The Bayou State has once again been declared a state of emergency after tornadoes ripped through southeast Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has more..:
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Nearly 8,000 Entery customers remain without power this morning.

Governor Edwards meanwhile is in Washington D.C. today to push Congress for more federal flood aid. He says Louisiana received 1.6 billion dollars in grant money so far but another two billion is necessary to get victims back in their homes…:
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A public meeting will be held tonight in Assumption Parish on the proposed Bayou Bridge Pipeline. The 163-mile oil pipeline would run from Lake Charles through the Atchafalaya Basin to St. James Parish. Anne Rolfes with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade opposes the project.:
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Energy Transfer Partners is one of the companies involved in the pipeline. Senior vice president of engineering Joey Mahmoud says if there’s ever been a project that is by Louisiana and for Louisiana, it’s this one…:
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The meeting will be held tonight at 6 p.m. in the Assumption Parish Public Library in Napoleonville.

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared yet another state of emergency in the Bayou State, as his office says at least 7 tornadoes touched down in 6 parishes on Tuesday. New Orleans East sustained the most damage, after a massive twister moved through the Crescent City around 11 a.m. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says they were extremely lucky there was no loss of life.
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The Governor’s Office estimates at least 20 people in southeast Louisiana sustained injuries, but no deaths were reported as a result of the twisters. Officials say three of the injuries took place in Ascension Parish and another two in Livingston.

About 10-thousand people remain without power in the New Orleans area and Entergy says it could be three to five days before power is restored. The Louisiana National Guard has been called into the area to help prevent looting.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Betsy DeVos as the U.S Education Secretary. The Louisiana Federtion of Teachers says DeVos lacks experience as an educator. L-F-T spokesperson Les Landon says they would prefer an Education Secretary who is a strong supporter of public schools…
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But the president of the Louisiana Federation for Children, Ann Duplessis, says DeVos will look to provide educational opporutnities for all children, regardless of income. She says the groups who are against the appointment are entrenched in special interests….
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Both of Louisiana’s U-S Senators, John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy, voted to confirm DeVos.

Clean-up begins in southeast Louisiana after a tornado outbreak….
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Before touring the damage in New Orleans, Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency…
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Edwards says thankfully there were no fatalities.

One of the state’s largest teacher unions opposes the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U-S Secretary of Education. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says DeVos’ longtime support of vouchers is a concern to them….
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Senator Bill Cassidy says he voted for DeVos, because of her belief that underserved children should have access to a quality education.

Lawmakers are weighing in with their thoughts on the governor’s proposal to close a mid-year budget gap. The governor wants to use $119 million dollars from the Rainy Day Fund, and Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says he’s not opposed to that if it prevents cuts that will really hit home with residents…:
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The special session to address the $304 million dollar shortfall takes place next week.

Governor John Bel Edwards says at least seven tornadoes in six parishes caused severe damage across southeast Louisiana today. There have been reports of some injuries and damage to dozens of homes and businesses. Edwards has declared a state of emergency. But he says the good thing is that there were zero fatalities.

One of the hardest hit areas is New Orleans East, which was slammed in 2005 by Hurricane Katrina. Craig Smith was working at New Orleans East Hospital when the twister came through. He says it remains a chaotic scene…
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Thousands of people are also without power in the area. Other tornadoes were also reported in Livingston, Tangipahoa, St. James and Ascension Parishes.

Officials say at least two tornadoes touched down in Killian today, which is in Livingston Parish. Two people were injured in that community.

Louisiana U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy were among the 51 who voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of Education. President of the Louisiana Federation for Children, Ann Duplessis, says as a proponent of school choice and vouchers for low-income students, DeVos will bring a welcomed change to the education system.
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But Democratic New Orleans Congressman Cedric Richmond says DeVos is an unqualified billionaire who has attacked public education.

State legislators are taking a look at Governor Edwards proposal to close a 304-million dollar midyear deficit. Franklin Senator Bret Allain (Ah-lan) says he wants to know more about a proposed six-million dollar cut to the budget of the Attorney General’s office…
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Legislators will find out more about the cuts when they begin a special session next week.

There’s extensive tornado damage in New Orleans east after a large twister ripped through the area around 11 o’ clock this morning. Craig Smith was working at New Orleans East Hospital when he saw the menacing tornado…
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Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency as his office says as at least six tornadoes caused severe damage, including multiple injuries and dozens of homes and business were damaged.

Officials in Livingston Parish say two twisters touched down in Killian today, damaging homes and injuring two people. Mark Harrell, director of the Livingston Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, says they know of 5 residences impacted…:
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He says two people in a home that was hit sustained minor injuries.

The U-S Senate has voted to confirm Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary. Both of Louisiana’s U.S. Senators, Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy, voted to confirm her appointment. But Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says they would prefer an Education Secretary who is a strong supporter of public schools…
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Cassidy says he voted for DeVos, because of her belief that underserved children should have access to a quality education.

State lawmakers are taking a look at Governor Edwards’ proposal to eliminate a 304-million dollar budget deficit. It relies on legislators approving the use of 119-million rainy day dollars to fill the shortfall. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says the state needs to address the real problem with state government…
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Harris has been an outspoken critic of using rainy day money to alleviate the deficit.

There’s a lot of tornado damage across southeast Louisiana. Michelle Southern has the latest….
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Entergy New Orleans reports 10-thousand people are without power in the metro area as a result of downed power lines. And Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a state of emergency. A tornado watch remains in effect until 5:00 for southeast Louisiana. The watch box includes, Bogalusa, Slidell, New Orleans and Houma.

One of the state’s largest teacher unions opposes the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as U-S Secretary of Education. Louisiana Federation of Teachers spokesperson Les Landon says DeVos’ longtime support of vouchers is a concern to them….
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But President of the Louisiana Federation for Children, Ann Duplessis, says DeVos wants to provide the right opportunities for our children. Duplessis says groups who oppose the appointment are entrenched in special interests…
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Both of Lousiana’s US Senators voted to confirm DeVos.

Officials say at least seven homes have been damaged in Livingston Parish, as a result of a severe storm with tornadoes ripping through the south. Mark Harrell, director of the Livingston Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says the police chief in Killian witnessed two twisters with his own eyes…:
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Another tornado touched down in New Orleans East causing widespread damage. Entergy reports nearly 15,000 people are without power right now as a result of the storms, the bulk of those being in Orleans Parish. Mayor Mitch Landrieu…:
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There were also tornadoes reported in Donaldsonville and Ponchatoula. The Red Cross has moved in to help affected communities.

Lawmakers are weighing in with their thoughts on the governor’s budget proposal to close the mid-year gap. The special session to address the $304 million dollar shortfall takes place next week. The governor wants to use $119 million dollars from the Rainy Day Fund, and Metairie Senator Danny Martiny says he’s not opposed to that if it prevents cuts that will really hit home with residents…:
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The House will begin discussions on what cuts will be made beginning Monday, and then they’ll send their plan to the Senate.

The Louisiana Department of Education will host a public meeting tonight in Shreveport to discuss recommendations for the Caddo Parish School Board to improve long-struggling schools in the city. State Superintendent John White encourages the public to attend…:
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The meeting takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Peaceful Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Shreveport.