12:30 LRN Newscast

Today is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the darkest days in Louisiana history. Bob Mann was the communications director for Governor Kathleen Blanco; and at first, they thought Katrina only produced wind damage. But then, reports came in of rising water.

Cut 22 (12) “…somewhere.”

Katrina produced catastrophic flooding, not only in New Orleans, but also in Jefferson, Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes.

The federal response was slow to get here as desperate people began looting stores. One of the lasting images of the Katrina response, Lieutenant General Russel Honore telling police officers to put their weapons down. Honoré says those officers were acting on orders from Governor Kathleen Blanco to shoot anyone they found looting. Honoré said he told Blanco to rescind that order.

Cut 15 (09) “…can’t do that.”

A three-star general, Honoré retired from the Army in 2008 and continues to serve as a consultant on disaster preparedness.

The new Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women opens in St. Gabriel. Warden Kristen Thomas says it has the capacity to house almost one-thousand inmates and consists of 15 buildings which go far beyond the two main housing units.

Cut 6 (11) “…an intake center.”

One unique feature of this prison is the academic and career technical educational center. The prison has partnered with Ashland University and Tulane University to offer degree programs.

Fifth year senior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier leads LSU into the other Death Valley tomorrow night as the ninth ranked Tigers take on fourth ranked Clemson. Coach Brian Kelly says they are counting on Nussmeier’s experience, and they are asking him to limit mistakes…

Cut 12 (11) “…of the game”

Kick off is at 6:30.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

LSU will not have starting safety AJ Haulcy for the first half of the Clemson game tomorrow night. Haulcy is suspended for the first half, because he threw punches at a BYU player late in the fourth quarter in his final game at Houston.

The Tigers will have Harold Perkins on the field. The Tigers linebacker makes his return tomorrow night after missing most of last season with a torn ACL in his knee. Perkins is playing the STAR position and he says he likes how the position allows him to showcase his pass rush abilities as well as his pass coverage skills.

Cut 16 (13) “…my versatility.”

The losing streak is over, Northwestern State’s 20 game losing streak ended last night with a 20-10 win over Alcorn State. ULM had its first shutout since 2015 as the Warhawks blanked St. Francis 29 to 0.

 

The Ragin Cajuns kick off their season on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Rice. Head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says that he wants starting quarterback Walker Howard to play free while trusting his offense.

Cut 19 (17) “….chance to win.”

In other action, Louisiana Tech hosts Southeastern Louisiana. Both teams plan to play multiple quarterbacks. Tulane hosts Northwestern at 11 AM tomorrow. Some analysts have the Green Wave making the College Football Playoff, for that to happen Tulane needs a win over the Wildcats. Grambling takes on Langston at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

McNeese hosts Louisiana Christian as Matt Viator makes his return to the Cowboys sideline. Nicholls is at Troy trying to follow up its big win over UIW.

11:30 LRN Newscast

It’s a solemn day across southeast Louisiana as many people remember and reflect on Hurricane Katrina making landfall on this day 20 years ago. Governor Kathleen Blanco took a lot of criticism for the state’s response to Katrina. Her communications director, Bob Mann says there were failures at all levels of government, but FEMA’s role was to provide federal resources to states dealing with a disaster, and that didn’t happen.

Cut 6 (13) “…sent in.”

St. Benard Parish was hit very hard. Current Parish president Louis Pomes (Louie POE-mez) says St. Bernard wouldn’t be where it is today without the spirit of the parish’s residents and federal money.

Cut 9 (15)  “…billion dollars recovery.”

Pomes credits local leaders for using the federal recovery dollars wisely. Not only rebuilding schools, hospitals and the sewer system, but also providing new amenities for its residents , like a skate park, dog park and bike paths.

 

Gas prices for this Labor Day weekend are the lowest they’ve been for this holiday in five years. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the price of crude oil is why the price at the pump is well below three dollars.

Cut 12 (08) “…64 dollars.”

According to AAA, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $2.79. That’s about 20-cents cheaper than last year.

Grambling football fans will be heading to Shreveport this weekend to watch the Tigers kick-off the season by playing Langston in the Shreveport Kickoff Classic on Saturday night at Independence Stadium. Grambling Athletic Director Traeveon Scott says Langston University, which is an NAIA school out of Oklahoma, has a rich history with several Louisiana ties.

Cut 3 (11) “…to North Louisiana.”

Scott says he’s looking forward to kicking off the season in style in Shreveport, and he’s inviting all football fans to come out and enjoy the festivities.

10:30 LRN Newscast

Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm in Plaquemines Parish at 6:10 in the morning on this date. Saint Bernard Parish had widespread flooding and devastation, and current Parish President Louis Pomes (Louie POE-mez) was an employee of the parish at the time.

Cut 7 (09) “…of tears.”

It was chaos in New Orleans in the days after Katrina. Lieutenant General Russell Honoré was the face of the federal response and says he would have liked to have been in New Orleans earlier, but the city had flooded so badly that he and other members of the National Guard had no way of getting into the city – and, in effect, they had no way of getting people out.

Cut 14 (15) “…bus people out.”

It’s reported the U-S Coastal Guard saved over 17-thousand people from flooded areas in the greater New Orleans area.

 

Gas prices for this Labor Day weekend are the lowest they’ve been since 2020. Andre Champagne has the story.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

For the first time since November 5, 2022, Northwestern State won a football game last night. The Demons ended their 20-game losing streak by beating Alcorn State 20 to 10. ULM shutout St. Francis 29 to 0. And the ninth ranked LSU Tigers leave today for their big matchup against fourth ranked Clemson tomorrow night.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU starting safety AJ Haulcy has been suspended for the first half of tomorrow night’s game against Clemson. The suspension stems from a fight Haulcy got into last year in the regular-season finale when he was at Houston. Video shows Haulcy throwing punches at a BYU player after the Cougars scored a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Haulcy was ejected, and since his ejection was the result of fighting, he must miss an entire half of football. LSU was made aware on Wednesday that Haulcy was facing a suspension, and the NCAA upheld its ruling last night.

The LSU Tigers leave later today for South Carolina where they’ll play Clemson at Memorial Stadium. Georgia native and junior linebacker Whit Weeks is looking forward to playing in the “Other Death Valley”….

Cut 18 (12) “…excited to go”

Kick-off is at 6:30.

Northwestern State won its first football game since November 5, 2022 as the Demons defeated Alcorn State 20 to 10 last night to snagp a 20-game losing streak. It’s the first win in 1,027 days.

Over in Monroe, ULM blanked St. Francis 29 to 0. It’s the first time the Warhawks have shutout an opponent since 2015. They held the Red Flash to 131 total yards. ULM rushed for 311 yards led by 113 yards from Braylon McReynolds who also caught a touchdown pass.

 

The Ragin Cajuns kick off their season on Saturday at 7 p.m. against Rice. Head coach Michael Desormeaux (DEZ-er-moe) says that he wants starting quarterback Walker Howard to play free while trusting his offense.

Cut 19 (17) “….chance to win.”

16:30 LRN Newscast

Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall in southeast Louisiana. Among those who rode out the deadly storm was Louisiana’s lieutenant governor….

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

We could have another Republican candidate enter next year’s U-S Senate race. The USA Today Network is reporting St. Tammany Parish Councilwoman Kathy Seiden is likely to challenge incumbent GOP Senator Bill Cassidy. Seiden has hired a pollster affiliated with President Trump to see if there’s support for the mother of four who lives in Mandeville.

 

A missing Jennings woman has been found dead near I-10 and State Police believes she was the victim of a hit and run. Trooper Pegg Bourque says the search is on for the vehicle that hit 53-year-old Bonnie Fontenot and left her for dead on the Interstate 10 frontage road near U-S Highway 165 in Jefferson Davis Parish. Bourque says the exact circumstances of the crash are unclear…

Cut 13 (07) “….on that further”

The Louisiana Department of Education is taking five million dollars in federal funding and putting it towards the Steve Carter Tutoring Program. Deputy Superintendent Doctor Jenna Chiasson says high dosage tutoring has been a key factor in Louisiana moving from 49th to 32nd on The Nation’s Report Card…

Cut 11 (07) “…national model’

Chiasson says this five million dollar investment will provide tutoring to children on a waitlist for the program.

LRN PM Newscall

Among those who rode out Katrina 20 years ago was Louisiana’s lieutenant governor – back then, a private citizen. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The state department of education will use five million dollars in federal money to tutor more students struggling in literacy or math. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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A six-year-old girl is recovering after being shot in Lafayette over the weekend. Lafayette Police Detective Ken Handy says fortunately, the girl will survive.

Cut 3 (05) “…condition has stabilized.”

Detective Handy says one suspect was initially arrested.

Cut 4 (08) “…second-degree murder.”

(The suspect is Daylon Andrus, and he’s charged with attempted second-degree murder). This morning, a second suspect, Ja Andrea Kentrell Willis, was arrested in Beaumont, Texas; he’s awaiting extradition back to Lafayette. Handy says the circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation.

Cut 5 (11) “…of what occurred.”

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Back in August of 2005, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser was a private citizen who rode out Hurricane Katrina at his home in Plaquemines Parish, which was one of the hardest-hit parishes. Nungesser says what he experienced that day are things he will never forget.

Cut 6 (13) “…would ever see.”

Nungesser helped with the rescue effort, and he said he helped rescue 30 people by airboat.

Cut 7 (13) “…luckily, she did.”

But he said he had to leave others behind because they couldn’t fit in the boat. He brought some of the people he rescued to his house; and he said if he had not done that, it’s unclear whether they would have survived. And Nungesser says humans weren’t the only ones he helped rescue.

Cut 8 (12) “…on for months.”

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The Louisiana Department of Education is investing five million dollars into the Steve Carter Tutoring program, which will result in more students receiving high dosage tutoring. Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Doctor Jenna Chiasson, says the five million dollars from the department of education is on top of the five-million dollars the state legislature appropriated for this school year…

Cut 9 (08)  “…deficit areas.”

Now in its third year, the Steve Carter Tutoring Program has experienced increased demand and has a waitlist of eight thousand students. Chiasson says the program offers digital vouchers to eligible families who have students in need of high-quality tutoring in literacy or math….

Cut 10 (10) “…our list.”

Chiasson says Louisiana was one of the first states to leverage high-dosage tutoring statewide to help close pandemic learning gaps. She says the investment has been a key factor in Louisiana from 49th to 32nd on The Nation’s Report Card…

Cut 11 (07) “…national model.”

The five million dollar investment from the Department of Education is actually money that comes from the federal government. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley praises U-S Education Secretary Linda McMahon for giving Louisiana the flexibility to use this money on the Steve Carter Tutoring Program.

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State Police are looking for the driver who hit and killed a woman walking along an I-10 frontage road in Jefferson Davis Parish. Trooper Peggy Bourque says the incident at around one yesterday afternoon claimed the life of 53-year-old Bonnie Fontenot of Jennings, who had previously been reported missing.

Cut 12 (11) “…at the scene.”

Bourque says at this time, the exact circumstances of the crash are still unclear.

Cut 13 (07)  “…on that further.”

At this time, investigators have nothing to work with – no make, model or any other characteristics of the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to call State Police.

2:30 LRN Newscast

The Louisiana Department of Education is investing five million dollars into the Steve Carter Tutoring program, which will result in more students receiving high dosage tutoring. Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Doctor Jenna Chiasson, says the five million dollars from the department of education is on top of the five-million dollars the state legislature appropriated for this school year…

Cut 9 (08)  “…deficit areas.”

Now in its third year, the Steve Carter Tutoring Program has experienced increased demand and has a waitlist of eight thousand students.

Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was a private citizen back then and was one of many who conducted their own rescue mission…

Cut 8 (12) “…on for months’

 

Lafayette Police have charged two people with attempted murder in the shooting of a six-year-old girl. Detective Ken Handy says the circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation…

Cut 5 (11) “….of what occurred”

The two people arrested have been identified as Dayon Andrus and Ja Andrea Kentrell Willis. The six-year-old remains hospitalized, in stable condition.

There are two college football games in north Louisiana tonight. ULM begins the second season of the Bryant Vincent era by hosting St. Francis.

Northwestern State is hosting Alcorn State. Second year head coach Blaine McCorkle has a scouting report on the Braves…

Cut 21 (11) “….big up front”

Kick-off is at 7 PM.

12:30 LRN Newscast

New Orleans authorities reveal 12-year-old Bryan Vasquez the nonverbal autistic boy who disappeared from his home on August 14th died from blunt force due to an alligator and subsequently drowned in a canal. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has requested that the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries eradicate nuisance alligators.

Cut 14 (14) “…was going on.”

Kirkpatrick says the coroner was unable to determine if the alligator attack occurred the same day Bryan went missing.

Two men have been arrested in the shooting of a six-year-old girl in Lafayette. Lafayette Police Detective Ken Handy says the first suspect arrested…

Cut 4 (08) “…second degree murder”

This morning, a second suspect, Ja Andrea Kentrell Willis, was arrested in Beaumont, Texas; he’s awaiting extradition back to Lafayette. A motive for the shooting has not been released and the six-year-old’s condition has stabilized.

 

Twenty years ago today, thousands of people entered the Superdome to take shelter from Hurricane Katrina, before it destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and took numerous lives. The next morning on August 29th, Katrina’s fierce winds peeled off sections of the Superdome roof. Doug Thornton was the general manager of the Dome at the time.

Cut 10 (12) “…helpless.”

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser was a private citizen who rode out Hurricane Katrina at his home in Plaquemines Parish. Nungesser says what he experienced that day are things he will never forget.

Cut 6 (13) “…would ever see.”

Nungesser says he helped rescued 30 people by airboat.

11:40 LRN Sportscast

The LSU football team has no shortage of wide receivers after bringing in multiple transfers and several key veterans returned. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier says the Tigers will be fun to watch with all the talent around him.

Cut 16 (16) “…the football.”

With a healthy Chris Hilton and the addition of Barion Brown, the deep ball is expected to be a bigger part of LSU’s offense.

Tomorrow marks the 20th anniversary of when Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans. The storm displaced the Saints and caused extensive damage to the Superdome. The general manager of the Dome at the time, Doug Thornton, credits the late former Governor Kathleen Blanco for her commitment to rebuild the dome so the Saints can return for the 2006 season…

Cut 28 (05) “….rebuild it”

 

The ULM Warhawks kick off their season tonight by hosting Saint Francis. Head coach Bryant Vincent enters his second year with the program and says that his team is in a much better place this time around.

Cut 18 (08) “…the field.”

This is the Red Flash’s first trip to Louisiana. They are an FCS school that plays in the Northeast Conference. Last year Saint Francis was 4-and-7.

Northwestern State looks to win its first game since 2022 tonight as the Demons kick off the season by hosting Alcorn State. It’s the first time Northwestern State has started a season at home in 10 years. Alcorn was 6-and-6 last year. Coach Blaine McCorkle on the Braves…

Cut 21 (11) “…big up front”

Kick-off is at 7 PM In Turpin Stadium.