Governor Edwards has a 3 p.m. press conference today. With COVID numbers declining, will he end the statewide mask mandates? Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Data from the Moderna COVID vaccine clinical trial indicates the vaccine is both safe and effective for ages 6 to 12. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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While there may be no shortage of students in the state’s classrooms, it’s a different story when it comes to someone to educate them.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to announce today whether or not he will continue the mask mandate. Stephen Procopio (pro-COH-pee-oh), Policy Director for the Louisiana Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) – who’ve been tracking the pandemic numbers – says they won’t speculate what the Governor may decide, but the figures suggest the co-called Fourth Wave could be winding down…:

Cut 4 (09) “…height of all this.”

Governor Edwards re-enacted the COVID mask mandate on august 4^th. While many are OK with being asked to wear masks in public, many others cannot wait for the mask order to end. Procopio says there’s more to putting COVID behind us than just heeding the Governor…:

Cut 5 (14) “…in the country.”

The Governor will announce his decision on coronavirus precautions during a press conference scheduled for 3 p.m. Procopio says PAR is carefully watching the Department of Health data for any sign of a Fifth Wave, as is the Governor’s Office…:

Cut 6 (10) “…hospitalizations too.”

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Moderna released data claiming their COVID vaccine is both safe and effective for children ages 6 to 12. Dr. Danial Hsia (Shaw) who is overseeing a section of the Moderna trial in children at LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research says Moderna is expected to seek emergency use authorization soon and the 50-microgram dosage used in children is comparably effective.

Cut 7 (12) “… 100 micrograms.”

As for side effects with the Moderna vaccine in children, Hsia says they are comparable to those seen in adults, like muscle aches, fatigue, and low-grade fever.

Cut 8 (09) “…or less.”

Pennington is one of three healthcare centers in Louisiana taking part in the Moderna clinical trial for children. Hsia says their participation is vital in helping curb COVID cases among children which are currently responsible for 25-percent of daily cases right now.

Cut 9 (11)  “…kids’ vaccinated.”

Hsia says they expect to be submitting data by mid-November and depending on the FDA Advisory panel’s schedule for the holidays, they hope to have EUA by the first of 2022 or sooner for the Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 to 12.

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The teacher shortage in Louisiana is continuing to worsen because there are fewer education students and teacher retirements are on their way up. Michael Faulk, who heads up the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, says it’s a trend that started years ago.

Cut 10 (10)  “…of six years.” 

As an example, the number of students in the LSU School of Education has plummeted by 57 percent over the past decade.

Faulk doesn’t see the teacher shortage problem being remedied anytime soon in Louisiana.

Cut 11 (10) “…years from now.”

Faulk says there are teachers who seem dismayed about the profession because of their lack of input into the curriculums they have to abide by.

Cut 12 (12) “…of the process.”

Data amassed by the Teacher Retirement System of Louisiana shows that school personnel retirements, including teachers, increased by 25 percent from 2020 to 2021.

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Governor John Bel Edwards travels to Scotland this week for the international Race to Zero climate change summit put on by the United Nations. He says it’s an important step in addressing global concerns about carbon footprints to the benefit of Louisiana.

Cut 13 (12) “…that will decarbonize.”

Edwards says that no other state in the nation has been more affected by climate change than Louisiana, but also in a better position to be part of the solution.

Edwards says the meeting will be important for his delegation as they compete to attract new investment in Louisiana related to climate change issues.

Cut 14 (13)  “…in the country.”

Edwards says the current oil and gas industry workforce could transition to the clean energy manufacturing being proposed, ranging from solar projects to wind farms.

Cut 15 (08)  “…Block Island wind farm.”

Edwards and members of his cabinet, staff, and Climate Initiatives Task Force are scheduled to leave for Scotland on Thursday for the summit that takes place Sunday through November 4^th.

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It was a tough day for LSU starting quarterback Max Johnson in Oxford as he threw for only 146 yards in Saturday’s loss to Ole Miss. Johnson was also intercepted once and sacked four times. In the fourth quarter, freshman Garrett Nussmeier led LSU on two scoring drives, but Orgeron says Johnson is still their starter

Cut  16 (17) “we will”

Johnson will have a chance to rest this week as LSU does not have a game on Saturday. The Tigers’ next game is November sixth at third-ranked Alabama. Orgeron believes his team is still motivated to win ball games…

Cut 17 (20) “ .prove themselves” 

LSU linebacker Damone Clark is playing as well as anyone on this Tigers team. Clark had 18 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in the loss to the Rebels, one shy of a school record for a game. Orgeron says the senior from Baton Rouge worked hard in the summer to become a better player…

Cut 18 (25)”…football game”

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It wasn’t pretty but the Saints won a hard fought game on the road last night beat Seattle 13-10. New Orleans got a couple of clutch field goals from new kicker Brian Johnson and the defense was stingy as they sacked Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith five times. Linebacker Demario Davis had two sacks, four tackles for a loss and ten tackles. Coach Sean Payton says it a great game from Davis

Cut 19 (25)  “…was tough”

The offense only scored one touchdown as it came during a two-minute drill to end the first half. Alvin Kamara caught four passes on that drive including a 13-yard touchdown catch. He finished with 10 catches for 128 yards. Payton says the Seahawks were leaving Kamara open…

Cut 20 (20)  “second half” 

Gas prices across Louisiana keep moving higher with no indication they are about to reverse course. More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

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More families are now in travel trailers after being displaced by Hurricane Ida. Brooke Thorington has more on the new state program intended to speed up the process.

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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If you have a 337 or 504 area code you now have to dial all ten digits when calling locally. FCC Spokesperson Paloma Perez says it’s because those area codes have 988 exchanges which will be used in the future for a national suicide hotline.

Cut 3 (09) “….intended for.”

Perez says the change is being implemented now so callers in the 337 and 504 area codes will be in the habit of dialing all ten digits well before the July 2022 launch of the 988 national counseling phone line.

Cut 4 (06) “…noble cause.”

But in the meantime, the national suicide hotline is fully operational by dialing 1-800-273-TALK. Perez says it’s only next year that the number will be shortened to 988.

Cut 5 (08) “…mental health crisis.”

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If your wallet’s banking on seeing a drop in gas prices sometime soon, Don Redman, field analyst for Triple-A, says that doesn’t seem to be in the cards this fall for drivers in Louisiana or elsewhere.

Cut 6 (12) “…the immediate horizon.” 

The statewide average price of regular has climbed to three-15 a gallon, up eight cents from a week ago, while crude oil prices have jumped to 85 dollars a barrel, with some speculation they could shoot to 100 dollars a barrel.

Redman says the higher gas prices not seen is seven years are being fueled by no uptick in oil production by OPEC.

Cut 7 (10) “….more than anything.”  

Redman says the high pump prices in Louisiana is not because there’s a lack of gasoline and oil in Louisiana.

Cut 8 (07) “…of crude oil.”

He says there’s no indication as of now on when gas prices in the state might start dropping again.

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More trailers are now occupied by those who’ve registered with the state’s new program to help those displaced by Hurricane Ida to remain on their property. Mike Steele is the spokesperson for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness…

Cut 9 (11) “…purchased.”

Steele says the IdaShelteringLA.com program not only has to process registrations, but the newly created program has to purchase trailers, which have been short supply since the pandemic, and perform inspections to be sure there is power, water, and sewage at the prospective site where the travel trailers will be placed.

Cut 10 (11)  “…RV park.” 

The newly created program has come under lots of criticism from some, due to the length of time it’s taking to get those displaced in trailers. Steele says it’s the first time the state has been involved with acquiring trailers, otherwise FEMA placing individuals in trailers wouldn’t start until November.

Cut  11 (11)  “…daily basis.”  

Steele says while they understand it’s never soon enough for someone seeking assistance but they hope things can go faster now that the program is established. Steele says the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program which places individuals in hotels along with shelters are still options for those waiting on trailers.

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State Treasurer John Schroder will stop in Alexandria, Columbia, Monroe and Shreveport to promote the ten-million-dollar Louisiana Loggers Relief Grant Program. Schroder says loggers are eligible for a one-time grant of up to 25-thousand dollars, but they’ve only allocated one-point-two million dollars…

Cut 12 (11) “…on it.”  

The state legislature established the grant program with federal coronavirus aid. Louisiana Forestry Association Executive Director Buck Vandersteen says the money is for master loggers who have experienced recent revenue losses….

Cut 13 (12) “…in their process”

Vandersteen says the logging industry worked through the pandemic, but many mills were closed to help slow the spread…

Cut 14 (09) “..2019″ 

For more information got to the State Treasurer’s website or call the Louisiana Forestry Association.