More healthcare workers in Louisiana are choosing to battle Covid-19 vaccine mandates by their employers. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”
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LSU announces star cornerback Derek Stingley Junior had surgery on his foot and there’s no timetable on his return. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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As recovery efforts continue in Lafourche Parish after Hurricane Ida, Sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne says things are getting better for some, while others are still struggling with little things that are piling up. That includes educational needs.
Cut 3 (12) “….a half weeks.”
And Matherne says a concern on that issue includes parents worrying about how to get uniforms for their children. He says fortunately a non-profit is helping out with that.
There are still a lot of people without their original homes in Lafourche Parish and having to deal with temporary housing, if not having to find more permanent arrangements for a residence. Sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne on the number of homes lost to Hurricane Ida.
Cut 4 (10) “…else to go.”
He says while a number have acquired travel trailers or the like, Matherne says a large number of residents are still waiting for FEMA to roll temporary housing into the parish, rather than just having a congregate shelter.
Lafourche Sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne tells us today that more than five weeks after Hurricane Ida, only about one-third of the debris from the storm has been picked up. It’s one of the frustrations that residents are facing.
Cut 5 (09) “…or vice versa.”
Matherne says huge piles of debris along the parish’s highways are still causing issues, including for motorists.
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Sixteen hospitals in the state that deliver babies have met new standards designed to improve the state’s poor maternal death rate. Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative Dr. Veronica Gillespie-Bell says they are working to reduce maternal death rates in which hypertension and hemorrhage are the leading causes.
Cut 6 (11) “…and outcomes.”
The collaborative was launched in 2018 joining healthcare providers and community advocates to improve birthing outcomes. Gillespie-Bell says they began with 31 hospitals and have grown to 42 which covers 95-percent births in the state, and they’ve seen a 35-percent reduction in adverse outcomes
Cut 7 (06) “…procedures.”
So, of the sixteen hospitals that are meeting the collaborative’s standard should expectant mothers forgo undesignated birthing hospitals in Louisiana? Gillespie-Bell says not necessarily.
Cut 8 (10) “…outcomes.”
For a listing of hospitals visit Louisiana Radio Network.com
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Healthcare workers in Shreveport and Monroe are taking Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, St Mary Medical Center and Ochsner LSU Health Monroe to court over mandates by those facilities to be vaccinated. Jimmy Faircloth, an attorney for the plaintiffs, says the suits filed today are part of an employee’s fight for medical freedom.
Cut 9 (12) “…don’t get vaccinated.”
The suit seeks to enforce the affirmative right under Louisiana law to refuse medical treatment.
Faircloth says there is no legal backing for the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers and hospital staff.
Cut 10 (09) “…own healthcare decisions.”
Attorney Faircloth says the lawsuits filed today request a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to enjoin the Ochsner vaccine mandate.
Cut 11 (09) “…to opt out.”
He says Ochsner’s vaccine mandates are “an unlawful forced choice; not a free choice.”
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Louisiana has joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s “Race to Zero” campaign. It’s a global effort that involves thousands of governments, higher education institutions, and businesses committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Governor Edwards says Louisiana must do its part because it’s on the front lines of climate change
Cut 12 (08) “..more severe”
Last year, Edwards signed an executive order that commits the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. The governor has also launched a Climate Initiatives Task Force…
Cut 13 (12) “..get there”
Edwards says investments have already been made in Louisiana by companies looking to develop renewable energy and he says there’s interest in using the Gulf of Mexico to produce wind energy…
Cut 14 (11) “…already have”