As Tropical Storm Nicholas bears down on Southeast Texas for Southwest Louisiana the biggest threat is heavy rainfall.  Dave Brannen has more.

Cut 1 (34) “ …I’m Dave Brannen.” 

______________________________________

A lawsuit filed on behalf of one of the more than 800 nursing home residents that were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during hurricane Ida also names the Louisiana Department of Health as defendants. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

______________________________________

Southwest Louisiana is under a Flash Flood Watch as Tropical Storm Nicholas heads up the southeast Texas coast.  Donovan Landreneau with the National Weather Service says the amount of rain the Bayou State could see could climb as high as 20 inches.  And, the storm surge could be an additional problem dished out by Nicholas.

Cut 3 (11) “..feet above normal.”

Landreneau says rain bands will likely tell the story of how much rain areas of the state will receive from Nicholas.

Cut 4  (08) “…even 20 inches.” 

Landreneau says it’s too early to say which areas of the state will be subjected to the heaviest rainfall as the official forecast track shows Nicholas twisting to the northeast as it exits Texas moving into central Louisiana.

Cut 5 (10) “..threat is there.”

_____________________________________

In Tangipahoa Parish, a Loranger man is charged with aggravated assault of a utility worker after branding a gun and threatening a lineman. TPSO Chief Jimmy Travis says it happened Friday evening on Highway 445 after 35-year-old Kendrick James refused to yield to a utility crew restoring power.

Cut 6 (12) “…of a utility worker.” 

The charge carries a penalty of a fine of not less than $2,000 and/or imprisoned for not less than one year nor more than three years.

Travis says this is not the first incident involving harassment of utility workers they’ve encountered. He says one man even threatened the power company on the phone.

Cut 7 (11) “..somewhat normal”  

While Travis admits it’s frustrating waiting to get power restored but harassing a utility worker is not the answer, he says it’s a complicated and lengthy process to restore power safely and he urges residents to be patient due to the outages.

Cut 8 (12) “..save us.”

_______________________

Baton Rouge attorney Ron Haley has filed a lawsuit on behalf of one of the more than 800 nursing home residents that were evacuated to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during hurricane Ida. The suit names nursing homeowner Bob Dean and the Louisiana Department of Health as defendants. Haley says nursing homes in southern parts of the state are required to file an evacuation plan with the state.

Cut 9 (12) “…blows over.” 

Haley’s client is Darlene Franklin, who is currently in a nursing home in New Roads, was not only a resident in a Bob Dean facility but also a former employee.

Cut 10 (10)    a victim.” 

Inspectors with the health department visited the warehouse after they received reports of deteriorating conditions but were thrown off the property then returned the next day to relocate the more than 800 residents to properly equipped facilities across the state.

Seven residents have since died from the original evacuation to the warehouse.

Haley says Franklin told him not only were evacuees crowed into the warehouse and left on mattresses on the floor but they also weren’t given food or medication for two days.

Cut  11 (12) “..there did.”  

This is the second lawsuit filed against Dean, the first was a class action suit filed out of New Orleans. The state has since revoked the licenses of seven nursing homes owned by Dean that were evacuated to the warehouse.

_______________________

The Saints started the 2021 season with an impressive 38-3 victory over the Green Bay Packers in a game held in Jacksonville, Florida, because of the devastation in southeast Louisiana from Hurricane Ida. Quarterback Jameis Winston threw five touchdown passes and dedicates the victory to New Orleans

Cut 12 (12) “resilience”  

Linebacker Demario Davis hopes their statement win over one of the top teams in the NFC revives hope for those suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida…

Cut 13 (09)    we’re one”

Running back Alvin Kamara rushed for 83 yards and had a touchdown. He says they knew Green Bay would not feel sorry for them because they’ve been displaced by Ida…

Cut 14 (12) “… work to do” 

Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes are getting help from an organization that’s among others trying to help Ida storm victims get back on their feet.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

___________________________________

Statewide COVID hospitalizations appear to have peaked in this fourth surged mid-August, but health officials fear Hurricane Ida could reverse the state’s progress. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

_________________________________________

The Saints start off the 2021 season with a 38-3 win over the Green Bay Packers. Jeff Palermo has a recap…

Cut 3 (30)  I’m Jeff Palermo” 

___________________________________________

The executive director of the Bayou Community Foundation says the group is focusing its assistance efforts on hard-hit Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida.  Jennifer Armand says the organization has raised several million dollars thus far.

Cut 4 (12) “…on the ground.”

Armand says money keeps pouring into the foundation’s fund that has helped pay for fuel, food and the various other needs of residents who remain in recovery mode more than two weeks after Ida slammed the two parishes, including Grand Isle.

Cut 5 (09) “…and year ahead.”

In looking back to last week, Armand says gasoline has been one of the significant needs of those in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.

Cut 6 (09) “…southern Terrebonne parishes.”

The Bayou Recovery Fund for Hurricane Ida Relief was opened two days before the storm wreaked havoc on southeast Louisiana.  If you’d like to donate to the fund you can visit the website bayoucf.org and click on the banner Bayou Recovery Fund.

________________________________________

The second of three planned SWEPCO wind farms is up and running in nearby Oklahoma. The Maverick wind farm is expected to generate 287-megawatts of power for the SWEPCO grid in Louisiana and elsewhere. Shreveport area Public Service Commission member Foster Campbell says he’s a proponent of wind energy…:

Cut 7 (12) “…do for Louisiana.”

The Maverick wind farm joins the already complete Sundance facility with a third, called Traverse, to begin operating in 2022. Campbell says the new wind farm represents a $1-Billion savings over a 30-year period compared to other energy resources. He says the wind farm will be good for northern Louisiana because it stabilized the state’s energy base…:

Cut 8 (07) “…in north Caddo Parish.”

The SWEPCO grid will benefit from power generated by the wind turbines of the two wind farms. Campbell says it’s a step in the right direction…:

Cut 9 (12) “…in a forward way.”

____________________________________________

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says when you look at COVID hospitalizations in the state it appears as if they peaked in mid-August but since a major hurricane has hit the state, he fears things could change.

Cut 10 (11) “…downward trajectory.” 

On Friday 1,755 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, down more than 40-percent since the governor issued his latest statewide mask mandate, and the positivity rate has dropped from 14-percent to 11-percent, which is also encouraging.

Kanter says while he’s grateful for the downward trend in COVID hospitalizations he also understands it could be short-lived given the fact that many families were recently forced to shelter with others outside of their immediate household due to Ida.

Cut 11 (09) “….generator.”

Kanter says the message he wants to send is while the numbers are encouraging, we must remain vigilant with COVID mitigation practices to continue to make progress.

Cut 12 (11) “…future increases.”  

New statewide COVID numbers will be released today at noon.

_______________________

More than two weeks after Hurricane Ida tore up southeast Louisiana, for the most part, the lights still aren’t back on for homes and businesses in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.  Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May, the repairs will be slow going for the time being.

Cut 13 (11) “…get back on.”

May is promising that everyone will eventually get their power back as crews continue to work as fast as possible to do so.

Cut 14 (07)  “…light is on.”

May says the Lafourche and Terrebonne area present a much bigger challenge to get power restored.

Cut 15 (09)  “…what we can.”

_______________________________________

The Saints began the Jameis Winston with a big “W” as New Orleans completely dominated Green Bay 38 to 3. Winston played error free football as he threw for 148 yards and touchdowns. Winston gives credit to the defense for holding Aaron Rodgers to 133 yards passing…

Cut  16 (22) “…football games.”

It was Winston’s first start since 2019, who spent last season learning the Saints offense from Coach Sean Payton and former QB Drew Brees. Linebacker Demario Davis says he’s proud of Winston…

Cut 17 (16) “…what they see.”  

Many are shocked by the Saints dominant performance in Jacksonville. The team has been Fort Worth, Texas, since Hurricane Ida caused massive destruction to New Orleans. Davis says they wanted to win this one for Who Dat nation…

Cut 18 (23)”…adverse times.”

______________________________________________

The LSU Tigers beat McNeese 34-7 on Saturday night, but the Bayou Bengals offense did not look good in the victory. LSU had just 306 yards of total offense and they were just 4-of-16 on third down. Quarterback Max Johnson was also consistently pressured. Coach Ed Orgeron on the offense’s performance

Cut 19 (18)  “….better schemes” 

Orgeron says he’s a little surprised the offense has struggled through the first two games of the season…

Cut 20 (21)  “…change it.” 

The Biden Administration’s plan to require Covid-19 vaccines for companies with more than 100 employees is drawing strong opposition from LABI.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Dave Brannen.” 

______________________________________

State Police Colonel Lamar Davis discusses changes made with the agency as his department comes under fire for allegedly not investigating properly cases of excessive force arrests involving troopers. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

______________________________________

Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the United States that killed nearly three thousand Americans. Chris Guilbeau, Assistant Deputy Director of Emergency Management at Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says policies and procedures implemented since 9-11 have made a difference.

Cut 3 (12) “…major incidents.”

Homeland Security overhauled numerous procedures at airports to enhance security and each state also has a fusion center to help investigate potential threats against Americans.

But now Guilbeau says the biggest threat we are facing from terrorists is cyberattacks which can cripple major companies and infrastructure.

Cut 4  (12) “…their knees.” 

Guilbeau says a major help in reducing security threats is the ability for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to share intelligence, but the best tool we have in thwarting domestic and international terrorists is the public speaking up when they see something out of sorts.

Cut 5 (12) “…little strange.”

_____________________________________

The Biden Administration is getting more blowback on its plan to mandate vaccines for companies with more than 100 employees.  LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack opposes the action that would impact about two-thirds of the American workforce and a quarter of LABI members.

Cut 6 (11) “..like this before.” 

Waguespack says he’s been vaccinated and LABI encourages everyone to consult their doctor about whether to do the same.

Waguespack says requiring American companies to mandate Covid vaccinations is clearly not the role of the federal government.

Cut 7 (10) “..should be doing”  

He says the Biden plan has the potential to offshore American companies who fear losing their employees over the vaccine mandate while noting that there is currently a record high number of job openings for the fifth month in a row.

Waguespack says the Biden plan to mandate Covid 19 vaccines for companies with more than 100 employees will put them in a tough position.

Cut 8 (10) “..are subjected to”

He’s imploring the President to reconsider his plan and return a more productive and constitutional effort to improve the vaccination rate through education and access.

_______________________

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has located more than 100 oiled birds due to a spill from the Alliance Refinery in Belle Chasse. LDWF Restoration Program Manager Jon Wiebe says the spill is associated with Hurricane Ida’s path. He says there’s a fair bit of oil near the levee that surrounds the refinery.

Cut 9 (05) “…if we can.” 

The oiled birds are being transferred to a restoration center in New Iberia. Wiebe says their stay there depends on the condition of the bird.

Cut 10 (05)    than that.” 

Alliance Refinery is assisting with the recovery along with LDWF, the Louisiana Oil spill Coordinators’ Office, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wiebe says if you find an oiled bird or any animal do not try to rescue it yourself, call LDWF and give them the location of the animal. Wiebe says you can do more harm than good for the animal that is already stressed.

Cut  11 (10) “..these animals.”  

_______________________

State Police Colonel Lamar Davis held a lengthy press conference to discuss allegations the agency mishandled a police brutality investigation. Lt. John Clary has been accused of covering up the fatal police beating of Ronald Green in 2019 when he did not hand over his body cam footage to prosecutors. Cleary has been cleared and Davis explains why…

Cut 12 (14) “this finding”  

Davis defended the LSP’s policy of not releasing video excessive force encounters. He says doing so could compromise criminal cases. He also denied an Associated Press report that he personally visited the Union Parish D-A in an effort to make sure the troopers involved in the Greene’s death were not criminally charged…

Cut 13 (08)     into our lives”

Davis says his department takes accusations of excessive force very seriously. He points out that four troopers were arrested in February for using excessive force during arrests in 2019 and 2020. He says they investigated several others and terminated some. He says no one in his department is above the law.

Cut 14 (09) “…  in Natchitoches 

New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter has called on the Department of Justice to conduct a full investigation into State Police practices and patterns. Carter says the Associated Press has found over a dozen instances of misconduct in reporting the use of excessive force.