Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Brooke Thorington….
cut 7 (09) “…vaccine”
That’s Governor John Bel Edwards who says the state is set to receive 39-thousand doses of the Pfizer vaccine once the F-D-A signs off on emergency approval.

Louisiana’s Senior Senator reacts to a lawsuit filed by Texas that challenges the election results in four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

St James Parish’s annual Christmas Eve bonfires on the levee have been extinguished for 2020, due to a high positivity rate of COVID cases. Parish President Pete Dufresne (Duh-fren) says large outdoor events are only permitted if the positivity rate is below 15-percent…
Cut 13 (12) “…St James Parish.”
Each bonfire set has until Wednesday to pick up their materials, anything left behind will be cleared from the levee.

The Brookshire Grocery Arena is the new name for the Bossier City arena that was previously known as the CenturyLink Center. Brookshire Chief Operating Officer Trent Brookshire says he looks forward to the first major event at the entertainment venue once the pandemic ends…
cut 6 (09) “…stands for”
The naming rights deal is for ten years.

The Food and Drug Administration is on the verge of approving emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Governor John Bel Edwards expects authorization very soon and 39-thousand doses could be administered to frontline healthcare personnel early next week…
cut 8 (11) “…UPS”
But Edwards says it will be months before the vaccines are widely available to the public.

Louisiana A-G Jeff Landry is one of several Attorneys’ general who has filed a legal brief that supports a lawsuit aimed at overturning the Presidential election results in four key swing states. Senator Bill Cassidy has said he has yet to see enough evidence, but maybe this issue needs to go before the Supreme Court…
cut 11 (07) “….be it”

St. James Parish has canceled its annual Christmas Eve bonfires on the levee celebration. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Bossier City arena has a new name as it’s now the Brookshire Grocery Arena as the result of a ten-year naming rights deal. Chief Operating Officer of Brookshire Grocery, Trent Brookshire, on the logo that will be displayed on the arena…
cut 5 (11) “…in Bossier”

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is days away from administering COVID vaccinations. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The governor also says he will not make it mandatory for people to get a COVID vaccine, but he hopes most Louisiana residents will want it. Edwards says he’s not expecting much resistance early on, since front line health care workers who have been taking care of coronavirus patients are among the first group to get vaccinated.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry joins 16 other Attorneys General in supporting a lawsuit filed by Texas challenging the legitimacy of mail-in ballots in battleground states. Senator Bill Cassidy has tweeted there’s no evidence presented yet that would overturn Joe Biden’s victory, but says it is important for legitimate claims to be fully aired out.
Cut 10 (10) “…issue.”
The lawsuit challenges results in Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The Bossier City arena has a new name as it’s now known as the Brookshire (Brook-shear) Grocery Arena. The Tyler, Texas-based chain replaces CenturyLink as the naming rights sponsor. Brookshire Grocery CEO Brad Brookshire says they are thrilled about this new partnership.
Cut 4 (07) “…the BGA.”
The naming rights deal is for 10 years and it’s the first time the grocery food store chain has purchased the naming rights of a building.

Governor John Bel Edwards says we are days away from the first Louisiana residents receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Edwards says once the F-D-A gives its approval, the state will administer 39-thousand doses to front-line health care workers and nursing home residents…
cut 9 (10) “….number”
The Pfizer vaccine which is close to FDA approval requires a second shot 21 days after the first shot.

A high COVID-19 positivity rate has led to the cancellation of the St. James Parish Christmas Eve bonfires. Parish President Pete Dufrense says they worked diligently on a plan for crowd control, but rising case numbers worked against them…
cut 15 (12) “….manipulated”
There are 1,529 COVID patients in the hospital statewide.

Seventeen Republican Attorneys General have joined a Texas lawsuit challenging election results in four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

A State Police Trooper has been arrested for allegedly using excessive force during an arrest in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. 30-year-old Jacob Brown faces one count each of aggravated second-degree battery and malfeasance in office. State Police say they began investigating the incident when they received a civil lawsuit in October alleging Brown engaged in excessive and unjustifiable actions.

Governor John Bel Edwards says it is possible we could be administering COVID vaccines to frontline healthcare workers as early as late this weekend. Edwards says a panel of medical experts has recommended to the FDA that the Pfizer vaccine receive emergency authorization.…
Cut 7 (09) “…vaccine.”
Edwards is hopeful that 159-thousand people could receive the first of their two injections by the end of December.

But a vaccine arriving in Louisiana is not enough to prevent the cancellation of the Christmas Eve bonfires on the levees in St. James Parish. Parish President Pete Dufresne says the parish issued permits for the construction of the bonfires, but that was before cases spiked…
cut 14 (10) “…next week”

Louisiana Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a legal brief with the U-S Supreme Court urging the Justices to look into the conduct of the Presidential election in Pennsylvania. The document supports a complaint filed by the State of Texas. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has said Joe Biden won the election and hopes this issue can be settled so that the country can come together again…
cut 12 (12) “….served”
Cassidy says Americans should be able to trust the electoral process, and this issue may need to go before the Supreme Court for that to occur.

Governor Edwards says the first COVID vaccinations in Louisiana are set to begin very, very soon. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

_______________________________

Seventeen Republican Attorneys General have joined a Texas lawsuit challenging election results in four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

__________________________________________

St. James Parish cancels bonfires on the levees, Brooke Thorington reports on the difficult decision to scrap the event.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

__________________________________________

The Bossier City arena has a new name as it’s now known as the Brookshire (Brook-shear) Grocery Arena. The Tyler, Texas-based chain replaces CenturyLink as the naming rights sponsor. Brookshire Grocery CEO Brad Brookshire says they are thrilled about this new partnership.

Cut 4 (07) “…the BGA.”

The grocery chain signed a ten-year commitment with the 4,000 seat multi-purpose arena. COO Trent Brookshire says a lot of work when into the new logo for the arena.

Cut 5 (11) “…in Bossier.”

Trent Brookshire says the once the COVID era ends the BGA will be a major tourist attraction again.

Cut 6 (09) “…stands for.”

Brookshire Grocery has been in the Bossier City-Shreveport area for 60 years.

________________________

Governor John Bel Edwards says it is possible we could be administering COVID vaccines to frontline healthcare workers as early as late this weekend.

A panel of medical experts Thursday submitted its recommendation to the FDA that the Pfizer vaccine be given emergency authorization. Edwards says that means…

Cut 7 (09)  “…vaccine.”

Edwards says the vaccine is staged and ready to be shipped to locations that have been selected throughout the state.

Cut 8 (11) “…UPS.”

Edwards says we expect to receive about 39,000 doses within the next few days, followed by 40,000 the next week. He says unlike other states and the feds, we will be using all doses upon arrival.

Cut 9 (10) “…number.”

_____________________________________________________

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry joins 16 other Attorneys General in supporting a lawsuit filed by Texas challenging the legitimacy of mail-in ballots in battleground states.

Senator Bill Cassidy has tweeted there’s no evidence presented yet that would overturn Biden’s win, but says it is important that if there are legitimate claims that they are fully aired out.

Cut 10 (10) “…issue.”

The lawsuit challenges results in Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Those states were key in President-elect Joe Biden’s path to winning over 270 electoral votes.

Cassidy says it is vital that Americans trust the electoral process, and it may be that this issue needs to go before the highest court in the land to do that.

Cut 11 (07) “…be it.”

Cassidy says he hopes this issue can be settled so that the country can come together again.

Cut 12 (12) “…served.”

__________________________

St James Parish’s annual Christmas Eve bonfires on the levee have been extinguished for 2020, due to a high positivity rate of COVID cases. Parish President Pete Dufresne (Duh-fren) says large outdoor events are only permitted if the positivity rate remains below 15-percent. As of Wednesday morning, the bonfires were a go with only an 8-percent positivity rate.

Cut 13 (12) “…St James Parish.”

Dufresne says many have questioned the issuing of permits to construct bonfires if there was a possibility of canceling the event.  He says the decision was made before Thanksgiving,

Cut 14 (10) “…next week.” 

The tradition of lighting bonfires to guide Papa Noel on Christmas Eve goes back to the late 1800s and the annual event in St. James Parish attracts thousands. Dufresne says they worked diligently on a plan for crowd control, but rising case numbers worked against them.

Cut 15 (12)“…manipulated.” 

The parish will issue permit refunds and requests that the construction of bonfires be discontinued.

_______________________________________________

Two quarterbacks who like to run the football will face off Sunday when the Saints visit the Eagles. Taysom Hill will make his fourth straight start at quarterback for New Orleans, while rookie QB Jalen Hurts will make his first NFL start for Philadelphia. Hill has rushed for 178 yards in his four starts and he’s impressed with what Hurts did in college

Cut 16 (10) “…as a player.”

Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins on facing a quarterback who is making his first NFL start…

cut 17 (29) “…give or take.”

Jenkins spent six seasons in Philadelphia winning a Super Bowl in February of 2018. The veteran is looking forward to returning to Lincoln Financial Field…

cut  18 (20) “…the opportunity.”

_____________________________________________________

LSU is once again big underdogs heading into Saturday’s SEC match-up against sixth-ranked Florida. The Gators are averaging 42 points a game and feature one of the best tight ends in the country in Kyle Pitts. Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron…

cut 19 (18) “…lot of speed.”

Linebacker Jabril Cox expects LSU will give good effort despite the team’s struggles this season

cut 20 (29) “….look forward.”

A panel of medical experts have given their seal of approval of the Pfizer COVID vaccine to the FDA, clearing the way for the feds to grant emergency approval of the vaccine within the next 24 hours potentially. Governor Edwards says it is certainly possible that we could be vaccinating people in Louisiana by late Sunday.

The LSU football program has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban for this season in an effort to lessen the penalties it could receive from the NCAA for rules violations. 

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp.”  

D.C. lawmakers are increasingly confident a new roughly 900-billion-dollar COVID relief bill will soon be passed after the two major parties disagreed parts of the bill.  Senator Bill Cassidy says an agreement is right around the corner.

Cut 11 (08) “…divides”

The only hangs are over whether the deal should include a stimulus check or boosted unemployment, and whether businesses should receive a liability shield against potential COVID lawsuits.

Two brothers wanted for the shooting death of a gas station clerk in Kenner were arrested in Memphis, Tennessee. Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser says they’ve been searching for 28-year-old Lamonte Loggins and 29-year-old Eric Rodgers since committing the cold-blooded killing on November 30th

Cut 12 (11) “..zero reasons.” 

Two brothers wanted for the shooting death of a gas station clerk in Kenner were arrested in Memphis, Tennessee. Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser says they’ve been searching for 28-year-old Lamonte Loggins and 29-year-old Eric Rodgers since committing the cold-blooded killing on November 30th

Cut 12 (11) “..zero reasons.” 

D.C. lawmakers are increasingly confident a new roughly 900 billion dollar COVID relief bill will soon be passed. The White House is pushing for a new round of stimulus checks in lieu of federally boosted unemployment, but Senator Bill Cassidy says this isn’t a stimulus bill…

Cut 10 (09) “…rent.”

The LSU football program has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban as a way to punish itself for violating NCAA rules. It’s the first time LSU will not participate in the postseason since 1999. But LSU beat reporter for the USA Today Network Glen Guilbeau says the NCAA may not look at this as a serious punishment…

Cut 3 (12)  “…this seasons gone.”

The FDA is expected to vote today on emergency approval for the Pfizer COVID vaccine and next week the Moderna vaccine.  LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Fred Lopez says with two COVID vaccine options on the cusp of being approved when asked which one you should take he says the first one that’s offered.

Cut 7 (09) “..effective.”

The state reports 25-hundred new COVID-19 cases today and 40 fatalities.