At a Joint Medicaid Oversite Committee meeting today River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot questioned Louisiana Department of Health Attorney Stephen Russo about who approves nursing home evacuation plans submitted to the department, weeks after a mass evacuation of Bob Dean nursing home patients to a Tangipahoa warehouse that’s now resulted in 15 deaths.

Cut 12 (12) “….anywhere there.”  

LDH has pulled the licenses from the seven Bob Dean Nursing homes. LDH along with Bob Dean are also facing litigation.

Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says after posting his frustration on social media he’s now getting feedback from FEMA on housing for residents.

Cut 4 (08) “…long-term housing.”

The LSU AgCenter estimates Hurricane Ida produced 584-million dollars in damages to the state’s agriculture industry. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (33) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

LSU AgCenter experts say the state’s agriculture industry suffered at least 584-million dollars in damages as a result of Hurricane Ida. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says timber was hit the hardest as a total of 168-thousand acres of trees were affected costing the industry more than 300-million dollars

Cut 6 (09) “…salvaged”

A north Larose neighborhood that endured a ten-foot storm surge is dealing with almost a foot of sludge and standing water. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says the Industrial Park neighborhood was inundated with muck and mud from marsh waters that made it over the levees.

Cut 3 (06) “…in the back.”

Chaisson says the Corps of Engineers, municipal crews, and private contractors are working to help clear roads, drainage ditches in addition to resident’s yards. He expects it will take another three weeks.

A former Monroe area State Trooper is under federal indictment for excessive force in the May 2019 roadside beating of arrestee Aaron Bowman. Jacob Brown’s bodycam footage shows him striking Bowman 18 or more times with his MagLite. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s important to remember a federal indictment is not for committing a violent crime.

Cut 13 (09) “…jurisdiction over that.”

More than three weeks after Ida made landfall, the Louisiana National Guard and others are still helping out in many ways, but the number of soldiers still on duty has diminished significantly.

Cut 12 (11) “…thousand service members.”

Spokesperson Noel Collins says the guard still has 12 points of distribution for meals, water, ice, and tarps operating in four parishes, down from 80 pods at the start statewide.

A federal grand jury indicts a former Monroe area State Trooper for excessive force in the May 2019 roadside beating of arrestee Aaron Bowman. Jacob Brown’s bodycam footage shows him striking Bowman 18 or more times with his MagLite. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s important to remember a federal indictment is not for committing a violent crime.

Cut 13 (09) “…jurisdiction over that.”

There are 25-thousand people living in hotels paid for by FEMA because their homes are currently uninhabitable due to Hurricane Ida. Governor John Bel Edwards says they are waiting on a final decision from FEMA on the next steps for temporary housing…

Cut 8 (09) “…and barges?”
Edwards hopes FEMA will make these announcements very soon.

Thousands of Louisiana National Guard members are still on the job helping victims of Ida in the southeast coastal communities. Spokesperson Noel Collins tells us what some of the citizen-soldiers are doing to assist in the recovery.

Cut 10 (09)  “…generator support missions.” 

Louisiana State Police are taking part in this Saturday’s national program to check child passenger seats. Sergeant James Anderson says the event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon and the National Seat Check is being held in nine locations around the state. Anderson says the focus will be on helping participants with the proper installation of a child seat.

Cut 5 (12) “…to be installed.”

The Louisiana National Guard is still busy at work helping those victimized by Hurricane Ida almost four weeks ago.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

To handle the large call volume, the Department of Children and Family Services says they are extending DSNAP call hours today and tomorrow from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm  Go to their website to see if it is the week for your parish to call in.

Hurricane Ida left an estimated eight thousand homes unlivable and some of those individuals are living in tents and rubble where their homes once stood. Thousands of others are displaced. Governor John Bel Edwards says his administration is pushing FEMA to speed up the decision-making on long-term housing for these individuals…

Cut 7 (09) “…available to that.”

A federal grand jury indicts a former Monroe area State Trooper Jacob Brown for excessive force in the May 2019 roadside beating of arrestee Aaron Bowman. Legal Tim Analyst Meche says this is an example of how body cameras can lead to better transparency. He says Brown’s defense has its work cut out for it.

Cut 15 (13)  “…gonna be the key.”

A federal grand jury in Monroe has handed down an indictment against a former State Police Trooper who based on his own body camera video used a flashlight to hit a Black suspect 18 times during an arrest. Thirty-one-year-old Jacob Brown’s indictment is for deprivation of rights under color of law. Legal analyst Tim Meche says there are avenues Brown’s legal counsel could take to clear him…
cut 14 (10) “…a mile long”
If convicted of the deprivation of rights charge, Brown could face up to ten years in prison.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office confirms their K-9, Ivar, died of heat exhaustion after a deputy left him in a patrol car unattended. The five-year-old dog died on August 20th. Sheriff Jason Ard says the deputy responsible for Ivar’s death was disciplined, but no specifics were given.

With thousands of people displaced as a result of Hurricane Ida, Governor Edwards hopes a decision comes soon from FEMA on temporary housing…
cut 1 (30) “…Brooke Thorington”

Louisiana National Guard spokesperson Noel Collins says there are still 12 points of distribution sites running in four parishes…
cut 11 (11) “…bags of ice”

A federal grand jury indicts a former Monroe area State Trooper with a civil rights violation in the May 2019 arrest and beating of Aaron Bowman. Jacob Brown’s bodycam footage shows him striking Bowman 18 times with his MagLite. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it’s important to remember a federal indictment is not for committing a violent crime.
Cut 13 (09) “…jurisdiction over that.”
The 31-year-old Brown has been indicted with a single count of deprivation of rights and if convicted, he faces up to ten years in prison.

Hurricane Ida left an estimated eight thousand homes unlivable and some of those individuals are living in tents and rubble where their homes once stood. Thousands of others are displaced. Governor Edwards hopes FEMA will make an announcement very soon on temporary housing…
cut 9 (11) “…look like” (2x)

This Sunday marks four weeks since Hurricane Ida made landfall. The Louisiana National Guard has distributed more than six-point two million MREs, seven-point eight million liters of water, one-point-three million pounds of ice, and 307-thousand tarps to more than 80 Point of Distribution sites. Spokesperson Noel Collins says at one time the entire National Guard was deployed…
cut 12 (11) “…service members”

State Police will provide free child passenger safety seat checks tomorrow as part of National Seat Check Saturday. Sergeant James Anderson says unfortunately in many cases, child safety seats are not used correctly…
cut 6 (11) “….not being used”
In Alexandria, child safety seat inspection station will be held at Rapides Regional Hospital from 9 AM to noon.

A federal grand jury indicts former Monroe area State Police trooper Jacob Brown for the May 2019 flashlight beating of a man during an arrest. More from Kevin Gallagher.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The St. Tammany Parish coroner says the remains of 71-year-old Timothy Satterlee Senior were found inside a 12-foot alligator. Satterlee’s wife says her husband was attacked by the alligator while checking on something in his shed the day after Hurricane Ida made landfall. DNA was used to identify Satterlee.

There are 25-thousand people living in hotels paid for by FEMA because their homes are currently uninhabitable due to Hurricane Ida. Governor John Bel Edwards says they are waiting on a final decision from FEMA on the next steps for temporary housing…
cut 8 (09) “…barges”
Edwards hopes FEMA will make these announcements very soon.

Louisiana State Police is participating in National Seat Check Saturday. Sergeant James Anderson says from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow troopers will provide free child passenger safety seat checks throughout the state…
Cut 4 (11) “…they’re installed properly.”
Each troop will have a child safety seat inspection station. In Lafayette, the event location is at Ochsner-Lafayette General.

Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is taking the state’s GOP congressional members to task. He said they voted earlier this week against a continuing resolution to keep the government running with a higher debt ceiling, even though the legislation included 28-billion-dollars in emergency relief for Louisiana and elsewhere.

Cut 12 (09) “….all against it”  

Governor Edwards reports from his DC trip to secure disaster funding. He says the main focus of this trip is to gain funding for unmet housing needs after the 2020 hurricanes and while there he’s also laying the foundation for Ida needs.

Cut 5 (08) “…Louisiana.”

The governor has been meeting with decision-makers since Monday and today is his last day in DC.

Hurricane Ida delivered another devastating blow to the state’s seafood industry. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The St. Tammany Parish coroner’s office confirms the remains found in an alligator’s stomach are those of Timothy Satterlee Sr, who was last seen in a death roll with an alligator as he was walking in knee high water on his property the day after Ida made landfall. His wife went to get help because she couldn’t call 9-1-1 after the storm with phone lines down and when she returned his body, and the alligator were gone, weeks later the gator was located and killed.

Governor John Bel Edwards says two bills are moving through congress to fund Louisiana disaster relief. Brooke Thorington has more from his trip to D.C…:

CUT 01(31)          “…Thorington”

Westbound lanes of the I-10 Bridge over the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles are reopened, but eastbound lanes remain closed at this hour. DOTD says inspectors want to assure the fiery big rig crash that happened last night has not compromised the bridge’s already fragile stability. Traffic is being diverted onto I-210.

A federal grand jury indicts former Monroe area State Trooper Jacob Brown on charges he violated the civil rights of Aaron Bowman during a 2019 roadside arrest. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Brown’s defense will have a tough job convincing a jury that hitting Bowman 18 times with his MagLite was appropriate, but…
CUT 28  (05)        “…and sit down”

Brown could face up to ten years in prison if convicted.

As feared, Hurricane Ida dealt a serious blow to Louisiana’s multi-billion dollar seafood industry. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says 150-mile-an-hour winds caused major damage to fishing boats and oyster beds have been shut down; leading to big shortages. He says federal assistance will certainly be needed to get commercial fishermen back on their feet…:

CUT 08  (11)        “…the most”

Nungesser says oyster beds could reopen soon, once state inspectors determine they’re uncompromised.

Governor John Bel Edwards has been in DC this week meeting with lawmakers in hopes of getting disaster relief money for the state. He says he feels it’s been a productive week and measures have been introduced in both chambers for disaster relief for the nation as a whole for 2020 and 21…:

CUT 03(11)      “…which state.”

Opposition to the bills are concerned with the trillions they will add to the national debt, and the increases in federal spending for things other than disaster help.

Public Service Commission member Foster Campbell supports the Democrat spending bills because of the billions for Louisiana hurricane relief, and feels state Republicans who oppose are voting against helping victims of recent storms…:

CUT 14(09)      “…have to do.”

A former Monroe area State Police trooper seen on viral video beating a man with his flashlight during a traffic stop has been indicted. A federal grand jury returned the indictment for excessive force; charging him with deprivation of rights related to the May 2019 incident in which he used the flashlight on an arrestee identified only as “A.B.” If 31-year-old former trooper Jacob Brown is eventually convicted, he could face up to ten years in prison and heavy fines.

Hurricane Ida delivered another blow to the state’s seafood industry, which annually produces millions of pounds of fish, shrimp, crabs, and more. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says oysters are in short supply because oyster beds are closed, and then there’s all the damaged fishing boats. He says shrimpers could have it pretty bad as well…:

CUT 07(06)      “…were sunk.”

Nungesser says thousands of fishermen will need federal help to get back on their feet.