The state department of education instructs teachers and principals on best practices of virtual learning. Brooke Thorington

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The state high school football championship games are being moved to Natchitoches and are set to run for four days from December 27^th to 30^th. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Both the divorce and marriage rates in Louisiana fell significantly from 2009 to 2019. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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The state department of education instructs teachers and school leaders on how to improve student engagement in the virtual classroom. Assistant Superintendent of Training and Learning, Dr. Jessica Chiasson says the workshop consists of three learning modules and so far, 2,600 have participated.

Cut 4 (10) “…support teachers.”

Teachers now have free access to three 60-minute self-study modules to improve their virtual instruction. The modules offer tips, templates, and strategies to use in the virtual classroom. Chiasson says it’s vital instructors take time to get to know their students.

Cut 5 (09) “…virtual setting.”

Chiasson says while the pandemic and hurricanes have presented challenges this year, Louisiana teachers continue to provide high-quality virtual instruction.

Cut 6 (08) “…students.”

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Governor John Bel Edwards was one of four governors to attend the White House Vaccine Summit Tuesday. US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said out of all COVID vaccination plans submitted to the CDC, governors of the top four states were invited. Edwards praised members of the Vaccination Action Collaborative for their work on the state’s plan.

Cut 7 (13)  “…that confidence.”

Edwards says following FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine the state will receive 49,000 doses then another 40,000 doses the following week. Edwards says within 48 hours of receiving the second allocation they will begin shots in arms.

Cut 8 (14) “…EMS workers.”

The Louisiana Department of Health said 73,000 people who live or work in long-term care facilities is included in the first phase of the vaccine rollout, which is expected to stretch into January.

Edwards shared the state’s vaccination plan to reach underserved communities. He says the state already has a head start with the mass flu vaccination exercises and COVID-19 testing.

Cut 9 (13) “…vaccinations.”

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The 2020 high school football Prep Classic state championships are being moved from the Superdome to Northwestern State in Natchitoches.

LHSAA director Eddie Bonine says it costs half a million dollars to rent the Dome for the games and they usually only break about even. He says current capacity restrictions just wouldn’t have worked…

Cut 10 (06) “…Natchitoches.”

Bonine says they usually sell about 35 to 42-thousand tickets for the games, this year even a best-case scenario put that number far below that.

Bonine says New Orleans also could not commit to even allowing fans in the stadium by late December, and move to Natchitoches gives them a plan set in stone…

Cut 11 (08) “…(x2) per game.”

The games will be held over a four day period from December 27^th to 30^th. Usually the championships only last three days.

It’s the first time the games won’t be played in the Dome since 2005 after Katrina, and Bonine says he understands how important it is to give the kids a world-famous venue…

Cut 12 (11) “…verses not.”

It’s only the second time the games haven’t been played in the Dome since they were first hosted there in 1981.

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The marriage rate in Louisiana was down about 20 percent from 2009 to 2019.

LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinical Psychiatry Dr. Richard Costa says most of the change in the marriage rate is due to millennials, who saw their boomer parents get divorced at historic rates.

Cut 13 (10) “…family unit.”

In Louisiana, the marriage rate in 2019 was 14.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 and over, nationally the marriage rate was is 16.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 and over.

Along with declining marriage rates, the divorce rate also declined by about 27 percent from 2009 to 2019. Costa says that’s because younger people are feeling less pressure to make hasty decisions.

Cut 14 (10) “…best.” 

In 2019 the divorce rate in Louisiana was 7.3 per 1,000 women aged 15 and over and the divorce rate nationally was 7.6 per 1,000 women aged 15 and over.

The marriage rate has been declining steadily for about four decades now. Costa says a big part of that is increased economic freedom for women.

Cut 15 (08)“…to make.” 

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What is going on with the LSU football program? After a dream season, it’s been a nightmare 2020 campaign. There’s a belief Coach Ed Orgeron has lost the team, the culture that Orgeron built to bring a national championship is gone and the players are out for themselves. 30-year-old LSU punter Zach Von Rosenberg says the locker room is still together

Cut 16 (20) “…against Florida”

Star freshman tight end Arick Gilbert is the latest player who could leave the program. Gilbert is reportedly dealing with home sickness and the physical grind of a tough season. Veteran offensive Liam Shanahan says the team is here for Gilbert

cut 17 (20) “…mind’s at.”

LSU linebacker Jabril Cox says he can understand why Gilbert might be having thoughts of leaving…

cut  18 (28) “.get through it.”

2020 high school football championship games will not be played in the Superdome this month, instead, the games have been moved to Northwestern State in Natchitoches. LHSAA Director Eddie Bonnie explained the move citing uncertainty surrounding what COVID restrictions in New Orleans might look like by the end of this month when the games were set to be played, and the inability for a potentially highly limited capacity to actually pay the cost of hosting games in the Dome. Instead, the games will be played over a four-day period starting December 27^th in Natchitoches, the first time outside the Dome since 2005 after Katrina.

LSU Freshman Tight End Arik Gilbert is considering opting out for the remainder of the season.  Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the program is a bit of a mess right now…

Cut 10 (13) “…himself.”

Ochsner Hospital for Children in New Orleans is one of 24 systems around the country participating in a Pfizer COVID vaccine trial in children as young as 12 years old. Ochsner Principal Investigator, Dr. Julia Garcia-Diaz, says a new vaccine must be tested on various age groups because the reactions and efficacy could be different.

Cut 12 (07) “..age group.” 

She says they hope to have enough data by June of next year.

An 89-year-old woman and her 58-year-old son died in a St. Martinville house fire that authorities believe may have been related to improper use of a space heater. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it’s starting to get awful cold and if you are using a space heater you need to take the proper safety precautions.

Cut 4 (12)   “…of course”  

LHSAA is moving the 2020 Football Prep Classic from the Superdome to Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. The championship games are being moved due to COVID capacity restrictions, financial responsibilities, and risk of cancellation. They will be held December 27-30.

LSU could lose another one of its playmakers on offense. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Ochsner Hospital for Children in New Orleans is one of 24 systems around the country participating in a Pfizer COVID vaccine trial in children as young as 12 years old. Ochsner Principal Investigator, Dr. Julia Garcia-Diaz, says a new vaccine must be tested on various age groups because the reactions and efficacy could be different.

Cut 12 (07) “..age group.” 

Louisiana dry ice manufacturers are looking at ramping up production ahead of the rollout of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine, which needs to be stored at a frigid 94 degrees below zero. One of those is Red Ball Oxygen of Shreveport. CEO Alex Kennedy says dry ice sits at 109 degrees below zero…

Cut 7 (12) “..ice.”

Ochsner Children’s Hospital in New Orleans is participating in a nationwide clinical trial testing the effectiveness and safety of the Pfizer COVID vaccine on teens aged 12 to 17. Ochsner Principal Investigator, Dr. Julia Garcia-Diaz says Louisiana could be contributing a lot of data to the trial.

Cut 13 (10) “…80-100 kids”

She says they hope to have enough data by June of next year.

LSU could be set to lose another playmaker as freshman tight end Arik Gilbert is considering opting out of the season. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the Georgia native is apparently homesick and wants to give his body a break, but…

Cut 9 (10) “..not a good thing.”

Thousands of pounds of dry ice will be needed to ship and store the Pfizer COVID vaccine and dry ice companies are stepping up to make that happen. One of those is Red Ball Oxygen of Shreveport. CEO Alex Kennedy says the product is the only way that vaccine can make it from Pfizer into your arm.

Cut 6 (10) “..below zero.”

When dry ice also gets too warm it sublimates, transitioning straight from solid ice to gas, meaning there’s no cleanup to worry about or chance of water contaminating vaccines.

State Fire Marshal Deputies are investigating a house fire that claimed the lives of an 89-year-old woman and her 58-year-old son in St. Martinville, Monday morning.  While the cause of the fire has not been determined, State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says a space heater could’ve been involved.

Cut 3 (11)  “…space heater.”

The state health department reported the largest one day increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital since April. Hospitalizations increased by 92 to 1,516. The state also reported 24-hundred new coronavirus cases and 45 deaths bringing Louisiana’s death toll to 6,652.

Louisiana dry ice manufacturers are preparing for the rollout of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”

Ochsner Hospital for Children is one of 24 systems around the nation that’s been selected to participate in a Pfizer COVID vaccine trial for children ages 12 to 17. Ochsner Principal Investigator, Doctor Julia Garcia-Diaz on why a trial is needed involving just kids.
cut 14 (07) “….works”
Garcia says the goal is to enroll about two-thousand children nationwide.

Georgia native and LSU freshman tight end Arik Gilbert is reportedly home sick and looking to transfer. This latest news is another troubling sign for a program that seems to be falling apart. LSU still has two more games left on its schedule and Athletics Director Scott Woodward has said the Tigers are also interested in playing in a bowl game. But Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says this program is ready for the offseason to start…
Cut 11 (08) “…with staff.”

Ochsner Hospital for Children is one of 24 sites around the country participating in the Pfizer COVID vaccine for adolescents. Ochsner Principal Investigator, Dr. Julia Garcia-Diaz says anytime a new vaccine comes out it must be tested on various age groups because the reactions and efficacy could be different.

Cut 12 (07) “..age group.” 

The vaccine that will be used is the same one that Pfizer is seeking FDA approval for adults.

Thousands of pounds of dry ice will be needed to ship and store the Pfizer COVID vaccine and several local dry ice companies are working to make that happen. Red Ball Oxygen of Shreveport CEO Alex Kennedy says if the Pfizer vaccine becomes the go-to vaccine in the US the dry ice industry will experience an unprecedented level of demand.

Cut 8 (09) “…demand.”

State Fire Marshal Deputies are investigating a house fire that claimed the lives of an 89-year-old woman and her 58-year-old son in St. Martinville, Monday morning.  The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says they believe a space heater is involved and a smoke detector has not been located.

Cut 5  (12) “..out safely” 

LSU Freshman Tight End Arik Gilbert is considering opting out the remainder of the season.  Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says there is not a lot of chemistry within the program right now and it has shown with opts outs and on-field performance.

Cut 10 (13) “…himself.”

Higgins says Gilbert told coach Ed Orgeron he’s hurt and wants a break from the team.

Louisiana dry ice manufacturers are looking at ramping up production ahead of the rollout of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine, which needs to be stored at a frigid 94 degrees below zero. One of those is Red Ball Oxygen of Shreveport. CEO Alex Kennedy says dry ice sits at 109 degrees below zero…

Cut 7 (12) “..ice.”

Red Ball is providing Shreveport pharmaceutical delivery company, Morris and Dickson, with dry ice for their deliveries.

LSU Freshman Tight End Arik Gilbert is considering opting out the remainder of the season.  Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says he apparently wants to give his body a break, but…

Cut 9 (10) “..not a good thing.”

An 89 year old woman and her 58 year old son died in a St. Martinville house fire that authorities beilve may have been related to improper use of a space heater. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says it’s starting to get awful cold and if you are using a space heater you need to take the proper safety precautions.

Cut 4 (12)   “…of course”  

Just under 100 new COVID patients were reported admitted into hospitals around the state today, a near ten percent increase from Monday’s numbers. At 1,516 total hospitalizations total the state is nearing its late July second wave peak of 1,600 hospitalizations.