One year ago today, rains began pouring down on south Louisiana, causing a flood of biblical proportions. Jeff Palermo reports on the recovery…:
Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

A senior student at Acadiana High School was arrested is under arrest for allegedly punching a school safety officer multiple times on the first day of school. The Scott Police Department said the incident happened after the student, 17-year-old Robert Hebert was sent to the office for a dress code violation because his hair was dyed red.

According to Insure.com’s latest study, Louisiana drivers are paying the second highest amount in annual car insurance premiums at just over $1900. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says there is new technology that can help lower rates like a product called usage-based insurance, which measures how far and how you drive..:
Cut 16 (11) “travel at”

State Police is investigating a fatal ATV crash in Avoyelles Parish that claimed the life of a man, and injured two young children. Trooper Scott Moreau says 30-year-old Jeremy Armand of St. Martinville crossed into an oncoming lane of traffic on a roadway, and collided head on with a van traveling in the other direction…:
Cut 12 (09) “trauma center”
The public is reminded that it is illegal to operate off-road vehicles on any public roadway in this state.

It was a year ago today that torrential rains began pouring down on south Louisiana, causing a flood that’s been called the worst US natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The Lafayette Parish town of Youngsville saw most of its residents displaced because of the water. Mayor Ken Ritter says it looks now like all is well, but debt is what you don’t see…:
Cut 9 (10) “make ends meet”
By the time the rain stopped ten days later, 20 parishes had been declared federal disaster areas, and 13 people lost their lives.

In Caddo Parish, a monument advisory committee voted down a recommendation to take down the Confederate statue outside the courthouse in downtown Shreveport. What did pass was an idea to keep the monument where it is, but erect a plaque nearby adding historical context and erect two new structures around the courthouse dedicated to the Civil Rights movement.

Louisiana has moved up two spots to number two in Insure-dot-com’s ranking of states with the most expensive auto insurance rates. The website says Louisiana drivers pay, on average, $1900 a year, which is 46-percent higher than the national average. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says one factor is that 40-percent of drivers carry minimum car insurance limits and that also leads to more lawsuits…:
Cut 15 (12) “of that”

The eclipse is coming up August 21st and eye experts are urging spectators not to stare at the event without proper protection. Executive Director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana Dr. James Sandifer says looking directly at the sun can damage or destroy the photo receptors in the retina, which can cause permanent damage…:
Cut 5 (08) “gone forever”

Louisiana has moved up a couple of spots to number two when it comes to the most expensive car insurance rates in the country. Don Molino has the story:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

As the city of New Orleans and the Sewerage and Water Board work to restore pumping capacity to the drainage system, schools and other institutions have decided to remain closed today “out of an abundance of caution.” Forecasters say the threat of thunderstorms over the city will continue today as residents worry about neighborhoods left vulnerable to flooding because of a damaged water pumping system.

As Louisianans gear up to watch the upcoming solar eclipse on August 21st, doctors remind the public to do so safely. Executive Director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana Dr. James Sandifer says in Louisiana, only a partial eclipse will be visible, which is why it’s so important for viewers to protect their eyes…:
Cut 4 (12) “at the sun”
Sandifer says many of their members are giving away genuine viewing glasses on a first come, first serve basis.

Two children are recovering in Avoyelles Parish after being thrown from an ATV when it collided with a vehicle on Wednesday night. State Trooper Scott Moreau says the driver, 30-year-old Jeremy Armand of St. Martinville, was killed in the crash…:
Cut 11 (10) “with the van”
The 8-year-old girl on the ATV suffered serious injuries, and the 3-year-old occupant sustained moderate injuries.

One year ago today, torrential rains began pouring down on south Louisiana. By the time the rain stopped ten days later, 20 parishes had been declared federal disaster areas, and 13 people lost their lives. Livingston Parish was one of the most devastated, with 75 percent of the homes deemed a total loss. Parish President Layton Ricks says the parish is making a good comeback…:
Cut 7 (08) “is good”
An estimated 146,000 homes were damaged in the August flood.

Louisiana has moved up two spots to number two in Insure-dot-com’s ranking of states with the most expensive auto insurance rates. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says an excessive amount of litigation is one factor..:
Cut 14 (07) “claims to litigation ratio”

Eye doctors urge people who plan to watch the solar eclipse to do so safely. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Eye doctors urge people who plan to watch the solar eclipse to do so safely. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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One year ago today, rains began pouring down on south Louisiana. What followed in the next ten days can only be described as a flood of biblical proportions. Jeff Palermo has more on where we are today…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Louisiana has moved up a couple of spots to number two when it comes to the most expensive car insurance rates in the country. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

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As Louisianans gear up to watch the upcoming solar eclipse, doctors remind the public to do so safely. On August 21, a total solar eclipse will pass over the country from Oregon to South Carolina. Executive Director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana Dr. James Sandifer says in Louisiana, only a partial eclipse will be visible, which is why it’s so important for viewers to protect their eyes.

Cut 4  (12) “at the sun”

Sandifer says the only safe way to view the partial eclipse is with approved eclipse glasses. He says looking directly at the sun can damage or destroy the photoreceptors in the retina. He says that can cause permanent damage to the eye.

Cut 5  (08)  “gone forever”

Regular sunglasses won’t work for this eclipse. They must be much darker to view the sun. Sandifer says people should make sure their glasses are authentic because there’s been reports of knock-off eclipse glasses being sold online.

Cut 6 (10) “and viewers”

Sandifer says many of their members are giving away genuine viewing glasses on a first come, first serve basis. Call your optometrist to see if any are available.

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One year ago today, torrential rains began pouring down on south Louisiana. By the time the rain stopped ten days later, 20 parishes had been declared federal disaster areas, and 13 people lost their lives. Livingston Parish was one of the most devastated, with 75 percent of the homes deemed a total loss. Parish President Layton Ricks says the parish is making a good comeback.

Cut 7 (08)  “is good”

Ricks says some people are still rebuilding their homes, and some are just now getting started on the demolition. One cause of the delay could be money, as many are waiting to receive their share of the $2 billion Congress appropriated for flood recovery. Ricks says it all starts by completing the survey at restore.la.gov.

Cut 8 (11) “funding from it”

An estimated 146,000 homes were damaged in the August flood. The Lafayette Parish town of Youngsville saw most of its residents displaced because of the water. Mayor Ken Ritter says a drive through the town would give the appearance the devastation never happened, but the reality is many are a long way from recovery. With the water gone, debt is now a big concern.

Cut 9 (10)  “make ends meet”

Flood mitigation has been a big issue for affected parishes trying to protect against future disasters. Ritter says the parish raised development standards within a month of the flood. He says to this day, crews work seven days a week in drainage channels to stay a step ahead of the next rain event.

Cut 10 (10) “great results”

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Two children are recovering in Avoyelles Parish after being thrown from an ATV when it collided with a vehicle on Wednesday night. State Trooper Scott Moreau says the driver, 30-year-old Jeremy Armand of St. Martinville, was killed in the crash.

Cut 11 (10) “with the van”

The 8-year-old girl suffered serious injuries, and the 3-year-old boy suffered moderate injuries. The driver of the van, 28-year-old Hope Parrish of Bunkie, did not sustain any injuries. But Moreau says Armand was not so lucky.

Cut 12 (09) “trauma center”

It is illegal to ride an ATV on a public roadway, and four-wheelers are not meant to carry passengers. Moreau adds none of them were wearing a helmet. He says this was not a safe situation at all.

Cut 13 (09) “a helmet”

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Louisiana has moved up two spots to number two in Insure-dot-com’s ranking of states with the most expensive auto insurance rates. The website says Louisiana drivers average annual rate is 19-hundred dollars, 46-percent higher than the national average. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says an excessive amount of litigation is one factor

Cut 14 (07) “claims to litigation ratio”

Donelon says legislative efforts to address the litigation problem have been unsuccessful over the years. He says another factor for high rates is that 40-percent of drivers carry minimum car insurance limits and that also leads to more lawsuits

Cut 15 (12) “of that”

He says distracted driving is also pushing auto rates up. There is new technology that can lead to lower your premiums. He says some insurance companies, like Progressive, are using a product called usage-based insurance, which measures how far and how you drive

Cut 16 (11)  “travel at”

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LSU’s Kevin Toliver is the likely starting cornerback opposite of Donte Jackson. Coming out of high school in Jacksonville, Florida, Toliver was considered as one of the nation’s top corner prospects. In two seasons at LSU, Toliver has one interception and missed the final four games of last season due to a shoulder injury. Toliver says he’s ready to be an impact player this season

Cut 17 (13)  “my talents”

Freshman Grant Delpit has worked with the first unit at free safety as senior Ed Paris is dealing with a minor leg injury. Donte Jackson says he’s impressed with Delpit and the rest freshmen’s willingness to learn…

Cut 18 (18) “of me” 

LSU has to replace two first round draft picks in their secondary, as Jamal Adams and TreDavious White are both in the NFL. But Jackson doesn’t expect much of a talent drop-off…

Cut 19 (18) “this fall”

Jackson says he’s been impressed with the freshmen linebackers, Jacob Phillips, Patrick Queen and Tyler Taylor from Georgia….

Cut 20 (18)      “spot” 

Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s glad President Donald Trump is taking a stand against continued threats from North Korea. Jeff Palermo reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Department of Transportation has found a contractor to widen Interstate 10 from Highland Road in Baton Rouge to LA 73 in Ascension Parish. It will take around two and a half years to widen the interstate by one lane in each direction. The $72 million project is being funded through a combination of state and federal funds.

A man is behind bars in connection with the death of a Tennessee truck driver who was killed in an armed robbery on Tuesday morning. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says this wasn’t 18-year-old Landry Carter’s first robbery.

Cut 3 (11) “those crimes”

Carter is charged with four counts of armed robbery and one count of first degree murder.

More flooding is a possibility in New Orleans, as a turbine at a pumping station caught fire last night and heavy rains are in the forecast. Governor John Bel Edwards has signed an emergency declaration for Orleans Parish.

Cut 10 (08) “quickly as possible”

Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the city will be vulnerable for the next 24 to 48 hours.

Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins says he’s glad President Donald Trump is taking a stand against continued threats from North Korea. The Cajun John Wayne says previous administrations have dealt with agressions from North Korea with a, “kick the can down the road” type mentality, but it’s about time to get serious…:
CUT 12 (06) “to the real world”
Higgins believes Mr. Trump is carefully targeting exactly what would need to be hit, and hit hard.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in New Orleans due to the potential for more flooding, and vulnerable pumps….;
Cut 10 (08) “as quickly as possible”
A fire Wednesday night in a turbine has crippled gear that powers city pumps, but officials say crews are working to get those back online. The threatened areas are on the east bank of New Orleans.

Baton Rouge Police have made an arrest in the fatal armed robbery that cost a Tennessee truck driver his life. Sgt. L’Jean McKneely says both video surveillance and witness testimony were essential to bringing in the suspect. He says they spoke with people who saw the tragic event…:
Cut 4 (11) “Mr. Odom”
18-year-old Landry Carter was familiar to police as he is linked to a number of other crimes. He faces many charges including first degree murder.

State Police is investigating a fatal ATV crash in Avoyelles Parish that claimed the life of a man, and injured two young children. They believe 30-year-old Jeremy Armand of St. Martinville crossed into an oncoming lane of traffic on a roadway, and collided head on with a van traveling in the other direction. Armand died, and an 8-year-old and three-year-old on the ATV were injured. The public is reminded that it is illegal to operate off-road vehicles on any public roadway in this state.

Governor John Bel Edwards joined New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu today to discuss the possibility of more flooding in the city, as a turbine caught fire overnight forcing a pumping station to move to last resort power. Landrieu says this outage has the potential to compromise the capacity of drainage on the East Bank of New Orleans…:
Cut 9 (09) “National Weather Service”
Edwards has issued a state of emergency for Orleans Parish.

A Walker woman is in critical condition after she jumped from a moving vehicle on I-12. Captain John Sharp with Walker Police says last night 26-year-old Whitney Cotton was riding with her fiancé, 27-year-old Matthew Roberts, when she leapt out of the pickup truck…:
Cut 6 (10) “moving vehicle”
Cotton was taken to a local hospital with critical injuries.

Tensions are rising between the US and North Korea. Halen Doughty has more on what this means from Congressman Ralph Abraham…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says if lawmakers decided against replacing the $1.3 billion in revenue that is set to expier in July of next year, the state would be forced to reduce funding by 20 percent for every area of government. He says that would be drastic for higher education, healthcare, prisons, and public schools…:
Cut 5 (10) “their hands on”
Dardenne says the state does not have an extra billion dollars to make up for this lost revenue.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu is urging residents in the city to be prepared for the potential of more flooding today, after an overnight fire in a power producing turbine at a pump station forced the plant to go on backup. Landrieu said he was issuing these warnings in light of last weekend’s flooding, and the Sewerage and Water Board giving the public misleading information. He added that if all of the power from Entergy continues, the city will be able to handle a typical rainfall situation.

Despite a slight decrease in revenue, the Louisiana Lottery reported its third best year ever. Lottery spokesperson Dustin Annison says increased sales for the record Powerball jackpot of more than a billion dollars helps boost revenue last year. He says a number of other factors contributed to the slight dip this year…
Cut 11 (08) “prize pool”
He says the corporation brought in nearly $455 million in revenue for the 2017 fiscal year.

Louisiana parents of autistic children have a new resource after the Baton Rouge Area Foundation helped to launch a website full of information about benefits and resources. Director of civic leadership initiatives Lauren Jumonville says La.ExceptionalLives.org provides a host of helpful advice…:
Cut 14 (11) “great opportunities”