Tropical Storm Zeta is holding steady with 65 mile per hour winds and moving at 14 miles per hour towards the southeastern Louisiana coast. Taylor Sharp has more on what coastal leaders are doing to prepare for the Wednesday evening arrival…

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The New Orleans Pelicans introduced new head coach Stan Van Gundy today for the first time. The veteran coach spent the past two seasons in the broadcast booth but says he was tempted away from TV after the Pelicans job came open. Van Gundy comes into New Orleans with a winning record with one finals appearance.

On a party line 52-48 vote Metairie Judge and now Justice Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the US Supreme Court to fill a seat left open by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Senator John Kennedy says Barrett has an impressive, and unimpeachable past having graduated from Dominican High, Rhodes College, and Notre Dame…

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Democrats argue the nomination should never have gone forward, citing precedent set by Senate Republicans in the last year of the Obama Administration.

Residents impacted by Hurricane Laura now have until November 27^th to register for FEMA disaster assistance Spokesperson Melissa Wilkins says there are three ways residents you can register…

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The number is 1-800-621-FEMA.

Tropical Storm Zeta is bearing down on Louisiana and set to make landfall somewhere in the southeast as a category one hurricane Wednesday evening. John Rahaim is the Director of Emergency Preparedness for St. Bernard Parish says they are bracing for winds up to 90 miles per hour tomorrow night…

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It’s late in the season and cold fronts are sitting over large parts of the south but despite all of that State Climatologist Barry Keim says forecasters still expect Zeta will become the fifth named storm to hit Louisiana and the 11^th named storm to hit the US this year, both records for a single hurricane season.

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Two to five inches of rain are expected across the southeast and four to six feet of storm surge could be seen along the coast.

If you haven’t applied for FEMA aid related to damage from Hurricane Laura you still have some time left to claim what you are owed as the agency has pushed the deadline back to November 27^th. FEMA Spokesperson Melissa Wilkins says FEMA assistance can cover a range of expenses from housing to medical care.

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The deadline for those impacted by Hurricane Delta has been extended to December 15^th.

Metairie native, Judge Amy Coney Barrett has been confirmed to the US Supreme Court, filling a vacancy left by the departed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Senator John Kennedy touted the nomination saying Barrett is a judge who understands judicial restraint.

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Senator Bill Cassidy released a statement echoing that sentiment.

Hurricane Zeta is still on track for a Wednesday night landfall somewhere in southeast Louisiana as a category one. 90 mile per hour winds are certainly possible and Director of Emergency Preparedness for St. Bernard Parish John Rahaim says they’re preparing for that and more…

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Between two and five inches of rain is also expected in the southeast.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says storm surge warnings are in place from Port Fourchon to the Pearl River, basically all of southeast Louisiana, between four and six feet.

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Should Zeta maintain named-storm strength by the time it makes landfall it will be the record breaking fifth named storm to hit the state this season.

On a party line 52-48 vote Metairie Judge and now Justice Amy Coney Barrett is confirmed to the US Supreme Court to fill a seat left open by the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Senator Bill Cassidy released a statement saying “Friends and relatives of Amy Coney Barrett in Metairie and across Louisiana are right to feel particularly proud at this moment.” And Senator John Kennedy says Barrett has an impressive, and unimpeachable past having graduated from Dominican High, Rhodes College, and Notre Dame…

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Democrats argue the nomination should never have gone forward, citing precedent set by Senate Republicans in the last year of the Obama Administration.

Governor Edwards files a lawsuit seeking to challenge a legislative petition filed Friday that overturns his public health emergency and COVID restrictions on businesses. Attorney General Jeff Landry backs the petition saying it’s wholly constitutional and straight forward. He says Edwards no longer has the authority to penalize businesses that operate without restrictions, and he is ready to make that case in front of a judge…

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The petition was signed by 65 House GOP lawmakers at the end of the special session amidst frustrations that legislative attempts to limit or eliminate the Governor’s public health authority had failed. Many say their constituents feel the ongoing restrictions are hurting businesses and hampering the state’s recovery, but Edwards says that just doesn’t make any sense…

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Hurricane watches are now in effect for the central Louisiana coast all the way to the Mississippi/Alabama line as Hurricane Zeta is still on track to make landfall as a category one late Wednesday. There’s a cold front that could impact the system’s development and landfall, so State Climatologist Barry Keim says don’t take the current forecast as gospel.

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It will be the fifth named storm to make landfall in Louisiana in 2020.

Passage of Amendment Six on the November ballot would allow senior citizens with higher income levels to qualify for a property tax assessment freeze. Currently, if you are 65 or older and make less than $77-thousand annually your property taxes can be frozen for your homestead. Public Affairs Research Council President, Robert Travis Scott, says passage would increase the annual income limit.

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Governor Edwards passionately rebuked House Republicans for signing a legislative petition ordering him to end all pandemic public health orders. Edwards says the petition’s signees have their heads buried in the sand and refuse to acknowledge that the pandemic is still raging on. He says over 5,600 people have died from COVID since March…

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The petition also orders the Governor not to issue any additional public health emergency declarations for a week. Crowley Republican Representative John Stefanski argued that is reasonable and could demonstrate the state is ready to advance past Phase Three…

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Senate President Page Cortez weighed in on why a similar petition was not circulated in the Upper Chamber. He said Senators were concerned that there wasn’t enough data to back it up.

The petition is highly likely to end up in court and House Republican Caucus Chair Blake Miguez told us Attorney General Jeff Landry counseled House lawmakers prior to the signing of the petition. He says they were told the petition is constitutional and he would back up efforts to force the Governor to follow the law and cease the emergency declaration in the courts. Miguez says members preferred to handle concerns about COVID restrictions with legislation, but his veto threats left them no other choice.

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Only one bill limiting Governor Edwards’ unilateral public health authority passed and Edwards has all but confirmed he will veto it.

Legislation by Alexandria Representative Lance Harris that would have potentially stripped state construction funding from municipalities that defund their police departments is dead for now as lawmakers wrapped up their business for the 2^nd special session of the year without Senate approval for the bill.

House GOP lawmakers sign a legislative petition ordering Governor Edwards to end the ongoing pandemic public health emergency and all of its restrictions. Governor Edwards fired back this afternoon saying he will challenge the petition and that nothing about the current Phase Three restrictions have changed as of now.

House Republican Caucus Chair Blake Miguez says members preferred to handle concerns about COVID restrictions with legislation, but his veto threats left them no other choice.

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House Democratic Chair Sam Jenkins blasted the petition saying it denies the reality of COVID…

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Amendment Five on the statewide ballot provides new options for manufacturers and local governments to schedule payments instead of property taxes for industrial expansions. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scotts says the new format is basically payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT.

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The 250 dollar Frontline Worker Tax Credit program still has a little money left in the pot and those who qualify and still haven’t applied only have about a week left to claim their cash. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says they’ve had to deny just over 46,000 applications so far for ineligibility and if you’ve applied by not received a denial letter yet…

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Robinson says they’re waiting on additional information from 33,000 applicants.

The House signs a petition ordering the governor to end the COVID public health emergency, cease all pandemic public health restrictions, such as the mask mandate, and blocks him from issuing a new order for seven days. Governor Edwards will challenge the petition in court and announced at an afternoon press conference that restrictions remain in place and will be enforced while the issue is settled in court.

House GOP leaders have long chaffed at the Governor’s public health authority and unilateral power to implement business restrictions like capacity limits and bar closures. They believe the restrictions are doing more harm than good and should be settled at the local level instead of through state-level mandates.

Governor Edwards and Democrats slammed the petition calling it reckless and dangerous, a threat to public safety. House Democratic Caucus Chair Sam Jenkins says the reality of the pandemic has not sunk in for many of his Republican colleagues.

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Attorney General Jeff Landry has advised the House GOP Caucus that the petition should hold up in court and he is prepared to defend it.

LSU Freshman Quarterback TJ Finley will start against South Carolina on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.  The Ponchatoula native earned the starting nod after beating out fellow freshman Max Johnson.  This is a tough spot for a freshman to be in but his father David Finley says TJ has been preparing for this moment and will be ready to go.

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Amendment Five on the statewide ballot provides new options for manufacturers and local governments to schedule payments instead of property taxes for industrial expansions. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scotts says the new formula can be used as an economic development incentive.

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Scott says assessors generally oppose the amendment.

House Republicans sign a legislative petition ordering the Governor to end the public health emergency and suspending the Governor’s ability to issue new orders for a week, triggering a likely court battle. House Republican Caucus Chair Blake Miguez says his constituents have suffered under the restrictions and removing them will better allow the state to recover…

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House Democrats blasted the petition. Chair Sam Jenkins spoke on the House floor saying those that deny the reality of COVID need to go back to their district and talk to some COVID victims…

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Governor Edwards is likely to challenge it in court and is set to speak today at 3 PM.

LSU Freshman Quarterback TJ Finley will start against South Carolina on Saturday in Tiger Stadium.  The Ponchatoula native earned the starting nod after beating out fellow freshman Max Johnson. Covid-19 put a stop to football activities in the spring and summer, but his dad David says even though TJ couldn’t practice with the team, he used his time off to get into shape and cut some unnecessary weight.

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Amendment Five on the statewide ballot provides new options for manufacturers and local governments to schedule payments instead of property taxes for industrial expansions. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scotts says the new form of payment would be optional.

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Scott says assessors generally oppose the amendment.

The 2^nd special session of the year has wrapped up a few days early and lawmakers are headed home from Baton Rouge, but not before the House signed a legislative petition that would end the Governor’s COVID pandemic public health emergency declaration. House GOP Caucus Chair Blake Miguez says their constituents demanded action on the Governor’s COVID health restrictions…

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Earlier this week the Governor described the petition as irresponsible and said it could jeopardize federal emergency funding.

The 250 dollar Frontline Worker Tax Credit program still has a little money left in the pot and those who qualify and still haven’t applied only have about a week left to claim their cash. The deadline to apply is October 31^st or next Saturday. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says they’re still getting a steady trickle of forms sent in every day.

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Amendment Five on the ballot provides new options for manufacturers and local governments to schedule payments instead of property taxes for industrial expansions. Brooke Thorington explains.

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LSU Freshman Quarterback TJ Finley will start against South Carolina on Saturday in Tiger Stadium. TJ’s father David says his son is ready for the speed of the game, but it’s the physicality that could take some getting used to…

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