Most of Louisiana is under a tornado watch until early tonight as a result of a strong cold front that is moving through the state. There’s a line of storms moving through Ruston and Winnfield at this hour and radar shows a cluster of storms in southwest Louisiana.

Metairie-based MedPharmics is conducting clinical trials for the Moderna vaccine on children. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A Gulf of Mexico oil lease sale scheduled for today was canceled weeks ago when President Biden issued a 60-day executive order that banned all new oil and gas leases on public waters. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla says long term these restrictive policies will kill oil and gas jobs, but in the short term, it has surprisingly resulted in more industry jobs, not fewer…
cut 8 (10) “…dollars”
The moratorium did not ban drilling on already existing leases.

The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s office has charged 30-year-old Nicholas Ducote with negligent homicide after his nine-month-old son died in the bathtub. Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodaux says Ducote walked out of the bathroom and left his ninth month and two-year-old child in the tub…
cut 13 (10) “…bathtub”
The two year old child was not injured.

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 they determined that on March 4^th, 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.

Metairie-based MedPharmics is conducting clinical trials on children and 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.” 

A Gulf oil lease sale set to be held today in New Orleans is canceled due to the 60-day lease sale moratorium issued in January by President Biden. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla disputes the moratorium and says oil and gas taxes have generated 280 million dollars over the past few years to support coastal restoration projects.

Cut 7 (06) “…that.”

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”

Louisiana is taking part in clinical trials on children with the Moderna COVID vaccine. President of Metairie-based MedPharmics Dr. Robert Jeanfreau 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.” 

They are looking for participants age 12 and under and as young as six months.

Border crossings have hit a 20 year high as more immigrants are arriving at the southern border. President Joe Biden vowed to reverse many of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies and Republicans are pointing the finger at those policy changes including Senator Bill Cassidy.

Cut 13 (10) “…immigration.”

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. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

A Gulf oil lease sale set to be held 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”

The Administration says lowering US and international oil production is necessary to fight global warming.

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.”  

The Louisiana Department of Corrections is asking an additional $21.5 million for the next fiscal budget. Brooke Thorington has more on why the figure is so high.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The chancellor of the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Dr. G-E Ghali has been accused of allegedly making sexist comments to female employees that could be perceived as sexual harassment. Ghali is now under investigation over the allegations but has not commented publicly about the situation.

Hail, strong winds, and tornadoes are possible as a strong cold front will sweep across the state today. A tornado watch is already up for northwest Louisiana until 1 pm and more watches and warnings are expected to be posted as the day goes along. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s just the beginning.

Cut 9 (05) “…spring.”

Attorney General Jeff Landry along with other elected officials will push a bill in the legislative session that would take money collected from opioid settlements with drug companies to help fund Louisiana drug courts which can help those who suffer from addiction and substance abuse. Baton Rouge Judge Don Johnson says it would be money well spent…

Cut 11 (09) “.. crime.” (x3)

The bill would pump an additional 15 million dollars a year into the program.

Border crossings have hit a 20 year high as increasing numbers of immigrants are arriving at the southern border. President Joe Biden vowed to reverse several Trump Administration immigration policies and Senator Bill Cassidy says this is not the right way to handle immigration policy.

Cut 15 (07)“….channels.”

Congressional Democrats have vowed to pursue comprehensive immigration reform to address the situation.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections is seeking an additional $21.5 million in next fiscal year’s budget. DOC Undersecretary Thomas Bickham says the figure represents what the department usually spends on overtime.

Cut 4 (10)“…have.”
The $21.5 million figure also includes a ten percent pay raise for entry-level correctional officers in hopes of attracting new employees.

A bipartisan group is backing legislation that would greatly expand the drug court program using funds obtained from opioid settlements with drug companies. Landry says there are 75 drug court programs in Louisiana, but they are at risk because of a lack of funding. He says drug court programs reduce recidivism and with additional funding, there could be expanded drug testing of arrestees to identify potential addicts…
cut 10 (10) “….intervention”
Port Allen Senator Rick Ward plans to file the legislation.

Plan for the potential of severe weather today as a strong cold front will swing through the state. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
cut 7 (07) “…greater risk”
A large portion of the northern half of the state is under a tornado watch until 1 PM.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says there is a crisis at America’s southern border as immigration officials deal with a surge of unaccompanied migrant children. Cassidy says the Biden administration is hesitant to call it a crisis and they are sending mixed messages…
cut 14 (10) “…send”
The president has sent FEMA to the border to help shelter unaccompanied migrant children and more federal workers are heading to the area to help connect children with sponsors.

The state department of corrections is seeking an additional 21-million dollars in state funding that would be used to give prison guards a pay increase. Undersecretary Thomas Bickham says D-O-C wants to reduce its 73-percent employee turnover rate…
cut 6 (11) “…an hour”
Budget hearings will begin March 25th.

Hail, strong winds, and tornadoes are possible as a strong cold front will sweep across the state today. A severe thunderstorm watch is already up for northwest Louisiana until 10 AM and more watches and warnings are expected to be posted as the day goes along.

Legislation is set to be filed that would fund a 15 million dollar expansion of the drug court program using funds obtained from opioid settlements….
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Today at 2:06 Governor Edwards answers your questions as his monthly Ask the Governor show airs on many of these stations and at Louisiana-Radio-Network-dot-com.

Border crossings have hit a 20 year high as increasing numbers of immigrants are arriving at the southern border. The state’s Congressional delegation says President Joe Biden is to blame. Louisiana Senior U-S Senator Bill Cassidy.
Cut 13 (10) “…immigration.”
Immigrant advocates say the numbers are spiking due to growing instability in Central America.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections is seeking an additional $21.5 million in next fiscal year’s budget. DOC Undersecretary Thomas Bickham says the figure represents what the department usually spends on overtime.
Cut 4 (10)“…have.”
The $21.5 million figure also includes a ten percent pay raise for entry-level correctional officers in hopes of attracting new employees.

The chancellor of the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Dr. G-E Ghali, is under investigation as he’s been accused of sex discrimination. The Advocate newspaper reports that Ghali allegedly made sexist comments to female employees that could be perceived as sexual harassment. Ghali has not commented publically about the allegations.

Republicans say President Biden’s immigration policy is directly responsible for the 20 year high in border crossings.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Attorney General Jeff Landry along with other elected officials will push a bill in the legislative session that would take money collected from opioid settlements with drug companies to help fund Louisiana drug courts which can help those who suffer from addiction and substance abuse. The bill would pump an additional 15 million dollars a year into the program. Baton Rouge Judge Don Johnson says it would be money well spent…
cut 11 (10) “…crime”

And the state department of corrections is seeking an additional 21-million dollars in state funding in order to hire more prison guards. D-O-C undersecretary Thomas Bickham says the department currently needs to fill 36-percent of their mandatory guard positions and they want to pay their guards more to avoid the extreme turnover…
Cut 5 (06)“…first year.”
Budget hearings will begin a week from Thursday.