Entergy Louisiana expects it will be about two to three weeks before power is available to customers in the Lake Charles area. CEO Phillip May says the infrastructure damage sustained in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes was substantial.
Cut 7 (08) “…destroyed”
May expects work crews will energize the first of its transmission lines into Lake Charles in two weeks and while transmission lines are being rebuilt, other crews will work to restore substations and the distribution system.

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says four student organizations are under investigation for violating coronavirus safety rules…
cut 5 (10) “…misconduct”
Videos have surfaced of large student parties. Galligan says he has seen the clips and there will be repercussions from the school.

Following the devastation of Hurricane Laura, there could be scammers looking to make a quick buck on storm repairs. State Licensing Board for Contractors Compliance Director Brad Hassert says you can verify if a person is a licensed contractor by visiting la-contractor-dot-org…
Cut 13 (10) “…and in place.”

Louisiana is seeking poll workers for the fall election. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says there are some volunteer positions, but Ardoin says you can also make a little money by working on election day…
cut 12 (07) “….pay is”
Citizens who are interested should go to electionworker.sos.la.gov. To be a poll worker you must be at least 17 and registered to vote and attend a training course.

The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is down to 873. That’s the lowest it’s been since July 4th. Louisiana reported 20 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday bringing the state’s death toll to 4,841.

LSU has reported 366 COVID-19 cases since August 15th…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

In a couple of weeks, the state health department will begin reporting COVID-19 cases by campus on their website dashboard.

Just how bad is the damage to Entergy’s infrastructure in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes? Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May says he’s worked in the industry for 35 years and the most destruction he’s seen was 560 towers down statewide at one time. May says what Laura did in southwest Louisiana is unbelievable…
cut 9 (08) “….the ground”
The company expects it will be two to three weeks before power is available to customers in the Lake Charles area.

The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors is telling storm victims to be on the lookout for fraudulent contractors. State Compliance Director Brad Hassert says if a contractor asks for a large payment upfront that should be a red flag…
cut 14 (11) “…question for me”

It was a week ago today Hurricane Laura made landfall as a destructive Category Four storm. Calcasieu and Cameron Parish residents will have to wait for another two to three weeks for power to be restored. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Cleco says they still have 31-thousand customers without power, nearly half of those outages are in Rapides Parish.

And the number of Laura-related deaths has increased to 17. The state health department reports two Beauregard Parish residents died from heat-related illnesses.

LSU interim president Thomas Galligan says the university has reported 366 COVID-19 cases since August 15th. In addition to a symptom tracker feature, Galligan says the LSU website has a COVID dashboard that will be updated Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 4 PM with the latest data.
Cut 4 (10)“ …from a person.”
Galligan says four student organizations are under investigation after videos surfaced showing them holding large student parties.

The state is pushing to hire more poll workers ahead of the upcoming November 3rd election. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says you have to be a registered voter in Louisiana who does not need assistance, take a training course, be at least 17, and have availability…
cut 10 (07) “…early voting”
Visit electionworker.sos.la.gov.

FEMA Individual Assistance has now been approved for 16 hurricane ravaged parishes. Senator Bill Cassidy is optimistic that unlike the great south Louisiana flood of 2016 there won’t be the mass duplication of benefits problems that plagued those victims of a natural disaster.

Cut 4 (10)“ …of benefits” 

Governor John Bel Edwards highly encourages Louisianans affected by Hurricane Laura to file for FEMA assistance immediately so they can receive benefits in a timely manner. You can do so by going to disaster assistance dot gov.

Cut 9 (14) “don’t give up”

Edwards hopes that eventually 26 total storm impacted parishes will be approved for funding.

Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey Jr. asks high school football families to call their local superintendents and tell them to demand the LHSAA allow players to begin contact practices September 11^th. Cathey also asks you to ask them to support the scheduled October 8^th season start date. He says it’s not just about the players…

Cut 6 (11) “…events.”

A New Orleans woman is arrested, accused of setting fire to her apartment building after being given an eviction notice earlier in the day. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the suspect, 25-year-old Jazlynn Major, was located and arrested in Huntsville, Texas.

Cut 12 (09) “…of aggravated arson.”

Browning says the fire displaced 26 residents who lived in the apartment complex and a dog also died in the blaze.

A Monroe Senator calls on high school football families to hold their local superintendent’s feet to the fire and support firm start dates for contact practices and the season. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state reports 972 new COVID-19 cases today out of just over 14,000 tests. Total fatalities: 4,841, an increase of 20. Hospitalizations fall by 37 to 873.

A New Orleans woman is arrested, accused of setting fire to her apartment building after being given an eviction notice earlier in the day.  State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the suspect, 25-year-old Jazlynn Major, could face between two to 20 years in prison if convicted.  Browning says the state has seen an uptick in arsons during the pandemic.

Cut 14 (06) “…with the demand.” 

Browning says 26 residents in 20 units left their apartments unharmed, but a pet died in the blaze.

16 of 23 Hurricane Laura damaged parishes have been approved for FEMA individual assistance. Ouachita, Vermilion, Rapides, Natchitoches, and Lincoln are among the parishes who are now eligible for aid that includes temporary housing and home repairs. Senator Bill Cassidy…

Cut 3 (09)  “…their feet”  

Governor Edwards says over 80-thousand Louisianans have applied for FEMA Individual assistance

Governor John Bel Edwards says if you’re in one of 16 parishes designated for FEMA assistance you need to file for assistance as soon as you can to receive benefits in a timely manner. Edwards says the road to recovery in those areas could be quite long, and according to Entergy 1,000 transmission towers are down in just Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes alone. Edwards says those towers are blocking roadways…

Cut 10 (07) “…of those.”

Senator Bill Cassidy will be on the ground in Lake Charles tomorrow. He says if you are in the area and have problems, come to talk to his staff…

Cut 5 (08)  “…as well”

Total Laura-related fatalities rose again today, now up to 17 as two people perish in Beauregard Parish from heat-related illnesses.

A Monroe Senator is issuing a call to action for Louisiana high school football families, asking them and any fans of the sport to contact their local school boards and superintendents, and tell them to tell LHSAA to approve contact practices for September 11^th and the season start for October 8^th. Stewart Cathey Jr. says he’s confident starting before Phase Three will not create liability issues.

Cut 8 (08) “…Louisiana”

On Tuesday Attorney General Jeff Landry agreed.

A New Orleans woman is arrested after allegedly starting a three-alarm fire in an apartment complex she was set to be evicted from. Fire Marshal Butch Browning says 26 residents in 20 units left their apartments unharmed, but a pet died in the blaze.

Cut 13 (11) “…that did perish.”

25-year-old Jazlynn Major was located and arrested in Texas.

Governor Edwards says the state continues to move people seeking shelter from Hurricane Laura into hotels.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”  

Entergy Louisiana now has a two to three-week timetable for the restoration of power to most of Cameron and Calcasieu Parish, the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Laura. CEO Phillip May told us earlier today that 1,000 transmission towers are down in the two parishes.

FEMA Individual Assistance has now been approved for 16 hurricane ravaged parishes. Senator Bill Cassidy is optimistic that unlike the great south Louisiana flood of 2016 there won’t be the mass duplication of benefits problems that plagued those victims of a natural disaster.

Cut 4 (10)“ …of benefits” 

During the 2016 flood many received government assistance in the early days of their recovery and were not eligible for other government aid that became available later.

A Monroe Senator wants you to call your local superintendent and tell them you want the LHSAA to back high school football for the fall. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonnie has said football games cannot happen in Louisiana until the state reaches Phase 3 of its economic reopening, but Stewart Cathey Jr. argues our neighbors are already making it work…

Cut 7 (08) “…October”

Governor John Bel Edwards says Hurricane Laura has displaced thousands of Louisianans as the state is sheltering 11-thousand individuals, most of them are staying at hotels paid for by FEMA…
cut 11 (12) “…all together”
Edwards, who is touring damaged areas of southwest Louisiana this afternoon, says over 200-thousand are without power and 170-residents are without clean water.

A New Orleans woman is arrested, accused of setting fire to her apartment building after being given an eviction notice earlier in the day. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the suspect, 25-year-old Jazlynn Major, was located and arrested in Huntsville, Texas.
Cut 12 (09) “…of aggravated arson.”
Browning says the fire displaced 26 residents who lived in the apartment complex and a dog also died in the blaze.

A Monroe Senator calls on high school football families to hold their local superintendent’s feet to the fire and support firm start dates for contact practices and the season. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The House Education Committee will meet at the State Capitol on Friday and LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine has been invited to address the committee.

Saints Owner Gayle Benson was spotted at practice today. It was reported last week that Benson tested positive for the coronavirus, but team officials say she was undergoing daily medical care at her home.

A recall petition to remove Governor John Bel Edwards has been filed by two Eunice men. The two have 180 days to collect about 600,000 signatures needed to trigger the recall vote. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says recalling a Governor is a mammoth task made all the more unlikely by the current pandemic conditions.

Cut 5 (09)  “…dollars”

Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey Jr. asks high school football families to call their local superintendents and tell them to demand the LHSAA allow players to begin contact practices September 11^th. Cathey says also asks you to ask them to support the scheduled October 8^th season start date. He says it’s not just about the players…

Cut 6 (11) “…events.”

Cathey says because the LHSAA is controlled by superintendents and principles local families can influence the football season decision.

Governor John Bel Edwards highly encourages Louisianans affected by Hurricane Laura to file for FEMA assistance immediately so they can receive benefits in a timely manner. Sixteen parishes have now been approved for federal assistance. You can do so by going to disaster assistance dot gov.

Cut 9 (14) “don’t give up”

Edwards is not giving up either, he originally requested assistance for 26 parishes, and hopes that eventually all will be approved for funding.

The state reports 972 new COVID-19 cases today out of just over 14,000 tests. Total fatalities: 4,841, an increase of 20. Hospitalizations fall by 37 to 873.

FEMA approves an additional ten Louisiana parishes for individual assistance following Hurricane Laura, bringing the total number of parishes eligible for aid to 16. The ten parishes added yesterday were Acadia, Ouachita, Vermilion, Rapides, Natchitoches, Sabine, Winn, Grant, Jackson and Lincoln. Individuals who sustained damage from Laura are urged to apply for FEMA assistance at FEMA-dot-gov.

Edwards says residents in these parishes are also eligible for disaster unemployment…
cut 11 (05) “….for state benefits’

Edwards is also advising residents affected by Laura to preregister for disaster food stamps. Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says disaster food stamps are for people who lost food as a result of the disaster and income restrictions are loosened…
cut 13 (09) “…should register”
And you can register at the department of children and family services website.

Southwest Louisiana’s prolific chemical industry is temporarily out of commission due to Hurricane Laura. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Governor Edwards says 237-thousand utility customers are without power, down from a peak of 615-thousand. It could take a month before power is restored in Calcasieu Parish. Edwards says the state is also sheltering 11-thousand evacuees in 46 hotels, most of these storm victims are staying in New Orleans.