The LSU AgCenter estimates Hurricane Laura caused 525-million dollars in damage to Louisiana farmers and one-point-one billion dollars to the Louisiana timber industry. AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says wind damage was the big factor…
cut 3 (11) “…timber damage”
In comparison, agricultural losses from hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005 totaled one-point-five billion dollars.

Monroe-based CenturyLink is changing its name to Lumen Technologies as the telecommunications provider says it’s reinventing itself so it can help its customers through the fourth Industrial Revolution. Consumer President Maxine Moreau says their new vision will not result in a re-location of headquarters…
cut 5 (08) “…CenturyLink”
Lumen as its now called employs 18-hundred workers.

Hurricane Sally is crawling towards a landfall near Dauphin Island, Alabama tomorrow morning with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour. National Weather Service New Orleans Meteorologist Robert Ricks says Sally is moving northwest at just two miles per hour…
cut 13 (10) “…north-northeast”
Sally is no longer a threat to Louisiana, but Governor John Bel Edwards says state offices in a dozen parishes are closed today…
cut 7 (11) “…Washington”
We are now up to 20 named storms for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The record is 27 set in 2005. The next named storm this year will be Wilfred and then we move to the Greek Alphabet.

Slow-moving Hurricane Sally is eyeing a landfall tomorrow along the Mississippi-Alabama coast as Louisiana is out of the cone of uncertainty. Matt Doyle has more on how the state is ready to help out its neighbors…
cut 2 (25) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A Storm surge warning is in effect from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Florida as Sally is barely moving this morning. Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lepine says he’s watching Sally closely until the storm moves away from the Gulf Coast…
cut 11 (08) “…guard down yet”
Monroe-based Centurylink is changing its name to Lumen Technologies as its preparing for the fourth industrial revolution. The company says they want to create a platform so that its users can link their smart devices, home security, internet, and more through a high-speed infrastructure. But Lumen Consumer Markets President Maxine Moreau says the Centurylink name is not completely going away…
cut 6 (05) “…customers”
Centurylink was founded in 1930 and employs over 40-thousand worldwide, 18-hundred in Louisiana.

The damage to the timber industry from Hurricane Laura is an estimated one-point-one billion dollars. That’s according to Louisiana Forestry Association executive director Buck Vandersteen…
Cut 30 (12) “…one time”
Vandersteen says Laura impacted 770-thousand acres of forest in 22 parishes.

Hurricane warnings have been dropped in Louisiana as Hurricane Sally is eyeing a landfall tomorrow along the Mississippi-Alabama border. The Category One hurricane is barely moving and the center of the storm is 65 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi River. National Weather Service meteorologist Robert Ricks says coastal parishes on the east side of the Mississippi River could still see some effects from Sally…
cut 15 (08) “…a little bit longer”
Historic flooding is possible in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida because of Sally’s slow movement. Governor John Bel Edwards says he spoke to Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves…
cut 9 (10) “…those available”
Sally is expected to drop eight to 16 inches of rain from the Florida panhandle to southeastern Mississippi, two feet of rain is possible in isolated areas.

Monroe-based Fortune 500 Company CenturyLink has a new name, Lumen Technologies. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported 497 new coronavirus cases yesterday bringing the state’s total to nearly 158-thousand. COVID-19 deaths rose by 17 to 5,082. The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital fell by 16 to 664 and the number of COVID patients using a ventilator fell by two, to 105.

Hurricane warnings have been dropped from Louisiana’s coastline as Hurricane Sally is crawling towards a landfall near the Mississippi-Alabama coastline early tomorrow morning. National Weather Service New Orleans Meteorologist Robert Ricks says Sally is moving northwest at just two miles per hour…
cut 13 (10) “…north-northeast”
Southeast Louisiana is no longer in the cone of uncertainty, but Governor John Bel Edwards says state offices in a dozen parishes are closed today…
cut 7 (11) “…Washington”
We are now up to 20 named storms for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The record is 27 set in 2005. The next named storm this year will be Wilfred and then we move to the Greek Alphabet.

A portion of Louisiana’s coastline remains under a storm surge warning as Sally moves closer to the Central Gulf Coast. A storm surge of six to nine feet is expected from the mouth of the Mississippi River to Dauphin Island. Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lepine says he’s concerned about flooded highways…
cut 12 (12) “….have Highway 39”

In other news, one of Louisiana’s two Fortune 500 Companies, CenturyLink based in Monroe, is changing its name to Lumen Technologies. Mass Markets President Maxine Moreau says they’re taking on a new vision that’s aimed at creating technology that helps companies through the 4th industrial revolution.
Cut 4 (10)“ …reality”
Moreau says their headquarters will remain in Monroe. Lumen employs 40-thousand worldwide, 18-hundred of them are in Louisiana.

Hurricane Sally is barely moving this morning at only two miles per hour as the center of the storm is 60 miles east-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Its maximum sustained winds are at 85 miles per hour. Sally is expected to head north this afternoon and make landfall near the Mississippi-Alabama border.

Kevin Barnhart reports Sally is in no rush to make landfall…
cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Sally is currently a Category One storm and we’ll make landfall late tonight or early tomorrow morning as a tropical storm.

It looks like Louisiana’s coastal parishes in southeast Louisiana have dodged a bullet from Hurricane Sally as the storm will stay to the east of the Bayou State. Plaquemines Parish President Kirk Lepine says residents did not take the threat from Sally lightly…
cut 10 (09) “…to evacuate”
The state has been concerned about Hurricane Laura evacuees who are sheltering in hotels in New Orleans. Governor Edwards says they had no plans to move those evacuees…
cut 8 (10) “…Sally”

It appears southeast Louisiana has dodged an unfavorable outcome with Hurricane Sally.  National Weather Service New Orleans Meteorologist Robert Ricks says the slow-moving storm has been crawling throughout the night.

Cut 13 (10) “…and northeast.”

As of the 1AM NHC advisory, a hurricane warning remains in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana to Navarre, Florida. Overnight, there has been a flare-up of new thunderstorms around Sally’s center.

Sally isn’t expected to bullseye Louisiana but it could bring some tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rain to the southeastern parts of the state. Governor Edwards announced state offices in 12 parishes will be closing today…

Cut 7 (11) “…Washington”

Plaquemines Parish residents may have dodged a bullet in avoiding the worst impacts of Hurricane Sally.  Parish President Kirk Lepine says while parish residents are relieved by the latest forecast, they are continuing to brace for a storm that has shown an indecisive track in its slow approach to land.

Cut 11 (08) “…guard down yet.”

One of Louisiana’s two Fortune 500 Companies, CenturyLink, is rebranding itself as Lumen Technologies. Lumen Consumer Markets President Maxine Moreau says the change in name and direction will not result in a change of location for their headquarters.

Cut 5 (08)  “…CenturyLink.”

The other Fortune 500 Company based out of Louisiana is Entergy.

As of the 10PM Advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Sally is 90 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi River with max sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. National Weather Service New Orleans Meteorologist Robert Ricks says overnight, there has been a flare-up of new thunderstorms around Sally’s center.

Cut 14 (03) “…indication of intensification.”
A hurricane warning remains in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana to Navarre, Florida.

Sally isn’t expected to bullseye Louisiana but it could bring some tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rain to the southeastern parts of the state. 12,000 Hurricane Laura refugees are being housed by the state in New Orleans hotels and Governor Edwards says while the city is expecting heavy rains…

Cut 8 (09) “…Sally.”

12,700 Laura refugees are being housed in non-congregate settings across Louisiana by the state.

Plaquemines Parish residents may have dodged a bullet in avoiding the worst impacts of Hurricane Sally.  Parish President Kirk Lepine says residents did not take the initial threat lightly.

Cut 10 (09) “bank to evacuate.”

Lepine says while parish residents are relieved by the latest forecast, they are continuing to brace for a storm that has shown an indecisive track in its slow approach to land.

One of Louisiana’s two Fortune 500 Companies, CenturyLink, is rebranding itself as Lumen Technologies. Lumen Consumer Markets President Maxine Moreau says they’re taking on a new vision that’s aimed at creating technology that helps companies through the 4^th industrial revolution.

Cut 4 (10)“ …reality” 

The other Fortune 500 Company based out of Louisiana is Entergy.

As of the 10PM Advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Sally is 90 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi River with max sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. National Weather Service New Orleans Meteorologist Robert Ricks says the storm is crawling West-north-west at 3 miles per hour.
Cut 13 (10) “…and northeast.”
A hurricane warning remains in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana to Navarre, Florida.

Gov. Edwards says he talked with Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves and told him should Sally continue tracking to the east and Louisiana is spared the worst, we’re ready to help.

Cut 9 (10) “…available”

The damage to the timber industry from Hurricane Laura is an estimated one-point-one billion dollars. That’s according to Louisiana Forestry Association executive director Buck Vandersteen who says Laura impacted 770-thousand acres of forest in 22 parishes, with Vernon Parish suffering the most losses…
Cut 9 (12) “…million”
Vandersteen says Laura will definitely have a long-term impact on the state’s forestry industry.

There’s some good economic development news to report. California-based manufacturer Westfield Fluid Controls plans to build a five-million-dollar facility in Lafayette. Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the facility will be located in the Northpark Technology Center and employ 70 workers…
Cut 7 (10) “region.”

As of the 10PM Advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Sally is 90 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi River with max sustained winds of 100 miles per hour.  The storm is crawling West-north-west at 3 miles per hour.  A hurricane warning remains in effect from Grand Isle, Louisiana to Navarre, Florida.  Plaquemines Parish residents may have dodged a bullet in avoiding the worst impacts.  Parish President Kirk Lepine says now the biggest concern is the headache that can come from water possibly inundating the transportation infrastructure.

Cut 12 (12) “…have HWY 39.”

While Louisiana may be out of the crosshairs of a direct hit now, Governor Edwards announced earlier today that state offices in 12 parishes will be closed tomorrow…

Cut 7 (11) “…Washington”

Westfield Fluid Controls will invest 5.1 million dollars to establish a manufacturing facility in Lafayette, creating 67 new jobs for the area. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the facility will produce precision hydraulic and fluid control components.

Cut 6 (07) “…things.”

Westfield is relocating this facility from a site in California.

The damage to the timber industry from Hurricane Laura is an estimated one-point-one billion dollars. That’s according to Louisiana Forestry Association executive director Buck Vandersteen who says Laura will definitely have a long-term impact on the state’s forestry industry.

Cut 10 (12) “…one time”

As of the 7PM Advisory from the National Hurricane Center, Sally is 100 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi River with max sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. The storm is moving West-north-west at 5 miles per hour. Plaquemines Parish residents may have dodged a bullet in avoiding the worst impacts of Hurricane Sally. Parish President Kirk Lepine says the parish is now expecting only minor effects, but they are continuing to brace for a storm that has shown an indecisive track in its slow approach to land.

Cut 11 (08) “…guard down yet.”

Orleans Parish Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Director Collin Arnold says they are encouraged by current forecasts. The area is under a flash flood watch until Thursday morning. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says all 99 of their drainage pumps are ready to respond and can handle up to one inch of rain per hour…

Cut 15 (09) “we would like” 

The Louisiana Forestry Association projects the state industry will take a 1.1 billion dollar hit from Hurricane Laura’s devastating arrival in southwest Louisiana. executive director Buck Vandersteen says there’s so much timber on the ground, it is hard to salvage more than 15-percent of it…

Cut 11 (12) “…reduce production.”

Vandersteen says Laura impacted 770-thousand acres of forest in 22 parishes.

67 new jobs are coming to Lafayette as Westfield Fluid Controls announces they’ll build a 5.1 million dollar manufacturing facility in the Northpark Technology Center. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says the average pay is just under 50,000 dollars a year, and benefits are included.

Cut 8 (08) “…economy.”