AM NEWSCALL
The state’s trucking industry says the shortage of big-rig drivers is a huge part of our supply chain problems. More from Kevin Gallagher.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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The state’s Shot for 100 program to incentivize people to get their first COVID shot is now in progress through November 30th after a one-month extension was approved. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”
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Three Louisiana institutions are taking part in a four-year study of the some 30-percent individuals who have long-term side effects of COVID. Brooke Thorington has more.
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A shortage of qualified truckers is the top concern for the Louisiana trucking industry, and a big contributor to national supply chain problems. Renee Amar (AY-mar) is Executive Director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA). She says data just released from the American Trucking Association shows just how extreme the problem is on a national scale…:
Cut 4 (07) “…80-thousand drivers.”
Amar says the coronavirus pandemic is also indirectly responsible for a lot of older truckers deciding to retire and quit the road. She says another issue encouraging truckers to stop driving is the high cost of commercial truck insurance and lawsuit abuse. State lawmakers have taken steps toward insurance reform, but the changes made legislatively can take quite a while to be realized…:
Amar says many drivers are quitting the road, yet a new generation of truckers is not stepping up. Louisiana and many states require truckers be at least 21. She says for many high school graduates NOT on a college track, driving can be a quick route to making good money, but the age requirement restricts that.
Amar says the three top issues for Louisiana Trucking are “drivers, drivers and drivers.”
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There’s a new lease on life for Louisiana’s Shot for 100 program that’s meant to further encourage people to get their first COVID-19 vaccine shot. Assistant Secretary of Health Kim Hood says the program will now run through the end of the month.
The 100 being a $100 gift card that will be given to those receiving their first shots, at least until the supply of cards last at participating locations.
Hood says that children 5 to 11 years old will also be eligible for the gift cards once the shots are authorized by the CDC with parental consent.
Hood says that when it comes to children receiving the shots, the gift cards to be given out are per person, not per family.
Cut 9 (13) “…dollar gift card.”
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LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center, along with LSU Health New Orleans and Tulane Health Sciences will take part in a National Institutes of Health study on the impacts of long COVID. Pennington Lead Investigator John Kirwan says they will compare blood samples of a control group to those who have symptoms of long COVID.
Cut 10 (07) “…this condition.”
As many as 30-percent of COVID patients experience symptoms that last at least a month or longer after COVID. Symptoms like fatigue, loss of smell and taste, shortness of breath, brain fog, and fibromyalgia pain.
Kirwan says at first, they thought the symptoms were possibly psychosomatic or merely coincidence.
Another long COVID symptom Kirwan says they are seeing patients develop is myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart. He says COVID causes the body to body to overact with an inflammatory response to fight off the virus, some more than others.
The study will take place over four years.
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There are now four state-regulated casinos in Louisiana where legalized sports betting is up and operating. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser cut the ribbon at Boomtown Casino in Harvey yesterday afternoon, the fourth of the casinos to open its Sports Book in the Bayou State.
Cut 13 (11) “…that money here.”
Bets can be placed on professional and collegiate sports.
Nungesser is optimistic about the positive impact casino sportsbooks will have on tourism in the state.
Cut 14 (12) “…legally here now.”
In addition, to Boomtown, Sports Books are now operating at Harrah’s in New Orleans, Horseshow in Bossier City and L’Auberge in Baton Rouge with nine other applications still under consideration.
Without saying it, Nungesser drew a comparison to what legalized sports betting in the state will mean for tourism as a dose of vaccine does to improve our battle against the coronavirus.
Cut 15 (08) “…want to gamble.”
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Saints starting quarterback Jameis Winston will miss the rest of the season as a result of a torn ACL and damage to his MCL. Winston suffered the injury in the second quarter of Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay. So who will start this Sunday against Atlanta? Coach Sean Payton is not ready to answer that question
Cut 16 (15) “…to play Sunday.”
Payton could either go with Trevor Siemian who replaced Winston after he was injured or Taysom Hill, who could return for Sunday’s game after suffering a concussion three weeks ago. Payton says even though there’s uncertainty at quarterback, they can start putting together a game plan for the Falcons…
The NFL trade deadline is at 3 PM. But Payton says it would not be easy to add a quarterback to the roster now
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LSU Coach Ed Orgeron says quarterback Myles Brennan is entering the NCAA transfer portal, giving the former starter a chance to find a place where he can start next season and put up some numbers for the NFL scouts…
Brennan hasn’t played this season after breaking his arm prior to the start of the season during a fishing accident. LSU is coming off a bye week, a chance to self-scout. Orgeron says they learned a lot about themselves…