LRN AM NEWSCALL AUGUST 30, 2017

Tropical Storm Harvey makes a second landfall, this time in Louisiana as the system moves north through the state. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The Cajun Navy 2016 is upping their coordination efforts during rescues after Hurricane Harvey. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The entire state will feel the effects of Tropical Storm Harvey through the end of the week. Halen Doughty has more on what to expect…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________________________________

Cameron Parish is bracing for impact as Tropical Storm Harvey makes a second landfall and treks north through the state. Office of Emergency Preparedness Director Danny Lavergne says the biggest threat from the storm will be the water, as the parish received about 30 inches of rain in just the last two days.

Cut 4  (11) “pass on through”

Lavergne says this is the longest time frame the parish has ever had to prepare for a storm. He says the parish filed an emergency declaration on August 23. He says officials are as prepared as they can be.

Cut 5  (11)  “into the Gulf”

About 6,000 residents had to evacuate Cameron Parish. Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is not out of the woods yet as the storm is expected to drop another 10 to 20 inches of rain across the Bayou State.

Cut 6 (11) “flooding problems”

Edwards says more than 670 guardsmen are working on Harvey operations in the state. He says about 500 rescues have already been made in southwest Louisiana. He says flooded roadways are a concern.

Cut 7 (09)  “of the current”

________________________________________________________

A Lincoln Parish sheriff’s deputy is recovering and a suspect is dead following an officer-involved shooting on Highway 80 on Tuesday at noon. State Trooper Michael Reichardt says the fatal incident occurred after the unnamed deputy conducted a traffic stop.

Cut 8 (09) “shots were fired”

Reichardt says the deputy was shot, but his bulletproof vest deflected the round. He says the deputy then returned fire on the suspect.

Cut 9 (11)  “injuries”

Simsboro High School was placed on lock down following the incident. Reichardt says state police will lead the investigation into the shooting, as there are still many unanswered questions.

Cut 10 (11) “seen everything”

____________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says the Cajun Navy’s work in Texas is receiving praise from local authorities. So how do they do it? Penny Shar with Project We Care Louisiana works in conjunction with the Cajun Navy 2016 and she says they use the Zello Smartphone App to communicate with nearby boats to help find stranded residents

Cut 11 (10) “little section”

Shar says they also have someone who has medical experience, like a doctor or nurse on a boat, in each area. She says it’s a very organized effort…

Cut 12 (11) “medical field”

Shar says the Cajun Navy 2016 began rescue efforts in Humble, Texas and will continue to work until everyone who needs help is rescued. She says they also work closely with elected officials in Louisiana to organize efforts.

Cut 13 (11) “Texas”

____________________________________________________

Southwest Louisiana will likely see the biggest impact from Tropical Storm Harvey, but the entire state will be affected. In northwest Louisiana, a flash flood watch is in effect through Thursday evening. Lisa May with the National Weather Service in Shreveport expects periods of heavy rainfall through the end of the week.

Cut 14 (10) “Friday morning”

May says the area could also see gusty winds and isolated tornadoes as Harvey treks through the area.

Alek Krautman with the National Weather Service in Slidell says as long as Harvey is in the region, southeast Louisiana has the potential for locally heavy rain.

Cut 15 (08) “of the event”

Krautman says strong winds are not a big concern in the region. He says Harvey is expected to continue northward through the state Wednesday night and into Thursday.

Cut 16  (10)  “long duration event”

________________________________________________________

LSU running back Derius Guice says he’s fired up to play in the Mercedes Benz Superdome on Saturday night against BYU. Guice says this will be the second time he’s played in the iconic stadium. The first time was when he was 12-years-old, when he played a quick game during halftime of a Saints game. Guice says it’s great to start the season in Louisiana….

Cut 17 (20)  “worked itself out”

Last year LSU opened its season with a loss to Wisconsin in Green Bay. Tigers quarterback Danny Etling says BYU looks a lot like that Badger defense they faced last year in Lambeau Field…

Cut 18 (24) “ready for the challenge” 

LSU will have a true freshman start at right guard on Saturday. It will be either Ed Ingram or Saahdiq Charles. It’s apparently the first time ever that LSU has had a true freshman start in a season opener. Etling has confidence they can get the job done….

Cut 19 (17) “be fine”

LRN PM Newscall August 29

Rains continue as the center of Tropical Storm Harvey takes aim at Louisiana’s southwestern coast. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is trying to help Cajun Navy rescue as many people as possible in Texas. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 2 (33) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

The Louisiana National Guard have been conducting rescues during the night in southwestern parishes and more Guardsman have been activated. Col. Ed Bush says the guard continues to preposition assets based on the storm track and are prepared to send out more Guardsmen to assist.

Cut 3 (10) “on that”

The National Guard is issuing MREs, bottles of water and sandbags. Bush says they are equipped with high water vehicles and boats for rescue operations.

Cut 4  (08) “as well”

________________________________________________

Flood waters in Lake Charles are rising and rescues have already been conducted. Dick Gremillion with the Calcasieu Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says a rain band that came in at around 5 p.m. yesterday caused immediate flooding. He says a drainage canal overflowed…

Cut 5  (09)  “this morning”

Gremillion says they are concerned about additional flooding as all drains are full. He says his staff is ready for anything but Harvey continues to be a very complicated storm to plan for.

Cut 6 (08) “right here”

________________________________________________

Tropical Storm Harvey continues to pour water down on Texas and Louisiana. State climatologist Barry Keim says the worst part is it’s not over yet, as much more rain is yet to come. He says 5 to 10 more inches of rain is still possible in Louisiana.

Cut 7 (12)  “of Monroe”

Keim says Louisiana can expect two more days of rainfall, especially in the southwestern corner of the state. He says today will likely see the heaviest rains, and there’s still more to come tomorrow. He says Harvey is dumping a lot of water because the system is moving so slowly.

Cut 8 (12) “45 inches”

Keim says unfortunately, hurricane season is still far from over. The midpoint of the season isn’t until September 10, so there could be more storms to come. But he says Harvey is starting to ingest some dry air, which is weakening the system a bit.

Cut 9 (10)  “so continuous”

__________________________________________________________

Hundreds of Louisiana volunteers, who make up the Cajun Navy, are assisting first responders conduct search and rescue efforts in Texas. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is working with the Cajun Navy to coordinate efforts. He says they are not regulating the volunteer citizens, but want to ensure rescuers are organized with Texas authorities.

Cut 10 (08) “not Texas”

Edwards says he’s spoken directly with members of the Cajun Navy. He says the biggest concern for the volunteers on their personal boats is refueling, so the state is helping with that effort when they arrive at the Texas border

Cut 11 (06) “forestry”

Edwards says being in the same position a year ago, we all understand the importance of the Cajun Navy and appreciate their help.

Cut 12 (08) “being there”

__________________________________________________________

The North Louisiana Red Cross opens an evacuation shelter in Shreveport today. Executive Director Michelle Davidson says the shelter at Morning Star Baptist Church will house up to 250 individuals. He says they have other shelters on standby that can open as needed.

Cut 13 (12) “as well”

Davidson says this shelter will be a vital resource for those fleeing the storm who have likely been dealing with the effects of Harvey for several days. She says as of now, the shelter is only intended to house storm victims for the short term.

Cut 14 (09) “next steps are”

__________________________________________________________

Cleco is preparing for Tropical Storm Harvey’s arrival in Louisiana as five of the energy company’s operation regions are in the path of the storm. Jennifer Cahill with Cleco says they are doubling the number of crews available to safely restore power.

Cut 15 (10) “outages” x2

Cahill says downed powerlines are the biggest possibility during Harvey because of falling trees and limbs. She says Cleco is reminding customers to stay safe and beware of rising water…

Cut 16  (11)  “flooded areas”

__________________________________________________________

LRN AM NEWSCALL AUGUST 29, 2017

Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Plaquemines Parish 12 years ago today. Emelie Gunn has more from former Governor Kathleen Blanco as she remembers….

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

The Cajun Navy is sending rescue teams to Texas to help with the Tropical Storm Harvey response. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Twelve years ago today Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, and many Texans are facing a similar catastrophe today. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________________________

Today marks the 12 year anniversary of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina. Over 15-hundred people died in Louisiana from the powerful storm and former Governor Kathleen Blanco says it could’ve been a lot more if they did not evacuate one million people from New Orleans in a short period of time but some people decided not to leave…

Cut 4  (11) “mountain”

Blanco says on top of the physical damage, there was so much mental stress after families were separated. She says so many Louisiana residents worked feverously to help each other during this difficult time.

Cut 5  (09)  “Louisiana people”

Blanco says shelters starting popping up all over the state for flood victims who lost everything they owned during Katrina. She says from Lafayette to Monroe, Louisianans came together and then help starting coming from around the country.

Cut 6 (10) “Louisiana”

________________________________________________________

Louisianans are heading to Texas in droves to assist with the ongoing rescue efforts. The Cajun Navy is assisting in the massive search and rescue efforts to help those stranded in homes and on rooftops. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says the generosity of the community is unbelievable.

Cut 7 (10)  “and selflessness”

Graves says the people flocking to Texas have been through this before, as many of the rescuers were disaster victims themselves just one year ago. He says they know what supplies are needed, and they’ll be able to hit the ground running once they reach the affected areas.

Cut 8 (11) “next few days”

Graves encourages those who wish to help to check the Cajun Navy 2016 Facebook page for an updated list of needs. He says they are accepting donations of bottled water and other emergency supplies.

Cut 9 (11)  “with people”

____________________________________________________

Today marks 12 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana, and Texans are facing a similar situation now with Harvey. State climatologist Barry Keim says both made landfall as a major hurricane, but Katrina reached Category 5 strength in the Gulf and weakened, while Harvey continued to strengthen until landfall. He says that worsened Katrina’s storm surge.

Cut 10 (10) “to shore”

Keim says the biggest surge from Harvey so far is 6.8 feet, while Katrina caused the biggest surge ever measured in the western hemisphere at 28 feet. He says it’s the opposite for rainfall as Katrina only dumped upwards of 15 inches.

Cut 11 (12) “as time goes on”

Keim says Harvey has been meandering around at about 2 miles per hour. He notes the storm has only moved about 100 miles since last Friday. He says these are two highly contrasting storms with similar major impacts in two of the country’s biggest cities.

Cut 12 (11) “these two events”

____________________________________________________

Harvey has strengthened as it moves over the Gulf along the Texas coast. John Cangialosi with the National Hurricane Center says the biggest concern is the continued rainfall over eastern Texas and western Louisiana with isolated totals reaching 50 inches in some areas. He says Louisiana is in for a lot more wet weather.

Cut 13 (09) “time period”

Cangialosi says tropical storm force winds are likely, especially along the western and central Louisiana coast. Up to three feet of storm surge is also expected in the area. He encourages everyone to stay up to date on advisories issued in their areas.

Cut 14 (09) “over to Louisiana”

Cangialosi says the Bayou State could see between 10 and 20 inches of rain in some areas. He says Harvey is still churning very slowly, which means the rain isn’t moving out anytime soon.

Cut 15 (12) “half of the state”

________________________________________________________

There are seven players on the LSU football team from the Houston area and it’s difficult time for them. Starting offensive tackle Toby Weathersby says parents are okay living in a second floor apartment, but flood waters are threatening his grandparents home….

Cut 16  (16)  “worse and worse”

Weathersby says his grandparents are set in their ways and do want to evacuate their home as flood waters continue to rise. He says if he was in Houston, he would carry his grandparents out of harms way…

Cut 17 (16)  “get out”

Weathersby says he’s trying to not let the troubles at home, affect his preparation for the game….

Cut 18 (13) “me inside” 

LRN PM Newscall August 28

Louisianans are rushing to aid our Texas neighbors who are getting hit hard by Tropical Storm Harvey. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (25) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says the worst is yet to come in Louisiana with Tropical Storm Harvey. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Don Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents are on hand to aid our Texas neighbors as they deal with epic flooding in the Houston area. Adam Einck with LDWF says the agents will assist the Texas authorities with search and rescue efforts.

Cut 3 (12) “need to be”

This time last year, many Texans were in the Bayou State assisting with recovery efforts from the devastating flood in south Louisiana. Einck says LDWF is happy to return the favor for our neighbors to the west.

Cut 4  (11) “do that as well”

________________________________________________

The Cajun Navy is being deployed once again, this time to assist with the flood response in Texas. Penny Shar is with Project We Care Louisiana in conjunction with the Cajun Navy. She says about 100 people with boats and high water vehicles are leaving from Baton Rouge, and more are joining the caravan in Lafayette.

Cut 5  (08)  “and donated”

Boat owners who want to help can call 985-215-6864 or 225-806-0746. Shar says more rescue groups will hit the road later this week. Donations can be made at Costco in Baton Rouge or by calling Shar to have them picked up.  She says they’re asking for a variety of items for the trip.

Cut 6 (02) “perishable items”

________________________________________________

Flash flood watches are out across south and central Louisiana as Tropical Storm Harvey moves back into the Gulf of Mexico and is expected to make a second landfall near the Texas/Louisiana border on Wednesday. Kent Kuyper with the National Weather Service says there is the chance of tornadoes.

Cut 7 (07)  “parish”

Kuyper says southwest Louisiana can see anywhere from 10 to 15 inches of rain over the next few days.  He says the biggest threat for residents inland is flash flooding.

Cut 8 (06) “Alexandria”

__________________________________________________________

Thousands of people in Texas are flooded out of their homes because of Harvey. The images are reminiscent of what happened 12 years ago when Hurricane Katrina struck southeast Louisiana. Former Governor Kathleen Blanco says she’s curious to why Houston never developed an evacuation plan like Louisiana had in 2005.

Cut 9 (11)  “mandatory”

Blanco says the low lying regions of Galveston and along the coast should’ve been evacuated by time and direction. She says Houston evacuations need to be staged.

Cut 10 (09) “sensible way”

Blanco says in 2005, there weren’t videos from phones showing the devastation, but now videos are flooding social media showing the severe flooding. She says she saw a picture of a flooded nursing home in Texas…

Cut 11 (11) “themselves out”

__________________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says the worst is yet to come in Louisiana with Tropical Storm Harvey. He says in southwest Louisiana, forecasters say 10-15 inches of additional rain could fall on already saturated grounds through Friday…:

Cut 12 (08) “ground level”

Edwards says the main threat from Harvey for the Pelican State continues to be rain, but he says tornadoes are also a concern. Tornado watches are posted for the entire southern half of the state which is already under a flash flood watch. Edwards says, so far, there have been no reports to damage as it relates to structures…:

Cut 13 (13) “flow back south”

President Trump approved the governor’s Federal Emergency Declaration request for Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vermillion Parishes, and ordered assistance to supplement state and local response efforts. Texas is dealing with the worst of this storm and Edwards says Louisiana is ready to help with evacuees and shelters if they as for it…:

Cut 14 (10) “I-20”

__________________________________________________________

LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva says a venue has yet to be decided for the Tigers season opener against BYU. Alleva says a decision should be made by the latest tomorrow…

Cut 15 (12) “in Houston”

Several sites are reportedly being considered, including the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Alleva says LSU is responsible for setting up this match up and they are the ones who will make the final decision…

Cut 16  (12)  “to be played”

__________________________________________________________

LRN AM Newscall August 28

Twenty-five years ago many Louisianans were dealing with the devastation left by Hurricane Andrew. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is not out of the woods when it comes to Tropical Storm Harvey. Jeff Palermo explains why…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

The Shreveport City Council will consider next month a proposal to build a 30 million dollar sports complex downtown. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________________________________

Twenty-five years ago today, Louisiana was recovering from the destruction left by one of the most devastating storms in US history. Hurricane Andrew caused flooding and spawned tornadoes across south Louisiana after making landfall near Morgan City on August 26. Mayor Boo Grizzaffi recalls waking up to the wreckage.

Cut 4  (13) “pick up the pieces”

Property damage from Andrew reached $150 million in St. Mary Parish alone. Grizzaffi says in the weeks that followed, many remained without power, their homes flooded and no means to replace what was lost. He says everyone came together to try and rebuild, but many did not know where to begin.

Cut 5  (13)  “got laid out”

Grizzaffi says the recovery in Morgan City was fairly quick because having a local power plant enabled them to restore power right away. He says the rebuilding took longer because residents relied on outside work and materials since almost everything in the town was a total loss.

Cut 6 (12) “big pile of mess”

________________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is not out of the woods yet when it comes to Tropical Storm Harvey. Edwards asks residents to stay vigilant and pay attention to local news reports. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Harvey will eventually move towards Louisiana…

Cut 7 (10)  “come in Lake Charles”

Keim says rainfall from Harvey is Louisiana’s biggest threat….

Cut 8 (07) “rain bands”

Keim says a good portion of Louisiana’s coast, along with southwest and central Louisiana are under a flash flood watch for the next several days…

Cut 9 (08)  “south central Louisiana”

____________________________________________________

With Louisiana in a state of emergency due to Harvey, the Attorney General’s Office warns consumers to be wary of price gouging. Deputy Director of Public Protection Mike Dupree says once the governor declares a state of emergency, price gouging laws go into effect. He says these laws prevent businesses from hiking prices to make a quick buck.

Cut 10 (08) “the increase”

Dupree says that does not include price changes like a few cents increase for a gallon of gas, which could go up due to the market. But he says if the price of emergency supplies spikes overnight, consumers should be suspicious.

Cut 11 (09) “going on”

Price gouging within five days of a declaration is a crime punishable by a $500 fine and up to five years in prison. Dupree says unfortunately, officials see this often during disasters. He encourages anyone who suspects a business of price gouging to report it immediately.

Cut 12 (10) “1-800-351-4889”

____________________________________________________

The Shreveport City Council will soon consider a proposal to construct a 30-million dollar sports complex in the downtown area. The goal of the complex, which would be right next to a proposed mixed use development site, is to lure the New Orleans Pelicans G-League team to the arena.  Local banker Rich Holland says different entities are now gathering their plans for presentation.

Cut 13 (10) “optimistic”

There is also talk of the facility being used as a practice facility for the New Orleans Saints. Holland says the over 100 million dollar mixed development site would be privately funded by Birmingham based Corporate Reality. Holland says this would bring great benefits to Shreveport.

Cut 14 (11) “community”

Some individuals and organizations are not pleased with this proposal, like the local police department. Holland says in 2006, the Saints were in Shreveport for a preseason game and it was great for the economy. He says there will be no additional direct taxes placed on Caddo Parish residents.

Cut 15 (10) “the debt”

________________________________________________________

For the second straight preseason game, the Saints defense did not allow an offensive touchdown. The Saints held the Texans to 246 total yards and 13 first downs in a 13-0 victory over Houston on Saturday night. Defensive End Cam Jordan says they are cultivating the right mentality…

Cut 16  (22)  “this year”

The last three seasons the Saints ranked near the bottom of the NFL, but they’ve looked much better so far in this preseason. On Saturday night, the defense had four sacks. Coach Sean Payton says it was good to see…

Cut 17 (20)  “more time”

_____________________________________________________________

LSU is scheduled to play BYU this Saturday, but athletic director Joe Alleva doubts it can be played in Houston. Alleva says a number of alternate locations are being considered and a decision should be made early this week.

First year offensive coordinator Matt Canada will likely decide to give the ball to running back Derius Guice a lot this season. Guice has rushed for 18-hundred yards and 18 touchdowns during his career at LSU. Canada says the Baton Rouge product should have another terrific season…

Cut 18 (20) “rare talent” 

Wide receiver is a question mark on LSU’s offense. DJ Chark is the only proven wideout on the team and Canada is anxious to see who else will step up…

Cut 19 (17) “receivers”

LRN PM Newscall August 25

Harvey is now a major hurricane as it moves towards the Texas coast. Emelie Gunn has more….

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Gas prices are expected to go up because of Hurricane Harvey. Don Molino has more…

Cut 2 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

A viral Facebook post helped Shreveport Police put an alleged booze thief behind bars. A video with more than 20 million views shows a woman stuffing bottles of liquor into her purse, her pants, and even her bra at a local store. Cpl. Angie Willhite says officers responded to the incident at the Thrifty Liquor Store on August 18.

Cut 3 (09) “for that alcohol”

Willhite says Crime Stoppers posted the store’s surveillance on YouTube, and it went viral almost instantly. She says local law enforcement immediately recognized 37-year-old Sekonie Jones.

Cut 4  (10) “dealings with her”

Willhite says Jones walked out of the store with 11 bottles of alcohol on her person. Jones surrendered herself on one charge of misdemeanor theft. Willhite says after the video was posted, Crime Stoppers tips started flooding into the station.

Cut 5  (09)  “tips on it”

________________________________________________

Harvey is closing in on the Texas coast and is growing in strength as it nears Corpus Christi. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the National Hurricane Center has Harvey meandering inland in Texas over the weekend but then shifting towards Louisiana…

Cut 6 (11) “Bay”

Keim says the five to 15 inches of rain expected to fall in Louisiana could create problems as it falls on already saturated soil. He says the storm is expected to stall and remain at least tropical storm strength into Wednesday.

Cut 7 (10)  “right now”

Keim says Harvey will have immediate impacts on Louisiana with already storm surge and high surf. He says this will be the first category three hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since Hurricane Wilma in October 2005.

Cut 8 (09) “forever”

__________________________________________________________

Hurricane Harvey could push prices up at the pump. Don Redman with AAA says refineries are shutting down as they prepare for the storm, which could drive up gasoline prices.

Cut 9 (07)  “are currently”

The current statewide average for a gallon of gasoline is $2.14. Redman says gulf coast refineries could be down for a week or more, which will hurt supply. He says gas prices are always subject to change during hurricane season, and this is the kind of storm everyone dreads approaching the coast.

Cut 10 (12) “15 cents”

Redman says prices haven’t jumped up yet, but they could by next week. He says we’ve seen record high demand for gas this summer. Ample supply from refineries has kept gas prices relatively low. He says this is why AAA encourages drivers to top off their tanks anytime a named storm is in the Gulf.

Cut 11 (09) “go up”

__________________________________________________________

The rice crop in south Louisiana is in jeopardy as Hurricane Harvey is expected to drop lots of rain on the Bayou State. LSU AgCenter Rice Specialist Dr. Dustin Harrell says 90 to 95-percent of this year’s rice has been harvested but the storm could complicate the remaining crop in the fields.

Cut 12 (11) “rice”

Harrell says farmers are rushing to harvest what’s left before Harvey pounds the state with rain. He says this year’s crop was already subpar and extreme flooding could cause additional problems with the new crop…

Cut 13 (08) “there too”

__________________________________________________________

American Humane will show off a new rescue vehicle in Walker this Saturday. The 50-foot vehicle is designed to rescue animals during disasters like floods and hurricanes. President and CEO Robin Ganzert says a generous donation covered the cost of the vehicle.

Cut 14 (09) “for Louisiana”

Ganzert says the truck can handle multiple types of disaster responses. She says it carries equipment and supplies, and it can shelter up to 100 animals. She says it can even house rescue responders.

Cut 15 (08) “rescuing animals”

Ganzert says the truck can also serve as a wellness clinic because it has a medical space. That’s what the vehicle will be doing Saturday in Walker from 9 am to 2 pm at Z-Time Fitness. She invites everyone out to get your pet healthy and happy for the fall season.

Cut 16  (08)  “free of charge”

__________________________________________________________

LRN AM NEWSCALL AUGUST 25, 2017

A southwest Louisiana mother won $2 million in the Powerball. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

The state Department of Education is seeking to train 500 teachers to become mentors for aspiring educators. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Texas is bracing for the landfall of major hurricane, but Louisiana is not of the woods. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________________________

Louisiana is home to the third worse drivers in the nation, according to a report by SmartAsset. Vice President of Financial Education AJ Smith says they looked at vehicle fatalities, insurance rates, and Google searches to determine the rankings. She says the Bayou State did not fare well in any of those categories.

Cut 4  (08) “of that factor”

Smith says at 86 percent, Louisiana has the 16th lowest rate of insured drivers in the country. Smith says high rates of uninsured drivers can drive insurance costs up for other motorists. She adds a lot of Louisianans are looking up speeding tickets and parking tickets on the web, which could mean they’re accumulating tickets at higher rates.

Cut 5  (08)  “parking tickets”

Eight of the top ten states with the worst drivers are in the South. Florida and Mississippi were the only states that had worse drivers than Louisiana. Hulliberger says there was one area where Louisiana did not rank in the bottom.

Cut 6 (10) “in the country”

________________________________________________________

A southwest Louisiana mother of four is now a millionaire after winning $2 million in the Powerball. The woman works as an assistant manager at the Tiger Mart in Lake Arthur. Store manager April Lemaire says if anyone deserves to win, it’s her.

Cut 7 (09)  “giving person”

The Tiger Mart will receive a bonus of 20-thousand dollars for selling the ticket. Lemaire says the whole community is thrilled for the winning player. The woman from Jefferson Davis Parish actually picked her own numbers, and five of them matched Wednesday night’s drawing.

Cut 8 (11) “happy for her”

Lemaire says the assistant manager plans to keep working at the convenience store. She says the lucky winner doesn’t have any plans yet for how she will spend the money, but it will likely go towards helping her kids.

Cut 9 (09)  “she actually won”

____________________________________________________

Louisiana Department of Education is seeking to train over 500 Louisiana educators so they can serve as mentors to future teachers. Assistant Superintendent of Talent Hannah Diestsch says the Bayou State is changing the way teachers learn how to teach. She says the new method will be similar to how medical students become doctors.

Cut 10 (11) “teacher”

Diestsch says the residency takes place along with a mentor who can guide the aspiring teacher’s development and growth. She says these expert teachers will receive a one thousand dollar stipend and are selected by their school district.

Cut 11 (11) “resources”

Mentors have to be nominated by their school systems by September 8th and training will begin this fall.  The plan is to train an additional two-thousand teachers over the next two years. Dietsch says they’re looking for passionate teachers.

Cut 12 (10) “most useful”

____________________________________________________

What will Hurricane Harvey bring to Louisiana? Stephen Carboni with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the storm is expected to deliver Texas damaging winds and life-threatening flooding. Carboni says Louisiana is also in for wet weather.

Cut 13 (11) “storm surge”

Carboni says Cameron and Vermilion Parishes will see the minor storm surge. The state is on guard for potential flooding statewide. Carboni says large rainfall totals are expected in southwest Louisiana.

Cut 14 (10) “at this point”

The forecast track from the National Hurricane Center calls for Harvey to make landfall either Friday night or Saturday morning and then stall at the middle of the Texas coast through the weekend. Carboni says several models show Harvey will eventually turn east towards the Bayou State.

Cut 15 (12) “or storm surge”

________________________________________________________

The Saints are set to the play the Texans in exhibition game number three. Quarterback Drew Brees is expected to get his first action of the preseason and he’s excited to finally play in a game…

Cut 16 (19) “that I’m proud of”

Veteran running back Adrian Peterson is expected to make his preseason debut as well. Brees says he’s been impressed with the future Hall of Famer during camp…

Cut 17 (15)  “right after”

_____________________________________________________________

The LSU Tigers will count on a lot of young players during 2017 season. Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda says his young linebackers Tyler Taylor, Patrick Queen and Jacob Phillips strive to be great…

Cut 18 (19) “love to see” 

Aranda says he’s also impressed with freshman K’Lavon Chaisson’s pass rushing abilities…

Cut 19 (23) “do that”

LRN PM Newscall August 24

Foster Farms announces a $30 million upgrade to its Union Parish poultry processing plant. Don Molino has more…

Cut 1 (28) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

Hurricane Harvey is expected to become a category three storm when it makes landfall in Texas and southwestern parishes are gearing up…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________

Foster Farms in Union Parish announces a $30 million investment to expand and upgrade the poultry processing facilities in Farmerville. Louisiana Economic Development expects this will create 50 new direct jobs. Farmerville Mayor Stein Baughman says the town has a good relationship with the company.

Cut 3 (11) “available here”

The expansion will maintain the more than 1,000 existing jobs at the facility. LED estimates it will also result in an additional 42 indirect jobs for a total of more than 90 new jobs in North Louisiana. Baughman says this is huge for the town and the parish.

Cut 4  (12) “Union Parish”

Foster Farm will receive a $500,000 Modernization Tax Credit, and it’s expected the company will utilize the Industrial Tax Exemption Program. The company received financial help from the state in 2009, which helped grow the Farmerville plant to what it is today. Baughman says the town is grateful for that investment because it resulted in 1,000 jobs for the area.

Cut 5  (10)  “30 million dollars”

________________________________________________

The National Hurricane Center says Harvey is now a hurricane and is expected to become a Category 3 tomorrow before hitting Texas. Eric Blake with the N-H-C says the storm is quickly strengthening.

Cut 6 (09) “in Texas”

Blake says Harvey will intensify into a category three on Friday. He says the hurricane isn’t expected to move far inland, as it makes landfall early Saturday morning.

Cut 7 (08)  “southeastern Texas”

Blake says Louisiana faces the potential for 6 to 15 inches of rain, the heaviest in the southwest part of the state and some coastal flooding. He says there are lots of hazards that come along with Harvey but as of right now Texas will get the worst of it.

Cut 8 (10) “storm surge

__________________________________________________________

As Hurricane Harvey is predicted to be a category 3 hurricane by Saturday, Cameron Parish officials are preparing for the extreme amount of rain expected to hammer the southwest Louisiana coast. Ashley Buller with the parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Office says they aren’t calling for evacuations now but they are monitoring the situation closely.

Cut 9 (10)  “inundated”

Buller predicts rain to be the biggest problem with this hurricane. She says Harvey’s path is hard to predict…

Cut 10 (10) “or Thursday”

__________________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana as the state prepares for potential impacts from Hurricane Harvey. Extensive rainfall is the major concern as the storm is expected to linger and possibly turn towards Louisiana next week. Edwards says citizens need to prepare as well…

Cut 11 (13) “government assistance”

Edwards says this is a serious storm that everyone should take seriously.

Cut 12 (11) “in Texas”

Edwards says the biggest concern is in southwest Louisiana, where the most rainfall will happen and the greatest storm surge affects will occur, but the entire state could see high rainfall totals. He says the National Guard has over a half million sandbags available and agencies are ready to conduct water rescues…

Cut 13 (12) “national guard”

__________________________________________________________

Walmart announces Louisiana customers now have access to the Express Money Services. Walmart spokesperson Erin Hulliberger says this new feature will help shoppers save time when they’re making money transfers in stores.

Cut 14 (08) “our customers”

Hulliberger says with Express Lanes in the majority of Walmart stores, this new feature is available to all Louisiana customers. She says customers can fill out money transfer paperwork using the Walmart app.

Cut 15 (11) “saved electronically”

Hulliberger says saving receipts electronically will make future transactions even more convenient. She says customers no longer need to fill out lengthy money transfer paperwork in stores; now, this work can be done at home or on-the-go using the Walmart App..

Cut 16  (09)  “time and money”

__________________________________________________________

AM Newscall August 24,2017

Twenty-five years ago today Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Florida and then took its aim on Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to make landfall on Friday in Texas and Calcasieu Parish is getting prepared. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

State Climatologist Barry Keim says the main thing to worry about with Harvey is that it’s not going to be in a hurry to leave. Michelle Southern reports…:

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

______________________________________________________________

St. Martinville hopes to become “The Pepper City of the World.” Mayor Pro Tem Mike Fuselier says they will ask the state legislature to pass a resolution giving them the prestigious title. He says for nearly a century, St. Martinville has had a pepper industry, like Pepper’s Unlimited.

Cut 4  (07) “internationally”

St. Martinville is also known for the company Cajun Chef, which produces 250 different products. Fuselier says they also have been home to a pepper festival for the last 26 years. He says the town is a big tourist attraction and adding this title will only boost visitors.

Cut 5  (10)  “good stuff”

Fuselier says this is the perfect opportunity to capitalize on something that’s played a huge role in St. Martinville for nearly 100 years. He says he gets asked all the time what kinds of peppers are growth in the area.

Cut 6 (07) “habanero”

________________________________________________________

Twenty-five years ago today one of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history made landfall in Florida and then crossed the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall near Morgan City. Former WAFB Meteorologist Mike Graham was working at the Baton Rouge TV station and remembers the anxiety as the storm took aim on Louisiana…

Cut 7 (11)  “Louisiana coast”

Andrew slammed into Louisiana on August 26th, 1992. It left extensive damage in its wake in St. Mary and Iberia Parishes and across a good portion of south Louisiana. Private property damage was estimated at one billion dollars. But Graham says we’ve seen bigger disasters since then from Hurricane Katrina to last year’s devastating floods…

Cut 8 (11) “weather events”

Graham also remembers the recovery moved at a quick pace, because of much of the destruction was caused by wind and not water. Edwin Edwards was the governor of Louisiana in 1992…

Cut 9 (06)  “federal government”

____________________________________________________

Calcasieu Parish is gearing up as Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to make landfall on Friday evening in Texas. Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness for the parish, Dick Gremillion, says they anticipate a lot of rain and depending on the track, storm surge is also a possibility.

Cut 10 (08) “inches”

Gremillion advises members of the public who live in a warning zone to move to higher ground due to the possibility of storm surge. He also urges everyone to stay inside because flash flooding is possible.

Cut 11 (09) “preparedness”

Gremillion says they are prepared with rescue assets in the event of extreme flooding.  He also reminds motorists not to drive through water of unknown depth.

Cut 12 (10) “events”

____________________________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a news conference this morning at GOHSEP to provide updates on Tropical Depression Harvey. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this system will likely be more of a rainmaker for most of Louisiana, but areas across the coast are looking at more complicated circumstances. He says it’s not the time to be fishing in the Gulf…:

Cut 13 (10) “coastal zone”

Keim says Harvey should make landfall around the central-Texas coast sometime Friday evening. He says once that happens, the system is expected to turn eastward, and slow down. There’s the potential that over 20 inches of rain, with Houston/Galveston being ground zero…:

Cut 14 (09) “the state”

Keim says 5 to 10 inches of rain over any given area of the state can not be ruled out over the next week. He says once that storm stalls, it could sit there for a couple of days…:

Cut 15 (08) “for this entire region”

________________________________________________________

LSU quarterback Danny Etling is excited about being named the stater when the Tigers hit the field September 2nd against BYU in Houston. The fifth year senior says he’s never entered a season without competing hard for that starting job…:

Cut 16 (13) “that I’m proud of”

Coach O said it was important to make the announcement about a starter a couple of weeks before the season started so that Etling knew the team believed in him. Etling says when Orgeron broke the news to him, he initially
joked that he needed to discuss an academic issue…:

Cut 17 (15)  “right after”

Etling remained the presumed starter throughout the spring despite a back injury that required off-season surgery. He says the only thing on his mind during camp was that he’s got to get better…:

Cut 18 (13) “focus on” 

Etling took over under center during the second game of last season and has maintained the job since. He threw for 2,123 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 59.5 percent of his passes.

Cut 19 (18) “this fall”

LRN PM Newscall August 23rd

A young woman from Rayne has gained thousands of signatures on her petition to replace Confederate statues with monuments of Britney Spears. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Heavy rains are expected in Louisiana starting Friday as a strengthening storm system called Harvey makes it way towards the Louisiana coast. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Thousands have signed a petition on Change.org that seeks to replace statues of Confederate soldiers in Louisiana with pop star Britney Spears. Rayne native and petition creator, Kassie Thibodeaux, says Spears is a Louisiana hero who should be memorialized.

Cut 3 (08) “the schools”

Spears is a native of Kentwood. Thibodeaux calls Spears a role model for women. The petition has received nearly 4-thousand signatures.

Cut 4  (04) “by everything”

Thibodeaux hopes to catch the attention of Governor John Bel Edwards, our U.S. Senators, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, and a certain famous singer…

Cut 5  (04)  “see it”

________________________________________________

Tropical Depression Harvey has re-formed in the Gulf of Mexico and it could be a significant rainmaker for Louisiana. Joe Rua, with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, says Harvey is expected make landfall as a strong Tropical Storm near Corpus Christi, Texas on Friday, but Louisiana will certainly feel the impact…

Cut 6 (08) “slow mover”

The forecast track calls for the center of Harvey to curve towards Lousiiana but stay in Southeast Texas through at least Monday morning. Rua says six to 12 inches of rain is possible over much of the state…

Cut 7 (08)  “across the area”

Over a foot of rain is possible for southwest Louisiana. Louisiana Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Jim Waskom says everyone should get prepared…

Cut 8 (12) “together”

Waskom says once the system reaches the Texas coast it’s hard to predict what the storm will do….

Cut 9 (11)  “prepare now”

__________________________________________________________

A 38-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting an elderly man in Opelousas in a road rage incident. Police Chief Donald Thompson says they arrested Joshua Babineaux this morning after the public recognized him from surveillance video released to the media. He says the attack happened after the 72-year-old victim supposedly cut off Babineaux and they pulled over…

Cut 10 (10) “the face”

Thompson says the victim recently underwent surgery for his injures and is recovering. He says this elderly man posed no threat to Babineaux.

Cut 11 (09) “whatnot”

Babineaux is charged with aggravated second degree battery and simple battery of the infirm. Thompson says the community really came together to help find Babineaux.

Cut 12 (10) “was right”

__________________________________________________________

As expected, LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron has named Danny Etling as the starting quarterback, but added there are also some other incredible QBs on the team that will be major assets. Etling beat out freshman and former 4-star recruit Myles Brennan for the job. Coach “O” said Brennan has exceeded expectations during camp, but he’s still a rookie..:

Cut 13 (14) “fantastic balls”

Orgeron said Brennan will begin the season as LSU’s backup. He says Etling knows the offense and has been the most consistent quarterback on the roster during training camp…:

Cut 14 (13) “fifth year senior”

The Tigers open the season September 2nd against BYU in Houston. Orgeron says Lowell Narcisse, another true freshman who has been used as a running option in camp, could also see the field. He says Brennan fought hard for the job, but was understanding and respectful of the decision..:

Cut 15 (07) “they cheered”