The number of patients hospitalized with COVID has dropped. The Louisiana Health Department reports that 2304 people are in hospital with COVID, a decrease of nearly 200 from last Friday. President of Ochsner Health, Warner Thomas, says 64-percent of patients with COVID are unvaccinated, with 30 percent having received two shots, but no booster and just six percent are boosted…

Cut 3 (07) “…avoiding hospitalization.”

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With the Saints missing out on the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, there are questions about what’s next for the franchise, starting with the future of coach Sean Payton. A report by the NFL Network states that Payton has not committed to returning to the Black and Gold, but Saints insider Mike Detillier says his gut tells him that Payton will be back next season.

Cut 6 (12) “…in 2022.”

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Getting healthier is a group effort thanks to the Own Your Own Health, 13-week wellness challenge, which kicks off today. The state health department organizes the competition which allows teams to compete against each other in step and weight loss challenges. Director of the Governor’s council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Rudy Macklin, say teams can see how they measure up on the Own Your Own Health website. Prizes are awarded each Friday and you and your team can still sign up before the end of this week.

Cut 11 (08) “…pretty quickly.”

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A website aimed at increasing dual enrollment for high school students in Louisiana seeks to inform parents and students of the benefits for all students, including those seeking a technical degree. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed says LA Dual Enrollment-dot-com will officially launch Tuesday.

Cut 12 (11) “…near them.”

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Are COVID Omicron cases beginning to peak in Louisiana? State health officials report new cases are down 28-percent from just last Friday. President of Ochsner Health Warner Thomas says – based on their data – the peak number of hospitalizations as a result of the Omicron surge was reached nearly two weeks ago in New Orleans and for other regions of the state…:

CUT 05(11)      “…plateau.”

Just over 2300 are hospitalized with COVID. About 64-percent of them are un-vaxxed, 30-percent have had two shots, but no booster … and only six percent are completely boosted…:

The Own Your Own Health 13-week wellness challenge gets started today; an opportunity to form a team and compete against others in step and weight loss challenges. Director of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Rudy Macklin…:

CUT 09(09)      “…signed up.”

Find more on “ldh.la.gov”

Governor John bel Edwards outlined his proposed state budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1^st, and it contains money for all levels of education, including $1500-a-year teacher pay raises. His plan also includes $750 raises for school & teacher support staff.

LAdualEnrollment.com hopes to encourage more students to take advantage of dual enrollment and advance their college or tech school degrees. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(34)      “…Thorington.”

The number of COVID patients in the hospital has dropped. The Louisiana Health Department reports 2,304 people are in hospital with COVID, a decrease of 177 from last Friday. That’s a 28-percent drop. President of Ochsner Health, Warner Thomas, says staffing has been a major challenge over the last 45 days, due to the Omicron surge…:

CUT 04(11)      “…entire system.”

The state reported 51 more COVID deaths today.

A Baton Rouge teen faces charges after accidentally shooting his 3-year-old brother. Police say the 16-year-old was in illegal possession of the handgun that went off unintentionally; hitting the toddler. The child’s wounds were non-life-threatening.

Need help in claiming the federal expanded child tax credit? Go online for help to ChildTaxCredit.gov.

Still concerned about having a proper mask to help stop the spread of COVID? Here’s a useful tip in knowing a real N95 or KN95 from a counterfeit one: real approved masks have bands that go all the way around your head and neck. Cheaper fakes usually have ear loops. Which is not to say those masks provide no protection.

The NFL Network reports Saints Coach Sean Payton is not committed to returning to the sidelines next season. David Grubb on whether Payton will be back for his 16th season…:

CUT 01(32)      “…David Grubb.”

The number of COVID patients in the hospital has dropped. The Louisiana Health Department reports 2,304 people are in hospital with COVID, a decrease of 177 from last Friday. President of Ochsner Health, Warner Thomas, says 64-percent of their COVID patients are unvaccinated, 30-percent have two shots, but no booster and only six percent are boosted…:

CUT 03(07)      “…avoiding hospitalization.”

The state reported 51 more COVID deaths today, bringing the virus’s death toll to 15,374.

What would you do with a billion dollars? Governor Edwards will propose how the state should spend a surplus of just over that sum; left over from the 2020 fiscal year. The governor’s annual executive budget proposal is the beginning of a legislative dance that starts with a re-districting special session in February and a regular session that starts March 14^th and ends June 1^st.

There’s a sudden explosion of speculation that Sean Payton may be leaving the New Orleans Saints. An NFL Network report says Payton has not committed to returning next season, but Saints insider Mike Detillier says he believes otherwise. This despite rumors a network commentator gig may be offered Payton..:

CUT 08(10)      “…I think he returns.”

How many Louisiana parents are familiar with dual enrollment programs for their school-aged kids? Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter-Reed says they hope to educated and inform kids and parents about it at “LADualEnrollment.com” she says it’s affordable, accessible and can reduce young peoples’ time spent in college, because they’ve already completed courses in high school…:

CUT 14(07)      “…in high school.”

Dual enrollment allows high school students to take one course and receive credit hours for both high school and college at the same time.

The Own Your Own Health 13-week wellness challenge gets underway today. Director of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Rudy Macklin says in the team competition, each team picks a captain, and they help keep track of the group’s steps or weight loss efforts…

Cut 10 (06)  “….email.” 

A website aimed at increasing dual enrollment for high school students in Louisiana seeks to inform of the benefits for all students, even those seeking a technical degree. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed the last annual report indicates about 64-percent of students graduate with at least one dual enrollment course and they want to build on that.

Cut 13 (11) “…or both.”

The website is LA-dual-enrollment-dot-com

At 2 pm Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a press briefing to discuss his executive budget proposal ahead of the 2022 regular legislative session. That session will begin March 14^th and end June 6^th. The special session on redistricting begins on February first and ends on the 20^th.

With the Saints not in the playoffs, there are questions about what’s next for coach Sean Payton. An NFL Network report says Payton has not committed to returning next season and Saints insider Mike Detillier believes we are nearing the end of his time in New Orleans.

Cut 7 (15) “…a wrong read.” 

The NFL Network reports that Payton could leave the Saints for a job in TV as a football analyst.

LAdualEnrollment.com hopes to encourage more students to take advantage of dual enrollment and advance their college or tech school degrees. Brooke Thorington
Cut 2 (34)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

We are expected to hear more about education funding during a 2 PM press conference at the state capitol. Governor John Bel Edwards will outline his spending plan for the next fiscal year.

With the Saints not in the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, there are questions about what’s next for the franchise, starting with coach Sean Payton. An NFL Network report says Payton has not committed to returning next season, but Saints insider Mike Detillier says his gut tells him Payton will be back.
Cut 6 (12) “…in 2022.”
The NFL Network says they made multiple attempts to reach out to Payton for comment, but the requests were not returned.

If you are looking to team up with others and compete against other teams in a weight loss challenge, the state health department is encouraging you to participate in the Own Your Own Health challenge. Rudy Macklin, director of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, says even though the competition starts today, you can still sign up, but do so by the end of the week…
Cut 11 (08) “…pretty quickly”
Go to the Own Your Own health website.

The Own Your Own Health 13-week wellness challenge gets underway today. The state health department organizes the competition which allows a group of people to form teams to compete in step and weight loss challenges. Director of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Rudy Macklin…

Cut 9 (10) “…signed up.”

LA Dual Enrollment-dot com is up and running. It’s a website aimed at increasing dual enrollment for high school students and inform them of benefits for all students, even those seeking a technical degree. Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed…

Cut 12 (11) “…near them.”  

Dual enrollment allows students to take one course and receive credit hours for both high school and college at the same time.

The NFL Network reports Saints Coach Sean Payton is not committed to returning to the sidelines next season. David Grubb on whether Payton will be back for his 16th season…

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”

State Police is investigating an officer-involved fatal shooting involving the Lafayette Police Department. L-S-P says a subject was shot last night after 11 PM in the 16-hundred block of Pinhook Road. No officers were injured, and no other details were released.