An explosion near DeRidder has killed at least three and injured several others at an industrial plant. Chief Deputy Joe Toler, with the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s office says authorities received a call just after 11 a.m. of an explosion at Packaging Corporation of America on U.S. 190. He says the scene has been contained and the fire is out….
cut 11 (10) “…they do”
Toler says they are not sure what caused the explosion.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said today that he expects it will still be several months before we hear from the U-S Justice Department regarding their investigation into the Alton Sterling shooting. Moore reminds potential protesters of rules that have been put in place when a decision is announced….
cut 9 (11) “…that purpose”

The clean-up is ongoing from yesterday’s tornado outbreak across southeast Louisiana. Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish was hit hard by one of the twisters. Mayor Leroy Sullivan says they’ve spent today cleaning up debris….
cut 7 (11) “…some normlacy”
Dozens of homes were destroyed. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says shelters have been set up in New Orleans and Donaldsonville…
cut 5 (12) “…down there”
Entergy says it could take three to five days to restore the power in New Orleans east. The National Weather Service says the tornado that went through their was an EF 3, with winds between 136 and 165 miles per hour.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared yet another state of emergency, as his office says at least 7 tornadoes touched down in 6 parishes on Tuesday. New Orleans East sustained the most damage. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says they were extremely lucky there was no loss of life…:
cut 11 (09) “serious injuries”
The National Weather Service says it was an EF3 twister that struck New Orleans East.

There’s good news regarding the niece of Pop Star Britney Spears. Authorities say eight-year-old Maddie has regained consciousness after an ATV accident on Sunday in Tangipahoa Parish. A statement from the sheriff’s office says doctors took her off a ventilator and she is awake and talking.

There’s a report that L-D-W-F agent Tyler Wheeler, who was shot last month near Monroe, should be able to return to his home this weekend.

Governor Edwards travels to Washington D.C. today to push Congress for more federal flood aid. He says Louisiana received 1.6 billion dollars in grant money so far but another two billion is necessary to get victims back in their homes…:
Cut 8 (10) “Louisianans”

There’s a public hearing in Assumption Parish tonight on the proposed Bayou Bridge pipeline, which would stretch from Lake Charles to St. James Parish. Energy Transfer Partners is oen fo the companies involved in the pipeline. Anne Rolfes with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade says they’ve had 35 accidents in two years and there’s nothing safet about that…
cut 5 (09) “…East Coast”
Energy Transfer Partner says the environmental group is mischaracterizing the data.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared yet another state of emergency in the Bayou State, as his office says at least 7 tornadoes touched down in 6 parishes on Tuesday. New Orleans East sustained the most damage, after a massive twister moved through the Crescent City around 11 a.m. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says they were extremely lucky there was no loss of life.
cut 11 (09) “serious injuries”
The Governor’s Office estimates at least 20 people in southeast Louisiana sustained injuries, but no deaths were reported as a result of the twisters. Officials say three of the injuries took place in Ascension Parish and another two in Livingston.

About 10-thousand people remain without power in the New Orleans area and Entergy says it could be three to five days before power is restored. The Louisiana National Guard has been called into the area to help prevent looting.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Betsy DeVos as the U.S Education Secretary. The Louisiana Federtion of Teachers says DeVos lacks experience as an educator. L-F-T spokesperson Les Landon says they would prefer an Education Secretary who is a strong supporter of public schools…
cut 14 (11) “…religious beliefs”
But the president of the Louisiana Federation for Children, Ann Duplessis, says DeVos will look to provide educational opporutnities for all children, regardless of income. She says the groups who are against the appointment are entrenched in special interests….
cut 12 (12) “…special interests”
Both of Louisiana’s U-S Senators, John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, voted to confirm DeVos.

Clean-up begins in southeast Louisiana after a tornado outbreak….
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

Before touring the damage in New Orleans, Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency…
cut 30 (14) “…behind us”
Edwards says thankfully there were no fatalities.

One of the state’s largest teacher unions opposes the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U-S Secretary of Education. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says DeVos’ longtime support of vouchers is a concern to them….
cut 13 (11) “…public schools”
Senator Bill Cassidy says he voted for DeVos, because of her belief that underserved children should have access to a quality education.

Lawmakers are weighing in with their thoughts on the governor’s proposal to close a mid-year budget gap. The governor wants to use $119 million dollars from the Rainy Day Fund, and Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says he’s not opposed to that if it prevents cuts that will really hit home with residents…:
Cut 5 (08) “can do that”
The special session to address the $304 million dollar shortfall takes place next week.

Governor John Bel Edwards says at least seven tornadoes in six parishes caused severe damage across southeast Louisiana today. There have been reports of some injuries and damage to dozens of homes and businesses. Edwards has declared a state of emergency. But he says the good thing is that there were zero fatalities.

One of the hardest hit areas is New Orleans East, which was slammed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. Craig Smith was working at New Orleans East Hospital when the twister came through. He says it remains a chaotic scene…
cut 16 (10) “….non stop”
Thousands of people are also without power in the area. Other tornadoes were also reported in Livingston, Tangipahoa, St. James and Ascension Parishes.

Officials say at least two tornadoes touched down in Killian today, which is in Livingston Parish. Two people were injured in that community.

Louisiana U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy were among the 51 who voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education. President of the Louisiana Federation for Children, Ann Duplessis, says as a proponent of school choice and vouchers for low-income students, DeVos will bring a welcomed change to the education system.
cut 11 (11) “…on education”
But Democratic New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says DeVos is an unqualified billionaire who has attacked public education.

State legislators are taking a look at Governor Edwards proposal to close a 304-million dollar midyear deficit. Franklin Senator Bret Allain (Ah-lan) says he wants to know more about a proposed six-million dollar cut to the budget of the Attorney General’s office…
cut 6 (10) “…his job”
Legislators will find out more about the cuts when they begin a special session next week.

There’s extensive tornado damage in New Orleans east after a large twister ripped through the area around 11 o’ clock this morning. Craig Smith was working at New Orleans East Hospital when he saw the menacing tornado…
cut 15 (11) “…down in”
Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency as his office says as at least six tornadoes caused severe damage, including multiple injuries and dozens of homes and business were damaged.

Officials in Livingston Parish say two twisters touched down in Killian today, damaging homes and injuring two people. Mark Harrell, director of the Livingston Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, says they know of 5 residences impacted…:
CUT 7 (07) “and moved”
He says two people in a home that was hit sustained minor injuries.

The U-S Senate has voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary. Both of Louisiana’s U.S. Senators, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, voted to confirm her appointment. But Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says they would prefer an Education Secretary who is a strong supporter of public schools…
cut 14 (11) “…religious schools”
Cassidy says he voted for DeVos, because of her belief that underserved children should have access to a quality education.

State lawmakers are taking a look at Governor Edwards’ proposal to eliminate a 304-million dollar budget deficit. It relies on legislators approving the use of 119-million rainy day dollars to fill the shortfall. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the state needs to address the real problem with state government…
cut 4 (08) “….and year out”
Harris has been an outspoken critic of using rainy day money to alleviate the deficit.