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

Cut 6 (09) “…in the system.”

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. PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell says the SWEPCO grid will benefit from power generated by the turbines of the two wind farms.

Cut 9 (12) “…in a forward way.”

State police are investigating a weekend officer-involved shooting.  It occurred Saturday night involving a Shreveport police office at a West 70^th Street address inside the city limits. He had responded to a call for service at a convenience store and wound up chasing 30-year-old Desmond Lewis who fled on foot. After catching up with Lewis, he and the officer got into an altercation, Lewis pulling out a weapon and the officer responding by fatally shooting Lewis.  The unidentified officer escaped injury.

In sports…the Saints kicked off the 2021 season with a 38-3 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Cut 3 (30)  I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Tomorrow 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 a major help in reducing security threats today 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.  Waguespack says requiring American companies to mandate Covid vaccinations is clearly not the role of the federal government.

Cut 7 (10) “..should be doing”  

State Police Colonel Lamar Davis met with reporters today 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 failed to hand over his body cam footage to prosecutors. Cleary has been cleared. Davis denies an Associated Press report that he personally visited the Union Parish D-A in an effort to make sure the troopers involved in Greene’s death were not criminally charged…

Cut 13 (08)    of my employees”

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. Wiebe says if you find an oiled bird or any animal don’t try to rescue it yourself, call LDWF.  Wiebe says you can do more harm than good for the animal that’s already stressed.

Cut  11 (10) “..these animals.”  

This is not only Friday, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says this particular Friday means we’re halfway through this year’s hurricane season.

Cut 7  (11)   “…than any other.”

Keim says that’s why more storms form at this point in the hurricane season, that calendar wise runs from June through November.  He says that thus far this year, there have been 13 named storms, far ahead of an average season of storms.

Dealing with the aftermath of a devastating catastrophe like Ida, there’s the problem of increased stress. As you may or may not know, there is free and confidential help for those feeling overwhelmed.

Cut 5 (09)   “…about that.”

That’s State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter who says one way to get help is talk with the folks at Keep Calm at 866-310-7977.

Tomorrow marks the 20^th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks on the US.  As you’ll recall Islamic terrorists crashed planes into the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York and hi-jacked another jet, slamming it into the Pentagon.   Trey Williams of Baton Rouge was working for the federal government in DC at the time.  He says he’ll always remember the compassion people showed each other during that chaotic time.

Cut 12   (08)    ….each other out.”

The LSU Tigers kick off their first home game against McNeese State tomorrow night and fans will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative PCR Covid-19 test to get into Tiger Stadium.  LSU Athletics spokesperson Cody Worsham says there will be a dozen pre-verification sites on campus.  A map of the sites can be found on lsusports.net.

Cut 14   (12)   …your seats.

The sites will be open from 10-3 Saturday prior to the game.

The American Red Cross is aiding in areas of the state that were heavily impacted by Hurricane Ida. President and CEO Gail McGovern has visited southeast Louisiana herself and seen the widespread devastation. She says they are providing a number of services.

Cut 3 (10) “…and parishes.”

McGovern says at the height of providing shelter, the Red Cross assisted up to forty thousand people.

Congressman Steve Scalise says Louisiana’s congressional delegation is on board with likely getting a separate funding package passed to help Ida-ravaged Southeast and Southwest Louisiana.  He says the money needed to effect a massive repair effort will require billions of federal dollars due to the damage.

Cut 6 (08) “..development block grants.” 

Entergy Louisiana President Phillip May says the lights are back on for more of the utility’s customers.  He says power has now been restored to more than 90-percent of those who can take it in the greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas.

Cut 9 (11) “…of 75-thousand.”  2x

May says so far 682-thousand customers have had their power restored post-Ida of 902-thousand who were left in the dark.  The bad news is that more than 90-percent of Entergy’s customers in Lafourche, St. Charles and Terrebonne parishes still have no power.

A juvenile was found fatally shot outside of a home in Natchitoches this morning. Natchitoches Police Corporal John Greely says officers responded to the scene on Highland Park Drive just after six o’clock.

Cut 12 (06) “gunshot wound”  

Greely says they are asking the public to provide tips that could lead to an arrest.  He says the shooting occurred in a residential neighborhood

Entergy Louisiana President and CEO Phillip May says the lights are back on for more of the utility’s customers.  He says power has now been restored to more than 90-percent of those who can take it in the greater New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas.

Cut 9  (11)   “…of 75-thousand.”  (2x)

He says so far 682-thousand customers have had their power restored post-Ida of 902-thousand who were left in the dark.  The bad news is that more than 90-percent of Entergy’s customers in Lafourche, St. Charles and Terrebonne parishes still have no power.

Congressman Steve Scalise says Louisiana’s congressional delegation is on board with likely getting a separate funding package passed to help Ida-ravaged Southeast and Southwest Louisiana.  Scalise, who’s had a first-hand look at the damage doled out by Ida, says he believes Ida packed 190-mile-per-hour winds when it initially came ashore in the Port Fourchon area.

Cut 8  (10)   “…the wind was.”

The American Red Cross is aiding with hurricane recovery. Brooke Thorington has more from the president and CEO.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is ordering insurance companies to pay the evacuation expenses of policyholders who fled their homes during Hurricane Ida whether a mandatory evacuation order was issued or not.

Cut 4 (11) “…them from abuse.”

Donelon says State Farm has said it would not cough up the expense money to evacuees who left their homes during Ida and incurred expenses when a civil authority had not issued an evacuation order.  But, Donelon says Hurricane Ida “was a clear and present danger.”

The effects of a cool front moving into the Bayou State will be quite noticeable to those rocked by Ida and still working to repair the massive destruction that many sustained.  State Climatologist Barry Keim.

Cut 8 (11) “…very low humidity.”

While some parts of the state have regained power other parts remain uninhabitable. FEMA is on the ground providing assistance to residents with immediate needs. FEMA Spokesperson John Mills says some residents may qualify for funding for critical needs assistance.

Cut 10 (07) “…insurance.” 

The Baton Rouge Zoo is mourning the passing of 20-month-old giraffe Burreaux. The young giraffe, named after Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow, was born December 26 in 2019, the same year the LSU Tigers went undefeated. Zoo veterinarian Dr. Michael Warshaw says the plan was to observe the young giraffe for a severe cough and agitation and then schedule an immobilization Wednesday morning with the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine. But early Wednesday things took a turn.

Cut 14 (09) “…agitated.”

As for a cause of death, a necropsy was performed by the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and the zoo’s medical staff.

The timing of Ida is presenting an issue for meeting deadlines and the uncertainty of polling locations having electricity for the October primary.  Brooke Thorington has more on Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s plan.

Cut 1    (32)  soq.

Hurricane Ida’s death toll in the state had climbed to 26.  The additional deaths come after confirmation from the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office of 11 more people who succumbed to storm-related injuries.  Those deaths occurred between August 30 and September 6^th with causes that included excessive heat and carbon monoxide poisoning.

There’s great news today for southwest Louisiana residents awaiting much-needed federal dollars for still ongoing repairs from Hurricane Laura last year.   Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the White House is requesting Congress send two-point-three-billion-dollars to the region.

Cut 6  (07)   “huge step forward.”

However, Hunter says it’ll probably be next year before the funds begin to flow into the Bayou State since there are quite a few hurdles to clear on Capitol Hill before the money wins final approval.

Ten days into the restoration effort, the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports 345-thousand utility customers in southeast Louisiana are without power. Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says in Tangipahoa Parish, about 50-percent of the customers are without power. May says they have updated restoration times…

Cut 10 (12)    Hurricane Ida” 

About a million customers have gotten their power back since it was knocked out by Ida.

Descriptions of the massive destruction left behind by Hurricane Ida are almost endless, Senator John Kennedy who visited Houma and Thibodaux on Tuesday called the damage “breathtaking”, coupled with a lot of “misery”.

Cut 21 (10) “…2005 with Katrina.”

Kennedy says he’s thankful we didn’t see a greater loss of life as with Katrina.

There’s a high probability that the fall election in Louisiana will be postponed to November due to hurdles imposed by Hurricane Ida. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin presented a plan to the Governor to move election day from October 9^th to November 13^th and the November 13^th election to December 11^th.

Cut 3 (12) “…and food.”

The Louisiana Department of Health is acting to close seven nursing homes that the state says failed to properly evacuate hundreds of nursing home residents as Hurricane Ida approached.  LDH executive counsel, Stephen Russo says hundreds of nursing home residents were evacuated to a warehouse facility in Tangipahoa Parish and that an initial attempt at inspecting the warehouse was rebuffed.

Cut 14 (11) “nursing homeowner.”

Many displaced Ida residents are waiting on the approval of the disaster supplemental nutrition assistance program. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says for DSNAP to go into effect it is designed to unfold in a sequence. A second stage includes distributing household products from their various partners, calling it a thought-out process because you can’t send out DSNAP cards immediately following a hurricane.

Cut 8 (11) “…a reason.”

The Louisiana Department of Health is taking formal action against seven nursing homes that the state alleges failed to properly evacuate hundreds of nursing home residents as Hurricane Ida approached.  LDH executive counsel, Stephen Russo.

Cut13  (11)   “…to their residents.”

And as such, Russo says the licenses of all seven facilities are being revoked and their Medicaid provider agreements have been terminated.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Louisiana which serves the greater New Orleans area says they’ve been extremely busy post-Ida both with receiving donations and distributing food.  Second Harvest Spokesperson Jay Vise says they are helping people in some of the most hurricane-impacted areas of southeast Louisiana.

Cut 10 (11) “…as possible.” 

Many displaced Ida residents are waiting on the approval of DSNAP or the disaster supplemental nutrition assistance program. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says for DSNAP to go into effect it is designed to unfold in a sequence due to lack of power and accessibility. The first stage is points of distribution sites for food.

Cut 7 (05) “…assistance.”

The second stage includes distributing household products from their various partners.

Senator Kennedy says that as storm victims deal with short-term problems such as power outages and no internet, housing will be a long-term setback for many.

Cut 5 (11) “…place to live.”

Kennedy says the state’s congressional delegation is together with Governor Edwards on doing a stand-alone bill to provide supplemental disaster housing relief for south Louisiana and those in the northeast hit hard by Ida.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission says there are over 430-thousand customers without power, nine days after the storm made landfall. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

State Health officials are confirming two more Ida-related deaths, both occurred in St. Tammany Parish.  They involved a 68-year-old male who fell off a roof while making repairs to the structure and a 71-year-old male who died of a lack of oxygen while the power was out.

Few if any have power in Lafourche Parish more than a week after Ida’s rampage.  That’s the word from Sheriff’s Captain Brennen Matherne.  He says that low water pressure has been also a problem outside the Thibodaux area but most of that has been corrected.

Cut 4  (10) “..in the evening” 

Over 35-thousand residents of South Louisiana have applied with FEMA for a large tarp, to cover roof damage from the weather. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, says amateurs are already putting up tarps of their own, but he advises applying for the professional help…:

Cut 12 (08) “the right way”  

Installations of FEMA Blue Roof tarps begin tomorrow, but there is some rain looming in the southeast Louisiana forecast.