The U-S Supreme Court heard arguments this morning that could deem all past non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana unconstitutional, potentially resulting in thousands of retrials. The case was brought on behalf of Thedrick Edwards, a Louisiana man serving time for multiple non-unanimous convictions. His attorney, Andre Belanger, says his client should receive a new trial…cut 10 (10) :”…war”

But the Louisiana Attorney General’s office says a unanimous jury verdict was not required until a constitutional amendment went into effect last year.

Senator John Kennedy says he’s not ready to say Joe Biden won the presidential election. Kennedy made these comments on the Moon Griffon show…

cut 14 (10) “….like confetti”

US Attorney General William Barr says his office has not found any evidence of widespread fraud.

The two vaccines awaiting approval for COVID require two doses. LSU Health New Orleans Doctor Corey Hebert says that presents a challenge, especially for minorities who lack transportation to get to a medical facility….

cut 5 (08) “”…real challenge”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is being shipped to locations across the country and U-S Food and Drug Administration approval could happen in the middle of the month. Cassidy says healthcare workers and nursing home residents are expected to be the first ones to receive the vaccine, which he says based on all of the evidence is safe…

cut 9 (04) “…take it”

Three pharmaceutical companies say they have developed a highly effective COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer’s could receive approval from the U-S Food and Drug Administration as early as next week.

Oral arguments were heard this morning at the US Supreme Court which could deem all past non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana unconstitutional. The case was brought on behalf of Thedrick Edwards, a Louisiana man who is serving time on non-unanimous convictions. Attorney General Jeff Landry opposes the case on the grounds it could upend thousands of convictions, but Edwards attorney Andre Belanger says it’s about righting a historic wrong.

Cut 12 (11) “…them.”

The Trump campaign says millions of illegal votes were counted in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said on the Moon Griffon show that he’s still waiting on the courts to make their rulings…

cut 15 (09) “…until then.”

The CDC says COVID vaccines should be widely available to the public by mid-2021, however members of the Louisiana Health Equity Task Force worry that both blacks and Latinos will forgo being vaccinated. Dr. Corey Hebert who serves on the task force says it’s due to mistrust of the medical community.

Cut 4 (11) “…for things.”

The taskforce will launch a media campaign aimed at minorities about the benefits of the COVID vaccination.

Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer has started shipping its COVID vaccine to Louisiana and other pre-positioned sites across the country. Cassidy says a distribution plan for Louisiana is in place and local companies have been enlisted to safely transport the vaccine.

Cut 7 (10)  “…role.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says jets carrying the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are flying to locations where they can be first given to frontline workers and also nursing home residents. Cassidy says Pfizer’s vaccine must be stored at very low temperatures and only a few sites in Louisiana have that capability…
cut 8 (09) “…distribution”

A vaccine being available soon is welcome news to many. COVID Deaths are up to 6,194 in Louisiana. Early in the pandemic around 70-percent of fatalities from COVID in the state were among blacks now it’s 44-percent. Doctor Corey Herbert credits outreach from the Louisiana Health Equity Task Force.
Cut 6 (10) “…many myths.”

The U-S Supreme court is hearing oral arguments at this hour in a case out of Louisiana that seeks to undo split jury verdicts. Baton Rouge attorney Andre Belanger says all past non-unanimous convictions deserve a second look based on a recent ruling that non-unanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional…
cut 11 (09) “….juries”
Louisiana’s constitution didn’t require a unanimous verdict until 2019 and the state Attorney General Jeff Landry argues the case it could upend thousands of violent criminals.

Senator John Kennedy was a guest on the Moon Griffon show Tuesday and was asked about President Trump’s election challenge….
Cut 13 (12) “…to court.”

The U-S Supreme Court will hear a case today that could deem all past non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana unconstitutional, potentially resulting in thousands of retrials. The case was brought on behalf of Thedrick Edwards, a Louisiana man serving time for multiple non-unanimous convictions. His attorney, Andre Belanger, says his client should receive a new trial…

cut 10 (10) :”…war”

But the Louisiana Attorney General’s office says a unanimous jury verdict was not required until a constitutional amendment went into effect last year.

Senator John Kennedy says he’s not ready to say Joe Biden won the presidential election. Kennedy made these comments on the Moon Griffon show…

cut 14 (10) “….like confetti”

US Attorney General William Barr says his office has not found any evidence of widespread fraud that could have produced a different outcome in the election.

Senator Bill Cassidy says we are on track in Louisiana to begin the first wave of COVID vaccinations mid-month. Matt Doyle has the story…

cut 2 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses. LSU Health New Orleans Doctor Corey Hebert says that presents a challenge, especially for minorities who lack transportation to get to a medical facility….

cut 5 (08) “”…real challenge”

U-S Attorney General William Barr says the Justice Department has not seen fraud on a scale that could have produced a different outcome in the Presidential election. The Trump campaign says millions of illegal votes were counted in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said on the Moon Griffon show that he’s still waiting on the courts to make their rulings…
cut 15 (09) “…until then”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is being shipped to locations across the country and U-S Food and Drug Administration approval could happen in the middle of the month. Cassidy says healthcare workers and nursing home residents are expected to be the first ones to receive the vaccine, which he says based on all of the evidence is safe…
cut 9 (04) “…take it”

The Louisiana Health Equity Task Force has worked on educating minorities about COVID, soon they will focus on the importance of being vaccinated. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital in Lousiana is up to 1,289, which is more than double the number it was a month ago. COVID hospitalizations have also increased by more than 200 over the last week. The peak for COVID hospitalizations was in April when there were nearly two-thousand patients in the hospital.

Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer has started shipping its COVID vaccine to Louisiana and other pre-positioned sites across the country. Cassidy says a distribution plan for Louisiana is in place and local companies have been enlisted to safely transport the vaccine.
Cut 7 (10) “…role.”
Three pharmaceutical companies say they have developed a highly effective COVID vaccine and Pfizer could receive approval from the U-S Food and Drug Administration next week.

The CDC says COVID vaccines should be widely available to the public by mid-2021, however members of the Louisiana Health Equity Task Force worry that many blacks and Latinos will not get vaccinated. LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Corey Hebert serves on the task force and says it’s due to mistrust.
Cut 4 (11) “…for things.”

Today the US Supreme Court hears a case involving a Louisiana man that could result in retrials for Louisiana prisoners convicted of non-unanimous verdicts…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Louisiana Health Equity Task Force has worked on educating minorities about COVID, soon they will focus on the importance of being vaccinated. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________

Senator Bill Cassidy says we are on track in Louisiana to begin the first wave of COVID vaccinations mid-month. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

__________________________________________

Today the US Supreme Court hears a case involving a Louisiana man that could result in retrials for all Louisiana prisoners who were convicted on non-unanimous verdicts. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

__________________________________________

The CDC says COVID vaccines should be widely available to the public by mid-2021, however members of the Louisiana Health Equity Task Force worry that both blacks and Latinos will forgo being vaccinated. Dr. Corey Hebert who serves on the task force says it’s due to mistrust of the medical community.

Cut 4 (11) “…for things.”

Herbert says another hurdle with the vaccines for minorities is the double dose factor and the health disparity issue for minorities such as lack of transportation to obtain medical help in their community.

Cut 5 (11) “…real challenge.”

Early in the pandemic around 70-percent of fatalities from COVID in the state were among blacks now it’s approximately 44-percent. Herbert credits the task force’s outreach with changing that number.

Cut 6 (10) “…many myths.”

Hebert says the task force will also launch a media campaign aimed at minorities about the benefits of the COVID vaccination.

________________________

Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer has started shipping its COVID vaccine to Louisiana and other pre-positioned sites across the country. Cassidy says a distribution plan for Louisiana is in place and local companies have been enlisted to safely transport the vaccine.

Cut 7 (10)  “…role.”

Three pharmaceutical companies say they have developed a highly effective COVID vaccine and Pfizer could receive approval from the U-S Food and Drug Administration next week.

Pfizer’s vaccine looks like it will be the first administered, but Cassidy says it must be stored at very low temperatures, and only some staging sites in Louisiana have that capability.

Cut 8 (09) “…distribution.”

Moderna and AstraZeneca are also set to apply for emergency approval for vaccine distribution.

Cassidy is confident that the first wave of vaccinations, those for healthcare workers and nursing home residents, will begin mid-month in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (04) “…take it.

_____________________________________________________

The US Supreme Court will hear a case today that could deem all past non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana unconstitutional, potentially resulting in thousands of retrials.

The case was brought on behalf of Thedrick Edwards, a Louisiana man who is serving time on non-unanimous convictions. His lawyer Andre Belanger says his client must be given a retrial.

Cut 10 (10) “…war.”

The case would decide whether or not Ramos vs. Louisiana, a ruling that deemed non-unanimous convictions unconstitutional, would be retroactive to settled cases. A constitutional amendment deeming all future non-unanimous convictions unconstitutional was passed by Louisiana voters in 2018 but was not retroactive to cases that had already been decided.

Belanger says all past non-unanimous convictions deserve a second look.

Cut 11 (09) “…juries.”

Edwards is serving a life sentence on rape, kidnapping, and armed robbery convictions related to a 2006 Baton Rouge crime spree. Edwards’ primary charge, rape, was decided 11-1 with the court’s lone Black juror voting to acquit.

The Louisiana Attorney General opposes the case on the grounds it could upend thousands of violent crime convictions like Edwards’, but Belanger says it’s about righting a historic wrong.

Cut 12 (11) “…them.”

Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill will represent the state by phone today. She released a statement saying “If Ramos were to be applied retroactively thousands of long-final convictions, whose crimes each have victims, would be unsettled.”

_____________________________________________________

Senator John Kennedy was a guest on the Moon Griffon show Tuesday and asked about President Trump’s election challenge. The state’s senior Senator, also a Republican, Bill Cassidy has already called for the transition to begin for President-Elect Biden. Kennedy however says Trump has the right to express his opinion about the election.

Cut 13 (12) “…to court.”

Kennedy says the election is not final until all the court cases are concluded.

Cut 14 (10) “…like confetti.” 

Kennedy says he would never deny anyone the right to vote and the amount of mail-in ballots this election, created problems. In the meantime,  Kennedy says he’s waiting on the courts.

Cut 15 (09)“…until then.” 

_______________________

Training camp is underway for the Pelicans and veteran Eric Bledsoe is one of the new faces. He was acquired from Milwaukee in a four-team trade that sent fan favorite Jrue Holiday to the Bucks. Bledsoe is entering his eleventh season after averaging 15 points a game last season and he looks forward to taking on a leadership role in New Orleans…

Cut 16 (11) “…I’m up for it.”

As far as Bledsoe’s role on the court, he says he’ll do whatever he can to help the team win.

cut 17 (14) “…to help.”

___________________________________________________

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 face number one ranked Alabama without its best receiver as Terrace Marshall has decided to opt-out and get ready for the NFL draft. Ingram says he supports Marshall’s decision…

cut 19 (12) “…for him.”

It’s unclear who will start at quarterback for LSU on Saturday after TJ Finley struggled in the loss to the Aggies. Linebacker Jabril Cox says the veterans on the team are doing what they can to support Finley and Max Johnson…

cut 20 (17) “…always are.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers that includes Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy unveiled a 908-billion dollar coronavirus aid bill today. Cassidy says it would bring much-needed relief to unemployed workers and struggling businesses.

Cut 9 (11) “…venues.”

The bill does not include a new round of stimulus checks.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley thanks Governor Edwards for allowing schools to stay in Phase Three even as the state moves back into a modified Phase Two. Brumley says the biggest challenge they face is the quarantine protocol. He says one positive case can lead to over 50 students needing to be quarantined.

Cut 7 (05) “..the virus.”

There’s an $11,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person who fatally shot a black bear in St. Mary Parish. State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says the bear was found on November 9^th near Centerville and they believe the bear was shot by a rifle a few days before.

Cut 3 (09)  “…shot at it”

That’s the second black bear murdered in St. Mary Parish this year.

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says between October 2019 and September 2020, 756 children were adopted from foster care, the fourth-highest number for any year on record, and more than 125 of the adoptions happened over video conferencing…

Cut 14 (08) “…ceremony.”