Senator Bill Cassidy and some of his colleagues on Capitol Hill are pushing legislation to delay the rollout of a plan by FEMA to hike flood insurance premiums dramatically.

Cut 6 (09) “…from their mortgage” 

Cassidy says delaying implementation of the premium revision would give lawmakers until September 30, 2022 to address the rollout of Risk Rating 2.0. to make it more meaningful and sustainable.  

26-year old Jake Guidry of Thibodaux faces second-degree murder charges in the death of his infant daughter. After a welfare check early Tuesday morning, at the request of the child’s mother, that’s when Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Lt. Brennan Matherne says they made the grim discovery.

Cut 3 (12) “…had died.”

As southeast Louisiana schools try to recover from Ida, schools in southwestern parishes – hit hard by Hurricane Laura in 2020 – are still struggling to regain normalcy. Calcasieu Parish School Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus (BRUCK-house) says students have been back for quite some time, but the long-term damage is evident. He says he’s glad the system bought all the 55-gallon waste cans available at Sam’s…:

Cut 12 (07) “…every time it rains.”

LSU has broken the record for the most accomplished, largest, and most diverse freshman class in the school’s history. Vice President of Enrollment Jose Aviles says when the vaccine mandate was announced over the summer some feared it would have a negative impact on enrollment, but Aviles says he’s received positive feedback from parents indicating they prefer a school that considers health a priority.

Cut 15 (11)  “…at LSU.”

Governor John Bel Edwards is expressing optimism that FEMA will soon begin the effort of hauling in trailers for Hurricane Ida displaced homeowners to temporarily live in while they repair their property.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

26-year old Jake Guidry of Thibodaux faces second-degree murder charges in the death of his infant daughter. After a welfare check Tuesday on Guidry at the request of the child’s mother, authorities found the child in the rear cargo area of Guidry’s car. Bond is set at one million.

Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says about 70-thousand students across southeast Louisiana are out of school because of damaged classrooms. St. Charles Parish Superintendent Kern Oertling says they will need federal help to put their schools back together…

Cut 11 (13) “…twenty million dollars.”
And schools in southwestern parishes – hit hard by Hurricane Laura in 2020 – are still struggling to regain normalcy. Calcasieu Parish School Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus says he’s had to postpone 50 recovery projects because the school system is still awaiting federal recovery money.

Cut 13 (11) “…we’re out of cash.”

It’s been a month since Ida stormed ashore leaving thousands homeless at its landfall.  There’s still no clear indication when contractors will begin hauling trailers in, given that requests for proposals are just going out. Governor Edwards seems cautiously optimistic that Ida victims may see some of the trailers being brought into places like Terrebonne Parish over the next week.

Cut 5 (12) “…relates to trailers.”

LDH says the fourth COVID surge has severely impacted 14 pregnant women. Of the 14 cases, six mothers and 10 unborn children have died. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it’s a tragic reminder of the vulnerability of unvaccinated pregnant mothers to COVID.

Cut 7 (10) “…heartbreaking cases.”

State lawmakers heard from Louisiana school superintendents about their continued challenges in recovering from Hurricane Ida AND from Laura last year. St. Charles Parish Superintendent Kern Oertling says 19 schools will reopen next week, but the parish’s two high schools Destrehan and Hahnville will have to merge temporarily.

Cut 10 (08)  “…on these campuses.” 

Calcasieu Parish School Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus says students have been back for quite some time, but the long-term damage is evident. He says he’s glad the system bought all the 55-gallon waste cans available at Sam’s.

Cut 12 (07) “…every time it rains.”

Bruchhaus says he’s had to postpone 50 recovery projects because the school system is still awaiting federal recovery money

State health officials say they’ve seen an alarming increase in severe pregnancy outcomes since the Delta variant started circulating in mid-July. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter is once again urging expecting mothers to get vaccinated. Kanter says the data continues to show the vaccine is safe for pregnant women…
cut 9 (10) “….breastfeeding”

LSU says its overall enrollment is at an all-time high of 35,914 thanks to a record freshmen enrollment of just over seven-thousand. Vice President for Enrollment Management Jose Aviles says this freshman class is also the most accomplished…
cut 16 (11) “…to a 26”
Aviles says this is also the most diverse freshmen class in university history as 19-percent of the class is made up of Black students.

State lawmakers heard from school systems struggling with recovery from Hurricane Ida last month and Laura last year. Kevin Gallagher has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Meanwhile, there are thousands of Hurricane Ida victims waiting on FEMA to bring travel trailers to their property, so they can live here, while repairs are done to their damaged home. Governor Edwards says he’s pushing FEMA to get this done, but certain things are required…
cut 6 (06) “….a sewer system”

Governor Edwards is expressing optimism that FEMA will soon begin the effort of hauling in travel trailers for Hurricane Ida displaced homeowners to temporarily live in while they repair their property…
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

And Governor Edwards has extended the state’s indoor mask mandate until October 27th. He says every community in Louisiana continues to have a high rate of COVID.

Despite LSU requiring its students to be vaccinated, overall enrollment for the state’s flagship university is at an all-time high, just below 36-thousand. Vice President of Enrollment Jose Aviles…
cut 15 (11) “…at LSU”
The school is also reporting a record freshman enrollment and the diversity of the class is at an all-time high, nearly 19-percent of the class is made up of Black students.

The state health department says amid the fourth COVID surge, there have been six maternal deaths and 10 fetal deaths and the cases involved mothers who were unvaccinated. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says pregnant individuals and their children are vulnerable to this highly contagious illness…
cut 8 (11) “….unborn babies”
Kanter says expecting mothers should get the COVID vaccine.

Thousands of Hurricane Ida victims continue to wait on FEMA to deliver trailer trailers that can be used on their property as they rebuild their homes. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s pushing FEMA to get this done and says the wait time thus far hasn’t come close to matching the delay Laura victims endured…
cut 4 (12) “….after Hurricane Ida”
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says about 70-thousand students across southeast Louisiana are out of school because of damaged classrooms. St. Charles Parish Superintendent Kern Oertling says they will need federal help to put their schools back together…
cut 11 (13) “….20 million dollars”

Governor Edwards has extended the state’s indoor mask mandate until October 27th. And the state health department reports an alarming increase in severe pregnancy outcomes amid the fourth COVID surge.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU says this year’s freshmen class is their largest and most accomplished and diverse. Vice President of Enrollment Jose Aviles says overall enrollment is also at an all-time high…
cut 14 (07) “…number”

Thirty days after Hurricane Ida, the Louisiana Public Service Commission reports nearly eight thousand customers are still without power as a result of the Category 4 storm. Entergy’s John Hawkins says some of their customers are still not able to accept power because of damage to their homes…Grand Isle and Port Fourchon are among the hardest-hit areas and Hawkins says for those coastal communities it is an entire rebuild versus a restoration.  He says crews are working 16-hour days in an effort to give them some normalcy as soon as possible.

Cut 4 (11) “…restored”

Five people were injured Monday night in an explosion in an ethylene production unit at the Westlake Chemical facility near Lake Charles. The unit was undergoing maintenance at the time. Three of those contract workers have been treated and released from the hospital; two are still being treated. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the blast.

Thousands of Terrebonne Parish residents are still having to resort to tents or storm debris as a shelter following the landfall of Hurricane Ida a month ago today.  Houma Representative Tanner Magee says his efforts to find decent temporary housing for his constituents have been frustrating.

Cut 6 (12) “…my entire life” 

He says the feds are making moves to get trailers sent to Terrebonne Parish, but the process is a red tape battle.

Gas prices aren’t falling as they usually do this post-Summer time of the year. In fact, Triple-A reports the statewide average price for a regular gallon of gasoline is $2.90. About eight cents higher than a month ago. Triple-A’s Don Redman says the big culprit in keeping pump prices high is the price of crude oil…

Cut 9 (09) “…of the year” 

Thirty days ago Ida made landfall and left just under a million Entergy customers in the dark. Brooke Thorington has more on restoration…:

CUT 01             (34)      “…Thorington”

Five inmates escaped last night from the Marksville jail in Avoyelles Parish. The escapees split up and are believed headed for Mansura, Bunkie and the Marksville area. The Avoyelles sheriff’s office will gladly take tips on any or all at 318-253-4000.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended his COVID-19 mask mandate today. Citing a still very high rate of cases in the state, Mr. Edwards says the mask order stays in effect through October 27^th.

Summer’s over…so why aren’t gas prices coming back down? Louisiana AAA’s Don Redman says production in the Gulf is still shut down after two hurricanes, plus there’s uncertainty in the economy…:

CUT 10            (12)      “…stubbornly high”

The latest thing to include on your resume is your COVID vaccination status; especially if you’ve had yours. UNO Business Professor Mark Rosa says employers cannot legally ask, but you can volunteer the info..:

CUT 14            (11)      “…concerned about”

Victims in Terrebonne Parish left homeless by Hurricane Ida are STILL awaiting viable temporary housing. More from LRN’s Dave Brannen…:

CUT 02(34)      “…Brannen”

Five people were injured last night in an explosion in an ethylene production unit at the Westlake Chemical facility near Lake Charles. The unit was undergoing maintenance at the time. Three of those contract workers have been treated and released from the hospital; two are still being treated.

Governor John Bel Edwards has decided the statewide mask mandate will remain in effect through October 27^th, at least. He says the state’s mask mandate includes K-through-12 schools and college campuses…:

CUT 16(12)      “…are masked”

The governor is encouraged by recent COVID numbers, but says the state’s level of COVID is over twice what the CDC considers high.

Gas prices usually decline in the fall, but that’s not the case this year. According to the Louisiana AAA, the statewide price for a gallon of regular is $2.90. About eight cents higher than a month ago. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the big culprit in keeping pump prices high is the price of crude oil…:

CUT 09(09)      “…of the year”

Redman says most Louisiana refineries are running again, so hopefully, gas prices will stabilize and possibly decline as demand slacks off.