As we wait on a rollout for a COVID-19 vaccine, the state reported nearly three-thousand new cases and 43 additional deaths today. Hospitalizations also increased by 60 to 1,589.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he will not make it mandatory for people to get a COVID vaccine nor will he provide financial incentives. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”

The state hopes to begin administering vaccine shots to frontline health care workers early next week.

State Police Trooper Jacob Brown of Rayville has been arrested for allegedly using excessive force during an arrest of a black man in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says they first learned of the incident in October when the victim’s attorneys filed a lawsuit…
cut 11 (08) “…his supervisors”
The victim’s attorneys say their client was dragged to the ground and beaten and had to be hospitalized as he’s also a dialysis patient.

The state fire Marshal’s office says over the past two weeks, six people have died in house fires bringing the total to 70 for the entire year. State Fire Marshal’s office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue is urging residents to make sure they have a working smoke detector…
cut 5 (07) “….get out safely”
A fatal fire happened last night in Lafayette, killing a 20-year-old man.