Louisiana’s Shot for $100 program is continuing through the end of December with more than 34-thousand 100-dollar debit cards distributed so far to those receiving their initial COVID-19 vaccination. Sheree Taillon who heads up the program says the Louisiana Department of Health has partnered with an independent pharmacy group to expand the Shot for 100 program in harder-to-reach areas.

Cut 4 (08) “…the vaccination program.”

With oil prices dropping of late, Louisiana drivers and others nationwide are hoping that’ll mean a drop in gasoline prices, sooner rather than later. Triple A’’s Nick Chabarria says it usually takes a while for the transition to lower prices to show up at the pump.

 Cut 6 (07) “..pump as well.” 

The statewide average price of regular stands at three-10 a gallon in Louisiana, down two cents from a week ago.

A Legislative Budget Committee has approved the spending of 23-million dollars in federal money that will be used to modernize very old water and sewerage systems in small towns and rural parishes. House Appropriations Chair Jerome Zeringue says this round of money will fund 29 projects, but there’s more work to be done…

Cut 9 (08) “…those projects.”

Zeringue says they currently have about 300-million dollars to spend on improving water and sewerage systems that are about 100 years old.

Another LNG facility is coming to Cameron Parish in southwest Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards joined with Venture Global LNG CEO today to announce the company will invest more than ten billion dollars in a new liquefied natural gas facility.  The project will mean 200 new jobs. The new LNG facility will employ carbon capture and sequestration technology to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Named CP2, the new plant will have a capacity of 20 million metric tons per annum of LNG.

Louisiana’s Shot for $100 program will continue through the end of December with more than 34-thousand 100-dollar debit cards distributed so far to those receiving their initial COVID-19 vaccination. Sheree Taillon with the program says college students are rolling up their sleeves in fear of classes being canceled.

Cut 3 (10) “…climbed very quickly.”

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper says it’s a bogus rumor that a second casino will be built in the parish if voters approve a proposition allowing a casino to be built in Slidell. Cooper is asking all registered voters to vote on December 11^th…

Cut 13 (09) “…from day one.”

Early voting continues through Saturday.

The US Supreme Court heard two hours of oral arguments Wednesday on Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban, if upheld it could lead to the high court overturning Roe v. Wade, which then would ban nearly all abortions in Louisiana. Ben Clapper, Executive Director of Louisiana Right to Life is hopeful abortion rights will be overturned.

Cut 7 (12) “…from abortion.”

Michelle Erenberg, (Erin-berg) President of Lift Louisiana, a women’s advocacy group that also defends the right to abortion says, attorneys on behalf of the abortion clinic in Mississippi did an excellent job covering issues of the case.

Cut 8 (13) “…is critical.”

The court’s decision is expected in June.

Louisiana’s attorney general is cautiously optimistic that the Biden administration will fall flat in all of its vaccine mandate attempts targeting healthcare facilities and businesses employing more than 100 people.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office says 60-year-old Cedric West of Minden was killed Wednesday when the dump truck he was driving collided into the path of a Northbound Amtrak train just south of Amite.

Complaints are mounting against insurance companies following Hurricane Ida. American Policyholder Association, Executive Director Doug Quinn believes the state while doing a good job in its oversight of the insurance industry, something is missing from the mix.

Cut  16 (12) “…the insurance carriers.”

Quinn says several insurance companies are delaying payment and dragging out the claims process.

St. Tammany Parish councilman Mike Lorino says the proposition on the December 11th ballot for a casino in Slidell would result in just one casino in the parish and any claims it would result in multiple casinos are not true.

Cut 12 (10) “…bogus.”

The Gaming Control Board approved moving the license of a Bossier City casino to Slidell, but the St. Tammany Parish Council agreed to let voters decide if the $325-million project could move forward.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry is taking a victory lap after federal Judge Terry Doughty granted his request for a preliminary injunction blocking a Biden administration vaccine mandate targeting healthcare facilities. Landry says he’s optimistic about an appeal of the ruling.

Cut 4 (12) “…the OSHA mandate. “

Complaints are mounting against insurance companies following Hurricane Ida. American Policyholder Association, Executive Director Doug Quinn attended a legislative hearing Wednesday.

Cut 14 (09)  “…the claims process.”

Quinn says there’s also been the problem of multiple adjusters for a single property which can complicate and slow payment of legitimate claims.

St. Tammany Parish officials want to stop a rumor about the parish-wide vote to allow a gambling casino to be built in Slidell. St. Tammany President Mike Cooper says it’s not true that voting “yes” opens the door for more gaming venues, the vote only addresses the proposed Camellia Bay complex.

Cut  11 (13)  “…to relocate.”  

Fans of Buffalo Bills corner back Tre’Davious White showed up to cheer the football player in a big way after an injury in the Thanksgiving game against the Saints. The Bills Mafia raised more than $100 thousand to stop hunger in his hometown of Shreveport. White had already donated 1000 turkeys to his hometown and the Mafia followed his lead.

Louisiana U-S District Judge Terry Doughty of Ravyille has blocked nationwide an attempt by the Biden Administration to require health care workers to get vaccinated against COVID. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says the mandate is forcing some workers to look for a new job…
cut 6 (06) “…that’s problematic”
Doughty wrote the Biden Administration doesn’t have the authority to bypass Congress in issuing such a mandate.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper says it’s a bogus rumor that a second casino will be built in the parish if voters approve a proposition that allows for a casino to be constructed in Slidell. Cooper is asking all registered voters to vote on the issue which appears on the December 11th ballot…
cut 13 (09) “….from day one”
Early voting continues through Saturday.

The U-S Supreme Court is considering whether to uphold a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. If the nation’s highest court rules in favor of this new abortion limit, a 15-week abortion ban will also go into effect in Louisiana. Oral arguments were presented to the Supreme Court yesterday. Michelle Erenberg is the President of Lift Louisiana, a women’s advocacy group that defends the right to abortions
Cut 8 (13) “…is critical.”
Ben Clapper is the executive director of Louisiana Right to Life…
cut 9 (12) “…Post Roe Louisiana”
The Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling on this issue in June

The U-S Supreme court has signaled they might uphold Mississippi’s law that would ban abortions after 15-weeks of pregnancy. President of Lift Louisiana Michelle Erenberg says they await the court’s decision which is expected in June…
cut 10 (13) “….abortion access”
Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that maybe the abortion issue should be decided by the states.

A multi-state lawsuit led by Republican Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has resulted in a federal judge in Louisiana blocking President Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate for health care workers nationwide. Landry believes the President is stepping outside his sandbox…
cut 5 (09) “….violate the consitution”

Many Louisiana residents are struggling with their insurance providers to settle hurricane property damage claims. Dave Brannen reports it was the focus of a daylong legislative hearing…
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee has approved the spending of 23-million dollars in federal money that will be used to modernize broken down water and sewerage systems in small towns and rural parishes. The 23-million dollars will go to 29 projects and a second round of money will be approved in January.

State lawmakers held a day-long meeting yesterday discussing the slow process of getting insurance companies to pay claims on hurricane-damaged homes. Doug Quinn, executive director of the American Policyholder Association, says one tactic insurance providers are using is known as the churning of adjusters…
cut 15 (10) “….a good claim”
The insurance industry says there are not enough local adjusters after a major storm passes through and so they need to bring in out-of-state adjusters.

St. Tammany Parish councilman Mike Lorino says the proposition on the December 11th ballot for a casino in Slidell would result in just one casino in the parish and any claims it would result in multiple casinos are not true..
cut 12 (12) “…bolgna”
The Supreme Court’s six conservative justices indicated they would uphold Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban which could then limit abortions in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Brian Kelly was introduced as LSU’s new football coach. Jeff Palermo has the highlights…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

And Louisiana Tech has hired Sonny Cumbie as their next head football coach. Cumbie spent the past season at Tech Texas as their offensive coordinator. He replaces outgoing coach Skip Holtz, La Tech finished 3-9 this season.

According to Louisiana Tech’s Center for Economic Research’s first Economic Abstract of the state’s economy, employment has increased but it’s not at pre-pandemic levels yet. Center Director Dr. Patrick Scott says while unemployment has improved the state is still down 132,000 jobs, and he estimates that up to 85,000 have left the workforce in Louisiana.

Cut 4 (13) “…fundamentally.”

Country music fans are thrilled to hear Garth Brooks will be coming to Tiger Stadium April 30th. It will be his only appearance in Louisiana on his upcoming tour. Visit Baton Rouge head Paul Arrigo says the show is sure to be an economic boon for the Capital Area.

Cut 8 (09) “…those seats filled.”

Tickets go on sale December 10^th.

Country music legend Garth Brooks is coming to Baton Rouge’s Tiger stadium this spring. More from Michelle Southern…:

CUT 01         (35)    “…reporting.”

A federal judge in Louisiana’s western district temporarily blocks President Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate for all U.S. health care workers. The vaccine order was to have taken effect next week and could result in thousands of nurses, doctors and technicians losing their jobs in February.

According to the Louisiana Tech Center for Economic Research’s first Economic Abstract of the state’s economy, employment has increased but it’s not at pre-pandemic levels yet. Center Director Dr. Patrick Scott says there are two ways to possibly increase the workforce…L:

CUT 03(12)      “…policy response.”

Former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain is facing up to ten years in a federal lockup after pleading guilty today to one of 16 corruption counts in a kickback scheme related to his privatizing of an inmate work release program. Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino says Strain’s federal plea may have been an attempt to avoid going first into the state’s prison system…:

CUT 10(13)      “…state court system.”

Strain was convicted last month of multiple counts of sexual assault, for which he faces a probable life sentence.