State officials say Louisiana will receive its largest COVID vaccination shipment next week as they expect to receive 98-thousand doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and potentially 34-thousand Johnson and Johnson one-dose shot vaccines. About one-point-five million Louisianans are eligible to receive a vaccine and state health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says that will allow for a large-scale vaccine clinic…
cut 15 (08) “….supply yet”

The Edwards administration will present state lawmakers today with a proposed budget for next fiscal year and because of federal aid and an economy that’s improving, Governor Edwards is optimistic they can increase funding for higher ed and K-through-12 education…
cut 8 (07) “…dollars”
Lawmakers will debate the budget in the upcoming regular session.

The state department of wildlife and fisheries says they’ve cited 12 individuals and arrested two others as the result of a large-scale illegal deer hunting investigation in St. Landry Parish. L-D-W-F spokesperson Adam Einck says their investigation started after receiving a report that someone was hunting from a vehicle off of I-49….
cut 12 (12) “…related”
The two people arrested have been identified as 28-year-old Brandon Buller of Ville Platte and 22-year-old Tori LeBleu of Ville Platte. Buller faces 20-counts each of hunting deer during illegal hours and hunting from a moving vehicle.

A music venue owner says there’s a safe air filtration invention that will safely allow live music in Louisiana but he’s not being heard. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (29) “…Brooke Thorington.”

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The Edwards Administration presents its budget for the next fiscal year today at 1:30 PM to the Joint Budget Committee. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Louisiana looks set to receive its largest-ever weekly allocation of COVID vaccines next week. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m  Matt Doyle.”  

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One of the owners of Rock ‘n Bowl Lafayette and New Orleans, Johnny Blanchard says not only is the pandemic destroying his businesses it’s also eroding the state’s rich music culture.

Cut 4 (09)“…Louisiana.”

Blancher says his venue is prepared to bring live music back and he has a safe and proven way to do so but his efforts to meet with the Governor’s office about it have hit a sour note.

Cut 5 (10)“…access.”

Blanchaer says the method he wants to use to assist with the pandemic is currently being used on airlines and he’s tried to present the technology to state officials in an effort to help live music return safely.

Cut 6 (10) “…COVID-19.”

He also believes COVID restrictions are also causing us to lose talented musicians that have left the state to find work. Blancher fears they will not return the longer we wait to bring back live music in Louisiana.

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the budget that his administration will present today to the Legislature will feature no cuts despite economic damage caused by the pandemic.

Governor Edwards says that’s because the state is still benefiting from the CARES Act and increased federal support for Medicaid.

Cut 7 (09)  “…so bright.”

The budget does not include the over 100 million dollars in loans the state owes the federal government due to the depletion of the unemployment insurance trust fund.

Edwards says they managed to find the money to increase funding for higher education and K-12.

Cut 8 (07) “…dollars.”

TOPS will also see an increase in funding due to increased student eligibility for the program.

Edwards says the budget does not take into consideration any additional federal aid.

Cut 9 (08) “…funding.”

Congressional Democrats proposed a 1.9 trillion dollar American Rescue Plan that includes 350 billion dollars in state aid.

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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement has cited a number of people for alleged illegal deer hunting activity in St. Landry Parish. LWDF spokesperson Adam Einck says enforcement received a tip on January 12^th of people hunting from their vehicle off the interstate near Ville Platte.

Cut 10 (07) “…I-49.”

Einck says they arrested Brannon Buller and Toni Le Blue, both of Ville Platte for a number of hunting violations, which include tagging another person’s deer and hunting without a license.

Cut 11 (07) “…at night.”

Logan Morrison and Holden Ledger both of Ville Platte were also cited for hunting during illegal hours and from a public road and moving vehicle.

Cut 12 (12) “…related ”

Agents also cited eight others for buying deer meat illegally from Buller.

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Next week Louisiana will potentially receive 134,000 doses of COVID vaccine, the state’s largest-ever weekly allocation.

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they expect to receive 52,650 Pfizer doses, 45,000 Moderna doses, and if Johnson and Johnson receives approval today as is expected…

Cut 13 (06) “…doses.”

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is reportedly much easier to transport and store than Moderna and Pfizer and J&J only requires one shot as opposed to a two-shot sequence.

Nearly 600,000 Louisianans have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. Kanter says that number is set to start growing at a much faster rate.

Cut 14 (11) “…exciting.” 

Reports estimate that with vaccine rollout ramping up the United States could reach COVID herd immunity sometime in late summer/early fall.

Roughly 1.5 million Louisianans are now eligible to receive a vaccine. Kanter says this will make it much easier to get your appointment.

Cut 15 (08)“…supply yet.”

Recently teachers and those 55 and older with certain medical conditions gained vaccine eligibility.

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The LSU baseball team is 3-1 after the first week of play and has shown the ability to put up runs.  Freshman outfielder Dylan Crews has been a bright spot so far, batting .444 with 2 homeruns through the first four games.  Coach Paul Mainieri says he’s not surprised by Crews’ early success.

Cut 16 (16) “…confident in himself.”

While Crews seems to have made an easy transition, he says that the atmosphere has been the biggest surprise so far.

Cut 17 (12) “…crazy.”

Even though he’s still adjusting to the crowds. Crews said it was the Tiger faithful that made him want to come to Baton Rouge.

Cut  18 (11) “…feel the welcome.”

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Louisiana Tech will play baseball on campus for the first time in over two years when they host a weekend series against Southern in J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.  Coach Lane Burroughs says his team is excited to play in the new ballpark.

Cut 19 (11) “…your own home.” 

No fans will be allowed in the stadium this weekend because not everything is finished.  Burroughs is hopeful that fans can enjoy a game soon.

Cut 20  (11) “…get those things.” 

A study out of LSU shows in the nearly 50 years since the Clean Water Act’s passage the Mississippi River has seen a tremendous improvement in water quality. Coastal Sciences Professor Eugene Turner says the Act’s environmental regulations limiting what you could dump into US waterways worked wonders…

Cut 3 (11)  “…amazing.” 

Louisiana’s U-S Senators voted against the nomination of former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm as the country’s new Energy Secretary. Bill Cassidy told Granholm during her confirmation hearing that President Joe Biden’s plans to move away from fossil fuels to green energy are a job killer…

Cut 12 (12) “ …form though.” 

Granholm as confirmed 64 to 35.

The number of deaths in Louisiana linked to last week’s historic winter weather has increased to six. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (28) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is encouraging people to report any property damage sustained during the winter weather last week in hopes of receiving federal funding by going to damage.la.gov and filling out a survey.  Now you can complete a survey through text or by dialing 211.

During his weekly COVID update, Governor Edwards urged residents to donate blood after many hospitals are noting a shortage of blood supply. He also announced that he’s budgeted for a small pay raise for teachers and support staff in the state.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is encouraging people to report damage sustained during last week’s winter weather in hopes of receiving federal funding by going to damage.la.gov You can also report it via text or by dialing 211. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says that this survey is important in determining what type of damage Louisiana residents are dealing with.

Cut 11 (13) “…across the state.”

Louisiana’s U-S Senators voted against the nomination of former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm as the country’s new Energy Secretary as they continue to push back on President Biden’s executive order against new drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Biden told Granholm that oil and gas will still be produced, it will just happen in other countries… Senator Bill Cassidy responded

Cut 14 (07) “…destroy jobs here” 

Granholm was confirmed 64-35

Research data of the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine appears as if the third offering will be given emergency use authorization from the FDA. LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Professor Dr. Fred Lopez says data indicates the J & J vaccine is 66 percent effective.

Cut 7 (09) “…to do”

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it’s possible the state could receive the third vaccine as early as next week.

Louisiana’s U-S Senators voted against the nomination of former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm as the country’s new Energy Secretary. Bill Cassidy told Granholm during her confirmation hearing that President Joe Biden’s plans to move away from fossil fuels to green energy is a job killer…

Cut 12 (12) “ …form though.” 

The Biden Administration has set a goal of carbon neutrality for the US by 2050.

A study out of LSU shows in the nearly 50 years since the Clean Water Act’s passage the Mississippi River has seen a tremendous improvement in water quality, but that the River now faces a new threat: escalating levels of fertilizer run-off heading downriver from Midwestern farming. Coastal Sciences Professor Eugene Turner says this highly concentrated fertilizer isn’t good for either of us.

Cut 5  (08)  “…quality.” 

The number of deaths in Louisiana linked to last week’s historic winter weather has increased to six. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (28) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard has been charged with a number of felonies reportedly connected to a police brutality incident including malfeasance in office, obstruction of justice, and injuring public records during the period between January and October of last year. Broussard’s attorney responded to the charges saying he is confident his client will ultimately be found not guilty.

This afternoon State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter said if the Johnson and Johnson vaccine receives emergency use approval from the FDA the state could begin receiving the J& J vaccine as early as next week. LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Professor Dr. Fred Lopez says this one-dose vaccine is showing positive results.

Cut 6 (13) “…about.”

During Governor Edwards briefing this afternoon he along with Dr. Kanter made a plea for those able to donate blood to give the gift of life as several hospitals are noting blood shortages. Dr. Kanter also shared that his wife is expecting and will be getting her first COVID vaccine tomorrow, in an effort to encourage other pregnant women to be vaccinated now that they are eligible for the vaccine in Louisiana.

Louisiana’s U-S Senators voted against the nomination of former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm as the country’s new Energy Secretary. Granholm told the Senate Energy committee that incentives for companies looking to produce green energy can help create thousands of jobs to offset the ones lost as the country moves away from fossil fuel production…

Cut 13 (13)“…next week.”

During the hearing, Bill Cassidy said learning that President Joe Biden’s plans to move away from fossil fuels to green energy is a job killer.

An LSU study shows since the Clean Water Act’s passage in 192 the Mississippi River has seen a vast improvement in water quality. Coastal Sciences Professor Eugene Turner says before the 70s there was so much waste,  that waterways like the Mississippi River had become highly toxic…

Cut 4 (11) “…decays” 

LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Professor Dr. Fred Lopez says the data on the Johnson and Johnson offering in the fight against COVID looks promising. While the other two vaccines are two doses the J & J vaccine is one dose. Lopez says it looks just as good as the others.

Cut 8 (11) “…approved.”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is encouraging people to report any property damage sustained during the winter weather last week in hopes of receiving federal funding by going to damage.la.gov and you can also report it via text or by dialing 211. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele explains what type of information they’re looking for.

Cut 10 (12) “…provide” 

An LSU study broke down the impacts of the Clean Water Act on the Mississippi River’s water quality nearly 50 years after its enactment. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

The state reports 779 new COVID-19 cases today and 33 new fatalities from the virus. More than 332-thousand have completed their two-dose vaccines in Louisiana and 679 people are currently hospitalized in the state with COVID. Governor Edwards will hold a briefing today at 2:30.

An FDA review of the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine appears to give the shot a thumbs up shortly before the organization is expected to hold an emergency use authorization hearing that could approve its release. LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Professor Dr. Fred Lopez says data indicates the J & J vaccine is 66 percent effective.

Cut 7 (09) “…to do”

A study out of LSU shows in the nearly 50 years since the Clean Water Act’s passage the Mississippi River has seen a tremendous improvement in water quality. Coastal Sciences Professor Eugene Turner says the Act’s environmental regulations limiting what you could dump into US waterways worked wonders…

Cut 3 (11)  “…amazing.” 

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is encouraging people to report any property damage sustained during the winter weather last week in hopes of receiving federal funding. You can go to damage.la.gov and fill out a survey, do a survey through text, or by dialing 211. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says this will make it easier on residents.

Cut 9 (11) “…survey process”

And last week’s winter storm didn’t just impact the power grid and people’s homes, it also slowed down the crawfish industry. Wild Crawfish Fisherman Jody Meche says farmers are really hoping the warmer weather we’re now seeing will help the industry rebound in time for peak crawfish season.

Cut 14 (10) “…ok.”