A state of emergency has been declared for Louisiana as Tropical Storm Nate races toward the Gulf Coast. Last summer, pumps failed to work when heavy rain fell in New Orleans. Governor John Bel Edwards has the National Guard ready to move if needed if they fail again this weekend:
cut 3 (11) “not running”
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu has ordered a citywide curfew starting tomorrow night at 6 PM.

The latest forecast track has the New Orleans area in the cone of uncertainity with a potential landfall around midnight on Saturday. St. Tammany Parish President Pat Brister says their main concern is flooded roadways….
cut 13 (09) “….the time”
The eye of Tropical Storm Nate could cross over the mouth of the Mississippi River as a Category 1 hurricane.

Early voting ends tomorrow for the October 14th election and Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voter turnout has been dismal. Schedler blames the lack of items on some ballots around the state…
cut 11 (10) “…have that”
Early voting will end this Saturday at 6pm. The general election will be held October 14th from 7 AM to 8 PM.

It sounds like LSU star running back Derrius Guice will play tomorrow against the Gators, but will not see a lot of playing time. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says Guice will be limited after missing last week’s loss to Troy due to a possible knee injury. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran….
cut 28 (15) “…the better”
Kick-off is at 2:30.

The official forecast track from the National Hurricane Center shows Tropical Storm Nate making landfall as a Category One Hurricane at the mouth of the Mississippi River late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Here’s what Plaquemines Sheriff Jerry Turlich is telling coastal residents….
cut 15 (10) “…protection”
Turlich says one of their biggest concerns is the possible flooding of Highway 23.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says Nate is moving north-northwest at 21 milies per hour. Keim says there is a chance the storm will veer to the east and miss the Louisiana coast..:
Cut 8 (09) “good thing.”
Nate has maximum sustained winds at 50 miles per hour. The center of Nate is moving quickly toward the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Nate’s arrival this weekend. State officials are hoping Nate only gives Louisiana a glancing blow, but they are preparing for a possible direct hit. Edwards says federal relief agencies are ready to respond, even though three major storms have hit U-S territories…
cut 5 (11) “…this storm”
Edwards will provide another update on the state’s preparations at 4:30 PM.

Early voting for the October 14th election concludes tomorrow and Secretary of State Tom Schedler says voter turnout has been dismal. Schedler hopes the candidates will help stir up more interest before next Saturday…
cut 10 (11) “…October 14th”
Early voting goes on until 6 PM and starts back up tomorrow at 8:30 AM.

Tropical Storm Nate is still projected to hit the southeast Louisiana coast as a Category 1 Hurricane early Sunday morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says winds are projected to be over 75 miles per hour at land fall.  He says along with wind and rain, storm surge will be the biggest problem associated with Nate…

(Cut 7) (:11) “higher numbers”.

Plaquemines Parish officials are gearing up.  Sheriff Jerry Turlich says one concern is the main travel route in Plaquemines (plaque-a-mines) Parish.  Sheriff Jerry Turlich says one concern is the main travel route, highway 23 could flood.  He says Myrtle Grove is especially at risk so they are making traffic control preparations.

(Cut 14) (:07) “levees.”

A hurricane warning is in effect for Grand Isle to the Alabama-Florida line.

The early voting period for the October 14^th election concludes on Saturday at 6pm.  The Secretary of State’s office says the turnout for the first five days was not great.  Jeff Palermo has the story…

(Cut 2) (:30) “I’m Jeff Palmero.”

The Calcasieu  Parish Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Investigator says they responded to a home in Lake Charles, finding a dead dog inside.  They found the dog emaciated inside a crate without water.  The dogs owner, Camilla Ross was arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

Tropical Storm Nate is still projected to hit the southeast Louisiana coast as a Category 1 Hurricane early Sunday morning. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Nate is moving quickly towards the Gulf of Mexico. He says the storm is expected to develop into a hurricane right before landfall….
cut 6 (10) “…Sunday morning”

Nate is currently strengthening over the Northwestern Caribbean Sea. The good news is Nate will not be nearly as strong as hurricanes Harvey, Irma or Maria. David Zelinsky with the National Hurricane Center explains why…
cut 14 (09) “…down somewhat”
The forecast track has shifted towards the east in the latest advisory, so primarly the New Orleans area remains in the cone of uncertainty.

Tropical Storm Nate has prompted mandatory evacuations for Grand Isle and areas outside of levee protection in St. Bernard Parish. Governor John Bel Edwards urges residents in those areas to follow what their local officials are telling them…
cut 4 (08) “…every precaution”
Edwards says the National Guard will monitor how the pumps are working in New Orleans after heavy rainfall in the Crescent City caused flooding there in August.

The LSU Tigers are ranked as the nation’s fifth most-valuable college football program in a report out of Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus. Ryan Brewer says even though LSU fans are nervous about the 2017 season, that doesn’t mean the team’s value is going to go down
Cut 9 (13) “generated more”

The latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center shows Tropical Storm Nate strengthening in the Caribbean Sea and speeding towards the Gulf of Mexico and eventually making landfall along the northern Gulf Coast. It’s moving north-north-west at 21 miles per hour. David Zelinsky is with the National Hurricane Center, and says it’s hard to pinpoint an exact time for landfall…
cut 15 (13) “….Sunday afternoon”
The latest forecast track for Nate has shifted to the east. The hurricane center still predicts it will be a Category One storm, but the biggest impacts seem contained to the New Orleans area.

There’s higher security at West Monroe High School today. KNOE-TV is reporting that a student threatned to shoot up the band room, the school and then himself. Officials say they have identified the student and the child is not in school today.

If the LSU football program was for sale, they’d be worth about $911 million dollars; the fifth highest in the nation. That’s according to a report by finance professor Ryan Brewer out of Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus. The report shows the SEC as a whole put five teams in the top 10, which Brewer says isn’t surprising…:
Cut 8 (09) “cultural deal”

Data from Insurance-Quotes has found Louisiana policyholders who bundle auto and home insurance can save an average of nearly 600-dollars a year, which is the highest in the nation. Senior Insurance Analyst Laura Adams recommends getting quotes from your agent about how much you’d save compared to a standalone policy…
cut 6 (11) “…quote you”

Governor John Bel Edwards says Tropical Storm Nate is expected to impact the area early Sunday morning, as either a strong tropical storm or category one hurricane.  But he said things could change very quickly…

CUT 25 (:05) “close attention.”

Edwards says the warm Gulf waters could change everything about the storm. Gov. Edwards has already declared a state of emergency for Louisiana ahead of Nate and said he will ask President Donald Trump to approve a pre-landfall emergency declaration for the state.  

The Grand Isle Mayor has issued a voluntary evacuation order, as the island is expecting 4 to 5 inches of rain; and unusually high tides. Grand Isle schools will be closed Friday and Monday.

A federal judge in Virginia has ordered convicted former congressman William Jefferson released from jail. He threw out seven of the ten corruption charges against Jefferson in light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding what constitutes an official act. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says it’s now up to the Department of Justice to decide if they want to prosecute further…:
Cut 8 (08) “been dismissed”

Nearly 200 felons in Caddo Parish are set to be released early from prison and Sheriff Steve Prator is concerned. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards can’t understand why Congress didn’t include 2016 Louisiana flood victims in legislation that gives this year’s hurricane victims special disaster tax breaks. The bill has five tax relief provisions. Edwards says Congress should not pit storm victims against one another.

The National Hurricane Center predicts Tropical Storm Nate forming into a Category 1 Hurricane with a possible landfall along the southeast Louisiana coast. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Nate is affecting some sports events in Louisiana.  The LSU-Florida game is still on in Ganiesville, but other games have been affected.  Tulane will now play Tulsa at 11am, Nicholls State versus Northwestern State will kick off at 11am in Thibodaux (Ti-bah-dough) instead of 6:30.  And the Southeastern Louisiana-Incarnate Word contest in Hammond begins at 10am…

Former New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson is set to be released from his 13-year prison sentence for taking bribes.  A federal judge says seven out of ten counts against Jefferson are now invalid. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the ruling is based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision involving former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell’s corruption case.

Cut 6 (12)  “official act”

State Police have arrested a St. Joseph mother for allegedly murdering her newborn and putting him in the dumpster. The one day old boy was found Monday in front of an elementary school. Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says 21-year-old Alicia Richard is charged with first degree murder.  He says police are trying to determine how a mother could do this to her child…

CUT 14 (:05) “investigation.”

An autopsy has been performed on the infant and the cause of death is ruled to be blunt force trauma.  Bond is set at 200-thousand-dollars…

Tropical Storm Nate has the potential to become a Category one hurricane and make landfall on the southeast Louisiana coast Sunday morning. Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New Orleans Phil Grigsby says Nate  is currently located in Central America will go over land before reaching the Gulf. But Grigsby says there is a low chance of this storm breaking up or not developing into a hurricane.

Cut 5  (09)  “rapidly”

Grigsby adds rainfall totals should not be like we’ve seen in recent hurricanes.

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says the 192 felons that will be released early from prison next month in Caddo Parish is due to new laws. He says Louisiana does need some reform but.  During a news conference in Shreveport today, Prator gave examples of the kind of inmates that will be set free next month as a result of the new laws laws. The Sheriff says he knows of one prisoner who will be let out seven years early who should not be out on the streets.

Cut 10 (11) “manslaughter”

State Police has arrested a St. Joseph mother for allegedly murdering her newborn and putting him in the dumpster. The infant was found Monday in front of an elementary school. Senior Trooper Michael Reichardt says 21-year-old Alicia Richard is charged with first degree murder.

Cut 12 (09) “Tensas Parish” 

Reichardt says the baby boy was only one day old. He says detectives were able to find Richard when she went to the hospital after having the baby.

Former New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson is set to be released from his 13-year prison sentence for taking bribes.  A federal judge says seven out of ten counts against Jefferson are now invalid. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says the ruling is based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision involving former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell’s corruption case.

Cut 6 (12)  “official act”