Firefighters in Tangipahoa Parish were busy all weekend long fighting the fire that resulted from an explosion at a lubricant manufacturing facility. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Tangipahoa Parish officials reduced the evacuation zone this morning to roads and the area closet to the incident. Many evacuees spent the weekend at the Amite Community Center. At last report, there were 42 people staying there. Crews are cleaning out the Tangipahoa River as significant amounts of material have been found in that waterway. Area residents have reported oil and ash residue on their homes and vehicles.

Starting today, residents living in the 3-1-8 area code will have to dial 3-1-8, plus the seven other numbers when making a call to an existing 3-1-8 phone number. It’s because a new 4-5-7 area code will begin next September. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the ten-digit number is necessary to distinguish between the two area codes…

Cut 7 (12) “…number now.”

Starting on September 25^th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is promoting Voter Registration Week this week. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State office says this there are events throughout the state this week.

Cut 10 (10) “…their registration.”

Watson says voters will want to make sure they are registered with the party of their choice for next spring’s federal party primary elections.

Much has changed since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana 20 years ago this Friday. Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana says during recovery, New Orleans attempted to reinvent itself economically.

Cut 6 (13) “…didn’t really stick.”

Today, like pre Katrina, New Orleans’ biggest economy is in travel and tourism.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is promoting Voter Registration Week this week. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State office has some important reminders…

Cut 11 (13) “…you’re eligible.”

Updates can be done online or on the geaux vote app.

Authorities have been monitoring the air quality around Smitty’s Supply since Friday’s explosion. The EPA is now the lead agency at the site and they are collecting and disposing of hazardous materials in and around the site including the Tangipahoa River.

Tangipahoa Parish President Robbie Miller says thankfully not only was no one killed, no one was injured in the blast. He says the evacuation order is still in effect…

Cut 13 (08)  “…sightseers come by.”

The preseason is over for the Saints and now we wait for head coach Kellen Moore to announce who will start at quarterback when the regular season begins on September 7th against Arizona. Spencer Rattler started and Tyler Shough replaced him Rattler midway through the second quarter. Moore says both did good things…

Cut 15 (15) “…good stuff.”

Shough ran for a touchdown and threw for 102 yards, but also lost a fumble. Rattler was 5-of-8 for 43 yards.

Hurricane Katrina made landfall 20 years ago this week. After the levees broke everything changed. Now the levee boards have been consolidated. Chief Policy Officer for Leaders for a Better Louisiana, Barry Erwin…

Cut 5 (11) “…the levee board.”

It’s Voter Registration Week and Joel Watson with the Secretary of State’s office wants to remind voters to make sure their information is up to date before the upcoming elections. Updates can be done through the Geaux Vote app or online.

Cut 12 (12) “…and accurate.”

Tangipahoa Parish firefighters were busy all weekend fighting a fire at a lubricant manufacturing facility after an explosion Friday. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

The EPA is now leading the cleanup.

North and Central Louisiana are getting a new area code.

Cut 9 (04)  “…3-1-8.”

Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the 3-1-8 area code has run out of seven-digit numbers and starting today, the area will have to dial their area code plus the other seven digits to make a phone call. Beginning, September 25^th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code.

The EPA has now taken the lead in the cleanup at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland after Friday’s the explosion that caused officials to call for a mandatory evacuation of a 1 mile radius. Among those evacuated were former Governor John Bel Edwards and his wife. A family associate says they’re safe and monitoring the situation. During a news conference Saturday morning, State Police Sergeant William Huggins says there were several small explosions in the hours after the initial explosion.

Cut 14 (09) “…at this time.”

The evacuation remains in effect to give crews space for clean up.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is promoting Voter Registration Week this week. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State office says this there are events throughout the state this week.

Cut 10 (10) “…their registration.”

This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. Jeanne (ZHAHN) Burns reports the storm changed some aspects of the state forever.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

Residents in the 3-1-8 area code now have to dial the area code plus the seven other numbers when making a call starting today. Starting September 25^th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell

Cut 8 (08) “…deal with.”

He says they’ve run out of seven-digit numbers for the 3-1-8 area code…

Fire crews spent the weekend battling the fire that resulted from Friday afternoon’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland, in Tangipahoa Parish. As of yesterday evening, Louisiana State Police said the fire is 90-percent contained. Yesterday, crews began removing structural debris and addressing covered hotspots. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says a one-mile evacuation zone remains in effect.

Cut 13 (08)  “…sightseers come by.”

Among those evacuated were former Governor John Bel Edwards and his wife.

The EPA has now taken the lead at the site. They will deal with the collection and disposal of hazardous materials at the site and in area ditches and ponds, and the Tangipahoa River.

This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. As we look back at how the storm changed the state and the lives of so many we see resilience and the rise of new programs. Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says since Katrina we’ve seen the rise of charter schools and he says it started in New Orleans with results that are notable.

Cut 4 (11) “…’B’ school district”

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is joining registrars of voters across the state this week to promote Voter Registration Week. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

Starting today, residents living in the 3-1-8 area code will have to dial 3-1-8, plus the seven other numbers when making a call to an existing 3-1-8 phone number. It’s because a new 4-5-7 area code will begin next September. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the ten-digit number is necessary to distinguish between the two area codes…

Cut 7 (12) “…number now.”

This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. Jeanne (ZHAHN) Burns reports the storm changed some aspects of the state forever.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Jeanne Burns.”

____________________________________________

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is joining registrars of voters across the state this week to promote Voter Registration Week. Andre Champagne has the story…

Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Andre Champagne.”

____________________________________________

Firefighters in Tangipahoa Parish were busy all weekend long fighting the fire that resulted from an explosion at a lubricant manufacturing facility. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

____________________________________________

This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. And while that storm certainly changed many facets of the state forever, the state is largely the same as it once was. Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says one effect of Katrina’s aftermath was the rise of charter schools throughout the state. Erwin says it all started in New Orleans, and the charter schools have produced tremendous results.

Cut 4 (11) “…’B’ school district”

Erwin says Katrina also led to a consolidation of the levee boards in that part of the state.

Cut 5 (11) “…the levee board.”

Erwin says New Orleans used the occasion of the recovery from Katrina to try to reinvent itself economically, with limited success.

Cut 6 (13) “…didn’t really stick.”

Today, much as it was before Katrina, New Orleans’ biggest economy is in travel and tourism.

____________________________________________

Starting today, residents living in the 3-1-8 area code will have to dial 3-1-8, plus the seven other numbers when making a call to an existing 3-1-8 phone number. It’s because a new 4-5-7 area code will begin next September. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the ten-digit number is necessary to distinguish between the two area codes…

Cut 7 (12) “…number now.”

Starting on September 25^th, newly assigned phone numbers in north and central Louisiana will have a 4-5-7 area code. Campbell says to prepare for this new area code, people with a 3-1-8 area code will need to dial all ten numbers when calling another phone with a 3-1-8 area code…

Cut 8 (08) “…deal with.”

Campbell says the new area code is necessary because they ran out of seven-digit numbers for the 3-1-8 area code…

Cut 9 (04)  “…3-1-8.”

____________________________________________

Secretary of State Nancy Landry is promoting Voter Registration Week this week. Joel Watson with the Secretary of State office says this there are events throughout the state this week.

Cut 10 (10) “…their registration.”

Watson says once you register to vote, you’re registered forever — except in certain conditions.

Cut 11 (13) “…you’re eligible.”

Watson says it is important to make sure voter information is up to date for upcoming elections — and you can do so online or on the Geaux Vote app.

Cut 12 (12) “…and accurate.”

____________________________________________

Fire crews spent the weekend battling the fire that resulted from Friday afternoon’s explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland, in Tangipahoa Parish. As of yesterday evening, Louisiana State Police said the fire is 90-percent contained. Yesterday, crews began removing structural debris and addressing covered hotspots. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller says a one-mile evacuation zone remains in effect.

Cut 13 (08)  “…sightseers come by.”

Among those evacuated were former Governor John Bel Edwards and his wife. A family associate says they’re safe and are monitoring the situation. During a news conference Saturday morning, State Police Sergeant William Huggins says there were several small explosions in the hours after the initial explosion.

Cut 14 (09) “…at this time.”

Authorities have been monitoring the air quality around the plant since the explosion first happened and recommend that people avoid contact with any soot from the fire and explosion. President Miller says not only was no one killed, no one was even injured in the blast.

___________________________________________________

The preseason is over for the Saints, and now we wait for head coach Kellen Moore to announce who will start at quarterback when the regular season begins on September 7th against Arizona. Spencer Rattler started and Tyler Shough replaced him Rattler midway through the second quarter. Moore says both did good things…

Cut 15 (15) “…good stuff.”

Shough ran for a touchdown and threw for 102 yards, but also lost a fumble. Rattler was 5-of-8 for 43 yards.

________________________________________________

Nicholls started its season on Saturday with an impressive win over 4th-ranked UIW. The defense led the way, holding the Cardinals to 204 total yards in a 20-6 win. Ty Marsh scored the first touchdown on a 29-yard interception return for a touchdown late in the first quarter…

Cut 16 (15) “…hoping to get more.”

It was win number one for new head coach Tommy Rybacki. Rybacki was not surprised to see his team play so well in the season opener…

Cut 17 (12)  “…proud of that.”

Nicholls is back in action this Saturday.

___________________________________________________________

Disappointing start to the season for the Southern Jaguars as they lost to North Carolina Central 31-14 on Saturday night in Atlanta. The Jaguars only threw for 92 yards and the Southern defense gave up 231 rushing yards. Coach Terrance Graves says the game should be a wake up call for his players…

Cut 18 (14) “…execute.”

Southern is at Mississippi Valley State this Saturday.

_____________________________________________

Game week has arrived for the LSU Tigers and the starting five on the offensive line has yet to be decided. Starting center Braelin Moore says the competition has been good…

Cut 19 (15) “…five out there.”

A common theme we’ve heard about this team during the preseason is that it’s a close group, despite a lot of new players. Wide receiver Zavion Thomas says the players are always hanging out away from the field…

Cut 20 (20) “…pick it up.”

Early this morning we got an update on the explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland.  Andrew Greenstein has details.

Cut 23 (46) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

We’re told a temporary flight restriction is also in effect for a three mile area.

———————————–

Former LSU Tiger and NBA hall of famer Shaquille O’Neal will invest in the proposed new $400 million dollar arena on the LSU campus.  O’Neal has vouched for Oak View Group, the developer that is the sole finalist for the project. You may recall, LSU pressed pause on the deal after Oak View’s CEO stepped down last month after he was indicted on bid-rigging allegations connected to a project in Austin.  If the project does happen, the arena will host LSU sporting events and graduation ceremonies as well as concerts and other entertainment events.

The Saints wrap up preseason play at noon today against the Broncos in the Superdome. Mike Hoss, the Saints’ play-by-play announcer on WWL radio says there’s battle brewing for backup running back behind Alvin Kamara, who will not play today.

Cut 7 (10) “…situation look like?”

An update on that explosion at Smitty’s Supply in Roseland yesterday.  The mandatory evacuation for those within a one-mile radius remains in effect as authorities report there were a number of small explosions overnight. In a 10 am news conference Tangipahoa and Louisiana State Police officials say firefighters are still battling an active blaze. Authorities have been monitoring the air quality around the plant since yesterday evening and recommend people avoid contact with any soot from the fire and explosion.  We’re told a temporary flight restriction is also in effect for a three mile radius.

Tragedy in Livingston Parish as a teenage boy is killed while riding his bike in his subdivision. Sheriff Jason Ard says the 31 year old driver who hit the boy was drunk and fled the scene, but deputies later caught him and arrested him.

Cut 10 (13) “…DWI first offense.”

——————————-

There’s a lot more corn in Louisiana this year as farmers are producing much more than last year. Shelly Pate Kerns with the LSU Ag Center says the crop received plenty of rain, so yields are expected to surpass last year’s 183 bushels per acre and input costs were also down…

Cut 13 (10)  “…constant rainfall.”

The Saints final pre-season game of the season kicks off at noon today as they host the Denver Broncos. Saints’ play-by-play announcer on WWL radio Mike Hoss says the Saints have been busy with trades and there are still many decisions to be made by the time the roster needs to be pared down to 53 by 3:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Cut 8 (11) “…has been injured.”