The federal government has given Louisiana approval to run a disaster food stamp program in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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29-year old Baton Rouge native Haley Arceneaux will make history tonight as the youngest American in space. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Folks with damaged roofs from Hurricane Ida are still struggling to keep their homes from further damage.  Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson tells us as Nicholas’ rains cause additional problems, tarps that home and business owners have used thus far, fall short of the federal government’s Blue Roof program.

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Chaisson isn’t pleased that surrounding parishes that have most of their power back appear to be ahead in the line when it comes to getting Blue Roof assistance.

Cut 4  (08) “…couple of days.” 

Chaisson is also upset in the slow movement of FEMA to set up temporary long-term housing like mobile homes in Lafourche to house residents as their storm-damaged homes are made habitable after Ida’s wrath.

Cut 5 (09) “…into the parish.”

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Disaster food stamps, also known as D-SNAP, will soon be available to residents in 25 parishes hit hard by Hurricane Ida. Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Assistant Secretary Shavana Howard says D-SNAP helps eligible households buy groceries due to lost income or damages related to Ida

Cut 6 (11) “…you’re eligible.” 

Howard says people who currently do receive food stamps can be eligible for D-SNAP. She says the virtual application process for residents in select parishes will begin Monday…

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Howard says residents who are interested should pre-register and then starting on Monday D-C-F-S agents will begin interviewing applicants to see if they are eligible. She says residents who live in the hardest-hit parishes like Lafourche, St. Charles, and Terrebonne will go through the interview process during the first full week of October…

Cut 8 (12) “..grocery store openings.”

For a schedule of when applicants will be interviewed based on their last name and the parish, they live in go to dcfs.la.gov/dsnap.

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Baton Rouge native Hayley Arceneaux will make history tonight as the youngest American in space. She’s part of the Inspiration4 space mission that aims to raise awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where Arceneaux overcame bone cancer. Assistant Professor Lindsay Ferrington at LSU Health Shreveport was one of Arceneaux’s instructors.

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29-year-old Arceneaux will also be the first cancer survivor and the first person with a prothesis to journey into space.  Ferrington remembers when Arceneaux applied to the LSU Health Shreveport Physician Assistant Program, and she realized then her potential.

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Arceneaux now works as a PA at St. Jude, and she inspires her patients as a cancer survivor herself and her mission in space. Ferrington says they are celebrating Arceneaux with a launch party at the school.

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Coverage begins this afternoon on SpaceX’s YouTube Channel and the five-hour launch window opens at 7 pm.

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The Chief Civil Deputy at the Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s office, Debbie Dollar, is facing charges of malfeasance in office and theft charges. State Police Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says the 58-year-old woman stole thousands of dollars from the Caldwell Sheriff’s office

Cut 12 (12) “35-thousand dollars”  

Reichardt says she’s been taking money out of a drawer used to hold money collected for fines and fees since January 2020…..

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Dollar was booked into the Caldwell Parish Jail. Her bond was set at four-thousand dollars. Reichardt says stealing 35-thousand dollars is a lot of money…

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Nicholas made landfall as a Category One Hurricane along the Texas coast during the overnight hours and it threatens to produce flooding rains in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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FEMA is helping out Hurricane Ida storm victims when it comes to generator and chainsaw expenses. More from Dave Brannen.

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Tropical Storm Nicholas is moving slowly inland bringing the threat of rain over the next two says to the Bayou State. Nicholas made landfall early this morning along the southeast Texas coastline and has the potential to cause flooding in southwest Louisiana today. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says they are prepared in case any residents find themselves in peril.

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Mancuso says they also have the National Guard in place to assist with any rescues if needed. While schools and government buildings in the parish are closed today in hopes of keeping motorists off the road today, Mancuso says first responders however are at work and prepared to assist.

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Even though it’s extremely tempting to view damage left by a storm, Mancuso highly encourages residents to refrain from sightseeing because vehicle traffic can force water into homes in low-lying areas and that’s when most accidents occur.

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office is prepared to take action if flooding rains from Tropical Storm Nicholas materialize as expected.  Spokesperson Ashley Rodrique says the staging of dozens of boats for potential water rescues took place Monday.

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Rodrique says that’s expected to occur first in the Lake Charles area.  But, the area of flooding rains is likely to stretch across south Louisiana, so boat teams are prepared to act wherever rescue efforts are needed.

Rodrique says there are numerous assets ready for the call to service as heavy rains from Nicholas sweep across the state.

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Ashley Rodrique says the State Fire Marshal’s Office feels well prepared with other emergency crews to respond to whatever rescues are needed as Nicholas marches east with its likely flooding rains.

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Tropical Storm Nicholas is whipping through southeast Texas, slowly heading towards Louisiana.  Nearly the entire the state is seeing rainfall, with south Louisiana experiencing heavier rainfall and stronger storms. Stacey Denson with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the center of the storm will not reach the Bayou State until tomorrow.

Cut 9 (06) “…we’re currently seeing.” 

And that would be light to moderate rainfall with some heavy pockets of rain now and then, with the potential for localized flooding.

Denson says a flash flood watch is in effect for the southern half of the state…

Cut 10 (07)   15 inches possible.” 

Denson says it might not be until Thursday until weather conditions improve.

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There’s help from FEMA available to those who qualify for reimbursement of generator or chainsaw purchases related to Hurricane Ida.  Agency spokesman Nate Custer says there are guidelines for say the maximum payout of 800-dollars for a generator.

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And, in certain conditions, FEMA will provide a reimbursement of up to 250-dollars for chain saws needed to deal with trees downed blocking access to homes due to Ida.

If FEMA doesn’t approve your request for reimbursement for a generator and/or chainsaw related to Hurricane Ida, agency spokesman Nate Custer says there is an appeal process.

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FEMA’s Nate Custer says there are restrictions for a storm victim to get a reimbursement for chainsaw rental or purchase because of Hurricane Ida.

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To qualify for FEMA reimbursements for generators or chainsaws, the purchases have to occur between August 26^th and September 25^th in the 25 disaster-designated parishes and because the homeowner has insufficient or no insurance.