The three-week interview process for DSNAP benefits related to Hurricane Ida victims gets underway today and wraps up on October 9^th. Dave Brannen spoke with DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavanna Howard…

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

___________________________________

Researchers at LSU have created a prediction model for hurricanes in the gulf. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

_________________________________________

State wildlife agents want deer hunters to help in detecting a fatal illness spreading through herds across the south. Kevin Gallagher reports you COULD win some cash.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

___________________________________________

Like other parishes in southeast Louisiana, St. John the Baptist Parish is undergoing several hurdles with recovery from Hurricane Ida. Parish President Jaclyn Hotard says about 90-percent of the parish has power and their water systems have been restored but they remain under a boil water advisory.

Cut 4 (08) “…advisories soon,”

As for regular debris removal, so far, the parish has removed 150-thousand cubic yards of debris.

Hotard says like other surrounding parishes one of the biggest obstacles they are facing is the great need to speed up household trash pickup and to assist she’s issued an emergency bid to have trash removed ASAP.

Cut 5 (10) “…to say it nicely.”

Hotard says FEMA is embedded in the parish assisting residents with their applications and they are also beginning to see progress with the blue roof program. She says nineteen have been installed so far of the more than two thousand requested.

The parish broke ground on a levee this year that is expected to be completed in 2024. Hotard says a completed structure would have made a difference with Hurricane Ida.

Cut 6 (10) “…Lake Pontchartrain.”

The $750-million levee is being paid for with a combination of federal and state funds.

________________________________________

Starting today, households in ten Louisiana parishes impacted by Hurricane Ida can apply for disaster food stamps. DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavana Howard says residents with last names starting with A-to-F in East Baton, Iberia, Orleans, St. Tammany, Washington and five other parishes can call the L-A Help-U Customer Service center to apply and be interviewed…

Cut 7 (06) “..quickly as possible.”

Applicants for DSNAP interviews should call 1-888-524-3578 and have financial and personal information available.

Howard says DSNAP interviews will take place six days a week through October 9th. She says check the Department of Children and Family Services website for the day you can apply…

Cut 8 (08) “…DSNAP”

Howard says DSNAP benefits are available to those who live in one of the 25 parishes declared a federal disaster area. She says disaster food stamps are designed to help Ida victims buy groceries due to lost income or damages as a result of the storm.

Cut 9 (08)  “…at your expenses.”

You can pre-register at www.dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP

____________________________________________

LSU Researchers have developed a new model to determine if the Gulf coast will see an active hurricane season. It looks at  atmospheric temperatures in the spring. Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences assistant professor Paul Miller says while NOAA and Colorado State University both issue storm predictions their outlook pertains to all Atlantic storms not specifically those impacting the gulf.

Cut 10 (12) “…Gulf of Mexico.” 

Miller says they researched weather data all the way back to 1980 and compared atmospheric temperatures from previous hurricanes.

Cut 11 (12) “…hurricane season (x2).”

Miller when they were able to identify the pattern of previous gulf atmospheric temperatures and the number of storms that made landfall in the Gulf.

Cut 12 (07) “…upcoming season.”

Miller says looking at atmospheric temperatures to predict hurricanes in the gulf appears to be more accurate for predicting gulf storms. Miller hopes in addition to NOAA and CSU that LSU will be added to the upcoming hurricane forecast.

______________________

Louisiana is offering hunters the chance to win money by assisting the state in its surveillance efforts for Chronic Wasting Disease in deer. LDWF Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon says hunters and taxidermists will be entered into a contest to win up to $1000 when they submit a sample from a mature buck harvested this deer season…

Cut 13 (12) “…they so chose”

Bordelon says submitting a sample of your deer for research could win you a gift card for $1000 or $500. CWD has not yet been detected among Louisiana’s deer herd but has been in most of our bordering states. He says LDWF is being vigilant to determine IF Louisiana deer are affected…:

Cut 14 (09)  “…across the state.”

Bordelon says to submit the animal’s head with at least three inches of neck to any LDWF Field Office. He says samples from doe season will not be collected…:

Cut 15 (09)  “…great news.”

Hunters will also need to provide details of WHERE the sample buck was bagged. More information is online at “LWF.Louisiana.gov”.

_______________________________________

As good as the Saints in their week one win over Green Bay, they were just as bad yesterday in a 26-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers. New Orleans had just 128 yards of total offense and they hit Quarterback Jameis Winston 11 times and sacked him four times. Winston was also intercepted twice. Coach Sean Payton takes the blame for the loss

Cut  16 (16) “…football game.”

Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead says communication problems led to the pressure the Panthers defense put on Winston…

Cut 17 (19) “…communication”  

The Saints did not have eight offensive assistants at the game because of COVID protocols. Running back Alvin Kamara says the players can’t use that as an excuse…

Cut 18 (17)”…it is what is.”

___________________________________________

LSU Quarterback Max Johnson threw for 372 yards and five touchdowns as the Fighting Tigers offense came to life in a 48-21 win over Central Michigan. Freshman Deion Smith had two touchdown catches and fellow freshman Jack Bech had a great-handed one-handed grab in the end zone. Bech believes they can build momentum from Saturday’s performance

Cut 19 (20)  “…the field.” 

Kayshon Boutte was LSU’s leading receiver with six catches, but the Tigers showed off their depth at wide receiver as Smith, Bech and Devonta Lee each had five catches. Brian Thomas had two catches for 50 yards. Quarterback Max Johnson says an adjustment on offense helped them spread the ball around…

Cut 20 (12)  “…throughout the game” 

State Treasurer John Schroder has some harsh words for FEMA and their delay of reimbursing the Calcasieu Parish School Board. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

______________________________________

State health officials report a sixth child has died from COVID-19 during the state’s fourth surge. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

______________________________________

As south Louisiana works to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Ida nearly three weeks ago, State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says some companies continue to deny evacuation expenses to policyholders if there was not an official evacuation order in place.

Cut 3 (11) “..the present time”

Donelon reminds the companies and the public that he has the power to override an insurer’s refusal to provide such coverage during a declared emergency such as that ordered by the governor.

Cut 4  (10) “…contracts that exist.” 

Donelon won’t standby and do nothing should an insurance carrier say no to 14-days of evacuation expenses related to Ida.

Cut 5 (12) “…this crisis situation.”

Donelon is expecting some companies to take legal action to nullify his order. He notes that some insurers dropped policyholders since Katrina because of various other legal obligations, but Donelon says about 30 smaller regional carriers have stepped in to pick up the slack.

_____________________________________

Houma Police are mourning the loss of one their own. 21-year old Austin Bush was killed in a single-vehicle crash Thursday morning after his car struck a log and ended up in a drainage basin and became fully submerged. Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman fondly recalls Bush’s goal to serve the public when he interviewed for the job.

Cut 6 (06) “…his community.” 

Coleman says Bush was just weeks away from completing the cadet academy and was driving to his post at the Houma Civic Center which is a distribution site for Hurricane Ida supplies. Coleman says the recent weeks have been challenging since the hurricane and the death of a young officer is even more difficult.

Cut 7 (11) “…through it.”  

Coleman says Bush had a bright future with the department and the young cadet told him since he was a child, he always knew he wanted to be a police officer.

Cut 8 (07) “…of the team.”

State Police are investigating the crash.

_______________________

LSU is a 20 point favorite tomorrow night when they host Central Michigan. Tigers coach Ed Orgeron is not expecting an easy game. He says the Chippewas have run the ball well in their two games this season

Cut 9 (11) “…Nichols” 

Nichols has rushed for 214 yards and has two touchdowns on the season. The Tigers enter the game ranked 93rd in total offense. Orgeron hopes to see improvement on that side of the ball in this game…

Cut 10 (13)    right now” 

_____________________________________________

Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder says he’s extremely with FEMA and their lengthy delay in reimbursement for school construction in Calcasieu Parish due to hurricanes Laura and Delta. Schroder says the delay has forced the state bond commission to approve an emergency request for $50-million to help the school system resume construction.

Cut  11 (09)  “…with FEMA.”  

Schroder says FEMA has only remitted $116 thousand of the Calcasieu Parish School Board’s nearly $300-million in reimbursement requests.

The school board has already used $40 million in insurance proceeds,$20 million in School Board General Fund money, and $100 million in bond proceeds to begin initial repair work. Schroder says of the state bond money if the school board doesn’t receive funds from FEMA …

Cut 12 (06) “…the bond.”  

Schroder says a reimbursement request means the money has already been spent and the school system is having to pay for construction and in the meantime, students are trying to learn in classrooms with leaky roofs. He says after a year two hurricanes it’s time for FEMA to send funds.

Cut 13 (10) “…school system.”

Schroder says he’s hopeful the state’s congressional delegation can successfully convince FEMA to accelerate recovery from the 2020 hurricanes.

________________________________________________

A total of 22 students have been arrested over the past two days at Southwood High School in Shreveport after multiple fights broke out on campus.  Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Bia Roldan, says nine deputies responded to the school Thursday when a fight broke out in front of the student center.

Cut 14 (05) “…call for backup” 

Roldan says on Friday morning another eight students, two groups of teenage girls ages 14 to 17, were arrested for fighting.

Cut 15 (10) “…next week” 

All of the students arrested were charged with disturbing the peace and face possible expulsion. Roldan says one student was charged with battery on an assistant school principal.

Cut 16 (07) “…process.” 

All of the students arrested are under the age of 17, except for 18-year-old Devin Welch was pepper-sprayed. He’s accused of making threatening statements to the school’s resource officer and a school staff member. He’s charged with resisting and interference with the operation of a school.