LDH adopts new CDC quarantine guidelines in hopes that more will comply. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Fallout from a USA Today report detailing mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations at LSU continues as the school hands over 60 plus case files containing allegations to a firm investigating the situation. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
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The Louisiana Department of Corrections unveils a new program that allows inmates nearing their release date to apply for jobs from prison. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
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The Louisiana Health Department adopts revised CDC guidelines to shorten the quarantine period following a COVID exposure. Regional public health director for Acadiana, Doctor Tina Stefanski says LDH leaders understand the recommendation of a 14-day quarantine is not always practical.
Cut 4 (09) “…as possible.”
Stefanski says now if you’ve been exposed to COVID, you can quarantine for ten days as opposed to 14 days.
Cut 5 (11) “…zero risk.”
Or if you show no symptoms and after five days test negative, you can leave quarantine after seven days.
Local school leaders pushed for a change in the quarantine rules, because they say keeping teachers and students away from the classroom for two weeks caused staffing issues and disrupted the learning process for children. Stefanski says they want kids in the classroom as much as possible and the revised guidelines will do that.
Cut 6 (10) “…wearing masks.”
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LSU turns over 60 plus case files of alleged incidents of sexual misconduct committed by students to a firm tasked with investigating the school’s alleged mishandling of those allegations.
LSU Interim President Tom Galligan says all of the documents forwarded to Husch Blackwell so far are from a period between 2016 and 2018.
Cut 7 (09) “…reports.”
LSU hired Houston-based Husch Blackwell to conduct a review of their sexual misconduct reporting policies and the school’s handling of these allegations after an expose by USA Today last month. The report will be released in February.
There’s concern that some LSU staff may have participated in cover-ups of the incidents, but Galligan says they want Blackwell’s take on who knew what and when before they take action.
Cut 8 (10) “…right.”
Currently, no LSU staff are on administrative leave related to this situation, including Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry who says he did not follow up on evidence after he learned a football player at the time, Drake Davis, hit his girlfriend.
Galligan says they want to hear from current and former students about other potential incidents. He says if informed of other incidents they will pass that information along to Blackwell.
Cut 9 (08) “…for them.”
Many of the allegations are against former LSU football players, notably former running back Derrius Guice.
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Starting next month Louisiana inmates will be able to shop their resumes to prospective employers from prison using a LinkedIn-style secure online portal.
Louisiana Department of Corrections Assistant Secretary of Reentry Rhett Covington says the Reentry Workforce Job Portal allows inmates to connect with employers before they are released.
Cut 10 (08) “…employers.”
Covington says before the portal many inmates wouldn’t be able to start their search for employment until after they had left prison.
The program is paid for by money saved as a result of criminal justice reforms passed in recent years. Covington says it will help them further save money by reducing recidivism.
Cut 11 (08) “ ..crime.”
The Portal is being promoted by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
Covington says the post-release job program is the first of its kind and takes advantage of the over 1,300 certifications inmates have received in the last two years.
Cut 12 (08) “…that way.”
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To close the digital divide in rural areas of the state, Congressman Mike Johnson says the FCC is dedicating $342 million over the next decade to bring broadband internet to almost 176-thousand Louisianans. Johnson says the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund will allow existing telecommunications companies to expand their access.
Cut 13 (11) “…service.”
Johnson says some view bringing broadband access to rural areas as the equivalent of providing electricity and telephone service in the 18 and 19-hundreds.
Cut 14 (06) “…21st century.”
Johnson says the pandemic has only highlighted our dependence on the internet and the incentives being provided to telecommunications providers to increase broadband will allow rural areas of the state to experience economic growth. Johnson says this is long overdue.
Cut 15 (08)“…too long.”
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The LSU football team is 3-and-5 and staring at another loss this Saturday when they visit sixth-ranked Florida. It’s been a difficult year for the defending national champs, but Coach Ed Orgeron believes brighter days are ahead…
Cut 16 (21) “…teams again.”
Convincing draft-eligible players to return for one more season is a key to a possible turnaround for next season. Orgeron admits there are some guys who are dead set on leaving early for the NFL draft and the others who are on the fence are receiving a sales pitch…
cut 17 (18) “…drafted higher.”
LSU’s struggling defense faces another big challenge this Saturday when they take on Florida. Orgeron says they need to contain Kyle Pitts, who has 11 receiving touchdowns on the season
cut 18 (18) “…a lot of speed.”
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After beating Appalachian State for the first time in school history on Friday, the Ragin Cajuns have this Saturday, which gives them two weeks to get ready to play Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Championship. Meanwhile, the Chanticleers have a game this Saturday at Troy. Cajuns Coach Billy Napier says the extra time to prepare doesn’t automatically mean they have an advantage over Coastal
cut 19 (19) “…going to do.”
The Cajuns are losing inside linebacker coach Austin Armstrong. He has agreed to become the new defensive coordinator at Southern Miss. Napier says Armstrong will be coaching for the Cajuns in the Sun Belt Championship game
cut 20 (26) “…for that.”