Governor Edwards holds a press briefing at 2:30 to discuss the state’s response to COVID-19. The governor’s Phase 3 coronavirus health order expires tomorrow and we’ll see if restrictions will be loosened or tightened. The White House and the C-D-C are concerned we’ll see another surge in cases.

Women pay more annually for car insurance in Louisiana compared to men, that’s according to The Zebra, the nation’s leading insurance comparison site…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

St. Tammany Parish coroner Doctor Charles Preston is urging parents not to have their young children sleep in the same bed as them. He’s making this plea after his office investigated five infant deaths last year as a result of unsafe sleeping conditions. Preston says relatives tell parents it’s okay to have infant children sleeping with adults…
cut 7 (11) “….infant’s life”
Preston says a baby should sleep alone, on its back, and in a crib free of clutter.

A couple is facing arson charges after they allegedly set multiple fires near their home in Leesville on land owned by others in what was supposedly an effort to drive away snakes. 34-year-old Laura Ashley has been arrested and 34-year-old Robert Ramirez is on the run. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says what Ashley and Ramirez did is incredibly dangerous…
Cut 13 (09) “…vegetation.”
Ashley has been charged with simple arson and investigators learned that Ramirez had also set multiple fires in the area last year.

The Loyola Law School is creating a database of inmate deaths in Louisiana prisons, the first such database of its kind in the nation. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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 In 2020 five out of the seven infant deaths in St. Tammany Parish were a result of unsafe sleeping conditions, Brooke Thorington explains how they are working to change that

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Women pay more annually for car insurance in Louisiana compared to men, that’s according to The Zebra, the nation’s leading insurance comparison site. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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This spring Loyola University Law School will release a database of inmate deaths at all Louisiana prisons.

The project is the brainchild of Professor Andrea Armstrong who says up until now there hasn’t been a centralized collection of data about when, where, and how state inmates have died.

Cut 4 (10)“…money.”

Armstrong says before receiving grant money to upscale the project she personally kept data on inmate deaths at Orleans Parish Prison. The 410,000 dollar, two-year grant was provided by Arnold Ventures.

Armstrong says 80 percent of US prisons will go a full calendar year without an inmate death. With this database, we can measure how Louisiana prisons stack up to that expectation.

Cut 5 (08)“…pattern.”

Louisiana is home to 130 jails, prisons, and detention centers and has the highest incarceration rate in the country. The state also does not require its corrections department to keep a centralized and publicly accessible list of deaths.

Armstrong says using public information requests she and her law students are compiling a detailed list of inmate deaths going back to 2015. She says the database will be highly granular.

Cut 6 (08) “…those deaths.”

Armstrong says the database will be a first-of-its-kind in the nation effort and she hopes it can be a template that is reproduced across the country.

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Last year in St. Tammany Parish five infants died as a result of unsafe sleeping conditions. St. Tammany Parish Corner Dr. Charles Preston says it’s usually because new parents aren’t educated about safe sleeping environments or they received bad advice from relatives who allowed an infant to sleep in the same bed as adults.

Cut 7 (11)  “…infant’s life.”

Working with the national Cribs for Kids organization, Preston’s office is offering free training for parents, grandparents, and caregivers on the proper way for allowing an infant to sleep. Preston says follow your ABCs.

Cut 8 (11) “…baby’s airway.”

Preston says infant death by unsafe sleeping conditions is not unique to St. Tammany Parish but is a problem nationwide. Preston says in Calcasieu Parish they have had a successful program reducing infant death with Cribs for Kids.

Cut 9 (08) “…mortality.”

Once participants complete the 90-minute course they are giving a free Pack ‘n Play bassinet. Call the St. Tammany Parish Corner’s Office to register.

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Women in Louisiana on average pay $68 more a year for auto insurance than men regardless of their driving record, that’s according to The Zebra, the nation’s leading insurance comparison site. Real Reform Louisiana Executive Director Eric Holl says insurance companies in Louisiana can charge drivers rates based on almost anything they want.

Cut 10 (07) “…being women.”

Holl says it’s even worse for women in the state in their 50s.

Cut 11 (10) “… the same car.”

Holl says on average men have more reckless driving behavior compared to women, but women are charged more on average than men in the state.

Senator Jay Luneau has filed Senate Bill 55 to ban insurance companies from the use of gender and other non-driving factors like credit score. Holl says he doesn’t believe Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon will support the bill.

Cut 12 (11) “…from him.”

Holl says seven states have banned the use of gender as a factor in car insurance rates, including four of the cheapest states for car insurance, according to the Zebra: Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and North Carolina.

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A couple is facing arson charges after they allegedly set multiple fires near their home in Leesville in what was supposedly an effort to drive away snakes.

34-year-old Laura Ashley has been arrested and 34-year-old Robert Ramirez is on the run. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it was an incredibly dangerous decision…

Cut 13 (09) “…vegetation.”

Ashley has been charged with simple arson and investigators learned that Ramirez had also set multiple fires in the area last year.

Cut 14 (06) “…crime.” 

Strain says if you have a snake problem, instead of committing a felony…

Cut 15 (08)“…mothballs.”

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LSU is off to a one and five start in SEC play and also no longer ranked in most of the major college baseball polls. Four of the five conference losses have been by three runs or less. Coach Paul Mainieri is asking his team to keep grinding away…

Cut 16 (20) “…other direction.”

In this past series against Tennessee, LSU lost all three games by four runs. After tonight’s game against South Alabama, the Tigers will welcome top-ranked Vanderbilt. Mainieri says he’s not ready to give up on the season

Cut 17 (19) “…not going to do that.”

LSU struck out 38 times during the three-game sweep at Tennessee and the Tigers allowed 23 walks or hit batters. Mainieri says they’ll work to reduce both of those numbers

Cut  18 (15) “… it’s frustrating.”

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The Saints have announced the signing of free-agent tight end Nick Vannett (Van-net). The five-year NFL veteran has signed a three-year deal with New Orleans and has caught 75 passes in 70 regular-season games. Vannett is known more as a blocking tight end, but the Ohio native says he can catch passes too

Cut 19 (11) “…it in.” 

In 2020, Vannett played in 15 games with the Broncos and caught 14 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. Vannett says it didn’t take long for the Saints to reach out to him after Denver cut him

Cut 20 (17) “…a Saint.” 

Ochsner Health’s 24-hour Vaccine Fest in Jefferson Parish is underway providing convenience and a festival-like atmosphere. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (32) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

The state’s vaccination campaign is well underway now with 720,000 Louisianans having completed their full vaccine series and 1.2 million having received at least one dose. In less than a week 123,000 doses have been administered.

Support for Marijuana legalization is on the rise in Louisiana, up nine points from last year, now sitting at 68 percent according to a new poll by JMC Analytics’ pollster John Couvillon. Couvillon says this year’s big jump is likely attributable to the state’s legalization of medicinal marijuana.

Cut 4 (08) “…there” 

Couvillon says the policy has support from every demographic and geographic category in the state, except those over 65.

Police are searching for the driver of a Ram pickup truck who struck a bicyclist in St. Landry Parish Sunday morning and fled the scene. That hit and run led to a series of events resulting in the death of 24-year-old Ryan Fontenot of Breaux Bridge. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says Fontenot was struck initially as he was turning into Acadian Medical Center…

Cut 11 (08) “vehicle”

A new poll shows 68 percent of Louisianans believe using or possessing marijuana should not be illegal. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers who came close to being in the run-off for the second congressional district has endorsed fellow democrat and New Orleans lawmaker Karen Carter Peterson. Carter Peterson is in the April 24^th run-off will fellow democrat and New Orleans lawmaker Troy Carter.

As of now all Louisianans 16 and older regardless of occupation or health status are eligible to receive the COVID 19 vaccine and 5^th District Congresswoman-Elect Julia Letlow made a personal appeal to those hesitant about getting vaccinated. Her husband Luke died of COVID just days before he was set to be sworn in congress. Congresswoman Letlow says getting vaccinated can prevent more tragedies like that…

Cut 7 (07) “…proponent of the vaccine.”

If you’re in southeast Louisiana and haven’t been vaccinated yet drop by the Shrine on Airline, Ochsner Health’s vaccine fest.  Ochsner Health Medical Director of Infection Prevention Dr. Katherine Baumgarten says they’ll be vaccinating thousands until 10 am Tuesday.

Cut 9 (10) “…appointment.”

It’s for ages 18 and older.

Police are searching for the driver of a Ram pickup truck who struck a bicyclist in St. Landry Parish Sunday morning and fled the scene. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says 24-year old Ryan Fontenot was struck initially by the truck and run off the road, then a second vehicle struck and killed Fontenot. Gossen says Fontenot likely would still be alive today had the driver of the first vehicle not left the scene.

Cut 13 (04)“this”

68 percent of Louisianans support decriminalizing marijuana use and possession according to a new poll, a nine percent increase from last year. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon says support for legalization cuts across all partisan, racial, and gender lines.

Cut 3 (09)  “…legalization”  

The only demographic group that consistently opposes legalization is those over the age of 65.

Congresswoman-elect Julia Letlow is imploring every adult in Louisiana to get a vaccine now that everyone 16 and older is eligible. Letlow lost her 41-year-old husband Luke Letlow to COVID in December, just days before he was to be sworn-in to congress.

Cut 6 (08) “…get the vaccine.”

Luke Letlow was diagnosed with COVID in December shortly after he was elected to the 5^th Congressional District.

Ochsner Health’s 24-hour vaccine fest is underway in Jefferson Parish at the Shrine on Airline. The event is for residents 18 and older and ends Tuesday at 10 a.m. Ochsner Health Medical Director of Infection Prevention Dr. Katherine Baumgarten says from 7 pm until 7 am you don’t need an appointment.

Cut 10 (07) “…vaccine” 

They even have live music while you wait.

Starting today all Louisianans 16 and older regardless of occupation or health status are eligible to receive the COVID 19 vaccine and 5^th District Congresswoman-Elect Julia Letlow made a personal appeal to those on the fence about getting their shot. Her husband Luke died of COVID just days before he was set to be sworn in as the 5^th’s Congressman. Congresswoman Letlow says getting vaccinated can prevent more tragedies like that…

Cut 7 (07) “…proponent of the vaccine.”

If you’re in southeast Louisiana and haven’t been vaccinated yet drop by the Shrine on Airline, or old Zephyr Stadium for vaccine fest, hosted by Ochsner Health.  Ochsner Health Medical Director of Infection Prevention Dr. Katherine Baumgarten says they’ll be vaccinating thousands…

Cut 9 (10) “…appointment.”

68 percent of Louisianans support decriminalizing marijuana use and possession according to a new poll, a nine percent increase from last year. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon says despite the widespread public support there doesn’t seem to be much action expected on legalization at the State Capitol…

Cut 5  (11)  “…believe”

The only demographic group that consistently opposes legalization is those over the age of 65.

Police are on the lookout for a damaged Ram truck that is believed to have been involved with a fatal hit and run with a bicyclist just outside Acadian Medical Center in St. Landry Parish. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen urges anyone with information about this crash to contact their local authorities.

Cut 12 (09)“ area” 

A new poll shows 68 percent of Louisianans believe using or possessing marijuana should not be illegal. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

The Louisiana Housing Corporation is holding a virtual information session to assist landlords and renters with information about the U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program for those with financial hardship. It will be at 5:30 today and you can visit LAStateRent.com for more information.

Police are searching for the driver of a Ram pickup truck who struck a bicyclist in St. Landry Parish Sunday morning and fled the scene. That hit and run led to a series of events resulting in the death of 24-year-old Ryan Fontenot of Breaux Bridge. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says Fontenot was struck initially as he was turning into Acadian Medical Center…

Cut 11 (08) “vehicle”

That second impact was ultimately fatal to Fontenot. That driver did remain at the scene.

If you miss live music and need to be vaccinated, then Ochsner Health has just the event for you. Vaccine Fest is underway until 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Shrine on Airline in Jefferson Parish. Ochsner Health Medical Director of Infection Prevention Dr. Katherine Baumgarten says they have plenty of entertainment for the 24-hour event.

Cut 8 (08) “…more.”

You can make an appointment at MyOschner.org