Hurricane Irma is a Category 5 storm moving through the Caribbean, but state climatologist Barry Keim says it should be Florida’s problem, not Louisiana’s. He says a cold front will move over the state today and the timing could not be better for Louisiana…:
Cut 4 (10) “incredible conditions”
The NHC says the earliest arrival of tropical storm winds in Florida from Irma is estimated to be sometime Friday evening.

The state department of corrections is exploring new safeguards to prevent work release inmates from escaping. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Adult Services, Perry Stagg, says they’re looking at a variety of options from more supervision to ankle bracelets…:
Cut 10 (11) “work for us”

A new study finds that, though Millennials have been dubbed lazy by some, the generation actually just wants to start their own business…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor John Bel Edwards will take part in a Unified Command Group briefing at GOHSEP in preparation for the potential impacts of Hurricane Irma.

State officials got together today and discussed Louisiana’s response plan should another storm hit us amid Harvey relief efforts. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The state department of children and family services is loading up Harvey survivors and sending them home to Texas, as the shelters in Shreveport and Alexandria are closing. Families are the first to head home, and there’s even space on the bus for small pets. The department hopes to have all the Texans back in the lone star state by Thursday.

The Lafayette Sheriff’s daughter and babysitter are safe and sound after the two went missing in a canoe overnight. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office says 21-year-old Juliana Brooks and 7-year-old Cora Garber were found near an oil well in the Lake Martin area after an all-night search.

Cut 4 (11) “precautionary measure”

UL-Lafayette’s petroleum engineering department was ranked seventh best in the nation and thirteenth in the world by CEOWORLD magazine. Department Head Dr. Fathi Boukadi says it’s an honor for the program to be ranked among the best in the world, and he hopes to continue to improve the department.

Cut 12 (09) “our students”

Job placement was a key factor in the report, as UL students get lots of hands on experience.

A cold front could push Hurricane Irma away from Louisiana, while bringing much cooler weather. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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A new study finds that, though Millennials have been dubbed lazy by some, the generation actually just wants to start their own business. Jeff Palermo reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Fewer work release inmates are walking off their job sites, and the state department of corrections hopes to continue that trend with new safeguards. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

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Hurricane Irma is a Category 5 storm moving through the Caribbean, but state climatologist Barry Keim says Irma should be Florida’s problem, not Louisiana’s. He says a cold front will move over the state today and the timing could not be better for Louisiana, but it’s very unfortunate for Florida.

Cut 4  (10) “incredible conditions”

Keim says Irma should pass just north of Cuba as a major hurricane. He says the storm will maintain its strength as it closes in on Florida. But he says conditions will change as the storm begins to enter the Gulf late Saturday or early Sunday.

Cut 5  (10)  “protect Louisiana”

Keim says the storm certainly bears watching, because things can change, but for now Louisiana appears to be in the clear. He says the cold front will bring delightful conditions to the Bayou State that will last through the weekend.

Cut 6 (10) “low 80s”

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Millennials have been called everything from lazy, to self entitled, to passionate — but a new study finds it’s best to call them entrepreneurs. America’s Small Business Development Center, or SBDC, found half of all millennials plan to start a small business within the next three years. DeRon Talley, with the Louisiana SBDC, says they want to be their own boss…:

Cut 7 (09)  “with the workforce”

Talley feels millennials are wary of working for “the man” because they grew up during the recession and may have seen their parents struggling to keep a job. He says the study also found that 45 percent of millennials say capital is the biggest barrier to starting a business..:

Cut 8 (10) “and debt”

Talley says lack of knowledge and not being small business savvy is another roadblock millennials are facing when it comes to being their own boss. He says millennials feel they are tech savvy, and have a lot of innovative ideas, but don’t know how to turn that into their job…:

Cut 9 (11)  “where to go”

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The state department of corrections is exploring new safeguards to prevent work release inmates from escaping. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Adult Services, Perry Stagg, says they’re looking at a variety of options from more supervision to ankle bracelets.

Cut 10 (11) “work for us”

Stagg says the department has seen a decrease in inmates walking off their jobs in recent years, and this is an effort to continue that trend. In 2016, 70 of the more than 5,000 work release participants escaped. He says they’re always looking for new ways to improve their operations.

Cut 11 (08) “based on that”

Stagg says the work release program is invaluable to these inmates, many of whom will get out of jail in less than a year. He says although there is always a risk associated with convicted felons, the department sees the benefit to rehabilitating these offenders.

Cut 12 (09) “to do that”

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Hurricane Harvey survivors sheltering in Louisiana are heading back home, as the Department of Children and Family Services is closing the shelters in both Shreveport and Alexandria. Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says Texas authorities are ready to welcome residents back to the Lone Star State.

Cut 13 (10) “was feasible”

Walters says they have been loading families onto nice coach busses for the trip to the new shelter in Dallas. She says about 700 Texans have already started the journey, and they’ll be greeted once they cross the state line.

Cut 14 (11) “with them”

Walters says small animals at the Alexandria shelter were loaded onto the busses with their owners, while large pets will catch a ride with the Louisiana department of agriculture. She says DCFS began the sheltering operation with one goal in mind.

Cut 15 (11) “first class experience”

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LSU Quarterback Danny Etling was very efficient in Saturday’s 27-0 win over BYU. The senior was 14-of-17 for 171 yards and seemed in complete control of the offense. Etling is not considered one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC and Head Coach Ed Orgeron has a theory on why….

Cut 16  (20)  “knows that”

Mistakes were made in the victory over BYU. LSU made a couple of trips into the red zone and did not score, plus they were flagged 10 times. Etling blames first game jitters…

Cut 17 (20)  “we’ll be okay”

In his first game as an LSU Tiger, Shreveport’s Greedy Williams intercepted his first pass. After the contest, Williams heard from former LSU Tiger and another Shreveport native TreDavious White….

Cut 18 (16) “next Saturday” 

Today state officials discussed Louisiana’s response plan should another storm hit us, while our neighbors are recovering. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The National Hurricane Center calls Hurricane Irma potentially catastrophic as the category 5 storm barrels towards the Leeward Islands. Irma has winds up to 185 miles per hour, and storm surge is expected to be a big problem in the Caribbean. The system could take aim at the US by the end of the weekend.

CEOWORLD magazine ranks UL-Lafayette’s petroleum engineering department the seventh best in the nation and thirteenth in the world. Department Head Dr. Fathi Boukadi says this is the result of years of hard work by students, faculty, and staff. He says it’s an honor for the program to be ranked among the best in the world, and he hopes to continue to improve the department.

Cut 12 (09) “our students”

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber has his daughter back home after she and her babysitter went missing in a canoe overnight. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office says local authorities and volunteers searched all night for 21-year-old Juliana Brooks and 7-year-old Cora Garber.

Cut 4 (11) “precautionary measure”

The girls were found near an oil well in the Lake Martin area.

State Officials got together today to discuss Louisiana’s response plan should another storm hit us while portions of the Gulf Coast region are still recovering from prior events. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says we are still in the heart of hurricane season, and resources in Louisiana could be strained:
CUT 6 (09) “Houston and in Texas”
He says as part of the exercise, state agencies and emergency managers were asked to take actions based on the fact that we won’t have Texas support.

Hurricane Irma, which became a Category 5 storm today, is packing maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center says that makes it the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin outside of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The chance of impacts to Florida this weekend are increasing, but forecasters warn there are still many things about the track of Irma that could change.

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber’s 7-year-old daughter and her babysitter have been found safe after the two went missing during a canoe trip yesterday. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office high water likely pushed the girls into a wooded area, but thankfully 21-year-old Juliana Brooks is a skilled kayaker with survival skills…:
Cut 5 (11) “good judgement”
He says the two were found a little dehydrated, but both will be fine.

Evacuees staying in Louisiana shelters are on their way back to Texas, as the two states partner to transport the survivors to a shelter in Dallas. Transportation of the survivors from Alexandria and Shreveport to Texas began this morning and will continue through Thursday, until everyone is back in their home state, according to a statement from DCFS. The state said there were over 2,000 evacuees in state-run shelters as of midnight Tuesday.

Hurricane Irma strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm Tuesday as it heads toward the northeast Caribbean. National Hurricane Center Forecaster Chris Landsea says the models show the storm turning north once it reaches south Florida this weekend, and not impacting Louisiana. But adds nobody along the coast should let their guard down…:
Cut 10 (08) “premature”
Landsea says Irma is the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane on record with maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says they are taking another look at evacuation procedures in the state, after dealing with flooding last year and seeing what happened in Houston from Hurricane Harvey. They are meeting today to review what is currently in place that would prompt an evacuation, and talking about possibly including projected rainfall amounts in addition to the category of a storm.

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber’s daughter and babysitter were found safe this morning following an all-night search for the missing girls…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

The Department of Children and Family Services says many evacuees who had been taking refuge in Alexandria and Shreveport mega shelters are being transported back to the home state to shelter in Dallas.

Louisiana has the fifth highest obesity rate in the country. Jeff Palermo has more on the report from Trust for America’s Health…

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The Lafayette Sheriff’s daughter and babysitter have been found safe, after the two girls went missing in a canoe overnight. Authorities say 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took 7-year-old Cora Garber out in a canoe, and high water may have caused it to drift into a wooded area. Sheriff Mark Garber deployed search and rescue teams, who later found the two girls in the Lake Martin Area.

A Baton Rouge General Doctor has performed one of the first successful stroke prevention procedures. Dr. Vince Weaver says the old procedure for high risk patients involved open surgery, which increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. But this new treatment option is much safer.

Cut 14 (11) “dislodged”

Three procedures have been successful, and several more are scheduled.

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey has many looking to help those affected, but how can donors be sure their donations are going to the right place? Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine, says the Red Cross always honors the donor’s intent by letting them specify which cause they want to support.

Cut 8 (09) “Harvey relief”

Visit RedCross.org to make a donation.

Louisiana is the 5th most obese state in the US, according to Trust for America’s Health. President and CEO John Auerbach says that growing rate can be addressed with policy changes in schools, like providing healthy lunch options and limiting access to junk food…:
Cut 6 (10) “empty calories”
Louisiana ranks fourth in the country for childhood obesity.

Relief efforts are ongoing amid the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey, and many are asking how they can help those affected. Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine says monetary donations are best, but you can also sign up to be a volunteer…:
Cut 9 (09) “who volunteer”
Find out more at RedCross.org.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber’s daughter and babysitter were found safe this morning, after 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took the seven year-old girl out canoeing. Investigators believed the canoe drifted into a heavily wooded area, because of high water. Exact details on where they were found have not been made public.

Hurricane Irma strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm Tuesday as it heads toward the northeast Caribbean. Forecasters say there are increasing chances that Irma will hit Florida and steer clear of Louisiana due to a cold front moving into our area.

With more and more people looking for ways to drop cable TV service in favor of streaming networks, there’s a Monroe resident who has his own launching next month. Ro Wright says CONGO TV will feature local programs based on where users log in, and they are already racking up submissions..:
Cut 11 (09) “our network”

There is still plenty of help needed in Texas as the area recovers from the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine says donating money is the easiest way to give because the Red Cross can buy in bulk…:
Cut 7 (11) “them monetarily”
To donate or volunteer, visit RedCross.org.

Louisiana is the 5th most obese state in the nation. That’s according to The State of Obesity, an annual report from non-profit Trust for America’s Health. President and CEO John Auerbach says being overweight is linked to a plethora of health problems…:
Cut 5 (11) “associated with that”
Louisiana is one of just five states with an obesity rate over 35 percent.

A Baton Rouge doctor is one of the first in the nation to perform a new stroke prevention procedure. Emelie Gunn has more..:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

A Monroe-native is launching a new streaming TV network next month. Ro Wright says CONGO TV launches online on October 1. He says the network will be available through a variety of streaming options, which he calls the future of broadcast because so many people are turning away from cable…:
Cut 10 (09) “streaming devices”

Hurricane Irma is now a Category 5 storm, packing maximum winds of 175 miles per hour, with higher gusts. The latest NHC 5-day forecast track and cone gives the impression that Irma is headed for the Gulf, but most of the models are indicating the storm would turn to the north, though we should still be watching and tracking it here in Louisiana.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating Sheriff Mark Garber’s 7-year-old daughter and her babysitter. 21-year-old Juliana Brooks and young Cora Garber went missing yesterday when the two set out on a canoeing trip.

Relief efforts are ongoing amid the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey, and many are asking how they can help those affected. Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine, says those who wish to donate can specify what they want it to go towards…:
Cut 8 (09) “to Harvey relief”
To donate or volunteer, visit RedCross.org.

A report from Trust for America’s Health finds Louisiana has the fifth highest obesity rate in the nation. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

As LSU is set to play it’s first home game of the season on Saturday, there will be a ton of fans flocking to the habitat of the new Mike the Tiger. But caretakers for the live mascot are urging visitors not to approach the glass with live or stuffed animals. They say Mike VII can’t tell the difference and if he throws himself against the glass, he might break a tooth. Dental problems are the #1 cause of death in both wild and captive tigers.