Governor Edwards heads to southwest Louisiana this morning to assess the damage from a twister that destroyed homes south of Lake Charles. No major injuries were reported, but it’s another significant weather event for a city recently hit by two major hurricanes, a winter storm, and flooding in the spring.

Once Edwards sees the damage, he’ll travel to Scotland to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference…
cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Starting next month, parents can be rewarded by being involved in their child’s education. Louisiana Department of Education and Family Engagement Coordinator Doctor Antiqua Hunter says it’s part of the Be Engaged Initiative so starting on November 15th parents can download the PimsPoints app and receive points for attending parent-teacher conferences, judging science fairs, and other school-related activities. Hunter says the points can turn into rewards…
cut 6 (08) “…free school supplies”
Or discounts at local restaurants.

The 115th State Fair of Louisiana gets underway today in Shreveport. Once again the rides, games, live entertainment, and livestock events will be open for all to enjoy, after calling it off last fall due to the pandemic. Fair General Manager Chris Giordano says they are expecting great weather this weekend.
Cut 10 (08) “…Mondays and Tuesdays.”

There are people in Lake Charles once again picking up the pieces after a weather event. National Weather Service meteorologist Johnathan Brazzell says yesterday’s severe weather produced a tornado in southwest Louisiana…
cut 14 (12) “….solid tornado”
No major injuries have been reported. Governor John Bel Edwards will survey the storm damage this morning and then it’s off to Scotland, where he’ll attend International Climate Change Summit in Glasgow. Edwards says no other state in the United States is more impacted by climate change than Louisiana…
cut 7 (11) “…foot print”
The state has a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

The Louisiana Department of Education has launched the Be Engaged Initiative which is an effort to encourage parents to be more involved in their child’s education. On November 15th, parents can download the Pims Points app and through this app parents can earn points by participating in certain activities…
cut 5 (09) “…points that”
L-D-O-E’s Parent and Family Engagement Coordinator, Antiqua Hunter, says the digital rewards could be coupons provided by local businesses, like a certain percentage of money off from a local restaurant.

The 115th State Fair of Louisiana begins today in Shreveport. Fair President and General Manager Chris Giordano says they’ll urge fairgoers to take the proper health precautions…
cut 11 (08) “…throughout the fair”

The severe weather has moved out of the state, but once again there are folks in Lake Charles dealing with storm damage. National Weather Service meteorologist Johnathan Brazzell says a squall line produced wind damage in Beauregard, Cameron and Calcasieu parishes…
cut 13 (09) “….E-F 2 greater”
Two neighborhoods near the intersection of Nelson Road and Haim Reid Road suffered the most damage. There are no reports of any major injuries. Governor John Bel Edwards will survey the storm damage this morning.

After surveying the damage, Edwards will head to Scotland where he’ll attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference which begins Sunday. Joining the governor from Louisiana are his advisors and members of the state’s Climate Initiatives Task Force…
cut 8 (11) “….and CPRA”

The 115th State Fair of Louisiana opens today in Shreveport. Kevin Gallagher on what you can expect…:
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Meanwhile, the city of New Orleans says masks will no longer be required indoors starting on Friday, but the vaccine mandate stays in place.

Governor John Bel Edwards has lifted the statewide indoor mask mandate however it remains in effect for certain K-12 schools…
cut 1 (43) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU says it will continue to require masks on campus and New Orleans is also keeping its indoor mask policy in place.

Governor John Bel Edwards has announced the state will receive 595-million dollars from the federal government that can be used to rebuild homes and businesses damaged by Hurricanes Laura and Delta….
cut 13 (10) “….relates to housing”
Edwards has requested three billion dollars and the state is still weeks away before getting its hands on this first installment because Louisiana needs federal approval on how they plan to distribute the grant dollars.

Much of Louisiana is under the threat of severe weather today…
cut 10 (10) “…that frontal boundary”
State Climatologist Barry Keim says there’s the potential for tornadoes. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch until 4 PM for most of the state. The watch box covers Shreveport, Ruston, Alexandria, Lake Charles, Lafayette and Morgan City.

It’s a day to be aware of the weather as a line of thunderstorms in front of a cold front will move across Louisiana this afternoon…
cut 11 (08) “…across the state”
That’s State Climatologist Barry Keim says who now says all of southwest Louisiana and much of central Louisiana including Leesville, Alexandria, and Marksville are under a tornado watch until 4 PM today.

Governor Edwards has lifted the statewide indoor mask mandate however the mandate remains in effect for K-12 schools. Schools may opt out of the mask mandate, however, as long as they continue to follow CDC quarantine guidance.
Cut 4 (12) “…and isolation.”
That means a student should quarantine if they were in close contact for an accumulation total of 15 minutes with someone who tests positive for COVID.

The federal government has informed Louisiana the state will receive 595-million in community development block grant dollars that can be used to repair homes and businesses damaged by Hurricanes Laura and Delta. But Edwards says they can’t put these funds to use yet…
cut 15 (09) “….design our programs”
Edwards did not provide a timeline on when the grant dollars will become available to 2020 hurricane victims.

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy says the pandemic has resulted in a surge in opioid overdose deaths…
cut 8 (11) “….drug deaths”
Cassidy says over 19-hundred Louisianians lost their lives to a drug overdose last year, a 48-percent increase from the year before.

With the state seeing lower rates of COVID-19 infections and fewer hospitalizations, Governor John Bel Edwards has lifted the statewide indoor mask mandate. But schools that do not follow CDC quarantine guidance are still required to wear masks. State Health office Doctor Joe Kanter on the CDC guidance…
cut 5 (12) “….don’t have to quarantine”
Several school systems have decided not to require masks, but there are some keeping the mask policy in place.

Senator Bill Cassidy says over 19-hundred Louisianians lost their lives to drug overdoses last year and the opioid crisis must be met head-on. Cassidy says the federal government needs to work with local leaders to implement opioid policies already approved by Congress…
cut 9 (09) “…already addicted”

Southwest Louisiana now has an exact dollar figure on how much money in hurricane recovery aid it will receive for last year’s storms. Dave Brannen reports more steps need to take place before it’s available to repair homes and businesses…
cut 3 (34) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

There’s the possibility of severe weather today. The Storm Prediction Center says there’s an enhanced risk of severe weather for the Lake Charles, Lafayette and Baton rouge areas along with the Bayou region which includes Houma.