AM NEWSCALL
For the 9th straight year, Louisiana is among places listed as the Ten Worst Judicial Hellholes in the USA. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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Louisiana will receive $7.25 for infrastructure projects and US Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh says we haven’t seen investments like this in decades. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Early reports indicate three doses of the Pfizer vaccine are effective against the Omicron variant. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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For the 9th year, Louisiana has made a national list of the nation’s Top Ten “Judicial Hellholes”. The American Tort Reform Foundation’s list is for the most litigious states or court systems, where trials can go on indefinitely and arbitration is discouraged. Louisiana Law Abuse Watch Executive Director Lana Venable says we went from 5th Worst last year to 6th Worst for 2020…:
Cut 4 (13) “…civil justice system. “
California, New York State, the Pennsylvania and Georgia Supreme Courts and the Chicago court systems all ranked worse than Louisiana, as places where it can be hard to get a fair trial in civil court. Venable says Louisiana has made the ATRF’s hellholes list 12 of the past 20 years and 2020 marks the 9th straight year in the Top Ten. She says tort reforms passed in the 2020 legislature will help to get our state off the list…:
Cut 5 (09) “…changes the game.”
Louisiana’s coastal lawsuits have seemingly went on forever with no end in easy sight. Authorities are investigating an alleged scheme to use state courts to defraud commercial truckers and insurers. Venable says lawmakers have taken steps to correct some of these problems…over time…:
Cut 6 (07) “…certainly no exception.”
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Louisiana will receive $7.25 billion in guaranteed funding from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that was signed by the president last month. Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh says the funding allocated for states is unprecedented.
$5.8 billion will go towards roads and bridges in Louisiana and $470 million for public transportation. $580 million will be dedicated to renovating outdated water systems.
$380 million will go towards airports, electric vehicle charging stations, and broadband in Louisiana. Like other states, the pandemic only highlighted the digital divide in rural areas. Walsh says it’s important we help close that gap.
Former Louisiana Lt. Governor and New Orleans Mayor, Mitch Landrieu is overseeing the allocation of Infrastructure funds for the country and Walsh says Landrieu wants those funds to reach states as soon as possible.
Walsh says their goal is to have funds reach projects as soon as possible so citizens can see dollars at work.
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As the state reports more probable cases of the Omicron variant in Louisiana, Pfizer says the third dose of their vaccine may offer more protection to the variant as opposed to only two doses. LSU Health Shreveport infectious disease specialist Doctor John Vanchiere is overseeing clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine at the university.
Cut 10 (12) “…Omicron variant.”
Vanchiere says the preliminary data is only for those who received Pfizer vaccine doses and a Pfizer booster. And for those who might have mixed and matched their vaccine and booster…
As for if the latest variant is prompting more people to get vaccinated or boosted, Vanchiere says they’ve seen a significant increase, he says they’re administering 400 to 600 doses a day and about 100 to 150 are first doses of the vaccine.
Cut 12 (07) “…get vaccinated.”
Vanchiere says until there’s a higher vaccination rate we are at a precarious point with the pandemic where the virus is able to easily mutate.
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While a date isn’t set yet, the Louisiana Supreme Court will hear arguments in Pastor Tony Spell’s first amendment fight against criminal charges stemming from his violations of pandemic gathering limits set by Governor Edwards that were in effect last year. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt:
Cut 13 (12) “…first amendment challenge.”
Spell was charged after hundreds gathered at his Life Tabernacle Church near Baton Rouge to her him discount the coronavirus as nothing to worry about. The virus to date is responsible for the deaths of nearly 800-thousand Americans.
Borghardt speculated on what might happen if Spell’s case winds up before the nation’s highest court.
Cut 14 (08) “…might have success.”
Borghardt says the Spell case is one to watch when it comes to First Amendment rights versus the public health orders of Louisiana’s governor.
Cut 15 (09) “…absolutely set precedent.”
At the time of Pastor Spell’s defiance, Governor Edwards had in March of 2020 issued on ban on gatherings of more than 50 people because of the spread of COVID-19 and the resulting global pandemic.
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Saints running back Alvin Kamara and quarterback Taysom Hill were full participants in practice yesterday. Kamara is set to return from a knee injury, while Hill intends to play despite an injury to his middle finger on his throwing hand. Hill threw four interceptions last Thursday when the injury occurred but is optimistic the injury will not affect his play…
Hill says the injury is not causing any pain, but he’s trying to figure out what’s the best way to manage it when it comes to griping and throwing the football…
The Saints will try to snap a five game losing streak this Sunday against the New York Jets. Coach Sean Payton says he wants to see better effort on defense…