As the year draws to a close Louisiana Economic Development says it’s been one for the record books. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Willis-Knighton Health System in Shreveport has conducted two hip replacement surgeries using next-generation technology. Teiko Foxx has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”
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Hunger Free America says Louisiana has one of the highest rates of hunger in the nation. Teiko Foxx explains…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”
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Governor-elect Jeff Landry has appointed retired Caddo Juvenile Court Judge David Matlock to be Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services. Landry says the 68-year-old Shreveport native is the right person to help children in the state.
Cut 4 (10) “…successful lives.”
Landry fears if the state is not more proactive in the lives of children that juvenile crime will continue to rise.
Cut 5 (12) “…conservative.”
Landry believes DCFS should give children the best resources available so they can be successful citizens…
Cut 6 (13) “…less crime.”
Matlock launched the state’s first juvenile drug court, family drug court, and juvenile mental health court during his tenure. He also supervised the development of the state’s first sex trafficking community response team.
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2023 has been a banner year for Louisiana Economic Development. Secretary Don Pierson says more than $25 billion of new investments was announced in the Bayou State this year…
Cut 7 (09) “…rising wages.”
Another barometer to gauge progress in the state’s economy is the growth in domestic product. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Pierson says Louisiana’s GDP in the third quarter exceeded the national average…
Cut 8 (11) “…domestic products.”
Pierson says he’s extremely proud of the work LED has done under Governor John Bel Edwards’ administration. In the last three years alone, Pierson says there’s been record investment in the state…
Cut 9 (08) “…of Louisiana.”
Since 2016, Pierson says the state has had $100 billion-plus in new capital investment and can claim the lowest recorded unemployment in the state’s history.
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Willis-Knighton Health System is the first hospital in Northwest Louisiana to use HipInsight technology to perform total hip replacement surgery. The system displays real-time 3D models of the patient’s body with augmented reality. Medical Director for Joint Replacement Surgery Vic Chatrath says the system gives surgeons x-ray vision through special headgear to operate.
Cut 10 (13) “…patient tissue.”
Cathrath says surgical instruments and joint implants inside the patient are also visible to the surgeon in real-time. He says the system helps customize the implant placement to the individual patient and improves the success rate.
Cut 11 (12) “…as well.”
Chatrath says the alignment is so precise that by operating on the holograph, doctors are operating on the real joint. He says this transformative surgery has already been conducted at the WK Bossier Health Center.
Cut 12 (09) “…technology on.”
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A recent study by USDA shows hunger in the Bayou State is surging due to federal aid cuts of the expanded child tax credit and free school meals. More than 727 thousand Louisianans struggle with hunger. Hunger Free America CEO, Joel Berg says the participation rates of federally funded programs like SNAP and WIC have also decreased.
Cut 13 (13) “…getting it.”
Berg says the number of children without enough food surged to 20 percent in Louisiana compared to 16 percent nationwide between 2020 and October 2022.
Cut 14 (12) “…state schools.”
Berg says it’s ironic that a state known for its culinary cuisine leads the nation in hunger. He says hunger is a political issue and Louisiana leaders are not working to end hunger.
Cut 15 (13) “… then America.”
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The LSU Tigers are now in Tampa, getting ready to face the Wisconsin Badgers in the Reliaquest Bowl on January 1st. The Tigers are 9-3, but it’s been a tough year for the defense as LSU has struggled on that side of the football. Linebacker Greg Penn says they can set the tone for 2024 with a good performance against the Badgers…
Cut 16 (20) “…next year.”
Garrett Nussmeier will make his first collegiate start at quarterback as Jayden Daniels has opted out. Offensive tackle Emery Jones says they expect Nussmeier to hang in the pocket a little longer than Daniels…
Cut 17 (14) “…handle it.”
Daniels is the only Tiger who has opted out of the bowl game. Defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo says the team is determined to finish the season with ten wins…
Cut 18 (10) “…for the program.”
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Cut 19 (19) “…accustomed to winning.”
Cut 20 (09) “…finding the football”