The LA GOP asks Governor Edwards to allow parish governments to make their own decisions about potentially moving to Phase Three. Matt Doyle has the story…

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

The Louisiana Department of Health verifies one additional death tied to Hurricane Laura, bringing the state’s current death toll to 27. A 58-year-old female in Rapides Parish died of a heat-related illness while inside a trailer with no electricity or air conditioning. The coroner has confirmed this death is storm-related.

Saturdays will look much different at Tiger Stadium this fall LSU announces there will be no pre-game walk down Victory Hill, the Tiger band will not perform on the field, no tailgating, and attendance will be capped at 25%.  Interim LSU President Thomas Galligan is confident the energy of Tiger Stadium will still be there.

Cut 7 (13) “…magic with 25,000.”

The state has received approval to distribute disaster food stamps in 16 parishes impacted by Hurricane Laura. The program will run in phases, with the first phase beginning tomorrow in Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Vermilion, and Vernon.  Shavana Howard says they are working with other state agencies to streamline the registration process.

Cut 5 (12)  “…free right now.”

Saturdays will look much different at Tiger Stadium this fall LSU announces there will be no pre-game walk down Victory Hill, the Tiger band will not perform on the field, no tailgating, and attendance will be capped at 25%.  Interim LSU President Thomas Galligan says attendees need to prepare to mask up.

Cut 6 (12) “…get outside.”

LSU begins the season September 26^th at home against Mississippi State.

The state has received approval to distribute disaster food stamps in 16 parishes impacted by Hurricane Laura. Shavana Howard with DCFS urges those who might be eligible to pre-register online first and then call in according to their last name on certain days to apply. A list of days can be found on the website.

Cut 4 (09)“ …be eligible.” 

Go to dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP

An 11-year-old in Moss Bluff has been charged with 2nd-degree murder after he allegedly fatally shot a family member. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of a shooting and arrived at a home to find 39-year-old Andrew Lafleur III dead. Investigations Commander Gene Pittman…
Cut 12 (09) “…someone”
The state Republican Party calls on Governor Edwards to allow parish governments to make their own decisions on whether or not to move into Phase Three. LA GOP spokesperson Ben Smith says the current one size fits all statewide plan isn’t allowing areas with manageable levels of COVID-19 to restart their economies. He says it should be up to the locals.

Cut 9 (06) “…parish.”

Smith says local governments should also have the ability to decide whether to implement mask mandates, gathering limits, and bar closures.

Power is still out across the three parishes hardest hit by Hurricane Laura, with Cameron, Calcasieu, and Beauregard Parishes having 99 percent, 91 percent, and 69 percent of customers out respectively. Governor John Bel Edwards says to help us recover the federal government is allowing Louisiana to use power generated in Texas

Cut 14 (12) “…Calcasieu Parish” 

Edwards is expected to make an announcement on whether the state will move into Phase Three sometime this afternoon or tomorrow. The State GOP passed a resolution calling on Edwards to is allows parish Governments to make their own decisions on COVID restrictions. Spokesperson Ben Smith says that means questions like whether to implement mask mandates, gathering limits, and bar closures.

Cut 10 (09) “…discretion.”

Sixteen parishes impacted by Hurricane Laura have been approved to receive Disaster SNAP benefits. Brooke Thorington spoke with a DCFS representative.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

1,500 new COVID-19 cases are being reported by the state today but that’s including a backlog of 690 cases that were collected between August 6^th and 4^th, meaning we’ve got about 810 new cases today, a bit of a jump from earlier this week. 17 new hospital beds have been filled with COVID patients, and 15 additional deaths have also been reported.

Tiger Stadium will be capped at 25% for LSU’s upcoming football season.  Interim LSU President Thomas Galligan highlights that the virus does not transmit as well outdoors and says they feel confident that social distancing can be accomplished 25% capacity.

Cut 6 (12) “…get outside.”

The state has received approval to distribute disaster food stamps in 16 parishes impacted by Hurricane Laura. Shavana Howard with DCFS urges those who might be eligible to pre-register online first and then call in according to their last name on certain days to apply. A list of days can be found on the website.

Cut 4 (09)“ …be eligible.” 

Go to dcfs.la.gov/DSNAP

The LA GOP asks Governor Edwards to allow parish governments to make their own decisions about potentially moving to Phase Three. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state is reporting 1,511 new COVID-19 cases today, but that includes a backlog of 690 cases dating from August 6th to September 4^th.  The health department also reports 15 new deaths today and 17 new patients hospitalized

Governor Edwards says he will make a decision on whether the state will move into Phase Three potentially as soon as today. Edwards is set to meet with the White House coronavirus task force this afternoon to discuss the topic and says a decision will come before the current Phase Two order expires Friday.

Cut 10 (06) “…data.”

The state Republican Party calls on Governor Edwards to allow parish governments to make their own decision on whether or not to move into Phase Three. LA GOP spokesperson Ben Smith says the current one size fits all statewide plan isn’t allowing areas with manageable levels of COVID-19 to restart their economies. He says it really should be a local decision.

Cut 9, 6 seconds, parish

Under the GOP proposal, local governments would also have the ability to decide whether to implement mask mandates, gathering limits, and bar closures.

Starting September 14^th saltwater fishermen in Louisiana can start sending in applications to The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for pandemic economic relief grants worth up to 10,000 dollars. Spokesperson Jason Duet says the department has 14.6 million dollars to distribute…

Cut 14 (11) “…loss.” 

Applications will be accepted until October 26^th.

The state has received Disaster SNAP approval from the Federal Government for 16 parishes impacted by Hurricane Laura. The program will roll out in phases beginning tomorrow for the following nine parishes Acadia, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Vermilion, and Vernon.  Shavana Howard with DCFS explains how much eligible recipients could receive…

Cut 3 (10)  “…or seven people.”  

Lake Charles residents are feeling forgotten by the national media.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

In Calcasieu Parish, the Sheriff’s office has arrested an 11-year-old after a family member was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound in Moss Bluff. The CPSO says deputies were called to a residence Monday evening in reference to a shooting and found 39-year old Andrew Lafleur, III dead. Further investigation found an 11-year old was responsible, the child was booked in the Juvenile Detention Center and charged with second-degree murder.

Governor Edwards says he’ll make an announcement on a possible move to Phase Three as early as today. Edwards says if the state does advance to Phase Three and cases surge we may have to retreat back to Phase Two. He says compliance on social distancing and mask-wearing will prevent that…

Cut 11 (11) “…interruption.”

A Pine High School Senior is taking the Washington Parish School Board to court after the superintendent ruled a parking space mural of President Donald Trump was too political.  Ned Thomas was participating in the school’s “Seniors Paint Your Parking Spot” program and had his design approved by the principal, only to have it painted over after a paid artist completed the image.

Cut 7 (12) “…it was gone.”

Governor John Bel Edwards indicates Tiger Stadium will likely be limited to 25 percent capacity for the upcoming season. Most SEC teams have made an official announcement on stadium capacity, but LSU has not so far. Other SEC teams have capacities between 20 and 25 percent, so this number puts us right in line with the rest of the conference.
Cut 8 (10) “doing”
LSU begins the season September 26^th at home against Mississippi State.
Families of children who receive free lunch and missed school days due to the pandemic can submit for pandemic EBT if they did not apply in May and June.  Department of Education data governance director Kim Nesmith says roughly 264,000 students are left who haven’t been submitted to receive the funds.
Cut 3 (09)  “…$285 per child.”  
Nesmith says the funds can be used to purchase food just like a regular EBT card.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the rebound process from Hurricane Laura is an intense process and it is going to take a long time.  Lake Charles temps are in the 90s today.  Hunter says the city is working hard to get people back to the area, without having to use generators or rely on staying at the homes of family and friends.

Cut 11 (06) “…live here comfortably.”

More than 123,000 Louisiana residents have been registered for FEMA aid, with more than 57 million dollars distributed to Laura victims so far.

Region Six spokesperson Melissa Wilkins says when you register with FEMA you’ll get an ID number that is not your social security number, so…

Cut 14 (07) “…worker” 

Those who suspect a fraudster is working in their community are encouraged to call 866-720-5721.

Governor John Bel Edwards indicates Tiger Stadium will likely be limited to 25 percent capacity for the upcoming season. Most SEC teams have made an official announcement on stadium capacity, but LSU has not so far. Edwards says even if they did announce now it could always change before, or during the season.

Cut 7 (09) “…and then”

LSU begins the season September 26^th at home against Mississippi State.

Families of children who receive free lunch and missed school days due to the pandemic can submit for pandemic EBT if they did not apply in May and June.  Department of Education data governance director Nesmith says the cards don’t go out automatically, so it is important for eligible families to apply.

Cut 5 (11)  “…receive those benefits.”

More than 123,000 Louisiana residents have been registered for FEMA aid, with more than 57 million dollars distributed to Laura victims so far. Region Six spokesperson Melissa Wilkins says scammers are known to target victims in the wake of natural disasters and pretend to be government officials to steal your personal information. She says stay vigilant…

Cut 13 (12) “…a badge”

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says the rebound process from Hurricane Laura is an intense process and it is going to take a long time.  He believes the city is doing the best it can to pick up the pieces and put things back together again.  Hunter says every industry in the city was hit hard by the storm, but he says they are all in the process of bouncing back.

Cut 10 (06) “…my own eyes.”

Governor Edwards indicates only about 26,000 of Tiger Stadium’s 103,000 seats will be available for fans once the season kicks off September 26^th against Mississippi State. Edwards says the limit to a quarter capacity is strict, but that’s still a ton of people to safely move through the stadium…

Cut 6 (07) “…concern

Edwards warns the number could change should our COVID numbers inflate.

The Saints are reportedly “extremely” close on a contract with running back Alvin Kamara, but Coach Sean Payton says the contract discussion isn’t distracting them from focusing on how to move the ball against the Bucs’ stingy D this Sunday…

cut 19 (17) “…against”  

Southern Baseball legend and Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Brock died Sunday at 81. Long-time Southern Baseball coach Roger Cador remembers Brock…

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When Brock retired in 1979 he was the single-season and career record holder in bases stolen.

Tre’Davious White the former LSU star was bawling on Monday as he described his feelings after signing a 70 Million dollar contract with the Buffalo Bills. White is from Shreveport and he discussed moving his family out of a poverty-stricken neighborhood. The deal makes White the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.