Over 50,000 SWEPCO customers in Louisiana are still without power after Thursday’s severe weather. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (27)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Louisiana Senate Health and Welfare Committee will meet today to discuss the $100 million cut to the Department of Health in the final hours of the legislative session. Teiko Foxx has the story…

Cut 2 (31)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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House Speaker Clay Schexnayder fires back at critics of his leadership in the recent session, and the handling of the state budget. More from Brooke Thorington…:

Cut 3 (29)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Approximately 3,000 workers have been mobilized in North Louisiana to restore power for the over 50,000 SWEPCO customers who’ve been without since Thursday. It could be as late as the weekend before power is restored in the Shreveport area. Bossier City spokesperson Louis Johnson says the storm was unprecedented with straight-line winds of up to 90 miles per hour…

Cut 4 (09)  “…one time.’”

Johnson says they are hopeful the majority of residents will have power restored by Thursday.

And with Heat Advisories in effect and the lengthy outage, Johnson says the city is providing cooling stations primarily for vulnerable individuals; the elderly, and those with health conditions.

Cut 5 (08)   “…the day.”

And to add insult to injury, Johnson says every hotel in a 30-mile radius is completely booked. He says the hotels are also having to accommodate line workers.

Cut 6 (08)  “…and availability.”

Johnson encourages residents to be as patient as possible. Among the damage from the storms that moved through the southeast last Thursday, Johnson says north Louisiana was among the hardest hit.

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Senate Committee on Health and Welfare will meet today to discuss what impact a $100 million reduction in funding will have on the Louisiana Department of Health. The reduction occurred as the House and Senate finalized a budget in the final hours of the legislative session. Governor John Bel Edwards says revenue was available so many lawmakers were blindsided by the cut.

Cut 7 (13) “…of Health.”

Lawmakers complained they only had 20 minutes to review the final budget before they were asked to vote to approve it. A healthcare reduction of that size had not been discussed for several weeks. AARP Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl hopes Edwards will restore provider rates and waiver slots for adults with disabilities and seniors.

Cut 8 (13) “…they’re waiting.’”

The $100 million cut would equal around $400-$500 million because the state uses its health care money to draw down more money from the federal government. Edwards may use his line-item veto power to restore the 100 million dollars to LDH.

Cut 9 (12)  “…do that”

Edwards would have to take money from other portions of the spending plan to balance the budget. 

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House Speaker Clay Schexnayder fires back at critics of his handling of last-minute state budget negotiations in the recent legislative session. The Ascension Parish representative has drawn fire for pushing through a budget bill in the closing minutes; one that lacked desired funding for teacher pay raises, the Department of Health and more. Schexnayder says he stands by what came out of the session…:

Cut 10 (10) “…projects in it.”

He points to effectively investing surplus cash in needed road and bridge projects, replenishing the state’s so-called Rainy Day Fund, and making substantial reductions in state retirement system debt. Some of Schexnayder’s more vocal critics say there was little or no communication on budget matters between members and the Speaker’s office. Schexnayder rejects that idea…:

Cut 11 (11)  “…is crazy.”

Schexnayder is being criticized for his part in raising the state’s spending cap; something conservatives wanted to avoid at all costs. Some feel that’s not responsible, and call Schexnayder on it. As for the accusations of waiting until the last minute to pass a budget bill, Schexnayder blames fellow lawmakers who resisted voting up a procedural rules suspension that would have hastened the process…:

Cut 12 (07)    “…and dissect it.” 

Schexnayder calls his naysayers at the Capitol “a small group of blockers, instead of helpers.” This was Schexnayder’s last session as House Speaker, as he is term-limited. He is running for Secretary of State this fall.

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About half of Natchitoches Parish lost power after straight-line winds and thunderstorms moved through the area Thursday.  Assistant Director of the Office of Preparedness in Natchitoches Parish Mary Jones says only a handful of customers remain in the dark. She says fortunately the water systems have not gone down as a result of the power outages.

Cut 13 (10) “…have power.”  

Jones says the outages are scattered across the parish and they haven’t had any requests to open cooling stations.

And with a tropical storm in the Atlantic, Jones says last week’s storms and hurricane season serve as a reminder to be prepared for such emergencies in advance.

Cut 14 (11)  “…prepared for.”

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Tough, tough loss for the LSU Tigers last night in the College World Series as Wake Forest rallied back from a two to nothing deficit to beat the Bayou Bengals three to two. LSU failed to score with a runner at third base and no outs in the eighth inning, while the Demon Deacons pushed a run across in the bottom of the eighth and held on for the one run win. Tigers Coach Jay Johnson…

Cut 15 (09)  “…go tomorrow.”

LSU plays Tennessee tonight at 6 PM in an elimination game. First baseman Tre Morgan says they’ll be ready….

Cut 16 (16) “…together.”

In order to get to the championship series, LSU will have to win tonight and then beat Wake Forest twice. Johnson says it can be done and he’s seen it first hand, once in 2016 and then in 2017 by LSU…

Cut 17 (22) “…good spot”

The play of the game happened in the eight inning. Cade Beloso hit a weak grounder to Wake Forest star third baseman Brock Wilken who threw a one-hopper to the catcher Bennett Lee who tagged out Tre Morgan trying to score the go-ahead run. Morgan could have stayed at third, because there were no outs, but Johnson says Tre made the right decision

Cut 18 (22) “…that tonight.” 

Nearly 3,000 people in Louisiana every year are hospitalized or treated in the emergency room for heat related illness according to a new report by the Louisiana Department of Health. Teiko Foxx has more..

Cut 1 (29)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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It’s been a difficult weekend for thousands in northwest Louisiana who have been without power since Thursday night as a result of severe storms. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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Among the casualties of the state budget fighting is the Human Society of Louisiana.  Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (33)  “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A new report shows an average of nearly 3,000 Louisianans were hospitalized or treated every year due to heat-related illness from 2010-2020. The findings come from the Louisiana Department of Health.  Dr. Alicia Van Doren says disparities in the study show shows gender and race being disproportionately affected.

Cut 4 (13)  “…their counterparts.’”

Men accounted for over 80 percent of all cases. Parishes with the highest rates of heat-related hospitalizations were clustered around the Central and Northwest regions of the state. Van Doren says knowing the symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion is important for prevention.

Cut 5 (13)   “…aware of.”

Van Doren urges residents to avoid extreme heat but if you must be outside…

Cut 6 (11)  “…generating heat.”

The report is part of a CDC program through 2026. For resources, tips, and reports, visit ldh.la.gov/page/4817

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In this sweltering heat, thousands are without power in northwest Louisiana from strong storms that hit the area Thursday night and again Sunday morning. SWEPCO spokesperson Michael Corbin says as of Sunday afternoon 99-thousand customers in Louisiana were without power. Corbin says the damage to their infrastructure is extensive and the restoration is unfortunately tedious

Cut 7 (08) “…new wires.”

For SWEPCO customers in the Natchitoches area, power could be out until tomorrow night, for the Shreveport area, some customers may not get power back until the weekend.

Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator says there are cooling centers available

Cut 8 (13) “…your veterinarian.’”

For some people, it’s a double whammy, no power and damage to their home from a fallen tree. Shreveport Mayor Tom Arcenaux says unfortunately the damage is not extensive enough for federal assistance for those storm victims…

Cut 9 (13)  “…insurance company”

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Optimism among small businesses continues to slide. The National Federation of Independent Business maintains a Small Business Optimism Index, which shows a 17^th straight month of declining optimism among members. NFIB state director Dawn McVea says labor shortages and inflation woes have small locally owned & operated businesses “on the ropes”…:

Cut 10 (08) “…negative 50-percent.”

Concerns over labor have overtaken inflation worries in the periodic member survey. McVea says small businesses are finding it harder than ever to deliver goods & services and make a profit. 43-percent of members report trouble filling jobs and keeping help…:

Cut 11 (11)  “…and perform.”

The number of NFIB member businesses saying they expect business conditions to improve over the next 6 months has dropped to a net negative 50-percent. 44-percent say job openings are still very hard to fill – even impossible in some cases. Over 20-percent anticipate lower sales and revenues in the near future as well. McVea says debt service on loans is also a big concern for small businesses, as lending rates continue to rise…:

Cut 12 (07)    “…lot of frustration.” 

McVea says many member businesses say need to increase prices, but are reluctant to do so for fear of losing business.

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Another casualty of the state budget fighting is the Humane Society of Louisiana. HSLA Director Jeff Dorson says half of the state’s 64 parishes lack parish-wide facilities to provide essential services, and because there was a budget surplus again this year, Dorson says they asked for a small portion of the $1.6 billion.

Cut 13 (08) “…existing ones.”  

HSLA asked for $3 million of the state’s surplus to cover construction and repair costs of shelters across the state.  Dorson says there was even a plan to build two shelters at state prisons where the inmates would clean and interact with pets.

Cut 14 (09)  “…with nothing.”

Last year a request for $2 million to give shelters grants for repairs or renovations was also denied.  This year Dorson says a few lawmakers decided that HSLA’s request shouldn’t go towards animal welfare, and that is to the determinant of Louisiana.

Cut 15 (13)  “…have helped.”

Dorson says they will once again lobby for funding in the 2024 budget and he implores the public to urge their state representatives to provide funding for shelters.

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LSU’s win over Tennessee on Saturday night sets up a sensational matchup tonight in the College World Series as the Bayou Bengals face the top-seeded Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Wake Forest has the nation’s best team ERA at 2.82, while LSU leads the country in run scored at 594. Coach Jay Johnson credits his veteran hitters, who will need to be good tonight…

Cut 16 (22) “…give in.”

LSU is in the winner’s bracket after topping Tennessee six to three on Saturday, Johnson liked his team’s focus…

Cut 17 (17) “…batter’s box” 

LSU left-hander Riley Cooper entered the game in the eighth inning and earned his first save of the season. Johnson has been pitching well since the SEC Tournament…

Cut 18 (18) “…right now”

LSU right-hander Paul Skenes struck out 12 more hitters on Saturday and now has 200 on the season. He’s two behind LSU legend Ben McDonald for the SEC record in strikeouts for a season. Skenes was asked about being on the verge of breaking that record which has stood since 1989…

 Cut 19 (19) “…I think.”