Just one day after a tornado ravaged the town of Donaldsonville, Mayor Leroy Sullivan says residents have a lot to be thankful for. He says 15 to 20 homes inside the city limits sustained at least moderate damage, while several more were impacted outside the city, but fortunately no one was seriously injured…:
Cut 6 (09) “to me”
Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says teams are gathering data, so Louisiana can make a case for federal assistance to help those that lost everything and rebuild public infrastructure…:
cut 4 (09) “those teams”
Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the tornado hurt 33 people in his city and 300 properties are severely damaged.

An explosion near DeRidder has killed three and injured seven others, according to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Joe Toler says authorities received a call just after 11 a.m. of an explosion at Packaging Corporation of America on U.S. 190. He says the scene has been contained and the fire is out…:
cut 11 (10) “they do”
No word on what caused the explosion.

A state judge in Baton Rouge has been banned from a popular local restaurant chain after he allegedly used a racial slur towards an african-american woman. Sheriff deputies responded to the incident on Friday night at Sammy’s on Highland Road. The woman shared her experience on Facebook that said Judge Erwin called her the “N” word during an argument over a seat at the bar. No charges were filed against the judge and he denies the accusation, but the owners of Sammys say Judge Erwin is no longer allowed at any of their restaurants.

The cleanup continues today after the Governor’s Office estimates at least 7 tornadoes touched down in southeast Louisiana on Tuesday. Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says the state is very lucky that no one was killed….
cut 3 (08) “…were hit”
The Louisiana National Guard says they’ve mobilized 150 personnel to help with recovery efforts. There will be guardsmen at 25 traffic control points in New Orleans East.

Officials say three people were killed and seven injured in an explosion that occurred this morning at a packaging plant near DeRidder. Joe Toler is the chief deputy of the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s office…
cit 12 (05) “…air med”
Some of the injured were taken to a hospital in Rapides Parish. A cause for the exploision is not known.

State Police are looking for a father and son from Thibodaux who were allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a Lafayette man. Trooper Jesse Lagrange says the suspects are 45-year-old Jeffery Slack Senior and 20-year-old Jeffery Slack Junior…
cut 15 (08) “….these subjects”
Four people have already been arrested in the case where the victim was taken to a residence in Thibodaux where he was restrained and beaten overnight.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore believes it will still be a few months before we hear a decision from the Department of Justice on whether charges are warranted against two police officers involved in the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling. Moore says once the decision comes down, they are expecting done peacefully and factually…
cut 10 (10) “…for months”

An explosion near DeRidder has killed at least three and injured several others at an industrial plant. Chief Deputy Joe Toler, with the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s office says authorities received a call just after 11 a.m. of an explosion at Packaging Corporation of America on U.S. 190. He says the scene has been contained and the fire is out….
cut 11 (10) “…they do”
Toler says they are not sure what caused the explosion.

East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said today that he expects it will still be several months before we hear from the U-S Justice Department regarding their investigation into the Alton Sterling shooting. Moore reminds potential protesters of rules that have been put in place when a decision is announced….
cut 9 (11) “…that purpose”

The clean-up is ongoing from yesterday’s tornado outbreak across southeast Louisiana. Donaldsonville in Ascension Parish was hit hard by one of the twisters. Mayor Leroy Sullivan says they’ve spent today cleaning up debris….
cut 7 (11) “…some normlacy”
Dozens of homes were destroyed. Mike Steele, with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, says shelters have been set up in New Orleans and Donaldsonville…
cut 5 (12) “…down there”
Entergy says it could take three to five days to restore the power in New Orleans east. The National Weather Service says the tornado that went through their was an EF 3, with winds between 136 and 165 miles per hour.

An explosion near DeRidder has killed at least three and injured several others, according to the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Joe Toler says authorities received a call just after 11 a.m. of an explosion at Packaging Corporation of America on U.S. 190. He says the scene has been contained and the fire is out…:
cut 11 (10) “they do”
Toler says authorities are working to determine what caused the explosion.

State Police are seeking a father and son from Thibodaux in connection with a kidnapping of a Lafayette man. Trooper Jesse Lagrange says four men have already been arrested…:
cut 14 (11) “the night”
He says police are still actively seeking 45-year-old Jeffery Slack Sr. and 20-year-old Jeffery Slack Jr.

Just one day after a tornado ravaged the town of Donaldsonville, Mayor Leroy Sullivan says residents have a lot to be thankful for. He says 15 to 20 homes inside the city limits sustained at least moderate damage, while several more were impacted outside the city, but fortunately no one was seriously injured…:
Cut 6 (09) “to me”
Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says teams are gathering data, so Louisiana can make a case for federal assistance to help those that lost everything and rebuild public infrastructure…:
cut 4 (09) “those teams”
New Orleans East was the hardest hit area, but twisters also touched down in Jefferson, Livingston, Ascension, St. James, Tangipahoa, and St. Tammany Parishes.

State and local officials attempt to get an estimate on how much damage was created by a series of tornadoes on Tuesday. Jeff Palermo has more:
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

KPLC in Lafayette is reporting that officials confirmed there was an explosion at the Packaging Corporation of America plant in Beauregard Parish, and two, maybe three people are dead. State Police and the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office are responding. More on this as it develops.

The Saints and the Pelicans are stepping up to help those who were impacted by yesterday’s tornado outbreak. Non-perishable food and other tornado-related items can be dropped off at the teams’ training facilities in Metairie.

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore addressed the thought on many people’s mind: when will the results of the federal investigation into the officer-involved shooting of Alton Sterling be made public? Moore says since his office recused itself early on in the case, he can’t be exactly sure but…:
Cut 8 (10) “have taken”
Moore issued a report on officer-involved fatal shootings last year in East Baton Rouge Parish and said mental illness, the presence of guns and domestic violence were a major factor in these cases.

The National Weather Service confirms that the tornado that touched down in New Orleans East on Tuesday was an EF3 on the scale. This means wind speeds reached between 136-165 miles per hour, which causes roofs to be completely torn off, walls blown away, a majority of trees uprooted and vehicles lifted off the ground.

Mike Steele with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says the state is very lucky that no one was killed…:
Cut 3 (08) “were hit”
A total of 39 injuries were reported in the 7 parishes that were hit by tornadoes, according to officials. Entergy reports nearly 8000 customers remain without power and it could be a couple of days before everyone is restored. Steele adds shelters have been set up in New Orleans and Donaldsonville for those whose homes were destroyed.

12 inmates at the Tangipahoa Parish jail are facing murder charges amid allegations they were involved in beating to death a man who was behind bars on a probation violation. The Sheriff’s Office says 40-year-old Tommy Smith was told by inmates that he wasn’t welcome there and he was attacked. The dozen inmates involved in what was described as a “shark feeding frenzy” are charged with second degree murder.

Governor John Bel Edwards heads to Washington D.C. again today to push for more federal flood aid. Emelie Gunn has more…:
Cut 2 (28) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Governor John Bel Edwards has declared yet another state of emergency, as his office says at least 7 tornadoes touched down in 6 parishes on Tuesday. New Orleans East sustained the most damage. Mayor Mitch Landrieu says they were extremely lucky there was no loss of life…:
cut 11 (09) “serious injuries”
The National Weather Service says it was an EF3 twister that struck New Orleans East.

There’s good news regarding the niece of Pop Star Britney Spears. Authorities say eight-year-old Maddie has regained consciousness after an ATV accident on Sunday in Tangipahoa Parish. A statement from the sheriff’s office says doctors took her off a ventilator and she is awake and talking.

There’s a report that L-D-W-F agent Tyler Wheeler, who was shot last month near Monroe, should be able to return to his home this weekend.

Governor Edwards travels to 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…:
Cut 8 (10) “Louisianans”

There’s a public hearing in Assumption Parish tonight on the proposed Bayou Bridge pipeline, which would stretch from Lake Charles to St. James Parish. Energy Transfer Partners is oen fo the companies involved in the pipeline. Anne Rolfes with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade says they’ve had 35 accidents in two years and there’s nothing safet about that…
cut 5 (09) “…East Coast”
Energy Transfer Partner says the environmental group is mischaracterizing the data.

The destructive outbreak of surprise tornadoes that touched down in Louisiana Tuesday caused nearly 40 reported injuries, but no fatalities. New Orleans East was hit particularly hard and Mayor Mitch Landrieu says they are working to help transition those who lost everything…:
Cut 13 (09) “each other up”
Entergy reports more than 8200 customers remain without power which likely won’t be restored for a couple more days.

The Louisiana Department of Revenue says a tax preparer is accused of submitting returns which claimed losses for a business that does not exist. They say Warren Bryant of Lutcher allegedly improperly reduced his clients’ taxable income by reporting phony company losses which resulted in bigger refunds. The scheme cost taxpayers over $116,000. Bryant is charged with Principal to Filing or Maintaining False Public Records and Principal to Illegal Transmission of Monetary Funds.

Governor John Bel Edwards issued another state of emergency because of the tornadoes on Tuesday, and now he’s headed to Washington D.C. to lobby Congress for more flood relief from the disaster in 2016. He says one of his proposals is to allow flood victims to use grant money to pay off Small Business Administration loans…:
Cut 10 (11) “allow it”
Edwards says we’ve received 1.6 billion dollars in grant money so far but another two billion is necessary.

The National Weather Service says in the days leading up to Tuesday’s tornadoes, it didn’t even look like south Louisiana was going to get much rain, much less severe weather. Slidell forecaster Mike Efferson says this is why it’s vital that people have several ways to be alerted.
Cut 16 (08) “hear one”
He says seven areas across southeast Louisiana sustained possible tornado damage and they will know more as numbers come in today.