Officials are optimistic that the power won’t be out for much longer in southeast Louisiana for most customers. Entergy CEO Phillip May says crews have been working around the clock and they now have a good estimation as to when you should have your lights back on…

Cut 12 (09) “ .restored” 

As of noon, 328,000 Entergy customers remain without power.

When residents are picking up the pieces after a hurricane, “storm chasers” as they are known routinely descend upon the area to take advantage of homeowners. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says always get a written contract of work to be performed that the contractor is responsible for acquiring all required permits.

Cut 7 (11) “…of construction”

Governor Edwards announced the appointment of Louisiana State Police Captain Lamar Davis as Deputy Secretary of Public Safety and Superintendent of LSP. Davis replaces outgoing Superintendent Kevin Reeves who is retiring after 30 years of service. Davis is a Baton Rouge native and has been with the LSP since 1998.

McNeese State plans on students returning to campus for the 2021 spring semester. President Daryl Burckel says Hurricane Laura alone produced 77-million dollars in damages to the campus and the speed in recovery is vital because their budget is based on tuition. Current enrollment is around seven-thousand and Burkel says despite two hurricanes enrollment is only down 225 students from last Fall. He says as they rebuild the campus, student housing is a top priority

Cut 4 (06)   “for them to live”   

The absolute deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November 3^rd election is today at 430 PM, and the deadline to return any outstanding ballots is Monday at 430 PM. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says if you’ve procrastinated this long and haven’t requested an absentee ballot your best bet is…

Cut 4 (12) “Monday”

Southeast Louisiana parish leaders are asking residents for patience and compliance as they work to get electricity back up and running and clean the streets. St. Tammany Parish. President Mike Cooper says tens of thousands are still without electricity, but power crews are swarming the area.

Cut 15 (08) “entire parish”

McNeese State plans on students returning to campus for the 2021 spring semester. President Daryl Burckel says Hurricane Laura alone produced 77-million dollars in damages to the academic portion of the campus and multiple contractors have been hired so at least 30-percent of classes will be face-to-face instruction in January…

Cut 3 (07)  “…for the spring”  

Burkel says the speed in recovery is vital because their budget is based on student tuition.

When residents are picking up the pieces after a hurricane, “storm chasers” as they are known routinely descend upon the area to take advantage of homeowners. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says always get a written contract of work to be performed and a separate break out of labor cost and cost of materials.

Cut 6 (10) “…being achieved”

Donelon also recommends asking the contractor’s insurance carrier to mail a certificate of coverage directly to you.

Today’s the last day to request an absentee ballot for the November 3^rd election. Matt Doyle explains.

Cut 1 (30) “   I’m Matt Doyle”

Federal investigators are looking for a Louisiana absentee voter in Texas whose mail-in ballot was found open and left in the trash. The ballot is presumed stolen from a post office in Houston. KPRC-TV in Houston says the ballot addressed for Baton Rouge was found in a dumpster at an apartment complex, it showed a vote for President Trump. Security camera footage shows two men dumping white postal bins into the dumpster.

We still don’t have a timeline for when power will be restored for most customers impacted by Hurricane Zeta, but it appears it could be out in some areas through the November 3^rd election. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says he’s confident that one way or another they can deliver this election to the people of southeast Louisiana, whether that means generators or other options…

Cut 9 (10) “to them”

As COVID cases across the country are on the rise, comparatively Louisiana’s case rates have been steady for the past month. However, Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says they are starting to see an uptick in the Bayou State. Dr. Kanter says contract tracing indicates outbreaks at religious services, high school football games, and small gatherings in backyards.

Cut 11 (10) “familiar with”

The deadline to receive an absentee ballot for Tuesday’s Presidential election is today at 4:30 PM. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says they received over 200,000 requests for absentee ballots this cycle, and over 146,000 have been turned in, and about 16,000 people who requested one ended up voting in person instead.
Cut 5 (08) “…to count”
Absentee ballots must be returned to your parish registrar of voters office by 4:30 PM.

Some polling locations have been changed in the Lake Charles area because of Hurricane Laura and that could also happen in Hurricane Zeta impacted areas in southeast Louisiana if the power can not be restored soon. Governor John Bel Edwards….
cut 8 (12) “…voters”

Region 8, which is northeast Louisiana has a coronavirus positivity test rate above 10-percent and the state health department says percent positivity appears to be trending upward in most regions of the state…
cut 3 (29) “…reporting”

Many High School principal Norman Booker has been arrested for the alleged sexual assaults of juveniles while he was a coach in Sabine Parish in the mid-1990s. Authorities say two victims have come forward in recent months disclosing sexual acts by Booker while they were students in high school. Booker has been booked on several charges, including oral sexual battery and two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles.

The city of New Orleans is still trying to get back on its feet after getting hit by Hurricane Zeta on Wednesday. About 60-percent of Orleans Parish is without power and there are at least 200 trees that have been knocked down. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is asking residents to have patience during the recovery process…
cut 14 (08) “…necessary”
The only Zeta related death in Louisiana happened in New Orleans as a 55-year-old man was electrocuted by a downed powerline.

Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May told WWL-TV this morning that he expects Entergy will make a lot of progress on power outages today, but the hardest-hit areas could be without electricity on Tuesday, election day. Governor John Bel Edwards says some voters may have to go elsewhere to cast their vote…
Cut 7 (12) “later”

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November third election is today at 4:30 PM. You can receive an absentee ballot at your parish registrar of voters office or visit voter-portal-dot-sos-dot-la-dot-gov. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the deadline to return a completed mail-in ballot is Monday at 4:30 PM and if you don’t get it in by then…
cut 6 (05) “…day”
Election Day is Tuesday and polls will be open from 6 AM to 8 PM.

The state reported 392 new coronavirus cases on Thursday and there was little change in the number of COVID patients in the hospital or on a ventilator. But Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says they are seeing increased outbreaks associated with religious services, small gatherings in the backyard and high school sports teams
cut 11 (07) “….familiar with”

Entergy says 318-thousand of its customers in southeast Louisiana are still without power this morning. Cleco has another 23-thousand customer without electricity. Entergy believes they can make significant progress on power outages today, but some of the hardest-hit areas may not have power restored for up to ten days.

Tuesday is election day and there’s a chance power could still be out in some Hurricane-Zeta impacted areas…
cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The absolute deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November 3rd election is today at 430 PM, and the deadline to return any outstanding ballots is Monday at 430 PM. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says if you’ve procrastinated and haven’t requested an absentee ballot your best bet is…
Cut 4 (12) “Monday”
If you turn in an absentee ballot on time you are not allowed to vote in person on Election Day.

Saturday is Halloween and before you know it, we’ll be in the holiday season and health officials are concerned about gatherings that will take place for these occassions while we are still battling against the coronavirus. Assistant State health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says about 50-percent of people who have COVID have no idea they are infected, but they can still expose others.
Cut 12 (09) “accounted for”.

Southeast Louisiana parish leaders are asking residents for patience and compliance as crews work to get electricity back up and running and clean the streets from the debris left behind by Hurricane Zeta. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng asks residents to produce the least amount of wastewater possible…
Cut 13 (11) “sewer”
About 400-thousand residents are without power in southeast Louisiana.

And while the hurricane recovery continues, state health officials are trying to prevent another surge in coronavirus cases. Assistant State Health Officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says the positivity rate recently went above 10-percent in northeast Louisiana…
cut 10 (12) “….us concerned”
CBS News reports a total of 43 states are seeing surges.

Today’s the last day to request an absentee ballot for the November 3rd election. Matt Doyle explains.

Cut 1 (30) “ I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor John Bel Edwards has told the Advocate that he’s voting for the Democratic challenger Joe Biden in the presidential race.

Today’s the last day to request an absentee ballot for the November 3^rd election. Matt Doyle explains.

Cut 1 (30) “   I’m Matt Doyle”

________________________________

Power could still be out in some Hurricane Zeta-impacted areas on November 3^rd making for a potential Election Day mess. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

__________________________________________

COVID case rates are steadily increasing in Central and Northeast Louisiana, and with the holidays approaching, health officials are concerned. Brooke Thorington explains

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

_______________________________

The absolute deadline to request an absentee ballot for the November 3^rd election is today at 430 PM, and the deadline to return any outstanding ballots is Monday at 430 PM.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says if you’ve procrastinated this long and haven’t requested an absentee ballot your best bet is…

Cut 4 (12) “Monday”

If you turn in an absentee ballot on time you are not allowed to vote in person on Election Day.

Ardoin says they received over 200,000 requests for absentee ballots this cycle, and over 146,000 have been turned in, and about 16,000 people who requested one ended up voting in person instead.

Cut 5 (08) “…to count”

Ardoin says if your ballot has not been received by 430 PM November 2^nd…

Cut 6 (05) “day”

Election Day is this Tuesday, November 3^rd. Polls open at 6 AM and close at 8 PM. Information on your local polling station can be found on the Secretary’s website, or on the GeauxVote Mobile app.

_____________________________

We still don’t have a timeline for when power will be restored for most customers impacted by Hurricane Zeta, but it appears it could be out in some areas through the November 3^rd election.

Governor Edwards says there’s not much time left for the state to alter Election Day plans in hurricane-impacted areas of southeast Louisiana.

Cut 7 (12) “later”

Edwards says if you didn’t early vote it is vital that you stay up to date on potential changes for Election Day polling station changes.

Cut 8 (12) “…voters.”

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says he’s confident that one way or another they can deliver this election to the people of southeast Louisiana, whether that means generators or other options…

Cut 9 (10) “to them”

________________________

As COVID cases across the country are on the rise, comparatively Louisiana’s case rates have been steady for the past month. However, Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter says there are two areas of the state that have health officials on alert, Central and Northeast Louisiana.

Cut 10 (12) “…us concerned”

According to the health department Richland, Tensas, Caldwell, and Concordia parishes are showing increasing positivity rates.

Dr. Kanter says contract tracing in the state indicates outbreaks at religious services, high school football games, and small gatherings in backyards.

Cut 11 (10) “familiar with”

Dr. Kanter says about 50-percent of people who have COVID have no idea they are infected because they show no symptoms, but they can still expose others.

Cut 12 (09) “accounted for”.

The state has been in Phase Three since mid-September. The reopening status and capacity limits are dependent upon the parish being at or below 5-percent for two weeks.

___________________

Southeast Louisiana parish leaders are asking residents for patience and compliance as they work to get electricity back up and running and clean the streets.

Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng asks residents to produce the least amount of wastewater possible while the power is out due to concerns over the unpowered sewer system.

Cut 13 (11) “sewer”

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell says over 100,000 customers are still without power and trees are down across the city.

Cut 14 (08) “necessary”

The city also had the first reported fatality related to Zeta, a 55-year-old man who was electrocuted by a downed powerline.

Zeta was still a cat one when it roared into St. Tammany Parish. President Mike Cooper says tens of thousands are still without power but power crews are swarming the area.

Cut 15 (13) “.fact”

_______________________

LSU is a three-point favorite heading into tomorrow’s SEC West matchup against the Auburn Tigers. The Bayou Bengals have won the last three games in this series and Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn says it’s time for them to get a victory

cut 16 (25) “ win column”

LSU Freshman Quarterback TJ Finley is set to make his first road start, while Auburn’s offense features a freshman running back. Malzahn says Tank Bigsby’s emergence has helped get their running game on track

cut 17 (20)   Auburn football”

____________________________________________________

The Saints head into Sunday’s game with Chicago ranked last in the NFL in red-zone defense. Opponents have made 22 trips inside New Orleans’ 20-yard line and they’ve scored 19 touchdowns. Coach Sean Payton says they want to at least force field goals

cut 18 (18) ” matchup” 

The Bears have a 48-percent efficiency offensively in the red zone, which is the fourth-worst in the NFL.

________________________________________________________

Louisiana Tech will look to snap a two-game losing streak tomorrow when they host UAB tomorrow afternoon at Joe Aillet Stadium. The Bulldogs are coming off a tough one point loss on the road to UTSA and they are 3-3 on the season with five games left. Coach Skip Holtz is looking to finish out the season strong

cut 19 (13    “want to be” 

Senior running back Israel Tucker on what it will take to beat the Blazers…

cut 20 (11) “itself”

Southeast Louisiana is recovering from the fifth named storm to make landfall in the state this year, the near category three Hurricane Zeta. Governor Edwards says unfortunately we are reporting the first storm-related death, a 55-year-old New Orleans man who died from electrocution due to a downed powerline.

Cut 3 (11)  “…gentleman”  

The PSC reports power has been restored for approximately 30-thousand customers and 439-thousand are still without power.

Weather in the Bayou State has run the gamut this week, after a Category Two hurricane strikes the state, now we are experiencing much cooler temperatures in less than 24 hours. State Climatologist Barry Keim says temps will be even chillier on Friday.

Cut 13 (12) “…time of year”

Hurricane Zeta was still a Category One storm when the center of the storm reached St. Tammany Parish.  Parish President Mike Cooper says that even though the storm had weakened by the time it got there, St. Tammany still felt some significant wind which caused power outages and downed trees causing unsafe driving conditions for citizens in the area.

Cut 7 (07) “…power outages”

St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis says winds of 100-miles per hour were clocked at their emergency operations center in Chalmette as Zeta ripped through the parish. McInnis says there were no serious injuries during the storm, and he would like to keep it that way…

Cut 9 (10) “shouldn’t be”

The  St Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office is imposing a strict curfew tonight from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Friday

Governor John Bel Edwards is once again surveying damage following a powerful hurricane that struck the state.

Cut 1 (32) “  I’m Matt Doyle”  

The LSU athletics department announced a department-wide reduction in salary and several layoffs amid decreases in revenue. Employees earning more than 80-thousand are subject to a 5-percent salary decrease in 2021. Head Coach Ed Orgeron and Athletic Director Scott Woodward agreed to voluntarily reduce their annual salary by 5-percent next year.

The only levee failures from Hurricane Zeta occurred in Grand Isle as the Category Two storm caused three breeches in what as known as the burrito levee, a large roll of plastic filled with sand. Jefferson Parish Emergency Preparedness Director Joseph Valiente says the breeches have led to flooding in the coastal town…

Cut 12 (12) “ .down there” 

The governor’s office says they have pumps trying to drain the water.

To say the Bayou State is experiencing weather extremes is an understatement, after a Category Two hurricane strikes the state, now we are experiencing much cooler temperatures in less than 24 hours. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this is a very odd one-two punch.

Cut 13 (12) “…time of year”