With the cold weather in Louisiana comes the horror of house fires. Three people perished in fires within just over 24 hours; one in New Orleans, one in Leesville and one in Ruston. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says check your smoke detectors and – if they don’t work – replace them now…:

CUT 10(09)      “…us yet.”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he wants to the federal government to help clean up the lakes adjacent to the State Capitol; which have been dangerously polluted for 40 years or more. Edwards says unfortunately the state doesn’t have the resources for remediation and he’s asking the EPA for assistance…:

CUT 14(10)      “…immediately.”

He says getting such a project rolling could take a couple years to get started.

The Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Fund will stop accepting applications tomorrow. The help was available for folks affected by the pandemic. Assistant Commissioner of Administration Desiree Thomas says the state will continue reviewing applications submitted by the deadline until all funds are expended…:

CUT 05(05)      “…Wednesday at 5.”

To learn more or to apply, go to “lacovidhousing.com”

The Corps of Engineers has given the green light to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project to use Mississippi River sediment to rebuild parts of Louisiana’s coast. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority director Bren Haase says construction on the project could get underway next spring. He says once its operational, it will be able to build and sustain up to 26,000 acres of wetlands…:

CUT 08(09)      “…vegetation grows.”

In a 26-hour period, three separate house fires claimed three lives in Louisiana. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it’s tragic especially because they could have been prevented. The fires happened in New Orleans, Leesville, and Ruston…:

CUT 09(11)      “…fire hazards.”

She says working smoke detectors are SO important. Especially this time of year.

Governor John Bel Edwards is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to have Capitol Lakes in Baton Rouge declared as a Superfund site. Edwards says contamination from PCB was detected in the lakes on the north side of the Capitol Complex in 1983..:

CUT 13(12)      “…unacceptable levels.”

Signs warning you NOT to eat fish from the lakes have been posted for over 40 years.

The Corps of Engineers says yes to a huge project to divert Mississippi River sediment to the Barataria Estuary. That money will come from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Golsby.”

A Louisiana man is wanted for a November double murder in Houston, Texas and LEOs say he could be hiding out in Tangipahoa Parish. 18-year-old Bradlyn McKay, aka BAM, is from Ponchatoula. Police ask anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to call them at 985-386-65-48.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating three separate house fires that claimed three lives in just over one day…:

CUT 02(32)      “…Thorington.”

The man who shot & killed former NFL player Joe McKnight back in 2016 changes his plea to guilty of manslaughter and gets ten years in prison. 61-year-old Ronald Gasser was scheduled for a retrial of his 2018 conviction, due to the state tossing out non-unanimous jury verdicts. He shot McKnight during a road rage incident in Terrytown.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given the green light to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project that will use Mississippi River sediment to rebuild parts of Louisiana’s coast. State Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority director Bren Haase says the project will help restore the estuary and provide important hurricane protection for New Orleans…:

CUT 07(07)      “…protection systems.”

The Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Fund will stop accepting applications tomorrow. Assistant Commissioner of Administration Desiree Thomas says the state will continue reviewing applications submitted before tomorrow’s deadline until all funds are expended…:

CUT 05(05)      “…at five o’clock.”

Deputies in Ascension Parish seek a pair of women who were naughty and not nice when they stole over $1000 worth of electronics and clothing from a local Walmart. Someone’s getting a lump of coal in their stockings.

In a 26-hour period, three separate house fires claimed three lives in Louisiana. The State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents to be aware of the dangers of space heaters if used improperly and spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says to be mindful of holiday decorations also.

Cut 11 (09)  “…outlet.”

The fires happened in New Orleans, Leesville, and Ruston.

The Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Fund will stop accepting applications tomorrow. Assistant Commissioner in the Division of Administration, Desiree Honore Thomas says the programs have helped people stay afloat through financial challenges brought about by the pandemic.

Cut 4 (09)  “…few people 

Governor John Bel Edwards is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to have Capitol Lakes declared as a Superfund site. Edwards says the letter he sent last week is the final step to make the long-polluted lakes eligible for federal assistance.

Cut 12 (10) “…by the EPA.”  

Edwards says it could take three to five years before remediation work begins.

The Corps of Engineers has given the green light to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project to use Mississippi River sediment to rebuild parts of Louisiana’s coast. Bren Haase executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority says it’s a monumental development

Cut 6 (12)  “…first place”

He says the project will also provide more hurricane protection for New Orleans.

In a 26-hour period, three separate house fires claimed three lives in Louisiana. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it’s vital to have a working smoke detector, especially with the hard freeze in the forecast.

Cut 10 (09) “… us yet.” 

Rodrigue urges residents to look for fire hazards before using a space heater and Christmas décor. The fires happened in New Orleans, Leesville, and Ruston.

The Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Fund will stop accepting applications tomorrow. Desiree Honore Thomas is Assistant Commissioner in the Division of Administration.

Cut 3 (05) “..funds left. ” 

The program has assisted 26 hundred tenants and 62 hundred homeowners since its inception.

The Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on another six-dollar storm recovery surcharge being put on customers’ bills as they look to see if Entergy can pay some of the costs from the 2020 and 2021 storms.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

In a 26-hour period, three separate house fires claimed three lives in Louisiana. State Fire Marshal’s Office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it’s tragic especially because they could have been prevented. The fires happened in New Orleans, Leesville, and Ruston.
Cut 9 (12) “…fire hazards.”
Sunday night a 73-year-old woman was unable to escape her home in the Gentilly neighborhood, they believe she was using canned sources of heat because the home had been without utilities for years.

Monday afternoon an 83-year-old woman died in her home and the smoke detector was not working. And Monday evening in Ruston a disabled man in his 40s died. All fatalities are under investigation.

At his end-of-the-year press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards highlighted the state’s finances which have drastically improved so the state can increase funding to programs versus cutting them.
Cut 7 (11) “…few things.”
Edwards says when he took office the state had a $2-billon deficit.

One of Louisiana’s statewide elected officials takes aim at TikTok. Whitney Thomas reports
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Whitney Thomas.”

The Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Fund will stop accepting applications tomorrow. Desiree Honore Thomas is Assistant Commissioner in the Division of Administration.
Cut 3 (05) “..funds left. ”
The programs started as a result to provide assistance for those who lost jobs as a result of COVID.

Governor John Bel Edwards end of the year report indicates the state is in good shape financially and more people are working than ever before.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Judge Tim Kelley has dismissed seven of the 13 counts in a lawsuit filed by former LSU Associate Athletic Director Sharon Lewis who claimed she faced an atmosphere of hostility and discrimination after she reported sexual harassment claims made by two female students against former coach Les Miles.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has banned the use of TikTok on any device issued by the Secretary of State’s Office. Deputy Secretary of Outreach Services, Joel Watson, says it’s an issue of cybersecurity…
cut 6 (13) “….here today”
Watson says Ardoin has also asked the governor to ban TikTok on all devices owned or leased by all state agencies.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on Entergy’s request for customers to pay an additional six-dollars a month for the next 15 years to pay for the costs associated with recovery from five named storms in 2020 and 2021. PSC Member Foster Campbell believes Entergy’s shareholders should split those costs with customers…
Cut 13 (10) “…hell with that.”
In February, the PSC approved an average storm recovery cost surcharge of about ten-dollars per month for 15 years.

An artic blast of cold weather will hit the state in two days…
cut 12 (07) “…brace yourself”
That’s state climatologist Barry Keim who says a hard freeze will impact north Louisiana Thursday and morning lows on Friday will approach the single digits. Wind chill readings in south Louisiana will likely be in the single digits.

During the governor’s end of the year press conference, Democrat John Bel Edwards highlighted the state’s recovery from the COVID pandemic…
cut 9 (12) “….two-million-forty-two-thousand”
Edwards says the state’s budget is also in excellent shape with the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizing a 925-million dollar surplus this fiscal year and another 608-million dollars for next fiscal year.

The Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on another six-dollar storm recovery surcharge being put on customers’ bills as they look to see if Entergy can pay some of the costs from the 2020 and 2021 storms.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

Entergy has filed a nine-point-six billion dollar plan with the Public Service Commission to harden its gird. The goal is to get power back faster after major storms. It calls for thousands of distribution and transmission projects that would strengthen more than 269-thousand structures and 11-thousand miles of powerlines.

Are you ready for some very cold weather? State climatologist Barry Keim says a significant cold front will move through Louisiana on Thursday
Cut 10 (11) “…our region.”
On Friday morning, temperatures will drop to 11 and 12 degrees across north Louisiana. In south Louisiana, wind chills Thursday night into Friday night will be potentially dangerous with readings in the single digits.

During an end of the year news conference, Governor John Bel Edwards discussed some of the state’s accomplishments. That includes a one-point-five billion dollar budget surplus and a record low unemployment rate of two-point-nine percent…
cut 8 (06) “….two years ago”
In December 2020, the unemployment rate was near seven-percent.

Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin bans TikTok on all state department-issued devices. The decision stems from concerns over the data collected when using TikTok and ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Deputy Secretary for Outreach Services, Joel Watson, says several states have banned TikTok use on all state government-issued devices…
cut 5 (07) “…same thing here”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission continues to try and convince Entergy to pick up some of the recovery storm costs instead of having ratepayers pay for 100-percent of the recovery. P-S-C member Foster Campbell is glad the commission is taking another look at this issue…
cut 14 (08) “….paying them”
In February, the P-S-C imposed an average storm surcharge to customers of ten-dollars per month for 15 years and now Entergy is asking for another six-dollars a month.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is in good shape financially and more people are working as 2022 winds down.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Judge Tim Kelley has dismissed seven of the 13 counts in a lawsuit filed by former LSU Associate Athletic Director Sharon Lewis who claimed she faced an atmosphere of hostility and discrimination after she reported sexual harassment claims made by two female students against former coach Les Miles.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is banning TikTok on all Department of State-issued devices, and is calling on Governor John Bel Edwards to do the same on a statewide level. Deputy Secretary for Outreach services, Joel Watson says TikTok poses a risk to your personal identification.
Cut 4 (13) “…Communist party.”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has delayed a vote on Entergy’s request for customers to pay an additional six-dollars a month for the next 15 years to pay for the costs associated with recovery from five named storms in 2020 and 2021. PSC Member Foster Campbell believes Entergy’s shareholders should split those costs with customers…
Cut 13 (10) “…hell with that.”
In February, the PSC approved an average storm recovery cost surcharge of about ten-dollars per month for 15 years.