Willis-Knighten Health System in Shreveport is looking for clinical trial participants to help with a medication to treat COVID..:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

DC Mardi Gras events get underway today and LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says this is a gathering of a Who’s Who in state politics but it’s not all about partying…:
Cut 15 (08) “consultants”

Four friends in the blue collar trade industry who had trouble finding qualified workers have reached out the the brainchild of the popular Waitr app, which was founded in Louisiana. Chris Meaux says they launched an app called BoomNation which is free for job seekers and allows them to search for work…:
CUT 4 (10) “those trades”
BoomNation also has the ability for skilled workers to showcase their work and display photos of their greatest hits.

State Wildlife & Fisheries’ annual “Get Out and Fish” events start today. LDWF spokesperson Danica Williams says 17 sites will be stocked with adult-size rainbow trout; a colder water fish uncommon to Louisiana waters…:
Cut 7 (06) “they’re good eating”
Check locations near you online at wlf.la.gov.

The Willis Knighton Health System in Shreveport is one of 400 sites in the US researching a pill to prevent Covid in people who have been exposed by someone in their house, and they are looking for participants to be part of the study. The Principal investigator is Dr. Joseph Bocchini (Bo-key-nee) Jr…:
Cut 10 (12) “management of COVID”
The Pfizer medication being used has already received Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA for those who are more susceptible to severe COVID complications.

D-C Mardi Gras activities get underway today as one of the biggest social events of the year for the nation’s capitol returns after a one-year hiatus due to covid. LA-politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford…:
CUT 13 (08) “from Louisiana”
He says it’s also a major networking event among elected officials.

The Lake Charles founder of the popular Waitr app has joined an effort to help easily connect skilled trade workers to employers through their smartphone. Christopher Meaux says the app is called BoomNation…:
CUT 5 (10) “they have”
BoomNation was created by a group of friends with roots in the blue-collar trades who wanted to come up with a way businesses could easily find skilled workers in a challenging labor market.

The woman who blew a whistle on sexual misconduct at LSU, then filed a $50-million lawsuit against them has been fired by the university. Sharon Lewis had a high-ranking position in the Tiger Athletics department. She alleges harassment at the hands of former football coach Les Miles. LSU says it can’t comment on specific personnel actions but noted there have been several “reassignments and departures” within the last month.

The Supreme Court says private businesses with over 100 employees can’t require workers to get the Covid vaccine, but they did keep a mandate in place for healthcare workers. Brandon Trosclair who owns grocery stores in Louisiana and Mississippi was among the first business owners to legally challenge the White House mandate. He says the High Court got this one right..:
Cut 14 (09) “just super-relieved”
It’s a loss for the Biden Administration which sought to use the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration to enforce the vaccines for workers.

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is set to receive approximately $1 billion dollars to repair and upgrade bridges under the new Bridge Formula Program, with over $200 million of that allocated for this fiscal year. He says this is great news from the Federal Highway Administration as Louisiana’s funding needs for infrastructure projects are massive.

New data shows the number of Louisianans who smoke cigarettes is at an all-time low. A report from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living says the percentage of adults who smoke is down to just over 18-percent. TFL director Dr. Earl Benjamin Robinson says the report is encouraging and inspires optimism..:
CUT 12 (11) “individuals are protected”
For help kicking the tobacco habit, visit “QuitWithUsLA.org”.

The White House announces they’ve purchased another 500 million home Covid tests in addition to the 500 million already ordered. But Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says with Omicron surging the way it is now this should have been done sooner…:
Cut 5 (08) “tests now”
The White House also plans to distribute high-quality masks at no cost and next week a website will be launched so Americans can order the free home COVID tests.

Governor  John Bel Edwards says it’s not wise to try to contract Covid on purpose…:
Cut 2 (33) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The State Fire Marshal’s Office says a man from St. Tammany Parish died in a house fire when he ran back inside to try to save his dogs. They say when fire crews responded to the blaze, they found one person had safely escaped but another individual went into the fire to rescue the pets but never came back out.

The U.S. Supreme Court blocks the White House COVID vaccine mandate for private businesses. They did however uphold the requirement for employees of health care providers. Loyola University law professor Dan Ciolino feels the justices were right to leave that mandate in place…:
CUT 16 (15) “surely does have that”

A report from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living says the number of smokers in Louisiana is at an all-time low with just over 18 percent of people here who light up. TFL director Dr. Earl Benjamin Robinson says people in lower income households are quitting at a high rate indicating additional tobacco taxes are effective. He says their efforts to encourage people to quit are working…:
CUT 11 (12) “smoke can do”

The U.S. Supreme Court blocks the White House mandate ordering COVID vaccines for employees of private companies. Kevin Gallagher gets some reaction…:
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

President Biden announces they’ve purchased another 500-million home COVID tests, but Louisiana Senator & physician Bill Cassidy believes this should have come sooner…:
Cut 4 (08) “didn’t prioritize it”
To locate the nearest testing site call 2-1-1.

Upon hearing of a trend to intentionally catch COVID so individuals can put the virus behind them, Governor John Bel Edwards says that’s not a good idea. He says the Omicron variant is mild for some people but not everyone…:
Cut 7 (10) “can’t do that”
In hopes that the Omicron peak is coming soon, Edwards did not issue another statewide mask mandate during his Covid news conference Thursday.

Cops in Baton Rouge have arrested the woman who in early December allegedly fired a gun inside a beauty store after the manager busted her stealing a wig. They say when 18-year-old Janiya Wattley was confronted for shoplifting she pulled out the weapon and fired a round into the ceiling. A tip from Crimestoppers helped officers locate the suspect.

There will be plenty of LSU fans wearing orange and black tomorrow as former LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow makes his NFL playoff debut when the Bengals host the Raiders. Kickoff is at 3:30.

The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked the White House COVID vaccine mandate for private businesses. Six conservative justices voted for the block, while 3 liberal justices voted against. Loyola University law professor Dan Ciolino says he doesn’t see it as a purely partisan decision…:
Cut 13 (13) “…a democratic president.”
Brandon Trosclair, who employs nearly 500 people at grocery stores across Louisiana and Mississippi, says the Supreme Court got this one right. He says he’s not against the vaccine — but whether or not his workers get the shot is their business…:
CUT 15 (06) “the vaccine itself”
But the court did rule to uphold the mandate to require the vaccine for employees of health care providers.

New data shows the number of Louisianans who smoke cigarettes is at an all-time low. A report from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living says the percentage of adults who smoke is down to just over 18-percent; down from about 22-percent in 2019. TFL director Dr. Earl Benjamin Robinson says this is great news:
Cut 10 (06) “contextualize that drop”
For help kicking the tobacco habit, visit “QuitWithUsLA.org”.

The Louisiana Marathon is coming back to Baton Rouge for its 11th year. Thousands of runners from all over the world are expected to be in this weekend. Officials say the Louisiana Marathon weekend generates between $2 million and $4 million in economic impact each year.

The state continues to urge the public to remain vigilant as Louisiana’s Covid numbers are hitting levels not seen since the pandemic first started. Of 17-thousand cases reported Wednesday, LDH says 1-in-4 were kids under 18. Tulane University epidemiologist Dr. Susan Hassig says youngsters may not be as severely affected by the virus, but they can still transmit it – even if vaccinated…:
CUT 9 (10) “learn the best”
Other countries are seeing this latest surge begin to drop but Hassig says it’s too early to call when that will happen here.

Police in New Orleans say detectives located a headless torso inside a deep freezer that was hooked up to a bus in the backyard of a residence in the 9th Ward. The man who lived there, Benjamin Beale, is behind bars on various charges including obstruction of justice in relation to the case. Authorities were searching for Beale’s estranged wife, but the remains have yet to be identified and cause of death, including murder, has not been established. The investigation is ongoing.

St. Tammany Parish voters rejected a proposal to move a Bossier City casino license to Slidell which means that casino needs to reopen within 60 days of the failed measure. State Gaming Control Commissioner Ronnie Johns says Diamond Jacks has an uphill battle as its run down, and…:
Cut 15 (09) “staff in place”
He says Diamond Jack’s will present their plan to the Gaming Control Board on February 17th for approval.

Low housing inventory in Louisiana and lots of buyers means the real estate market here is very hot right now. Amy Fennell with the Louisiana Realtors Association says sellers are receiving multiple offers so they should get the help of someone with experience…:
CUT 12 (12) “looking for it”
She says supply chain issues have drastically slowed the construction of new homes.

The Covid Pandemic is surging in Louisiana and Governor John Bel Edwards has called a news conference this morning to address it. On Wednesday, the state reported 17-thousand new COVID cases, with about 2 thousand in the hospital. The Omicron variant is less severe, and some say that could signal the surge may be ending, but Tulane Epidemiologist Dr. Susan Hassig is more cautious…:
Cut 8 (08) “to call it yet”
Of the 2000 people hospitalized with the virus, 75-percent are not fully vaccinated.

Overdose deaths in Louisiana were rising at alarming rates even before the pandemic but it’s only gotten worse. New data suggests from 2019 to 2020 overdoses increased more than 50 percent in Louisiana. Ben Miller, President of Well Being Trust, says if you suspect a loved one is an addict, you should ask them about it…:
CUT 6 (11) “may not”

After voters rejected a plan to move a Bossier City casino license to Slidell in December, what becomes of the original casino? Kevin Gallagher asks the Gaming Control Commissioner:
Cut 3 (28) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

An art teacher from St. James Parish has been arrested in two parishes this week on charges including sex crimes involving a juvenile. 50-year-old Lisa Samuels was first booked with a DWI in Ascension Parish before being brought to St. James where she was booked with molestation of a juvenile and indecent behavior with juveniles.