The New Orleans Archdiocese calls the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine “morally compromised” due to its use of abortion-derived cell material. LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier (Pass-kay) says the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines only used abortion-derived cells in research, while J&J used them in manufacturing.

Cut 9 (12) “…Moderna”

The Vatican has not stated its position on the J&J vaccine.

The average price a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana jumped ten cents in the last week to $2.43. AAA spokesman Don Redman says the winter storms closed several refineries thus delaying production and with anticipation for a demand in gasoline the industry could soon be will be playing catch up.

Cut 7 (10) “…demand.”

He says an increase in crude oil prices is responsible for paying more at the pump right now.

Nurseries were pummeled by the February winter storms and Ag Commission Mike Strain is pushing to get them USDA assistance. Yesterday Strain toured Forest Hill in Rapides Parish, a place called the heart of the state’s nursery industry.

Cut 3 (09)  “…plants”  

Strain told growers to keep good records, photograph everything, and contact their farming services as soon as they can.

And Governor will speak at 1 o’clock today it’s anticipated he will roll back current coronavirus restrictions.

Governor Edwards will announce whether or not the state will reduce COVID public health restrictions today at 1 PM. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

WBRZ-TV in Baton Rouge is reporting a State Police Trooper received a 50-hour suspension for turning off his body camera, kicking a handcuffed black male and dragging him by his shackles. That man is Ronald Greene, who died as a result of the encounter he had with State Police in the Monroe area in 2019. Greene’s family says the Trooper should be fired.

The average price a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana jumped ten cents in the last week to $2.43. AAA spokesperson Don Redman says while the demand for gas has yet to increase the price increase is being driven by higher crude oil prices.

Cut 6 (10) “…barrel.”

Coronavirus vaccines are proven to significantly reduce COVID severity, and while it hasn’t been proven many doctors believe vaccination reduces transmissibility as well. Ochsner System Medical Director of Hospital Quality Dr. Sandra Kemmerly says if you are vaccinated then your body will immediately start fighting any virus you come into contact with…

Cut 7 (11)  “…asymptomatically.”

Governor John Bel Edwards could ease COVID public health restrictions this afternoon as the modified Phase 2 order expires tomorrow. Public Affairs Research Council Policy Director Dr. Steven Procopio, who says not only are new positive cases are down and so is the percent positivity of tests, and COVID hospitalizations.
Cut 13 (08) “..improve”
The governor is holding a one PM press conference.

Coronavirus vaccines are proven to significantly reduce COVID severity, and many doctors also believe vaccination reduces transmissibility. Ochsner System Medical Director of Hospital Quality Dr. Sandra Kemmerly says once vaccinated then your body will immediately start fighting any virus you come into contact with…

Cut 7 (11) “…asymptomatically.”

An LSU study comparing traffic in ten states before and various stages during the pandemic, found that overall traffic volume decreased by 48 percent. LSU Civil Engineering Professor Brian Wolshon (Wool-shon) says at the beginning as the virus spread across the country, traffic trends mirrored each other based on closures in each of the states.

Cut 10 (09) “…like that.”
Wolshon says you can make the argument that government actions lowered traffic and the decreased traffic led to a decrease in the spread of the virus.

Today is not a good day for a crawfish boil but the weather looks good this weekend. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality spokesperson Jean Kelly reminds residents never pour shells or boil water into a ditch or waterway and never put shells down the sink or garbage disposal….

cut 5 (07) “….critters”

Governor Edwards will announce whether the state will loosen COVID public health restrictions this afternoon, and the data appears to support potentially moving into Phase Three. Last week Edwards said our trajectory looked promising and Public Affairs Research Council Policy Director Dr. Steven Procopio says the data indicates a cautious loosening of restrictions is justified right now.

Cut 15 (09)“..transmutability.”

While coronavirus vaccines are proven to reduce COVID severity, and it hasn’t been proven to reduce transmissibility. Ochsner System Medical Director of Hospital Quality Dr. Sandra Kemmerly says the reason why they can’t confirm because transmissibility it hard to measure in clinical trials.

Cut 9 (11) “…vaccinated.”

An LSU study comparing traffic in ten states before and various stages during the pandemic, found that overall traffic volume decreased by at 48 percent.  LSU Civil Engineering Professor Brian Wolshon (Wool-shon) says later in the study an increase or decrease in traffic did not follow respectively an increase or decrease in case numbers but did indicate to researchers how the virus was spread.

Cut 12 (09) “…contact. ”

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is reminding crawfish connoisseurs to clean up properly after your boil to preserve other sea life. DEQ spokesperson Jean Kelly says never place shells or boil water into a ditch or waterway because it can seriously harm or even kill fish. Kelly says proper disposal is vital to preserving our favorite pastime.

Cut 6 (08) “…every year.”

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to discuss the state’s reopening plan at a briefing Tuesday at 1 pm. The Governor will also discuss the coronavirus pandemic and the state’s current phase two order which expires Wednesday, March 3^rd.

Leaders in the state legislature are beginning to formulate their plans for tax reform legislation to be debated in the regular session that begins next month. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said today that Tulane police officer Martinus Mitchum was fatally shot on Friday by a 35-year old John Shallerhorn who tried to force his way into a high school basketball playoff game. It’s been reported the suspect became irate after being told he had to wear a mask at the Carver High School game, but Ferguson cannot confirm…

Cut 11 (11) “…wearing a mask.”

At AARP Louisiana’s Tele-Town Hall, New Orleans physician Eric Griggs says when it comes to behavior after you have been vaccinated, you still need to continue to social distance and wear masks because of variants of the virus. As for travel and visiting outside your immediate household…

Cut 8 (10) “…a risk.”

New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said today that Tulane police officer Martinus Mitchum was fatally shot on Friday by a man who tried to force his way into a high school basketball playoff game. Ferguson says Mitchum was working as a security guard and tried to escort the gunman out of the building after he hit an employee working at the door.

Cut 9 (10) “…the chest”

Legislative leaders say they are putting together a tax reform plan that will be debated during the regular session that begins April 12th. Senate President Page Cortez says because of the complexity of the current tax structure, they want to bring stability, simplicity, and predictability to the state’s tax code.

Cut 3 (10)  “…we will be successful.”  

The Louisiana Health Department says it expects to receive this week nearly 38-thousand doses of Johnson and Johnson’s newly approved COVID-19 vaccine. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says clinical trials on the J & J vaccine show its 100-percent effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths.

Cut 14 (12) “…zero deaths.” 

During an AARP Tele-town hall meeting, New Orleans physician Doctor Eric Griggs says it’s important not to take anything like Tylenol before you are vaccinated to dull your immune response to the vaccine however you can take pain relief after your injection.

Cut 7 (11) “…after.”

Leaders in the state legislature are beginning to formulate their plans for tax reform legislation to be debated in the regular session that begins next month.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

Central pastor Tony Spell has been offered a plea deal by East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore. Moore has informed Spell’s legal team that the court would drop all charges against Spell, if the pastor would plead “no contest” to one of the six charges he faces. Spell was arrested and accused of six counts of violating the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions by having too many gathered at his church.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said today that Tulane police officer Martinus Mitchum was fatally shot on Friday by a 35-year old John Shallerhorn who tried to force his way into a high school basketball playoff game. It’s been reported the suspect became irate after being told he had to wear a mask at the Carver High School game, but Ferguson cannot confirm…

Cut 11 (11) “…wearing a mask.”

AARP Louisiana held a Tele-Town Hall meeting today with New Orleans physician Eric Griggs answering COVID and vaccine-related questions. When it comes to behavior after you have been vaccinated Griggs says because of variants of the virus you still need to continue to social distance and wear masks. As for travel and visiting with others outside your immediate household…

Cut 8 (10) “…a risk.”

During an AARP Tele-Town Hall meeting, this morning New Orleans physician and health educator Dr. Eric Griggs answered questions about COVID-19 and the vaccines. Griggs says the current three vaccines underwent thorough testing, Johnson and Johnson had 30-thousand clinical trial participants and 75-thousand people in the Pfizer and Moderna trials.

Cut 6 (12) “…the trial.”

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be available in Louisiana this week as an estimated 38-thousand doses are scheduled to arrive. Tulane School of Medicine Professor Doctor Lisa Morici says the J-and-J vaccine has an efficacy rate of 66-percent, which is not as high as the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines….

Cut 14 (11) “…deaths.” 

Governor Edwards’ proposed 400-dollar K-12 teacher pay raise has some teacher advocates crying foul. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

The state reports 408 new COVID-19 cases and 20 fatalities.

Legislative leaders say they are putting together a tax reform plan that will be debated during the regular session that begins April 12th. Senate President Page Cortez says because of the complexity of the current tax structure, they want to bring stability, simplicity, and predictability to the state’s tax code.

Cut 3 (10)  “…we will be successful”  

The Workforce Commission reports the state unemployment system was bombarded with fraudulent applications last year, but most were rejected. 28,000 suspected cases of attempted fraud have been turned over to law enforcement. And it’s suspected an additional 60,000 could be fraud attempts. Assistant Secretary of Unemployment Insurance Robert Wooley says these applications have incomplete information, and…

Cut 5 (10)“…fraud.”

The Atlantic hurricane season officially starts June 1st, but a committee at the National Hurricane Center is looking at changing the start date to May 15th. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the two-week jumpstart might be justified.

Cut 7 (11)  “…six seasons.”

The Johnson and Johnson one dose COVID-19 vaccine has received emergency use authorization and doses should arrive in the state this week.  Tulane School of Medicine Professor Dr. Lisa Morici says data shows the J & J vaccine doesn’t have any of the severe allergic reactions shown with the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.

Cut 13 (11) “…injection site.”

The J & J vaccine also doesn’t require deep cold storage making it ideal for rural transport.

State health officials expect to receive 38-thousand doses of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine this week after the Food and Drug Administration authorized the J-and-J one-shot dose for emergency approval. Tulane School of Medicine Professor Doctor Lisa Morici says the J-and-J vaccine doesn’t require extensive cold storage like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines…

Cut 15 (09)“…is great.”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports the state unemployment system was bombarded with fraudulent applications last year, but most were rejected. The Workforce Commission has turned over 28,000 suspected cases of attempted unemployment insurance fraud to law enforcement. Secretary Ava Dejoie says those attempts failed.

Cut 4 (04)“…went off.”

Many teachers are scoffing at the Governor’s proposed 400-dollar teacher pay raise, calling it far too little.  Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana Director Dr. Keith Courville says the Governor needs to add an extra zero to that figure if he wants to rival the pay teachers can find in neighboring states.

Cut 10 (09) “…faculty.”

The National Hurricane Center is considering whether the start of the hurricane season should be moved up from June 1st to May 15th. A named storm has formed before June 1st in each of the last six years. State Climatologist Barry Keim questions is it because we detecting storms sooner or is climate responsible for the jumpstart.

Cut 8 (06) “…of it.”

The 2020 season began May 16^th when Arthur formed off the east coast of Florida.