Republicans file long-shot legislation to overturn President Biden’s executive orders restricting oil and gas leasing and ending the Keystone Pipeline. Matt Doyle has the story.
_______________________________
The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is investigating a largescale oyster die-off in Plaquemines Parish waters. Matt Doyle has the story.
____________________________
Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health testified Tuesday before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on COVID Vaccines. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
____________________________
Republican Senators introduce legislation aimed at overturning President Biden’s executive orders revoking the Keystone Pipeline permit and oil and gas drilling permit moratorium on federal lands.
Senator Bill Cassidy says the legislation is necessary because he doubts Biden can be talked into reversing these orders…
The Administration had the US rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, which calls for member countries to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.
Republicans argue these orders are job killers at a time when the country can’t afford to lose jobs.
Biden has proposed increasing investment in green energy to offset job losses in fossil fuel industries.
Biden has called the orders a centerpiece of his climate policy. Cassidy says it’s counterproductive.
________________________
Preliminary figures from the LSU Center for Analytics and Research indicate the number of motorcycle fatalities in Louisiana dropped 20-percent in 2020. Motorcycle Awareness Campaign spokesperson Scotty Drake believes the pandemic is a factor.
Drake says MAC was created about 15 years ago by a group of riders in Baton Rouge who wanted to reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities and increase awareness. He says while they’ve like to take credit for the 20-percent reduction they believe fewer motorists on the road was the main reason.
Drake says while fewer cars and trucks were on the road last year, he believes the same amount or more of motorcyclists took to the roads in 2020.
Drake says MAC is pleased with the drop in motorcycle fatalities, and they will continue their mission to promote awareness with advertising campaigns, bumper stickers, and yard signs. Drake says also be on the lookout for…
For more information on MAC visit www.macorg.com
_____________________________
Officials are investigating a mysterious oyster die-off in Plaquemines Parish waters that farmers say has claimed millions of pounds of oysters.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Oyster Program Manager Carolina Bourque (Caro-leena Bork) says the first die-off was reported on January 4th…
The exact total area impacted and the official number of oysters killed is unverified at this time.
Bourque says there’s no obvious answer yet as to what caused the die-off. She says these kinds of die-offs are much more common in summer…
Bourque says this was a tough pill to swallow for fishermen who were already dealing with losses stemming from the Mississippi River Flood in 2019.
Harvesters believe the worst of the die-offs are now over, but smaller die-offs have been detected in recent days.
_____________________________
The Biden’s administration announced Tuesday a 5% increase in the number of vaccine doses to be distributed to states, which is a 22% increase since Biden took office. Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health Dr. Courtney Philips testified Tuesday before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on COVID Vaccines, she says Louisiana is prepared.
Phillips thanked the committee for giving states the flexibility the work with private partners, CVS and Walmart, to vaccinate nursing home residents and staff.
According to the CDC Louisiana currently ranks 14th in the percentage of vaccines that have been administered. Phillips says the ranking would be higher because it includes second doses that are being held back so recipients can receive the maximum protection from the virus.
Phillips praised the federal government’s decision to increase transparency in the distribution of doses and giving states a three-week advance notice of their scheduled allotment because it…
LDH also announced they will join the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program which makes vaccines more accessible. It allows 56 Walmart locations in Louisiana to participate as a provider for vaccines. That begins on February 11th.
______________________________________
The LSU men’s basketball team will face the tenth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on the road in Tuscaloosa today. The Tigers lost by 30 points to Bama a few weeks back as they gave up 105 points and allowed Alabama to hit an SEC-record 23 three-pointers. Head Coach Will Wade says they need to be better on transition defense.
LSU forward Darius Days sprained his ankle against Texas Tech on Saturday and will be absent against Alabama. Wade says that Shareef O’Neal is one player who could get extra minutes.
_____________________________________________________
LSU has officially introduced its new defensive football coaches. Daronte Jones, Blake Baker, and Andre Carter were hired as defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, and defensive line coach respectively. Head Coach Ed Orgeron says a big reason why these guys got the job was their ability to relate to the players.
Defensive Coordinator Daronte Jones joins LSU’s staff from the Minnesota Vikings, where he was the defensive backs coach. Jones says he was eager to take the job at LSU due to Louisiana’s fertile recruiting ground.
Jones says his ultimate goal as a defensive coordinator will be to put the players in the best position to succeed.