Lawmakers wrapped up the last of their business for the week Wednesday before heading out of town ahead of Hurricane Delta.

The fight over the Governor’s public health authority continued with a tense House committee meeting regarding legislation that would provide civil and criminal immunity to those who gather for religious services during a state of emergency, even if such gatherings are banned.

The legislation was approved, but not before Central Pastor Tony Spell, who was arrested for holding services against the state ban, testified and attacked the Governor…

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But Chairman Ted James cut him off…

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House Education heard legislation inspired by the controversial punishment of a Jefferson Parish 4^th grader who briefly had a BB gun in the frame of his camera while taking an online class. The story of Ka’Mauri Harrison sparked nationwide interest when he was nearly expelled for the incident and slapped with a permanent record tag for a weapons violation. The bill would provide for the creation of school disciplinary procedures relative to online instruction, but Harrison’s father, Nyron told the committee it’s just a shame it even had to come to this…

Cut 13, 10 seconds,

Harrison was disciplined as if he had brought a weapon onto a school campus.

The state’s unemployment insurance trust fund has now been completely depleted. Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie says those that are receiving benefits will continue to receive them, but Louisiana is borrowing federal dollars to make it happen.

Cut 4 (09) “…operating procedures are.”

The 4 PM advisory on Delta shows max winds down to 85 mph. Forecast to still become a major hurricane in the western Gulf. Landfall forecast along Louisiana coast by Friday afternoon as Cat. 2.State Climatologist Barry Keim says the most likely point of impact right now appears to be somewhere in St. Mary, Iberia, or Vermillion Parishes.

Cut 3 (07)  “…center.”  

Hurricane Delta forces the relocation of this Saturday’s Missouri-LSU game.  Instead of taking place at Tiger Stadium, the Tigers will be heading to Columbia, Missouri.  The game was originally set for Saturday night, but with the change in venue comes a change in kickoff time. LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says the 11 AM kickoff will be a benefit, because a night game would have resulted in the team rolling back into Baton Rouge extremely early Sunday morning…

Cut 7 (06) “…advantage for us.”

The Ragin’ Cajuns Saturday game against Coastal Carolina has been postponed to 6:30 Wednesday night at Cajun Field.

It was just over a month ago that Rapides Parish was roughed up by Hurricane Laura and now the area is in the track of Hurricane Delta.  Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Tommy Carnline says the area has a feeling of exhaustion in seeing they may get a second round with the 2020 hurricane season.

Cut 11 (09) “…getting really absurd.”

Carnline says deputies are already preparing to clear the roads for utility restoration teams as well as first responders.

Legislation granting criminal and civil immunity to those who gather for religious services against state orders during an emergency clears a House committee. The legislation also aims to retroactively void charges like those against Central Pastor Tony Spell, but Chairman Ted James says even if this is signed into law it can’t be applied to past cases.

Cut 10 (06) “…retroactive.”

The bill heads next to the House where a series of efforts restricting or overturning the Governor’s public health orders have passed.

There was a tense moment in a Committee hearing about legislation that would grant immunity to those who gather for religious services against state orders during an emergency. Brooke Thorington has the story…

cut 2 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington”  

Hurricane Delta is expected to bring some strong winds to parts of the state Friday, but State Climatologist Barry Keim says only four to eight inches of rain…

Cut 4 (07) “like that”

Hurricane Delta forces the relocation of this Saturday’s Missouri-LSU game.  Instead of taking place at Tiger Stadium, the Tigers will be heading to Columbia, Missouri.  LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says the team is adapting to the last-minute shakeup.

Cut 6 (09) “…practice in Missouri.”

LSU currently sits at 17 in the Top 25.

It was just over a month ago that Rapides Parish was roughed up by Hurricane Laura and now the area is in the track of Hurricane Delta.  Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Tommy Carnline says deputies are already preparing to clear the roads for utility restoration teams as well as first responders.

Cut 12 (09) “…it happens bad.”

Carnline says the message to residents is to prepare now. 

A Hurricane Watch is up from High Island, Texas to Grand Isle, Louisiana as Hurricane Delta has made its way into the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Delta is moving northwest at 17 miles per hour with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. A landfall in southwest Louisiana is most likely at this moment. Rain and storm surge predictions for Delta are not that severe, but we could see heavy wind damage well inland…
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Based on the latest forecast track for Delta, it will maintain its hurricane strength as it moves into central Louisiana on Friday night. Rapides Parish Cheif of Saff Tommy Carnline says his message for residents is to prepare for the potential of more power outages…
cut 13 (11) “…days and food”

A Louisiana House committee approved a bill today that would prevent emergency orders from impacting churches. Pastor Tony Spell in East Baton Rouge parish faces several charges for holding large church services during the stay a home order…
cut 9 (12) “..Godless Governor”
The bill heads to the floor after the six-three vote in favor.

Most of the Louisiana coast is now under a Hurricane Watch as Delta is on track to make landfall in the state sometime Friday, and approaching the coast as a category three hurricane. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Delta’s biggest threat at the moment appears to be its potential to bring some heavy wind damage deep inland…

Cut 5 (09) “…Alexandria.”

It was just over a month ago that Rapides Parish was roughed up by Hurricane Laura and now the area is in the track on Hurricane Delta. Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief of Staff Tommy Carnline says the area has a feeling of exhaustion in seeing they may get a second round with the 2020 hurricane season.

Cut 11 (09) “…getting really absurd.”

Delta will be only the third named storm to hit the state in October since 1851.

Legislation granting criminal and civil immunity to those who gather for religious services against state orders during an emergency clears a House committee. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says his bill is in response to the state’s ban on in-person church services early in the pandemic…

Cut 8 (10)..and well.”

Central Pastor Tony Spell was among those who testified in the hearing.

Delta forces LSU to change Saturday’s game site to Columbia, Missouri. Along with the change in venue comes a change in kickoff time.  LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron says the 11 AM kickoff is to the benefit of the team because a night game would have resulted in the team rolling back into Baton Rouge extremely early Sunday morning, throwing off the circadian rhythm of the team.

Cut 7 (10) “…advantage for us.”

Most of the Louisiana coast is now under a Hurricane Watch as Delta is on track to make landfall in the state sometime Friday, and potentially as a category three hurricane. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Delta is currently only forecasted to bring about four to eight inches of rain to the state…

Cut 4 (07) “like that”

The NWS storm surge forecast calls for seven to eleven feet of surge from Pecan Island to Port Fourchon and four feet of surge elsewhere along the coast.

Hurricane Delta forces the relocation of this Saturday’s Missouri-LSU game.  Instead of taking place at Tiger Stadium, the Tigers will be heading to Columbia, Missouri.  LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says the team is adapting to the last-minute shakeup.

Cut 6 (09) “…practice in Missouri.”

The game was originally set for Saturday night, but with the change in venue comes a change in kickoff time. Kickoff is now 11am.

A bill addressing the suspension of a 4^th grader in Jefferson Parish for having a BB Gun in his bedroom during virtual class passed this morning in the House Education Committee. The author of the proposal, Jennings State Representative Troy Romero, believes the Jefferson Parish School Board overreacted to the situation.

Cut 9 (09) “I’m concerned”

Parents of the 4^th Grader also testified this morning before the committee.

And Former Governor Mike Foster is being laid to rest today in his hometown of Franklin. He passed away Sunday he was 90 years old.

Most of the Louisiana coast is now under a Hurricane Watch as Delta is on track to make landfall in the state sometime Friday, and potentially as a category three hurricane. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the most likely point of impact right now appears to be somewhere in St. Mary, Iberia, or Vermillion Parishes.  

Cut 3, 7 seconds, center

Delta is currently crossing the Yucatan Peninsula.

Former Governor Mike Foster is being laid to rest today in his hometown of Franklin. Foster passed away Sunday at 90 after leading the state for two terms from 96 to 2004. Former Governor Bobby Jindal served in that administration, noting Foster was early to bed, early to rise.  If you tried to call him at the office of the Governor’s mansion too late in the afternoon, you could expect a wake-up call the next day.

Cut 14 (12) “…this is Mike.”

A bill addressing the suspension of a 4^th grader in Jefferson Parish for having a BB Gun in his bedroom during virtual class will be heard today in the House Education Committee. The author of the proposal, Jennings State Representative Troy Romero, wants to establish a separation between the classroom and home.

Cut 7 (12) “school environment”

Originally in the case of the BB Gun in the home, Jefferson Parish School Board expelled the 4^th grader and later reduced it to a suspension.

The experimental antibody cocktail President Trump received after he tested positive for COVID-19 is being studied at Willis-Knighton in Shreveport. Principal investigator Doctor Joseph Bocchini (Bo-keenee) says there’s evidence that it can reduce the virus

cut 10 (08) “….patients with COVID-19″

The latest update from the National Hurricane Center has Hurricane Delta as a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds at 105 mph moving Northwest at 17 mph, it’s moving more to the west now with the eye of the storm arriving to the Northern Gulf Coastline midday Friday. A hurricane watch is now in effect from High Island, Texas to Grand Isle. Re-strengthening is forecast when the hurricane moves over the southern and central Gulf of Mexico, Delta is expected to become a major hurricane again, however some weakening is expected before it reaches the northern Gulf coast on Friday

Governor John Bel Edwards admits it’s another difficult challenge for the state, but that should not prevent us from getting prepared

Cut 6 (13) “right now”

And LSU will play in Missouri Saturday, kickoff is at 11am.

A bill addressing the suspension of a 4^th grader in Jefferson Parish for having a BB Gun in his bedroom during virtual class will go before the House Education Committee today. The author of the proposal, Jennings Representative Troy Romero, wants to establish a separation between the classroom and home.

Romero says on a school campus the school has full control of the environment, but in a virtual setting, which can include a private home, there are differences.

Cut 8 (11) “…that distinction”

Louisiana’s 53^rd governor, Mike Foster, is being laid to rest today in his hometown of Franklin.  Foster was at the helm of the state for two terms from 1996 through 2004.  Former Governor Bobby Jindal served in the Foster administration and says he recently met with Foster when it became clear that he was nearing the end of his life.

Cut 15 (11) “…to lose weight.”