’ve lost their license due to not paying child support an easier option for getting back on the road….
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

The director of the Office of State Procurement has put a halt on contract negotiations regarding new voting machines between the Secretary of State’s office and Dominion Voting Systems. The reason for the delay is that one of the losing bidders for the contract claim the bid process was mishandled by interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin.

A group called the “Citizens for a New Louisiana” is collecting signatures for peitition that attempts to get the Lafayette Parish-City Council to state their position on a scheduled Drag Queen story time event at the public library in October. Executive director Michael Lunsford says the public should know how the council feels about men dressed in drag reading to children…
cut 13 (08) “…on it”
The council heard public testimony from two dozen speakers on the Drag Queen Story time event last week and all but one opposed it.

Authorities in southwest Louisiana are trying to determine who fatally shot a Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s office dispatcher on Monday morning in front of her home. DeRidder Police John Gott is seeking the public’s help….
cut 8 (10) “…a call”
Gott says they have no suspects in the shooting death of 24-year-old Marquita Wright.

DCFS is giving parents who’ve lost their license due to not paying child support an easier option for getting back on the road. Don Molino has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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A Lafayette organization plans to bring a petition Parish-City Council members, demanding they make a public statement on whether or not they support  “Drag Queen Story Time”. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

An official with the Archdiocese of New Orleans says Christ the King school has rescinded its policy that prohibits students from wearing hair extensions. But we don’t know if a sixth-grader who left the school in tears after violating the rule will return to the Jefferson Parish school. A meeting between a lawyer of the family and the diocese is expected this afternoon.

After a summer long quarterback competition, the Tigers finally have a winner, and that man is Ohio State graduate transfer Joe Burrow. Burrow was favored by most analysts to win the job the moment he arrived on campus. Tight end Foster Moreau says Burrow locked down the gig by being all business from day one.
Cut 13 (11) “…hard worker.”
Coach Ed Orgeron says other position battles continue at left cornerback, right tackle and tail back.

The department of transportation is preparing to widen Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge to three lanes, which will require the state to buy at least 17 homes and four businesses. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson….
cut 4 (07) “…required’
Wilson says the plan is to borrow 360-million dollars to pay for the contruction and three days of public meetings begins tonight at McKinley Middle Magnet School.

If your child is having a hard time getting enough sleep on school nights, Louisiana Department of Health regional medical director Martha Whyte says set a regular bedtime and rise time, even on weekends….
cut 9 (08) “….a little more flexible”
Whyte also suggests a media or screen time curfew. She says ban the use of technology after a certain time or just remove the devices from the bedroom.

The Louisiana Department of Health encourages parents to set a regular bedtime and rise time, even on weekends, if your children are not getting enough sleep on school nights…
voicer 2 (27) “….Kevin Barnhart”

Best Colleges-dot-com ranks Louisiana Tech University as the best university in the state when it comes to academic quality, affordability and online programs. University spokesperson Tonya Oaks Smith says La Tech usually fares well in these type of rankings….
cut 11 (07) “….and the nation”

Joe Burrow will get the start at quarterback on Sunday night when the Tigers face the Miami Hurricanes in the season opener. But Coach Ed Orgeron says he will not hesitate to use Myles Brennan, if Burrow struggles. LSU tight end Foster Moreau says the team has confidence in Brennan, if his number is called…
cut 15 (09) “…had happened”
Kick off on Sunday night is at 6:30.

The state department of transportation begins a series of public meetings tonight in Baton Rouge to go over plans to widen Interstate 10 from the Mississippi River Bridge to the I-10-12 split. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson calls it the holy grail of transportation projects and it’s important for the public to see the plans…
cut 5 (07) “…with that”
State transportation officials say 17 homes and four businesses will have to be bought out for the 360-million dollar project to happen.

A federal judge in Monroe has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to stop the removal of a Confederate monument outside of the Caddo Parish courthouse. It clears the way for the Caddo Parish Commission to move ahead with plans to put the monument somewhere else. The Shreveport chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy claims the statue sits on private property.

The state transportation department says 17 homes and four businesses will have to re-locate, if Louisiana moves forward with plans to expand Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge between the Mississippi River bridge and the I-10-12 split. Three days of public meetings on the proposal begin tonight. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says they’ll also show motorists how construction will not exacerbate the city’s already tortuous traffic…
cut 6 (09) “….lot better’

Schools are back in session and for some students getting enough sleep is already a problem. Louisiana Department of Health Medical Director Dr. Martha Whyte says getting the proper amount of sleep helps students stay focused and improves academic performance.
Cut 7 (08) “…memory as well.”
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends kids between the ages of 6 and 12 should get between 9 and 12 hours of sleep, 13 to 18 year olds should get eight to 10 hours.

BestColleges-dot-com ranks Louisiana Tech as the best university in the state. The website compared colleges on academic quality and affordability. University spokesperson Tonya Oaks Smith says the site also named Tech as the Best Online University in Louisiana…
cut 12 (12) “…within their schedule”