First Lady Donna Edwards kicked off her human trafficking awareness campaign at the Final Four in New Orleans over the weekend because large sporting events attract trafficking victims. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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New research from Tulane University shows how COVID impacts the brain. David Grubb has more.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”
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The U.S. House passes a bill decriminalizing marijuana. What may this mean for Louisiana’s fledgling legal marijuana industry? Kevin Gallagher has more…:
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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As thousands are in New Orleans for the Final Four NCAA Basketball Tournament, First Lady Donna Edwards is using the opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking. She’s hoping that by raising awareness more individuals trapped in the coercion of commercial sex and/or labor will be saved. She stays human trafficking is all too REAL.
Cut 4 (10) “…StopTraffickingLA.com.”
Research indicates often large sporting events attract those who are trafficking humans to bring in victims to cater to attendees.
Edwards says 25-million victims of trafficking have been identified across the globe and just last year 900 received services in Louisiana, but there are so many more that need our help. She says the problem often impacts children who are most vulnerable.
Cut 5 (11) “,…relatives often.”
Edwards says we’re raised to believe it’s none of our business and to ignore it when we see anything out of the ordinary. The First Lady wants to change our mindset and says it’s time to take a more active role and help those who can’t help themselves.
Cut 6 (10) “…around us.”
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New research from Tulane University shows that COVID-19 infections can impact the brain, even among those who only experience mild symptoms. Dr. Tracy Fisher is the lead investigator on the first comprehensive assessment of coronavirus and neuropathology…
Cut 7 (13) “…cell deaths.”
Dr. Fisher says how an individual is impacted is directly related to what areas of the brain experience the trauma.
Cut 8 (12) “…find words.”
She says that damage to the brain went overlooked in patients who didn’t present severe respiratory symptoms.
Tulane’s National Primate Research Center launched its COVID-19 research in 2020, and non-human primates appear to be a consistent model to study how humans experience coronavirus. Fisher hopes that this study and others will help map the long-term effects of COVID and ultimately help in treating it.
Cut 9 (12) “…survived infection.”
Fisher adds that neurological complications are among the first symptoms of COVID and that they affect patients of all ages and without regard to any other conditions, though the severity may vary.
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The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to decriminalize marijuana on a federal scale. The bill must also win passage in the Senate before it can be sent to the President’s desk, but the legal marijuana industry is happy. Louisiana Cannabis Association founder Matt Moreau says this is “real progress” for his industry…:
Cut 10 (12) “…decriminalized years ago.”
The bill passed Friday by the House – if passed into law – would eliminate the federal ban on marijuana which is seen as a major roadblock for a burgeoning legal cannabis industry, as more states legalize medical or even recreational weed. Moreau says it’s about time…:
Cut 11 (11) “…entrepreneurs to grow.”
The House bill also allow the VA to prescribe medical marijuana to some patients and authorizes a sales tax on the substance. The bill goes to the U.S. Senate, where its passage is far from assured. Moreau says – even if it fails this year – this was still an important first step in normalizing marijuana laws..:
Cut 12 (07) “…are changing dramatically.”
Moreau says marijuana is a highly misunderstood substance, but also feels that legal recreational marijuana in Louisiana is inevitable.
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The fight over redistricting has moved to the courtroom, so the next big legislative battle will be over a Senate bill that prohibits transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports in Louisiana. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says she’s more determined to pass her bill after Penn swimmer Lia Thomas became the first trans woman to win an NCAA swimming title…
Cut 13 (13) “.athletes from”
Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed Mizell’s anti-transgender bill last year calling it mean-spirited and in search of a problem that doesn’t exist. But Mizell says she’s trying to keep women’s sports fair by not allowing biological males to participate…
Cut 14 (10) “…own lane.”
The Senate Education Committee is expected to hold a hearing soon on the bill. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the measure received overwhelming support last year and he expects it will again this year…
Cut 15 (12) “…the Legislature.”
After the Republican-led Legislature overrode his veto of the Congressional District map, Pinsonat says there’s a chance the governor will not veto the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act if it passes this year…
Cut 16 (11) “…his agenda.”
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The LSU football team is a third of way through spring practice and Coach Brian Kelly has been pleased with how the players are adapting to the new methods that his coaching staff is putting in place to get them ready for the 2022 season. Kelly says the players are adapting to new habits…
Cut 17 (17) “ …their routine.”
Senior wide receiver Jaray Jenkins says they’re always running at practice and the practices are fast-paced, just like how it is in the game…
Cut 18 (16) “ …pretty well.”
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The LSU baseball team is 4-5 in the SEC after dropping a home series to Auburn over the weekend. The Tigers gave up two runs in the eighth inning on Saturday in a 6-4 loss to Auburn in the rubber game of the three-game series. Coach Jay Johnson on trying to be more consistent…
Cut 19 (20) _“…those things.”
Another tough weekend in the field for LSU has they committed four more errors during the series and there were also a few plays that were not made but didn’t go down as errors. Second baseman Jordan Thompson says it’s not a confidence issue…
Cut 20 (16) “ …those plays.”