LRN PM Newscall May 6

OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs on this deadline day. Andrew Greenstein is at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs.

Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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The Rayne Police Department is grieving over the loss of one of its officers who was killed by friendly fire. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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OMV offices across the state are jammed with people getting their REAL IDs, as regular driver’s licenses will no longer be adequate to board commercial flights starting tomorrow. As such, people are waiting a long time, even those who are there for something other than REAL ID.

Cut 3 (09) “…minutes at best.” 

One woman who showed up at the Express OMV office in Denham Springs has no immediate travel plans but needs a REAL ID for work. She says if you don’t have immediate travel plans, you can wait.

Cut 4 (08) “…at the moment.”

One woman says the Denham Springs Express OMV was so busy that their computers couldn’t handle it.

Cut 5 (07) “…say that yet.”

Last month, the OMV and Public Tag Agents processed more than 97-thousand REAL ID applications.

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Bogue Chitto State Park near Franklinton is undergoing a significant expansion with the acquisition of over 800 adjacent acres, increasing the park’s total area by 45-percent to nearly 2,600 acres. Office of State Parks Assistant Secretary Brandon Burris…

Cut 6 (07) “…has to offer.”

Burris says preliminary plans for the expanded portion of Bogue Chitto State Park include additional equestrian trails, mountain biking trails, and hiking trails.

Cut 7 (10) “…utilization we can.”

Burris says the newly acquired acres will need some restoration projects in the future to maintain the quality and standards for Louisiana State Parks.

Cut 8 (10) “…studying the ecosystem.”

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One of the bills in the legislature getting the most attention is the one that would give the insurance commissioner the authority to reject rates he or she deems to be excessive, regardless of market conditions. It has passed in the full House and is now awaiting debate in a Senate committee. Governor Landry supports it, but Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple – also a Republican – opposed it. Temple says he has rejected rates because they’re either too low or too high.

Cut 9 (06)  “…the drawing board.”

Temple says he has already rejected insurance rates that he has deemed to be too high – several times, in fact.

Cut 10 (09) “…I exercise it.”

Temple says the biggest reason he opposes the bill is because he already has the authority to reject excessive rates – and he has.

Cut 11 (11) “…we exercise it.”

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A large portion of Louisiana is under a tornado watch until 9 PM tonight. The watch area covers Shreveport, Monroe, Natchitoches, Alexandria, Opelousas, DeRidder, Lake Charles and Lafayette. LRN Meteorologist Bill Jacquemin says a few tornadoes are possible, plus there are other severe weather threats…

Cut 12 (06) “…large hail”  

Jacquemin says a flood watch also remains in effect for the entire state…

Cut 13 (09)  “…and evening”

Jacquemin says weather event features slow moving thunderstorms capable of dumping a lot of rain at once…

Cut 14 (15) “…into tomorrow.”

State Climatologist Jay Grymes says the heaviest rains will begin later tonight and extend into tomorrow morning before slowly subsiding. The flood threat remains a concern for Acadiana and portions of the Florida Parishes.