Louisiana Congressman and Air Force major Ralph Abraham is flying Harvey missions over Texas. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

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The Department of Children and Family Services says they’ve decided to open a second mega-shelter in the state for flood victims in Texas. Michelle Southern  reports…:

Cut 2 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham is taking to the skies and flying Harvey missions with the US Air Force. Abraham is a major in the Air Force Auxiliary and says his assignment began Thursday. He says he flew over Beaumont and Port Arthur.

Cut 3 (11) “right now”

Abraham says flying these missions is his small way of giving back. He says that’s what we do in the Bayou State, which is why he is so proud to be a Louisianan.

Cut 4  (10) “giving back”

Abraham got practice flying this kind of operation during last year’s floods in Louisiana. He says it’s unclear how long these missions will be necessary. He says it depends on what they find and who requests certain air assets and follow-up groundwork.

Cut 5  (09)  “some tasks”

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The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Irma, which is way out in the Atlantic Ocean, will remain a powerful hurricane for days. Forecaster Eric Blake says Irma is about 15-hundred miles east of the Leeward Islands…

Cut 6 (10) “five days”

Most of the models show Irma steering clear of the Gulf of Mexico, but Blake says the Gulf Coast shouldn’t let their guard down…

Cut 7 (08)  “prediction”

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According to the property management company TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Louisiana residents’ favorite place to travel for the Labor Day Holiday is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Spokesman TJ Clark says they used Google search activity for the study, to look at the top 250 vacation destinations..:

Cut 8 (10) “was number three”

Clark says this is the least popular of the three summer travel holidays; Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day, but that also means there are great deals out there. He says Louisiana wasn’t alone in loving Gatlinburg and Chatanooga…:

Cut 9 (09)  “and nationally”

Clark says it’s not surprising that folks in the state looking to leave the scorching hot late summer heat for Gatlinburg…:

Cut 10 (08) “activities there”

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The Department of Children and Family Services says they’ve decided to open a second mega-shelter in the state for flood victims in Texas, this time in Shreveport. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says they’re also taking care of nearly 2000 Lone Star State residents in Alexandria…:

Cut 11 (10) “prescriptions”

Walters says they are nearing capacity in Alexandria so the doors are opening to the massive shelter in Shreveport which can take well over 2,000 people. She says there are several more shelters ready to go in north Louisiana that were designed open in the event New Orleans had to be evacuated again..:

Cut 12 (11) “of their own”

Walters says it’s too early in the process to say how long these shelters will be open. She says they know that people always want to be as close to home as possible…:

Cut 13 (11) “back in place”

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The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is this Labor Day weekend. Executive Director of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Katara Williams says this is an effort to curtail drunk driving during the holiday weekend, which is one of the deadliest weekends in the year.

Cut 14 (10) “drunk driving”

Williams says if you’ve had anything to drink at all, you do not need to get behind the wheel. She encourages motorists to get a game plan and designate a driver beforehand. She says there are too many other options for anyone to drive drunk.

Cut 15 (08) “smart options”

But she says one option people should not consider is getting behind the wheel after drinking. In Louisiana, about 47 percent of vehicle fatalities involve drunk driving. Williams says she wants people to celebrate the holiday, but they need to do so safely.

Cut 16  (12)  “Louisiana highways”

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Please note the reporter change on voicer one:

Drivers can expect to see higher prices at the pump as Texas refineries cope with storm damage. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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The Hodges Garden State Park in Sabine Parish is closing amid ongoing budget constraints. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

It’s going to be a busy weekend in New Orleans now that the LSU-BYU game has been moved to the Superdome. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

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Prices at the pump jumped 6 cents overnight as storm-impacted refineries shut down in Texas. Don Redman with AAA says the statewide average is about $2.27 a gallon,which is 13 cents higher than the week before…:

Cut 4  (08) “ironed out”

Redman says prices could reach up to $2.40 a gallon in the coming weeks before the refineries reopen. But he says once they do, there’s an ample supply of gasoline for plants to distribute.

Cut 5  (09)  “calmed down again”

Redman cautions drivers to be aware they may be travelling in evacuation routes, which could create an additional burden on the existing supply and longer lines at service stations.

Cut 6 (10) “coming weeks”

________________________________________________________

This weekend Louisiana hunters can enjoy a tax break on their guns and ammo during the 2^nd Amendment sales tax holiday. Byron Henderson with the state department of revenue says eligible items will be fully exempt from local sales taxes and subject to only three percent of the state sales tax.

Cut 7 (09)  “other things”

The sales tax holiday runs this Friday through Sunday throughout the state. Byron says it’s an annual discount the state offers around this time every year.

Cut 8 (08) “season starts”

Henderson says a wide range of guns, ammo, and hunting accessories are eligible for the sales tax exemption. But he says that does not include everything hunting-related.

Cut 9 (12)  “in the regulations”

____________________________________________________

The original owners of the Hodges Garden State Park are taking back the 948-acre recreation area in Sabine Parish because the state department of tourism can’t afford to maintain the facility. The assistant secretary in charge of the state park system, Robert Braham, says the state is transferring Hodges back to the Hodges Foundation, effective the last day of September.

Cut 10 (10) “Hodges Foundation”

The state took over the park in 2007. Barham says there have been issues with upkeep due to continued budget cuts for Louisiana’s state parks. He says in the last 10 years, the department has seen a 40 percent reduction in funding.

Cut 11 (07) “like to do”

Barham says some park components have not been adequately maintained, which is why the Hodges Foundation is stepping in. He is hopeful the foundation will continue to make a portion or all of the park available to the public.

Cut 12 (09) “beautiful place”

____________________________________________________

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is gearing up for a busy weekend as the LSU-BYU season opener takes at the Mercedes Benz Superdome at 8:30 p.m Saturday. Kristian Sonnier with the CVB says even though the game was relocated last minute due to Harvey, they are expecting a big crowd. He says the Decadence Festival will be underway at the same time.

Cut 13 (10) “come Saturday”

Sonnier expects about 50,000 people will be in the Crescent City for the game that they were not anticipating.

Cut 14 (08) “and gold”

Sonnier says come Saturday, there should be no threat of flooding in New Orleans for fans to be concerned about, especially after the disaster Harvey left in Houston. He says everyone in the Big Easy is excited for the game and welcomes the unexpected visitors.

Cut 15 (11) “be gone”

________________________________________________________

The first Saturday of college football features three matchups involving intrastate teams. At 6 PM in Ruston, Louisiana Tech hosts Northwestern State. The Demons are coming off a 1-10 season, but Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz sees a more talented Northwestern team this year…:

Cut 16  (21)  “extremely hard”

Louisiana Tech is coming off a 9-5 campaign. J’Mar Smith replaces Ryan Higgins at quarterback and the Bulldogs must replace two talented wide receivers, Trent Taylor and Corey Henderson. Holtz says on the production he anticipates from his wide outs…

Cut 17 (20)  “to this point”

In Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns begin the season by hosting Southeastern Louisiana. UL Lafayette was inconsistent on offense last season and Coach Mark Hudspeth hopes that’s not the case this season, despite some new faces…

Cut 18 (20) “good players” 

Hudspeth says the key to beating the Lions is stopping their running game…

Cut 19 (14) “back end”

The other intrastate matchup will happen at Yulman Stadium as Grambling visits Tulane. Coach Broderick Fobbs says they look forward to the challenge…

Cut 20 (19)  “gonna go” 

Drivers can expect to see higher prices at the pump as Texas refineries cope with storm damage. Don Molino has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

The Hodges Garden State Park in Sabine Parish is closing amid ongoing budget constraints. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

It’s going to be a busy weekend in New Orleans now that the LSU-BYU game has been moved to the Superdome. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________________________________

Prices at the pump jumped 6 cents overnight as storm-impacted refineries shut down in Texas. Don Redman with AAA says the statewide average is about $2.27 a gallon,which is 13 cents higher than the week before…:

Cut 4  (08) “ironed out”

Redman says prices could reach up to $2.40 a gallon in the coming weeks before the refineries reopen. But he says once they do, there’s an ample supply of gasoline for plants to distribute.

Cut 5  (09)  “calmed down again”

Redman cautions drivers to be aware they may be travelling in evacuation routes, which could create an additional burden on the existing supply and longer lines at service stations.

Cut 6 (10) “coming weeks”

________________________________________________________

This weekend Louisiana hunters can enjoy a tax break on their guns and ammo during the 2^nd Amendment sales tax holiday. Byron Henderson with the state department of revenue says eligible items will be fully exempt from local sales taxes and subject to only three percent of the state sales tax.

Cut 7 (09)  “other things”

The sales tax holiday runs this Friday through Sunday throughout the state. Byron says it’s an annual discount the state offers around this time every year.

Cut 8 (08) “season starts”

Henderson says a wide range of guns, ammo, and hunting accessories are eligible for the sales tax exemption. But he says that does not include everything hunting-related.

Cut 9 (12)  “in the regulations”

____________________________________________________

The original owners of the Hodges Garden State Park are taking back the 948-acre recreation area in Sabine Parish because the state department of tourism can’t afford to maintain the facility. The assistant secretary in charge of the state park system, Robert Braham, says the state is transferring Hodges back to the Hodges Foundation, effective the last day of September.

Cut 10 (10) “Hodges Foundation”

The state took over the park in 2007. Barham says there have been issues with upkeep due to continued budget cuts for Louisiana’s state parks. He says in the last 10 years, the department has seen a 40 percent reduction in funding.

Cut 11 (07) “like to do”

Barham says some park components have not been adequately maintained, which is why the Hodges Foundation is stepping in. He is hopeful the foundation will continue to make a portion or all of the park available to the public.

Cut 12 (09) “beautiful place”

____________________________________________________

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is gearing up for a busy weekend as the LSU-BYU season opener takes at the Mercedes Benz Superdome at 8:30 p.m Saturday. Kristian Sonnier with the CVB says even though the game was relocated last minute due to Harvey, they are expecting a big crowd. He says the Decadence Festival will be underway at the same time.

Cut 13 (10) “come Saturday”

Sonnier expects about 50,000 people will be in the Crescent City for the game that they were not anticipating.

Cut 14 (08) “and gold”

Sonnier says come Saturday, there should be no threat of flooding in New Orleans for fans to be concerned about, especially after the disaster Harvey left in Houston. He says everyone in the Big Easy is excited for the game and welcomes the unexpected visitors.

Cut 15 (11) “be gone”

________________________________________________________

The first Saturday of college football features three matchups involving intrastate teams. At 6 PM in Ruston, Louisiana Tech hosts Northwestern State. The Demons are coming off a 1-10 season, but Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz sees a more talented Northwestern team this year…:

Cut 16  (21)  “extremely hard”

Louisiana Tech is coming off a 9-5 campaign. J’Mar Smith replaces Ryan Higgins at quarterback and the Bulldogs must replace two talented wide receivers, Trent Taylor and Corey Henderson. Holtz says on the production he anticipates from his wide outs…

Cut 17 (20)  “to this point”

In Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns begin the season by hosting Southeastern Louisiana. UL Lafayette was inconsistent on offense last season and Coach Mark Hudspeth hopes that’s not the case this season, despite some new faces…

Cut 18 (20) “good players” 

Hudspeth says the key to beating the Lions is stopping their running game…

Cut 19 (14) “back end”

The other intrastate matchup will happen at Yulman Stadium as Grambling visits Tulane. Coach Broderick Fobbs says they look forward to the challenge…

Cut 20 (19)  “gonna go” 

Drivers can expect to see higher prices at the pump as Texas refineries cope with storm damage. Don Molino has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

The Hodges Garden State Park in Sabine Parish is closing amid ongoing budget constraints. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

It’s going to be a busy weekend in New Orleans now that the LSU-BYU game has been moved to the Superdome. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________________________________

Prices at the pump jumped three cents overnight as storm-impacted refineries shut down in Texas. Don Redman with AAA says the statewide average is about $2.22 a gallon, up from $2.14 a week ago.

Cut 4  (08) “ironed out”

Redman says prices could reach up to $2.40 a gallon in the coming weeks before the refineries reopen. But he says once they do, there’s an ample supply of gasoline for plants to distribute.

Cut 5  (09)  “calmed down again”

Redman cautions drivers to be aware they may be travelling in evacuation routes, which could create an additional burden on the existing supply and longer lines at service stations.

Cut 6 (10) “coming weeks”

________________________________________________________

This weekend Louisiana hunters can enjoy a tax break on their guns and ammo during the 2^nd Amendment sales tax holiday. Byron Henderson with the state department of revenue says eligible items will be fully exempt from local sales taxes and subject to only three percent of the state sales tax.

Cut 7 (09)  “other things”

The sales tax holiday runs this Friday through Sunday throughout the state. Byron says it’s an annual discount the state offers around this time every year.

Cut 8 (08) “season starts”

Henderson says a wide range of guns, ammo, and hunting accessories are eligible for the sales tax exemption. But he says that does not include everything hunting-related.

Cut 9 (12)  “in the regulations”

____________________________________________________

The original owners of the Hodges Garden State Park are taking back the 948-acre recreation area in Sabine Parish because the state department of tourism can’t afford to maintain the facility. The assistant secretary in charge of the state park system, Robert Braham, says the state is transferring Hodges back to the Hodges Foundation, effective the last day of September.

Cut 10 (10) “Hodges Foundation”

The state took over the park in 2007. Barham says there have been issues with upkeep due to continued budget cuts for Louisiana’s state parks. He says in the last 10 years, the department has seen a 40 percent reduction in funding.

Cut 11 (07) “like to do”

Barham says some park components have not been adequately maintained, which is why the Hodges Foundation is stepping in. He is hopeful the foundation will continue to make a portion or all of the park available to the public.

Cut 12 (09) “beautiful place”

____________________________________________________

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau is gearing up for a busy weekend as the LSU-BYU season opener takes at the Mercedes Benz Superdome at 8:30 p.m Saturday. Kristian Sonnier with the CVB says even though the game was relocated last minute due to Harvey, they are expecting a big crowd. He says the Decadence Festival will be underway at the same time.

Cut 13 (10) “come Saturday”

Sonnier expects about 50,000 people will be in the Crescent City for the game that they were not anticipating.

Cut 14 (08) “and gold”

Sonnier says come Saturday, there should be no threat of flooding in New Orleans for fans to be concerned about, especially after the disaster Harvey left in Houston. He says everyone in the Big Easy is excited for the game and welcomes the unexpected visitors.

Cut 15 (11) “be gone”

________________________________________________________

The first Saturday of college football features three matchups involving intrastate teams. At 6 PM in Ruston, Louisiana Tech hosts Northwestern State. The Demons are coming off a 1-10 season, but Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz sees a more talented Northwestern team this year…:

Cut 16  (21)  “extremely hard”

Louisiana Tech is coming off a 9-5 campaign. J’Mar Smith replaces Ryan Higgins at quarterback and the Bulldogs must replace two talented wide receivers, Trent Taylor and Corey Henderson. Holtz says on the production he anticipates from his wide outs…

Cut 17 (20)  “to this point”

In Lafayette, the Ragin Cajuns begin the season by hosting Southeastern Louisiana. UL Lafayette was inconsistent on offense last season and Coach Mark Hudspeth hopes that’s not the case this season, despite some new faces…

Cut 18 (20) “good players” 

Hudspeth says the key to beating the Lions is stopping their running game…

Cut 19 (14) “back end”

The other intrastate matchup will happen at Yulman Stadium as Grambling visits Tulane. Coach Broderick Fobbs says they look forward to the challenge…

Cut 20 (19)  “gonna go” 

Although southwest Louisiana was spared much of Harvey’s destruction, Congressman Clay Higgins says his district is still feeling the impact of the storm. Michelle Southern has more…

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Michelle Southern”

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Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is sheltering hundreds of evacuees from Texas, and preparing for thousands more. Emelie Gunn reports…:

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

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State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is pushing the importance of flood insurance, especially after the severe flood damage left by Harvey. Donelon says the sad thing is, it usually takes a horrific storm like the one that caused the August floods last year, for homeowners to take action and protect their homes.

Cut 3 (11) “doubled”

The number of properties now insured for floods in Baton Rouge and Lafayette is now at 23-percent, up from 12. Donelon says these super storms will certainly send a strong message to homeowners.

Cut 4  (09) “our state”

Donelon says a significant amount of claims made in Louisiana with the National Flood Insurance Program have been filed in areas that do not see flooding on a regular basis. He when Congress reconvenes next month, he will fight for significant changes to the National Flood Insurance Program.

Cut 5  (11)  “replacement cost”

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Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana’s 3^rd District says his constituents continue to feel the impacts of Harvey, as residents are taking part in rescue and shelter operations. Although much of Acadiana was spared the destruction seen in Texas, Higgins says it’s all hands on deck in south Louisiana.

Cut 6 (11) “rolling hard”

Higgins says many of those rescued are being sheltered in the third district. He says thousands of Louisianans have volunteered their time and donated supplies to help Texas disaster victims.

Cut 7 (12)  “been incredible”

Higgins says the people of south Louisiana are quite adept at dealing with disasters. He says those skills are being put to good use in shelters across the state and as rescue efforts continue in Texas, where flood waters will remain for some time.

Cut 8 (11) “what we do”

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The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry has deployed their mobile pet shelter in Lake Charles to assist with Harvey evacuations. Commissioner Mike Strain says they will do whatever they can to ensure pets are safe, while their owners are coping with the disaster. He says currently they have 86 pets in their care.

Cut 9 (06)  “Alexandria”

The department has 100 kennels in Lake Charles and is providing an additional 200 soft sided carriers for pets traveling by bus. Strain says they are preparing for an additional 500 pets in Alexandria as thousands of evacuees are headed to the mega shelter. He says they welcome donations of dog food and cat food.

Cut 10 (09) “boulevard”

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Governor John Bel Edwards said today that 1,120 people sheltered in Louisiana last night due to displacement from Harvey, and 876 were Texans. He says currently there are a thousand Louisiana national guardsmen who are assisting in search and rescue operations…:

Cut 11 (09) “yesterday”

Edwards says the state is planning to take in at least an additional 3,000 people from Texas today, to bring to shelters in Lake Charles, Alexandria and Shreveport. He says the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has rescued about 1,300 people in Texas, and 150 pets. As far as impacts to Louisiana, there are roads that are impacted along the Sabine…:

Cut 12 (09) “the rivers are”

Edwards says he is asking the people of Louisiana to continue to prepare and remember that we are still in hurricane season. He says right now they are watching Category 2 Hurricane Irma in the Atlantic…:

Cut 13 (10) “10 to 12 days”

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Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso has called for a voluntary evacuation of the western part of the parish. This includes the areas from Highway 109 west to the Sabine River and north from I-10 to the Calcasieu Parish Line. Tom Hoefer with the Parish Police Jury says the Sabine River has flooded before and they’re fearful it could happen again as the river is extremely swollen.

Cut 14 (10) “2016”

Hoefer says fewer than one thousand homes and camps are included in the voluntary evacuation. He says residents in the area have plenty of time to get out of their homes.

Cut 15 (06) “like that”

Just as Harvey is leaving the Gulf, a disturbance along the Mexican coast is developing. Emelie Gunn has more…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

______________________________________

Louisianans are doing everything they can to help our neighbors in Texas with the ongoing Harvey relief efforts. Halen Doughty has more…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

______________________________________

Reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program will be a top priority for federal lawmakers when congress reconvenes in September. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 3 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________________________________

Harvey is finally moving out of Gulf Coast, but forecasters are now keeping an eye on a tropical disturbance near southern Mexico. Andy Tingler with the National Weather Service says there is a low chance this system could develop into a tropical depression or storm over the next five days.

Cut 4  (10) “as well”

There is also Tropical Storm Irma, which is currently gaining strength in the Atlantic and is located off the western coast of Africa. Tingler says there’s a good chance Irma could develop into a hurricane over the next few days.

Cut 5  (10)  “away”

Tropical Depression Harvey is currently located in northeast Louisiana. Tingler says rainfall totals in Louisiana along the Texas border reached over 30 inches from the storm.

Cut 6 (10) “five days”

________________________________________________________

Louisianans who want to help with the Harvey relief efforts both in Texas and Louisiana can find ways to give at VolunteerLouisiana.gov. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says thousands have already signed up to give their time and resources to those in need.

Cut 7 (09)  “those Americans rebuild”

Although Harvey has moved out of the area, the needs will be ongoing for some time. Nungesser says seeing neighbors helping neighbors shows the good we have in the community. He says it helps reassure the disaster victims they aren’t alone during this difficult time.

Cut 8 (09) “back to normal”

Nungesser says volunteers’ time, money, and effort is going to a good cause. He says many Texans came to the aid of the Bayou State during last year’s historic floods, and this is our chance to give back.

Cut 9 (09)  “with big hearts”

____________________________________________________

Members of the Louisiana National Guard continue to help with search and rescue efforts in Texas, as flood waters will not recede for some time. Col. Ed Bush says it’s a great feeling to be able to help our neighbors in need.

Cut 10 (09) “the favor”

Bush says hundreds of rescues have already been conducted, and many Texans are now in shelters in Lake Charles. He says it’s been a combined effort of both Texas and Louisiana authorities to get help to the people that need it.

Cut 11 (09) “some guardsmen”

Bush says they are all about the spirit of helping, which is why soldiers join the guard. He says the number of Louisiana guardsmen in Texas will continue to grow, and they will be there as long as it takes.

Cut 12 (09) “keep them safe”

____________________________________________________

Congress will be tasked with reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program once lawmakers reconvene in September. This has become an even bigger priority as hundreds of thousands of homeowners cope with the flood waters left by Harvey. US Senator John Kennedy says homeowner’s insurance only covers things like wind damage and fires, not flooding.

Cut 13 (11) “homeowner’s insurance”

Kennedy says the NFIP is the only option for homeowners to cover homes for flooding. He says the amount of flooding from substantial rainfall has doubled in the past decade. He says virtually no one in the country today is immune from flooding, no matter where you live.

Cut 14 (06) “Pike’s Peak”

The NFIP must be reauthorized before it expires on September 30. Kennedy has introduced legislation that would reauthorize the program for 6 years. He says it would also cap premium increases at a lower level than the law currently allows.

Cut 15 (10) “the flooding”

________________________________________________________

ULM kicks-off a new season tonight with a matchup against Memphis at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Sophomore Caleb Evans will start at QB after starting four games as a freshman. Viator says junior Garrett Smith will also take some snaps….

Cut 16  (15)  “shakes out”

Memphis was 8-5 last season. They return quarterback Riley Ferguson, who threw for 37-hundred yards and 32 touchdowns last season. Viator says the six-foot-four senior is a tremendous football player….

Cut 17 (20)  “they’re built”

McNeese and Nicholls begin the 2017 football season by playing each other in Thibodaux tonight in a contest that can be seen on ESPN 3. McNeese has dominated this series by winning 30 of the 41 games played between the two schools. The Cowboys have also won the last eight matchups. Colonels Head Coach Tim Rebowe on what they need to do tonight…

Cut 18 (15) “this week” 

McNeese is led by quarterback James Tabary, who is coming off one of the most productive seasons in school history. But Rebowe says he brings back a solid defense from last year…

Cut 19 (19) “in James”

Calcasieu Parish was spared of any further damage when Tropical Storm Harvey trekked across the parish early this morning. Don Molino has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “I’m Don Molino”

______________________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards is looking to help Texas as the Lone Star state struggles with catastrophic flooding from Harvey. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

______________________________________

Calcasieu Parish officials say they dodged a bullet when Tropical Storm Harvey made another landfall on the western Louisiana coast. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says while the western side of the parish did get a lot of rain overnight, it wasn’t enough to cause major widespread flooding.

Cut 3 (11) “and Port Arthur”

Mancuso says roughly 200 residents had to be rescued after taking on water, but the parish is in pretty good shape considering what they could have faced. He says they are fortunate because after a month of heavy rain, the parish could not have handled more water.

Cut 4  (12) “taken much”

Mancuso says the western side of the parish took the brunt of the rainfall. He says the more rural areas were impacted, as major cities like Sulphur and Lake Charles on the eastern side were spared. But Texas was not as fortunate.

Cut 5  (12)  “the coming days”

________________________________________________

Louisiana has been spared from major damage from Tropical Storm Harvey. That’s according to Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. But Steele says  we’re not in the clear yet as the central part of the state is expected to see heavy rainfall today…

Cut 6 (09) “Louisiana”

Steele says to keep update to date on road conditions, use 511-la-dot-org. He says Louisiana residents cannot enter Texas through I-10….

Cut 7 (11)  “I-20”

At 12:30 briefing, Governor John Bel Edwards says there are hundreds of roads in Louisiana with standing water…

Cut 8 (12) “of harm”

Thousands of homes are damaged in Texas are damaged or destroyed by Harvey. Edwards says based on the reports he’s getting, Louisiana has avoided significant damage…

Cut 9 (09)  “on the chin”

__________________________________________________________

The storm is not over for Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Harvey made landfall in Cameron Parish around 4 a.m and is slowly moving towards Alexandria.

Cut 10 (07) “into tennessee”

Parishes in both southeast and northeast Louisiana are under a tornado watch until 6 p.m., and Keim says more rain is also on the way.

Cut 11 (08) “flooding problems”

Keim says the greatest rainfall total from Houston is nearly 52 inches, while Louisiana has topped out at about 22 inches so far. Fortunately Louisiana has been spared from much of the flooding seen in Texas. He says that’s because the system ingested dry air.

Cut 12 (08) “Gulf of Mexico”

__________________________________________________________

Ticket sales for the LSU-BYU season opener, now at the Mercedes Benz Superdome, are underway. Fans who purchased tickets for the game in Houston, season ticket holders and students have first priority. LSU Ticket Manager Brian Broussard says the general public can begin buying tickets at 4 p.m. and all sales are done online.

Cut 13 (09) “their side”

Broussard says based on early indications, demand for Saturday night’s game is high. He says about 10-thousand tickets sold for the game in Houston were bought by fans in Texas. He’s not sure how many original ticket holders from Texas will come to New Orleans

Cut 14 (09) “this game”

Ticket prices range from 40-dollars to 250-dollars. Broussard says LSU’s ticket office was allotted 25-thousand tickets, but that number might increase. He reminds original ticket holders, their tickets to the game in Houston will not work in New Orleans.

Cut 15 (09) “going to work”

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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”

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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”