The state Supreme Court will hear the case of a Baton Rouge area pastor that refused to shut down church services during the COVID lockdown. Tony Spell is fighting criminal charges for violating Governor Edwards’ limits on gatherings in 2020. The case made national headlines; some painting Spell as a careless nut, and some depicting him as a hero putting faith over public policy. Spell alleges the governor’s order violate the right to assemble under the First Amendment. A hearing date has not been set.

We all know job burnout can be a serious problem, but it can be even worse among health care workers. So says a study by LSU Health’s Dr. Brad Speiler, who says burnout affects over 50-percent of health care professionals. He says burnout is considered an illness, with its own billing code…:

CUT 06(07)      “…the health care crisis.”

He says COVID has only made it worse.

Tucked inside the infrastructure bill recently signed by the President, there’s a pilot program to lower the age for interstate truckers from 21 to 18.  More from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 02(34)      “…Brannen.”

Who didn’t love the good old buffet at Popeye’s? It’s the end of an era as the very last Popeye’s buffet anywhere – on Pinhook Road in Lafayette – has closed for good. Blame the COVID pandemic and the closure of Popeye’s dining room to guests. Management says – even after the pandemic – it will not return.

Deputies in Bienville Parish are working with the Human Society and local vets to rescue and help a number of animals left in starving conditions at a Lake Bistineau home. Authorities say the two persons living there were arrested and jailed, but made no arrangements to assure the 11 dogs, some lizards and a few pythons were properly cared for. The animals were in danger of starving to death. A few of them did. The residents will face 15 counts of aggravated animal cruelty.

No doubt, we are all feeling the stress from supply chain issues across the country, but here’s some comfort from your federal government: U.S. Labor Secretary Martin Walsh says the problem will most likely begin to correct itself in early 2022. He says two main issues contribute to the backlog of goods..:

CUT 13(04)      “…warehouse jobs.”

Walsh says the government has assurances that store shelves will not empty out between now and Christmas.

For the 9^th year in a row, Louisiana makes a notorious list of the nation’s Top Ten Judicial Hellholes; the most litigious places with the worst civil law environments. The American Tort Reform Foundation compiles the list and for 2020 Louisiana is Number Six; down from Number Five last year. Tort reforms were passed in the 2020 legislature, but they’ll take a few years to affect the legal environment.

LSU Quarterback Max Johnson drops a stunner: he is leaving LSU! More from Jeff Palermo..:

CUT 01(30)      “…Palermo.”

Supply chain issues are a growing frustration across the country – especially as we all wait for holiday gift deliveries. U.S. Labor Secretary Martin Walsh says that’s a legitimate concern, but if you are worried it will severely impact the holiday gift-giving season … don’t be..:

CUT 12(09)      “…a great thing.”

Walsh says the supply chain issues will likely unkink in early 2022.

Here’s another thing that could help with that: federal legislation to lower the age for interstate truckers from 21 to 18; meaning more drivers would be available to haul those goods to market. Louisiana Motor Transport association director Renee Amar likes the idea..:

CUT 09(12)      “…state lines currently.”

A pilot program for the age change is in the Infrastructure Bill signed into law recently by the President.

We now know more about the death of former New Orleans Saints defensive end Glenn Foster, who died this week while in police custody for alleged assault & robbery in Pickens Country, Alabama. Court records indicate Foster attacked a cellmate while attempting to steal the man’s socks. It remains unclear what happened to Foster between the time of the alleged attack and the time of his death, the next day.

We’ve all heard about labor shortages within the health care industry. Some are lost due to sickness, some fired for not complying with COVID rules … and then there’s burnout. A 2019 LSU study indicates about half of health care professionals suffer from job burnout. Study lead Dr. Brad Speiler says radiologists make up an even higher percentile, perhaps because they spend much of their day in darkly lit rooms; mostly sitting down…:

CUT 07(10)      “…as a radiologist.”

Dr. Speiler is himself a radiologist.

Quarterback Max Johnson announces a surprise decision as he’s choosing to transfer from LSU. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m  Jeff Palermo.”

______________________________________

The infrastructure bill signed into law recently by President Biden also contains a pilot program that would lower the age for interstate truckers from 21 to 18.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Dave Brannen.”  

______________________________________

LSU Quarterback Max Johnson announces he’s entering the transfer portal after spending two seasons with the Purple and Gold. Johnson’s decision comes as a surprise after starting 11 games this past season. Assistant Tiger Rag Editor William Weathers says Johnson’s decision means Garrett Nussmeier will likely start the bowl game…

Cut 3 (09) “…walk-on.”

It’s unknown how new head football coach Brian Kelly feels about this. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins is surprised Johnson didn’t at least go through a spring practice to get a feel for the new coaching staff…

Cut 4 (09) “…on the surface.”

Johnson’s departure leaves LSU with just one scholarship quarterback on the roster, Garrett Nussmeier, who was not supposed to play anymore this season to preserve his redshirt. Weathers says maybe former starter Myles Brennan who entered the transfer portal last month, comes back…

Cut 5 (10) “…philosophically.”

__________________________________

A 2019 study by LSU Health New Orleans Radiologist Dr. Bradley Spieler (Spee-ler) indicates burnout affects more than 50-percent of healthcare professionals. Spieler says burnout is now considered an illness and it even has its own billing code.

 Cut 6 (07) “…crisis.” 

And there are reports that burnout has increased even more with COVID.

Spieler says the radiologist are at a higher risk with a reported 71-percent of the practice indicating some form of burnout. Spieler says contributing factors among radiologists include they work in low light so they can read images better and it’s a primarily sedentary profession.

Cut 7 (10) “…as a radiologist.”  

And since COVID, he says more healthcare providers are choosing to practice remotely via telemedicine and isolation is a contributing factor of burnout.

Spieler notes the increase in burnout is not exclusive to healthcare. Other mainstream professions with similar work environments are also seeing more mental and physical exhaustion.

Cut 8 (10) “…higher rates.”

______________________________________________________

At least a partial answer to the truck driver shortage is contained in President Biden’s new pilot Drive-Safe Act which would allow 18-year-olds to start driving big-rigs across state lines. Renee Amar, executive director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, favors the change.

Cut 9 (12) “…state lines currently.”

Younger drivers can now haul goods within the state but have to be 21 to take on interstate assignments, possibly contributing to the driver shortage if individuals are looking for long-haul work with a company.

Cut 10 (13)  “…for each state.”

Amar says supply chain issues and driver shortages nationwide are being exacerbated by the ongoing COVID pandemic, something lowering the age for interstate truckers could help with.

Cut  11 (09)  “…across the nation.”    2X

______________________________________________

Supply chain issues have been a growing frustration across the country and US Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh says it’s a legitimate concern but if you are worried it will severely impact the holiday gift-giving season, he says it shouldn’t.

Cut 12 (09) “…a great thing.”  

Walsh believes supply chain disruptions will remedy themselves in 2022 and it won’t be as much of a concern as it is today. He says there are two major issues contributing to the backlog of goods.

Cut 13 (04) “…warehouse jobs.”

To increase the trucking workforce Walsh says there are initiatives in President Biden’s Drive Safe Act and as for the warehouse industry…

Cut 14 (06) “…back to work.” 

The infrastructure bill signed into law recently by President Biden also contains a pilot program that would lower the age for interstate truckers from 21 to 18.  More from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 02(35)      “…Brannen.”

Cops in Baton Rouge seek a woman who brandished then fired a gun inside a beauty supply store. The store’s owner was confronting her for shoplifting a wig, when she pulled the piece, fired a round into the ceiling then pointed the gun at the owner. Security cams caught good images and Crimestoppers is taking tips.

An LSU Health study indicates job burnout is very real; especially for healthcare professionals. The 2019 research project shows that fully half of health workers burn out for various reasons. Dr. Brad Speiler, who led the study, says the phenomenon affects other mainstream professions as well…:

CUT 08(10)      “…higher rates.”

LSU quarterback Max Johnson says he’s intending to transfer after two seasons with the Tigers. Surprising, as he started 11 games this season, says Tiger Rag editor William Weathers. The move leaves LSU with only Garrett Nussmeier at QB, so who else could Coach Brian Kelly get? Weathers says one possibility is getting Myles Brennan to transfer back…:

CUT 05(10)      “…philosophically.”

The Louisiana Department of Health reports three additional probable cases of the Omicron variant in the state now. One of the cases involves an individual in the Acadiana area who traveled out of the country. The other two cases involve individuals in the Greater New Orleans area which brings the total number of Omicron cases in our state to 4 – 3 probable and one confirmed. The state reports 733 new COVID cases today, 17 fatalities, and 211 hospitalizations.

A 2019 study by LSU Health New Orleans Radiologist Dr. Bradley Spieler (Spee-ler) indicates burnout affects more than 50-percent of healthcare professionals. Spieler says burnout is now considered an illness and it even has its own billing code.

 Cut 6 (07) “…crisis.” 

And there are reports that burnout has increased even more with COVID.

Quarterback Max Johnson announces a surprise decision as he’s choosing to transfer from LSU. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m  Jeff Palermo.”

The number of COVID-19 Omicron cases is growing in Louisiana. State health officials say the total has now grown to four. One of the cases involves an individual from the Acadiana area who traveled internationally. The other two new cases, as the initial case previously reported, involve individuals in the Greater New Orleans area.

LSU Quarterback Max Johnson is entering the transfer portal after spending two seasons with the Purple and Gold. Johnson’s decision comes as a surprise after starting 11 games this past season. It’s unknown how new head football coach Brian Kelly feels about this. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins is surprised Johnson didn’t at least go through a spring practice to get a feel for the new coaching staff…

Cut 4 (10) “…on the surface.”

Johnson’s departure leaves LSU with just one scholarship quarterback on the roster, Garrett Nussmeier, who was not supposed to play anymore this season to preserve his redshirt.

A Slidell man is in trouble with the law after being allegedly caught shrimping without any commercial licenses required to do so. Adam Einck with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 34-year-old Michael Daigle Jr. was cited on Sunday:

Cut 7 (11) “..commercial fishing licenses.”

Agents say they seized more than 13-hundred pounds of shrimp from Daigle’s vessel and the haul was sold to the highest bidder.

If you’re looking for work in the manufacturing industry, Louisiana Economic Development is ready to help out.  They’re holding an LED FastStart virtual career fair today. Jamie Nakamoto is overseeing the event.

Cut 10 (12)  “…all these companies.”

The career fair is taking place until two this afternoon.

The Louisiana Department of Health is reporting three additional probable cases of the Omicron variant in the state now. One of the cases involves an individual in the Acadiana area who traveled out of the country. The other two cases involve individuals in the Greater New Orleans area which brings the total number of Omicron cases in our state to 4 – 3 probable and one confirmed.

LSU Quarterback Max Johnson announces he’s entering the transfer portal after spending two seasons with the Purple and Gold. Johnson’s decision comes as a surprise after starting 11 games this past season. Assistant Tiger Rag Editor William Weathers says Johnson’s decision means Garrett Nussmeier will likely start the bowl game…

Cut 3 (09) “…walk-on.”

No word from new Tigers head football coach Brian Kelly on Johnson’s entry into the transfer portal.

A study led by LSU Health New Orleans professor Dr. Peter Krause reports a nearly 70-percent drop in opioid prescriptions for patients who are discharged from surgery since a Louisiana law was enacted in 2017. To effectively counter the opioid epidemic Krause says it has to be a multiprong approach that includes physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.

Cut 6 (07) “…manage pain.”

The study only observed prescribing trends among orthopedic surgeons.

The Louisiana Economic Development is holding a FastStart virtual career fair today from 11 until 2. Jamie Nakamoto is overseeing the event, talks about what a registrant for the virtual manufacturing career fair can expect once they log into the site.

Cut  11 (11)  “…to connect with.”  

As expected, Governor John Bel Edwards isn’t changing his stance regarding Covid shot rules for public school students. The proposal was rejected by a House Committee this week, but Mr. Edwards says requiring kids 16 and older to receive the shot is necessary because minors still can get sick from Covid…:
CUT 15 (14) “the parental opt-out”
Edwards says he will continue to push to have the vaccines required for all public schools.

A man in Slidell is busted by the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for allegedly hauling in more than 13-hundred pounds of shrimp without a license. LDWF spokesman Adam Einck says it’s no secret you can’t shrimp without a commercial permit…:
Cut 8 (05) “of that opportunity”
34-year-old Michael Daigle Jr. faces a fine of up to 500 dollars and 90 days in jail for each offense.

According to a report in the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Louisiana has seen a near 70-percent drop in opioid prescriptions for post-op patients since drug laws were tightened up in 2017. That’s when Louisiana had the nation’s 5th highest opioid prescribing rate. The study was led by LSU Health New Orleans professor Dr. Peter Krause who says public awareness also helped
Cut 5 (11) “…same direction.”
Krause says while the study only observed prescribing trends among orthopedic surgeons, he’s hopeful it’s making an impact in the opioid epidemic.

LSU Quarterback Max Johnson announces he’s entering the transfer portal after spending two seasons with the Purple and Gold. Johnson’s decision comes as a surprise after starting 11 games this past season. It’s unknown how new head football coach Brian Kelly feels about this.