A Legislative Auditor’s audit finds the Louisiana Workforce Commission paid out just over a million dollars in unemployment benefits to dead Louisianans since March of 2020. Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates says considering that’s just a tiny fraction of the 8.5 billion dollars they’ve paid out during this historic period, the department did a good job.

Cut 8 (11) “… ratio”

A side-by-side crash in Webster Parish claims the life of an 11-year-old boy and injuries to the 14-year-old girl who was driving the vehicle. State Trooper Jonathan Odom says the 14-year-old was driving the 2011 Polaris UTV northbound on Grant Circle when the tragic crash occurred.

Cut 12 (10) “…vehicle”

The 2021 KIDS COUNT is out, and Louisiana ranks towards the bottom in its four main categories. Brooke Thorington has more from the President of the Annie E Casey Foundation.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

LSU pitcher Ma’Khail Hilliard’s father 53-year-old Keith Hilliard died over the weekend in a tubing accident on the Amite River. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard says it appears Hilliard drown after leaving his tube to retrieve an item he had dropped in the water. 

Over 100 homeowners in the eastern half of Slidell are cleaning up after Tropical Storm Claudette dumped over ten inches of rain in a short amount of time, producing street flooding that got into people’s homes. Mayor Greg Cromer…

Cut 14 (12) “…of feet ” 

Cromer says between 40 and 50 high water vehicle rescues took place early Saturday morning, including a pregnant woman who went into labor.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor finds just over a million dollars in unemployment benefits were paid out to 374 dead people since March of 2020. Data Analytics Manager Chris Magee says nothing could have been done to stop about half of that money from being paid out, but 123,000 dollars could have been prevented it with weekly reviews.

Cut 7 (08) “…quickly.”

Monroe Police continue to investigate Friday night’s fatal shooting of former Richwood High starting quarterback Michael Sherman. After learning of Sherman’s death Football Coach Marcus Yanez held a team meeting, with players, coaches, students, and the community. But says less than an hour after that meeting two more of his former players were shot in a drive-by shooting…

Cut 10 (10) “…doing ok”

Sherman had just graduated last month.

According to the 2021 KIDS COUNT report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation Louisiana ranks 49^th in Economic Well-Being and Family and Community and 48^th in Health and Education. President and CEO Lisa Hamilton says they look at 16 indicators among the four main topics and it isn’t all bad.

Cut 5  (08) “…the course.” 

The 2021 KIDS COUNT report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows Louisiana’s rankings are towards the bottom. President and CEO Lisa Hamilton says the 2019 data shows the state at 49^th poverty-wise, but the American Rescue Act which allows families to receive an extra $300 a month through the child tax credit should help break the cycle of poverty.

Cut 4 (09) “…as adults.”

Monroe Police continue to investigate Friday night’s fatal shooting of former Richwood High starting quarterback Michael Sherman. Detectives say Sherman was gunned down after an argument involving two females. Richwood High Football Coach Marcus Yanez says Sherman was a great person to be around

Cut 9 (11) “…the state”

Sherman graduated in May and no arrests have been made.

A bit over a million dollars in state and federal unemployment benefits were paid out to 374 dead Louisianans since March of 2020 according to a Legislative Auditor’s report. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

Registration for “Shot at a Million,” Louisiana’s vaccine incentive lottery, begins at noon. Governor John Bel Edwards says to qualify you must have taken at least one COVID vaccine shot. You can register online at shot-at-a-million-dot-com or call…

Cut 4 (09) “…one one”

Drawings will begin July 14^th and be held every week through the grand prize drawing on August 4^th.

The 2021 KIDS COUNT report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows Louisiana’s rankings are towards the bottom. President and CEO Lisa Hamilton says they look at four areas, Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. Hamilton says the 2019 data shows the state at 49^th poverty-wise.

Cut 3 (12) “…worse now.”

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor finds just over a million dollars in unemployment benefits were paid out to 374 dead individuals since March of 2020. Data Analytics Manager Chris Magee says the Louisiana Workforce Commission does have a process to weed out dead applicants and managed to catch roughly 8,000 with their current system…

Cut 6 (12) “..deceased.”

Researchers at LSU- Health New Orleans have created a compound that mimics a protective chemical in our brain and retina of the eye and discover it can also protect against COVID. Director of the Neuroscience Center Dr. Nicolas Bazan experimented with compound and its effect on the lung.

Cut 10 (12) “…they do.”

Starting at noon Louisianans who’ve received at least one COVID shot can register to win up to a million dollars through the state’s vaccine lottery program.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

State police are investigating the death of an 11-year old Morris Naron of Plain Dealing. Naron was a passenger on a utility terrain vehicle being driven by a 14-year old and not wearing a seatbelt when the accident occurred Sunday afternoon.  It happened on Grant Circle in Webster Parish. Troopers say it’s illegal to drive or operate off-road vehicles on public roadways in the state.

Real Reform Louisiana delivered tiki torches to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry’s office in Baton Rouge because auto insurance rates have yet to decline as a result of the tort reform legislation last year. Real Reform Louisiana’s executive director Eric Holl says rates have actually gone up.

Cut 13 (10) “…car insurance.”

So why tiki torches? Holl says LABI President Stephen Waguespack told radio talk show host, that he would grab a tiki torch and go to the Capitol if rates did not go down.

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says a study suggests about a quarter of all those who’ve had Post COVID Conditions have had to seek medical care to treat the condition. Kanter says there’s a broad list of symptoms that reportedly as many as 80 percent of those who were infected will experience even after testing negative.

Cut 8 (09) “…symptoms.”

Registration begins today at noon for the coronavirus vaccine lottery. Louisiana is giving away two-point three-million dollars in prizes including one-million-dollar grand prize cash drawing for adults on August fourth. Governor Edwards says even though they are using the term lottery, there’s nothing to lose…
cut 6 (08) “….COVID-19″
Go to shot-at-a-million-dot-com or call 1-877-356-15-11 and registration begins at noon.

The C-D-C says COVID patients who suffer from long-term symptoms that include shortness of breath, chest pain, anxiety, depression, headaches, and hair loss are calling the diagnosis “Post COVID Conditions.” State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says these symptoms are another reason why you should get the vaccine…
cut 9 (12) “…life-altering”

Research conducted at LSU Health New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence finds that a compound could protect lung cells from the coronavirus. Doctor Nicolas Bazan says the lungs produce a similar protective compound already, but not enough needed to combat COVID…
cut 12 (11) “….of approach”
Clinical research is needed to see if this approach can work.

A year ago, lawmakers approved a tort reform bill and touted it as a measure that would reduce auto insurance rates. LABI President Stephen Waguespack told a Shreveport radio station he would grab a tiki torch and go to the Capitol if rates did not go down in a year. Real Reform Louisiana Director Eric Holl says rates have not gone down…
cut 15 (11) “….legislature”
Waguespack is still confident the tort reform legislation passed last year will lead to lower rates, if not more aggressive tort reform may be necessary.

Starting at noon today, Louisiana residents who have received at least one COVID vaccine dose can register to win a one-million-dollar grand prize. Vaccinated individuals can also win one of four 100-thousand dollar grand prizes and 12-to-17-year-olds may enter to win one of nine 100-thousand dollar scholarships. Governor Edwards hopes this will lead to an increase in people getting vaccinated…
cut 5 (09) “….they’ve had”
To register go to shot-at-a-million-dot-com.

Meanwhile, work continues on how to better treat the disease. LSU Health New Orleans Director of Neurosciences Doctor Nicolas Bazan says he’s helped develop a compound that has shown it could block the coronavirus from impacting lung cells…
cut 11 (11) “….the lung”
Bazan says this potential therapy still has to undergo clinical research.

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the growing pile of studies showing the long-term complications from COVID infections further reinforces the importance of getting vaccinated. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Louisiana avoided widespread impacts from Tropical Storm Claudette, but some homeowners in Slidell are the unlucky ones. Several homes took on water from flash flooding from heavy rainfall. The National Weather Service says about 10-to-12 inches of rain fell Friday night into Saturday morning.

Starting at 12 PM today Louisianans who’ve received at least one COVID shot can register to win up to a million dollars through the state’s vaccine lottery program.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved a resolution that asks the state health department to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory before students can attend public schools, colleges and universities. State law requires students to be vaccinated against several diseases, but the COVID vaccine was approved by the FDA on an emergency basis.

Researchers at LSU- Health New Orleans have created a compound that mimics a protective chemical in our brain and retina of the eye and discover it can also protect the lungs against COVID. Director of the Neuroscience Center Dr. Nicolas Bazan (rhymes with Tarzan) experimented with compound.
Cut 10 (12) “…they do.”
The therapy still has to undergo clinical research.

Real Reform Louisiana Executive Director Eric Holl delivered tiki torches to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry headquarters because auto insurance rates are on the rise. Holl says LABI President Stephen Waguespack told KEEL Radio in Shreveport a year ago he would grab a tiki torch and go to the Capitol if rates did not go down as a result of legislation that changed the way civil courts handle car crash cases
Cut 14 (06) “…regular people.”
LABI President Stephen Waguespack says with jury trials finally resuming, the impact of the law can finally be felt.