LSU Health Shreveport’s work during the pandemic with genetic sequencing receives national recognizing and the school is receiving a Rockefeller grant. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The Legislature gave final approval to the last piece of legislation needed to get sports betting online, potentially as early as fall. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
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Compromise legislation that would slightly increase state unemployment benefits in exchange for ending federally enhanced benefits five weeks early is headed to the Governor’s desk. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
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LSU Health Shreveport is one of four universities to be awarded a grant to study gene sequencing from the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation. Director for Emerging Viral Threats at LSUHS Dr. Andrew Yurochko (U-rotch-co) says the school’s role in the pandemic is why they have received the honor.
Cut 4 (10) “…we’ve done.”
Yurochko says sequencing in layman’s terms is discovering the fingerprint for a virus, or any other disease, and it is that fingerprint in which they are able to detect new variants and provide a code of what vaccine creators use as a roadmap.
Cut 5 (11) “…that vaccine.”
The objective of the grant is to strengthen global capabilities to detect and respond to pandemic threats in the future. Yurochko says the award is indicative of LSU Health Shreveport’s strides in detecting variants and assisting with vaccine rollout.
Cut 6 (10) “…the country.”
Harvard and MIT also received Rockefeller grants.
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The Legislature gave final passage to a bill setting the rules and regulations for legalized sports betting.
The bill lets anyone 21 and older place bets on their mobile device, computer, or at select locations in any of the 55 parishes that voted to approve the activity. Crowley Representative John Stefanski…
Cut 7 (10) “…Louisiana.”
Earlier this month Governor Edwards signed legislation setting the tax rates for sports betting with a 15 percent tax on mobile betting and a ten percent tax for betting at authorized locations.
The ability to place bets anywhere in approved parishes is a major expansion from initial proposals that would have only allowed betting at casinos. Stefanski says it was necessary.
Cut 8 (07) “…as well.”
Bars and restaurants will have the option of paying a 10,000 dollar fee to establish a sports betting kiosk at their business, meaning bets will be taxed at the lower rate. Bets can also be placed at sportsbooks in casinos.
Stefanski says allowing mobile betting was a question of equity for many of the rural parishes that approved the activity.
Cut 9 (11) “…participate.”
Governor Edwards is expected to sign the bill into law, which could mean sports betting could be online for the fall football season.
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The 2021 regular Legislative session has come to an end and Governor John Bel Edwards closed out the session with a speech from the Capitol where he highlighted the historic increase in funding for education at both the K-12 and higher education levels, including higher ed faculty raises and an 800-dollar K-12 teacher pay raise.
Cut 10 (11) “…that goal.”
Edwards thanked congressional members and the President’s administration for federal relief dollars that the state has received but reminded citizens that long-term budget decisions did not need to be based on monies received for pandemic relief.
Cut 11 (12) “…go away.”
Ten of the 13 bills in the Governor’s legislative agenda passed during the session. He referred to House Bill 409 which strengthens and clarifies Title IX violations reporting procedures on higher education campuses.
Cut 12 (12) “…this legislation.”
Edwards also says he’s interested in signing a bill to lessen penalties for possession of 14 grams or less of marijuana.
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The Legislature gave final passage to a bill that would increase state unemployment benefits by 28 dollars a week if the Governor ceases accepting federally enhanced benefits by July 31st.
Plaquemines Democratic Representative Chad Brown says while he understands some sectors of the economy have not bounced back yet…
Cut 13 (10) “…to work.”
The 28 dollar boost would take effect in January of 2022, but only if the state does not resume accepting federally enhanced benefits before then.
Abita Springs Republican Representative Larry Frieman says he was initially against increasing state benefits but says the business lobby accepts this compromise.
Cut 14 (09) “…thing.”
The bill has the backing of the state’s largest business lobby, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, which had been calling for the end of federally enhanced benefits.
New Orleans Democratic Representative Mandie Landry says this bill takes free federal money away from the poorest people in the state when many jobs have yet to return.
Cut 15 (10)“…district”
Representative Brown says the Governor is waiting for an economist’s report on the impact of ending the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before making a final decision.
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After getting swept in three close contests to Tennessee earlier this season, is revenge on the mind of the Tigers as they face the Volunteers in the super regionals. Left fielder Gavin Dugas is just glad they are still playing
Cut 16 (17) “…at a time.”
After that series in an interview with a Baton Rouge radio station, Mainieri said the Tennessee fans were nasty based on things they were saying to the Tiger players. When asked, Dugas didn’t want to repeat some of the stuff he heard…
Cut 17 (19) …part of the game.”
Coach Paul Mainieri admits Tennessee’s home ballpark is not an easy place to play…
Cut 18 (21)”..low 3s.”