Phase Three allows live music to return but with numerous strings attached, some say it’s hitting all the wrong notes. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke. Thorington”
_______________________________________
Two high-ranking LSU athletic officials have been suspended as a result of a nearly 150-report that looked at how the school failed to properly handle sexual assault complaints. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (30) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”
________________________________________
Phase Three allows live music to return indoors but under strict rules. Like a strong HVAC system and plexiglass between the stage and audience. Louisiana native and country music artist David St. Romain says it will be difficult for most venues to meet the requirements.
St. Romain says for example when you look at a venue like The Texas Club in Baton Rouge, where capacity is 1,200 it’s not the best fiscal decision to bring back music.
St. Romain says the new normal for him and other musicians have been to play online and try to reach as many as possible. He says even when venues can open to full capacity he will continue to play online as well.
________________________
Early voting in the 2nd Congressional District special election begins Saturday and the race appears to be shaping up around three candidates.
Political analyst Clancy DuBos says there are two clear frontrunners at the moment, New Orleans lawmakers Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter. Of the two…
Carter also boasts the endorsement of prominent Baton Rouge lawmaker Cleo Fields. Peterson’s endorsements are headlined by Emily’s List and Stacy Abrams.
DuBos expects this race to head to an April runoff due to the 15 candidates on the ballot, most notably the presence of Baton Rouge social justice activist Gary Chambers.
Over 70 percent of the voters in the 2nd are based in Metro New Orleans, with the rest coming from the River Parishes and north Baton Rouge.
No third parties have polled the race so far and DuBos says internal campaign polling shows there’s still a lot of undecideds left…
Voting in the 5th Congressional District special election also begins Saturday.
______________________
LSU suspends two high-ranking athletic officials without pay as a result of a report on how the school mishandled allegations of sexual and domestic assault. Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry received a 30-day suspension, while senior associate A-D Miriam Segar received 21 days. LSU interim president Thomas Galligan
Ausberry and Segar will be required to go through training on sexual misconduct, domestic violence and more.
Husch Blackwell delivered what Galligan called a brutally honest and objective evaluation. Husch Blackwell Partner Scott Schneider says their report found that LSU’s Title Nine office was woefully understaffed and one victim described how complicated it was for a case to get investigated…
The report gives 18 recommendations on improving LSU’s Title 9 practices and Galligan says the school plans to act on all recommendations and that includes beefing up the Title 9 Office…
There is criticism over the severity of the punishment handed down to Ausberry and Seger. Galligan says Ausbery and Seger acknowledge they made mistakes but there was no clear path on how to report sexual assaults…
Cut 12 (12) “ …appropriate resources”
________________________
A mass vaccination event will be held Saturday at the Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City, for those who are eligible, bring a photo ID and insurance card. LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Infectious Disease Johnny Vanchiere says it will be from 9 to 4.
Teachers will also need to bring proof of employment, vaccines for instructors will be from 2 to 4 pm.
The Johnsons and Johnson one dose vaccine will be administered. Vanchiere says if possible, they would like to you preregister at lsuhs dot edu.
The Brookshire Grocery Arena is the former CenturyTel Center in Bossier City located at 2400 Century Link Center Drive.