13:30 LRN Newscast august 22nd

The Amite River, which contributed to much of the flooding in southeast Louisiana should finally fall below flood stage today. Freddie Zeigler, senior forecaster at the National Weather Service in Slidell, says the Amite is still above flood stage at French Settlement in Livingston Parish, but that should change by tomorrow…
cut 15 (05) “…four-point-four”
But Zeigler says the flood event is not over as backwater remains a problem in some areas.

The state estimates 60-thousand homes were damaged by historic flooding, which is forcing some displaced residents to look for new housing. But Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors president Tiffany Palmer says there are not that many homes or apartments available…
cut 5 (09) “…perfect one”
As of July, there were 33-hundred homes on the market in the Baton Rouge metro area.

The City of Walker is suing the state for I-12 construction that’s believed to have worsened the flooding. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (30) “…I’m Halen Doughty”

Disaster food stamps are available in eight parishes today. They are East Feliciana, Iberia, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tangipahoa and Vermilion. Only individuals with a last name that begins with A-to-D are eligible to receive the federal assistance today. For more information go to the department of children and family services website.

12:30 LRN Newscast August 22nd

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness says volunteers are needed to help homeowners get the muck out of their homes. Mike Steele with GOHSEP says until the cleanup is done, people cannot start to rebuild….
cut 9 (08) “….urgent need”
Steele says individuals or goups who want to help can sign up at volunteer-louisiana-dot-gov.

State officials estimate 60-thousand homes were damaged in the Great Flood of 2016, and many displaced residents are now looking for new places to live. Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors president Tiffany Palmer says this is putting a strain on the market because there’s a low inventory of homes, especially for apartments….
cut 3 (09) “…and Southern”
Palmer says she doesn’t expect people to flee the area completely, but many will look for homes in areas that did not flood.

Here are the latest numbers on the Great Flood of 2016. Over 28-hundred people remain in shelters, an estimated 60-thousand homes damaged, over 106-thousand people have registered for federal disaster aid and there’s 40 state highways closed.

The evacuation order has been lifted in the Vermilion parish town of Gueydan (GAY-dahn). Vermilion Emergency Preparedness director Rebecca Broussard says they avoided major flooding in Gueydan thanks to quick work by the Louisiana National Guard.
CUT 6 (09) “in that area”
However, Broussard says they still had over 11-hundred homes flood throughout the parish.

11:40 LRN Sportscast August 22nd

The Saints continue training camp this afternoon in Metairie as they will hold an open practice to the public at the team’s training facility, starting at 3:30 PM. The first big roster cut will take place after Friday night’s preseason home game against Pittsburgh and wide receiver Brandon Coleman is fighting for a job. Coleman led the Saints in receptions with six catches for 47 yards on Saturday night against Houston, but had a chance to make several big plays and couldn’t hang on to the football. Payton says Coleman has had a “pedestrian like” camp…
cut 18 (17) “…seen better”
The Saints will also hold open practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both will start at 9:30 AM.

The LSU Tigers begin the season ranked fifth in the preseason AP Top 25. Alabama is number one, followed by Clemson, Oklahoma and Florida State. Six SEC teams made the poll. And if the season started today, Coach Les Miles says his starting offensive line would look like this…KJ Malone and Toby Weathersby are the starting tackles, Will Clapp and Josh Boutte (Boo-tee) will start at guard and Ethan Pocic is your starting center.

At Louisiana Tech’s scrimmage, Union parish fullback Bobby Holly had 61 yards on seven carries. Offensive lineman O’shea Dugas injured his leg, but it’s NOT considered serious.

11:30 LRN Newscast August 22nd

Flood victims who have been displaced may have trouble finding a new home. Don Molino has more…
CUT 1 (30) “I’m Don Molino”

A Livingston Parish mother allegedly slashed the throat of her eight-year-old daughter and also attempted to take her own life. That’s according to Sheriff Jason Ard, who says 30-year-old Chritine Courtney faces first-degree murder charges. Detectives do not believe this alleged murder is tied to the devasting flooding.

The city of Walker says they’ll begin putting together a lawsuit today to seek damages against the state for how they widened Interstate 12. They say it contributed to the massive flooding there. Attorney Joe Bruno filed a similar suit against the Army Corps of Engineers for work they did in St Bernard parish that led to more flooding there after Katrina, but it was unsuccessful because the Corps had immunity. He says Walker could run into a similar problem….
cut 10 (11) “…to do so”
The state department of transportation denies that the concrete median added to the flooding woes in Livingston parish.

Disaster food stamps are available to flood victims in eight parishes starting today. Governor Edwards says those locations will only serve individuals with the last names that begin with the letters A-to-D…
cut 14 (09) “…be patient”

10:30 LRN Newscast August 22nd

State officials hope to get more financial help from the federal government to pay for flood relief efforts throughout south Louisiana. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says in the first six days of the disaster, the state spent $12.5 million. He says right now the feds will reimburse Louisiana for 75-percent of that, but he hopes for more federal dollars….
cut 11 (10) “…10-percent”
Dardenne says it will take an act of Congress to get the 90-10 split.

Governor John Bel Edwards told CNN that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s visit to Louisiana was helpful, because it helped shine a spotlight on the flooding disaster in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas. Edwards says Trump also donated 100-thousand dollars to a flooded church in East Baton Rouge parish. President Obama visits the Baton Rouge tomorrow.

Volunteer groups from around the country are in Louisiana donating their time to help flood victims clean up their homes. Emelie Gunn has more…
voicer 1 (29) “…I’m Emelie Gunn”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is urging anyone available to volunteer to help clean and muck out homes with flood damage. If you are able to help with this process, contact volunteer-louisiana-dot-gov. An estimated 60-thousand homes have been damaged and 110-thousand people have registered for federal assistance.

09:30 LRN Newscast

The state department of children and family services begins handing out disaster food stamp cards to flood victims. Jeff Palermo has the story..
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

President Barack Obama returns from vacation today. He’ll visit Baton Rouge tomorrow. Governor John Bel Edwards told CNN that republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s appearance last Friday helped raise awareness nationwide about the devastating flooding. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton wants her supporters to donate to the flood victims.

The city of Walker in Livingston Parish begins working on a lawsuit today against the state for how it constructed Interstate 12 claim. Mayor Rick Ramsey says the concrete median acted as a sea wall which worsened flood conditions. But Ramsey says they are not confident in their ability to win the suit…
cut 9 (09) “….photographic proof”
An effort to sue the Army Corps of Engineers after Hurricane Katrina was also not successful.

There are many volunteer grouups helping with the recovery efforts. Todd Taylor is a spokesperson for Samaritan’s Purse and he says they’ve set up in Lafayette and Baton Rouge and they are focusing on cleanup efforts in flooded neighborhoods…
cut 5 (09) “…treatments”
Samaritan’s Purse was also in north Louisaina earlier this year to assist in their flood recovery efforts.

08:30 LRN Newscast August 22nd

At a recent meeting of the joint legislative budget committee, Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told lawmakers that the state has spent at least 12-million dollars on disaster response efforts in south Louisiana. That number is expected to grow. Dardenne says despite tough budget times, the state is ready to spend whatever it takes…
cut 13 (11) “…displaced”
Dardenne is hopeful the federal government will reimburse the state 90-percent of its costs, right now they are scheduled to pay 75-percent.

A Livingston Parish mother allegedly slashed the throat of her eight-year-old daughter and also attempted to take her own life. That’s according to Sheriff Jason Ard, who says 30-year-old Chritine Courtney faces first-degree murder charges. Detectives do not believe this alleged murder is tied to the devasting flooding.

The department of Children and Family Services begins distributing disaster food stamps today at locations in eight parishes that were impacted by the historic floods. Governor Edwards says to find out if you’re eligible for disaster food stamps, you must pre-register…
cut 16 (09) “….dot-gov”

The city of Walker in Livingston Parish begins working on a lawsuit today that will seek damages from the state on the construction of 1-12. Walker Mayor Rick Ramsey says when I-12 was widened, a concrete median was constructed, which acted as a sea wall and worsened the flooding…
cut 8 (12) “….we had”
The state department of transportation does not believe the concrete median barrier led to more flooding.

 

07:30 LRN Newscast August 22nd

Today the city of Walker begins putting together its lawsuit against the state for the construction of I-12. City officials believe the concrete wall that separates the east and west bound lanes worsened the flooding in the city. Mayor Rick Ramsey says when the interstate was widened to six lanes, the median was taken out and replaced with a concrete wall….
cut 7 (09) “…United States’
The state department of transportation says considering the unprecedented rainfall, it’s unlikely the median barrier caused the massive flooding.

Disaster food stamps are available in eight parishes today. They are East Feliciana, Iberia, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tangipahoa and Vermilion. Only individuals with a last name that begins with A-to-D are eligible to receive the federal assistance today.

Volunteers from around the country are in Louisiana offering assistance to flood victims. Samaritan’s Purse, a North Carolina based volunteer group, has set up disaster relief units in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Spokesperson Todd Taylor says if you are in need of help or want to donate your time, visit Samartianspurse.org.
cut 4 (10) “…sheet rock”
Taylor says they plan to be in Baton Rouge and Lafayette areas for at least the next two months.

As of now, the federal government will repay 75-percent of the state’s costs for responding to the flooding disaster. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says it will take an act of Congress to get the feds to pay more…
cut 12 (09) “…10 match”
President Barack Obama will visit Baton Rouge tomorrow.

06:45 LRN Sportscast August 22nd

The Saints are back at their training facility today after a disappointing performance in Saturday’s preseason loss to Houston. New Orleans defense played well, they held Houston to 59 rushing yards and forced a couple of turnovers. But Coach Sean Payton says the offense’s performance was as bad as it gets…
cut 17 (15) “…good things”
The Saints troubles on offense might start on the offensive line. There weren’t many holes for the running backs in Saturday’s loss to Houston and the o-line gave up two sacks in the first half.

The LSU Tigers begin the season ranked fifth in the preseason AP Top 25. Alabama is number one, followed by Clemson, Oklahoma and Florida State. Six SEC teams made the poll.

Louisiana Tech held its second scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday. Freshman defensive lineman Willie Baker and running back Bobby Holly were two guys who impressed. At ULM’s scrimmage this past weekend, Will Collins, Garrett Smith and Caleb Evans all threw touchdown passes. Ragin Cajuns quarterback Jordan Davis threw two touchdown passes on Saturday, one to Michael Jacquet and the other to Carlos Robinson.

In Natchitoches…Northwestern State’s defense produced five sacks, three of them by junior college transfer Tremaine Whittley in a scrimmage on Saturday. The Demons also had two interceptions. Devin Powell threw a TD pass at a scrimmage for Nicholls State. Southeastern Louisiana senior quarterback D’Shaie Landor threw four touchdown passes for the Lions in a scrimmage on Saturday morning.

And if the season started today, Coach Les Miles says his starting offensive line would look like this…KJ Malone and Toby Weathersby are the starting tackles, Will Clapp and Josh Boutte will start at guard and Ethan Pocic is your starting center.

06:30 LRN Newscast August 22nd

Disaster food stamps will be available in eight parishes starting today and then four more parishes starting next Monday. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 15 (10) “…are eligible”
To register for disaster food stamps and to find out when and where they are available go to d-c-f-s-dot-la-dot-gov-backslash-pre-register or call 1-888-L-A-HELP-U.

Governor John Bel Edwards says Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s trip to flood-damaged areas last week was positive, because it brought attention nationally that Louisiana is suffering from deadly flooding. Edwards says Trump also made a 100-thousand dollar donation to a church in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office says a 30-year-old mother allegedly slashed the throat of her eight-year-old child. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene and the mother, Christine Courtney, was taken to the hospital for self-inflicted stab wounds. Sheriff Jason Ard says it does not appear that this incident is tied to the historic flooding. Courtney is facing a charge of first degree murder.

The city of Walker is suing the state for I-12 construction that’s believed to have worsened the flooding. Halen Doughty has more…
voicer 2 (30) “….I’m Halen Doughty”

A State Troooper was shot in the elbow and a suspect was fatally shot in New Orleans seventh ward on Sunday. Shots rang out after a traffic stop and two other suspects fled the scene.