Coastal southeast Louisiana is on the edge of the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Fred, as the official forecast track has the storm making landfall along the Florida panhandle. Matt Doyle has the story.

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The state reports another 54-hundred new COVID cases today along with 55 additional COVID-related deaths. COVID Hospitalizations are just below 29 hundred as the 4^th surge of the pandemic continues. Today it was announced that a seventh member of Governor Edwards staff tested positive for COVID, the staff member is reportedly working off-site and no other employees were exposed.

With the start of LSU’s 2021 football season less than a month away, the Tigers are preparing for a bounce-back season after a crazy 2020.  Director of Strategic Media for LSU Athletics Cody Worsham says despite the rise in Covid cases, the school is preparing for 100 percent capacity in Tiger Stadium.

Cut 6 (13) “…100 percent.”

The eviction moratorium might have been extended until October third, but scammers are reportedly still taking advantage of the situation to prey on victims. President of the Better Business Bureau of South-Central Louisiana Carmen Million says if someone contacts you asking for personal financial information, be leery.

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You are encouraged to report such scams to the Better Business Bureau website.

The Louisiana/Mississippi line is still in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Fred but as of now it appears the system is most likely to hit Florida. State Climatologist Barry Keim says right now landfall along the panhandle seems most likely…

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Fred is expected to drop below tropical storm strength today but strengthen tomorrow as it approaches Cuba.

A Winnsboro mom allegedly shot her daughter in the head during an argument over the weekend. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says Lachandra Jones alleges she did not know the gun had a bullet in the chamber when she pointed it at her daughter during the dispute.

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One month from today is LSU’s home opener and despite the state dealing with a fourth surge of COVID cases, the plan is for Tiger Stadium to be at 100-percent capacity. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Louisiana reports another 5,400 COVID cases today along with 55 additional COVID-related deaths as this 4^th surge of the pandemic continues to burn through the entire state. The rate of new hospitalizations appears to be slowing, but we still did add to the count putting the state just below 2,900. 

A number of LSU players were missing during the portion of the practice viewed by the media. Standout cornerbacks Derek Stingley Junior and Eli Ricks were among those not present. Coach Ed Orgeron says running back Tyrion Davis-Price is dealing with a minor injury, a timetable for his return is unknown at this time.

LSU is ranked 13th and U-L Lafayette is ranked 23rd in the preseason coaches poll which was released yesterday. Alabama is ranked number one ahead of Clemson, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Georgia.  ULL’s Sun Belt rival Coastal Carolina comes in one spot behind the Cajuns at 24.

Patrick Robinson was competing for a starting spot at cornerback with the Saints but has now announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons in the league, a number of them with New Orleans. The Saints were already thin at corner and this is another blow to the position.

With a lack of depth at the position there are reports that the Saints could be interested in a potential trade involving Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson.  Henderson is a former first-round pick from the University of Florida.

The state of Louisiana has a number of highly ranked quarterbacks and one that is highly recruited is Arch Manning, the son of Cooper Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli, and grandson to Archie Manning.  Arch has the ability to run and he says it’s a necessity this day and age.

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Manning’s top target in receiver AJ Johnson has left the school and transferred to Cardinal Newman high school in Florida.  Johnson is a four-star recruit according to 247Sports.

Despite the rising number of cases and COVID hospitalizations, even among younger people, the LHSAA said in a memo that it’s confident schools can work with local health officials so the fall season can happen. Also, the memo says if a game is canceled because of COVID, it will go down as a forfeit for the team who does not have enough healthy players.

The state health department reported 93 new COVID Deaths on Tuesday, the highest single-day total since January as the statewide death toll reached 11,353. New numbers will come out later today.

As the fourth surge of COVID continues, optimism dwindles among small business owners…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The LHSAA has told schools that if they have to cancel a game because of COVID cases within their team, it will result in a forfeit.

Tropical Storm Fred appears headed for the Florida Panhandle but the Louisiana/Mississippi Line is on the edge of the system’s cone of uncertainty. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Fred is likely to lose tropical storm status sometime today as it crosses the mountains in Hispaniola.
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Fred is on track to enter the Gulf of Mexico Sunday and make landfall somewhere along the Florida panhandle on Monday.

The US Senate has approved a one-point-two trillion-dollar infrastructure bill and it now heads to the House. Senator Bill Cassidy says the legislation contains nearly six billion dollars for Louisiana, a figure Senator John Kennedy disputes. New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter believes there’s enough money to make some dramatic improvements…
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No word on when the U-S House will begin debate on the legislation.

The U-S Senate has approved a one-trillion dollar infrastructure bill and it heads to the House where Republicans are already raising objections. Erik Piccoli has more…

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The Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman for the alleged shooting of her 13-year-old daughter. The FPSO says they received a report of a self-inflicted gunshot wound from the hospital of a juvenile, but an investigation revealed her mother Lachandra Jones was allegedly responsible.  Jones was arrested in Alexandra for second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and illegal use of weapons.

An International Panel on Climate Change report shows without achieving worldwide carbon neutrally by mid-century average temps in Louisiana’s region will rise six degrees or more. Tulane Chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences Cynthia Ebinger says the technology already exists to avoid the worst-case scenarios outlined, but governments need to do a better job of incentivizing its use.

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Despite federal unemployment enhancement benefits ending last month, nearly half of small businesses surveyed across the country say they are struggling to fill job openings. National Federation of Independent Business, State Director Dawn McVea says is a disruption in the supply chain making is also it difficult for businesses…

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The state health department reported 93 new COVID Deaths on Tuesday, the highest single-day total since January as the statewide death toll reached 11,353. Health officials are concerned the peak of this fourth wave of new COVID cases is weeks away.

As the fourth surge of COVID continues, optimism dwindles among small business owners…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The LHSAA has told schools that if they have to cancel a game because of COVID cases within their team, it will result in a forfeit.

A new report on climate change predicts Louisiana will see warmer temperatures and the potential for more severe weather events unless more is not done to reduce carbon emissions. Tulane Marshal Heape Chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences Cynthia Ebinger says we could see more flooding like the south Louisiana flood event in 2016…
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The U-S Senate has approved a one trillion dollar infrastructure bill that Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says it contains nearly six billion dollars for Louisiana to improve roads and bridges and expand broadband. The proposal heads to the House and New Orleans Congressman Troy Carter supports it…
cut 12 (10) “….our families”

An International Panel on Climate Change report shows without achieving worldwide carbon neutrally by mid-century average temps in the Gulf South will rise six degrees or more. Tulane Marshal-Heape Chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences Cynthia Ebinger says that level of temperature increase would have major impacts on Louisiana’s culture and economy.
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Insurance companies have crossed the 10 billion dollar mark for claims related to the 2020 Hurricane Season. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the historic season is the second-costliest in Louisiana history behind only 2005.
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Policyholders in Louisiana have filed 316-thousand claims from the three hurricanes that hit the state last year.

Tropical Storm Fred formed last night and is just south of the eastern Dominican Republic with maximum sustained winds of 40 miles per hour. Louisiana is outside of the cone of uncertainty for Fred and the storm is expected to make landfall early Monday morning as a tropical storm along the Florida panhandle.

The U-S Senate has approved a one-trillion dollar infrastructure bill and it heads to the House where Republicans are already raising objections. Erik Piccoli has more…
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The US Senate passed a mostly bipartisan one trillion-dollar infrastructure bill yesterday yet some Republicans find the spending unwise as the legislation heads to the U-S House. Republican Northwest Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson…
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But Republican Senator Bill Cassidy says the legislation contains nearly six billion dollars for Louisiana.

Despite federal unemployment enhancement benefits ending last month, nearly half of small businesses surveyed across the country say they are struggling to fill job openings. National Federation of Independent Business, State Director Dawn McVea says the lack of qualified workers has been an issue for several months
Cut 7 (11) “..year high.”

A landmark climate report shows our region will get a lot hotter if the world doesn’t achieve carbon neutrality in the next few decades. Matt Doyle has more.
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State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says more mitigation rules may be needed if the state doesn’t slow down the spread of COVID-19. Kanter is worried about the growing number of COVID patients in the hospital statewide and how to care for them if the surge of patients doesn’t stop

Cut 6 (10) “…sustain that.”

Not only are hospitalizations rising, but so are the deaths, the state reported 93 COVID fatalities on Tuesday, the highest single day increase since January 8th.

The U.S. Senate approved the 1.2 trillion-dollar infrastructure package today. Senator Bill Cassidy, who helped negotiate and craft the bipartisan bill says over six billion dollars in infrastructure assistance will be headed to Louisiana as a result…

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Attorney General Jeff Landry wants to hear from you if you feel you’ve been censored by a social media company. Landry says this censorship deprives Americans of access to important information. He cited the censorship of posts about the Wuhan lab’s alleged involvement with the virus.

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Landry says you can fill out a form at the AG’s website if your posts have been impacted.

As children begin to return to the classroom, State Police are reminding motorists to be mindful of school zones. LSP spokesperson, Trooper Johnathan Odom says all traffic must stop no less than 30 feet from a school bus when its stop signals are in use.

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State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says more mitigation rules may be needed if the state doesn’t slow down the spread of COVID-19. Another 139 COVID patients have been hospitalized since Monday raising the statewide total to 2,859. Kanter says if the fourth surge of cases doesn’t peak in the next week or two it will be catastrophic for hospitals

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As children begin to return to the classroom, State Police are reminding motorists to be mindful of school zones. LSP even released a video on social media about what you can and cannot do driving-wise in a school zone on social media. LSP spokesperson, Trooper Johnathan Odom…

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Attorneys’ General offices in both Louisiana and Alabama are now offering a complaint form for people who feel they are being censored on social media. Louisiana AG Jeff Landry says Big Tech social media companies have created a virtual public square that should have 1^st Amendment protections.

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The U.S. Senate approved the 1.2 trillion-dollar infrastructure package today. Senator Bill Cassidy, who helped negotiate and craft the bipartisan bill says it’s a big win for the country and Bayou State.

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Fellow Republican Senator John Kennedy voted against the legislation.