After being put on hold during the budget crisis, three new expansions will begin at schools in the Louisiana Community and Technical College System that are focused on training people for the workforce. Jeff Palermo has more…

CUT 1 (28) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

WAFB reports the wife of fallen Baton Rouge police officer Matthew Gerald is pregnant. Dechia Gerald told WAFB reporters she believes she conceived five days before her husband was killed in the ambush on Baton Rouge officers.

The state Office of Motor Vehicles is now offering customers the ability to cancel the license plate on their vehicle without having to visit an OMV office. Spokeswoman Staci Hoyt says right now most of the license plates being brought in for cancellation are for vehicles that were damaged in the flood.

Cut 13 (07) “get here”
Customers can visit the OMV website and enter the VIN, plate number and zip code of the registered owner of the vehicle to cancel the plate.

The Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to an oil spill off the coast of Bay Long, near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says they are currently conducting cleanup operations from the 53 hundred gallon spill.

Cut 4 (07) “collection oil”
She says they are still investigating the spill.

A new report from the Legislative Auditor’s Office highlights ways to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate. Karen LeBlanc with the Legislative Auditor’s Office says the state can save money by providing alternatives for people arrested on drug charges, like diversion and specialty courts.

CUT 6 (10) “a jail”

But Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office, Pete Adams, says they would rather see solutions that didn’t cost anything upfront.

The Office of Motor Vehicles is letting drivers cancel their license plates online. Deputy Commissioner Staci Hoyt hopes this will help the massive OMV wait times that have only increased after the flooding event. She says the office also has extended hours…

cut 15 (06) “4:30″

The Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to an oil spill off the coast of Bay Long, near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says roughly 53-hundred gallons of crude oil leaked from a pipeline owned by Harvest Pipeline Company. She say it was struck by a vessel owned by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company…

CUT 3 (08)  “leaking”

A new animal disaster relief shelter has opened in Amite. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson says this new center is the base of operations for all the surrounding parishes. He says they’re trying to help reunite pets and livestock with their owners.

cut 10 (10)  “multiple weeks”

Dorson says at this site, they have 50 dogs and 20 cats in separate areas with air conditioning.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office has issued a report detailing how Louisiana can reduce its incarceration rate, which is higher than anywhere else in the world. Halen Doughty has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

According to the East Bank Consolidated Fire Department, a Jefferson Parish school bus carrying 34 children crashed into a canal along West Metaire Avenue this afternoon around 1:45. The students evacuated out of the back door of the bus and one suffered a minor injury.

The Office of Motor Vehicles is now allowing drivers to cancel their license plates online. Deputy Commissioner Staci Hoyt says anyone wishing to do so online must enter the vehicle’s VIN number, the plate number, and the ZIP code of the registered owner.
Cut 14 (08) “be canceled.”

Hoyt says office hours have also been extended this week until 6:30 p.m.

The Humane Society of Louisiana has opened a new animal disaster relief shelter in Amite. Executive Director Jeff Dorson says they originally partnered with the Livingston Government Animal Control during the initial flood recovery stage, but the Livingston Shelter needed to return to normal business. He says this Amite Arena is in a perfect location.
cut 12 (10) “incident center”

He hopes this new center will help reunite animals with their owners.

Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is now offering customers the ability to cancel the license plate on their vehicle without having to visit an OMV office. Spokeswoman Staci Hoyt says right now most of the license plates being brought in for cancellation are for vehicles that were damaged in the flood…:
CUT 1 (09) “get here”
Customers can visit the OMV website and enter the VIN, plate number and zip code of the registered owner of the vehicle to cancel the plate.

The Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to an oil spill off the coast of Bay Long, near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says they are currently conducting cleanup operations from the 53 hundred gallon spill…:
CUT 4 (07) “collection oil”
She says they are still investigating the spill.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office has released a report that highlights possible ways to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate, which is the highest in the world. Spokeswoman Karen LeBlanc says one of the things they’d like to see is nonviolent offenders with more probation and less jail time…:
CUT 7 (12) “state facility”
But Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office, Pete Adams, says these ideas are costly and letting criminals out on the street with probation could be dangerous to the public…:
CUT 9 (12) “best move”
But Leblanc says the money the state saves from these reforms can be used to fund these proposed programs.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office has issued a report detailing how Louisiana can reduce its incarceration rate, which is higher than anywhere else in the world. Halen Doughty has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The third phase of the disaster food stamp program began today as flood victims in nine more parishes can receive DSNAP benefits. Sammy Guillory, with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, says if you lost food or income as a result of the floods and do NOT receive regular food stamps, you could be eligible…:
Cut 1 (05) “by the floods”

A new animal disaster relief shelter has opened in Amite and serving surrounding Parishes. Executive Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana Jeff Dorson says the key reason they opened this shelter is to help reunite pets and livestock with their owners…:
cut 10 (10) “multiple weeks”
He says if you’ve lost your pet in one of the 16 impacted parishes, they could very well be at the new Amite location.

The Coast Guard and other agencies responded to an oil discharge near Bay Long in Plaqumines Parish, where it’s estimated approximately 5,300 gallons of crude oil leaked from a pipeline. They say the pipeline, which is now secure, was hit by a large boat that was conducting excavation operations.

The Legislative Auditor’s Office has released a report highlights possible ways to reduce Louisiana’s incarceration rate, which is the highest in the world. Karen LeBlanc with the Legislative Auditor’s Office says they looked at everything from pre- to post-incarceration. She says the state can save money by providing alternatives like diversion and specialty courts for people arrested on drug charges…:
CUT 6 (10) “a jail”
Executive Director of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Office, Pete Adams, says they would rather see solutions that didn’t cost anything and only had savings. He says they like the idea of drug courts, but they cost money. He says it takes a dedicated team for drug courts to be successful…:
CUT 8 (09) “work right”

The American Red Cross is providing limited financial aid and casework for people affected by the flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Coast Guard and other agencies are responding to an oil spill off the coast of Bay Long, near Grand Isle. Petty Officer Lexie Preston says roughly 53-hundred gallons of crude oil leaked from a pipeline owned by Harvest Pipeline Company. She say it was struck by a vessel owned by Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company…:
CUT 3 (08) “leaking”
Preston says aircrews have conducted aerial assessments of the spill.

Congress is expected to begin discussions about federal aid for Louisiana’s flood relief efforts as they return to Washington D-C for the fall session today. Don Molino has more…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

The Coast Guard and other agencies responded to an oil discharge near Bay Long in Plaqumines Parish, where it’s estimated approximately 5,300 gallons of crude oil leaked from a pipeline. They say the pipeline, which is now secure, was hit by a large boat that was conducting excavation operations. 3,000 feet of hard boom is deployed.

The third phase of the disaster food stamp program begins today as flood victims in nine more parishes can receive a benefits card to purchase food. Sammy Guillory, with the DCFS, says almost 110-thousand households have received disaster food stamps and the distribution has gone well…:
cut 11 (10) “serve them”
You can pre-register online at dcfs.la.gov.

Fort Polk officials say they are trying to find homes for about 750 horses that are roaming the base on grassy areas where soldiers train. That’s why base spokesman Troy Darr says they need to get the animals off the property. He says three animal welfare groups have already signed up, and a lot of people are interested…:
cut 14 (08) “couple dozen”
He says the horses were probably abandoned over the years and started to reproduce.

Congress is expected to take up the matter of getting more federal aid to Louisiana during their fall session which begins today. US Senator Bill Cassidy says 49 parishes have been declared disaster areas in the March and August floods and the entire state is trying to recover…:
CUT 9 (09) “the job”
Governor John Bel Edwards wants Congress to approve a two-billion dollar federal aid package that will cover housing, economic development and infrastructure repairs.

The American Red Cross is now providing casework that can connect flood victims with other resources other than FEMA. Spokesperson Anthony Tornetta says after registering, at redcross.org they are able to provide limited financial assistance in 48 to 72 hours. He says the amount of aid available is done on a case by case basis…:
Cut 5 (09) “by home”

Fort Polk is in the process of trying to find homes for 750 horses that roam on the grounds of the military base in Vernon Parish. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

An Alabama man who died from injuries sustained during flood relief efforts in Denham Springs will be laid to rest today. According to the First Baptist Church of Stasuma, Alabama, 72-year-old Sonny Ellis was helping to wash victims’ clothes at the New Covenant Church in Denham Springs on September 1st, when he fell backward and hit the sidewalk. He died later that evening from a head injury.

The American Red Cross is providing limited financial aid and casework for people affected by the flooding. Emelie Gunn has more…:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Congress convenes for the fall session today and US Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s already spoken to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell about Louisiana’s need when it comes to getting more federal flood aid…:
CUT 8 (10) “to help”

The Department of Children and Family Services issued over $44 million in disaster food benefits to nearly 110,000 households in the first two weeks of operations. They are open to nine additional parishes today. This is not for people who already receive regular food stamps. DCFS spokesperson Sammy Guillory says if you were denied food stamps you can appeal…:
CUT 12 (07) “by a supervisor”
You can pre-register online at dcfs.la.gov.

Fort Polk has about 750 horses on their property and the military base in Vernon Parish is looking to give them a new home. Public Affairs Officer Troy Darr says the horses were probably abandoned over the years and started to reproduce. He says they are willing to give the horses to animal welfare groups or private citizens…:
Cut 13 (08) “the horses”