COVID numbers are way down but Governor Edwards says the mask mandate is here to stay for a while longer. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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. The Oregon State University Board of Trustees is calling on Alexander to come up with an action plan on how he will rebuild the trust with the O-S-U campus.

Good news for utility customers who are facing high power bills as a result of turning their thermostats way up when the temperatures were below freezing in February. The Public Service Commission has ordered utility companies to spread out the costs of those bills over several months…
cut 6 (05) “….can be”
That’s P-S-C member Foster Campbell.

Tropical storms will no longer be named after the Greek Alphabet. The World Meteorological Organization says naming storms after the Greek Alphabet distracted from the actual impacts of the storm, there was confusion with some Greek alphabet names when translated to different languages and the pronunciation of several Greek letters are similar. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a new overflow list will be used instead…
cut 15 (08) “…the line”

The Louisiana Public Service Commission has ordered utility companies to spread winter heating costs out over several months. When temperatures went below freezing in February for an extended period of time, utilities had to purchase more energy to meet customer demand. North Louisana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says that has led to higher than normal power bills for many customers…
cut 5 (06) “…for it”
Campbell says as a result of P-S-C’s order, customers will be given six to 12 months to pay those high winter bills.

The Greek Alphabet will no longer be used to name tropical storms after the season surpasses 21 named storms. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the World Meteorological Organization’s Hurricane Committee ditched the Greek alphabet for several reasons, the names are a distraction, the alphabet’s poor translation into other languages, and…
Cut 14 (03) “…letters.”

A federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the family of Tommie McGlothen, Jr, a black man who died after an altercation with Shreveport Police.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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.

Louisiana utility customers will receive extra time to pay off their high winter power bills from last month’s historic winter weather that produced a huge demand for heat. Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says they’ve ordered utility companies to spread their costs out over several months…
Cut 4 (08)“…for people.”
Residents in Texas have received utility bills in the thousands instead of the hundreds, but here in Louisiana, the P-S-C has the ability to regulate utility costs.

Texas and Mississippi have done away with their mask mandates and instead are recommending to their citizens to 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 World Meteorological Organization has made some big changes to naming tropical storms. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

After a stormy Wednesday, today’s forecast looks much better, sunny skies with high temperatures in the low to mid-60s.

COVID numbers are way down but Governor Edwards says the mask mandate will likely be here to stay for a while longer. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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A federal lawsuit was filed this week on behalf of the family of Tommie McGlothen, Jr, the black man who died after an altercation with Shreveport Police. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The World Meteorological Organization made some big changes to storm naming at their recent meeting. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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Louisiana residents will receive extra time to pay off their high winter power bills after two historic winter storms last month produced a huge demand for heat. Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says this will help 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.

North Louisiana P-S-C member Foster Campbell says many customers were caught off guard when they received their power bill and are unable to a large payment all at once.

Cut 5 (06)“…for it.”

Campbell says they are working with utility providers to make sure those who received high bills are allowed to spread the payments out over six to 12 months from the February Freeze.

Cut 6 (05) “…can be.”

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The state may be seeing some of the lowest COVID numbers since the pandemic began but Governor Edwards says that doesn’t mean the mask mandate is going away any time soon.

Neighboring Mississippi and Texas have dropped their mandate and instead offered recommendations to mask when necessary. Edwards says that doesn’t work.

Cut 7 (08)  “…part.”

The number of new COVID cases has dropped by over 75 percent since mid-January. New daily deaths have also fallen to near average single digits this week after averaging over 50 in mid-January.

Edwards says the state vaccination campaign is going well and our ticket out of the pandemic but until most of the population is fully vaccinated the virus is still a major threat.

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.

But Edwards is optimistic that at our current rate of vaccination we will see a fully packed Superdome and Tiger Stadium next fall…

Cut 9 (08) “…it can.”

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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.

Carter is representing McGlothen’s daughter and two sons on behalf of McGlothen’s widow who died this year. 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.”

Carter says the family is seeking justice and the judicial system speaks to monetary compensation as a form of an attempt to get justice in cases like this.

Cut 12 (08) “…life.”

Carter says he offered the city a settlement of $25-million in October.

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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.

Keim says they ditched the Greek alphabet for a number of reasons including that the names being a distraction, the alphabet’s poor translation into other languages, and…

Cut 14 (03) “…letters.” 

Only twice in hurricane season history, 2020 and 2005, have there been over 21 named storms resulting in overflow to the Greek alphabet.

A new “overflow” list has been selected instead of the Greek alphabet…

Cut 15 (08)“….the line.”

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The LSU basketball team is staying at a hotel in Indianapolis as they get ready to take on St. Bonaventure on Saturday afternoon in a first-round NCAA Tournament game.  Head Coach Will Wade says his team arrived on Monday and had to quarantine for two days and they have been confined to their hotel.

Cut 16 (11) “…for practice today.”

Since the team hasn’t been outside much, Wade says some of his players have turned to video games for entertainment.

Cut 17 (18) “…I have no clue.”

While the bubble is certainly a unique experience, Wade says he rather be in Indy than in Baton Rouge preparing for next season.

Cut  18 (11) “…excited to be here.”

Severe weather is making its way across the state spurning thunderstorms and tornado warnings. Several areas of the state mainly north and central Louisiana are also under wind advisories. Flash flood warnings have also been issued in spots as the cold front that stretches from Louisiana all the way to Wisconsin makes it way eastward.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association and Governor Edwards are asking President Biden not to extend the 60-day oil and gas lease sale moratorium put into place in January.

Cut 2 (29) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

Metairie-based MedPharmics is conducting clinical trials on children with the Moderna vaccine, MedPharmics President Dr. Robert Jeanfreau believes in the vaccine and says his company has been part of the research since the beginning of the pandemic.

Cut 5  (08)  “…do it.” 

Irish bars in New Orleans agreed to close today on St. Patrick’s Day out of concern for patron’s safety. Owner of Finn McCool’s Sean Kennedy says he made the decision for his pub after witnessing a group on Saturday flagrantly violating COVID guidelines. He says that made the risks for today clear…

Cut 9 (10) “…rules”

Kennedy says when the patrons who were violating COVID rules were asked to correct their behavior, they not only refused but argued with staff.

Governor John Bel Edwards reiterated his call for President Biden to not renew a soon expiring moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters today on his monthly talk show. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla says oil and gas taxes have generated 280 million dollars over the past few years to support coastal restoration projects.

Cut 7 (06) “…that.”

The Biden Administration says the policy is a key part of their plan to tackle global warming by reducing carbon production.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and Irish bars in New Orleans are staying closed out of concern for their patron’s safety, even though city regulations allow for limited bar activity. Owner of Finn McCool’s Sean Kennedy says the decision was made after they saw some patrons Saturday resisting health guidelines…

Cut 10 (10) “…not to.” 

Louisiana is taking part in child clinical trials for the Moderna COVID vaccine. President of MedPharmics Dr. Robert Jeanfreau, which is conducting the trial in the Bayou State, says the trial is broken into two groups and it’s the same vaccine adults receive, what they are testing is the most effective dose.

Cut 4 (12) “…part two.” 

A 30-year old Church Point man is charged with negligent homicide after St. Landy Parish sheriff’s deputies say an infant drowned in his bathtub. Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says Nicholas Lee Ducote placed his 9 month and two-year-old children in the tub, left the room to do chores, and then…

Cut 12 (11) “ …unresponsive” 

The two-year-old was found unharmed sitting next to the tub.

A Church Point man is charged with negligent homicide after St. Landy Parish sheriff’s deputies say he failed to supervise his 9-month-old child in the bath who drowned as a result.

Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says Nicholas Lee Ducote placed his 9 month and two-year-old children in the bath and then left the room. Thibodeaux says even though accidental it’s a heartbreaking case and that could have been avoided.

Cut 14 (04) “child.” 

A Gulf oil lease sale that was set to be sold today in New Orleans won’t happen due to the 60-day lease sale moratorium issued in January by President Biden. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla says the jobs of 50,000 Louisiana oil and gas workers are in long-term danger.

Cut 6 (12) “…market”

Louisiana is taking part in clinical trials for children and the Moderna COVID vaccine. President of MedPharmics Dr. Robert Jeanfreau, which is conducting the trial in the Bayou State, says like all medications the vaccine must be tested in every population group.

Cut 3 (12)  “…be done.”  

Call MedPharmics if you’d like to participate.

Irish pubs in New Orleans agreed to close today on St. Patrick’s out of concern for patron’s safety because many people are ignoring COVID protocols. Owner of Finn McCool’s Sean Kennedy says staying closed on one of the biggest days of the year for Irish bars is tough but it’s the right thing to do.

Cut 11 (11) ”  wrong”