The process is starting on changing the name of Louisiana’s lone Army base, Fort Polk in Vernon Parish, which is named after Confederate General and Episcopal Leonidas Polk. Military complexes nationwide will be renamed to help quell ill feelings still being felt over the Civil War and slavery. Fort Polk spokesperson Kavanaugh Breazeale (bruh-ZELL) says the public may suggest a new name online at www.theNamingCommission.gov…:
cut 5 (13) “….will go from there”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the infrastructure bill signed this week contains 65-billion dollars to expand broadband around the country. Cassidy says this will improve economic development in rural areas…
cut 11 (12) “….place of work”

It’s Apprenticeship Appreciation and Awareness Week and the Louisiana Workforce Commission is celebrating with job fairs. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

New Orleans says it will keep its vaccine mandate in place to enter restaurants and many businesses through Mardi Gras in an effort to make sure the carnival season can happen safely. LSU is lifting its indoor mask mandate on the Baton Rouge campus.

Warm today, cold front arrives tomorrow with some rain.

It’s Apprenticeship Appreciation and Awareness Week and Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Chris Fiore says they are celebrating by offering an apprenticeship fair today connecting job seekers with opportunities, and a virtual fair for students….
Cut 7 (09) “…our Facebook page.”
Apprenticeship programs allow students to learn on-the-job skills, earn a wage, and also earn education credits.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is excited about high-speed internet coming to rural areas of Louisiana that currently are dealing with slow internet speeds. Cassidy says 65-billion dollars in grants for broadband development are contained in the federal infrastructure bill…
cut 10 (06) “…currently have broadband”
He says expanding broadband service will have a positive impact in a wide number of areas, including education.

The search continues for 36-year-old Michelle Smith who is accused of biting a large portion of a policeman’s ear off. Houma Police Lieutenant Travis Theriot says the officer was injured after responding to a fight among a group of women at Joni B’s Bar in Houma…
cut 14 (08) “…we’re hopeful”
Once Smith is arrested, she’ll be charged with second-degree battery.

The Louisiana Health Department has launched the “Just Check” campaign. It’s urging those concerned about possibly having syphilis to get checked and educated about the sexually transmitted disease. Deputy Director of Operations for the Louisiana STD-HIV Hepatitis Program Chaquetta Johnson says a majority of cases involve men who are otherwise healthy under the age of 40….
cut 17 (09) “…north Louisiana, yes”
Johnson says ignoring symptoms and not getting tested could result in consequences that last the rest of your life.

Named for a Confederate general, Fort Polk – in Vernon Parish – will soon get a new moniker. Kevin Gallagher reports on the selection process…:
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

As a result of a low number of COVID cases, LSU is lifting its indoor mask mandate. The state health department reported just nine COVID deaths yesterday and the number of COVID patients in the hospital statewide is 209.

Governor John Bel Edwards holds his monthly radio call-in show today at 2 PM.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the massive infrastructure bill signed into law this week contains 65-billion dollars in grants for broadband deployment. Cassidy says this could lead to economic development in rural parishes…
Cut 12 (12) “…those businesses there.”
Cassidy says Louisiana is also one of eight stats that will share 150-million dollars in grants to improve economic and community growth.

The “Just Check” campaign is being launched by the Louisiana Department of Health in an effort to address the rising number of syphilis cases in the state. Chaquetta Johnson is the Deputy Director of Operations for the Louisiana STD/HIV Hepatitis Program:
Cut 15 (10) “…and north Louisiana.”
Johnson notes that syphilis is a highly contagious sexually transmitted infection that had been on the decline, but has been increasing in the northeast part of the state.

Louisiana’s Fort Polk, in Vernon Parish, could have a new name soon. Fort Polk spokesman Kavanaugh Breazeale (bruh-ZELL) says this comes after Congress agreed to rename military installations and vessels named for members of the Confederacy. He says recommendations can be made at the-naming-commission-dot-gov…
Cut 4 (07) “…for Fort Polk. “
Fort Polk is named for Confederate General and Episcopal Bishop Leonidas Polk.

Cops in Houma continue to search for a suspect who nearly bit off the entire ear of a police officer during an altercation over the weekend at Joni Bi’s Bar. Lt. Travis Theriot says the incident occurred after Houma Police arrived to break up a fight among a group of women…
cut 13 (09) “….portion of his ear”
36-year-old Michelle Smith faces a second-degree battery charge.

The state Department of Health is launching what it’s calling “Just Check”, a campaign targeting the rising number of syphilis cases in north and central Louisiana. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder is reacting to the voter rejection of Amendment 1 on Saturday that would have set the wheels in motion for the state to have a centralized tax collection system.

Cut 3 (09) “….it go down.”

The state currently has 54 tax collection entities making it complex for businesses and individuals to maneuver.

In 2020, when lawmakers approved legislation that changed how the courts would handle lawsuits involving car accidents, supporters said it would lead to lower auto insurance rates. But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said during a task force meeting on Affordable Automobile Insurance that rates are actually going up

 cut 6 (06) “…through october” 

The 2020 tort reform legislation will lead to more jury trials, resulting in lower damages paid out to plaintiffs and the measure also caps certain medical expenses.

Senator Bill Cassidy is lauding the signing of the trillion-dollar-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden on Monday.

Cut 12 (11) “…improve internet access.”  

Cassidy says when he ran for office he said he would work to find real solutions to problems facing our families and he says the infrastructure bill will deliver to improve the lives of people in Louisiana.

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed another suit against the Biden Administration, concerning vaccine mandates. Now he’s challenging the legality of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, The Attorney General’s office which also investigates Medicaid fraud in the state, Landry says the CMS vaccine mandate hits too close to home for his office.

Cut 10 (07)  “…be vaccinated.”

Landry says the mandate is unconstitutional and could impact the state’s budget if federal monies are withheld from agencies that do not follow the vaccine mandate.

A task force established to come up with solutions to Louisiana having the highest auto insurance rates in the country finds that rates are on the rise again. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Palermo.”

Commuters are shocked and parents don’t know what to tell their kids about some graphically dirty graffiti that turned up Sunday under an overpass on Shreveport’s Line Avenue. Residents are flooding city council members with calls to have the trashy stuff painted over.

Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder is reacting to the voter rejection of Amendment 1 on Saturday that would have set the wheels in motion for the state to have a centralized tax collection system. Schexnayder says he doesn’t believe state lawmakers are about to throw in the towel on having Louisiana adopt a single tax commission, rather than the 54 entities dotting the state now…:

CUT 05(05)      “…this time”

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed another suit against the Biden Administration, over vaccine mandates. This time he’s challenging the legality of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, mandating all employees be vaccinated at facilities that receive CMS funding…:

CUT 09(09)      “…CMS bucket.”

Landry’s office investigates alleged Medicaid fraud, so he says this gets pretty close to home.

State Attorney General Jeff Landry joins with ten other states to file another lawsuit against the Biden White House over vaccine mandates. This one challenges whether it’s legal to use the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) to force the shots. Landry says that’s unconstitutional and will contribute to even more shortages of healthcare workers…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…want to do.”

Landry’s department investigates Medicaid fraud and the mandate hits too close to home.

LSU President William Tate announces the school is lifting its mandatory mask rule for indoor areas on the Baton Rouge campus. The mask order had been in place since summer, when the so-called fourth wave hit. Tate’s decision was made with help from the university’s Health & Medical Advisory Committee. It also ends restrictions for on-campus events, like sports.

The state Speaker of the House is disappointed to see Constitutional Amendment One fail at the polls last Saturday. Dave Brannen has more…:

CUT 01  (31)        “…Brannen.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is miffed to see the dramatic increases in gas and diesel fuel prices. He points the finger at President Biden and his energy policies…:

CUT 14  (05)        “increase their production.”

He says Biden should put Americans back to work producing oil for our motor fuels.

Constitutional Amendment One – which would have created a single, centralized state sales tax collection agency – fell to defeat in last Saturday’s election. That disappoints state House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, who is glad that at least the second part of tax reforms, Amendment Two, did pass…:

CUT 04  (11)        “…into our state.”

Currently there are 54 sales tax collection entities in Louisiana.  48 other states have but one.

Last year, lawmakers passed legislation that was supposed to lower our auto insurance rates, yet they have instead gone UP. Why? Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says an increase in traffic fatalities in our state is part of the reason…:

CUT 08  (10)        “…distracted driving.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy lauds the signing of the $1-trillion-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden Monday. The senator says he’d have preferred to have a conservative president oversee all that spending, but he is nevertheless pleased to see New Orleans’ Mitch Landrieu tapped for the job…:

CUT 13  (11)        “…can only help.”

Out of that bill Louisiana will get billions for roads & bridges and money to establish high speed internet in every parish.

Attorney General Jeff Landry files another suit against the Biden White House over vaccine mandates. This one challenges the legality of using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to mandate the shots. He says that’s hits too close to home for his comfort..:

CUT 10  (07)        “…to be vaccinated.”

Landry joins ten other states in this lawsuit.

Senator Bill Cassidy is lauding the signing of the trillion-dollar-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden on Monday.
Cut 12 (11) “…improve internet access.”
Cassidy says the infrastructure bill will deliver to improve the lives of people in Louisiana.

When it comes to Louisiana politics, there’s still some surprise that Constitutional Amendment one did not pass. It would have created a centralized sales tax collection system. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder authored the legislation…
cut 3 (09) “…it go down”
The state currently has 54 tax collection entities making it complex for businesses and individuals to maneuver through and a lawsuit was filed yesterday declaring Louisiana’s system as unconstitutional based on a Supreme Court ruling in 2018.

A task force established to come up with solutions to Louisiana having the highest auto insurance rates in the country finds that rates are on the rise again. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

New registration fees are in place for motorboats. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries say they went into effect Monday as a result of legislation approved this year. For boats smaller than 15-feet and eleven inches the fee is 36-dollars, for boats larger than 40-feet, the registration fee is now 99-dollars.