Those who are grocery store workers, postal workers, those in the hotel and manufacturing industries, higher education, media, and roughly 20 other professions are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine as of today’s expansion in eligibility. This now makes the overwhelming majority of those over the age of 15 in Louisiana eligible to receive a COVID vaccine at approved pharmacies.

Drew Brees says he’s ready for his next career in football as a football commentator for NBC…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp” 

Former LSU and current Oregon State President F. King Alexander is on probation for his alleged mishandling of sexual assault and harassment reports during his tenure at LSU. He’s accused of being fully aware of allegations against former coach Les Miles but failing to act. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says probation is a surprisingly light sentence.

Cut 9 (12) “…LSU”

Barrow is a member of a legislative committee that has been tasked with digging further into the Alexander tenure at LSU and its alleged indifference towards sexual misconduct incidents.

So far Southwest Louisiana has the lowest vaccination rate of 7.8-percent. That’s almost half of the 13-percent rate of the New Orleans region, but Southwest Louisiana Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh believes the numbers are misleading since many have evacuated from the area after two hurricanes last summer.

Cut 4 (08) “…then” 

Governor Edwards further expands the list of those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Those deemed essential workers in a number of different jobs, over 20 in total, can now apply. That includes grocery store workers, IT workers, clergy, postal workers, those in the hotel industry, manufacturing, and many more.

Former LSU President F. King Alexander gets ten weeks probation at his new job running Oregon State as a result of an investigation into mishandlings of sexual misconduct cases during his time in Baton Rouge. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says it’s a surprisingly light sentence, but it may be that he faces further punishment…

Cut 11 (07) ”  accountable”

Oregon State’s board of Trustees grilled Alexander over allegations that he was aware of coach Les Miles’ behavior and did not respond appropriately.

Drew Brees says he’s excited to move into the next phase of his life after leading the Black and Gold for 15 years and retiring from the NFL a sure fire first ballot hall of fame legend. He’ll be in the broadcast booth for NBC sports and says while he could have played another season in the NFL, he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Cut 7 (12) “…it was time.”

Brees will be a studio analyst for “Football Night in America” on Sunday nights and as a color analyst for Notre Dame football games. 

The Biden Stimulus Bill includes 10.4 billion in aid to the ag industry. Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the funds can be used in part to fund programs at ag research institutions that provide outreach and extension to farmers in poor and rural areas and assist them with better production.

Cut 14 (11) “…in agriculture.” 

Oregon State has placed former LSU president F- King Alexander on probation for his role in the mishandling of sexual misconduct complaints while he was leading the L-S-U system. At LSU, two athletic administrators are still on suspension, but Chairperson of the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children, Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow, says the response so far from these two universities is not good enough…
cut 10 (07) “…response”
There have been calls for LSU athletic administrators Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar to be fired.

The state reported 558 more COVID-19 cases today and in southwest Louisiana, they are seeing more positive cases connected to the U-K variant than other parts of the state. Southwest Louisiana Regional Health Director Doctor Lacey Cavanaugh says they have a lab in that area that could test for it…
cut 3 (09) “….by us”

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the nation’s ag industry is set to receive 10-billion dollars from the one-point-nine trillion-dollar American Rescue Plan approved by Congress. Strain says the legislation includes 66-million for the Farm Loan Assistance Program for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers…
cut 13 (11) “…for given”

The state reported 558 more COVID-19 cases today and in southwest Louisiana, they are seeing more positive cases connected to the U-K variant than other parts of the state. Southwest Louisiana Regional Health Director Doctor Lacey Cavanaugh says they have a lab in that area that could test for it…
cut 3 (09) “….by us”

According to the latest vaccination numbers from the state health department, nearly one million people in Louisiana have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. The lowest vaccination rate is in southwest Louisiana at eight-percent. Southwest Louisiana Regional Health Director Doctor Lacey Cavanaugh has a theory on why that is…
cut 5 (08) “…table”

The American Rescue Plan includes an estimated $10.4 billion for Agriculture designed to strengthen the industry and food supply chain. Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the plan covers a variety of things.
Cut 12 (10) “ …agriculture.”
Strain says the plan includes $66-million for the Farm Loan Assistance Program for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The Oregon State Board of Trustees places OSU President F. King Alexander on probation for ten weeks for his mishandling of sexual misconduct cases during his time as LSU’s President. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle”

Drew Brees hopes his new role as an analyst with NBC Sports will help in his transition from playing football for most of his life. Brees will be a color commentator on Notre Dame broadcasts and a studio analyst for NBC on Sunday nights during the NFL season. Brees believes he could have played another season, but he wants to spend more time with his family.

Former LSU and current Oregon State President F. King Alexander is on probation for his alleged mishandling of sexual assault and harassment reports during his tenure at LSU. He’s accused of being fully aware of allegations against former coach Les Miles but failing to act. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says probation is a surprisingly light sentence.

Cut 9 (12) “…LSU”

So far Southwest Louisiana has the lowest vaccination rate of 7.8-percent. That’s almost half of the 13-percent rate of the New Orleans region. Southwest Louisiana Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh believes the numbers are misleading since many have evacuated from the area after two hurricanes last summer.

Cut 4 (08) “…then” 

Drew Brees says he’s ready for his next career in football as a football commentator for NBC Sports. Taylor Sharp has more…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp” 

The state reports that nearly a million in Louisiana have received at least one dose of their COVID vaccination.

In addition to storm recovery, it also appears that southwest Louisiana is battling two COVID issues, a higher concentration of the UK variant and a lower per capita vaccination rate. Medical Director for the area Lacey Cavanaugh says while they are concerned about the more transmissible variant, they also have a lab to test for it.

Cut 3 (09)  “…by us.”  

Drew Brees will be a studio analyst for “Football Night in America” on Sunday nights with NBC Sports and a color analyst for Notre Dame football games.  Brees says he hopes fans can learn something about the game from his analysis.

Cut 6 (13) “…game now”

The attorney representing the family of Tommie McGlothen Jr., the black man who died after an incident with police officers, filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Shreveport, the police chief and officers involved Tuesday. Attorney James Carter says the four officers named in the suit, were charged by a grand jury in Caddo Parish last fall with negligent homicide and malfeasance.

Cut 11 (07) “…oversight.”

McGlothen, who had a known mental condition, passed away after the incident in April.

Neighboring states Texas and Mississippi have done away with their mask mandates and instead are merely recommending their citizens wear masks when necessary. But Governor John Bel Edwards says that approach doesn’t work…

cut 7 (08) “….part”
Edwards says masks are still necessary as not enough people are vaccinated yet.

The attorney representing the family of Tommie McGlothen Jr., the black man who died after an incident with police officers, filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Shreveport, the police chief and officers involved Tuesday. Attorney James Carter says he tried to settle the matter amicably.

Cut 10 (12) “…very end.”

McGlothen who had a known mental condition died last April after his arrest. Cater offered a $25-million settlement last fall to the city.

Louisiana residents will receive extra time to pay off their high winter power bills after the back-to-back winter storms last month produced a huge demand for heat. Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says this will help those customers who are having difficulty.

Cut 4 (08)“…for people.”

The PSC told the state’s utility providers to give customers extra time to pay off their bill from the February freeze.

The World Meteorological Organization’s Hurricane Committee retired Laura from the storm name rotation and decided the Greek alphabet will no longer be used to name systems. Along with Laura, State Climatologist Barry Keim says the committee retired Dorian, a devastating 2019 storm that hit the Bahamas, and Eta and Iota, two major storms that landed last year in Central America.

Cut 13 (04) “…Louisiana.”

93 names have now been officially retired from the storm name six-year rotation.

Will the Superdome and college football stadiums be filled next fall as they would be pre-pandemic? Governor John Bel Edwards believes so…
cut 9 (08) “…it can”
Edwards says for full stadiums to return, people need to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Governor Edwards will provide a COVID-19 briefing today at 2:30 PM. Yesterday during his monthly Ask the Governor’s show, Edwards said he has no plans to remove the statewide mask mandate, despite improving COVID numbers. The governor says while the vaccination campaign is going well, they need more people vaccinated…
cut 8 (09) “….transmission”
Over 900,000 Louisianans have received at least one dose of a vaccine and over half a million have completed their series.

The family of Tommie McGlothen, a black man who died after he was beaten and tased by four Shreveport police officers last April has filed a federal lawsuit against Shreveport, its police chief, and the officers involved in the altercation. Attorney Larry Carter says the family is seeking justice through the judicial system.
Cut 12 (08) “…life.”
Carter says he offered the city a settlement of $25-million in October.

The World Meteorological Organization has made some big changes to tropical storm naming. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Drew Brees hopes his new role as an analyst with NBC Sports will help in his transition from playing football for most of his life. Brees will be a color commentator on Notre Dame broadcasts and a studio analyst for NBC on Sunday nights during the NFL season. Brees believes he could have played another season, but he wants to spend more time with his family.