Louisiana added another 12,700 jobs from June to July and ended the month up 58-thousand jobs year-to-year. Louisiana Workforce Commission spokesperson Chris Fiore says employment numbers are moving in the right direction despite the 4th COVID wave, but the only way to keep this momentum going is by getting more people vaccinated.
cut 4 (11) “…masks.”
Fiore says there are more than seven thousand nursing positions available in Louisiana.

Triple-A says based on their research the average annual cost of a new vehicle is nearly ten thousand dollars a year. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says the most significant part of the average $10 thousand annually Redman says many vehicle owners neglect to anticipate when purchasing a new vehicle is depreciation.
Cut 8 (08) “…depreciation.
Redman says there’s also a low inventory at dealerships due to a semi-conductor chip shortage.

An LSU fishing poll shows that pandemic isolation led to anglers taking millions of additional fishing trips compared to pre-pandemic years. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The F-D-A has granted full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. The decision could mean more vaccine mandates, especially at the state’s public colleges. University leaders say they were waiting for the COVID vaccine to get full FDA approval before adding it to the mandatory list of vaccines needed. You can call 2-1-1- to find out where you can get the vaccine if unvaccinated.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports the state’s unemployment rate for July was 6.6 percent, a 2.5 percent decrease over a 12-month period.
CUT 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The search continues in Houston for the gunmen who fatally shot an off-duty New Orleans Police officer. Authorities say 13-year veteran Everett Briscoe was dining at a Houston restaurant with friends when two hooded gunmen approached the group on an outdoor patio and demanded their belongings. Witnesses say one of the gunmen shot Briscoe and another man who is hospitalized in critical condition.

According to Triple-A, the average annual cost of new vehicle ownership is 96-hundred dollars and the average price for a new vehicle is just shy of 33-thousand dollars. Spokesperson Don Redman says new car owners are seeing higher gas prices, a shortage in vehicles because of a chip shortage and added technology to newer vehicles…
cut 9 (10) “….much technology”

A survey conducted by LSU finds that fishing was a popular activity during the first few months of the pandemic and it resulted in some anglers doing extra trips. LSU Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Professor Stephen Midway says that’s good news for wildlife management…
cut 15 (12) “…management”

The Taliban’s take over of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of U-S Troops has been especially disturbing for U-S veterans who served in the Middle East. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A Shreveport police cruiser struck and killed a pedestrian last night. The officer was on duty. No other details have been released. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office says one of its deputies shot a man in the arm in Mathews after he raised a rifle toward an officer. Sheriff Craig Webre says it appears the situation was a suicide by cop attempt.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state added nearly 13-thousand jobs from June to July. The July jobs report also says the state added 58-thousand jobs over the year. The state’s unemployment rate for last month was 6-point-6 percent, a 2.5 percent decrease from July 2020. L-W-C spokesperson Chris Fiore says visit la-works-dot-net if you are looking for a job…
cut 6 (07) “…right now”

An LSU survey finds recreational fishing was a popular activity during the first few months of the pandemic and it resulted in 20 percent of the anglers they surveyed taking an extra fishing trip. LSU Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Professor Stephen Midway says traditionally fishing is used as a social bonding experience, but their poll found the reasons anglers gave for heading out are changing…
cut 13 (09) “….pandemic”
Midway says they surveyed 18-thousand fishermen in ten states.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports the state added nearly 13-thousand jobs from June to July and 58-thousand jobs from July 2020 to July 2021. L-W-C spokesperson Chris Fiore says leisure and hospitality and education and health services saw the largest gains. But there are still a lot of vacant jobs in the health care industry…
cut 5 (08) “…hired’

Research out of LSU finds that recreational fishing has flourished during the pandemic. Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Assistant Professor Stephen Midway says last summer they polled nearly 18-thousand anglers in ten states and four out of five took as many trips as they had the year before, and one out of five took at least one extra trip…
cut 14 (10) “…2020”

The Taliban’s take over of Afghanistan has many veterans who served in Operation Enduring Freedom feeling the withdrawal of U-S troops had discounted their services. Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Colonel Joey Strickland says they’ve been meeting with veterans at vet centers..
cut 11 (12) “….the time”
There is a 24-7 veterans crisis line at 1-800-273-8255

The city of New Orleans is mourning the death of one of its police officers. Everett Briscoe was off duty when he was fatally shot during an armed robbery in Houston. He was a 13-year veteran of the NOPD and a member of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club for seven years. The search for Briscoe’s killer is ongoing.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate is now down 2.3 percent from this time last year. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

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Scenes out of Afghanistan have been especially disturbing for U-S veterans who served in the Middle East. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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An LSU fishing poll shows that pandemic isolation led to anglers taking millions of additional fishing trips compared to pre-pandemic years. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (28)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

_______________________________

Louisiana added another 12,700 jobs from June to July and ended the month up 58,200 jobs year-to-year.

Workforce Commission Spokesperson Chris Fiore says moving in the right direction despite the 4^th COVID wave, but the only way to keep this momentum going is by getting more people vaccinated.

Cut 4 (12) “…attacks quick.”

New Orleans and Baton Rouge led the pack in new month-to-month job gains at 3,700 and 3,00 respectively. Shreveport and Houma were the only markets to see month-to-month job losses.

Fiore says the biggest sector gains were in leisure and hospitality and education and health services at 27,000 and 13,000 more jobs year to year respectively. Fiore says we can do even better.

Cut 5 (14) “…breathe.”

Business services gained 12,000 jobs over the year.

Fiore says if you are unemployed visit laworks.net to find a job near you.

Cut 6 (07) “…right now.”

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If you’re in the market for a new vehicle according to AAA research don’t be surprised if that new car or pickup costs more than you anticipated. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says remember upkeep and costs associated with a vehicle go well beyond your monthly car note.

Cut 7 (10) “….insurance.”

The most significant part of the average $10 thousand annually Redman says that vehicle owners neglect to anticipate when purchasing a new vehicle is depreciation.

Cut 8 (08) “…depreciation.” 

A major reason new vehicle prices have increased is the ongoing computer chip shortage that has caused a delay in the manufacturing of new vehicles. Redman says with each passing year there’s additional technology added to motor vehicles prices which also increases prices.

Cut 9 (10) “…much technology.”

The average price of a new vehicle for 2021 is $32,900 which is almost five percent higher than last year.

________________________________________

While the scenes out of Afghanistan are horrifying as US Troops are withdrawing from the war-torn country after providing stability for more than two decades, the situation is extremely upsetting to US Afghanistan vets.  Louisiana Veterans Affairs Secretary Colonel Joey Strickland says they’ve been contacted by several veterans who served in the Middle East.

Cut 10 (10) “…country.” 

Strickland says the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs has several venues to offer counseling and assistance for veterans who are experiencing PTSD and other issues. Especially during this critical time when some veterans feel the withdrawal has discounted their service. Strickland says they’ve been meeting with veterans at places like the VFW.

Cut 11 (12) “…the time.”

Strickland says this issue hit close to home, it reminds him of his experience in Vietnam and now his son who served in Afghanistan, so he’s familiar with the emotions veterans are dealing with in response to the withdrawal. Strickland says the LDVA also has a crisis line.

Cut 12 (12) “…experiencing.”  

For more information visit the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs website.

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An LSU survey finds people took a lot more fishing trips in the spring of 2020 compared to 2019, seemingly due to pandemic era isolation policies.

LSU Oceanography and Coastal Sciences Professor Stephen Midway says traditionally fishing is used as a social bonding experience, but their poll found the reasons anglers gave for heading out are changing…

Cut 13 (09) “…pandemic.”

Midway says their poll found four out of five anglers took as many trips as they had the year before, and one out of five took at least one extra trip…

Cut 14 (10) “…2020.”

An estimated 44 million Americans consider themselves anglers.

Midway says the increased number of fishing trips, assuming that people are assuming by regulations, should not be an ecological stressor. In fact, it may be the opposite…

Cut 15 (12)“…management.”

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Cut 16 (10) “…capacity.”

Cut 17 (24) “…no weak links.”  

Cut 18 (19)”…a whole.”

Cut 19 (16)  “…very successful so” 

Cut 20 (19)  “…next week” 

For the first time in weeks Louisiana registered back to back days with slight decreases in hospitalizations for COVID patients Friday. Louisiana is now under 3,000 hospitalizations, but Governor Edwards says there’s a new worry, and it’s about the children. 28 percent of all new cases are coming from kids under 18 and the Governor says this is why we must mask up while in school…

Cut 4 (11) “…in our schools” 

Two public meetings in Baton Rouge this week were disrupted by anti-mask protesters, upset their children are forced to wear a mask, calling it child abuse. But Edwards says everyone has a role to play in slowing the spread of COVID and failing to do so can have lethal consequences

Cut 5 (11) “…that simple”

Ochsner has administered about 9,700 monoclonal antibody treatments to COVID patients across New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says they’ve received additional help from paramedics in running their infusion suites and can now offer the treatment within a day or two of qualification.

Cut 7 (08) “…down”  

We’ll see some of the highest heat indexes of the year this weekend with temps around 110 degrees in South Louisiana. It’s brutal weather but State Climatologist Barry Keim says at least this high-pressure system is pushing tropical storm systems away from the Gulf of Mexico.

Cut 13 (11) “…temperatures”

Heat indexes i north Louisiana will be lower due to the lack of humidity, but still at or over 100 degrees.

Governor John Bel Edwards says 28-percent of all new COVID cases are children, which he says points to the reason why face coverings are required in schools. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Louisiana’s representative in the Little League World Series, the Lafayette Little League All Stars, had a tough start to the tournament yesterday falling 2-0 to South Dakota in a pitcher’s duel. They’ll have another shot to stay in the tournament today at 8 PM when they take on Pennsylvania at 8 PM. Should they win they’ll play again on Monday.

9,700 monoclonal antibody treatments have been administered by Ochsner in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore. Of that 9,700 COVID patients only 27 were admitted to the hospital, and while that is an impressive number System Hospital Quality Director Dr. Sandra Kemmerly warns it is not a permanent solution…

Cut 8 (12) “..sustainable”y

At Ochsner’s Lafayette facility about 300 to 400 treatments are administered a week.

COVID may be the dominant virus in Louisiana but the flu is still around, and flu season is on its way. Walmart Market Health and Wellness Director Mohamed Salem says don’t procrastinate, schedule an appointment today.

Cut  11 (11) “…flue shot.”  

The state reported nearly six thousand new COVID-19 cases on Friday. Governor Edwards says for the last couple of days 28-percent of all new cases are in children and this is troubling with schools re-opening

Cut 3 (15) “…of last year” 

Ochsner has administered about 9,700 monoclonal antibody treatments to COVID patients across New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore.  Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says the treatments have been highly effective.

Cut 6 (11) “..vaccinated” 

At Ochsner’s Lafayette facility Thomas estimates they are administering about 300 to 400 treatments a week.

We’ll see some of the highest heat indexes of the year this weekend with temps around 110 degrees in South Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ve been lucky to hate some recent storms keep the temperatures down but that won’t be the case for the next few days.

Cut 12 (12) “…sun” 

Heat indexes in north Louisiana will be lower due to the lack of humidity, but still at or over 100 degrees.

While there’s lots of focus on being vaccinated for COVID, healthcare professionals are also reminding the public to remember to get their annual flu shot. In order to make the process for both as convenient as possible Walmart Market Health and Wellness Director Mohamed Salem says you can do both at any of their stores.

Cut 9 (10) “…Louisiana.”