State officials say there is a critical need for blood donation in Louisiana right now due to supply disruptions caused by last week’s winter storms. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says donating blood is quick and easy to do. You can call 2-1-1 to be directed to a donation center near you.
Governor Edwards says this request came directly from Louisiana hospitals.
Avoyelles State Representative Darryl Deshotel is asking the State Department of Education to use part of the more than one billion it’s receiving from the CARES Act to help build broadband internet in areas that don’t have it. He says that will help students with virtual education.
The Edwards Administration is presenting its budget proposal for the next fiscal year to the Legislature this morning. Governor Edwards previewed the budget saying it includes no cuts and even features a 400 dollar raise for teachers despite the state taking an economic beating from COVID. Edwards says that’s due to federal assistance.
The budget does not include the over 100 million dollars in loans the state owes the federal government due to the depletion of the unemployment insurance trust fund.
Assuming Johnson and Johnson’s COVID vaccine is approved today the state could be in line to receive up to 134,000 doses next week. Nearly 600,000 Louisianans have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. Kanter says that number will grow at a much faster rate.