76-hundred Louisiana unemployment recipients got notices last week that they owed potentially over ten thousand dollars to the state and feds for unemployment overpayments. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says that was the result of a technical error by a vendor, and it’s being corrected on their end…

Cut 4 (05)“ …apologize.” 

If you’ve been impacted by this technical error and have questions you are encouraged to email LWC.

Haunted Houses will be allowed to open this year but they’ll have to operate under some strict health protocols to keep the COVID at bay. Only 25 guests and 25 workers will be allowed in the building and State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says those guests will have to be in small groups of only six…

Cut 10 (12) “…report”

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted.  Lincoln says while there are still some nuts in the trees, there aren’t enough to make it beyond his local customers.

Cut 6 (08) “…nuts for that.”

Louisiana isn’t the only state to see its pecan crops negatively impacted by hurricanes.  Georgia is the nation’s largest pecan producer and they’ve been impacted by Hurricane Sally.

Utility provider B-E-C-i says they’ve restored power to 60-percent of their membership as power has nearly been restored to all of their customers in Vernon and Rapides Parishes. Following the storm, the initial estimate was that full restoration could take four to five weeks.

Cut 13 (04) “…in that estimate.”

That’s spokesperson Danielle Tilley who says restoring power for the remaining customer will be difficult.

Haunted Houses will need to request special permission to open this year in order to operate under COVID restrictions. Matt Doyle spoke with the State Fire Marshal Butch Browning
cut 2 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state fire marshal’s office is investigating a house fire that killed two people last night in the small town of Husser in Tangipahoa Parish. Authorities say an elderly male and female were found dead inside the completely damaged home. No other details have been released.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says a technical issue led to nearly 76-hundred unemployed residents receiving a notice telling them they would have to pay back thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits. L-W-C Secretary Ava Dejoie says a vast majority of individuals will not owe anything and they apologize for the confusion…
cut 5 (12) ‘…correction”

Utility provider B-E-C-i says they’ve restored power to 60-percent of their membership as power has nearly restored to all of their customers in Vernon and Rapides Parishes. Spokesperson Danielle Tilley says getting the lights on for the rest of their members who are out will not be easy…
cut 12 (12) “…takes some time”
Following the storm, the initial estimate was that full restoration could take four to five weeks.

7,600 unemployment claimants received notices that they’d been overpaid due to a technical error with a Louisiana Workforce Commission vendor. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state reports 500 new COVID-19 cases out of just over 9000 tests. Total fatalities increase to 5,143, up by 17. Statewide hospitalizations are at the lowest point since June at 663, down by 15 since yesterday, with 106 of those patients on ventilators.

Haunted Houses will be allowed to open this year but under strict permitting requirements and pandemic health restrictions. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says each facility will have guidelines to follow.

Cut 11 (06) “…threat.”

To open each facility will have to check in with the state on OpenSafely.la.gov to get guidance on what they need to do to begin.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted. The damage to his nuts is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest. Lincoln says he invested extra care into the crop that would have been harvested by the first of October.

Cut 8 (13) “…what it was.”

Hurricane season also hasn’t been friendly to Georgia, the nation’s largest pecan producer, as they’ve been impacted by Hurricane Sally.

A technical issue resulted in 76-hundred unemployment claimants receiving an erroneous message claiming they owed overpayment money to the state and feds. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says they are working with their vendor to resolve the issue, and it should be taken care of without most claimants needing to get involved.

Cut 3 (07)  “…contend with.”  

The error resulted in some receiving requests for over ten thousand dollars of back payments.

Haunted Houses will be allowed to open this year but under strict permitting requirements and pandemic health restrictions. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says only 50 people total will be allowed in the building…

Cut 9 (11) “…escort”

Group sizes will be limited to six people.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted. Lincoln says the damage to his nuts is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest. On a good year, his operation will move about 3 million pounds of nuts, but this year, he anticipates it will be closer to a quarter-million pounds.
Cut 7 (05) “…on the ground.”
Lincoln says he invested extra care into the crop that would have been harvested by the first of October. Nuts that were knocked out of trees are not salvageable.
Cameron Police Jury Vice President Scott Trahan estimates over half of the homes in the storm-ravaged parish were completely destroyed by Hurricane Laura. At the Sacred Heart Graveyard, 150 caskets floated away from their tombs. Trahan says after having similar incidents in recent storms it’s time the parish starts filling caskets with concrete…
Cut 15 (11) “…go anywhere”
A Cemetery Task Force has been formed to help hunt down, identify, and rebury the lost caskets.

A federal judge orders Louisiana to go back to using the summer election plan for the upcoming fall elections. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Hurricane forecasters are tracking six disturbances, with one likely to develop into a tropical depression or storm in the Gulf. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center indicate it’s premature to determine if the Gulf system, or another disturbance in the Atlantic could impact Louisiana.   The four other systems are not expected to be a threat to the Bayou State.

Hurricane Laura had a substantial effect on the agriculture industry and Monroe pecan farmer Abraham Lincoln says his nuts were severely impacted.  Lincoln says while there are still some nuts in the trees, there aren’t enough to make it beyond his local customers.

Cut 6 (08) “…nuts for that.”

Lincoln says the damage to his nuts is even more detrimental since this year appeared to be a promising harvest.

Cameron Police Jury Vice President Scott Trahan estimates over half of the homes in the storm-ravaged parish were completely destroyed by Hurricane Laura. Standing water sat across much of the parish for over a week after the Laura made landfall. Trahan says a pumping effort helped clear up the area, but in many tributaries, the water is still high.

Cut 16 (11) “…with it” 

The damage sustained from Hurricane Laura to the campus of McNeese State in Lake Charles is estimated to be around $200 million.  McNeese President Daryl Burckel says there isn’t one part of the campus that has not been affected by the hurricane.

Cut 4 (07)“ …significant water intrusion.” 

The first day back to class will be Friday.

The Calcasieu Parish School System is facing similar obstacles in recovery as out of 76 school campuses and office complexes, 74 had damage and 15 had substantial damage because the roofs came off.  The estimated total damage is about $300 million.  Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus says assessments have been completed on 309 of the district’s 350 school buses.  Only 124 would be suitable for the road.

Cut 7 (08) “…damage on buses.”

US District Judge Shelly Dick has ruled against the Secretary of State’s election plan that rolled back much of the summer’s mail-in balloting opportunities. Dick said the limited absentee access approved by the Legislature imposes a burden on a person’s right to vote during a pandemic. Governor John Bel Edwards agrees.
Cut 8 (07) “…do that.”
Under Ardoin’s plan, the only COVID-related reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that if you test positive for the virus during early voting or before Election Day. Ardoin is reviewing the decision.

LSU is making plans to host about 25-thousand fans in Tiger Stadium on September 26th for the season opener against Mississippi State. Athletics Director Scott Woodward admits that spread mitigation efforts will have an impact on fans’ game-day experience, but they will make it as positive as possible.
Cut 12 (12) “…normal as possible.”
The school says 72-percent of LSU’s 71-thousand season ticket holders have opted out.

Hurricane Laura was the strongest storm to hit Louisiana in over 100 years when it made landfall in Cameron Parish. Three weeks later the Parish is struggling to recover…
cut 3 (31) “….I’m Kevin Barnhart”

There’s a strong possibility we could have another tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico by the end of the week. The National Hurricane Center is giving an area of low pressure a 90-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours. The low is expected to meander over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico for the next day or so.

A federal judge in New Orleans has ruled that Louisiana must use the same coronavirus pandemic rules for the November and December elections that were used during the summer elections. Governor John Bel Edwards says what the judge is asking is not an undue burden…
cut 10 (09) “….do so”
Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin received legislative approval for an election plan that rolled back many of the reasons on why a voter can receive an absentee ballot.

McNeese State is planning to resume the fall semester tomorrow even though Hurricane Laura produced 200-million dollars in damages to the campus. The classes will be held online and school president Daryl Burkel says if students do not have internet access…
cut 5 (11) “….also have hotspots”

A federal judge calls for Louisiana to go back to using the summer election plan for the upcoming fall elections. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported 508 more coronavirus cases yesterday increasing the total number to nearly 159-thousand. The number of COVID-19 deaths increased by 18 to 5,126. The number of COVID patients hospitalized rose slightly.

New Orleans Police say they have arrested a 15-year-old for a September 10th shooting that killed three people and wounded two others.

Cameron Police Jury Vice President Scott Trahan estimates over half of the homes in the storm-ravaged parish were completely destroyed by Hurricane Laura. Trahan says it could be up to three months before most of the parish gets power back, but even when the power returns, many homes will not turn the lights back on.
Cut 14 (07) “…left.”
The parish has an estimated population of just under 7,000.

Tiger Stadium will have about 25-thousand fans at LSU’s season opener on September 26th against Mississippi State. The school says they’ll announce seating arrangements next week. Athletics Director Scott Woodward and Interim LSU President Thomas Galligan says the 25-percent capacity includes student tickets…
cut 13 (09) “…sounds right”
LSU has said that students who get tested for the coronavirus will have priority for football tickets.

US District Judge Shelly Dick has ruled against the Secretary of State’s election plan that rolled back much of the summer’s mail-in balloting opportunities. Dick said the limited absentee access approved by the Legislature imposes a burden on a person’s right to vote during a pandemic. Governor John Bel Edwards agrees.
Cut 8 (07) “…do that.”
Under Ardoin’s plan, the only COVID-related reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that if you test positive for the virus during early voting or before Election Day. Ardoin is reviewing the decision.

LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward says they will provide seating arrangements for the September 26th season opener next week. Tailgaiting will not be allowed and Woodward addressed that during a news conference…
cut 11 (10) “…the woods yet”

Education leaders present an update to a Senate Committee on the return to learning in Calcasieu Parish following Hurricane Laura. Brooke Thorington has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

And we need to keep an eye on the Gulf of Mexico once again. There’s an area of low pressure in the southern Gulf has a 90-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours. If this disturbance becomes a named storm, it will be named Wilfred and then we move on to the Greek Alphabet, which also happened in 2005.

A federal judge has ruled the state should give more people the option of using absentee mail ballots for the November third presidential election. The ruling goes against the election plan endorsed by Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and the state legislature. Governor Edwards applauds the decision. He says Ardoin’s election plan made no considerations for those with co-morbid conditions, and…
cut 9 (09) “….positive”
U-S District Judge Shelly Dick says the state should revert back to the rules it had in place for the summer elections, which allowed a voter to seek an absentee ballot if they were at risk of severe illness. Ardoin says his office is reviewing the judge’s ruling.

The National Hurricane Center is giving a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico a 90-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours. The low is expected to meander in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico for the next day or so.

Calcasieu Parish School Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus tells the Senate Education Committee that 74 of their 76 school campuses and office complexes sustained damage from Hurricane Laura. 15 of the buildings had substantial damage when roofs came off. The estimated total damage is about 300-million dollars. Bruchhaus says they hope to resume online learning on September 28th, but internet connectivity is limited…
cut 6 (12) “….schools with internet”
The district plans to open schools as they become ready, with 5-to-7 opening next week.

Meanwhile, at the Sacred Heart Graveyard in Cameron Parish, 150 caskets floated away from their tombs. Cameron Police Jury Vice President Scott Trahan says after having similar incidents in recent storms it’s time the parish starts filling caskets with concrete…
Cut 15 (11) “…go anywhere”