Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency so Louisiana can put assets in place to prepare for Hurricane Harvey. Harvey is expected to intensify into a Category Three storm and strike the central Texas coast early Saturday morning. National Hurricane Center Forecaster Eric Blake says once Harvey reaches the coast it will become stationary…
cut 7 (08) “…southeastern Texas”
Edwards says the biggest concern is in southwest Louisiana, where the most rainfall will happen and the greatest storm surge affects will occur, but the entire state could see high rainfall totals. He says agencies are ready to conduct water rescues…
Cut 13 (12) “national guard”

Foster Farms is making a 30-million dollar investment into its poultry plant in Farmerville. Construction has started and it will lead to 50 more jobs. In 2009, the facility almost closed, but former Governor Bobby Jindal worked out a deal with Foster Farms to keep the plant open and Farmerville Mayor Stein Baughman says the town has been grateful ever since….
cut 5 (10) “….30 million dollars”

Walmart launches a new service for Louisiana customers who use the retail giant to perform money transfers. It’s called Express Money Services. Walmart spokesperson Erin Hulliberger says customers no longer need to fill out lengthy money transfer paperwork in stores; now, this work can be done at home or on-the-go using the Walmart App…
cut 16 (09) “…time and money”

The 10 AM advisory from the national hurricane center is now calling for Tropical Storm Havey to be a Category Three Hurricane before making landfall in Texas. Michelle Southern has more on the Louisiana impact from State Climatologist Barry Keim…
voicer 5 (24) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

As of now there are no watches or warnings in Louisiana as a result of Harvey. Calcasieu Emergency Preparedness Director Dick Gremillion says when the heavy rain starts to fall, stay off the roads….
cut 11 (09) “…preparedness”

Louisiana Higher Education Commissioner Joe Rallo has announced he will retire next June, so the state needs a new leader to oversee public colleges. Rallo has been the state’s higher ed leader since 2015.

Foster Farms has announced a 30-million dollar upgrade to its poultry plant in Farmerville. Construction has started and it will lead to 50 more jobs. In 2009, the facility almost closed, but former Governor Bobby Jindal worked out a deal with Foster Farms to keep the plant open.

St. Martinville wants to be known as the “Pepper City of the World.” Mayor Pro Tem Mike Fuselier says it would be an appropriate title considering the many different types of peppers that grow in the area….
cut 6 (07) “…habanero”
St. Martinville will ask the legislature next year to pass a resolution designating the Acadiana town as the “Pepper City of the World.”

And the Gueydan Duck Festival gets underway tonight in Vermilion Parish.

No surprise when it comes to who will be LSU’s starting quarterback in the regular season opener against BYU. Danny Etling has been named the starter, but Head Coach Ed Orgeron says freshman Myles Brennan finished a close second in the quarterback derby. Orgeron says Brennan fought hard for the job, but was understanding and respectful of the decision..
cut 15 (07) “…they cheered”
Orgeron says Etling has been consistent during camp and his experience also gives him an edge. O” says Brennan has exceeded expectations during camp, but he’s still a rookie…
cut 13 (14) “…fantastic balls”
The starters are expected to play in Saturday night’s preseason game against the Houston Texans. Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson, Mark Ingram, Zach Strief and Cam Jordan have yet to play in the preseason, but Coach Sean Payton strongly hinted they’ll see action against the Texans. Also, center Max Unger has been removed from the physically unable to perform list.

Southern Lab High School has to vacate its two football state championships in 2016 and 15, because an independent investigation uncovered evidence the school recruited players who lived outside of the attendance zone and provided payments or inducements that regular students do not receive. Kittens Head Football Coach Marcus Randall has been fired and the LHSAA has suspended the former LSU quarterback for a year.

Not only does Shreveport mayor Ollie Tyler want to build a 30-million dollar sports complex for an NBA minor league team for the New Orleans Pelicans, she’s also proposing a training camp practice facility for the Saints. It’s unclear if the city will fund the mayor’s proposal.

The National Hurricane Center says Harvey has regenerated in the Gulf of Mexico and it’s possible it can develop into a hurricane before it reaches the Texas coast on Friday night. The official forecast has it making landfall as a strong tropical storm near Corpus Christi and then the center of Harvey will curve towards Louisiana, but stay in Southeast Texas through at least Monday morning. Joe Rua, with the National Weather Service, says six to 12 inches of rain is possible over much of the state…
cut 7 (08) “…across the area”
Over a foot of rain is possible for southwest Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says New Orleans is a concern, because the city’s pumping system has been diminished…
cut 25 (11) “…at all”
Repairs on the pumps are ongoing.

The Powerball jackpot has reached 700-million dollars and Louisianans are rushing to get their ticket for tonight’s drawing. Michelle Southern has more…
Voicer 5 (31) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Thousands have signed a petition on Change.org that seeks to replace statues of Confederate soldiers in Louisiana with pop star Britney Spears. Rayne native and petition creator, Kassie Thibodeaux, says Spears is a Louisiana hero who should be memorialized.
Cut 3 (08) “the schools”
The petition has received nearly 4-thousand signatures.

Tropical Depression Harvey has re-formed in the Gulf of Mexico prompting Governor John Bel Edwards to activate GOHSEP’s crisis action team. Michelle Southern reports..:
Cut 2 (27) “I’m Michelle Southern”

Joe Rua, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says Harvey is expected make landfall as a strong Tropical Storm near Corpus Christi, Texas on Friday, but Louisiana will certainly feel the impact…
cut 6 (08) “….slow mover”
The center of Harvey is expected to stay in Southeast Texas through at least Monday morning.

Tonight’s Powerball jackpot has reached 700-million dollars, with a cash value of 443 million dollars. Louisiana Lottery Spokesperson Kim Chopin says they’ve had sales in the Bayou State over 20-million dollars just for this run.
Cut 24 (10) “2016″
Ticket sales conclude at 9:00 tonight.

Mike the Seventh is adapting to his Tiger Habitat on the LSU campus. Previous live mascots at LSU were put into a small cage on football game days and paraded around the stadium. That will not happen with Mike VII. Veterinarian Dr. David Baker says Mike will stay in his habitat, which will end the complaints from fans who never see him during football weekends…
Cut 15 (13) “to see him”

The Powerball jackpot for tonight is 700-million dollars, which is the second largest in U.S. history. The jackpot has been growing since June 10t, but Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says Bayou State players have won smaller prizes during that time….
cut 5 (10) “…prizes”
The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are one in 292-million.

The odds of a Tropical Storm in the southwestern Gulf are very good today, which is why the state is activating its Crisis Action Team. Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana could see heavy rainfall, which is a concern for New Orleans, because the city’s pumping system has been diminished…
cut 11 (11) “…at all”
Repairs on pumps are ongoing.

A Ruston man has been arrested in the murder of a 35-year-old woman and the shooting of two others, including a one-year-old child. Chief Deputy Clint Williams says when police responded to the scene early Tuesday, Shakena Hampton was dead and two others were wounded.
Cut 7 (11) “Hampton”
The one-year-old is recovering at a hospital.

MIke the Tigers’ veterinarian believes LSU’s live mascot is doing very well in his new surroundings. Doctor David Baker says Mike is confident, interactive and affectionate…
cut 14 (08) “…happy sound of greeting”
Baker expects Mike VII to remain visible in his habitat, but will not be paraded around in Tiger Stadium before football games, because he says it’s best for the tiger’s well-being.

The remnants of Harvey are expected to regenerate into a tropical storm in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico today and this could mean heavy rainfall for Louisiana this weekend. Governor John Bel Edwards says southwest Louisiana could see the highest rainfall totals….
cut 10 (09) “….will be”
This system could be a Category One Hurricane when it makes landfall in Texas on Friday.

Tonight it’s a 700-million dollar Powerball jackpot drawing. Louisiana lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says if you are joining with others to buy tickets, make sure one person is in charge…
cut 6 (10) “….of time”
Tickets will be sold up until 9:00 tonight.

A one-year-old child continues to recover from a gunshot wound that he suffered early Tuesday morning during a fatal domestic dispute. Ruston Police Chief Deputy Clint Williams…
cut 8 (07) “…right now”
A 35-year-old woman was killed in the shooting and her ex-husband, Frank Stringfellow, was arrested in Grambling and booked with second-degree murder.

LSU is proud of its new live mascot Mike Seven, which came from a rescue facility in Florida. When Mike Six passed away, the school rejected offers from breeders, instead LSU System President F King Alexander says they wanted to save a Tiger that didn’t have a permanent home…
Cut 13 (10) “five years old”
The 11-month-old male Tiger arrived on campus on August 15th and was allowed to roam in his newly renovated Tiger Habitat on Monday.