Today state officials discussed Louisiana’s response plan should another storm hit us, while our neighbors are recovering. Michelle Southern reports…

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The National Hurricane Center calls Hurricane Irma potentially catastrophic as the category 5 storm barrels towards the Leeward Islands. Irma has winds up to 185 miles per hour, and storm surge is expected to be a big problem in the Caribbean. The system could take aim at the US by the end of the weekend.

CEOWORLD magazine ranks UL-Lafayette’s petroleum engineering department the seventh best in the nation and thirteenth in the world. Department Head Dr. Fathi Boukadi says this is the result of years of hard work by students, faculty, and staff. He says it’s an honor for the program to be ranked among the best in the world, and he hopes to continue to improve the department.

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Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber has his daughter back home after she and her babysitter went missing in a canoe overnight. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office says local authorities and volunteers searched all night for 21-year-old Juliana Brooks and 7-year-old Cora Garber.

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The girls were found near an oil well in the Lake Martin area.

State Officials got together today to discuss Louisiana’s response plan should another storm hit us while portions of the Gulf Coast region are still recovering from prior events. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says we are still in the heart of hurricane season, and resources in Louisiana could be strained:
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He says as part of the exercise, state agencies and emergency managers were asked to take actions based on the fact that we won’t have Texas support.

Hurricane Irma, which became a Category 5 storm today, is packing maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center says that makes it the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin outside of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The chance of impacts to Florida this weekend are increasing, but forecasters warn there are still many things about the track of Irma that could change.

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber’s 7-year-old daughter and her babysitter have been found safe after the two went missing during a canoe trip yesterday. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office high water likely pushed the girls into a wooded area, but thankfully 21-year-old Juliana Brooks is a skilled kayaker with survival skills…:
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He says the two were found a little dehydrated, but both will be fine.

Evacuees staying in Louisiana shelters are on their way back to Texas, as the two states partner to transport the survivors to a shelter in Dallas. Transportation of the survivors from Alexandria and Shreveport to Texas began this morning and will continue through Thursday, until everyone is back in their home state, according to a statement from DCFS. The state said there were over 2,000 evacuees in state-run shelters as of midnight Tuesday.

Hurricane Irma strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm Tuesday as it heads toward the northeast Caribbean. National Hurricane Center Forecaster Chris Landsea says the models show the storm turning north once it reaches south Florida this weekend, and not impacting Louisiana. But adds nobody along the coast should let their guard down…:
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Landsea says Irma is the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane on record with maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says they are taking another look at evacuation procedures in the state, after dealing with flooding last year and seeing what happened in Houston from Hurricane Harvey. They are meeting today to review what is currently in place that would prompt an evacuation, and talking about possibly including projected rainfall amounts in addition to the category of a storm.

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber’s daughter and babysitter were found safe this morning following an all-night search for the missing girls…:
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The Department of Children and Family Services says many evacuees who had been taking refuge in Alexandria and Shreveport mega shelters are being transported back to the home state to shelter in Dallas.

Hurricane Irma is a potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm heading toward the Leeward Islands. National Hurricane Center Forecaster Chris Landsea says Irma will reach the Lesser Antilles today…
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The models show Irma turning north once it reaches south Florida and not impacting Louisiana, but there’s still a lot of uncertainity.

The daughter and babysitter of Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber have been found safe after the two went missing in a canoe overnight. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office says the 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took 7-year-old Cora Garber canoeing in the sheriff’s pond, which is adjacent to a swamp.
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They were found this morning in the Lake Martin area, covered in mosquito bites and a little dehydrated.

On October 1st, the CONGO TV network begins airing programs on-line. It’s founded by Monroe-native Ro Wright, who says the network will air a reality show based in Louisiana that follows a group of black students who have decided NOT to attend HBCU’s, because they don’t see the importance of them in this day and age….
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Doctor Vince Weaver at Baton Rouge General is having success performing a new stroke prevention procedure that prevents blockage and stroke. Weaver says the surgery is an hour long and patients are released the next day. He says certain criteria must be met ,before the procedure can be done…
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For more information contact Baton Rouge General.

Louisiana has the fifth highest obesity rate in the country. Jeff Palermo has more on the report from Trust for America’s Health…

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The Lafayette Sheriff’s daughter and babysitter have been found safe, after the two girls went missing in a canoe overnight. Authorities say 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took 7-year-old Cora Garber out in a canoe, and high water may have caused it to drift into a wooded area. Sheriff Mark Garber deployed search and rescue teams, who later found the two girls in the Lake Martin Area.

A Baton Rouge General Doctor has performed one of the first successful stroke prevention procedures. Dr. Vince Weaver says the old procedure for high risk patients involved open surgery, which increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. But this new treatment option is much safer.

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Three procedures have been successful, and several more are scheduled.

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey has many looking to help those affected, but how can donors be sure their donations are going to the right place? Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine, says the Red Cross always honors the donor’s intent by letting them specify which cause they want to support.

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Visit RedCross.org to make a donation.

Louisiana is the 5th most obese state in the US, according to Trust for America’s Health. President and CEO John Auerbach says that growing rate can be addressed with policy changes in schools, like providing healthy lunch options and limiting access to junk food…:
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Louisiana ranks fourth in the country for childhood obesity.

Relief efforts are ongoing amid the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey, and many are asking how they can help those affected. Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine says monetary donations are best, but you can also sign up to be a volunteer…:
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Find out more at RedCross.org.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber’s daughter and babysitter were found safe this morning, after 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took the seven year-old girl out canoeing. Investigators believed the canoe drifted into a heavily wooded area, because of high water. Exact details on where they were found have not been made public.

Hurricane Irma strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm Tuesday as it heads toward the northeast Caribbean. Forecasters say there are increasing chances that Irma will hit Florida and steer clear of Louisiana due to a cold front moving into our area.

With more and more people looking for ways to drop cable TV service in favor of streaming networks, there’s a Monroe resident who has his own launching next month. Ro Wright says CONGO TV will feature local programs based on where users log in, and they are already racking up submissions..:
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There is still plenty of help needed in Texas as the area recovers from the effects of Hurricane Harvey. Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine says donating money is the easiest way to give because the Red Cross can buy in bulk…:
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To donate or volunteer, visit RedCross.org.

Louisiana is the 5th most obese state in the nation. That’s according to The State of Obesity, an annual report from non-profit Trust for America’s Health. President and CEO John Auerbach says being overweight is linked to a plethora of health problems…:
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Louisiana is one of just five states with an obesity rate over 35 percent.

A Baton Rouge doctor is one of the first in the nation to perform a new stroke prevention procedure. Emelie Gunn has more..:
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A Monroe-native is launching a new streaming TV network next month. Ro Wright says CONGO TV launches online on October 1. He says the network will be available through a variety of streaming options, which he calls the future of broadcast because so many people are turning away from cable…:
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Hurricane Irma is now a Category 5 storm, packing maximum winds of 175 miles per hour, with higher gusts. The latest NHC 5-day forecast track and cone gives the impression that Irma is headed for the Gulf, but most of the models are indicating the storm would turn to the north, though we should still be watching and tracking it here in Louisiana.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating Sheriff Mark Garber’s 7-year-old daughter and her babysitter. 21-year-old Juliana Brooks and young Cora Garber went missing yesterday when the two set out on a canoeing trip.

Relief efforts are ongoing amid the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey, and many are asking how they can help those affected. Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine, says those who wish to donate can specify what they want it to go towards…:
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To donate or volunteer, visit RedCross.org.

A report from Trust for America’s Health finds Louisiana has the fifth highest obesity rate in the nation. Jeff Palermo has more…:
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As LSU is set to play it’s first home game of the season on Saturday, there will be a ton of fans flocking to the habitat of the new Mike the Tiger. But caretakers for the live mascot are urging visitors not to approach the glass with live or stuffed animals. They say Mike VII can’t tell the difference and if he throws himself against the glass, he might break a tooth. Dental problems are the #1 cause of death in both wild and captive tigers.

Many are asking what they can do to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Halen Doughty has the answer from the Red Cross…:
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All eyes are on Cat-4 Hurricane Irma right now which forecasters say should move over portions of the northern Leeward Islands tonight and early Wednesday. They say there are increasing chances that impacts to the US will hit Florida and steer clear of Louisiana due to a cold front moving into our area, but it’s still to early to tell what exactly Irma will do to the US.

A Baton Rouge General Doctor is one of the first physicians in the country to perform a successful new stroke prevention procedure. Dr. Vince Weaver says this reverses the blood flow through the brain to divert clots and plaque away from the brain to prevent blockage and stroke:
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Three procedures have already been successful and several more are scheduled.

Louisiana has the fifth highest obesity rate in the country, according to a report from Trust for America’s Health. President and CEO John Auerbach it’s a trend that continues…:
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Louisiana is one of just five states with an obesity rate over 35 percent.

According to the Louisiana Workforce Commission, 12,000 more people are holding down jobs in the state compared to last year. LSU economist Loren Scott attributes the increase to an industrial boom in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge and improvements in the construction sector.

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Construction employment is at an all-time high in the state.

The Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary will help clean up Elmer’s Island on September 16, and they’re looking for volunteers. Spokesperson Alma Robichaux says the event takes place from 10 am until 1 pm, and people can sign up at b-t-n-e-p-dot-org.

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As many families light up the grill this Labor Day, Cattle Producers of Louisiana says there should be plenty of beef to go around, even after a devastating hurricane. CEO Dave Foster says restaurants and grocery stores are ordering way ahead of time, in light of the impact of Hurricane Harvey.

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Johnny’s Pizza House has celebrates the company’s 50^th anniversary this month. President and CEO Melvin DeLacerda says Johnny Huntsman not only started a company, he also gave back to the community, which is a tradition that continues today.

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Today Johnny’s has 44 locations spanning multiple states.