Hurricane Irma is a potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm in the northeast Carribbean Sea. National Hurricane Center Forecaster Chris Landsea says weather conditions will deteriorate over the northern Leeward Islands soon.…
cut 9 (12) “…south Florida”
The models show Irma turning north before it reaches the Gulf and not impacting Louisiana.

Tropical Depression number 13 has formed in the Bay of Campeche. It’s expected to become a tropical storm tomorrow, but only impact Mexico. Still, Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says we need to be prepared….
cut 8 (11) “…headed our way”

Many are asking what they can do to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Halen Doughty has the answer from the Red Cross…
Voicer 5 (30) “I’m Halen Doughty”

CEO World magazine names UL Lafayette’s petroleum engineering department as the seventh best in the nation and 13th in the world. Department Head Fathi Boukadi (Fah-tee Boo-kah-dee) says this ranking and a rebounding oil market will lead to more students for the program…
cut 14 (10) “…in the South”

A Category 5 hurricane is heading towards the Leeward Islands with maximum sustained winds at 185 miles per hour. Chris Landsea with the National Hurricane Center, says Irma is the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record….
cut 11 (09) “…gonna produce”
But as of now Irma is not expected to impact Louisiana.

State emergency preparedness officials conducted an exercise today on how Louisiana would respond if a major hurricane threatened our coast. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says Texas has historically been one of our strongest allies, but much of that support may not be available while Hurricane Harvey recovery begins…:
cut 7 (08) “…things in place”

The daughter and babysitter of Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber have been found safe after the two went missing in a canoe overnight. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office says 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took 7-year-old Cora Garber canoeing in the sheriff’s pond, which is adjacent to a swamp.
Cut 3 (10) “right now”
They were found this morning in the Lake Martin area, covered in mosquito bites and a little dehydrated.

CEOWORLD magazine ranks U-L Lafayette’s petroleum engineering department the seventh best in the nation and 13th in the world. Job placement rate was a key factor. Department Head Doctor Fathi Boukadi (Fah-tee Boo-kah-dee) despite the struggles in the oil and gas industry, UL Lafayette grads are holding down jobs….
cut 13 (08) “….during the downturn”

Today state officials discussed Louisiana’s response plan should another storm hit us, while our neighbors are recovering. Michelle Southern reports…

Cut 2 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern”

The National Hurricane Center calls Hurricane Irma potentially catastrophic as the category 5 storm barrels towards the Leeward Islands. Irma has winds up to 185 miles per hour, and storm surge is expected to be a big problem in the Caribbean. The system could take aim at the US by the end of the weekend.

CEOWORLD magazine ranks UL-Lafayette’s petroleum engineering department the seventh best in the nation and thirteenth in the world. Department Head Dr. Fathi Boukadi says this is the result of years of hard work by students, faculty, and staff. He says it’s an honor for the program to be ranked among the best in the world, and he hopes to continue to improve the department.

Cut 12 (09) “our students”

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber has his daughter back home after she and her babysitter went missing in a canoe overnight. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office says local authorities and volunteers searched all night for 21-year-old Juliana Brooks and 7-year-old Cora Garber.

Cut 4 (11) “precautionary measure”

The girls were found near an oil well in the Lake Martin area.

State Officials got together today to discuss Louisiana’s response plan should another storm hit us while portions of the Gulf Coast region are still recovering from prior events. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says we are still in the heart of hurricane season, and resources in Louisiana could be strained:
CUT 6 (09) “Houston and in Texas”
He says as part of the exercise, state agencies and emergency managers were asked to take actions based on the fact that we won’t have Texas support.

Hurricane Irma, which became a Category 5 storm today, is packing maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Center says that makes it the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin outside of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The chance of impacts to Florida this weekend are increasing, but forecasters warn there are still many things about the track of Irma that could change.

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber’s 7-year-old daughter and her babysitter have been found safe after the two went missing during a canoe trip yesterday. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office high water likely pushed the girls into a wooded area, but thankfully 21-year-old Juliana Brooks is a skilled kayaker with survival skills…:
Cut 5 (11) “good judgement”
He says the two were found a little dehydrated, but both will be fine.

Evacuees staying in Louisiana shelters are on their way back to Texas, as the two states partner to transport the survivors to a shelter in Dallas. Transportation of the survivors from Alexandria and Shreveport to Texas began this morning and will continue through Thursday, until everyone is back in their home state, according to a statement from DCFS. The state said there were over 2,000 evacuees in state-run shelters as of midnight Tuesday.

Hurricane Irma strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm Tuesday as it heads toward the northeast Caribbean. National Hurricane Center Forecaster Chris Landsea says the models show the storm turning north once it reaches south Florida this weekend, and not impacting Louisiana. But adds nobody along the coast should let their guard down…:
Cut 10 (08) “premature”
Landsea says Irma is the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricane on record with maximum sustained winds of 180 miles per hour.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says they are taking another look at evacuation procedures in the state, after dealing with flooding last year and seeing what happened in Houston from Hurricane Harvey. They are meeting today to review what is currently in place that would prompt an evacuation, and talking about possibly including projected rainfall amounts in addition to the category of a storm.

Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber’s daughter and babysitter were found safe this morning following an all-night search for the missing girls…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

The Department of Children and Family Services says many evacuees who had been taking refuge in Alexandria and Shreveport mega shelters are being transported back to the home state to shelter in Dallas.

Hurricane Irma is a potentially catastrophic Category 5 storm heading toward the Leeward Islands. National Hurricane Center Forecaster Chris Landsea says Irma will reach the Lesser Antilles today…
cut 9 (12) “…south Florida”
The models show Irma turning north once it reaches south Florida and not impacting Louisiana, but there’s still a lot of uncertainity.

The daughter and babysitter of Lafayette Sheriff Mark Garber have been found safe after the two went missing in a canoe overnight. John Mowell with the sheriff’s office says the 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took 7-year-old Cora Garber canoeing in the sheriff’s pond, which is adjacent to a swamp.
Cut 3 (10) “right now”
They were found this morning in the Lake Martin area, covered in mosquito bites and a little dehydrated.

On October 1st, the CONGO TV network begins airing programs on-line. It’s founded by Monroe-native Ro Wright, who says the network will air a reality show based in Louisiana that follows a group of black students who have decided NOT to attend HBCU’s, because they don’t see the importance of them in this day and age….
cut 12 (11) “….our own state”

Doctor Vince Weaver at Baton Rouge General is having success performing a new stroke prevention procedure that prevents blockage and stroke. Weaver says the surgery is an hour long and patients are released the next day. He says certain criteria must be met ,before the procedure can be done…
cut 15 (09) “…both sides”
For more information contact Baton Rouge General.

Louisiana has the fifth highest obesity rate in the country. Jeff Palermo has more on the report from Trust for America’s Health…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Lafayette Sheriff’s daughter and babysitter have been found safe, after the two girls went missing in a canoe overnight. Authorities say 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took 7-year-old Cora Garber out in a canoe, and high water may have caused it to drift into a wooded area. Sheriff Mark Garber deployed search and rescue teams, who later found the two girls in the Lake Martin Area.

A Baton Rouge General Doctor has performed one of the first successful stroke prevention procedures. Dr. Vince Weaver says the old procedure for high risk patients involved open surgery, which increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. But this new treatment option is much safer.

Cut 14 (11) “dislodged”

Three procedures have been successful, and several more are scheduled.

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey has many looking to help those affected, but how can donors be sure their donations are going to the right place? Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine, says the Red Cross always honors the donor’s intent by letting them specify which cause they want to support.

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Visit RedCross.org to make a donation.

Louisiana is the 5th most obese state in the US, according to Trust for America’s Health. President and CEO John Auerbach says that growing rate can be addressed with policy changes in schools, like providing healthy lunch options and limiting access to junk food…:
Cut 6 (10) “empty calories”
Louisiana ranks fourth in the country for childhood obesity.

Relief efforts are ongoing amid the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey, and many are asking how they can help those affected. Chairman of the Board for the Greater Baton Rouge Red Cross, Desiree Lemoine says monetary donations are best, but you can also sign up to be a volunteer…:
Cut 9 (09) “who volunteer”
Find out more at RedCross.org.

Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mark Garber’s daughter and babysitter were found safe this morning, after 21-year-old Juliana Brooks took the seven year-old girl out canoeing. Investigators believed the canoe drifted into a heavily wooded area, because of high water. Exact details on where they were found have not been made public.

Hurricane Irma strengthened into a dangerous Category 5 storm Tuesday as it heads toward the northeast Caribbean. Forecasters say there are increasing chances that Irma will hit Florida and steer clear of Louisiana due to a cold front moving into our area.

With more and more people looking for ways to drop cable TV service in favor of streaming networks, there’s a Monroe resident who has his own launching next month. Ro Wright says CONGO TV will feature local programs based on where users log in, and they are already racking up submissions..:
Cut 11 (09) “our network”