13:30 LRN Newscast September 8

Louisiana could be a contender for Amazon’s new corporate headquarters as the online retail giant plans to spend five billion dollars on a second headquarters. Don Molino has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

The state department of transportation has seen an increase in accidents on I-10 in Acadiana as work is underway to widen the interstate. DOTD spokesperson Deidra Druilhet….
cut 9 (10) “….those areas”

Louisiana utility crews are heading to Georgia to help with any potential power outages as Hurricane Irma tracks north towards the US. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says crews are meeting at the St. Tammany Service Center Monday to make the trip to Macon, Georgia.
Cut 12 (11) “Hurricane Irma”
Cahill says Cleco also assisted Georgia Power following Hurricane Matthew.

New Orleans plans to make a bid to host World Cup soccer games if North America is named as a host site for one of the biggest sporting events in the world in 2026. President and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, Jay Cicero, says the Big Easy has so much to offer to international sports fans….
cut 8 (10) “….to Louisiana”
US Soccer plans to announce in the fall a list of potential 25 host cities in America.

12:30 Newscast September 8,2017

Amazon is looking for a new location for their corporate headquarters, as the huge online retailer has plans to open a second corporate location. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says New Orleans could be a perfect fit. He says the number one rated LED Fast Start program can also offer skilled employees.
Cut 4 (08) “in Louisiana”

North America is bidding against Morocco to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and New Orleans wants to get in on the action. Jay Cicero, CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, says the Crescent City has already hosted 10 Superbowls, six men’s Final Fours and the World Cup would be a perfect addition. But he says the competition is fierce.
Cut 6 (10)”put forth”

 

CSRA in Bossier City is setting up a call center to connect Harvey victims to recovery resources. Don Molino has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

Cleco has moblized crews to Georgia and Florida to help restore potential power outages due to Hurricane Irma. Now here’s a look at commodities.

11:30 LRN Newscast September 8

Amazon seeks a location for a new corporate headquarters, as the online mega retailer plans to open a second corporate location. State Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson says Louisiana has a lot of strengths to offer should we throw our hat in the ring, and its likely we will.
Cut 3 (10) “office space”
Amazon says they are looking to spend five-billion dollars to build another headquarters in North America.

It’s a big weekend of college football and Louisiana Tech will host Mississippi State in Ruston. Both teams won their season openers. State shutout Charleston Southern 49-0. Bulldogs Coach Skip Holtz is very impressed with how State won its season opener…
cut 14 (11) “…college football”

The Governor’s Office is holding a statewide blood drive today amid a supply shortage following Hurricane Harvey. Tina Martinez with LifeShare Blood Centers says because of the hurricane’s destruction, many communities have not been able to donate blood to support the medical needs of local patients:
Cut 27 (07) “donations daily”
Blood drive locations have been set up in all the major Louisiana cities, and donors can also go by any LifeShare location to contribute.

Congress has approved a 15-billion dollar disaster aid package to help victims of Hurricane Harvey. Both of Louisiana’s U-S Senators voted for the bill. Republican John Kennedy has a message for those struggling to find hope….
cut 11 (10) “…think you won’t”

10:30 Newscast September 8

US Senator John Kennedy was one of 80 senators to support $15 billion in FEMA funding for Harvey relief efforts. Kennedy says FEMA is doing a good job lately with Administrator Brock Long at the helm. He says how the funding is spent will be up to them.

Cut 12 (08) “different”

The funding bill heads to the US House for final approval.

CSRA will open a call center in Bossier City next week to connect Harvey victims to available resources. Spokesperson Mimi Hedgcock says this facility will be vital to affected families trying to put their lives back together.

Cut 6 (09) “as possible”

A $95 million FEMA grant will fund the call center.

A statewide blood drive is being held today in the hopes of replenishing a short supply following Hurricane Harvey. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Governor Edwards will be on hand for the blood drive in Alexandria, after he meets with business leaders in another round table to discuss the looming fiscal cliff. Edwards held a similar meeting yesterday in Houma and says the discussion was productive as local officials suggest the best methods for closing a billion dollar budget gap.

 

09:30 Newscast, September 8th, 2017

Today Governor John Bel Edwards will travel to Alexandria for continued meetings with local elected officials and business leaders to address the budget challenges facing Louisiana. While there, he will take part in a statewide blood drive his office has organized. Tina Martinez with LifeShare Blood Centers says, due to Hurricane Harvey, there is a major need for blood:
CUT 9 (11) “the process”
Harvey victims will no doubt need help navigating the red tape of getting federal aid, and CSRA in Bossier City is setting up a call center to help. . Spokesperson Mimi Hedgcock says they  held a job fair for full and part-time positions..:
Cut 5 (10) “Louisiana”

Both of Louisiana’s US Senators voted to appropriate 15-billion dollars in disaster aid for victims of Harvey. Junior Senator John Kennedy says although it hasn’t always been the case, FEMA is doing a good job lately, especially with Administrator Brock Long at the helm. Kennedy says the rest will be up to them, since his job ends with providing the funds…:
Cut 12 (08) “different”
The vote was 80-17 in the Senate and now heads to the House for their approval.

Hurricane Irma is now a Category 4 storm, as it moves towards Cuba. Maximum sustained winds were 150 miles per hour, and it was moving west-northwest. A further turn toward the northwest is expected by late Saturday, and on the track — Irma should move near the Florida Keys and southern Florida Peninsula Sunday morning.

No. 10 Florida State has canceled its home game Saturday against ULM because of impending Hurricane Irma. Florida Governor Rick Scott ordered all colleges in the state closed through Monday.

 

08:30 Newscast, September 8th, 2017

Both of Louisiana’s US Senators are on board with getting victims of Hurricane Harvey federal disaster aid as soon as possible. Junior Senator John Kennedy has a message for those struggling to find hope…:
Cut 11 (10) “think you won’t”
The vote to appropriate 15-billion dollars was 80-17 and now heads to the House.

The Governor’s Office is holding a statewide blood drive today amid a supply shortage following Hurricane Harvey. Tina Martinez with LifeShare Blood Centers says this is a great way for people to help those affected by the storm, and it doesn’t cost a thing…:
Cut 8 (11) “to someone”

CSRA in Bossier City is setting up a call center to connect Harvey victims to recovery resources. Don Molino has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

12th ranked LSU is coming off a dominating performance over BYU and will host Chattanooga in the home opener for the Tigers tomorrow night. LSU is a heavy favorite to beat the FCS School, but Head Coach Ed Orgeron says they have a great deal of respect for the Mocs..:
Cut 15 (08) “but a battle”
Kickoff is at 6:30.

07:30 Newscast, September 8th, 2017

The Governor’s Office is holding a statewide blood drive today amid a supply shortage following Hurricane Harvey. Tina Martinez with LifeShare Blood Centers says because of the hurricane’s destruction, many communities have not been able to donate blood to support the medical needs of local patients:
Cut 7 (07) “donations daily”
Blood drive locations have been set up in all the major Louisiana cities, and donors can also go by any LifeShare location to contribute.

As of the latest update, now-Cat 4 Hurricane Irma is forecast to move between the Central Bahamas and the North Coast of Cuba today. A turn toward the northwest is expected by late Saturday, and on the track — Irma should move near the Florida Keys and southern Florida Peninsula Sunday morning. Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph.

Meanwhile, the forecast in Louisiana looks absolutely perfect through much of next week. Humidity is down and morning lows are in the mid-upper 50s, while afternoon highs will only reach the low to mid 80s.

Louisiana’s two US senators were among the 80 who voted to support federal funding for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. Halen Doughty has more…:
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

No. 10 Florida State has canceled its home game Saturday against ULM because of impending Hurricane Irma. Florida Governor Rick Scott ordered all colleges in the state closed through Monday.

For the first time since Hurricane Harvey, gas prices did not go up overnight. The current statewide average for a gallon of regular is $2.40, which is 13 cents higher than the prior week.

 

06:30 Newscast, September 8th, 2017

Both of Louisiana’s US Senators voted to appropriate 15-billion dollars in disaster aid for victims of Harvey, which nearly doubles what President Donald Trump requested. Junior Senator John Kennedy says this federal funding will help our neighbors grapple with the destruction Harvey left behind..:
Cut 10 (09) “happened to em”
The vote was 80-17 in the Senate and now heads to the House for their approval.

In the coming weeks and months, Harvey victims will need help navigating the red tape to getting federal aid, and Louisianans are coming to the rescue. CSRA was enlisted by the feds to establish a call center for helping disaster victims. Spokesperson Mimi Hedgcock says 500 of those call agents will be based in Bossier City…:
Cut 4 (09) “within FEMA”
A $95 million grant will fund the temporary call center.

A statewide blood drive is being held today in the hopes of replenishing a short supply following Hurricane Harvey. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

 

18:30 Newscast September 7

Louisiana has been pretty lucky this hurricane season, even after two tropical storms made landfall in the Bayou State. State climatologist Barry Keim says fortunately neither Cindy nor Harvey did much damage in Louisiana.

Cut 11 (08) “unscathed”

But Keim says we aren’t out of the woods yet, as three storms are currently churning in the Atlantic.

LSU grads earn higher starting salaries than graduates of other Louisiana universities, according to a new report. President F. King Alexander hopes this will encourage more students, both in and out of state, to choose LSU.

Cut 5 (11) “worth it”

LSU grads have early career earnings or move than $52-thousand.

Entergy is teaming up with Cleco to build a new transmission line in southeast Louisiana that can withstand winds up to 150 miles per hour. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says this is an important project because customers want their power restored immediately after a storm.

Cut 8 (08) “Louisiana”

The project should be complete by fall of next year.

Groundbreaking took place on a project to widen Arkansas Road in West Monroe. State transportation secretary Shawn Wilson says this widening will increase the traffic capacity in the growing residential area.

Cut 12 (10) “signals”

The $33-million project should be finished by the spring of 2020.

17:30 Newscast September 7

There’s three hurricanes churning in the Atlantic Basin, and hurricane season is far from over. State climatologist Barry Keim says we’re not even halfway through the season, and we’re already off to a roaring start with 11 named storms so far.

Cut 10 (09) “right now”

Cleco and Entergy are teaming up to build a new transmission line that can withstand hurricane force winds. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says the companies are splitting the cost. She says Entergy expects to spend $65 million on 24 miles of the project in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 7 (09) “dollars”

The project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2018.

LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than other grads, according to a new report. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

High school students in Louisiana did not perform as well on the ACT compared to students in other states. The national average composite score was 21, while Louisiana averaged a 19.5. The Bayou State reportedly ranks 43rd in the country for ACT test scores.