Governor Edwards declares a state of emergency for four southeast Louisiana parishes affected by Tuesday’s tornadoes. Edwards spoke with the media after surveying the damage in Arabi. The governor says teams will make their best estimate of damage to homes and businesses, to prepare the state’s request for FEMA assistance…:
Cut 10 (11) “…from the federal government.”
The National Weather Service says the approximate path of the tornado is 11 miles stretching from Gretna to Arabi. About 150 homes were significantly damaged in St. Bernard and one person was killed.

The victim has been identified as 25-year-old Conner Lambert who graduated from U-L Lafayette and worked as an engineer at Stennis Space Center. Chalmette football coach Jason Tucker…
cut 3 (06) “….hangout without”
Tucker says Lambert purchased his home that was completely destroyed just three months ago.

A bill that would restrict law enforcement from releasing to the media mug shots of people who are arrested is heading to the House floor. New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis says mug shots are sometimes used to shame people, even though they have not been convicted. Duplessis believes Louisiana should follow the U-s Marshal’s Service’s policy…
cut 8 (09) “…..invasion of privacy”
The House Governmental Affairs Committee voted 11 to 1 in favor of the bill and it faces another discussion on the House floor.

Since the start of the pandemic, home food delivery has become a bigger part of our lives. But record-high gas prices are impacting drivers. So Waitr has implemented a new GasCard program, giving drivers 5% off on gas from all major gas stations. Chris Barnes, the company’s director of driver experience…
cut 14 (10) “…time of purchase”
Barnes says GasCard program will continue even when gas prices go back down.

Governor Edwards declares a state of emergency for four parishes hit by Tuesday night’s tornadoes. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The governor returns to southeast Louisiana today to talk with homeowners and business owners who are still fighting with their insurance companies following the 2020 and 2021 hurricanes. Edwards will hold two insurance reform roundtable discussions today, one in New Orleans and the other in Larose.

The House Insurance Committee approves a bill on a seven to five vote that would create the Louisiana Named Storm Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority which will work to prevent insurance fraud for home and business owners affected by a tropical storm or hurricane. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says such a board is not needed, because his department already looks into such matters…
cut 6 (07) “….in my opinion”
The measure still passed on a seven to five vote and heads to the House floor for more discussion.

Since the start of the pandemic, home food delivery has become a bigger part of our lives. Chris Barnes, with Waitr, says soaring fuel costs have impacted operations.
Cut 13 (11) “…everyone and everything.”
Barnes says to help with the high fuel prices they have established a gas card program that will save drivers’ money on fuel.

Governor Edwards declares a state of emergency for four southeast Louisiana parishes affected by Tuesday’s tornadoes. Edwards spoke with the media after surveying the damage in Arabi. The governor says teams will make their best estimate of damage to homes and businesses, to prepare the state’s request for FEMA assistance…:
Cut 10 (11) “…from the federal government.”
The National Weather Service says the approximate path of the tornado is 11 miles stretching from Gretna to Arabi. About 150 homes were significantly damaged in St. Bernard.

New Orleans Representative Royce Duplessis wants to limit the release of mugshots in an effort to prevent those who are innocent from the public embarrassment that it can impose.
Cut 7 (12) “…to the public.”
The measure passed out of a House committee and heads to the House floor.

A Fort Polk spokesperson says an Oklahoma National Guard pilot ejected safely from an F-16 fighter jet that crashed in rural Beauregard Parish on Wednesday morning. The jet left from an airbase near Houston and was conducting a training exercise when the crash happened. The pilot walked away after parachuting out of the cockpit.

Delivery drivers are feeling the pinch of high gas prices, so Waitr has found a way to ease that pain. David Grubb has more.
cut 3 (33) “…I’m David Grubb”

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.