The Louisiana Health Department reported 872 new coronavirus cases today, it’s the lowest one-day total since early July. Ochsner Health Chief Medical Officer Doctor Robert Hart says the state is making good progress against COVID, but another surge is possible and vaccination rates will play a role…

Cut 12 (10) “..infected again.”  

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the number one complaint his office is getting is the often slow response of insurance adjusters assigned to assess property damage.

Cut 9 (08) “…did the inspection.” 

He says adjusters have up to 60 days to inspect a property.

Louisiana has received approval to extend DSNAP. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they understand the frustration among callers, and they are pleased they’ve received federal approval to extend call-in days.

Cut 6 (08) “…fourth week.” 

Phase three will end October 9^th.  Of the 110-thousand calls so far seeking DSNAP assistance, almost 81-thousand have been approved.

Extinction happens and Robert Dobbs with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the ivory-billed woodpecker is among nearly two dozen birds, fish and other species that have now been declared extinct.

Cut 3 (05) “…Louisiana since 1944.”

Dobbs says the last confirmed siting of the ivory-billed woodpecker was in the Tensas River area in northeastern Louisiana.

The Louisiana Health Department reported 872 new coronavirus cases today, it’s the lowest one-day total since early July. Ochsner Health Chief Medical Officer Doctor Robert Hart says the state is making good progress against COVID, but another surge is possible and vaccination rates will play a role…

Cut 12 (10) “..infected again.”  

Due to extremely high call volume, Louisiana has received approval to extend DSNAP. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they understand the frustration among callers, and they are pleased they’ve received federal approval to extend call-in days.

Cut 6 (08) “…fourth week.” 

Phase three will end on October 9^th.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, the number one complaint his office is getting is the often slow response of insurance adjusters assigned to assess property damage.

Cut 9 (08) “…did the inspection.” 

He says adjusters have up to 60 days to inspect a property, and that failures to initiate a loss adjustment within that time period or pay a claim within 30 days after proof of loss, can result in penalties against insurers.

Robert Dobbs with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the ivory-billed woodpecker is among nearly two dozen birds, fish, and other species that have now been declared extinct. Dobbs says bird lovers haven’t given up altogether on trying to find the ivory-billed woodpecker since its mid-1940s disappearance, but haven’t had any luck.

Cut 4 (09) “…have been confirmed.”

The mother of a 2-year-old Baton Rouge girl, Navaeh Allen, found dead In Mississippi over the weekend is now in police custody and accused of killing her.  Baton Rouge police chief Murphy Paul:

Cut 24  (11)   “…second-degree murder.”

The mother’s boyfriend, Phillip Gardner, was arrested earlier for the unlawful disposal of the girl’s remains and obstruction of justice.  He’s now charged with second-degree murder also.

The state health department says the state is making progress in the battle against COVID-19, but every single parish is at the highest possible level of community risk. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (29)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Senator Bill Cassidy and some of his colleagues on Capitol Hill are pushing legislation to delay the rollout of a plan by FEMA to hike flood insurance premiums dramatically until September 30, 2022.

Cut 6 (09) “…from their mortgage” 

Cassidy says delaying implementation of the premium revision would give lawmakers more time to address the rollout of Risk Rating 2.0. to make it more meaningful and sustainable.

The autopsy results of 20-month-old Burreaux the Baton Rouge Zoo giraffe named after LSU Heisman winner Joe Burrow indicated the young calf died from anaphylactic shock.  Zoo veterinarian Michael Warsaw says the shock was a result of an external source.

Cut 9 (08) “…going to know.” 

Jake Guidry of Thibodaux is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his infant daughter. The body of 11-month old Zabria Guidry was found in the rear cargo area of Guidry’s car. Matherne says it’s not certain what the father had planned after he placed the infant in his SUV.

Cut 4 (10) “…3 pm.”

Autopsy results of 20-month-old Burreaux the Baton Rouge Zoo giraffe named after LSU Heisman winner Joe Borrow, indicate the young calf died of shock. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Senator Bill Cassidy is supporting legislation to delay the rollout of a plan by FEMA to hike flood insurance premiums dramatically until September 30, 2022.  Cassidy believes the FEMA rate hike plan has an ulterior motive.

Cut 7 (11) “…from the coastline”  

The state health department says Louisiana is making progress in the battle against COVID-19, but every single parish is at the highest possible level of community risk. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (29)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

There’s good news and bad news in Louisiana about the current Covid-19 surge.  It comes from State Health officer Dr. Joe Kanter.

Cut 12  (11)   “…since that time.”

But Kanter says the bad news about this fourth surge of Covid in the state is that it is still very much around and people still need to take mitigation steps like vaccinating, masking up and social distancing to address the virus’ spread.

The Delta variant during the fourth COVID surge is also responsible for devastating outcomes for 14 expectant mothers in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The autopsy results of 20-month-old Burreaux the Baton Rouge Zoo giraffe named after LSU Heisman winter Joe Borrow indicated the young calf died from anaphylactic shock.  Zoo veterinarian Michael Warsaw says the shock was a result of an external source.

Cut 9 (08) “…going to know.” 

Burreaux died on September 8^th a day after he had a severe cough and showed signs of agitation.

State lawmakers heard from Louisiana school superintendents about their continued challenges in recovering from Hurricane Ida AND from Laura last year. St. Charles Parish Superintendent Kern Oertling (ORT-ling) says 19 schools will reopen next week, but the parish’s two high schools will have to temporarily merge…:

Cut 10 (08)  “…on these campuses.” 

Oertling addressed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday.

Senator Bill Cassidy and some of his colleagues on Capitol Hill are pushing legislation to delay the rollout of a plan by FEMA to hike flood insurance premiums dramatically.

Cut 6 (09) “…from their mortgage” 

Cassidy says delaying implementation of the premium revision would give lawmakers until September 30, 2022 to address the rollout of Risk Rating 2.0. to make it more meaningful and sustainable.  

26-year old Jake Guidry of Thibodaux faces second-degree murder charges in the death of his infant daughter. After a welfare check early Tuesday morning, at the request of the child’s mother, that’s when Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Brennan Matherne says they made the grim discovery.

Cut 3 (12) “…had died.”

As southeast Louisiana schools try to recover from Ida, schools in southwestern parishes – hit hard by Hurricane Laura in 2020 – are still struggling to regain normalcy. Calcasieu Parish School Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus (BRUCK-house) says students have been back for quite some time, but the long-term damage is evident. He says he’s glad the system bought all the 55-gallon waste cans available at Sam’s…:

Cut 12 (07) “…every time it rains.”

LSU has broken the record for the most accomplished, largest, and most diverse freshman class in the school’s history. Vice President of Enrollment Jose Aviles says when the vaccine mandate was announced over the summer some feared it would have a negative impact on enrollment, but Aviles says he’s received positive feedback from parents indicating they prefer a school that considers health a priority.

Cut 15 (11)  “…at LSU.”

Thirty days after Hurricane Ida, the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports nearly eight thousand customers are still without power as a result of the Category 4 storm. Entergy’s John Hawkins says some of their customers are still not able to accept power because of damage to their homes…Grand Isle and Port Fourchon are among the hardest-hit areas and Hawkins says for those coastal communities it is an entire rebuild versus a restoration.  He says crews are working 16-hour days in an effort to give them some normalcy as soon as possible.

Cut 4 (11) “…restored”

Five people were injured Monday night in an explosion in an ethylene production unit at the Westlake Chemical facility near Lake Charles. The unit was undergoing maintenance at the time. Three of those contract workers have been treated and released from the hospital; two are still being treated. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the blast.

Thousands of Terrebonne Parish residents are still having to resort to tents or storm debris as a shelter following the landfall of Hurricane Ida a month ago today.  Houma Representative Tanner Magee says his efforts to find decent temporary housing for his constituents have been frustrating.

Cut 6 (12) “…my entire life” 

He says the feds are making moves to get trailers sent to Terrebonne Parish, but the process is a red tape battle.

Gas prices aren’t falling as they usually do this post-Summer time of the year. In fact, Triple-A reports the statewide average price for a regular gallon of gasoline is $2.90. About eight cents higher than a month ago. Triple-A’s Don Redman says the big culprit in keeping pump prices high is the price of crude oil…

Cut 9 (09) “…of the year” 

Thirty days after Hurricane Ida, the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports nearly eight thousand customers are without power as a result of the Category 4 storm. Entergy Louisiana VP of Distribution Operations John Hawkins says a month after landfall, he says the utility wouldn’t have been able to have the lights back on for as many customers as they do without the assistance of out-of-state crews.

Cut 5 (11) “…quicker.”

Thousands of Terrebonne Parish residents are still having to resort to tents or storm debris as a shelter following the landfall of Hurricane Ida a month ago today.  Houma Representative Tanner Magee says his efforts to find decent temporary housing for his constituents have been frustrating.

On a positive note when it comes to temporary housing, Magee says FEMA has sent out a request for proposals for 10-thousand trailers to be located in Terrebonne Parish but says it’ll be a waiting game.

Cut 8 (08) “..actual real trailers”

Gas prices remain high even as fall arrives, Triple-A’s Don Redman saying the statewide average price of regular is holding at around two-90 a gallon for now.  Redman says most Louisiana refineries are running again, so hopefully, gas prices will stabilize and possibly decline as demand falls…

Cut  11 (10)  “…the reality ”  

The latest trend for job seekers is to add their vaccination status to their resume and/or job application. According to an August Wall Street Journal survey of more than a thousand hiring managers, 70-percent prefer to hire vaccinated individuals. UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa says your vaccination status is almost like a credential now.

Cut 12 (07) “….about safety.”  

Rosa says he feels as if employers are going to rally around the vaccination movement and we will see more workplaces requiring workers to be fully inoculated.

Thirty days ago, Ida made landfall and left just under a million Entergy customers in the dark. Brooke Thorington has more on restoration a month later.

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington” 

Thousands of Terrebonne Parish residents are still having to resort to tents or storm debris as a shelter following the landfall of Hurricane Ida a month ago today.  Houma Representative Tanner Magee says his efforts to find decent temporary housing for his constituents have been frustrating.

Cut 6 (12) “…my entire life” 

Gas prices usually decline in the fall, but that’s not the case this year. According to the Louisiana Triple-A, the statewide price for a regular gallon of gasoline is $2.90, up about eight cents from a month ago. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman says the big culprit in keeping pump prices high is the price of crude oil…Redman says 16-percent of crude production in the Gulf of Mexico is still shut down because of Hurricanes Ida and Nicholas. He says uncertainty in the economy is also keeping oil prices elevated…

Cut 10 (12)  “..stubbornly high” 

Now here’s the latest on commodities for Tuesday.