After a Louisiana Marine vet tried medical cannabis for his PTSD, he says it was a game-changer and now he wants to help others. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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When COVID canceled Mardi Gras in 2021, it birthed the new tradition of house floats, and one designer says they’re busier than last year. Brooke Thorington throws out the details.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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An all-time great running back at LSU is headed to the College Football Hall of Fame. Jeff Palermo reports Kevin Faulk will be enshrined in December.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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There’s now a new way to receive a prescription for medical marijuana in Louisiana. It’s a telemedicine platform by the name of TeleLeaf. Creator and CEO Gary Hess, a US Marine vet who suffered from PTSD, unfortunately, says there’s still a stigma surrounding cannabis use…

Cut 4 (07) “…convenient.” 

Hess created the Louisiana-based company to give those who don’t feel comfortable asking for cannabis to treat their medical conditions can do so from the privacy of their own home. In addition to those in need feeling stigmatized about medical cannabis, Hess says many physicians were not on board initially with prescribing it.

Cut 5 (10) “…are seeing.”

TeleLeaf Customer Service Manager Brianna Hardy says often many patients are hesitant to try medical marijuana after previous pharmaceutical options have proved disappointing and even caused side effects that created additional health problems.

Cut 6 (11) “…other conditions.”

Hess says first you need to register on their website at TeleLeaf.com and then you’ll have a virtual visit with a physician.

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When COVID shut down Mardi Gras in 2021, it birthed the creation of house floats. And how some folks compete with neighbors to have the best Christmas decorations, Mardi Gras season is even more extravagant. You can call on a professional like Ian Darrow at Stronghold Studios in New Orleans.

Cut 7 (08) “…house floats.”

Stronghold Studios normally assists with movie sets, but Darrow says when COVID closed down production they added house floats to their repertoire and thus a new created a new line of work.

Cut 8 (11) “…other people.” 

Darrow says they assist with the creation, design, installation, and removal of house floats. You can view their work on Stronghold Studios’ website or Instagram page.

Prices vary by design, but Darrow says they average between three to six thousand dollars. He says they’ve decorated homes in traditional Mardi Gras style, and some customers choose décor to reflect their heritage, profession, or even…

Cut 9 (08)  “…I would say.”

And while they are still taking orders for this year, Darrow says it’s best to approach them about house floats before carnival season.

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The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today at the State Capitol and it’s expected the panel will officially recognize a budget surplus from the fiscal year that ended at the end of June. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says they’ll have an extra 400-million dollars to spend on specific one-time projects…

Cut 10 (06) “…like that.”

State lawmakers will vote on how the surplus dollars will be spent and Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to provide a recommendation on how the dollars will be doled out. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the state has misspent excess cash in the past…

Cut  11 (08)  “…smart decisions”  

The Revenue Estimating Conference will also receive revenue projections for this fiscal year and next. Zeringue says they are expecting to hear that revenues this fiscal year are coming in higher than previously projected, but he warns the good budget times might not last much longer as a portion of the state’s sales tax will soon roll off the books…

Cut 12 (05) “…few years.”

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U-S Senate candidate Luke Mixon is criticizing  Senator John Kennedy for voting to overturn the 2020 presidential results. Mixon is the lone announced Democratic challenger to Kennedy’s 2022 re-election bid. Mixon appeared at the Baton Rouge Press Club and says Kennedy betrayed his oath to the Constitution when he objected to Joe Biden’s victory in Arizona…

Cut 13 (07) “…of democracy”

Kennedy told WWL-TV in New Orleans in May that he never thought the Presidential election was stolen but believed there were some irregularities.

In August, Kennedy voted against the one-trillion dollar infrastructure bill which eventually became law. Kennedy said only 23-percent of the bill is going to actual infrastructure and he says it will raise taxes on industry and increase the deficit.

But Mixon says the infrastructure bill will rebuild roads and crumbling water systems while also providing faster internet service in rural areas…

Cut 14 (10)  “…solving problems”

Mixon entered the U-S Senate race in October. He’s a Bunkie native, a U-S Naval Academy graduate, and a decorated fighter pilot. The political newcomer says he wants to represent the best interest of all Louisiana citizens…

Cut 15 (07)  “..of democracy.”

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NFL analyst Mike Detillier says figuring out the quarterback position is the number one priority for the Saints this offseason. Detillier does not believe the Saints starting quarterback in 2022 is currently on the roster and expects New Orleans to trade for a veteran Q-B

Cut  16 (20) “…number of teams.”

Detillier says the second priority for the Saints is to make sure All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas is healthy for the 2022 season. He missed all of the 2021 season recovering from ankle surgery in June…

Cut 17 (12) “ …get him healthy.”

Detillier says a major decision facing the Saints is whether to re-sign safety Marcus Williams and if they don’t, it’s a position they’ll have to address in the draft or free agency…

Cut 18 (12) “ ..for the Saints.” 

The CDC says if you’ve received both doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine, you are now encouraged to get boosted at five months instead of six months. The agency is also encouraging ages 12 and up to be boosted now. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they added that age group for two reasons.

Cut 4 (09) “…Omiocron variant.”

For the nearest vaccination site call 2-1-1

An EF-2 tornado touched down in the Sabine Parish community of Peason early Sunday morning. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says about 15 homes including mobile homes – were severely damaged or even destroyed. But despite that, no one was killed.

Cut 10 (12)  “…to be expected.”

A Mardi Gras float stolen out of Lafayette has been found in St. Martin Parish. The 40-foot-long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night and Lafayette Police Sergeant Robin Green says they continue to look for the person or persons who stole damaged the float…

cut 14 (07) “….have been something”
Anyone with information about this stolen float is urged to call Lafayette P-D or Lafayette Crime Stoppers.

The Saints won’t see postseason play for the first time since 2016. It was a trying season as the Saints spent the first month of the regular season re-located because of Hurricane Ida, suffered numerous injuries, an NFL record 58 different starters and used four quarterbacks. Saints defensive end Cam Jordan says it would have been an amazing story if they got into the playoffs…

Cut 8 (09) “…be with the family.” 

The Saints end the year with a 9-8 record.

New CDC guidance for those who received their two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, you are now encouraged to be boosted at five months out from your last dose, instead of six months. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says boosters are vital with the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Cut 3 (10) “…with Omicron.”

The CDC also recommends that everyone ages 12 and up should be boosted.

The Sabine Parish community of Peason is recovering after being hit early Sunday by a tornado. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says the twister hit just before 5 a.m. when most people were still asleep in their beds…:

Cut 9 (11) “…registered as an EF-2.”

No one was killed.

Lafayette Police say a Mardi Gras float reported stolen Saturday has been found. LPD spokesperson Sgt. Robin Green says the 40-foot-long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night from a Lucille Avenue address. She says the float had some moderate damage to the decorations and structure, and she feels for the owner.

Cut 13 (07) “…up and running. “

It was located in a remote part of St. Martin Parish.

Tough ending for the Saints season, despite beating Atlanta yesterday. Safety Malcolm Jenkins says it was tough to watch San Francisco win, which knocked New Orleans out of playoff contention…
Cut 7 (12) “…somebody else’s hands.”
The Saints finished the season with a 9-8 record.

The Sabine Parish community of Peason is recovering after being hit early Sunday by a tornado. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says the EF-2 twister hit just before 5 a.m. He says cleanup is underway and rebuilding will begin once the power has been restored.

Cut  11 (10)  “…maybe a little longer.” 

Peason is located off State Highway 118, southeast of Many.

For the first time since the 2016 season, the Saints are not playoff-bound. New Orleans beat Atlanta Sunday, but the 49ers come from behind win over the Rams keeps the Black and Gold out of the postseason. Coach Sean Payton says it’s a disappointing end to a difficult season…

 Cut 6 (07) “…all season” 

Lafayette Police say a Mardi Gras float reported stolen Saturday has been found. LPD spokesperson Sgt. Robin Green says the 40-foot-long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night from a Lucille Avenue address and even though it has been found, they still want the person who took it.

Cut 12 (11) “…please contact us.”  

If you received the Pfizer vaccine the CDC says you can get your booster now at five months instead of six and ages 12 and up are now eligible for boosters. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the CDC is also recommending a third dose for those ages five to eleven if they are moderately or severely immunosuppressed.

Cut 5 (11) “…of vaccine.”

The Saints are cleaning out their lockers today as New Orleans failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state reports just over 29-thousand new COVID cases today, which includes weekend positive cases. Hospitalizations have reached 1,794 with 86 on ventilators. 77-percent are unvaccinated.

An EF-2 tornado touched down in the Sabine Parish community of Peason early Sunday morning. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says about 15 homes including mobile homes – were severely damaged or even destroyed. A number of barns and other structures also sustained damage, but despite that, no one was killed.

Cut 10 (12)  “…to be expected.”

Peason is located off State Highway 118, southeast of Many.

The CDC says if you’ve received both doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine, you are now encouraged to get boosted at five months instead of six months. The agency is also encouraging ages 12 and up to be boosted now. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they added that age group for two reasons.

Cut 4 (09) “…Omiocron variant.”

For the nearest vaccination site call 2-1-1

The Sabine Parish community of Peason is recovering after an EF-2 tornado hit it Sunday morning.…:
Cut 2 (30)…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

New York real estate heir Robert Durst has died at the age of 78. Durst was convicted of murdering one of his friends, Susan Berman in Los Angeles and he’s the suspect in several other deaths, including his first wife. Durst was arrested in New Orleans on two Louisiana gun charges in 2015 after the weapons were found in his Canal Street hotel room. He pleaded guilty to those federal charges in 2016.

A Mardi Gras float stolen out of Lafayette has been found in St. Martin Parish. The 40-foot long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night and recovered a couple of days later in St. Martin Parish and returned to its owner. Lafayette Police Sergeant Robin Green says they continue to look for the person or persons who stole the Mardi Gras float and damaged it…
cut 14 (07) “….have been something”
Anyone with information about this stolen float is urged to call Lafayette P-D or Lafayette Crime Stoppers.

Tough ending for the Saints season, despite beating Atlanta yesterday. After the Saints disposed of the Dirty Birds, they raced into the locker room to watch the conclusion of the Rams-49ers game. Safety Malcolm Jenkins says it was tough to watch San Francisco win, which knocked New Orleans out of playoff contention…
Cut 7 (12) “…somebody else’s hands.”
The Saints finished the season with a 9-8 record.

Louisiana’s public colleges make big changes to help assure students are not made victims of sexual misconduct. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 3 (38) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

In Sabine Parish, an EF-2 tornado tore through the Peason community Sunday morning. Dozens of structures were destroyed or badly damaged and at least six people hurt; some seriously.

For the first time since the 2016 season, the Saints are not playoff-bound. New Orleans beat Atlanta Sunday, but the 49ers come from behind win over the Rams keeps the Black and Gold out of the postseason, despite a winning record. Coach Sean Payton says it’s a disappointing end to a difficult season…

 Cut 6 (07) “…all season” 

The Louisiana National Guard continues to support Covid missions around the state in 2022. Cindy Haygood, Task Force commander with Louisiana National Guard says 886 service members are currently working at 28 vaccine sites and administering Covid tests at 31 sites.

Cut 5 (11) “regions”

Guardsmen are also helping at food banks and warehouse support.