District 6 Congressman Garret Graves pulls no punches when talking about the fate of federal disaster recovery dollars for Louisiana. He says the current amount proposed is under $2-Billion and would be distributed across the nation…:

CUT 03  (10)        “…not a chance.”

District 2 Congressman Troy Carter voted to approve the Extending Government Funding and Disaster Assistance Act. He says there is funding in the continuing resolution to help with South Louisiana’s long-term recovery efforts…:

CUT 06(08)      “…in the past.”

State health officials report another child has died due to COVID-19. The child’s identity is being withheld and we’re only told he (or she) was between 12 and 17. So far, 16 kids have fallen victim to coronavirus in our state.

More than 26-thousand calls were taken during the first two days for DSNAP interviews. 25 parishes are eligible for disaster food stamps however interviews for the parishes are not held on the same weeks. DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavana Howard urges callers to visit their webpage and only call on their designated day. She says, besides their webpage, there is another way to find out your day…:

CUT 08(11)      “…using.”

Current SNAP recipients are NOT eligible for the disaster food assistance.

AT&T had to answer some tough questions from the state Public Service Commission, after customers complained of poor or non-existent service in the wake of Hurricane Ida. PSC member Eric Skrmetta says his office was flooded with complaint calls…:

CUT 12(12)      “…your customers”

An AT&T rep says the company did the best it could under the circumstances.

Overrun with calls, the state Department of Children & Family Services is asking those calling for Disaster food stamp interviews to do so on their assigned day. More from Brooke Thorington…:

CUT 01  (31)        “…Thorington”

A Haughton man is under arrest for alleged sex crimes against juveniles. Bossier Sheriff’s deputies say 38-year-old David McCart was taken into custody after a search warrant of his home turned up child pornography and evidence of molestation. McCart faces 18 separate counts; his bond set at nearly a million dollars.

An AT&T representative went before the state Public Service Commission to answer complaints of spotty and poor service in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. AT&T maintains it did the best it could under the circumstances. PSC member Eric Skrmetta says he’s disappointed the phone company couldn’t tell them how many contractors they brought in-state to restore service…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…unacceptable answer”

Skrmetta believes AT&T should have a published outage map, like the power companies do.

A Benton woman faces 16 counts of aggravated animal cruelty after Bossier Deputies found horses dead and many starving and barely able to walk at her horse training center. 52-year-old Sandra Driscoll had bond set at $100-thousand. Deputy Rod White says the animals were living in deplorable conditions…:

CUT 14  (05)        “…stalls were unkept”

The horses have been taken to another facility for rescue and rehabilitation.

AT&T has faced heavy criticism for its response to Hurricane Ida and today a PSC member tried to get answers. Jeff Palermo has the story

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Louisiana’s health department is confirming that another child has died as a result of the fourth surge of Covid-19 in the state.  It marks the seventh pediatric death of a child between the ages of 12 and 17.  No other information was released in connection with the death.

More than 26-thousand calls were taken during the first two days for DSNAP interviews. 25 parishes are eligible for disaster food stamps however interviews for the parishes are not held on the same weeks. In an effort to reduce hold times DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavana Howard urges callers to visit their webpage and only call on their designated day.

Cut 7 (10) “…the help.”  

To receive DSNAP the first step is to pre-register online, then call in on your specified day.

Congressman Troy Carter is among those who voted Monday to approve the Extending Government Funding and Disaster Assistance Act.  He says the bill provides crucial funding for disaster recovery in Louisiana.

Cut 5 (10) “…across this nation.”

The bill is part of a larger package dealing with funding the government and increasing the debt ceiling.

An AT&T representative told the Public Service Commission today the company’s response was immediate and their restoration efforts were robust in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. But P-S-C Member Eric Skrmetta doesn’t believe the customer should be the ones requesting credits for the days without AT&T service

Cut 10 (12)  “…investigation” 

A Benton woman is facing 16 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals after a tip led Bossier Sheriff’s investigators to a horse training center behind Benton Intermediate School early Monday. Deputy Rod White says three horses were found dead inside a dump trailer, while 13 additional horses were discovered malnourished and lacking water.

Cut 13 (08) “…things were showing.”

White says the woman, 52-year-old Sandra Blackmon Driscoll, had her bond set at 100-thousand-dollars.

Congressman Garret Graves is concerned for the fate of much-needed federal dollars for hurricane recovery aid in Louisiana.  He says the amount proposed is less than two billion dollars and is earmarked for disasters across the nation.  He minces no words with the move by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to intertwine disaster recovery with substantially increasing the debt limit on federal spending.

Cut 4  (10) “..pill in there.” 

Summer’s gone and fall is here and as State Climatologist Barry Keim tells us temperatures are falling right in line with the seasonal change. In other words, goodbye warm weather, at least for now. Keim says the fall-like weather will gradually make its way into the state over the next few days.

Cut 9 (07)  “…pouring in here.”

And after the cool front moves through, it’ll be followed by somewhat warmer temperatures moving into the 80s by the weekend.

Congressman Garret Graves is pulling no punches in his concern for the fate of much-needed federal dollars for hurricane recovery aid in Louisiana.  He says the amount proposed is less than two billion dollars and is earmarked for disasters across the nation.

Cut 3 (10) “…not a chance.”

And, Graves says a “poison pill” in the mix is that the funding is tied to legislation to increase the national debt without limit that’s being sought by the Biden Administration.

Entergy Louisiana wants to add a $5 surcharge to customer’s bills to pay almost $2.1 billion in repair work following the 2020 hurricanes and February’s winter storms.  Entergy Vice President of Regulatory and Public Affairs Mark Kleehammer says the monthly surcharge is for fifteen years.

Cut 4 (09) “…the same thing.”

A cold front has moved through Louisiana, creating cooler, breezy, and drier conditions. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the relief from the heat should be noticeable…

Cut 8 (08) “…be glorious outside.”

The cooler temps are a welcome relief for those recovering from Ida as they make repairs to their damaged properties, and there are also no tropical threats for the Gulf of Mexico.

The Louisiana startup company Tigeraire that created interior helmet fans for the LSU football team has signed with a Silicon Valley venture capital firm as their lead investor. And since Tigeraire began making headlines, CEO and Founder Jack Karavich says LSU alums in the construction industry have even requested a model for hardhats.

Cut 15 (09)  “…year actually.”

The House voted to continue a resolution to fund the government through December 3^rd and raise the $28 trillion debt ceiling. Senator Bill Cassidy says efforts are also underway to pass the disaster supplemental bill before the end of the month but Cassidy says he hopes Senator Majority leader Chuck Schumer won’t attach disaster relief to the resolution to raise the debt ceiling.

Cut 12 (12) “…doesn’t do that.”

Senator John Kennedy is the only Republican who’s stated he plans to vote for the bill for relief funds even if it raised the debt ceiling.

A Louisiana startup company that created interior helmet fans for the LSU football team has signed with a Silicon Valley venture capital firm as their lead investor. Jack Karavich is the founder and CEO of Tigeraire the company that created the helmet fans known as the Cyclone.

Cut 13 (04) “…all the time.”

Entergy Louisiana is seeking to add a $5 surcharge to customer’s bills to pay almost $2.1 billion in repair work following hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Zeta, and February’s winter storms.  Entergy Vice President of Regulatory and Public Affairs Mark Kleehammer says the monthly surcharge is for fifteen years.

Cut 4 (09) “…the same thing.”

The surcharge was discussed at a joint legislative commerce committee where Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot suggested the utility provider dedicate a portion of their $700 million annual profits to an escrow account to pay for catastrophic repairs. He also questioned Entergy representatives about preventative maintenance.

Cut 6 (11) “…the payer.”

The U-S House has approved a spending bill that contains billions of dollars in disaster relief aid. Money that Louisiana would like to use to help 2020 storm victims rebuild their homes. But the legislation would also increase the debt ceiling and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says Republican Senators will not go for that…
cut 10 (09) “…the Senate”
Louisiana’s junior U-s Senator John Kennedy says he’ll vote for the legislation because he says Louisiana needs the assistance.

Just in time for the first day of fall, a cold front has moved through that will lower our temperatures and humidity….
cut 9 (07) “….pouring in here”
That’s State Climatologist Barry Keim who says temperatures will struggle to get into the 80s today.

Entergy is asking the Public Service Commission to approve a five-dollar monthly surcharge for repair work from the 2020 hurricane season and February winter storms. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has learned two companies in southeast Louisiana plan to lay off workers in November. Custom steel pipe manufacturer, Stupp Corporation, is laying off more than 45 employees at its manufacturing facility in Baton Rouge and Railserve is closing its plant in Hahnville, which will result in the loss of 66 jobs.

On Capitol Hill, a House-approved funding bill is headed to the Senate that contains 28-billion dollars in disaster relief money for states like Louisiana, but the measure also raises the debt ceiling. Dave Brannen has more from Senator Bill Cassidy
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

DCFS says since Monday they’ve received 11-thousand calls from residents who are applying for disaster food stamps. There’s an alphabet system for when people in certain parishes should apply, but officials say some folks are calling on the wrong day. The DCFS website has the schedule.

Entergy representatives have told state lawmakers that utility customers can expect to see additional fees to help pay for all of the damage done to their power system during the last two hurricane seasons. Thibodaux Representative Bryan Fontenot suggests the utility provider dedicate a portion of their $700 million annual profits to an escrow account to pay for catastrophic repairs. He also questioned Entergy representatives about their preventative maintenance of utility poles and equipment.
Cut 6 (11) “…the payer.”
Entergy says they do replace poles and other infrastructure as it ages.

Summer’s gone and fall is here and as State Climatologist Barry Keim tells us temperatures are falling right in line with the first day of fall…
Cut 7 (11) “…in some cases.”
Keim says humidity levels will rise again over the weekend.