The LHSAA has halted the regular season for the sport of wrestling but still plans on holding the state championship wrestling meet. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state reported 3,868 new COVID-19 today and 67 additional fatalities. Hospitalizations fell to 1,625. The state positivity rate is 9.33-percent and increase from Tuesday’s 7.45-percent.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says one of the department’s goals moving forward is increasing K-12 teacher retention and fostering a more diverse workforce. Brumley says right now the teacher workforce does not look like the student population.

Cut 9 (11) “…male.”

Only about a quarter of all teachers are black compared to roughly a third of the state’s population.

A COVID-19 vaccination event scheduled for tomorrow at the Rapides Parish Coliseum is already fully booked. L-D-H Region Six Medical Doctor David Holcombe says if you registered and are not in the eligible group to be vaccinated you will be turned away. Holcombe says they’ve perfected the drive-thru process with COVID testing and flu vaccinations.

Cut 4 (11) “…care of them.” 

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says one of the department’s goals moving forward is increasing K-12 teacher retention and fostering a more diverse workforce. About a quarter of all teachers in the K-12 workforce are also uncertified. Brumley says they’re clustered in the STEM fields…

Cut 11 (09) “…math.”

An outbreak of more than 20 COVID cases connected to a high school wrestling tournament has led LHSAA to cancelling the remainder of the regular wrestling season, but they will hold the state championships February 25th and 26^th.  LHSAA director Eddie Bonine says strict measures will be in place for championships in Baton Rouge to avoid another outbreak.

Cut 8 (08) “…social distancing.”

A vaccination event scheduled for tomorrow at the Rapides Parish Coliseum is already fully booked. 420 doses of the vaccine have been donated by the Rapides Regional Medical Center and the Department of Health is going to inoculate the public who is eligible. LDH Region Six Medical Director Dr. David Holcomb says it’s a collaborative effort.

Cut 3 (10)  “…partnership.”

You must be preregistered.

Former state representative Steve Carter passed away last night from COVID. Carter is the third Louisiana political figure to die from complications of the virus, Representative Reggie Bagala of Lockport in April, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow in December, and now Carter. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says these are all great losses to the state.

Cut 14 (12) “…Louisiana.” 

The Department of Education is pushing to diversify the teacher population and address longstanding retention issues.

cut 2 (30) ….I’m Matt Doyle”  

A physician from Baton Rouge was killed in a hostage situation at a medical complex in Austin, Texas Tuesday night.  A SWAT team found two bodies in the medical complex after negotiators spent hours trying to speak to the people inside the building.43-year old Dr. Katherine Spaht Dodson, was identified by police during a news conference today. The gunman was also found dead from an apparent suicide.

An outbreak of more than 20 COVID-19 cases connected to a high school wrestling tournament in Gonzales has led to LHSAA canceling the remainder of the wrestling regular season. LHSAA president David Frederico says they still wanted to hold the state championships, but the best way to get there was to end the regular season.

Cut 7 (11) “…they deserve”

Former Baton Rouge state representative Steve Carter died of COVID-19 complications Tuesday, three weeks after he was hospitalized.  Carter, a former tennis coach at LSU, served 12 years in the legislature. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Carter was a well-respected lawmaker and acted as a mentor for incoming members.

Cut 13 (12)“…legacy.”

Carter was 77.

The LHSAA has halted the regular season for the sport of wrestling but still plans on holding the state championship wrestling meet. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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The Department of Education is pushing to diversify the teacher population, and address longstanding retention issues. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) ….I’m Matt Doyle”  

_____________________________

A COVID-19 vaccination event scheduled for tomorrow at the Rapides Parish Coliseum is already fully booked. L-D-H Region Six Medical Doctor David Holcombe says the Rapides Regional Medical Center donated 420 doses to inoculate members of  the public who are eligible, those 70 and older and healthcare workers

Cut 3 (10)  “…partnership.”

Holcombe says the drive-thru method is something they’ve perfected over the last 9 months with COVID testing, now they will use the same procedure to issue vaccines at the east end of the Rapides Parish Coliseum.

Cut 4 (11) “…care of them.” 

The event will be Thursday from 8:30 until 3 pm and you must be preregistered. Holcombe says when they announced the event to the public Monday night they were overwhelmed with interest.

Cut 5  (10) “…sign up.” 

Holcombe says if you are not 70 and older or an eligible healthcare worker and have registered and attend, you will not be vaccinated. They also plan to hold more max vaccination events in the future as soon as more supply is made available.

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An outbreak of COVID-19 cases connected to a high school wrestling tournament in Gonzales has led to the LHSAA canceling the remainder of the wrestling regular season. But LHSAA director Eddie Bonine says they still plan on holding the state wrestling championships in Baton Rouge February 25th and 26th

Cut 6 (12) “…of COVID”

The state health department reported over 20 COVID-19 cases linked to the Louisiana Classic Wrestling Tournament at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center that took place nearly two weeks ago. LHSAA president David Frederico says they still wanted to hold the state championships, but the best way to get there was to end the regular season

Cut 7 (11) “…they deserve”

Bonine says strict measures will be in place for the state wrestling championships at the Raising Canes Center in downtown Baton Rouge in an effort to avoid another outbreak

Cut 8 (08) “…social distancing.”

_____________________

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says one of the department’s goals moving forward is increasing K-12 teacher retention, and fostering a more diverse workforce. Brumley says right now the teacher workforce does not look like the student population.

Cut 9 (11) “..male.”

Only about a quarter of all teachers are black compared to roughly a third of the state’s population.

Brumley says twelve percent of all teachers leave after their first year on the job, and they’ve got to start cutting that number back.

Cut 10 (08) “…to do.”

About a quarter of all teachers in the K-12 workforce are also uncertified. Brumley says they’re clustered in the STEM fields…

Cut 11 (09) “…math.”

_______________________________________________

Former Baton Rouge state representative and mayoral candidate Steve Carter died of COVID-19 complications Tuesday, three weeks after he was first hospitalized with the virus.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat has known Carter since the late 1970s and says Carter was not only a good friend, he was a good legislator.

Cut 12 (12) “…LSU.” 

Carter, a former tennis coach at LSU, served 12 years in the legislature. Pinsonat says Carter was a well-respected lawmaker and acted as a mentor for incoming members.

Cut 13 (12)“…legacy.”

Carter is the third Lousiana political figure to die of COVID, Representative Reggie Bagala of Lockport died last April, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow in December, and now Carter. Pinsonat says these are all great losses to the state.

Cut 14 (12) “…Louisiana.” 

Governor Edwards has order flags to be flown at half-staff for Carter’s funeral.  He was 77.

________________________

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says one of the department’s goals moving forward is increasing K-12 teacher retention and fostering a more diverse workforce. Brumley says twelve percent of all teachers leave after their first year on the job, and they’ve got to start cutting that number back.

Cut 10 (08) “…to do.”

Only about a quarter of all teachers are black compared to roughly a third of the state’s population.

Former Baton Rouge state representative and mayoral candidate Steve Carter died of COVID-19 complications Tuesday, three weeks after he was first hospitalized with the virus.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat has known Carter since the late 1970s and says Carter was not only a good friend, he was a good legislator.

Cut 12 (12) “…LSU.” 

He was 77.

An outbreak of COVID-19 cases connected to a high school wrestling tournament in Gonzales has led to the LHSAA canceling the remainder of the regular wrestling season. But LHSAA director Eddie Bonine says they still plan on holding the state wrestling championships in Baton Rouge February 25th and 26th.

Cut 6 (12) “…of COVID”

The state health department reported over 20 COVID-19 cases linked to the tournament in Gonzales.

A COVID-19 drive thru vaccination event scheduled for tomorrow at the Rapides Parish Coliseum is already completely booked. L-D-H Region Six Medical Doctor David Holcombe says when they announced the event to the public Monday night they were overwhelmed with interest.

Cut 5  (10) “…sign up.” 

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says one of the department’s goals moving forward is increasing K-12 teacher retention, and fostering a more diverse workforce. Louisiana Brumley says right now the teacher workforce does not look like the student population.

Cut 9, 11 seconds, male

Only about a quarter of all teachers are black compared to roughly a third of the state’s population.

A COVID-19 vaccination event scheduled for tomorrow at the Rapides Parish Coliseum is already fully booked. L-D-H Region Six Medical Doctor David Holcombe says if you’ve got an appointment roll on in and enjoy the convenience.

Cut 4 (11) “…care of them.” 

The event will be Thursday from 8:30 until 3 pm and you must be preregistered. 

The LHSAA has halted the regular season for the sport of wrestling, but still plans on holding the state championship wrestling meet. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state is reporting another 3,868 new COVID-19 cases today along with a big jump in additional deaths at 67. COVID hospitalizations continue to decline in some good news though as the third wave slowly recedes.

The Biden Administration is expected to issue a yearlong moratorium on new oil and gas drilling licenses for federal lands and waters. Senator Bill Cassidy blasted the move. He says reducing American production of fossil fuels will hurt our international standing and strengthen America’s rivals.

Cut 5 (05) “…example.”

The American petroleum institute estimates about 22 percent of all American oil and 12 percent of all American gas production occurs on federal lands and waters.

It was five months ago when Hurricane Laura made landfall in southwest Louisiana causing massive damage and the rebuild is far from complete. Governor John Bel Edwards says President Biden has told him he understands what the needs are in southwest Louisiana and they also have an ally in former Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond, who serves as the President’s advisor.

Cut 8 (10) “…delegation.”

A max vaccination event scheduled for Rapides Parish Coliseum is already fully booked. 420 doses of the vaccine have been donated by the Rapides Regional Medical Center and the Department of Health is going to inoculate the public who is eligible, those 70 and older, and healthcare workers. Region Six Medical Director Dr. David Holcomb says it’s a collaborative effort.

Cut 3 (10)  “…partnership.”

Beginning next week Louisiana will receive 67,350 COVID vaccine doses, an increase of almost 16 percent. It is all part of President Biden’s goal to vaccine 1.5 million Americans daily, an increase of half a million from his previously announced initiative. The number of vaccines distributed is based on population.

Cut 15 (11)“…anticipated.”

Governor Edwards has asked the White House to support a three-billion dollar federal block grant allocation to help southwest Louisiana recover from Hurricanes Laura and Delta. A portion of the money would go to storm victims to help reimburse costs for repairing their damaged homes.

An estimated 47-thousand homes in 21 parishes were damaged by Hurricane Laura. Edwards says they still have 684 evacuees living in hotels in New Orleans and Lafayette…
Cut 9 (14) “…as well.”
Despite the struggles, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter believes the recovery is ahead of schedule, based on the conversations he’s had with other mayors who have dealt with major natural disasters
Cut 10 (13) “…today.”

President Biden is expected to announce a moratorium on new oil and gas drilling licenses on federal lands and waters. Matt Doyle spoke with Senator Bill Cassidy…
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Biden administration has announced that every state will see an increase in its COVID-19 vaccine allotment. For Louisiana it’s roughly a 16-percent increase and the President says they are increasing transparency…
cut 16 (10) “…going to get”

The Biden Administration is expected to issue a yearlong moratorium on new oil and gas drilling licenses for federal lands and waters.
The American petroleum institute estimates about 22 percent of all American oil and 12 percent of all American gas production occurs on federal lands and waters.
The Biden Administration says the move is vital to helping the country limit global warming, but Cassidy says if cleaner burning and produced American fuel isn’t available countries will turn to dirtier options…
Cut 6 (10) “…energy.”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s asked President Joe Biden and Congress to approve an additional three-billion dollars in hurricane assistance.
Edwards says President Biden has told him he understands what the especially when you have an ally in former Louisiana Congressman Cedric Richmond, who serves as the President’s advisor.
Cut 8 (10) “…delegation.”

Boating crash incidents and boating-related fatalities increased by twenty percent in 2020.
So far in 2021 three boating fatalities have been reported which includes two 15-year old boys in Caldwell Parish. The operator of the boat has been charged with vehicular homicide and operating a vessel while intoxicated.
Wildlife and Fisheries spokesman Adam Einck says more traffic on the waterway equates to more problems so keep that life jacket on.
Cut 12 (10) “…your life.”

Three term Louisiana legislator from Baton Rouge Steve Carter has died from complications of Covid-19. A family spokesperson made the announcement last night saying Carter passed at 7:30. Carter had recently ran for Mayor/President but was defeated by incumbent Sharon Broome.