CSRA in Bossier City is setting up a call center to connect Harvey victims to recovery resources. Don Molino has more…

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A statewide blood drive is being held today in the hopes of replenishing a short supply following Hurricane Harvey. Jeff Palermo has more…

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Louisiana’s two US senators were among the 80 who voted to support federal funding for Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. Halen Doughty has more…

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In the coming weeks and months, Harvey victims will need help navigating the red tape to getting federal aid, and Louisianans are coming to the rescue. CSRA was enlisted by the feds to establish a call center for helping disaster victims. Spokesperson Mimi Hedgcock says 500 of those call agents will be based in Bossier City.

Cut 4  (09) “within FEMA”

A $95 million grant will fund the temporary call center. Hedgcock says CSRA hosted a job fair at the Bossier City location to fill the part-time and full-time positions. She says they were shocked at the incredible turnout.

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Hedgcock says the call center will open early next week after the new agents receive the proper training. She says this facility will be vitally important to affected families who are trying to put their lives back together.

Cut 6 (09) “as possible”

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The Governor’s Office is holding a statewide blood drive today amid a supply shortage following Hurricane Harvey. Tina Martinez with LifeShare Blood Centers says because of the hurricane’s destruction, many communities have not been able to donate blood to support the medical needs of local patients.

Cut 7 (07)  “donations daily”

Blood drive locations have been set up in all the major Louisiana cities, and donors can also go by any LifeShare location to donate. Martinez says this is a great way for people to help those affected by the storm, and it doesn’t cost a thing.

Cut 8 (11) “to someone”

Martinez notes there’s no other source for blood. It can’t be manufactured, so it has to be donated. She says about 40 percent of the population is eligible to donate, and all blood types are needed.

Cut 9 (11)  “the process”

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Both of Louisiana’s US Senators voted to appropriate 15-billion dollars in disaster aid for victims of Harvey, which nearly doubles what President Donald Trump requested. Junior Senator John Kennedy says this federal funding will help our neighbors grapple with the destruction Harvey left behind.

Cut 10 (09) “happened to em”

Kennedy says without this federal support, many disaster victims won’t be able to rebuild their homes and businesses. He says unfortunately, many Louisianans can relate to the hopeless feeling that comes from losing everything in a disaster. He has a message for those struggling to find hope.

Cut 11 (10) “think you won’t”

Kennedy says although it hasn’t always been the case, FEMA is doing a good job lately, especially with Administrator Brock Long at the helm. He says the rest will be up to them, since his job ends with providing the funds.

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The vote was 80-17 in the Senate and now heads to the House for their approval.

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Louisiana Tech is gearing up for a big home game this Saturday as the Bulldogs will host Mississippi State from the SEC. The last time these two teams met in Ruston, Tech defeated State 22-14 in 2008. Coach Skip Holtz says hosting an SEC team is a great opportunity for their football team, but this game does not make their season….

Cut 13 (11) “after this one”

Both teams won their season openers. Tech handled in state foe Northwestern State 52-24, while Mississippi State crushed Charleston Southern 49-0.  Holtz is very impressed with how State won its season opener…

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12th ranked LSU is coming off a dominating performance over BYU and will host Chattanooga at 6:30 in the home opener for the Tigers. LSU is a heavy favorite to beat the FCS School, but Head Coach Ed Orgeron says they have a great deal of respect for the Mocs

Cut 15 (08) “but a battle”

In the Tigers shutout win over BYU in the season opener, LSU allowed just 97 total yards and held BYU to negative five rushing yards. Linebacker Devin White led the team in tackles that night and expects more dominate performances…

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LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than other grads, according to a new report. Jeff Palermo has more…

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For the first time in nearly a decade, three hurricanes are moving through the Atlantic Basin at the same time. Michelle Southern reports…

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A recent report finds LSU graduates have higher early- and mid-career earnings than graduates of other Louisiana universities. Among the 50 flagship universities in the country, LSU ranks 21^st in early career earnings and 18^th for mid-career earnings. President F. King Alexander credits the hard work of the University for getting students ready for the workforce.

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Alexander says LSU students are leaders who aren’t afraid of hard work. When looking at public SEC peers, LSU is third behind only Texas A&M and Florida for early career earnings and the Baton Rouge school ranks fourth in mid-career earnings. He notes many of the universities below LSU on the list charge higher tuition and have more student debt.

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LSU grads have early career earnings of more than $52,000 and mid-career earnings of over $100,000. Alexander says this is a testament to the value of an LSU degree. He hopes this report will encourage more Louisiana students to choose LSU for their degree and attract more out of state students.

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Cleco and Entergy are teaming up to increase reliability to customers in southeast Louisiana. Cleco Spokesperson Jennifer Cahill says construction is already underway for a new storm-hardened transmission line from Gray to Patterson that can withstand winds of 150 miles per hour.

Cut 6 (10)”restoration times”

It’s expected the project will be completed by the fall of 2018. Cahill says this is a great example of two utility companies working together to benefit customers. She says Cleco and Entergy are splitting the cost and Entergy expects to spend 65-million dollars on 24 miles of the project.

Cut 7 (09)  “dollars”

Cahill says this project and partnership are so important because the first thing customers want after a storm is to have their power restored.

Cut 8 (08) “Louisiana”

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Three hurricanes are churning in the Atlantic Basin. Hurricane Irma, which is expected to hit Florida on Sunday, Jose is trailing Irma in the central Atlantic, and Katia is a hurricane in the southwestern Gulf. State climatologist Barry Keim says having three hurricanes simultaneously is definitely unusual, but it’s not unprecedented or record-breaking.

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Keim says the Atlantic hurricane season is off to a roaring start this year. He says we’ve already seen 11 named storms, and we haven’t reached the peak of the season.

Cut 10 (09) “right now”

Keim says although we’ve seen two storms make landfall, the state has been pretty luck so far this season. He says Tropical Storms Cindy and Harvey both landed in Louisiana, but they didn’t do much damage in the Bayou State.

Cut 11 (08) “unscathed”

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The state Department of Transportation has started a major project on Arkansas Road in Ouachita Parish. DOTD Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson says with a big boom in residents in West Monroe, there is a serious need for a wider road. He says this construction will increase the traffic capacity in the area.

Cut 12 (10) “signals”

The project is expected to cost about 33-million dollars. Wilson says sidewalks will also be installed along the road so pedestrians can travel safely. He says West Monroe is growing and this project will eliminate huge congestion problems.

Cut 13 (10) “this corridor “

Over 18-thousand vehicles pass through this stretch of Arkansas Road from North 7^th Street to Caldwell Road every day. Wilson says the project is expected to take about three years and will be finished in the spring of 2020. He says it will be slightly uncomfortable during construction but…

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