As the Omicron COVID variant grows in Louisiana, the FDA approves Pfizer’s new COVID-19 treatment pill. Dr. Benjamin Springgate is with LSU Health in New Orleans. He says this an “extraordinary step forward” in treating the coronavirus and its variants…:
Cut 10 (07) “hospitalization or death”
The oral treatment called Paxlovid is available only with a prescription from your doctor. Treatment must begin within five days of onset of symptoms.

Today is the last day to send gifts in the mail if you want them to arrive for Christmas. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says send Priority Mail Express…:
Cut 13 (06) “Christmas Day”
USPS says no shipping delays are expected for people shipping last minute.

A recent study shows Louisiana continues to have one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the country. Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, says more than half a million Louisianans, including one in five children, struggle with hunger:
Cut 7 (12) “leftover food”
He says you can help by donating food, time or money, and every little bit helps.

The Vernon Parish Sherrif’s Office says a woman was killed in a deputy-involved shooting Tuesday after allegedly pointing a weapon and pursuing one of the officers. They indicate a male subject told cops 44-year-old Chantel Myers was threatening to commit suicide, and when deputies attempted to deescalate the situation at a residence in the area of Pitkin, the woman charged at officers with a gun in an aggressive manner threatening to harm them. A deputy fired his weapon fatally striking Myers. The matter is under investigation.

Louisiana U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s looking to the Centers for Disease Control to offer up some guidance on how safe from COVID a person may be if they’ve already had it. He says worldwide research suggests previous exposure and illness can produce a natural immunity. Cassidy has suggested to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky they should look into that. He says she verified other countries are saying, “yes, natural immunity is a thing”…:

CUT 13  (11)        “…or restaurant.”

The federal Food & Drug Administration approves a new pill to take for COVID from Pfizer. Called “Paxlovid”, it reduced serious symptoms by about 89-percent in human testing. It’ll be available by prescription only, and is expected to be in pretty short supply at first … as production of the pills ramps up. COVID Omicron cases are on the rise in Louisiana and across the country.

KNOE in Monroe reports a man wanted for murdering a woman in the Ouachita Parish city back in November has been apprehended in Houston. 32-year-old Nelson Bridges is accused of the shooting death of 29-year-old Jessica Lee on November 15^th. He’ll be extradited back to Ouachita, where he’ll face a 2^nd-degree murder charge.

The U.S. Census Bureau says Louisiana continues to lose people to other states; a trend that’s been going on for years. More on that from Dave Brannen…:

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Along with state offices resuming the requirement of face masks indoors, hospitals are beginning to reinstate mask policies as well. Brooke Thorington has more…:

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You remember the Shreveport woman who tossed her kids off a bridge into Cross Lake back in September; killing one of them? Ureka Black is charged with murder and attempted murder. Her arraignment, which was scheduled for today, has been pushed back until late January. Her lawyers have filed a sanity motion, and that psych evaluation will take that long.

The coroner in St. Charles Parish nails down causes of death for two bodies found in drainage ditches in the town of Boutte within days of each other. On December 17^th, the remains of 31-year-old Ellington Lockett were discovered. He was stabbed to death. Just three days later, 52-year-old Leroy Houston, Jr. was found. He died of natural causes, exacerbated by illegal drugs in his system. The former’s murder is under investigation.

If you haven’t done the Christmas dinner grocery shopping yet, be prepared to pay a good bit more. Inflation of food items is at about 6.8-percent compared to last year. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says he doesn’t anticipate any break in prices soon…:

CUT 11  (08)        “…we call input costs.”

Serving turkey? Expect to pay about 8-percent more. Beef is up nearly 21-percent this year.

Salvation Army of Lafayette says they’re behind their holiday donation goal, so they’ll stay out; ringing the bells and thanking you for your generosity right through New Year’s Eve. You can donate online at “Lafyettekettle.org”

Unfortunate news: one of Louisiana’s top exports is PEOPLE. U.S. Census data shows our state ranked fifth in the country for outmigration of populace. From July 2020 to July 2021, the Bayou State lost over 27-thousand people. Demographer Greg Rigamer says if the trend continues, the state will lose another seat in Congress eventually…:

CUT 05  (05)        “…a probability.”

Louisiana went from seven congressional districts to six after the 2010 Census.

Face mask requirements are returning to state offices and agencies, AND to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, where infectious disease specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal says get the jab and/or booster and mask up, because treatment options are limited right now…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…short supply”

She also urges you get tested for a COVID variant before spending holiday time with family.

Louisiana U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s waiting for the Centers for Disease Control to provide guidance on the degree of risk from COVID, if one has had it before. He says research worldwide suggests some natural immunity for those who’ve recovered from coronavirus..:

CUT 12  (11)        “…some protection.”

Cassidy says he’s uncertain why CDC seems reluctant to publicly discuss natural immunity.

Doing some last-minute shopping for Christmas dinner? Some tips to help from state Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain; particularly if you’re serving a turkey…:

CUT 10  (09)        “…wonderful Christmas time.”

Strain says the over 6.8-percent inflation rate is causing a spike in the costs of this year’s Christmas dinner, and he’s not expecting prices to come down anytime soon.

New data from Moderna suggests that their COVID booster shot produces great results against the Omicron variant, which is surging across Louisiana and the country. LSU infectious disease specialist Dr. Fred Lopez reminds us the data is brand new and has not yet undergone peer review…:

CUT 06         (10)    “…and older.”

Lopez says it’s still a good idea to get that booster, if you have not already.

A Monday afternoon crash in Ouachita Parish takes the life of a teen driver and leaves his passenger in serious condition. State Police Trooper Mike Reichardt says 17-year-old Logan Temple of Wisner was not wearing his seatbelt, when he ran a stop sign and was broadsided by a dump truck. That driver was unhurt. Reichardt says this is the worst time of year to lose a loved one…:

CUT 04         (08)    “…a happy time”

The crash is under investigation. No charges have been filed.

East Baton Rouge deputies are searching for a man accused of contractor fraud. He’s identified as 32-year-old Tayler Braud.  Deputies say Braud took $5,500 from someone to do work on their home, but he either didn’t finish or messed it up & didn’t fix it. The homeowner had to pay a second contractor more than $4,000 to do that. The financial loss to the victim is just under $10,000. As for Braud, who has precious contractor fraud arrests… he’s in the wind.

The Mayor of New Orleans says plans to have Mardi Gras parades WILL go on, despite an uptick in COVID cases in the state. LaToya Cantrell says they believe the events can happen without being super-spreader events. NOPD Superintendent Shawn Ferguson says parades will all happen along just two routes and police presence will be paramount…:

CUT 10         (04)    “…entire parade route.”

She says no krewes have opted to cancel their parades because of COVID.

Moderna says preliminary data indicates their COVID vaccine booster can increase antibody levels and should decrease severe infection from Omicron. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

Amid worries that Omicron is the harbinger of a 5^th wave of COVID infections, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says Mardi Gras parades are still a go; although some parade routes may be altered to minimize risk of spread. Mardi Gras Day is March 1^st, 2022.

Today is the first day of winter – the Winter Solstice – and the Climate Prediction Center predicts a warmer and drier than normal winter. State Climatologist Barry Keim says La Nina climate conditions will bring the Bayou State above-average temperatures and dry conditions through February. He says that pretty much starts this holiday weekend…:

CUT 13(08)      “…on Christmas Day.”

State Police say a deadly two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Ouachita Parish, that left a teen dead and a passenger in his car seriously injured, could have been avoided. Trooper Michael Reichardt…:

CUT 03(10)      “Mack dump truck”

That truck driver was not hurt, but Temple was killed. Reichardt says distracted driving is the likely cause, but a blood tox sample was taken from Temple to determine if he was impaired; a standard part of any crash investigation.

A two-vehicle crash in Ouachita Parish leaves a teen driver dead and his passenger in serious condition. State Police says 17-year-old Logan Temple blew a stop sign and was broadsided by a big dump truck. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The dump truck driver was not hurt. Trooper Michael Reichardt says this is the worst time of year for families to lose loved in car accidents & he offers some advice…:

CUT 05  (06)        “…drink and drive.”

Reichardt says a toxicology sample was obtained from Temple and is being submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.

Early data from Moderna says their vaccine can provide better protection from the Omicron variant of COVID, by way of producing more antibodies. LSU infectious disease specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says more of us need to treat the third shot as part of the vaccination; not just a booster…:

CUT 08(11)      “…advantage of them.”

New Orleans Mardi Gras parades will go on next year, according to Mayor LaToya Cantrell. More from Dave Brannen…:

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More troubles for Lafayette Judge Michelle Odinet – now on forced leave without pay following a viral video of a woman purported to be her using racial slurs. The D.A. in Orleans Parish has ordered a review of every case handled by Odinet when she worked there in the 1990’s. D.A. Jason Williams says the video calls her impartiality into question.

Five lives lost in two separate-but-related accidents on I-49 in St. Landry Parish last Friday night. The first was caused by a Georgia driver who got on the interstate going the wrong way. State Police Trooper Tom Gossen…:

CUT 09  (11)        “in the left lane.”

Lundy was killed, as was the 20-year-old driver of the other vehicle and two teen passengers; all three siblings. A while later, a vehicle slammed into a State Police cruiser that was directing traffic around the first accident. That driver, from Texas, was also killed.

Shreveport Police seek the man who knocked on the door of a home on the southwest side of town Sunday afternoon, asked for a man who lived there, then shot that man dead and ran away. The victim is 29-year-old Reginald Jones Jr. Police say the crime was not random. They’ll gladly accept tips on the crime.

Autistic motorists can now get a driver’s license that quickly and easily identifies them as such. Matt Boudreaux is with the state OMV. He says the legislature approved the designation last spring…:

CUT 03  (10)        “…on their license.”

The word “autistic” will appear right under the driver’s photo. The change can be done in a pretty short time, with a visit to the OMV.

Who isn’t talking about that brilliant Saints win over the Buccaneers last night in Tampa Bay? Tom Brady was sacked 4 times in the Black & Gold’s win over the Super Bowl champs. The final score was 9 – 0, with the Saints racking up only 212 yards total offense. Quarterback Taysom Hill threw for just 154 yards. He says what the defense did against a Brady-led offense is impressive…:

CUT 13(12)      “…incredibly.”

The Saints are now 7 – 7 on their season.

Five people are dead after two related crashes on I-19 in St. Landry Parish Friday night Trooper The first involved a wrong way driver from Georgia plowing head-on into another vehicle; killing both drivers and two passengers. State Police Trooper Tom Gossen says they’re investigating how the man entered the interstate in the wrong direction, and how long was he going that way..:

CUT 11  (08)        “…to determine.”

In the second crash, an elderly man ran into a State Police vehicle that was controlling traffic around the first accident. That driver, who was from Texas, was also killed.

State Police are investigating the death of a Bogalusa man while in police custody. 28-year-old Eric Nelson was arrested on outstanding warrants after being in a single-car crash. At some point, Nelson resisted, fled officers, was caught then tasered and taken to a hospital. He died on the way. The investigation is ongoing.

Police in Scott – in Lafayette Parish – arrest a man they say tried to abduct a 4-year-old today from a local business. The child’s grandmother says the two were doing some holiday shopping, when she noticed 34-year-old Michael Placeck talking with her grandchild. When she looked a way for a moment, Placeck reportedly grabbed the child and ran. He let the child go in the parking lot and fled, but cops caught up with him in short order.

You might think putting a puppy or kitten under the tree will be a memorable Christmas gift, but it might not go over as well as you hoped. Brooke Thorington explains…:

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Five people are dead and two critically injured in St Landry Parish, after two related crashes on I-49 late Friday night. The story from Dave Brannen…:

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Actor Josh Duhamel will reign over New Orleans’ Carnival as Bacchus LIII (53). The Krewe made the official announcement Sunday. Duhamel is known for roles in the Transformers films, the series “Las Vegas” and being married to pop star Fergie. The Krewe of Bacchus parade will be Sunday night, February 27^th.

Louisiana motorists who are on the autism spectrum can now get a driver’s license that quickly and easily identifies them as such. Louisiana OMV’s Matt Boudreaux says all you need to get one is certain documents…:

CUT 05(09)      “…indicator added.”

The word “autistic” will appear in bold text under your driver’s license photo.

The Saints pulled a small miracle in their shut-out of the defending NFL champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday. The Black & Gold blanked the Bucs 9-0. Tom Brady was sacked 4 times, with Saints defensive end Cam Jordan making his 100^th career sack…:

CUT 12(11)      “…this game.”

Saints are now 7-7 on the Season.