Today is normally one of the busiest travel days of the year, however, AAA says the pandemic is expected to decrease travel by 29-percent.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Louisiana will remain in the current Modified Phase Two until January 13th. Matt Doyle has the story.
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This time next year Amazon’s first fulfillment center in the state will be up and running in Lafayette Parish, Brooke Thorington has more on how it will impact the area.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Traditionally today is one of the busiest travel days of the year but the pandemic has changed most traditions in 2020. AAA estimated 34 million fewer Americans will travel for the holiday season as COVID cases continue to rise. AAA Spokesperson Nick Chabarria (Cha-berry-ah) says many American’s are heeding the health warnings and staying home.
While fewer Americans are traveling compared to last year as many as 84.5 million may still travel today through January 3rd. Chabarria says the majority of those travelers will be making a road trip.
Regionally travelers in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma are expected to total 9.2 million, down 27-percent from last year.
If you are traveling by car, Chabarria says gas prices are down about 20 to 30 cents compared to last year and the average price per gallon in Louisiana is $1.94
AAA says air travel is down 60-percent from last year. Cruise, bus, and train travel is down 88-percent.
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Governor Edwards extends the current Modified Phase Two restrictions for at least another three weeks citing the state’s high number of COVID hospitalizations and new case counts.
Edwards says we’re starting to see plateauing rates of reported COVID-like illness across all medical regions and declining test positivity rates, but…
For the first time in over a month, the state’s overall percent positivity rate is under 10 percent, sitting at 9.3 percent.
Edwards says we are flattening the curve but unfortunately the curve has flattened out at a dangerously high level and it’s likely we will experience a post-holiday surge…
1,647 COVID patients are in the hospital right now, the highest number since April.
So restaurants will remain capped at 50 percent capacity, indoor gatherings limited, and most bars will remain shut, but Edwards says there is light at the end of the tunnel…
Churches and schools will still be allowed to operate under Phase Three restrictions. The proclamation went into effect today.
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The first Amazon fulfillment center in Louisiana will be in Lafayette Parish, the online giant will construct the center in Carencro. Gregg Gothreaux, CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority says it’s a big boost for the area and not only because they’ll be hiring 500 employees.
Construction of the fulfillment center is expected to complete by the end of 2021 and Gothreaux says hiring will begin three months prior to opening.
The fulfillment center will be located on the former Evangeline Downs site in Carencro, Gothreaux explains why that location was chosen.
Gothreaux says FastStart and the LEDA will hold job fairs in the spring and summer to hire local employees.
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A major low-pressure system is moving into the state and will make for a near-freezing Christmas with a state high of about 50 degrees for the day.
State Climatologist Barry Keim says while we may be enjoying moderate temperatures right now come tomorrow the high will only be about 50…
The low-pressure system will be out of our hair starting Saturday with temperatures returning to normal by Sunday.
Keim says those Christmas temperatures will be 10 to 12 degrees below the long-term normal for that time of year.
But still nowhere near the all-time Christmas low that was experienced in 1983 where the state saw a maximum temperature of 25 degrees and a minimum of 11 degrees.
A lot of families were hoping for milder temperatures so they could gather together outside for a COVID-safer Christmas. Keim says unfortunately this isn’t great socially distancing weather.
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The Pelicans begin a new season tonight as they face the Raptors in Tampa which the temporary home this season for the Toronto-based franchise. New Orleans fans are excited about Zion Williamson’s second season in the NBA and Williamson is predicting it will be a good one…
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Williamson reportedly dropped 25 pounds in the offseason as the number one pick was limited during his rookie season because of a knee injury and conditioning. Williamson says he feels more comfortable this year…
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Louisiana Tech is seeking its seventh straight bowl victory when it takes on Georgia Southern in the R-and-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl this afternoon. Aaron Allen will make his first start at quarterback since the season opener. Coach Skip Holtz says they are not asking Allen to be a hero…
Tech has a 5-4 record, while Georgia Southern is 7-5. The Eagles run a triple-option offense and Holtz says it’s not easy to get ready for the running attack