6:30 LRN Newscast December 3

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports nonfarm employment grew by 29-thousand jobs from September to October. L-W-C Secretary Ava Dejoie says they’ve seen growth in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans regions and some of that growth is hurricane-related..
cut 5 (10) “…..New Orleans”
But this latest jobs report also shows the state had 112-thousand fewer workers in October of 2020 compared to the previous October.

Governor Edwards believes Louisiana will receive 40-thousand doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine later this month and they’ll use those initial doses to vaccinate hospital workers and nursing home residents and staff. Both Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are expected to receive emergency approval from the feds this month and Edwards says both vaccines require a booster shot…
cut 11 (08) “…nursing homes”

Distributing the Pfizer COVID vaccine requires several steps, including storing it at very low temperatures, to keep the two-dosage vaccine viable. Brooke Thorington tells us how Ochsner Health has prepped.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

AM LRN Newscall Dec 3

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports employment rose in September to October by 29,000 jobs. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Distributing the Pfizer COVID vaccine requires several steps to keep the two-dosage vaccine viable. Brooke Thorington tells us how Ochsner Health has prepped. 352

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Yesterday Governor Edwards announced all nursing home residents and healthcare workers in Louisiana will be vaccinated by mid-January. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state added over 29,000 jobs from September to October. LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie says those numbers are in large part due to the Hurricanes.

Cut 4 (12) “…Lake Charles region.”

We ended October at 1,883,000 total jobs. That’s down 112,000 jobs from the same time last year.

Dejoie says they’ve seen growth in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans regions.

Cut 5 (10) “…New Orleans.”

As for the future job growth, Dejoie says it’s all dependent on if residents continue to mask up and socially distance.

Cut 6 (08) “…effect.”

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As shipments for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine arrive in the US medical facilities like Ochsner are prepping to store the vaccine which requires ultra-cold storage at minus 80 degrees. Debbie Simonson System Vice President of Pharmacy at Ochsner says they’ve purchased three thermo-freezers.

Cut 7 (10)  “…New Orleans hospital.”

Simonson says Pfizer has developed cold shippers to keep the vaccine viable during delivery and Ochsner will initially receive vaccines in New Orleans and then distribute….

Cut 8 (07) “…come in.”

Simonson says they will schedule inoculations once they arrive. She says the vaccine can be refrigerated for up to five days and each vial contains five doses.

Cut 9 (10) “…there.

Simonson says they’ve worked on logistics as to how to keep the vaccine as viable as possible so they will all be utilized properly. Once the vaccine receives FDA approval Ochsner plans to begin inoculations immediately.

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COVID vaccines are set to be deployed across the state within the next two weeks, with all Louisiana healthcare workers and nursing home residents expected to be vaccinated by mid-January.

An estimated 20 million Americans will be vaccinated this year. Governor Edwards says we will receive 40,000 doses of the vaccine in the first week after it is approved.

Cut 10 (08) “…behind that.”

The Pfizer vaccine is set to be reviewed for approval on December 10th with approval likely a few days later. Moderna’s vaccine will follow about a week after that. Louisiana is approved to receive 1.46 percent of each wave of vaccines manufactured due to our population size.

Edwards says both incoming vaccines will require you to get a booster shot less than a month after your first dose, and that booster shot must be from the same company as your first shot.

Cut 11 (08) “…homes.”

US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir explained why a second shot will be necessary.

Cut 12 (07) “…protection.”

Giroir testified to just how effective these vaccines are, and noted that both are effective across all age ranges.

Cut 13 (10) “…disease.”

The Admiral warned there will be some controversy and debate about who the second wave of recipients will be in early 2021. He says they don’t have that answer just yet.

Cut 14 (11) “…hospitals.” 

The people who would be in the hospitals are thought to be those already in the high-risk category for the disease such as the obese and those with breathing or heart conditions.

Edwards says the vaccine won’t be available to the general public until May or June and until then we’re still living under a pandemic that is trending in the wrong direction.

Cut 15 (06)“…19.” 

The White House Coronavirus Task Force report puts Louisiana in the Red Zone for new cases, along with the 38th highest positivity rate in the nation. It notes since last week’s report our cases have decreased and positivity has stabilized.

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After not playing in November because of four games that were either postponed or canceled due to COVID-19 related issues, Louisiana Tech will take on North Texas tonight in Denton. The Bulldogs are 4-and-3, while the Mean Green are three and four. Tech Coach Skip Holtz says North Texas likes to play pressure defense

Cut 16 (15) “…as they can.”

This will be La Tech’s first game in 33 days. Holtz says it’s a lot like playing a season opener again…

cut 17 (16) “…of the game.”

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After playing in 24 games last season as a rookie, Zion Williamson expects to be more comfortable in his second season. Williamson says he enters year two feeling great both mentally and physically…

cut 18 (11) “…year two.”

Williamson says he doesn’t want any minute or playing restrictions.

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LSU  face number one ranked Alabama on Saturday in Baton Rouge.  Coach Ed Orgeron says it will be a good test for his freshmen quarterbacks TJ Finley and Max Johnson…

cut 19 (13) “…one guy.”

Tiger Stadium is considered a tough place to play for opponents, but Alabama head coach Nick Saban believes his players are ready for the challenge.

cut 20 (13) “..challenge.”

5:30 LRN Newscast Dec 2

Today the US Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that argues all Louisiana prisoners serving time on a non-unanimous jury verdict deserve a retrial.

cut 2 (29) … I’m Matt Doyle.”  

The department of health reports 3,604 new COVID-19 cases today which includes a backlog of 1,551 cases with collection dates going back to April. Former LSU Athletic Director and baseball coach Skip Bertman is hospitalized, he told WBRZ he does not have COVID or pneumonia and is expected to stay for a few days.

A swingers and alternative lifestyle convention held in New Orleans last month produced 41 positive COVID-19 cases according to organizers. The annual Naughty Nawlins had 250 attendees. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s spokesperson, Beau Tidwell, says he’s heard all the jokes, but the event has serious consequences.

Cut 3 (12)  “…reason for that.”

The annual event usually draws 2,000 attendees.

Entergy Louisiana is reportedly on track to produce enough power from solar plants to fuel 60,000 homes within the next three years. Entergy Louisiana Director of Resource Planning Jonathan Bourge says that started with a solar plant in West Baton Rouge Parish.

Cut 13 (11) “… resources”

430 PM LRN News

The US Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case that could result in 1,500 retrials for Louisiana inmates who are serving time due to a non-unanimous conviction. Non-unanimous verdicts were deemed unconstitutional last year, but the question at hand is whether that ruling should be retroactive. Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill argued it should not be because those retrials would be a burden, but attorney Andre Belanger countered…

Cut 9 (09) “..right”

Entergy Louisiana is reportedly on track to produce enough power from solar plants to fuel 60,000 homes within the next three years. Windfarms and hydroplants are gaining in popularity in other parts of the country Entergy Louisiana Director of Resource Planning Jonathan Bourge says here its all about the sun…

Cut 15 (10) “..energy” 

A swingers convention in New Orleans held last month is making national headlines as s super spreader event. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “  I’m Brooke Thorington”  

The CDC releases new quarantine guidelines lowering the amount of time someone must quarantine after being exposed to a positive case of COVID. Previous recommendations called for people who had “close contact” with a confirmed case to isolate for fourteen days, but new guidelines say you only need to stay put for seven to ten days.

4:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU’s offensive line is trying to fix the issues that led to pass protection problems in the loss to Texas A&M last Saturday. Tigers offensive guard Ed Ingram says they are spending a lot of time this week watching the film of the Crimson Tide’s defense…
cut 18 (16) “…myself.”
LSU will host number one ranked Alabama on Saturday. Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban missed the Iron Bowl last weekend after testing positive for COVID-19. But the 69-year-old is expected to be back on the sidelines for the game against LSU…
cut 30 (11) “…on Saturday”
Alabama is a big 29.5 point favorite.

Former LSU baseball coach and athletics director Skip Bertman is reportedly in the hospital with a bad cold. Bertman tells WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge he has tested negative for COVID-19 and pneumonia.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says there are no plans to put playoff teams in a bubble in one location. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter Goodell feels strong that the protocols they have in place are working and they are willing to adjust and adapt to those protocols.

The NBA released its schedule for Christmas Day and for the second straight year the Pelicans will play on December 25th. New Orleans will visit Miami for an 11 AM tip-off. It will be a busy day for Louisiana sports fans as the Saints are also scheduled to host Minnesota on Christmas Day.

Louisiana Tech football play its first football game in a month tomorrow night against North Texas. The Bulldogs have also scheduled a new game with T-C-U and it will be played next Saturday in Fort Worth.

3:30 LRN Newscast Dec 2

The US Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case involving a Louisiana man that could result in retrials for all prisoners serving time on non-unanimous verdicts. The case is a follow-up to a decision by the court last year that non-unanimous convictions were unconstitutional. Attorney Andre Belanger argued that decision should be retroactive.

Cut 6 (12) “..at all”

Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill argued against. An estimated 1,500 Louisiana inmates are behind bars right now due to non-unanimous convictions. Murrill said giving them all retrials would be a burden.

Cut 8 (09) “crimes”

A homicide suspect out of Ohio was killed during a shootout with federal authorities at a motel in Pineville. 47-year-old James Edward Hawley, who also went by the alias of Ahmad Ben David, was wanted for the murder of 69-year-old Norma Matko and the disappearance of her 45-year-old daughter. FBI special agent John Fortunado.

Cut 10 (06) “.arrest warrant”

The missing woman was found alive in the apartment.

Entergy Louisiana is on track to produce enough power from solar plants to fuel 60,000 homes within the next three years. Entergy Louisiana Director of Resource Planning Jonathan Bourge says six of Entergy’s either constructed or planned sites are clustered in southeast Louisiana, ideal for solar farming.

Cut 14 (08) “.forward” 

 

LRN PM Newscall December 2

A swingers convention in New Orleans held last month is making national headlines as s super spreader event. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “  I’m Brooke Thorington”  

_______________________________________

Today the US Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that argues all Louisiana prisoners serving time on a non-unanimous jury verdict deserve a retrial. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (29) … I’m Matt Doyle.”  

_____________________________

A swingers and alternative lifestyle convention held in New Orleans last month produced 41 positive COVID-19 cases according to organizers. The annual Naughty Nawlins had 250 attendees. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s spokesperson, Beau Tidwell, says he’s heard all the jokes, but the event has serious consequences.

Cut 3 (12)  “…reason for that.”

Event organizer Bob Hannaford says they incorporated COVID guidelines including testing and admits they neglected to social distance. Hannaford says most of the cases were asymptomatic or very mild, but one had to be hospitalized.

Tidwell says he would not wish the virus on anyone…

Cut 4 (11)   “…guidelines.”  

Tidwell says the convention was not a permitted event and they did meet with organizers prior to the convention and discussed safety protocols.

Cut 5  (11) “…spreader event.” 

The event, originally scheduled for July, normally attracts 2,000 attendees.

_____________________________________________

The US Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case involving a Louisiana man that could result in retrials for prisoners serving time on non-unanimous verdicts.

Attorney Andre Belanger argued an earlier ruling that deemed non-unanimous jury verdicts unconstitutional should be retroactive.

Cut 6 (12) “..at all”

Belanger represents Thedrick Edwards, who is serving a life sentence in Angola on multiple non-unanimous convictions related to a 2006 crime spree in Baton Rouge.

Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill argued against giving Edwards and other non-unanimously convicted inmates retrials.

Cut 7 (08) “..verdict.”

Murrill said that in Edwards’ case his crimes are severe, had an eye witness, and included armed robbery, kidnapping, and rape. She also said Edwards ultimately confessed to committing the crimes.

An estimated 1,500 Louisiana inmates are behind bars right now due to non-unanimous convictions. Murrill said giving them all retrials would be a burden.

Cut 8 (09) “crimes”

But Belanger countered…

Cut 9 (09) “..right”

In 2018 Louisiana voters approved a constitutional amendment requiring unanimous verdicts. That law took effect in 2019 but was not retroactive.

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A homicide suspect out of Ohio was killed during a shootout with federal authorities at a motel in Pineville. 47-year-old James Edward Hawley, who also went by the alias of Ahmad Ben David, was wanted for the murder of 69-year-old Norma Matko and the disappearance of her 45-year-old daughter. FBI special agent John Fortunado

Cut 10 (06) “.arrest warrant”

An FBI agent was wounded during the exchange of gunfire. The missing woman. 45-year-old Thoue Nichole Bronowski was found alive in the apartment.

Fortunado says they knew Hawley was armed and dangerous based on the online photos he posted of himself with firearms

Cut 11 (07) “…some cops.”

Authorities say Bronowski was kidnapped last Wednesday and they believe her disappearance is linked to her mother’s death. Fortunado credits the work of the FBI office in New Orleans in helping to locate Hawley…

Cut 12 (11) “…they could” 

____________________

Entergy Louisiana is reportedly on track to produce enough power from solar plants to fuel 60,000 homes within the next three years. Entergy Louisiana Director of Resource Planning Jonathan Bourge says that started with a solar plant in West Baton Rouge Parish.

Cut 13 (11) “… resources”

Six of Entergy’s either constructed or planned sites are clustered in southeast Louisiana. Bourge says the area is just right for solar farming.

Cut 14 (08) “.forward” 

Entergy has issued a proposal to construct a solar energy farm in Morehouse Parish. If approved it would be the only site outside of southeast Louisiana in the state.

Windfarms and hydroplants are gaining in popularity in other parts of the country but Bourge says in Louisiana solar is the focus for renewable energy.

Cut 15 (10) “..energy” 

2:30 LRN Newscast December 2

Organizers of a swingers convention in New Orleans say 41 of their 250 attendees have tested positive since the annual Naughty Nawlins convention concluded last month. New Orleans Communications Director Beau Tidwell says they met with convention officials before the event and discussed safety protocols…
cut 5 (11) “….spreader event”
It’s been reported that one of the 41 individuals who tested positive had to be hospitalized.

The US Supreme Court heard arguments today over whether inmates in Louisiana who were convicted by a non-unanimous jury verdict prior to 2019 should have a new trial. Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill argued on behalf of the state that a ruling against non-unanimous juries previously made by the highest court should not be retroactive…
cut 7 (08) “….verdict”
If the Supreme Court says its previous ruling is retroactive, it could lead to hundreds of inmates receiving a new trial.

An Ohio homicide suspect was killed during a shootout with federal authorities and a woman he’s accused of abducting was found safe at a Pineville hotel yesterday. Special FBI agent John Fortunado credits good law enforcement work in tracking down 47-year-old James Edward Hawley…
cut 12 (11) “…they could”
Authorities believe Hawley killed the mother of the woman he abducted.

Entergy Louisiana is on track to produce enough power from solar plants to fuel 60,000 homes within the next three years. Entergy Louisiana Director of Resource Planning Jonathan Bourge says that started with a solar plant in West Baton Rouge Parish.
Cut 13 (11) “… sources”
Bourge southeast Louisiana is the hub for this effort, housing six of the seven solar farms planned.

1:30 LRN Newscast Dec 2

Today the US Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that argues all Louisiana prisoners serving time on a non-unanimous jury verdict deserve a retrial.

cut 2 (29) … I’m Matt Doyle.”  

The department of health reports 3,604 new COVID-19 cases today which includes a backlog of 1,551 cases with collection dates going back to April.

And reportedly former LSU Athletic Director and baseball coach Skip Bertman is hospitalized, he does not have COVID or pneumonia and is expected to stay for a few days.

A homicide suspect out of Ohio was killed during a shootout with federal authorities at a motel in Pineville. 47-year-old James Edward Hawley,, was wanted for the murder of 69-year-old Norma Matko and the disappearance of her 45-year-old daughter FBI special agent John Fortunado says they knew Hawley was armed and dangerous based on the online photos he posted of himself with firearms

Cut 11 (07) “…some cops.”

An FBI agent was wounded during the exchange of gunfire. The missing woman. 45-year-old Thoue Nichole Bronowski was found alive in the apartment.

A swingers and alternative lifestyle convention held in New Orleans last month produced 41 positive COVID-19 cases according to organizers. The annual Naughty Nawlins had 250 attendees. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s spokesperson, Beau Tidwell says he would not wish the virus on anyone…

Cut 4 (11)   “…guidelines.”  

12:30 LRN Newscast Dec 2

A homicide suspect out of Ohio was killed during a shootout with federal authorities at a motel in Pineville. 47-year-old James Edward Hawley, who also went by the alias of Ahmad Ben David, was wanted for the murder of 69-year-old Norma Matko and the disappearance of her 45-year-old daughter. FBI special agent John Fortunado.

Cut 10 (06) “.arrest warrant”

The missing woman. 45-year-old Thoue Nichole Bronowski was found alive in the apartment.

Naughty Nawlins swingers and alternative lifestyle convention held in New Orleans last month produced 41 positive COVID-19 cases according to organizers. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s spokesperson, Beau Tidwell, says he’s heard all the jokes, but the event has serious consequences.

Cut 3 (12)  “…reason for that.”

The US Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case involving a Louisiana man that could result in retrials for all prisoners serving time on non-unanimous verdicts. The case is a follow-up to a decision by the court last year that non-unanimous convictions were unconstitutional. Attorney Andre Belanger argued that decision should be retroactive.

Cut 6 (12) “..at all”

Belanger represents Thedrick Edwards, who is serving a life sentence in Angola on non-unanimous jury convictions related to a 2006 crime spree in Baton Rouge. Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill argued against giving Edwards and other non-unanimously convicted inmates retrials.

The department of health reports 3,604 new COVID-19 cases today which includes a backlog of 1,551 cases with collection dates going back to April. Vent usage is up significantly to 134, an increase of 63.