Governor Landry says the damage done by Hurricane Francine should be no excuse for insurance companies to raise their rates even further. Landry says Francine’s path was like Hurricane Ida’s in 2021, but the amount of damage Francine left behind is not to the level of Ida and part of the reason is the repairs that were done to damaged homes after Ida…

Cut 13 (12) “…as well”

Three-thousand customers are still without power and most of those are in Terrebonne Parish.

The Louisiana Department of Education says it has received a 70-million dollar grant to accelerate student reading. Deputy Superintendent of Education Doctor Jennna Chiasson says the funds are from the U-S Department of Education…

Cut 4 (11) “….five years”

Chaisson says the funding will go to schools that have high teacher turnover, a high percentage of new teachers, high schools with low graduation rates and schools that have a high number of third graders at risk of retention.

A new report shows participation in Louisiana’s TOPS program is down for the third year in a row. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The Saints took the Cowboys to school yesterday as New Orleans beat up on Dallas 44-to-19. Running back Alvin Kamara scored four touchdowns as the Black and Gold are 2-and-0 after two blowout victories…

Cut 16 (14) “…sky’s the limit”

Cleanup and recovery continues in the coastal parishes. In Terrebonne Parish, President Jason Bergeron (BAA-zher-on) says one of the biggest challenges is that power poles are in hard to reach areas such as marshes and swamps.

Cut 6 (09) “…and those lines.”

Bergeron says they also had to take time to document the damage, including taking pictures, for FEMA so that the parish can be promptly reimbursed.

As of noon today, 114-thousand utility customers are without power. Entergy of Louisiana Vice President of Customer of Service Michelle Bourg says in Assumption, Terrebonne and Lafourche, full restoration will take a few days.

Cut 5 (08) “…two to three days.”

Points of distribution areas have opened in Morgan City, Houma, Montegu, Chauvin and Schrieber. Residents without power can get meals, bottled water and ice at these locations. Go to emergency.la.gov for exact locations.

Second Harvest Food Bank is mobilizing to address the immediate needs of communities in parishes impacted by Hurricane Francine. The organization has provided food, water, and essential supplies to those affected by the storm. President and CEO Natalie Jayroe says Second Harvest aims to ensure that necessities reach those in need as quickly as possible.

Cut 10 (09) “…lives back together.”

Hurricane Francine spared southwest Louisiana so in Lake Charles, they are getting ready for a big football game between McNeese and Stephen F Austin. Cowboys Coach Gary Goff on the S-F-A defense…

Cut 14 (16) “…protection”

Kick off is at 7 PM. LSU will play at South Carolina at 11 AM.

Just over 120-thousand customers are without power from Hurricane Francine. Entergy Louisiana Vice President of Customer Service Michelle Bourg (BORG) says with manpower quadrupled, crews have been very effective thus far.

Cut 3 (15) “…Hurricane Francine’s landfall.”

Bourg says residents in St Bernard, St. Martin and Plaquemines Parish should be restored today.

The Federal Highway Administration is sending the state an additional 104 million dollars that will help the state pay for construction projects that have gone over budget because of inflation. DOTD spokesperson Rodney Mallett says 22-million dollars will go to the I-10 rehab project in Acadia Parish…

Cut 6 (06) “…thousands of people”

A Downsville Community Charter School PE teacher was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening a third-grade class. Union Parish Sheriff’s Investigators say 70-year-old Robert Mitcham became angry and told students he had bullets for his gun, and he would bring it to the school and shoot, adding, some of the students would not survive. Sheriff Dusty Gates…

Cut 13 (12)  “…Ruston, Louisiana.”

Mitchem told the authorities he was overwhelmed and wanted to say something to settle the children down.

LSU is at South Carolina tomorrow. The Tigers have yet to get their run game on track, but offensive tackle Emery Jones says it continues to be a point of emphasis

Cut 16 (11)   “…better at it”

Kick off is at 11 AM.

Hurricane Franciene left behind damage, but it could have been worse. During a press conference in Terrebonne Parish. Governor Jeff Landry credited the millions of dollars in federal and state investments into hurricane and flood protection…

Cut 11 (18) “…in this area”

State and local officials also acted as the storm was approaching. Franklin Senator Robert Allain says Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna and a group of volunteers secured two pumps to spare the Lakeside subdivision near Lake Palourde of any major flooding.

Cut 8 (09) “…into Lake Palourde.”

In the River Parishes, an estimated 300 homes were flooded as nine inches of rain fell in St. Charles Parish.

The state has received an additional 104-million-dollars in federal funds as part of the Federal Highway Administration’s annual redistribution of unused federal transportation dollars. Sean Richardson has the story.

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Sean Richardson.”

A Lafayette businessman was killed in a plane crash yesterday morning. The private aircraft went down on the golf course at Oakbourne Country Club, shortly after takeoff from Lafayette Regional Airport. The owner of Manuel Companies, Greg Manuel, was the lone occupant and died in the crash.

The cleanup from Hurricane Franciene will be extensive in places like Morgan City, where landfall was 30 miles south of the St. Mary Parish city. Franklin Senator Robert Allain says the rain was coming down so hard and so fast that there was no way the pumps could keep up.

Cut 7 (12) “…over 20 inches.”

St. Mary Parish President Sam Jones says Francine was not a massive storm, but it will force many homeowners to repair their roofs and fences.

Governor Jeff Landry along with other state officials surveyed the damage in Terrebonne, Lafourche and St. Mary parishes by airplane yesterday. Landry says they were joined by FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell…

Cut 10 (09) “…some weak links”

The biggest need right now is power for those who do not have electricity, 123-thousand customers are without power. The P-S-C says at the storm’s peak there were 450-thousand people in Louisiana.

A Downsville Community Charter School teacher has been arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot a group of third graders. Colleen Crain has the details…

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Colleen Crain.”

The Avoyelles Parish Courthouse was evacuated yesterday after a Florida man entered the building with fake plastic guns, carrying packages and bags and wearing items to cover his face. It turned out he did not have any explosives. Avoyelles Parish Sheriff deputies say Jaymes Baker of Mulberry, Florida is upset with civil proceedings in a child custody matter.

125-thousand utility customers remain without power because of Hurricane Francine. It could be until Monday before the power comes back on for some customers in Lafourche, Terrebonne and Assumption parishes. But residents and businesses in St. Bernard, St, Martin and Plaquemines should get their power back today.

Morgan City and surrounding areas have an extensive cleanup ahead of them. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

A P-E teacher at Downsville Community Charter School in Union Parish has been arrested after he allegedly got angry with several third-grade students and threatened to shoot them. Union Parish Sheriff Dusty Gates says 70-year-old Robert Mitcham of Ruston admitted to deputies he got overwhelmed and wanted the children to settle down…

cut 14 (06″…very lightly”

Gates says as part of his bond Mitcham is barred from returning to Downsville Community Charter School.

DOTD has been awarded $104 million in redistributed federal funds by the Federal Highway Administration. This redistribution occurs annually, allocating unused federal dollars from other states to those that have met certain requirements and can use the money efficiently. DOTD Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says the dollars will be distributed throughout the state
cut 4 (07) “…areas too”