0730 LRN Newscast December 6

The state has its first known case of the Omicron Variant. The Louisiana Department of Health says that individual lives in the greater New Orleans area and recently traveled within the US. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the variant is significant because it has some 50 mutations from the original virus…:
Cut 7 (11) “crucial question”
Officials from federal, state, and local agencies are also addressing an outbreak on a cruise ship that arrived in New Orleans Sunday. 17 cases were identified among passengers and crew including one probable case of Omicron from a worker on the ship who isn’t from Louisiana.

State Police say two people were killed and five injured in a crash involving 2 large pickup trucks Saturday night in Lafourche Parish. The two who died are identified as 23-year-old Thomas Hernandez and 22-year-old Santos Garcia, both of Slidell.

The Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight will hold their first meeting today and hear from LSP Superintendent Colonel Lamar Davis. The committee was formed after several reports of excessive force. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil is chairman of the seven-member committee…:
Cut 4 (12) “situations”
Foil anticipates a second meeting to allow for public input.

UL-Monroe seeks to help the statewide nursing shortage with a groundbreaking degree transfer program. Dr. Don Simpson is Dean of the ULM College of Health Sciences. He says they’ve forged an agreement with the state’s 12 community & tech colleges with associate nursing degree programs to allow those nurses to easily pursue their Bachelor of Science in Nursing at ULM…:
Cut 10 (11) “credentials as a nurse”