The contractor accused of scamming several southeast Louisiana flood victims has been arrested again in Ascension Parish for allegedly falsely obtaining funds for his bond. Sheriff Jeff Wiley says 39-year-old Matthew Morris, is accused of taking advantage of flood victims by inflating estimates for home repairs and never completing the job…:
Cut 14 (10) “August flood”
Morris is also facing charges in Baton Rouge, Walker, and Denham Springs.

It’s expected that city officials in New Orleans will move quickly to remove Confederate-era monuments now that a federal appeals court has cleared the way. The court’s opinion criticized groups seeking to keep the statues in place for arguments that have no legal viability. Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s office says the city will start seeking bids today to remove the statues and a contract awarded in 25 days.

Transportation officials want those planning to travel to New Orleans or anywhere east on I-10 this weekend to give themselves plenty of time due to anticipated delays. They say both eastbound lanes of the interstate between Highway 61 in Ascension Parish and Highway 641 in Garyville will be closed Friday night through Monday morning for repairs.

President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban has many immigrants in Louisiana concerned. Iraq has been dropped from the new order, but six countries including Libya remain on it. Ibrahim Matri (Ib-ruh-ham Mah-tree) is an LSU student from Libya, and he questions why some countries are on this list…:
Cut 7 (12) “understand that”
He said his family was planning to come visit soon, but now they think it’s best to wait and see how this pans out.

Louisiana could have a problem if ever a wildfire broke out here like the one in Gatlinburg due to a lack of firefighters. That’s according to Ag Commissioner Mike Strain who says there are only 53 teams in the entire state…:
Cut 11 (10) “and the aircraft”
Strain is concerned continued cuts to his department will lead to a tragic Gatlinburg-type event in Louisiana.

Many immigrants in Louisiana are worried about President Trump’s travel ban. Ibrahim Matri (Ib-ruh-ham Mah-tree) is an LSU student from Libya. He says he understands that tensions are high in Libya and other countries, and that people want to be cautious…:
Cut 9 (11) “and whatnot”
But he says he’s concerned that other countries may follow suit.

Today in New Orleans Governor John Bel Edwards will deliver the opening address at an annual international convention on resilience-building and disaster management.

The American Cancer Society has set a goal to increase the nation’s colorectal cancer screenings by 80-percent in 2018. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe thunderstorm watch effective until noon for 12 parishes across northeast Louisiana. They say damaging winds are the primary threat, though large hail and a few tornadoes may also occur.

The contractor who was booked for multiple charges of fraud on flood victims was arrested again for allegedly using false receivables as collateral for his bond when he was in the Ascension Parish Jail. Sheriff Jeff Wiley says 39-year-old Matthew Morris, owner of Complete Construction Contractors, had issues with his cash bond…:
Cut 13 (10) “was revoked”
Morris is also facing charges in Baton Rouge, Walker, and Denham Springs

A federal appeals court has sided with the city of New Orleans in its effort to remove three structures to Confederate-era figures; ruling that they can be taken down. Mayor Mitch Landrieu first sought the removal of the monuments in the wake of the murders of nine black church members during a prayer meeting in Charleston, SC, in the summer of 2015. Bidding begins today. Landrieu says the statues will be stored in a city-owned warehouse.

Louisiana could be in trouble if a wildfire breaks out due to a shortage of firefighters, according to a state official…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The American Cancer Society has set a goal of 80-percent of Americans to be screened for colorectal cancer by 2018. Tulane Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine Dr. Jordan Karlitz says this is a major health issue here…:
Cut 4 (10) “United States”
They want 417-thousand people in Louisiana to be screened.

The contractor arrested on multiple charges of fraud against flood victims has been booked back into the Ascension Parish Jail on additional charges. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 3 (34) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban has many immigrants concerned, including some in Louisiana. Ibrahim Matri (Ib-ruh-ham Mah-tree), an LSU student from Libya, says he’s worried other countries will follow suit…:
Cut 8 (08) “domino effect”

Recent state budget cuts to the Department of Agriculture means Louisiana might not have the necessary resources to fight wildfires. That’s according to Ag Commissioner Mike Strain, who says one of the issues with the Gatlinburg fire in Tennessee is that the federal government decreased their firefighting budget. He say that means there wasn’t appropriate forest management…:
Cut 10 (12) “massive fire”
Strain is concerned continued cuts to his department will lead to a tragic event like this in Louisiana.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for 12 parishes in northeast Louisiana until noon today. The primary threat today looks to be damaging wind gusts, then possibly isolated tornadoes, hail, and locally heavy rainfall.

President Donald Trump signs a revised immigration order prohibiting new visas for citizens from six Middle Eastern countries. Emelie Gunn has local reaction…

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Three confederate monuments will be taken down in New Orleans, after a federal appeals court sides with the city. The City Council ordered the removal of statues of Robert e Lee, PGT Beauregard and Jefferson Davis after 9 African Americans were murdered at a South Carolina church, but the Monumental Task Committee filed a suit to block their removal. But after the court’s ruling, the statues are coming down.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling for the Rapides Parish District Attorney to remove John Guandolo as a speaker in a police training program because they say he promotes anti-Muslim conspiracies. But DA Phillip Terrell says there are no plans to remove him, and this seminar isn’t directed at anyone.

Cut 9 (08) “pure and simple”

Terrell says this seminar is sponsored by law enforcement agencies around the country.

The Tensas Parish town of St. Joseph is finally getting a new water system, as ground was broken today to replace the old system that has lead in it. The governor’s deputy chief of staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says they will supply clean drinking water for residents until the project is completed in September.

Cut 16 (10) “going on”

The system will have 12 miles of new pipe and 525 new meters.

President Donald Trump has signed a revised version of his travel ban prohibiting new visas for citizens from six Middle Eastern countries, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Richland Parish Congressman Ralph Abraham supports the revised travel order…
cut 10 (10) “…very guarded”
Executive director of the Louisiana ACLU Marjorie Esman remains skeptical of the president’s intentions.
cut 11 (10) “coming home”

Former Klu Klux Klan leader and Louisiana U.S. Senate candidate David Duke had his twitter account suspended for a brief time this morning. The social media site has taken an active role in recent months to take action against those who use hate speech.

US Representative Cedric Richmond says he’s sorry for making a joke about a viral photo of President Trump aide Kellyanne Conway. Richmond said Conway looked familiar while kneeling on an Oval office couch. President of the National Organization for Women in Baton Rouge, Angela Adkins….
cut 3 (10) “…inappropriate”

Governor John Bel Edwards was in Tensas Parish to break ground on a new water system in St. Joseph to replace the current one that has lead in it. The governor’s deputy chief of staff, Julie Baxter Payer, says Edwards moved quickly to secure nine-million dollars to pay for the project….
cut 15 (10) “…the governor”
The Louisiana National Guard has large trucks in the Tensas Parish town to supply residents with safe drinking water.

LSU lost for the third time on the season yesterday as they dropped a five to four decision to Texas Tech. Despite the loss, freshman Eric Walker pitched very well. The Texas native allowed one run on six hits in six innings. The right-hander says he’s starting to feel more comfortable pitching to college hitters…
cut 18 (15) “…next Sunday”
LSU’s Jared Poche has been named SEC Co-pitcher of the week. The senior lefty tossed seven shutout innings in a four to nothing win over Baylor.

Louisiana Tech senior third baseman Chase Lunceford is the Conference USA hitter of the week. Lunceford hit .421 during five games last week and drove in at least one RBI in each . Tech is 11-1 and ranked 24th in the coaches poll.

At the NFL combine, former LSU Tiger Duke Riley recorded the second fastest 40-time by a linebacker. He clocked at 4.58 seconds. Tigers safety Jamal Adams ran a 4.56.

In the NBA…the Pelicans are at Utah tonight after beating the Lakers last night. They’ve signed guard Jordan Crawford to a 10-day contract. He was averaging 23-points a game for the Grand Rapids Drive in the D-League.

Former Ragin Cajuns standout Shawn Long has also signed a 10-day contract to play for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sun Belt Conference named Ragin Cajuns guard Jay Wright as the Sun Belt defensive player of the year as led the league in steals. And his teammate, Frank Bartley, has been named as the league’s newcomer of the year.

Louisiana Tech’s Erik McCree and Jacobi Boykins have received all-Conference USA honors. McCree leads Tech in scoring and rebounding and Boykins averages 15 points a game, while shooting 41-percent from three-point range.

President Donald Trump signed a revised version of the travel ban prohibiting new visas for citizens from six Middle Eastern countries. Congressman Ralph Abraham says America has to be cautious these days. He says he does not support open boarders because we need to protect our country first.

Cut 12 (07) “and again”

But Executive Director of the Louisiana ACLU Marjorie Esman says the president issued an order that indirectly bans Muslims from entering the country. She says keeping members of that religion out of the US is the president’s priority.

Cut 13 (08) “actually happens”

Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen are included in the ban.

Congressman Cedric Richmond apologized for joking that Kellyanne Conway looked familiar while on her knees on a couch in the Oval Office. President of NOW Baton Rouge Angela Adkins says women need to speak up when someone makes inappropriate comments like that. She encourages people to stay informed about policies lawmakers propose in the upcoming session.

Cut 5 (10) “go buy lattes”

Governor John Bel Edwards was in Tensas Parish today for the groundbreaking of the new water system for the town of St. Joseph. The governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff Julie Baxter Payer says this was a milestone for the rural town.

Cut 14 (09) “from their tap”

Residents of St. Joe have been struggling with brown tap water in their homes for nearly a decade.