Entergy Louisiana is looking to increase its green power-generating portfolio. Jonathan Bourg, director of resource planning for the utility, says Entergy will seek to purchase several hundred megawatts of solar power by around 2024. Four new solar facilities are planned for Allen, St. James and Washington parishes. Bourg says this hinges on approval from the state Public Service Commission…:

CUT 14(09)      “…service in 2024.”

Entergy says it currently has about 240 megawatts of clean solar power going to its grid since October 2020.

Speaking of 2020, state Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insured losses from hurricane season over a year ago total about $10.6-billion. You’ll remember our state took hits from Laura, then Delta and Zeta, which Donelon says was one for the record books…:

CUT 06(11)      “…27-billion dollars.”

New Orleans City Hall made a rather low key announcement recently that Mardi Gras 2022 would go on. Parades in 2021 were called off for fear of them being super-spreader events. So why isn’t the announcement a bigger deal? Mardi Gras historian Arthur Hardy says maybe it’s because city officials are still unsure if parade routes will need to be changed. Then there’s the question of where the pandemic is at Carnival Time and police availability…:

CUT 04(11)      “…or we can.”

DOTD secretary Shawn Wilson says the infrastructure bill passed by Congress will mean big dollars coming to the Bayou State for road, bridge and even rail projects; about $4.8-billion. The money means that state lawmakers will likely NOT seek to raise the per-gallon fuels tax charged at the pump.

Insured losses from the 2020 hurricane season have reached $10.6 Billion in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(32)      “…Thorington.”

Congratulations go out to Julia Hawkins of Baton Rouge, who just set a world record at the Louisiana Senior Olympic Games for being the first woman and first American in her age group to run 100 meters. Her age group? Julia is 105.

A subdued confirmation Tuesday that Mardi Gras 2022 will happen in New Orleans is drawing criticism from the likes of historian Arthur Hardy, publisher of the annual Mardi Gras Guide. A mayoral spokesman made the announcement, but Hardy says a bigger deal should have been made of the fact…:

CUT 03(11)      “…out of this.”

COVID caused Mayor LaToya Cantrell to call off Mardi Gras this past year. Hardy says the actual parade routes are still a bit up-in-the-air at this time.

Centenary College, in the Shreveport area, announces it will field a football team and be playing by Autumn of 2024. The school hasn’t played a football game since 1941, so this is pretty big news. Centenary’s President Christopher Holman says the support they’ve received for the plan so far has been terrific…:

CUT 09(10)      …(sound of applause)

Centenary College in Shreveport has not had a football team since 1941, but that will change soon. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

The most recent tally on insured losses from the 2020 hurricane season in Louisiana has reached $10.6 billion to cover claims from hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Zeta. Insurance Commissioner Jim  Donelon says they receive reports quarterly and over 325,000 claims have been filed.

Cut 7 (08) “….$9 billion.”  

Followed by Delta and then Zeta.

Entergy Louisiana is looking to increase its green power-generating portfolio. Jonathan Bourg, director of resource planning for the utility, says Entergy will seek to purchase 475 megawatts of solar power by around 2024. He says the four new solar facilities are important in Entergy’s efforts to provide clean energy.

Cut 13 (07) “…an affordable manner.”

The new solar facilities will be located in Allen, St. James and Washington parishes.

Barring any major developments, Mardi Gras 2022 is a go for next year in New Orleans as the pandemic appears to further wane. Arthur Hardy who publishes the annual guide to Mardi Gras says he expects strong efforts will be made to ensure that the major parades, such as Endymion, are allowed to use their traditional routes

Cut 5 (11) “…be done safely.”

Last year’s parades were canceled because of the raging pandemic at the time and concerns that they could be super-spreaders of the virus.

A subdued confirmation Tuesday that Mardi Gras 2022 will happen in New Orleans is drawing criticism from the likes of Arthur Hardy, publisher of the annual Mardi Gras Guide. A mayoral spokesman made the announcement, but Hardy says a big deal should have been made of the fact. Hardy says the question will remain until next year just where the parade routes will be as New Orleans deals with the status of COVID then and police availability.

Cut 4 (11) “…or we can.”

Entergy Louisiana is looking to increase its green power-generating portfolio. Jonathan Bourg, director of resource planning for the utility, says Entergy will seek to purchase several hundred megawatts of solar power by around 2024.

Cut 12 (10) “…located in Louisiana.”  

Bourg says that will be in addition to the 50 megawatts of solar the company is already purchasing through the Capital Region Solar plant in West Baton Rouge.

Insured losses from the 2020 hurricane season have reached $10.6 Billion in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Now, time for a check on the latest commodity prices for this Wednesday.

A subdued confirmation Tuesday that Mardi Gras 2022 will happen in New Orleans is drawing criticism from the likes of Arthur Hardy, publisher of the annual Mardi Gras Guide. A mayoral spokesman made the announcement, but Hardy says a big deal should have been made of the fact.

Cut 3 (11) “….out of this.”

Mardi Gras was canceled last year due to COVID over concerns of the parades being super-spreader events.

The most recent tally on insured losses from the 2020 hurricane season in Louisiana has reached $10.6 billion to cover claims from hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Zeta. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says it was one for the record books.

Cut 6 (11) “…$27 billion.” 

Nurses working tell state lawmakers they feel negative effects from vaccines are badly underestimated. State health officials testified of only 11 “severe adverse events” statewide, but then left the committee room before Lafayette ICU nurse Heather LeBeouf expressed her disagreement with the number…:

Cut 13 (07) “…having possible effects.”
LeBeouf believes a lot of cases are going unreported because health professionals are unaware of where to report such cases.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center wants to find out if virtual sessions with a personalized health coach can help Black patients with obesity and type two diabetes lose weight and improve their heart health. Principal Investigator Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk says they are looking to recruit about 350 people…

Cut 8 (07) “…cardio-metabolic conditions.”

Visit Pennington’s website for more info.

Several nurses expressed their concerns to the Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee that the number of injuries or severe reactions to COVID vaccines have been greatly underreported. There is a statewide LDH call-in system to report adverse COVID shot reactions, but Lafayette ICU nurse Heather LeBeouf (buff) says many of her colleagues are unaware it exists.

Cut 14 (14)  “… patient? or the doctor?”
The Louisiana Department of Health says it has identified 11 severe adverse events out of 122 reported.

Sports wagering goes live at two Lake Charles casinos today, joining five others that are already taking bets. But the question Gaming Control Board Chair Ronnie Johns is most asked is when will mobile betting be up and running.

Cut 5 (05) “…right now.“

If you’re Black, have Type 2 Diabetes, and need to lose weight, there’s a study being launched that just may prove beneficial. More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

According to the CDC on Tuesday Louisiana has the lowest number of people hospitalized for COVID in the nation. On average 5 people per 100,000 are in Louisiana hospitals with COVID compared to the average of 14 people per 100,000. Numbers come out daily at noon. On Tuesday the state reported 229 in the hospital, numbers have increased slightly the last few days.

Acadia Parish Sheriff K-P Gibson says 34-year-old Stephen Wayne Meyers the Second has been arrested in Texas after allegedly killing his mother and leaving her in a field in Acadia Parish. Gibson says Meyers and his 59-year-old mother Pamela Meyers were last seen November second in the field where her body was found…

Cut 11 (11) “…with her son.”
Gibson says there were no weapons used in the murder and a motive is unknown.

Nurses working the front lines of the COVID pandemic tell state lawmakers they feel negative effects from vaccines are badly underestimated. State health officials testified of only 11 “severe adverse events” statewide. Elizabeth Suire (SWEER), says she and her peers didn’t know of a phone number to report vaccine reactions.

Cut 15 (09)  “…in patient notes.”

You’ll be able to place your sports wagers in Lake Charles at either the Golden Nugget or L’Auberge casinos beginning today. The two casinos join five others that have already had their licenses approved by the Gaming Control Board Chair Ronnie Johns expects this to be a big boon for Lake Charles casinos, especially from their neighbors to the west.

Cut 4 (09) “…sports betting “

Sportsbook at L’Auberge Lake Charles opened at 9 am and Golden Nugget will open at 2 for sports betting.

Pennington Biomedical and Ochsner Health are taking part in a study of Black patients with Type 2 Diabetes to determine if telemedicine can be used successfully in the battle against obesity. Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, the project’s principal investigator, says the study will take place in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Cut 7 (11) “…of weight loss.”

Nurses working the front lines of the COVID pandemic tell state lawmakers they feel negative effects from vaccines are badly underestimated. State health officials testified of only 11 “severe adverse events” statewide, but then left the committee room before Lafayette ICU nurse Heather LeBeouf expressed her disagreement with the number…:
Cut 13 (07) “…having possible effects.”
LeBeouf believes a lot of cases are going unreported because health professionals are unaware of where to report such cases.

A 34-year-old Crowley man is awaiting extradition from Austin County, Texas where he’s in custody for the beating death of his mother, Pamela Meyers. Acadia Parish Sheriff K P Gibson says that Stephen Wayne Meyers the Second is facing a second-degree murder charge.
Cut 10 (06) “…she was seen.”
Pamela Meyers’ body was found in the field and investigators say Stephen Wayne Meyers didn’t use a weapon to kill his mother.

LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center wants to find out if virtual sessions with a personalized health coach can help Black patients with obesity and type two diabetes lose weight and improve their heart health. Pennington Biomedical Executive Director John Kirwan says they are looking to recruit about 350 Black patients…
cut 8 (07) “….cardio-metabloic conditions”
You can find out more about Pennington’s clinical research trials on their website.

The Golden Nugget and L’Auberge casino in Lake Charles begin taking legal sports bets today as they become the sixth and seventh casinos in the state to open up a sportsbook. Gaming Control Board Chairman Ronnie Johns says while he knows many are waiting for sports wagering to be fully operational he’s impressed with the timeline they’ve met so far.
Cut 6 (09) “…ballgame.”
Johns expects mobile sports betting parishes to become operational early next year.