A hurricane watch is posted along Louisiana’s coast as Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs it will deliver a massive blow to Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Ida will be a major hurricane when it makes landfall, most likely near Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. The eye of the storm could move over Morgan City. Mayor Lee Dragna says they are prepared…
cut 14 (10) “…come through it always”
Today marks the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura which tore through southwest Louisiana with 100-mile per hour winds. Many residents are still hoping for more federal assistance to rebuild their homes. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter keeps asking…
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Governor Edwards says there are three billion dollars in unmet needs.

A top Biden Administration official will visit New Orleans today to survey some of the state’s COVID-filled hospitals. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond has resigned. Mayor Adrian Perkins asked Raymond to step down nearly three months ago. The mayor says the city is experiencing an inexcusable surge of violent crime and the police department needs change. Raymond says a shortage in public safety personnel has led to historical increases in homicides for many cities.

Tropical Storm Ida is showing signs of strengthening as it moves northwest at 15 miles per hour. It’s currently located south of Western Cuba and is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along the Louisiana coast. Christopher Bannon is with the National Weather Service in New Orleans…
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A landfall near Lafourche-Terrebonne Parish is most likely. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson, Lt. Brennan Matherne, says if this current track holds, he expects evacuation orders will go out today…
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Governor Edwards has declared a state emergency. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging all Louisianans to plan accordingly.

Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s landfall in Cameron Parish. Laura came ashore with 150 mile per hour winds and left behind an estimated 17.5 billion dollars in damage in Louisiana. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says there are still plenty of blue tarps and homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana, but he says the city’s residents have kept each other going.
Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”
Hunter is upset the federal government has yet approve millions of dollars in grant money that can help hurricane victims rebuild.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter says he formally requested additional aid from the Biden Administration…
Cut 7 (08) “…issues.”
2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week.

The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Ida is strengthing over the northwest Caribbean Sea and Ida is forecast to be a Category 3, major hurricane at landfall on Sunday. A landfall near Terrebonne-Lafourche Parishes seems most likely at this point. Christopher Bannon is with the National Weather Service…
cut 6 (12) “…Saturday evening”

Today is the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Laura’s devastating landfall in southwest Louisiana. That region also experienced Hurricane Delta, a winter storm in February and more flooding in May. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they are still waiting on the federal government to provide assistance to rebuild homes…
cut 10 (12) “…rebuild”

According to the National Hurricane Center’s official forecast track the eye of Ida could pass right over or very close to Morgan City. Matt Doyle says the coastal city in St. Mary Parish is ready…
cut 3 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

Ida is expected to enter the Southeastern Gulf tonight or early Saturday and reach major hurricane status right before it makes landfall on Sunday. A Hurricane Watch is in effect for coastal Louisiana. Forecasters are expecting storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall.

Tropical Storm Ida is now expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along Louisiana’s coastline Sunday afternoon. A landfall near St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parishes seems most likely at this point. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says whenever a storm heads their way, residents take the proper precautions and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.
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So far only Grand Isle has issued a voluntary evacuation, which may become mandatory later today. But more evacuation orders are likely. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Lt. Brennan Matherne…
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Ida is expected to become a hurricane tomorrow once it gets into the Gulf.

A year ago today, Hurricane Laura made landfall but yet the City of Lake Charles continues to wait for major disaster relief…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) is in New Orleans today to meet with Governor Edwards and Mayor LaToya Cantrell to get an update on the state’s fight against COVID, including vaccination efforts. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter…
cut 9 (09) “….big deal”
41-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated.

The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression nine has formed over the western Caribbean. Strengthening is expected as the tropical disturbance could enter the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says several models show a potential landfall in Louisiana…
cut 9 (04) “…in the mix”
The National Hurricane Center says dangerous impacts from storm surge, wind and heavy rainfall are possible Sunday and Monday along portions of the northern Gulf Coast.

The U-S Department of the Interior is moving ahead with plans to hold a Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale. The Biden Administration issued a moratorium on new oil and gas development on federal lands and waters, but a federal judge ruled in June it should be lifted. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla says the President also probably looked at the price of gas…
Cut 4 (07) “…haunt them.”
The auction could take place in October.

There are statewide elections in October and November and the voting experience in 2021 will go back to pre-COVID ways. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says that means he does not plan to ask the governor and the state legislature to expand absentee mail-in balloting or provide additional early voting days like there were for last year’s presidential election…
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The deadline to register to vote in the October 9th election is September 8th.

With the first home game at Tiger Stadium a little over two weeks away, LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward is urging fans to prep ahead so they aren’t caught off guard with the new policies requiring those 12 and up to be either vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID test 72 hours prior kickoff.
Cut 13 (06) “…for gameday.”

The U-S Interior Department is moving forward with plans to hold a Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease auction, possibly in October. The President placed a moratorium on new lease sales soon after entering office, but a federal judge ruled in June it should be lifted. The Biden Administration previously said reducing domestic oil and gas production was key to limiting global warming. But Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla says…
cut 5 (09) “….for oil”

There are statewide elections in October and November, but Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says there are no plans to expand absentee-by-mail voting or adding more early voting days. He says there are vaccines available this year, unlike last year and voters can also mask up…
cut 12 (08) “…during COVID

The state health department reports a child under the age of one has died from COVID-19. Also, the weekly death toll from the coronavirus has reached its highest point since the pandemic’s first wave in the spring of 2020. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter calls this news heartbreaking.

Fans will enter Tiger Stadium in a little over two weeks but with new COVID policies to make the experience as safe as possible. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Associated Press has released graphic body camera video that shows a State Police Trooper hitting a Black motorist with a flashlight 18 times. The incident happened in May 2019 in Monroe. Aaron Bowman said he thought he was going to die that night. Trooper Jacob Brown defends his actions by calling it pain compliance. He faces state chargers in this beating and two others involving Black motorists.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the fall elections in October and November will run as they did pre-COVID…
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Biden administration reportedly plans to hold a Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease auction, possibly in October. A federal judge ruled in June that the White House must lift a moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla says the lease sale ban reversal coupled with rising oil prices helps put the industry back on track…
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LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward says the Tiger Stadium vaccination policy does not apply to tailgating, but he hopes tailgaters practice social distancing…
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LSU season ticket holders who do not want to attend games this year and want a refund, have until tomorrow to ask for one. An LSU spokesperson said late yesterday afternoon that they’ve received refund requests from 50 to 75 ticket holders.