About 20-thousand homeowners who received major flood damage in 2016 never filled out a survey that could have made them eligible to receive a portion of the one-point-three billion dollars in federal grant money. Those who qualified for RESTORE grants can now receive 100 percent reimbursement on their claims. Director of the Office of Community Development Pat Forbes says the low participation rate led to more money for some homeowners…
cut 5 (09) “…percent reimbursement”

A GoFundMe drive is underway for a St. Mary Parish man who lost his pregnant wife and one-year-old child to a suspected drunk driver. Chris Sintiere is the grieving father and husband.
Cut 10 (08) “the hospital“
Three of Sintiere’s children suffered serious injuries from the wreck that happened last Tuesday. 25-year-old Dylan LeBlanc of Youngsville is in jail on several charges.

State Police arrested 29-year-old Brittany Mackie of Prairieville on numerous charges after investigators determined she struck a pedestrian early Monday morning on LA-73 in Ascension Parish. Trooper Bryan Lee says Mackie’s Lexus struck and killed 31-year-old Christian Martinez of Kenner…
cut 14 (09) >…LA 73″
Mackie is facing several charges including negligent homicide.

Recent manatee sightings in New Iberia and St. Mary Parish has led state wildlife managers to install manatee area signs at boat launches along the Louisiana coast. L-D-W-F Endangered Species Biologist Keri Lejeune says boaters are urged to travel with caution in manatee areas and notify LDWF immediately if you see an injured sea lion…
cut 9 (11) “…is injured”
Biologists say Manatees travel along the Gulf Coast during the warmest part of the summer.

Louisiana received one-point-three billion dollars in federal money to help homeowners who suffered major flood damage in 2016, but so far only 438-million dollars has been handed out. The state says they believe there were 20,000 flooded homeowners who never completed a short survey to determine eligibilty for the Restore Grants. So what does Louisiana plan to do with the rest of the money?

Director of the state Office for Community Development, Pat Forbes, says the remaining funds could be spent on additional homeowners who qualify for the grants, along with other flood related expenses.
Cut 6 (10) “economic development.”
Forbes says they are waiting on the federal government to change the rules so that flood victims who received SBA loans can also receive this federal grant money.

29 year old Brittany Mackie of Prairieville is facing multiple charges in a fatal hit and run that killed 31-year-old Christian Martinez of Kenner, who was walking on LA-73 in Ascension Parish Monday morning. State Trooper Bryan Lee says tips from the public helped them track down Mackie…
Cut 13 (06) “…the driver”
Mackie was booked on charges of negligent homicide, felony hit and run, careless operation and failure to report a crash.

A GoFundMe drive supporting a St. Mary Parish man who’s pregnant wife and one-year-old child were killed by a suspected drunk driver has passed the half way point. Matt Doyle.
Voicer 3 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

20,000 homeowners who suffered major flood damage in 2016 did not complete a short survey to see if they were eligible for the 1.3 billion dollars in federal recovery aid. Anyone who suffered one foot of flooding or at least 8,000 dollars’ worth of damage was eligible to potentially receive RESTORE grants. Division of Administration Executive Director Pat Forbes says that’s despite a substantial media blitz and…
cut 4 (11) “…FEMA database”
Forbes says many flood victims chose to do the recovery on their own or decided they were not eligible for the federal grant money, because they already received an SBA loan.

State Police have arrested a 29-year-old Prairieville woman in a fatal hit-and-run that took place yesterday morning on Jefferson Highway in Ascension Parish. Trooper Bryan Lee says Brittany Mackey faces multiple charges…
cut 15 (06) “….a crash”
31-year-old Christian Martinez of Kenner died in the hit-and-run.

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries are rolling out signs alerting people of a threatened species you might not expect to encounter in the Bayou State: Manatees. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The National Home Education Research Institute says the number of kids who are homeschooled is growing. President of Homeschool Louisiana, Chris Chin says that’s the trend in the Bayou State too, as over 30-thousand students were registered as home schoolers last January. Chin says homeschooling is not for everyone, but it provides freedoms more parents should look into….
cut 8 (06) “….take the leap”
Chin says dissastitication with academic curriculum, school safety and wanting to include religious instruction are some of the main reasons for homeschooling a child.

President Trump has signed a defense spending bill that contains 12 million dollars for a new entrance road and gate complex Barksdale Air Force Base. It paves the way for the housing of nuclear weapons at Barksdale in the near future. Congressman Ralph Abraham made sure the 12-million was included for Barksdale, to protect the military facility and others in Louisiana, if there’s another round of base consolidations…
cut 5 (09) “…our turf”

A suspected arsonist has been arrested in Morehouse Parish. State Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says 55-year-old Philbert Bowers of Bastrop set several wild fires near the Arkansas state line from July 20th to August 3rd. Strain says Bowers faces several charges…
cut 14 (09) “…sheriffs office”
If convicted, Bowers faces up to 15 years in prison.

A second body in the last week has been recovered in Lake Ponchartrain. On Tuesday, it was 32-year-old Sadie Thibodeaux, and on Saturday 66-year-old Milton Gomez’s body was pulled out of the lake as well. State Wildlife and Fisheries Spokesman Adam Einck says neither Thibadoux nor Gomez were wearing lifejackets when their bodies were recovered. Einck says before you jump into the water, there’s three things to keep in mind.
Cut 10 (11) “your boat.”

Livingston Parish is coming back to life two years after the 2016 August flood left much of the parish under water. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 5 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

State agriculture commissioner Mike Strain announces the arrest of a serial arsonist in Morehouse Parish. Strain says between July 20th and August 3rd, 55-year-old Philbert Bowers of Bastrop intentionally set several wildlife fires near the Arkansas state line.
cut 12 (07) “…July 22nd
Strain says they are not sure on a motive for the fires.

President Donald Trump signs into law a 717-billion dollar defense package, which will result in a two-point-six percent pay raise for active duty soldiers. That’s the largest raise in nearly a decade. Louisiana Congressman Ralph Abraham says this should help increase spending in communities that are home to military bases…
cut 4 (09) “…the economy”
Abraham says the legislation will also mean future investments for Barksdale Air Force Base and the naval station in Belle Chasse.

A second body in the last week has been recovered in Lake Ponchartrain. On Tuesday, it was 32-year-old Sadie Thibadoux, and on Saturday 66-year-old Milton Gomez’s body was pulled out of the lake as well. State Wildlife and Fisheries Spokesman Adam Einck says lake swimming can be dangerous because distances on the water can be misleading.
Cut 9 (12) “lot further.

President Donald Trump signs a 716-billion dollar defense spending bill this afternoon. Some of that money will provide upgrades at Barksdale Air Force Base and the Naval Air Station in Belle Chesse. Congressman Ralph Abraham, who is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, made sure 12-million was included for Barksdale, so that military facility and others in Louisiana remain open, if there’s another round of base consolidations…
cut 5 (09) “…our turf”

Cox Automotive reports used car prices are rising, and so is the demand as there was a three-percent increase in used vehicle sales in July, when compared to July of 2017. But Louisiana Automobile Dealers Assocation President Will Green says the state’s slower economic growth resulting from the depression of the oil industry is keeping used car prices lower here than the rest of the nation.

Homeschooling is on the rise throughout the nation and Louisiana is not exempt from the trend. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Voicer 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Lafayette pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis broke an Under 20 world record as he cleared 19-feet, 10-inches at the European Championships in Berlin. The 18-year-old beat his old U20 record by nearly five inches. He’s set to begin classes at LSU next week and he’ll have one more overseas event on August 31st in Brussels.

The demand for used cars is growing and so are the prices. Cox Automotive reports a 3% increase in used car prices last month compared to July 2017 and overall used vehicle values rose 5% last month compared to the previous July. President of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association Will Green says many people are buying cars that were once leased.
Cut 10 (06) “the market.”
Green says recent natural disasters, and the huge number of vehicles destroyed by them, have led to a greater demand too.

A look at the Secretary of State’s race, shows many of the candidates are loaning themselves huge amounts of money for the November sixth election. Campaign finance reports show Julie Stokes and Heather Cloud each made six-figure loans to their campaigns.

A second body in the last week has been recovered in Lake Ponchartrain. On Tuesday, it was 32-year-old Sadie Thibadoux, and on Saturday 66-year-old Milton Gomez’s body was pulled out of the lake as well. Both incidents are under investigation, but state Wildlife and Fisheries Spokesman Adam Einck says lake swimming can be dangerous because distances on the water can be misleading.
Cut 9 (12) “lot further.”

Two years ago, much of south Louisiana was underwater as a result of the devastating August flood that caused billions of dollars in damage and killed at least 10 people. Livingston Parish was one of the hardest hit areas, 15 schools sustained damage. Parish president Layton Ricks says two years later, 13 of those schools have been fully repaired…
cut 5 (11) “…to par”
Governor John Bel Edwards has released a statement on the two-year anniversary of the August flood. Edwards says the state’s Homeowner Assistance Program has awarded over 438-million dollars in grants to over 13-thousand homeowners to repair or reconstruct their homes.

Cox Automotive reports there’s been an increase in prices for used cars and there’s also been an increase in used car sales. President of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association, Will Green, says used cars are becoming more popular, because cosnumers are buying vehicles that were once leased. But he says it’s not just leases behind the surge in national prices. Green says recent natural disasters, and the mass of vehicles destroyed by them, have led to a greater demand…
cut 11 (07) “…the value”

New Orleans police say a couple’s argument led to a fatal car wreck early Saturday morning. Investigators say a 32-woman left a residence after an argument with a boyfriend. The boyfriend got in his car and followed her and both drivers ended up losing control, crashing into each other. The woman died after hitting a palm tree. The investigation is ongoing.

Louisiana libraries are offering extended tutoring time for students through an online service supported by the state. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) ”I’m Matt Doyle”

A 400-pound life-sized bronze human statue has been found. It’s part of a 22-piece traveling art exhibit on display along the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge. President of the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, Renee Chatelain, says they were preparing to ship the exhibit to Centenary College in Shreveport, when they noticed the bolted down statue was gone.
Cut 13 (05) “…will be found”