Louisiana public schools will receive $2.6 billion from the latest COVID relief bill, in addition to the $1.4 billion they’ve already received in federal assistance dollars. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says part of the money will go towards helping schools pay for the COVID protocols.
Cut 6 (10) “…instruction”
Brumley says currently more than 70-percent of the schools are open to face-to-face instruction.

Authorities recover the remains of a Natchitoches Parish woman who went missing in 1993 at the bottom of the Cane River. Kara Vaughn left her home November 3rd 1993 and never returned. Captain Tony Moran says during last month’s winter storm they got a call from a fisherman…
Cut 3 (07) “…Natchitoches”
Dive teams began searching the river last Friday and yesterday discovered the submerged vehicle with Vaugnh’s remains inside.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is warning Louisianans against falling for “imposter” OMV sites they’ve seen pop up in large numbers recently. OMV spokesperson Matt Boudreaux says some privately-owned companies are paying to host websites that offer renewal services. The problem is they charge extra fees, and even worse…
Cut 10 (09) “…careful.”
These websites pay google to be the top listing for any searches related to “renew my vehicle registration”. The website you want is express-lane-dot-org.

State Fair of Louisiana organizers in Shreveport has received approval to have a fair in the spring to make up for not having one last fall. Fair President Chris Giordano says instead of the usual 60 rides…
Cut 15 (08)“….distancing.”
Giordano says they also plan to hold a fair in the fall as they normally do.

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry has filed a bill for the upcoming session that would decriminalize prostitution. Landry says many victims of human trafficking are afraid to tell authorities because they fear they’ll get arrested, and she says decriminalizing prostitution would also lead to safer sex practices among sex workers and their customers…

Cut 5 (11)“…example.”
The Office of Motor Vehicles is warning Louisianans against falling for “imposter” OMV sites they’ve seen popping up in larger numbers recently. OMV spokesperson Matt Boudreaux says many of the sites will charge you more and keep your personal data. He says there’s one tell-tale sign you’re on an imposter site.

Cut 11 (07) “…a bell.”

Nursing home and adult residential facility visitation guidelines have been relaxed. Matt Doyle spoke with AARP about the welcome changes…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

Wednesday the Board of Trustees at Oregon State University meets to review LSU’s Husch Blackwell report because their current school president, F. King Alexander served at LSU during the time the report investigated Title IX issues. Last week the Board of Trustees said they’d review the reports’ findings with Alexander and report their conclusions to the Oregon State community.

Don’t fall for one of many new “imposter” sites pretending to be the official Office of Motor Vehicle renewal portal. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The state Department of Corrections has asked the Edwards administration for a 21-million dollar increase in state funding to help pay for a 10-percent increase in pay for entry-level correctional officers. D-O-C says they have over 400 unfilled guard positions, a vacancy rate of more than 36-percent. The budget will be considered in the upcoming regular session.

Visitation guidelines have been relaxed allowing for indoor visitation at nursing homes and adult residential care facilities. AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says this is a big win for residents and their families, some of them have been suffering from the lack of personal contact….
cut 8 (09) “…pandemic”
Indoor visitation is still not allowed in parishes where the positivity rate is greater than ten-percent and less than 70-percent of the residents in the facility are not fully vaccinated.

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry’s bill that would decriminalize prostitution is already getting plenty of attention and the legislative session doesn’t start until April 12th. Landry says the government shouldn’t be involved if two adults agree to consensual sex and for some women, it’s a matter of getting by financially…
cut 6 (10) “…52-cents”

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry wants to decriminalize prostitution in the next legislative session, to help reduce human trafficking Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Saints have reached an agreement with Jameis Winston, giving the former number one pick a chance to win the Saints’ starting quarterback job. Winston’s contract is for one-year and could earn up to 12-million dollars with incentives. Winston will battle with Taysom Hill for the chance to replace Drew Brees.

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is warning Louisianans against falling for “imposter” OMV sites they’ve seen pop up in large numbers recently. OMV spokesperson Matt Boudreaux says some privately-owned companies are paying to host websites that offer renewal services. The problem is they charge extra fees, and even worse…
Cut 10 (09) “…careful.”
These websites pay google to be the top listing for any searches related to “renew my vehicle registration”.

State Fair of Louisiana organizers in Shreveport has received approval to have a fair in the spring to make up for not having one last fall. Fair President Chris Giordano says instead of the usual 60 rides…
Cut 15 (08)“….distancing.”
Giordano says they also plan to hold a fair in the fall as they normally do.

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry has filed a bill for the upcoming session that would decriminalize prostitution. Landry says many victims of human trafficking are afraid to tell authorities because they fear they’ll get arrested and she says decriminalizing prostitution would also lead to safer sex practices among sex workers and their customers…
cut 5 (11) “….example”

The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles is warning customers about imposter motor vehicle websites that obtain residents’ personal data, credit card information and overcharge citizens for online vehicle registration services. O-M-V spokesperson Matt Boudreaux…
cut 12 (10) “….org”

Indoor visitation is now allowed at most nursing and adult residential facilities. The state health department credits vaccines and lower COVID-19 positivity rates for this important development. Louisiana AARP Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl…
cut 7 (11) “…status”
Parishes with positivity rates of above ten percent will not be included in the new, relaxed guidelines as will facilities where fewer than 70 percent of residents are vaccinated.

There was no State Fair last fall, so this year we are getting a twofer. Fair President Chris Giordano says rather than cancel they decided to postpone the 114th Fair to April 29th through May 9th and have a spring fair for the first time ever.
Cut 13 (06) “…November.

A New Orleans lawmaker wants to decriminalize prostitution in Louisiana in the next legislative session. Representative Mandie Landry says by doing so it would allow victims of human trafficking to go to law enforcement for help instead of being arrested for prostitution.
Cut 4 (12)“…their will.”
Landry says often sex workers are the victims of violence and are unable to get assistance because they fear arrest.

Most nursing and adult residential care facilities are now allowing indoor visitation as a result of guidance issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A-A-R-P applauds the decision…
cut 9 (06) “…guidelines”
That’s AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl.

Jameis Winston will have the opportunity to replace Drew Brees as the Saints’ starting quarterback. The team and Winston have agreed to a one-year deal, where he can earn up to 12-million dollars. Winston will battle with Taysom Hill for starting Q-B. But New Orleans has lost defensive end Trey Hendrickson, as he’s signed a four-year deal with Cincinnati.

There will be not just one but two State Fairs this year at the Fairgrounds in Shreveport. The Fair has received approval to open from April 29th to May 9th and they will also hold the fair in the fall as they normally do. Fair president Chris Giordano says the fair in the spring will be different than in the past, with additional space for distancing, sanitizing stations, and face coverings will be required but can be removed in two designated areas.
Cut 14 (05) “…beer gardens.”
And regulations require alcohol to be limited to designated areas and attendees will not be allowed to drink outside of beer gardens.

New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry wants to decriminalize prostitution in the next legislative session, to help reduce human trafficking Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________

Nursing home and adult residential facility visitation guidelines have been relaxed. Matt Doyle spoke with AARP about the welcome changes…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

____________________________

Don’t fall for one of many new “imposter” sites pretending to be the official Office of Motor Vehicle renewal portal. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (28)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

____________________________

A New Orleans lawmaker wants to decriminalize prostitution in Louisiana in the next legislative session. Representative Mandie Landry says by doing so it would allow victims of trafficking to go to law enforcement for help instead of being arrested for prostitution.

Cut 4 (12)“…their will.”

Landry says often sex workers are the victims of violence, by the police and others in the community, and are unable to get assistance because they fear arrest.

In addition to reducing human trafficking, Landry says decriminalizing prostitution would also lead to safer sex practices among sex workers and their customers.

Cut 5 (11)“…example.”

Landry says when you remove the crime of prostitution it becomes much more obvious who is in the profession by choice versus against their will and if it is consensual between adults why is the government involved?

For many sex workers, Landry says it is a matter of economics and when people are hurting financially, they often make decisions that they wouldn’t otherwise. In Louisiana, white women make an average of 67-cents on the dollar compared to men and for Black women, it’s even less.

Cut 6 (10) “…52-cents.”

The session begins April 12^th.

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The Louisiana Department of Health mandates allowing indoor visitation at all times at nursing home and adult residential facilities.

LDH says declining community spread means it’s safe for responsibly managed indoor visitation. AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl…

Cut 7 (11)  “…status.”

Parishes with positivity rates of above ten percent will not be included in the new, relaxed guidelines as will facilities where fewer than 70 percent of residents are vaccinated. As of the most recent numbers, all parishes qualify.

Muhl says this is a big win for residents and their families, some of whom have not seen each other in a year.

Cut 8 (09) “…pandemic.”

The new regulations went into effect Friday…

Cut 9 (06) “…guidelines.”

_____________________________

The Office of Motor Vehicles is warning Louisianans against falling for “imposter” OMV sites they’ve seen popping up in larger numbers recently.

OMV spokesperson Matt Boudreaux says some privately-owned companies are paying to host websites that offer renewal services. The problem is they charge extra fees, and even worse…

Cut 10 (09) “…careful.”

These websites have often paid google to be the top listing for any searches related to “renew my vehicle registration”.

Boudreaux says there’s one tell-tale sign you’re on an imposter site.

Cut 11 (07) “…a bell.”

Boudreaux says there’s one safe way to mitigate any risk of falling for an imposter…

Cut 12 (10) “…org ”

OMV encourages you to report any fraudulent or imposter websites to State Police.

_____________________________

After the State Fair of Louisiana was put on hold last fall, this year, we’re getting a twofer. Fair President Chris Giordano says rather than cancel they decided to postpone the 114^th Fair to April 29^th through May 9th and have a spring fair for the first time ever.

Cut 13 (06) “…November.”

The annual event in Shreveport will be held again this fall, October 28^th through November 14^th.

Giordano says they had to adhere to the state guidelines for festivals and fairs to open this spring. He says the fair will be different than in the past, with additional space for distancing, sanitizing stations, and face coverings will be required but can be removed in two designated areas of the grounds.

Cut 14 (05) “…beer gardens.” 

Regulations require alcohol to be limited to designated areas and attendees will not be allowed to drink outside of beer gardens.

Giordano says Crabtree Amusements, the same company that provides rides in the fall will be there for the spring event, but instead of the usual 60 rides…

Cut 15 (08)“….distancing.”

The spring fair will run for 11 straight days and close at 10 p.m. each night. The spring fair will open at noon on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends.

_________________________________________

LSU kicks off Spring Football today and one position battle that fans will be keeping an eye on is the quarterback position.  Myles Brennan. Max Johnson and TJ Finley started at quarterback and won football games last season. Tiger Rag Assistant Editor William Weathers says it will come down to who can run the new system the best.

Cut 16 (13) “…asked of them.”

Spring practice will be especially important this year because of the number of new assistant coaches on the staff. The Tigers have new defensive, offensive, and passing game coordinators. Weathers says the coaches have been gearing the players up for a new playbook

Cut 17 (15) “…schemes.”

There’s not a lot of positions up for grabs on the team with a ton of veterans returning, but Weathers says there are a lot of receivers on the roster pushing for playing time, plus they need to find a new starting tight end because Arik Gilbert transferring out of the program…

Cut  18 (12) “…guys there.”

________________________________________

The LSU men’s basketball team is in Indianapolis preparing for its first-round NCAA Tournament matchup against St. Bonaventure on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers are coming off a good showing at the SEC Tournament and Forward Trendon Watford believes they can make another run in the Big Dance…

Cut 19 (18) “…love LSU.” 

LSU played as well they’ve played all season in the SEC Tournament, beating Ole Miss and Arkansas and losing by one point to Alabama to the championship game. Coach Will Wade on what he saw from his team in Nashville…

Cut 20  (10) “…cleared up.” 

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees is retiring from the NFL and many are saying thank you for the 15 years he gave to New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards released a video message and says he’s excited to see what Brees does next…

Cut 10 (07) “…your family.” 

Brees will stay close to football by working as an NFL analyst for NBC.

Since the state has moved to Phase Three, and New Orleans has also eased restrictions, more tourists are returning. But Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser the state is also competing against neighboring states that have eased restrictions even more and conventions remain on the fence about Louisiana.

Cut 3 (12)  “…our doors”  

Nungesser says having the state and the Crescent City on different restrictions is adding to the confusion for tourists.

LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward says he “totally agrees” with the decision to suspend two athletic department administrators for less than a month as a result of the Husch Blackwell Report. Members of the Legislative Women’s Caucus slammed what they called an unacceptably small punishment. Woodward was not AD at the time the incidents occurred but told Jim Engster…

Cut 13 (11)“…this”

New Orleans-based brass band the Nightcrawlers took home the GRAMMY for Best Regional Roots Album last night for their 2020 hit “Atmosphere”. Nightcrawlers saxophonist Jason Mingledorff says while last year has been especially tough for musicians, on the upside the downtime means everyone has been practicing…

Cut 8 (10) “….music”

“Atmosphere” was finished just as the pandemic began.