A Tropical Depression in the southern Gulf of Mexico is close to tropical storm strength. There’s a chance it could become a hurricane late Sunday night, early Monday morning. National Weather Service Meteorologist Donald Jones says there’s not a lot of confidence in the forecast track

Cut 3 (12)  “…few days.”  

The current forecast track shows the system crawling up the Texas coastline towards Louisiana as a tropical storm.

Governor Edwards has altered the Phase 3 order to allow on-premise sale and consumption of alcohol until 11 PM, instead of 10 PM at restaurants, casinos, and bars in parishes that are eligible to opt in to reopen bars. Bars have been open in Acadia, Jefferson Davis, St. Landry and Plaquemines Parish. The owner of City Bar in Crowley Chad Monceaux says he’s glad to be back, but wonders how long the state will remain in Phase 3…
Cut 8 (11) “…families.”
St. James and St. Charles parishes voted last night to allow bars to re-open in their parishes.

The 2021 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction class features one of the best receivers to play for the Saints, LSU’s most decorated player on defense, and a college basketball legend. Former LSU basketball star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is also part of the 2021 class. Hall of Fame Chairman Doug Ireland says the high-scoring guard for the Tigers was the SEC player of the year as a freshman and sophomore.
Cut 12 (11) “…college basketball.”
Inductions take place in June.
DCFS Assistant Secretary of Family Support Shavana Howard says so far a little over 60,000 have applied for DSNAP in the areas impacted by Hurricane Laura, but they were expecting about 100,000 more.Depending on their situation, those eligible families could be leaving lots of available assistance on the table.
Cut 15 (08) “…assistance that’s available.”
Step-by-step instructions on how to apply can be found at dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP.

7,600 unemployment claimants received notices that they’d been overpaid due to a technical error with a Louisiana Workforce Commission vendor. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame welcomes  Saints receptions leader Marcus Colston, LSU defensive legend Glen Dorsey, and Former LSU basketball star Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, formerly known as Chris Jackson, into the hall this year.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says he’s suffered a lot of damage that’s going to cost him a lot of money. The damage is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest. Lincoln says he invested extra care into the crop that would have been harvested by the first of October.

Cut 8 (13) “…what it was.”

Haunted houses can open in Louisiana this year but will be limited to 50 total people in the building and guests will be limited to groups of six with mask-wearing and social distancing enforced. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says each facility will have guidelines to follow.

Cut 11 (06) “…threat.”

To open each facility will have to check in with the state on OpenSafely.la.gov to get guidance on what they need to do to begin.

A technical issue resulted in 76-hundred unemployment claimants receiving an erroneous message claiming they owed overpayment money to the state and feds. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says they are working with their vendor to resolve the issue, and it should be taken care of without most claimants needing to get involved.

Cut 3 (07)  “…contend with.”  

The error resulted in some receiving requests for over ten thousand dollars of back payments.

Haunted Houses will be allowed to open this year but under strict permitting requirements and pandemic health restrictions. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says only 50 people total will be allowed in the building…

Cut 9 (11) “…escort”

Group sizes will be limited to six people.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted. Lincoln says the damage to his nuts is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest. On a good year, his operation will move about 3 million pounds of nuts, but this year, he anticipates it will be closer to a quarter-million pounds.
Cut 7 (05) “…on the ground.”
Lincoln says he invested extra care into the crop that would have been harvested by the first of October. Nuts that were knocked out of trees are not salvageable.
Utility provider B-E-C-i says they’ve restored power to 60-percent of their membership as power has nearly been restored to all of their customers in Vernon and Rapides Parishes. The goal of getting power restored to those that can receive it is by the end of the month. Spokesperson Danielle Tilley says in addition to the over 100 employees working in their offices, they still have plenty of boots on the ground to finish the job.

Cut 14 (07) “…area working hard.” 

76-hundred Louisiana unemployment recipients got notices last week that they owed potentially over ten thousand dollars to the state and feds for unemployment overpayments. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says that was the result of a technical error by a vendor, and it’s being corrected on their end…

Cut 4 (05)“ …apologize.” 

If you’ve been impacted by this technical error and have questions you are encouraged to email LWC.

Haunted Houses will be allowed to open this year but they’ll have to operate under some strict health protocols to keep the COVID at bay. Only 25 guests and 25 workers will be allowed in the building and State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says those guests will have to be in small groups of only six…

Cut 10 (12) “…report”

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted.  Lincoln says while there are still some nuts in the trees, there aren’t enough to make it beyond his local customers.

Cut 6 (08) “…nuts for that.”

Louisiana isn’t the only state to see its pecan crops negatively impacted by hurricanes.  Georgia is the nation’s largest pecan producer and they’ve been impacted by Hurricane Sally.

Utility provider B-E-C-i says they’ve restored power to 60-percent of their membership as power has nearly been restored to all of their customers in Vernon and Rapides Parishes. Following the storm, the initial estimate was that full restoration could take four to five weeks.

Cut 13 (04) “…in that estimate.”

That’s spokesperson Danielle Tilley who says restoring power for the remaining customer will be difficult.

7,600 unemployment claimants received notices that they’d been overpaid due to a technical error with a Louisiana Workforce Commission vendor. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state reports 500 new COVID-19 cases out of just over 9000 tests. Total fatalities increase to 5,143, up by 17. Statewide hospitalizations are at the lowest point since June at 663, down by 15 since yesterday, with 106 of those patients on ventilators.

Haunted Houses will be allowed to open this year but under strict permitting requirements and pandemic health restrictions. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says each facility will have guidelines to follow.

Cut 11 (06) “…threat.”

To open each facility will have to check in with the state on OpenSafely.la.gov to get guidance on what they need to do to begin.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted. The damage to his nuts is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest. Lincoln says he invested extra care into the crop that would have been harvested by the first of October.

Cut 8 (13) “…what it was.”

Hurricane season also hasn’t been friendly to Georgia, the nation’s largest pecan producer, as they’ve been impacted by Hurricane Sally.

A technical issue resulted in 76-hundred unemployment claimants receiving an erroneous message claiming they owed overpayment money to the state and feds. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says they are working with their vendor to resolve the issue, and it should be taken care of without most claimants needing to get involved.

Cut 3 (07)  “…contend with.”  

The error resulted in some receiving requests for over ten thousand dollars of back payments.

Haunted Houses will be allowed to open this year but under strict permitting requirements and pandemic health restrictions. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says only 50 people total will be allowed in the building…

Cut 9 (11) “…escort”

Group sizes will be limited to six people.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted. Lincoln says the damage to his nuts is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest. On a good year, his operation will move about 3 million pounds of nuts, but this year, he anticipates it will be closer to a quarter-million pounds.
Cut 7 (05) “…on the ground.”
Lincoln says he invested extra care into the crop that would have been harvested by the first of October. Nuts that were knocked out of trees are not salvageable.
Cameron Police Jury Vice President Scott Trahan estimates over half of the homes in the storm-ravaged parish were completely destroyed by Hurricane Laura. At the Sacred Heart Graveyard, 150 caskets floated away from their tombs. Trahan says after having similar incidents in recent storms it’s time the parish starts filling caskets with concrete…
Cut 15 (11) “…go anywhere”
A Cemetery Task Force has been formed to help hunt down, identify, and rebury the lost caskets.

A federal judge orders Louisiana to go back to using the summer election plan for the upcoming fall elections. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Hurricane forecasters are tracking six disturbances, with one likely to develop into a tropical depression or storm in the Gulf. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center indicate it’s premature to determine if the Gulf system, or another disturbance in the Atlantic could impact Louisiana.   The four other systems are not expected to be a threat to the Bayou State.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted.  Lincoln says while there are still some nuts in the trees, there aren’t enough to make it beyond his local customers.

Cut 6 (08) “…nuts for that.”

Lincoln says the damage to his nuts is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest.

Cameron Police Jury Vice President Scott Trahan estimates over half of the homes in the storm-ravaged parish were completely destroyed by Hurricane Laura. Standing water sat across much of the parish for over a week after the Laura made landfall. Trahan says a pumping effort helped clear up the area, but in many tributaries, the water is still high.

Cut 16 (11) “…with it” 

The damage sustained from Hurricane Laura to the campus of McNeese State in Lake Charles is estimated to be around $200 million.  McNeese President Daryl Burckel says there isn’t one part of the campus that has not been affected by the hurricane.

Cut 4 (07)“ …significant water intrusion.” 

The first day back to class will be Friday.

The Calcasieu Parish School System is facing similar obstacles in recovery as out of 76 school campuses and office complexes, 74 had damage and 15 had substantial damage because the roofs came off.  The estimated total damage is about $300 million.  Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus says assessments have been completed on 309 of the district’s 350 school buses.  Only 124 would be suitable for the road.

Cut 7 (08) “…damage on buses.”

US District Judge Shelly Dick has ruled against the Secretary of State’s election plan that rolled back much of the summer’s mail-in balloting opportunities. Dick said the limited absentee access approved by the Legislature imposes a burden on a person’s right to vote during a pandemic. Governor John Bel Edwards agrees.
Cut 8 (07) “…do that.”
Under Ardoin’s plan, the only COVID-related reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that if you test positive for the virus during early voting or before Election Day. Ardoin is reviewing the decision.

LSU is making plans to host about 25-thousand fans in Tiger Stadium on September 26th for the season opener against Mississippi State. Athletics Director Scott Woodward admits that spread mitigation efforts will have an impact on fans’ game-day experience, but they will make it as positive as possible.
Cut 12 (12) “…normal as possible.”
The school says 72-percent of LSU’s 71-thousand season ticket holders have opted out.