AM NEWSCALL
When Canadian Pacific merges with Kansas Southern it’s a big part of the puzzle to get passenger rail service from Baton Rouge to New Orleans on track. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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As Governor Edwards says he’ll keep pushing for COVID shots to be required for school kids, Senator John Kennedy goes on record against mandates. Kevin Gallagher has that…:
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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After wrangling over a plan for a while, it appears the allocation of money for 450-million dollars in Superdome renovations is an almost done deal. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”
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The reality of passenger rail service from the Capital City to the Crescent City is beginning to take shape. Baton Rouge Area Foundation Executive VP John Spain says a merger between Kansas Southern and Canadian Pacific will give CP, who already has a relationship with Amtrak, control of the track.
Spain says Amtrak, who will most likely be the operator of the Baton Rouge to New Orleans route has already met with the governor to express interest and even listed the potential route on their strategic plan. Spain says a track is already in place, but it’s built for freight not passengers, but that shouldn’t be a major obstacle.
Cut 5 (11) “…rail improvements.”
With financing in place, the governor, mayors of both Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and parish presidents in between all on board, Spain says the reality of service in 2022 is much brighter for an oncoming train and a trial run of the track could on the agenda very soon.
Cut 6 (12) “…good about this.”
Spain says there’s also discussion to expand rail service to include access to the Louis Armstrong Airport.
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As Governor Edwards vows to push through his mandate for school children to have COVID shots, Senator John Kennedy says COVID vaccinations should be an individual’s choice; not the result of government mandates. In his weekly press conference, the senator says he believes in personal responsibility, but he also believes in personal liberty…:
Cut 7 (13) “…a vaccine mandate.”
A number of courts have issued decisions that thwart the White House’s order that all private companies with 100 or more employees require COVID shots and boosters of workers, or face federal fines. Kennedy says this sort of thing should not be left up to any executive branch of government…:
Cut 8 (12) “…primarily the legislature.”
A panel of state lawmakers recently voted to reject the proposal to add COVID shots to the schedule of immunizations required for kids to enter schools. The governor says he and the Department of health will mandate the requirement anyway, for public health & safety’s sake. Senator Kennedy says he himself has had both COVID shots and a booster. He says he’ll get a fourth shot if his doctor recommends, but still feels government has no role in an individual’s health choices…:
Cut 9 (12) “…to make that decision.”
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On his last call-in radio show of the year, Governor John Bel Edwards was asked if the Omicron variant could change upcoming plans for Mardi Gras. Edwards says it’s still too early to tell and so far there’s not a consensus from health officials…
Edwards reports that for the last month COVID wise things have been stable in Louisiana with the lowest number of individuals hospitalized at any given time in the pandemic and our positivity rate is down around two percent.
Cut 11 (10) “…haven’t been vaccinated.”
Edwards says however if you’ve started your vaccination series, please complete it and if you’re fully vaccinated be sure to have your booster shot.
Cut 12 (12) “…fully vaccinated.”
Carnival season kicks off in New Orleans the first week of January and Fat Tuesday is March 1st.
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Instead of 90-million-dollars, a proposed 54-million dollar deal is awaiting Bond Commission and joint budget Committee approval for partial funding of Superdome renovations that total around 450-million dollars. Governor Edwards’ commissioner of administration, Jay Dardenne:
Half of the state’s money going towards the dome is coming from federal coronavirus relief aid allocated to Louisiana. The Bond Commission meets today, the budget committee tomorrow.
Dardenne says the proposed deal is a two-step process involving the governing body of the Superdome paying off a 28-million dollar debt, followed by the budget committee action tomorrow.
As part of the deal, the Saints will commit to remaining in New Orleans through 2035. Two 10-year extension options will apply if the Superdome renovations are completed.
Dardenne says the Saints will have to put up their own money for the project.
The new plan will have the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District coughing up 246-million dollars for the renovations.
(The deal also includes the Saints reducing the rental of Benson Tower offices to the state at market rates, not those that are currently higher than average lease prices.)
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The Saints are getting ready to play the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. Former LSU Tiger and New Orleans native Leonard Fournette has flourished since arriving in Tampa Bay last year. Saints Coach Sean Payton says Fournette is a great three-down back…
Payton says the passing game needs to be clicking on Sunday in order to upset the Buccaneers…
Tampa Bay has become the team to beat in the NFC South as future hall of fame quarterback Tom Brady continues to play at an MVP level. Payton was asked if he thought Brady would be this good with the Bucs…
Cut 18 (16) “ (Payton Laughs)l”
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First-year U-L Lafayette Coach Michael Desormeaux signed eight players. One of those signees is Madison Prep Quarterback Zeon Chriss who led the chargers to a Class 3A state championship in 2020. Desormeaux is more than just an athletic quarterback
Cut 19 (25) “ about him”
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New Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie signed eleven players on Wednesday. Cumbie says there are four wide receivers in this class they are really excited about…