As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 becomes more prominent here in Louisiana and dozens of other states in the nation, Tulane epidemiologist, Dr. Susan Hassig fears another surge. She says Louisiana would be wise to re-implement an indoor mask mandate, even though such mandates are often ignored…:

CUT 08(07)      “…can reduce spread.”

LDH says almost 200 people across the state are hospitalized with COVID right now. Well over 80-percent have not been vaccinated.

State Police are investigating an officer-involved shooting near Duson in Lafayette Parish. It happened around 7:30 Tuesday morning as sheriff’s deputies investigated a car with a possible stolen license plate. Trooper Tom Gossen says the driver fled the scene then abandoned the car, but was tracked down later at a home near Duson…:

CUT 10(08)      “…driver did not.”

Gossen says he drove AT officers, who fired their weapons. He is expected to recover.

The eastbound I-10 Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge near New Orleans re-opened at around 2 this morning, after a helicopter crash closed it down for over 12 hours. The pilot was the only one aboard, when the aircraft hit a power line and went down, bursting into flame. The pilot was killed. Entergy says they and State Police will close the highway down again Sunday, to restore that severed power line. Meanwhile hundreds of customers in Jefferson parish are still without power.

New Orleans District 2 Congressman Troy Carter begins a tour today of cities in his district; explaining how the $7-billion in Infrastructure funds Louisiana will receive will improve his district. Carter says the federal money means long-overdue projects, like the New Orleans Water and Sewer System, can now get off the ground…:

CUT 05(12)      “…those projects forward.”

Carter was the only one of Louisiana’s six congressmen to vote FOR the Infrastructure Bill.