20 years ago today was a day that Southwest Louisiana will never forget. On that date, Hurricane Rita made landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border, bringing powerful storm surge that devasted Cameron and Vermilion parishes. Former Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach says Rita produced a lot of suffering as many lives were changed, but he will always remember the resiliency of the community…

Cut 10 (06) “…part of.”

Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois has started her statewide Driving Louisiana Opportunity Tour. The tour, in which Bourgeois will meet directly with business leaders, is one of the four initiatives Governor Landry announced last week aimed at strengthening the business climate in the state. 

Cut 6 (03) “…an action tour.”

Landry said the tour will help connect businesses to one another through the new SourceLouisiana-dot-com website to make it easier for contractors to find jobs.

Pope Leo the 14th appoints a new archbishop of the New Orleans diocese. Don Molino reports.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Don Molino.”

When the University of New Orleans rejoins the LSU system, it may also revert back to its old name. Interim LSU President Matt Lee tells the Board of Regents that in order for the transfer to succeed, UNO should once again be called LSU New Orleans – which the school went by from 1958 to 1974. UNO’s enrollment fell from 17-thousand before Hurricane Katrina to six-thousand and has never recovered.

LSU now knows which conference opponents they’ll play for the next four seasons. The SEC has announced that next season, LSU will host Alabama, Mississippi State, Texas A-and-M and Texas. Tiger Rag Editor Glen Guilbeau is looking forward to the matchup with the Longhorns, as it will likely mark the return of New Orleans native Arch Manning to Louisiana.

Cut 12 (12) “…Bo Jackson.”

The new archbishop of the New Orleans diocese will be James Checchio (CHETCH-ee-oh). He was most recently the bishop of Metuchen (meh-TOOTCH-in), New Jersey, and he will succeed Gregory Aymond when he retires on November 12th. Checchio noted the abundance of Catholic schools in New Orleans.

Cut 4 (10) “…blessing that’ll be.”

Governor Landry proclaims today as Hurricane Rita Remembrance Day. Jeff Palermo reports it’s a day southwest Louisiana will never forget…

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Governor Jeff Landry has proclaimed today as Hurricane Rita Remembrance Day. Rita made landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border on this day bringing powerful storm surge that devasted Cameron and Vermilion Parishes. Former Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach says the Category Three storm also destroyed homes and businesses…

Cut 9 (10) “…were replaced”

Retired Major General John Basilica was the commander of the Louisiana National Guard’s storm operations and says like with Katrina, they had to perform search and rescue operations, but thankfully more assistance was available.

Cut 6 (07) “…getting it.”

Basilica says it was not until February 2006 until the National Guard restored all authority and responsibility back to civilian authorities.

Pope Leo the 14th appoints a new archbishop of the New Orleans diocese. He has tapped James Checchio (CHETCH-ee-oh), the bishop of Metuchen (meh-TOOTCH-in), New Jersey, to succeed Gregory Aymond when he retires on November 12th. Checchio says he will put his leadership skills to good use in his new role.

Cut 3 (08) “…effective parish priests.”

Checchio says he will play an integral role in helping the Archdiocese recover from the bankruptcy brought on by the proposed 230-million-dollar settlement from the sex abuse scandal.

LSU and the other 15 schools in the SEC know which teams they’ll play during their nine-game conference schedule for the next four seasons. Under this new format, each school will play every school at least twice over a four-year period. Tiger Rag Editor Glen Guilbeau believes the format is good for the players and the fans…

Cut 13 (08)  “…dozen years.”

Texas is set to play in Tiger Stadium next season for the first time since 1953.

Louisiana approves its first-ever carbon storage well. Sempra Infrastructure plans to inject an estimated two-million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year underneath Black Lake in Cameron Parish. Patrick Courreges (cur-RAHJ) with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources says these permits are the most restrictive permits the department does.

Cut 7 (16) “…inject the carbon.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking you to be on the lookout for the eastern spotted skunk. It  wants to use the data to help biologists determine the current distribution and conservation needs of the species. Jennifer Manuel, the furbearer biologist with the State of Louisiana, says if you see one…

Cut 15 (05) “…might still occur.”

NOLA.com is reporting the Superdome lease negotiations between the Saints and the state are at standstill. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Two people in a car in Mississippi were killed when the Amtrak Mardi Gras train hit it last night as it was crossing the tracks. It happened as the train was headed east from New Orleans towards Mobile, Alabama. Investigators say the car never slowed down as the driver tried crossing the tracks. There were 97 passengers on board the train at the time; none of them were hurt.

20 years ago, today Louisiana saw its second devastating hurricane in less than a month when Rita made landfall in Cameron Parish. The storm produced widespread damage across southwest Louisiana. Retired Major General John Basilica was the commander of Louisiana National Guard’s storm operations and says like with Katrina, they had to perform search and rescue operations, but thankfully more assistance was available.

Cut 6 (07) “…getting it.”

Basilica says it was not until February 2006 until the National Guard restored all authority and responsibility back to civilian authorities.

Pope Leo XIV has named the person who will step in to fill Archbishop Gregory Aymond Archbishop of New Orleans’ role. New Jersey native, Most Reverend James Checchio is named Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans assisting Archbishop Aymond until his retirement.

Superdome lease negotiations have stalled because of pending lease deals on related properties like the state’s leasing of space in Benson Tower. Times-Picayune reporter Jeff Duncan says the state sees that as two different issues, but it is a way for the state to support the Saints. The current Superdome lease agreement ends in 2030 and Duncan doesn’t see a world where the Saints relocate to another city, but he says neither side is planning to back down.

Cut 12 (07) “…to be.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking you to be on the lookout for the eastern spotted skunk – not documented in Louisiana more than three decades. Furbearer, Jennifer Manuel says the eastern spotted skunk is very good at pest control.

Cut 14 (08) “…sort of thing.”

Manuel asks, if you see an eastern spotted skunk, take a picture and send it to LDWF.

That state has issued a permit to Sempra Infrastructure for the first carbon storage well in Louisiana. It will be located beneath Black Lake in Cameron Parish and Patrick Courreges (cur-RAHJ) with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources says Sempra needs to know the geology in the area to build the storage well.

Cut 8 (14) “…the zone underground.”

According to NOLA.com Superdome lease negotiations have stalled Times-Picayune reporter Jeff Duncan says there’s major disagreement between the state and the Saints. As part of the current lease agreement, the state has rented office space in Benson Tower since 2010 at $32.50 per square foot compared to the New Orleans average of $20.67 per square foot. Duncan says the agreement is a way to for the state to financially support the Saints….

Cut 11 (12) “…that support”

Twenty years ago today, Hurricane Rita flooded low-lying areas of southwest Louisiana with its storm surge and produced more power outages to a state struggling to get back on its feet from Katrina. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking you to be on the lookout for the eastern spotted skunk. The species hasn’t been documented in Louisiana in more than three decades and the department wants to help biologists determine the current distribution and needs of the species. Furbearer Biologist, Jennifer Manuel says it’s the smallest species of skunk with a distinctive pattern of white spots on a black coat and unique behavior.

Cut 13 (14)  “…scare away predators.”

Louisiana’s first carbon storage well is coming to Cameron Parish. Sempra Infrastructure received a Class Six permit to inject around two-million metric tons of carbon dioxide beneath Black Lake every year for up to 20 years. Patrick Courreges (cur-RAHJ) with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources says these are the most restrictive permits the department grants.

Cut 7 (16) “…inject the carbon.”

Pope Leo XIV has named the person who will step in to fill Archbishop Gregory Aymond Archbishop of New Orleans’ role. New Jersey native, Most Reverend James Checchio is named Coadjutor Archbishop of New Orleans assisting Archbishop Aymond until his retirement.

NOLA.com is reporting the Superdome lease negotiations are at standstill between the Saints and the state. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

Today is the 20^th anniversary of Hurricane Rita’s landfall in Cameron Parish. Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29^th in Plaquemines Parish, killing hundreds and leaving thousands homeless. On September 21^st, Rita entered the Gulf becoming a Category Five storm before weakening to a Category Three before making landfall in southwest Louisiana on September 24^th. Retired Major General John Basilica says the preparation for the storm was well done, despite the tough circumstances…

Cut 5 (09) “…listened.”

20 years ago today, Hurricane Rita made landfall in Cameron Parish producing widespread damage across southwest Louisiana as the state was still reeling from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Katrina. Retired Major General John Basilica was the commander of Louisiana National Guard’s storm operations in Louisiana and says it was difficult to respond to two natural disasters at the same time…

Cut 4 (10) “…supporting us.”

He says like Katrina, they had to perform search and rescue operations, but more assistance was available.

NOLA.com reports that the Superdome lease negotiations have stalled because of pending deals regarding related properties such as Benson Tower, Champions Square and the Saints practice facility. Times-Picayune reporter Jeff Duncan says that state and the Saints are in the midst of a major disagreement.

Cut 10 (10) “…separate deals.”

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is asking you to be on the lookout for the eastern spotted skunk so that biologists can determine the current distribution and conservation needs of the species. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Louisiana approves its first-ever carbon storage well. The state issued Sempra Infrastructure a Class Six permit to inject an estimated two-million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year for up to 20 years underneath Black Lake in Cameron Parish. Patrick Courreges (cur-RAHJ) with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources says these permits are the most restrictive permits and the well will need to be carefully monitored.

Cut 9 (06)  “…injection zone.”