The National Weather Service says the deadly tornado that struck Arabi in St. Bernard Parish was at least an EF-3 twister with winds of up to 165 miles per hour. About 150 homes in St. Bernard suffered significant damage and Governor Edwards is hopeful affected homeowners will see the claims process with their insurance company go quickly…
cut 12 (08) “…undue delay”

Many Hurricane Laura and Delta victims are still battling with their insurance companies and that’s why Alexandria Representative Ed Larvadain has filed a bill to create a Fraud Prevention Authority to investigate claims of fraud following named storms. Eric Holl with Real Reform Louisiana says the authority is modeled after a task force that investigates automobile theft and insurance fraud…
cut 5 (11) “….or prosecuted”
The House Insurance Committee has approved this bill and heads to the House floor for more discussion.

A bill to limit the release of mugshots before a suspect is convicted passes out of House Governmental Affairs. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

There is a lot of cleanup in the New Orleans area from multiple tornadoes last night and the community of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish suffered the majority of the damage. So far only one storm-related death has been reported and St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis says it could have been worse.
Cut 3 (11) “…saved lives.”
Despite one death, he says several individuals received minor injuries and he estimates 40 to 50 homes were destroyed.

Former State Police Sergeant Albert Paxton tells state lawmakers he believes L-S-P officials tried to cover up important details surrounding the 2019 State Police custody death of Ronald Greene. Greene died after body camera shows he was beaten and tased by troopers. Paxton points to the bodycam footage of Lt. John Clary which didn’t emerge until nearly two years after the incident
Cut 13 (05) “…apologizing.”
A use of force expert with State Police called Greene’s death torture and murder.

Louisiana will receive nearly $1.7-billion in federal assistance for continued rebuilding from hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. The money comes from the U-S Department of Housing and Urban Development as part of the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. Governor John Bel Edwards says the money comes after HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge visited the state…:
Cut 4 (12) “…made good on.”
Congressman Garret Graves says this is good news, but he’s concerned about the bureaucratic delays that may come in allocating the money.

A Senate committee has approved legislation that would increase the penalties for those convicted of carjacking when a firearm is involved. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot…
cut 11 (12) “…of sentence”
The measure heads to the Senate floor for more discussion.

One person is confirmed dead in the St. Bernard Parish town of Arabi after a large tornado tore through the New Orleans suburb last night. St. Bernard Parish officials say there’s damage throughout the parish. There were multiple twisters. Also, tornado damage was reported in New Orleans East, Gretna and Lacombe.

Legislation to increase penalties for carjackings and catalytic converter theft heads to the Senate floor. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana will receive one-point-seven billion dollars in federal hurricane relief dollars. This on top of the 600-million dollars the state has already received. Governor John Bel Edwards says a significant portion of this new allocation will go to the Lake Chares area…
cut 5 (10) “….those disasters”
Much of the money will be used as community development block grants that hurricane victims can use to pay for repairs on their homes.

Fixing LSU’s deteriorating library has been a source of concern for students and faculty on the Baton Rouge campus. Houma Representative Tanner Magee asked LSU President William Tate about what the school is doing to replace the antiquated building…
cut 7 (08) “….ABCDE model”
Tate is asking for 731-million dollars in state funding over multiple years as the school looks to boost research in the areas of cybersecurity, agriculture, and coastal land loss. A new library would cost around 150-million dollars.

At least one person is dead after a tornado ripped through the St. Bernard Parish town of Arabi. There is extensive damage throughout St. Bernard Parish as several homes were destroyed and cars flipped over. Tornado damage was also reported in Gretna, the Lower Ninth Ward, and New Orleans East.

President William Tate has big plans for LSU, but one lawmaker wants to ensure a major project isn’t left out. David Grubb has more…
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

Former State Police Sergeant Albert Paxton told a House Committee investigating the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene that an official from a local district attorney’s office told him that State Police Lt. Colonel Doug Cain got mad when he heard about possible charges against one of the six state troopers that were at the scene….
cut 14 (12) “….John Clary”
District attorney John Belton has said he absolutely believes troopers committed a crime in Greene’s arrest, but he’s letting the U-S Justice Department determine if charges should be filed.

A bill that would result in jail time for those convicted of stealing catalytic converters heads to the Senate floor. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot told a Senate committee about a case where catalytic converters were stolen from 15 buses in East Baton Rouge Parish…
cut 10 (08) “….huge problem”
Under Talbot’s bill, if the theft results in a value over 25-thousand dollars, a prison sentence of at least 10 years should be issued.

A large tornado ripped through the town of Arabi in St. Bernard Parish last night leaving extensive damage and killing one person. Tornado damage was also reported in New Orleans East and Gretna. St. Bernard Parish officials say several buildings were damaged or destroyed and cars overturned throughout the parish.

There is some good news for those still looking to recover from the hurricanes in 2020 and 2021. Kevin Gallagher has more on a large amount of federal aid coming to the Bayou State…
cut 1 (33) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher”

A special House committee looking at allegations of a cover-up involving the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene heard from a former State Police Sergeant who believes there was one. Albert Paxton investigated the Greene death and he believes Lt. John Clary, who was the highest-ranking officer of the six state troopers at the scene of Greene’s arrest tried to obstruct the investigation…
cut 15 (06) “….telling the truth”
Clary’s body camera video did not emerge until two years after the incident.

Also at the state capitol, Houma Representative Tanner Magee told LSU system president William Tate that he would like to see the university put more of an emphasis on using state dollars to build a library to replace the one that’s been deteriorating for years….
cut 8 (10) “…to come up”
Tate is also looking for dollars to boost research in areas of agriculture, cybersecurity and coastal land loss.

A strong storm system is moving through the state producing high water on roadways and knocking down trees as well. Tornado watches are also posted but so far with no major damage. Strong winds and hail is being reported in southwest Louisiana at this hour.

The magic had to end sometime, though LSU fans hoped it would not be this soon as the Lady Tigers were defeated by Ohio State, 79-64 in the second round of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. LSU finished 26-6 after winning just nine games a season ago. Coach Kim Mulkey calls this season a tremendous success.
Cut 3 (13) “…just built it.”

And LSU has a new men’s basketball coach. Matt McMahon has reportedly signed a seven-year contract after a successful seven-year run as head coach Murry State.

Disgrace nursing homeowner Bob Dean reportedly shot off his thumb during an incident in Thomaston, Georgia when transferring a number of guns from one vehicle to another at a local car dealership. New Orleans Attorney Madro (Mod-drow) Bandaris who’s representing a nursing home patient in one of many lawsuits says Dean is quite the toxic defendant.
Cut 6 (11) “…thumb off.”
Bandaris’ client lost both of her legs after complications of the mass evacuation of more than 800 residents to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish in 2021 during Hurricane Ida.

A Louisiana Senate committee approved a bill that would create the crime of theft of a catalytic converter. Thieves are stealing catalytic converters because they contain precious metals that are worth a lot. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot says the legislation is similar to the one that addresses copper theft in which the seller’s identification has to be recorded during a sale…
cut 8 (10) “….definitely help”
The measure heads to the Senate floor.