1:30 LRN Newscast Jan 4

A list of 107 pharmacies that will be administering the Moderna vaccine this week was released this morning on the LDH’s website. Each pharmacy will only receive 100 doses for those over the age of 70 and dialysis patients.  Springhill Family Pharmacy Pharmacist Suzanne Smith in Webster Parish…

Cut 12 (12) “…reserved.” 

For a list of pharmacies go to CovidVaccine.la.gov

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says vaccines are being given in a tier system to those most likely to be exposed and those more likely to die or have severe complications from the virus and by doing so they hope to reduce hospital capacity.

Cut 8 (10) “…as well.”

Hospitalizations increased by 58 patients today for a total of 1,891.

The state’s senior U.S. Senator, Republican Bill Cassidy, was sworn in for a second six-year term Sunday. Cassidy’s most recent legislative achievement came as part of a bipartisan coalition that crafted the recent COVID relief bill. UL Lafayette Poly Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Senator is positioned to be quite influential…

Cut 5  (09) “…to come” 

Saints ended the regular season at 12-4 and since the Saints will host Chicago on Sunday, it increases the chances that running back Alvin Kamara can play after testing positive for COVID. Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins says the team understands the importance of avoiding a COVID.

Cut 10 (12) “..the playoffs”

1230 PM LRN News

Those over 70 and people on dialysis are eligible to receive the Moderna COVID vaccine at one of 107 pharmacies across the state, but due to a limited number of vaccines, you’ll have to set up an appointment at that pharmacy to do so. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says each pharmacy only received 100 doses of the vaccine…

Cut 7 (11) …what it is.”

The list of pharmacies is available online at COVID-Vaccine-Dot-LA-Dot-Gov.

The Saints blew out the Panthers Sunday to end another strong regular season at 12-4. They’ll play the Bears in the Dome Sunday for the first round of playoff action in what could be Quarterback Drew Brees’ last chance at a second Super Bowl ring. Brees says his focus is on beating the Bears

Cut 11 (12) “..and play”

US Senator John Kennedy joins an effort by a faction of Republican Congressmen who plan to refuse to certify the results of the Presidential Election. Kennedy is not joined by the state’s senior Senator, Bill Cassidy, who was sworn in just Sunday. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that’s because Cassidy’s M.O. has never been hyper-partisanship…

Cut 4 (07) is” 

Kennedy’s decision is supported by 28 Republican State House members, who wrote a letter to Louisiana’s Congressional delegation asking they not vote to certify results in the battleground states of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada, claiming improper procedures and irregularities.

11:40 LRN Sportscast January 4

The Saints finished off a 12-4 regular season with a 33-7 win over the Carolina Panthers yesterday. New Orleans is the two seed in the NFC playoffs and will host Chicago this Sunday. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins has won two Super Bowls and knows how to approach postseason football…
cut 9 (12) “…it is”
Saints wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders made himself some extra money as he caught nine passes and eclipsed 60 for the season, which results in a 500-thousand dollar bonus. Sanders did a mini-celebration as soon as he caught his 60th pass on the year…
cut 18 (16) “…be out there”

There’s been a lot going on with the LSU football program. Center Liam Shanahan, linebacker Andre Anthony, defensive ends Ali Gaye and Neil Farrell and offensive guards Chasen Hines and Ed Ingram are returning. Tight end Arik Gilbert has entered the transfer portal and linebacker Jabril Cox has declared for the NFL draft.

Cincinnati Defensive Coordinator Marcus Freeman is expected to interview for the LSU defensive coordinator job. He’s 34-years-old and really wants to be a head coach. And Pete Thamel with Yahoo Sports reports LSU plans to talk with Panthers quarterbacks coach Jake Peetz about the Tigers vacant offensive coordinator position.

The NCAA announces the entire men’s basketball tournament will take place in Indiana and games will be played in Indianapolis, Bloomington and West Lafayette.

1130 AM LRN News

People over the age of 70 and those on dialysis are now eligible to be vaccinated. The website of CovidVaccine.LA.gov offers a list of 107 pharmacies in 51 parishes that have the vaccine. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says unfortunately for this first week the number of doses is extremely limited.

Cut 6 (10) “..we could.”

The list shows some of the state’s more populated cities have multiple locations to choose from.

The state’s senior U.S. Senator, Republican Bill Cassidy, was sworn in for a second six-year term Sunday. Cassidy cruised to reelection with 59 percent of the vote in November. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says his reelection efforts will get easier from here…

Cut 3 (08)  “…years”

The Saints finished off a 12-4 regular season with a 33-7 win over the Carolina Panthers yesterday. New Orleans is the two seed in the NFC playoffs and will host Chicago this Sunday. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins has won two Super Bowls and knows how to approach postseason football

Cut 9 (12) “    it is”

A new law that supporters say will lower auto insurance rates went into effect with the start of the New Year. The tort reform legislation was approved during the June special session. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry CEO Stephen Waguespack backed the changes…

Cut 4 (12) “…courtrooms” (AM)

The law lowers the “jury trial threshold” from 50,000 to 10,000 dollars.

10:30 LRN Newscast Jan 4

The website of CovidVacine.LA.gov is now updated with a list of the 107 pharmacies in 51 parishes that have that the COVID vaccine.  Beginning today more people are eligible to be vaccinated in Louisiana. Governor Edwards made the announcement last week that people over the age of 70 and those on dialysis can now be vaccinated.

 

The website is CovidVacine.LA.Gov

 

A special election will be held in March to fill the now vacant 5th Congressional District seat left open after the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, who lost to Letlow in a December runoff, has to be seriously considering a second run…

Cut 7 (07)  “…Republicans.”

Another potential favorite would be former Congressman Ralph Abraham, should he want to return to the seat he just retired from.

Laws aimed at lowering auto insurance rates through lawsuit reform went into effect with the new year. Matt Doyle spoke with a supporter of the reforms…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A missing child advisory has been issued for an 11-year old girl from Tallulah. State Police issued a Level II advisory for Emma Carter Ezell this morning, she’s described as a white female with brown/blond hair 5’ 6” weighing 130 pounds. If you have any information, you’re asked to call the Madison Parish Sheriff’s office.

9:30 LRN Newscast January 4

Beginning today more Louisiana residents are eligible to be vaccinated. Brooke Thorington explains…
cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

State Health Officer, Doctor Joseph Kanter, says a list of pharmacies that will have the vaccine will be made available on the covid-vaccine-dot-la-dot-gov website after 10 AM. Just over 100 pharmacies will receive the vaccine and each one will receive about 100 doses this week and more will be coming.

The Saints pummeled the Panthers 33-7 yesterday and New Orleans is the number two seed in the NFC playoffs. The Black and Gold won easily over Carolina, despite not having their top running backs because of COVID issues. Coach Sean Payton was asked about a possible outbreak…
cut 16 (13) “….team win”
The Saints will host the Chicago Bears in a playoff game on Sunday afternoon.

The state Department of Children and Family Services says the state distributed more than 674-million dollars in emergency food assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes. Deputy Assistant Secretary Jean Guinta says they also received five times the normal volume of SNAP applications within the first 30 days of the pandemic and ends the year serving an all-time high of 456-thousand households…
cut 15 (12) “…these families”

8:30 LRN Newscast January 4

Another 640-thousand individuals are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine as people who are not health care workers or living in a nursing home can receive the vaccine for the first time at select pharmacies starting today. Governor Edwards says as the vaccine rollout continues, he urges residents to continue to follow mitigation efforts like masking…
cut 11 (09) “…this mask”
Persons over the age of 70 are eligible for the vaccine, but they should not show up at their local pharmacy expecting to get the vaccine without an appointment.

Several new laws went into effect with the new year, including a measure that changes the way how lawsuits will be handled following a car accident. LABI President Stephen Waguespack says the tort reform legislation will lead to fewer frivolous lawsuits, which over time should result in lower premiums…
cut 6 (09) “…take time”
The tort reform legislation should lead to more jury trials, instead of having a single judge make a decision on a settlement.

There will be two Congressional elections in Louisiana in March to fill vacancies in the second and fifth districts. Cedric Richmond is taking a job in the Biden administration, while voters in the fifth district have to pick a new U-S Representative because of the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says former Congressman Ralph Abraham or state representative Lance Harris could be the top two candidates or…
cut 8 (12) “….official”

2020 was an unprecedented year for the Department of Children and Family Services as more than $674 million was distributed in emergency food stamps. Deputy Assistant Secretary Jean Guinta has the breakdown.
Cut 13 (13) “…EBT benefits.”
And over 92-million in hurricane disaster SNAP benefits was also distributed.

7:30 LRN Newscast January 4

Louisiana Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy differ on whether voter fraud was so rampant that the results of the 2020 Presidential election should be overturned. Kennedy says an Electoral Commission should be established to consider and resolve the disputed returns. But Cassidy says the 2020 election is over

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow was laid to rest on Saturday and a special election for the now vacant seat will be held in March. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

A new law went into effect with the start of the new year that supporters say will lead to lower auto insurance rates over time. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says the tort reform legislation will reduce the number of lawsuits filed after car wrecks…
cut 5 (08) “….courtrooms”
But Opponents argue the changes will make it more difficult for car accident victims to receive the money needed to cover medical bills.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services says the state distributed over 674-million dollars in emergency food assistance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta. Deputy Assistant Secretary Juan Guinta says the extraordinary circumstances called for extraordinary measures…
cut 14 *(11) “…the need”
DCFS received five times the normal volume of SNAP applications.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

The Saints completed a sweep of NFC South opponents and have the second seed in the NFC playoffs after a dominating 33-7 win over Carolina. New Orleans won despite having five players on the reserve-COVID-19 list, including their top two running backs Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray. Coach Sean Payton was asked about the COVID issues

Cut 16 (13) “…team win.”
The Saints could have received the top seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye, but the Bears didn’t beat the Packers. So New Orleans will host Chicago on Sunday at 3:40 in the Superdome in a rematch of a November first game that the Black and Gold won in overtime.

LSU starting defensive end Andre Anthony and offensive guard Ed Ingram announces they will return for another season, while standout linebacker Jabril Cox has declared for the NFL draft.

The Pelicans continue their four-game homestand tonight as they host the Indiana Pacers. New Orleans has won two in a row and they are coming off a 120-116 win over the Raptors. Recently acquired guard Eric Bledsoe had a good game with 19 points and 10 assists. Coach Stan Van Gundy on Bledsoe trying to fit in
Cut 19 (19) “…more comfortable”
Bledsoe hit a big three-pointer with 42 seconds left to snap a 113 tie in Saturday’s win over the Raptors.

The LSU men’s basketball team suffered its first SEC loss on Saturday afternoon as they lost by four to Florida 83-79. The Tigers host Georgia on Wednesday.

ULM is off to a 2-and-0 start in the Sun Belt after beating Arkansas State in back-to-back games.

6:30 LRN Newscast January 4

A new law that supporters say will lower auto insurance rates went into effect with the start of the new year. The tort reform legislation was approved during the June special session. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry CEO Stephen Waguespack backs the changes…
Cut 4 (12) “…courtrooms”
Opponents of the law say car accident victims will not receive the money needed to cover medical bills and increase court operations.

Starting today another 640-thousand people are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This group includes individuals over the age of 70 and additional health care workers. Governor Edwards says studies show that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are highly effective…
cut 12 (09) “….of COVID”
The limited amounts of COVID vaccines will be available to about 100 pharmacies across the state.

Lousiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow was laid to rest on Saturday and qualifying will begin later this month for a special fifth district Congressional election that will take place on March 20th. ULM Political Sciences Professor Joshua Stockley says nine people ran in the November election and we could see a couple of those candidates, Lance Harris and Scotty Robinson run again. He says the problem for any new candidate is they will have only two months to gain enough name recognition to win in the state’s largest congressional district.
Cut 9 (12) “…overlaps.”
There is speculation former Congressman Ralph Abraham may enter the race.