Over 20 students at Caddo Parish’s Southwood High school have been arrested in the past two days, after huge fights broke out on campus BOTH days. Caddo Sheriff’s spokesperson Bia Roldan says nine deputies responded to the school Thursday to a brawl at the student center…:

CUT 14                  (05)        “…call for backup”

This morning, another group of eight – girls between 14 and 17 – tied it up. All charged with disturbing the peace and face possible expulsion. One male student was charged with battery on an assistant principal.

Houma police mourn the loss of one of their own; 21-year-old rookie Officer Austin Bush crashed his police unit into a drainage basin, where it was completely submerged. Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman says all Bush ever wanted to be was a cop…:

CUT 08                  (07)        “…of the team”

State Treasurer John Schroder has some harsh words for FEMA and their delay of reimbursing the Calcasieu Parish School Board. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01             (31)      “…Thorington”

Attorney General Jeff Landry is among 24 state attorneys general threatening a group lawsuit if President Biden goes through with a mandate that all employers with 100 or more worker REQUIRE them to get a COVID vaccination. The AGs say that is an unconstitutional overstep by the White House.

State health officials report a sixth child has died from COVID-19 during the state’s fourth surge. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

The state reports 2,182 new COVID-19 cases today. Hospitalizations stand at 1,367 that’s a decrease of 64 from the previous day, and 251 of those patients require ventilators.

As south Louisiana works to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Ida nearly three weeks ago, State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says he will act should an insurance carrier refuse to pay 14-days of evacuation expenses related to Ida.

Cut 5 (12) “…this crisis situation.”

Houma Police are mourning the loss of 21-year-old cadet Austin Bush who was killed in a single-car crash Thursday morning after his car struck a log and ended up in a drainage basin and became fully submerged. Houma Police Chief Dana Coleman it’s been challenging with the hurricane and now the death of a young officer is even more difficult.

Cut 7 (11) “…through it.”  

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says there’s a major issue the state is still dealing with. He says some companies continue to deny evacuation expenses to policyholders if there was not an official evacuation order in place. He says he has the power to override an insurer’s refusal to provide such coverage during a declared emergency such as that ordered by the governor.

Cut 4  (10) “…contracts that exist.” 

Houma Police are mourning the loss of one their own. 21-year old Austin Bush was killed in a single-vehicle crash Thursday morning after his car struck a log and ended up in a drainage basin and became fully submerged. Police Chief Dana Coleman fondly recalls Bush’s goal to serve the public when he interviewed for the job.

Cut 6 (06) “…his community.” 

Coleman says Bush was just weeks away from completing the cadet academy.

Louisiana State Treasurer John Schroder has some harsh words for FEMA and their lengthy delay in reimbursement for school construction in Calcasieu Parish due to hurricanes Laura and Delta. Schroder says the delay has forced the state bond commission to approve an emergency request for $50-million to help the school system resume construction.

Cut  11 (09)  “…with FEMA.”  

Schroder says FEMA has only remitted $116 thousand of the Calcasieu Parish School Board’s nearly $300-million in reimbursement requests.

LSU is a 20 point favorite tomorrow night when they host Central Michigan. Tigers coach Ed Orgeron is not expecting an easy game. He says the Chippewas have run the ball well in their two games this season

Cut 9 (11) “…Nichols” 

As south Louisiana works to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Ida nearly three weeks ago, State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says there’s a major issue the state is still dealing with. He says some companies continue to deny evacuation expenses to policyholders if there was not an official evacuation order in place.

Cut 3 (11) “..the present time”

More than a dozen students are facing charges following a fight at Southwood High School at mid-afternoon Thursday.  Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator says Nine deputies responded to the scene. Fourteen male students were arrested, all accused of disturbing the peace.  One student is charged with battery of a school teacher for punching the assistant school principal during the melee. Another was pepper-sprayed and hand-cuffed for resisting arrest and making threatening statements. He’ll be charged with resisting an officer.

The mass evacuation of more than 800 nursing home patients to an overcrowded warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish renews calls to revise evacuation plans and oversight. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

A new survey by the National Federation of Independent Business shows more than half of small businesses have been negatively affected by pandemic-related supply chain issues. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says 86-percent of NFIB members surveyed feel their supply chain issues – and the challenges to making a profit – could continue for another five months or more.

Cut 15 (09)  “…originally started.”

Over 25-percent of NFIB members report significant staffing shortages and losses of sales opportunities due to supply issues.

A Houma patrol officer was killed in a single-car crash Thursday morning. State Police say 21-year old Austin Bush was traveling west on Highway 648 in a full-marked Houma Police vehicle. Investigators say the car hit a log and wound up in a drainage basin and was submerged underwater. Bush was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead. The crash is under investigation.

The FDA advisory panel is meeting right now to decide the fate of COVID vaccine booster shots.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

The destruction left behind by Hurricane Ida and the heavy rainfall from Nicholas is creating an excellent breeding ground for mosquitos. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the ongoing surge in mosquitos will lead to other problems…

Cut 8 (10) “…and reptiles.”
Strain is advising horse owners to make sure they are vaccinated and if you haven’t boosted your horse within six months you need to do so.

A National Federation of Independent Business survey finds more than half of small businesses have been negatively affected by pandemic-related supply chain issues. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says member businesses believe there’s little hope of improvement anytime soon.

Cut 13 (10) “…with the holidays”

At this hour a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel is debating whether a booster shot is needed for those who received the COVID Pfizer vaccine. Director of Community Testing and Vaccines for LSU Health Shreveport Doctor John Vanchiere says the data shows that for people over the age of 65 their immunity begins to wane six to eight months after they complete the second shot of the vaccine…
cut 6 (10) “…in the community”
The FDA has been mostly neutral on the need for boosters.

Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is asking the public to do its part to keep the mosquito population down…
cut 9 (07) “….containers”
Strain says rains from Nicholas and destruction left behind by Ida is creating a nice breeding ground for mosquitos.

A survey finds that nearly half of all small business owners are facing supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NFIB state director Dawn McVea on what they mean by supply chain disruptions…
cut 14 (11) “….the supply chain”
McVea says the situation is worse than it was three months ago and there is a concern it could last for at least another five months.

Louisiana AARP is ready to discuss nursing home evacuation plans with state lawmakers during next year’s legislative session. AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says a review of current laws are needed after 800 residents were sent to a single facility in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida. Muhl says there should also be reporting requirements to family members…
cut 12 (07) “…be avoided”

Small business owners report the COVID pandemic is making it hard for them to get needed inventory and make a profit. More from Kevin Gallagher.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

The National Transportation Safety Board believes an issue with the propellers led to the fatal plane crash that killed sports reporter Carley McCord and four others in Lafayette in 2019. An NTSB report says the propellers were not rotating as they should have been and there was an abnormal drag on the small plane.

The next legislative session is six months away and a topic that will surely be addressed is nursing home evacuation plans. Nursing homes are required to submit an evacuation plan to the Louisiana Department of Health every year, but there’s frustration over the decision to send over 800 nursing home patients to a single facility in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida. AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says they want to be part of the discussion…
cut 11 (06) “….involved in”

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is advising owners of horses to make sure their animals are protected from mosquito-borne illnesses like eastern and western encephalitis. Strain says Hurricane Ida and rains from Nicholas are helping to boost the mosquito population…
cut 7 (08) “…in the environment”
Strain is asking homeowners to make sure they don’t have any standing water on their property.

An FDA advisory panel meets today to debate whether it’s necessary to administer a COVID vaccine Pfizer booster shot. LSU Health Shreveport’s Doctor John Vanchiere, was the principal investigator of the Pfizer vaccine clinical trial in north Louisiana…
cut 5 (12) “…those subgroups”
Vanchiere says the data shows that for people over the age of 65 their immunity begins to wane six to eight months after they complete the second shot of the vaccine.

An NFIB survey finds half of small businesses are impacted by supply chain disruptions. NFIB state director Dawn McVea says inventory issues began when the COVID pandemic arrived and small business owners say the issue has gotten worse and could continue for at least another five months…
cut 15 (09) “….originally started”

Since Hurricane Katrina, nursing homes are required to report their evacuation plans annually to the Louisiana Department of Health. But AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says the decision to evacuate over 800 nursing home residents to a warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish during Hurricane Ida was a complete failure of oversite, enforcement, and planning.
Cut 10 (09) “… a few weeks ago.”
Muhl says nursing home evacuation plans will be revisited in next year’s legislative session and AARP wants to be part of the discussion.

The destruction left behind by Hurricane Ida and the heavy rainfall from Nicholas is creating an excellent breeding ground for mosquitos. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the ongoing surge in mosquitos will lead to other problems…
cut 8 (10) “…and reptiles”
Strain is advising owners to make sure their horses are vaccinated and if you haven’t boosted your horse within six months you need to booster them with a multi-valent for eastern, western and West Nile.