The Department of Children and Family Services says they’ve decided to open a second mega-shelter in the state for flood victims in Texas. Michelle Southern reports…:
Cut 2 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

President Donald Trump, along with first lady Melania, will be in southwest Louisiana on Saturday to see how that part of the state is dealing with the Tropical Storm Harvey. The President will first visit Houston, before making a stop in the Lake Charles area. He’s also declared Sunday a national day of prayer for Harvey victims.

According to the property management company TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Louisiana residents’ favorite place to travel for the Labor Day Holiday is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Spokesman TJ Clark says they used Google search activity for the study..:
Cut 8 (10) “was number three”
Clark says Chatanooga, Tennessee is also a popular destination for Louisiana residents.

It’s a big weekend in the Big Easy. The highlight is the LSU-BYU contest which was relocated to the Mercedes Benz Superdome earlier this week. Kristian Sonnier with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau says they are expecting big crowds…:
Cut 23 (10) “come Saturday”
The game kicks off Saturday at 8:30.

The state Department of Children and Family Services says they’ve decided to open a second mega-shelter for flood victims in Texas, this time in Shreveport. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they’re also taking care of nearly 2000 Lone Star State residents in Alexandria…:
CUT 11 (10) “prescriptions”
She says they are nearing capacity in Alexandria so the doors are opening to the shelter in Shreveport which can take over 2,000 people.

U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham from Richland Parish is flying Harvey missions for the U.S. Air Force. The major in the Air Force Auxillary says cameras are attached to his plane for others to observe and look for structural damage to infrastructure and if there are any Harvey victims in distress….
cut 5 (09) “…some tasks”
Abraham performed similiar fly overs during last year’s Louisiana floods.

The National Hurricane Center says Irma will remain a powerful hurricane for days. Forecaster Eric Blake says Irma has maximum sustained winds of 120-miles per hour way out in the Atlantic…
cut 6 (10) “…five days’
It’s still too early to know the eventual path, but most computer models show Irma staying away from the Gulf of Mexico.

So where are most Louisiana residents heading for this Labor Day weekend? According to property management company Turnkey Vacation Rentals, it’s Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Spokesman TJ Clark….
cut 10 (08) “…activities there’
Clark says they were able to determine Gatlinburg is a popular destination based on Google searches.

Another state run shelter has opened in Louisiana for Texas residents who are currently homeless because of Hurricane Harvey. The state’s mega-shelter in Alexandria reached capcacity at two-thousand, so the state opened another shelter in Shreveport. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they know these hurricane victims would rather be closer to home…
cut 13 (11) “…back in place”

Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham is taking to the skies and flying Harvey missions with the US Air Force. Abraham is a major in the Air Force Auxiliary and he’s alreadly flown over Beaumont and Port Arthur…:
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He says it’s unclear how long these missions will be necessary.

Drivers can expect to see higher prices at the pump as Texas refineries cope with storm damage. Michelle Southern has more…
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The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is underway for the Labor Day weekend. In Louisiana, 47 percent of vehicle fatalities involve drunk driving. Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Katara Williams ..:
Cut 16 (12) “Louisiana highways”

The Department of Children and Family Services says they’ve decided to open a second mega-shelter in the state for flood victims in Texas. Michelle Southern reports…:
voicer 2 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The White House says President Donald Trump will visit Houston, before making a trip to Lake Charles tomorrow. Details of the trip have yet to be finalized. The President has said he’s pledging one-million dollars of his own money on Harvey relief efforts.

Irma will remain a powerful hurricane over the Labor Day weekend, but it’s no threat to the U-S at the moment, because it’s way out in the Atlantic. Most of the models show Irma steering clear of the Gulf of Mexico, but Eric Blake with the National Hurricane Center says we shouldn’t let our guard down…
Cut 7 (08) “prediction”

And law enforcement will be on the lookout for drunk drivers this Labor Day holiday as it’s a Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over weekend. Dr. Katara Williams, executive director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, says there are too many other options for anyone to drive drunk….
cut 15 (08) “…smart options”
In Louisiana, about 47-percent of vehicle fatalities involve drunk driving.

U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham from Richland is flying Harvey missions this Labor Day weekend for the U.S. Air Force. The major in the Air Force Auxillary says cameras are attached to his plane for others to observe and look for structural damage to infrastructure and if there are any Harvey victims in distress….
cut 5 (09) “…some tasks”
Abraham performed similiar fly overs during last year’s Louisiana floods.

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is gearing up for a busy weekend as the LSU-BYU season opener takes place at the Mercedes Benz Superdome. Kristian Sonnier with the CVB says there’s a level of excitement in the Big Easy..:
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Kickoff is at 8:30 pm tomorrow night.

Today through Sunday, hunters can receive a sales tax discount when they purchase firerams. Louisiana Department of Revenue spokesperson Byron Henderson says a wide range of guns, ammo, and hunting accessories are subject to only three percent state sales tax instead of the full five percent….
cut 9 (12) “…in the regulations’
Henderson says eligible purchases are fully exempt from all local sales taxes.

Irma will remain a powerful hurricane over the Labor Day weekend, but it’s no threat to the U-S at the moment, because it’s way out in the Atlantic. Most of the models show Irma steering clear of the Gulf of Mexico, but Eric Blake with the National Hurricane Center says we shouldn’t let our guard down…
Cut 7 (08) “prediction”

Drivers can expect to see higher prices at the pump as Texas refineries cope with storm damage. Michelle Southern has more…
Voicer 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

President Donald Trump is expected to visit Louisiana tomorrow to see the impacts of Tropical Storm Harvey on the Bayou State. Exact details have yet to be announced by the White House, but the President is expected to travel to the Lake Charles area. There are many Texas evacuees sheltering there.

The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Irma, which is way out in the Atlantic Ocean, will remain a powerful hurricane for days. Forecaster Eric Blake says Irma is about 15-hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands…
cut 6 (10) “…five days’
It’s still too early to know the eventual path, but most computer models show Irma staying away from the Gulf of Mexico.
Because of budget cuts, the state is turning over Hodges Garden State Park in Sabine Parish back to the original owners at the end of the month. The assistant secretary in charge of the state park system, Robert Barham, says he’s hopeful the Hodges Foundation will continue to make a portion or all of the park availble to the public….
cut 12 (09) “…beautiful place”
The 948-acre recreation area near Toledo Bend is home to one of the nation’s largest botantical gardens.