Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a press conference at 3 PM to discuss the state’s response to a fourth COVID surge. The Louisiana Health Department reports COVID hospitalizations have increased by 671 from June 19th to 913. Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says 97-percent of their admissions with COVID are unvaccinated individuals…

Cut 11 (06) “…population.”
And because of the surge in cases according to the personal finance website WalletHub, Louisiana is the least safe state in the country. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says this is due to Louisiana’s poor performance in five key areas.

Cut 4 (13) “…most of them.”

A statement from Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Louis Gurvich says there will be consequences for the failure to override any of the Governor’s vetoes.  Among the threats is action against Speaker Clay Schexnayder if he doesn’t immediately replace all Democratic House Committee chairs. LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow says that may sound extreme, but…

Cut 14 (10) “…unusual.”

A 36-billion-dollar settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers will direct 325 million dollars to Louisiana over the next 18 years to help address the impacts of the opioid epidemic. An Attorney General Jeff Landry-backed plan to fund an expansion in drug courts with the funds was vetoed by the Governor. Landry says they’re now looking to work with local governments one on one…

Cut 9 (08) “…addicted.”

There are over 900 people in Louisiana hospitals being treated for COVID-related symptoms. The state health department says that’s a 350-percent increase in three weeks. Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says as COVID hospitalizations increase, it’s weighing on staff as their hospitals continue to stay open to treat non-COVID patients…
cut 12 (06) “…surge”

The personal finance website Wallethub ranks Louisiana as the least safe state during COVID-19. Analyst Jill Gonzales points to the state’s low vaccination rate, only 36-percent of Louisiana’s population is fully vaccinated…
cut 5 (08) “…death rate”
The state reported 15 more COVID deaths yesterday, bringing the death toll to 10,889.

The State Republican Party is threatening repercussions for GOP lawmakers who broke rank during the veto session. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Following the conclusion of the two-day veto session, Governor Edwards described the conversations he had with lawmakers who were on the fence on whether they should override his vetoes on the transgender sports ban bill and the permitless conceal carry legislation…
cut 23 (09) “….promises”

The American Hospital Association is calling for all hospital staff to be vaccinated as COVID cases surge again. And the state’s largest hospital system, says they plan to follow the recommendation of the American Hospital Association. Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas….
Cut 10 (12) “…the FDA.”

Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Louis Gurvich believes there should be some consequences after the state legislature failed to override any of the governor’s 28 vetoes from the 2021 session. Gurvich believes all of the Democratic House committee chairs should be replaced and Kenner Representative Joe Stagni should be recalled. LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffrey Sadow…
cut 15 (07) “….Democrats”

Louisiana will receive about 325 million dollars over the next two decades as part of a nationwide settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee has approved a new naming rights deal for the Superdome. Starting in August, the iconic stadium will be called the Caesars Superdome as part of a 20-year naming rights deal that’s worth an estimated 138-million dollars. That money will go to the Saints, who say the dollars will be used on Dome improvements.

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a press conference at 3 PM to discuss the state’s response to a fourth COVID surge. The Louisiana Health Department reports COVID hospitalizations have increased by 671 from June 19th to 913. Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says 97-percent of their admissions with COVID are unvaccinated individuals…
cut 11 (06) “….population”
36-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated. Jill Gonzales with the personal-finance website WalletHub says the state’s low vaccination rate is impacting the economy…
cut 6 (08) “…in person”
The governor said in a radio interview yesterday that the state is heading in the wrong direction in a hurry when it comes to COVID.

Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Louis Gurvich says the failure to override any of the governor’s vetoes must have consequences. Gurvich threatened recalls and suggested there be electoral challenges against Republicans who broke rank. LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffery Sadow…
Cut 13 (05) “…2023.”
Three Republican Senators changed their regular session support for “constitutional carry” legislation and one didn’t show up for the vote. On the transgender sports ban, Kenner Representative Joe Stagni joined Democrats in voting against the veto override.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says Louisiana will receive 325-million dollars to help treat opioid patients as the result of a 26-billion dollar agreement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors and another company that manufactured and marketed opioids. Landry says the agreement resolves investigations and litigations, but not before thousands have lost their lives during the opioid epidemic…
cut 8 (07) “….crisis”

The state’s largest hospital system plans to require all employees to be vaccinated for COVID in the near future. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Governor Edwards will hold a media briefing today at 3 PM to provide an update on the state’s current fourth surge in cases. And at noon, the state health department will announce the second round of winners of Shot at a Million. Two more Louisiana residents will win 100-thousand dollars each, one as a cash prize and one in scholarship money.

The state health department reported 28-hundred new COVID-19 cases yesterday. The number of COVID patients hospitalized is up to 913. That’s an increase of over 600 in two months. And the personal finance website-Wallethub ranks Louisiana as the least safe state in the country when it comes to COVID. Wallethub analyst Jill Gonzales…
cut 4 (13) “…most of them”

A 36 billion dollar settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers will direct 325 million dollars to Louisiana over the next 18 years to help address the impacts of the opioid epidemic. Attorney General Jeff Landry says the agreement was struck with Johnson and Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal, and AmerisourceBergen.
Cut 7 (07) “…crisis.”
The CDC estimates 841,000 Americans died of an opioid overdose between 1999 and 2019.

Louisiana will receive about 325 million dollars over the next two decades as part of a nationwide settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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The state’s largest hospital system plans to require all employees to be vaccinated for COVID in the near future. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The State Republican Party is threatening repercussions for Republican lawmakers who broke rank during the veto session. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Louisiana is seeing rising cases and hospitalizations as it’s going through a Delta-fueled COVID surge and according to the personal finance website WalletHub, Louisiana is the least safe state in the country. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says this is due to Louisiana’s poor performance in five key areas.

Cut 4 (13) “…most of them.”

Gonzales says that Louisiana’s rise in Covid deaths is due to the state’s low number of people getting vaccinated.

Cut 5 (08) “…death rate.”

The state has said 97-percent of COVID deaths since February are from unvaccinated patients. Gonzales also believes that higher vaccination rates could ultimately help the state’s economy.

Cut 6 (08) “…in person.”

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A 36 billion dollar settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers will direct 325 million dollars to Louisiana over the next 18 years to help address the impacts of the opioid epidemic.

Attorney General Jeff Landry says the agreement was struck with Johnson and Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal, and AmerisourceBergen.

Cut 7 (07) “…crisis.” 

The CDC estimates that nationwide 841,000 Americans died of an opioid overdose between 1999 and 2019. Landry says while the settlement is appreciated…

Cut 8 (07) “…crisis.”

A Landry-backed plan to use the money to fund an expansion in drug courts was vetoed by Governor Edwards. Landry says they’re now looking to work with local governments one on one…

Cut 9 (08) “…addicted.”

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The nation’s largest hospital association is calling for all hospital staff to be vaccinated as COVID cases surge once again across the country. And the state’s largest hospital system, says they plan to follow the recommendation of the American Hospital Association. Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas….

Cut 10 (12) “…the FDA.” 

At this time none of the three COVID vaccines used in the U-S have received full approval from the FDA, and it’s unclear when they will be approved. Ochsner says 61-percent of staff are vaccinated and the new restrictions will be added soon for the remaining 39-percent of staff.

Thomas says they are presently forgoing requiring mandatory vaccines for staff for fear of legal repercussions, but once full approval is authorized it will be enforced.

Thomas says, as for their patients, approximately 97-percent of admissions with COVID are unvaccinated.

Cut 11 (06) “…population.”

Ochsner, like other healthcare facilities in the state, has updated their visitation policies amid the surge in cases.  Thomas says as COVID hospitalizations increase, it’s weighing on staff as the facility continues to stay open for Non-COVID patients as well.

Cut 12 (06) “…surge.” 

Thomas says the decision to require staff to be fully vaccinated has been influenced by the hospital system’s high rate of unvaccinated patients being admitted with COVID complications.

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Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Louis Gervich threatened that there will be consequences for the failure to override any of the Governor’s vetoes during the recent session.

Gervich threatened recalls and suggested there be electoral challenges against Republicans who broke rank. LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffery Sadow…

Cut 13 (05) “…2023.”

Three Republican Senators changed their regular session support for “constitutional carry” legislation and one didn’t show up for the vote. On the transgender athlete bill one Republican House member joined with Democrats in voting against the veto override.

Gervich also threatened action against Speaker Clay Schexnayder if he doesn’t immediately replace all Democratic House Committee chairs. Sadow says that may sound extreme, but…

Cut 14 (10) “…unusual.”

Sadow says he’s received impressions from Republicans in the Legislature that removing Schexnayder would be difficult to accomplish, and that the Speaker left the session with more GOP support after having Democrats who committed to overriding the transgender ban veto back out at the last second.

Sadow says the likely outcome from this veto override session is that things will get much more partisan from here on out.

Cut 15 (07)“…Democrats.”

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Southeastern Louisiana is the preseason favorite to win the Southland football title based on the league’s preseason poll. The Lions return senior quarterback Cole Kelley, who won the Walter Payton award last spring which goes to the best player in the FCS. Lions Coach Frank Scelfo says the team’s motto for this season is to be bold…

Cut 16 (14) “…make it happen.”

The Lions received eight first-place votes, while Nicholls received four first-place votes and is expected to finish in second place. The Colonels and are coming off a spring season where they went four and three. Coach Tim Rebowe believes his team has learned from that experience

Cut 17 (13) …guys know.” 

McNeese has been picked to finish fourth, while Northwestern State is projected to finish fifth in the six-team conference.

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Louisiana Tech will have a good battle for starting quarterback when the Bulldogs begin preseason camp. Aaron Allen and Luke Anthony took most of the snaps last season, but Anthony suffered a major leg injury in the final regular-season game. Coach Skip Holtz says Anthony had another surgery, which is when he went out and signed Austin Kendall…

Cut  18 (21)”…experience.”

ULM football coach Terry Bowden made his first appearance at Sun Belt Media Days yesterday. Bowden understands he has a big job in front of him after the Warhawks win winless in 2020, but he’s in it for the long haul…

Cut 19 (25) “..another job.” 

The Ragin Cajuns are picked to win the Sun Belt West Division after winning 10 games last year. But Coach Billy Napier says this is a new season and he has a different team on his hands….

Cut 20 (19)  “…rookie group.” 

The veto session’s failure to override legislation to ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports is a victory for the transgender community. President of Louisiana Trans Advocates Dylan Waguespack says when the final vote failed to reach a two-thirds majority in the House he was both excited and relieved.

Cut 3 (08) “…needed.” 

Governor Edwards was open about the full-court press his administration put on to preserve his veto of the transgender athlete ban bill despite complaints from some Republicans and conservative activists. Edwards says he used every tool in his belt because the transgender ban was discriminatory and bad for business in Louisiana.

Cut 13 (09) “…promises”

The House was two votes shy of a two-thirds majority needed to override the veto.

The Rolling Stones will make a special visit to Jazz Fest on Wednesday, October 13^th. Festival producer Quint Davis says the Stones have been itching to play the iconic festival and since the disastrous 1969 show in Altamont, they really haven’t played many…

Cut 10 (10) “..stadium.”

Tickets go on sale next Friday.

The Joint Budget Committee has approved a new naming rights deal for the Superdome. The iconic sports stadium is now the Caesars Superdome. Contract terms are not finalized, but Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt learns that all of the money generated from the new naming rights deal will go to the Saints

Cut 6 (11) “…correct.”

The Saints say all of the money from the naming rights deal will go towards renovations of the state-owned building.

President of Louisiana Trans Advocates Dylan Waguespack says while the community is celebrating now he fully expects the Legislature will once again attempt to ban transgender athletes from girls and women’s sports next year. Waguespack says they expect bill author Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell to present the bill again in the next session.

Cut 4 (12) “…a while”

The bill had 68 votes in the House, just two shy of the two thirds needed to overturn the Governor’s veto. Governor Edwards wasn’t shy about celebrating his win, saying Republicans who complained about him pressuring lawmakers into supporting his veto are being hypocritical…

Cut 12 (10) “..politics”

Edwards says he was light on threats but not light on promises.

The Rolling Stones have been added to this year’s already stacked Jazz Fest lineup. Kevin Barnhart has more…

Cut 2 (28)…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

The majority of the state is now in the red zone for COVID community spread as the highly contagious Delta variant fuels a 4^th wave of the pandemic locally. COVID-related hospitalizations are up over 900 now and the graph showing the rate of hospitalizations seems to be sharper than at any time other than the first month of the pandemic. 28-hundred new cases were reported today as well.