Tropical Storm Ida is now expected to make landfall as a major hurricane along Louisiana’s coastline Sunday afternoon. A landfall near St. Mary, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parishes seems most likely at this point. Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says whenever a storm heads their way, residents take the proper precautions and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.
Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”
So far only Grand Isle has issued a voluntary evacuation, which may become mandatory later today. But more evacuation orders are likely. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office spokesperson Lt. Brennan Matherne…
cut 16 (09) “…to go”
Ida is expected to become a hurricane tomorrow once it gets into the Gulf.

A year ago today, Hurricane Laura made landfall but yet the City of Lake Charles continues to wait for major disaster relief…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) is in New Orleans today to meet with Governor Edwards and Mayor LaToya Cantrell to get an update on the state’s fight against COVID, including vaccination efforts. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter…
cut 9 (09) “….big deal”
41-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated.

A top Biden Administration official will visit New Orleans today to survey some of the state’s COVID-filled hospitals. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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A year ago, today Hurricane Laura made landfall but yet the City of Lake Charles continues to wait for major disaster relief. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m  Brooke Thorington” 

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The hurricane fortress of Morgan City prepares to take on yet another storm system as Tropical Storm Ida barrels its way towards the Louisiana coast. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Tropical Storm Ida has formed in the Caribbean, and she is forecast to approach the northern Gulf coast at or near major hurricane strength on Sunday, bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. Christopher Bannon with the National Weather Service in New Orleans says Ida is picking up speed.

Cut 4 (13) “…Saturday evening.”

Unlike hurricane Laura that made landfall a year ago today, Laura developed off the coast of Africa giving forecasters a week to issue warnings. But Ida was a tropical wave on Wednesday, then a Tropical storm on Thursday in the Caribbean.

Because the system developed so quickly and conditions in the Gulf of Mexico are expected to only intensify Ida. Bannon says we should be prepared for several bands of rain…

Cut 5 (13) “…surge.”

Bannon says Ida eerily reminds him of Gustav that formed quickly and made landfall much quicker than anticipated. He says on Wednesday it appeared Ida would make landfall in the northern gulf coast on Monday…

Cut 6 (12) “…Saturday evening.”

Bannon says right now, your main concern should be prepping for and getting your supplies in order for Ida and to stay up to date on changing conditions.

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US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (hav-E-air Beh-sara) will be in New Orleans today to tour health facilities that are inundated with COVID patients amidst the 4^th wave.

Congressman Troy Carter will accompany him. Carter says he formally requested additional aid from the Biden Administration to help our beleaguered hospitals.

Cut 7 (08) “…issues.”

2,729 Louisianans are currently hospitalized with COVID, down from the 3,000 seen last week but still about 700 higher than at any point in the previous three waves.

Carter says they’ll be visiting Children’s Hospital with Governor Edwards and other State Department of Health staff.

Cut 8 (06) “…outreach.” 

Becerra will also attend a roundtable with the Governor and Mayor to discuss vaccination efforts. Carter says Becerra’s presence should underscore the need to increase our vaccination rate.

Cut 9 (09) “…big deal.”

Afterward, Becerra will visit a community health center in New Orleans East.

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As Louisianans are watching the Gulf of Mexico in what could be the first storm to impact the state this hurricane season, the City of Lake Charles continues to struggle with the devastation of Laura that made landfall a year ago today. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter says they’ve also endured Hurricane Delta, a winter storm, and a major flood in May.

Cut 10 (12) “…rebuild.” 

According to the Louisiana Office of Community Development, the unmet housing need is $326 million. Hunter says he remains diligent in lobbying Congress for significant funding.

Cut 11 (07) “…continue.”

Hunter says Lake Charles is a much different city than it was before Hurricane Laura, he says there are still plenty of blue tarps and homes that have yet to be rebuilt after the fifth strongest storm to hit the US mainland and the second strongest to hit Louisiana but he says it’s members of the community that have kept each other going.

Cut 12 (04) “…remarkable.”  

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Tropical Storm Ida is expected to make landfall just west of Morgan City as a category two hurricane sometime Sunday afternoon.

Morgan City Mayor Lee Dragna says prep is underway and as usual whenever a storm heads their way the people start clearing out the decks and the city readies its impressive flood prevention systems.

Cut 13 (08) “…and hurricanes.”

Dragna says they have a powerful pumping system and high sea walls so water isn’t that much of a concern, and they’ve already done their yearly trimming of branches near powerlines.

Cut 14 (10) “…come through it, always.”

Should this track maintain Lafourche Parish will be on the nastier northeast side of the storm and is bracing for storm surge, heavy winds, and the potential for a lot of water to fall across the region.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Brennan Matherne says if this current track holds we could start seeing some evacuation orders issued as early as today.

Cut 15 (05)“…Fourchon.”

Matherne says if evacuation orders are issued shelters will be made available either in Lafourche or other, potentially safer areas. That may result in you being around a lot of other people at a time when COVID transmission is high.

cut  16 (09) “…to go.”

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Third-round pick Paulson Adebo has a chance to be a starting cornerback for the Saints. Even if he doesn’t start, expect the former Stanford standout to get a lot of playing time in the New Orleans defensive secondary. Adebo didn’t play last season at Stanford, but he says there were some benefits to that decision

Cut 17 (19) “… day by day.”  

The Saints have one more preseason game left and that’s this Saturday against Arizona. Defensive end Cam Jordan says he’s ready for the regular season…

Cut 18 (16)”…week one.”

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The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame will induct its 2021 class this weekend in Natchitoches. LSU legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf is finally getting in. He was known as Chris Jackson when he played for the Purple and Gold set the NCAA freshman scoring record when he averaged 30 points a game during the 1988-89 season. Ronnie Rantz is the CEO of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation

Cut 19 (16)  “…stats.” 

Rantz says the 2021 class also features a member of LSU’s 2007 national championship team, a former Southern baseball standout, and the Saints’ all-time leading receiver…

Cut 20 (19)  “…teammate ever.” 

Tropical Storm Ida has formed in the Caribbean, and she is forecast to approach the northern Gulf coast at or near major hurricane strength on Sunday, bringing life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds, and heavy rainfall. Christopher Bannon with the National Weather Service in New Orleans says Ida is picking up speed.

Cut 4 (13) “…Saturday evening.”

It was exactly year ago when Louisianans were waiting on Laura to make landfall in southwest Louisiana with advance notice for several days. However, on Thursday Ida was a just tropical wave in the eastern Caribbean but has quickly developed into a storm and is expected to become a Hurricane once it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.

Cut 24 heads up :08

Governor John Bel Edwards will address tropical storm Ida preparations tomorrow in his afternoon press conference. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell says now is the time to make sure we are prepared for this next threat. She advises Louisiana to visit get-a-game-plan-dot-org…

Cut 12 (12) “…already” 

Body camera footage of a State Trooper beating a Black man in Monroe during a 2019 traffic stop was released by the AP. 46-year-old Aaron Bowman is seen being beat about 18 times with a metal flashlight during a traffic stop where police allege, he committed a minor traffic violation then resisted arrest. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says her client has been continually harassed by local law enforcement due to the color of his skin…

Cut 8 (11) “…activity”

The 4 PM shows Tropical Storm Ida’s track shifting a bit east with landfall expected west of Morgan City sometime Sunday afternoon. Projections put the system at a category two hurricane when it hits land. State Climatologist Barry Keim says he expects Ida to develop rapidly once it gets into the Gulf on Saturday…

Cut 10 (09) “…these storms”

No evacuation orders have been issued so far but that could be on the table should the system further strengthen in the warm gulf waters. Governor Edwards says either way some sheltering will likely be needed, a concerning problem with the state in the middle of the 4^th COVID surge.

 Cut 13 (10) “…very daunting”

The AP releases shocking body camera footage from a 2019 traffic stop in Monroe where a State Police Trooper repeatedly bludgeons a Black man while he seemingly was complying with officers during an arrest. 46-year-old Aaron Bowman had multiple broken bones and a nasty gash on his head as a result, but Trooper Jacob Brown defended the beating calling it “pain compliance”. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says that’s “bull”.

Cut 6 (10) “…the least.” 

Video and audio captured from the incident do not appear to show Bowman resisting as he is held down by several troopers.

Cut 7 (11) “…*beep*.”  

Tropical Depression Nine has formed in the western Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center expects this system will likely become Hurricane Ida or Julian when it enters the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, and a Louisiana landfall is highly likely. Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s concerned about how quickly this storm could come together…

Cut  11 (13) “…pay attention to it”  

Edwards says this tropical depression has a chance to strengthen rapidly once it enters the Gulf of Mexico…

Cut 14 (10) “..this storm”

Edwards advises Louisianans to visit get-a-game-plan-dot-org. Friday is the one-year anniversary of when Laura made landfall.

The AP obtained disturbing body camera footage from 2019 showing a State Police Trooper savagely beating a Black man in Monroe during a traffic stop. Aaron Bowman is shown being pummeled with a flashlight 18 times by Trooper Jacob Brown. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says Bowman suffered a broken wrist, jaw, and ribs as a result.

Cut 5 (05) “…reliving it.”

Troopers accused Bowman of resisting arrest.

23-year old Davonta (Dah-von-tah) Verret was arrested in Mississippi this morning for the shooting death of 8-year old Treyce (Trace) Bryant of Houma last March.  Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says Bryant, who was in the car with her mother was never the intended victim, Verret was involved in a dispute with another man.

Cut 4 (10) “…her death.” 

The cone of uncertainty for Tropical Depression Nine has narrowed with the likely landing spot somewhere along the Louisiana coast. The system looks like it could be as strong as category three by landfall and once it forms it will either be named Ida or Julian.

Landfall is likely to be sometime late Sunday or early Monday and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell says you don’t have a lot of time to prepare so much sure you visit get-a-game-plan-dot-org when you get some time today…

Cut 12 (12) “…already” 

If a major storm hits Louisiana’s coast early next week. Shelters will likely be needed. Governor Edwards says this presents another challenge with a high rate of COVID transmission…

Cut 13 (10) “…very daunting”

Grusome body camera footage of a State Trooper beating a Black man in Monroe during a 2019 traffic stop was released by the AP. 46-year-old Aaron Bowman is seen being beat about 18 times with a metal flashlight during a traffic stop where police allege he committed a minor traffic violation then resisted arrest. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says her client has been continually harassed by local law enforcement due to the color of his skin…

Cut 8 (11) “…activity”

23-year old Davonta (Dah-von-tah) Verret was arrested in Mississippi this morning for the shooting death of 8-year old Treyce (Trace) Bryant of Houma last March.  Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says once it was confirmed they had Verret in custody the arrest was emotional.

Cut 3 (11) “…occurred.” 

A major hurricane could hit Louisiana early next week. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

The state reports 2,729 COVID hospitalizations today, down 115 from Wednesday. The state also reports 5,131 new COVID cases There were more reported cases in kids ages five to seventeen than those 50 and older. 72 COVID fatalities were also added to the statewide total today.

The AP obtained body camera footage from 2019 showing a State Police Trooper savagely beating a Black man in Monroe with a metal flashlight during a traffic stop. 46-year-old Aaron Bowman is shown being pummeled 18 times by Trooper Jacob Brown. Troopers accuse Bowman of committing a traffic violation and resisting arrest and the beating was defended by Brown who called it “pain compliance”. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says that’s “bull”.

Cut 6 (10) “…the least.” 

Video and audio captured from the incident do not appear to show Bowman resisting as he is held down by several troopers.

Cut 7 (11) “…*beep*.”  

Bowman suffered a broken wrist, broken jaw, and ribs as a result.

Tropical Depression Nine has formed in the western Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center expects this system will likely become Hurricane Ida when it enters the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says landfall is likely on Sunday and rapid intensification is expected once the developing storm starts moving through the Gulf of Mexico.

Cut 10 (09) “…these storms”

23-year old Davonta (Dah-von-tah) Verret was arrested in Mississippi this morning for the shooting death of 8-year old Treyce (Trace) Bryant of Houma last March.  Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says Bryant, who was in the car with her mother was never the intended victim, Verret was involved in a dispute with another man.

Cut 4 (10) “…her death.” 

Verrett is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder

The state reports 2,729 COVID hospitalizations today, down 115 from Wednesday. The state also reports more than five thousand new COVID cases There were more reported cases in kids ages five to seventeen than those 50 and older.

The AP releases graphic body camera footage of a State Police trooper hammering a Black man with a metal flashlight during a 2019 traffic stop in Monroe. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (40) “ …I’m Matt Doyle” 

Tropical Depression Nine has formed in the western Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center expects this system will likely become Hurricane Ida when it enters the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a landfall in Louisiana is likely

Cut 9 (11) “…Gulf coast area.”

Keim says landfall is likely on Sunday.

23-year old Davonta (Dah-von-tah) Verret was arrested in Mississippi this morning for the shooting death of 8-year old Treyce (Trace) Bryant of Houma last March.  Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says once it was confirmed they had Verret in custody the arrest was emotional.

Cut 3 (11) “…occurred.” 

Verrett is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

The AP obtained disturbing body camera footage from 2019 showing a State Police Trooper savagely beating a Black man in Monroe during a traffic stop. Aaron Bowman is shown being pummeled with a flashlight 18 times by Trooper Jacob Brown. Bowman’s Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley says Bowman suffered a broken wrist, jaw, and ribs as a result.

Cut 6 (05) “…reliving it.” 

Troopers accused Bowman of resisting arrest.

LSU Athletics Director Scott Woodward says the Tiger Stadium vaccination policy does not apply to tailgating, but he hopes tailgaters practice social distancing…

Cut 15 (12)“…tailgating.”

LSU season ticket holders who do not want to attend games this year and want a refund, have until tomorrow to ask for one.

Newly formed Tropical depression number nine has formed in the Caribbean and the National Hurricane Center’s first official forecast track has the storm developing into the Gulf of Mexico this weekend. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the developing storm is expected to make landfall along the Louisiana coast Sunday night or early Monday morning…

Cut 8 (08) “…a week.” 

Keim says there’s the potential this could develop into a major storm.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says he will not enact a coronavirus emergency plan for the fall elections. Ardoin says that means no expanded absentee-by-mail voting or expanded early voting…

Cut 11 (07) “…work out.”

Ardoin says an emergency election plan is not needed since COVID vaccines are widely available.

There’s been an arrest in Mississippi of a murder suspect in connection with the death of an 8-year-old Houma girl. Houma police say 23-year-old Davanta Verrett was arrested early this morning in Gulfport and is awaiting extradition. Police say there was an ongoing dispute with the child’s mother and the child, Treyce Bryant was caught in the crossfire in March.

The Biden Administration announces it will comply with a federal court ruling requiring it to restart oil and gas lease sales. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”