AM NEWSCALL
The roadways are about to get a lot busier as folks head out for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Reporter Dave Brannen spoke with Triple-A’s Don Redman.
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One in five children in Louisiana suffers from hunger. Brooke Thorington has more
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As cases of COVID’s Omicron variant grow in Louisiana, the FDA approves a pill to mitigate the virus’s impact. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
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There will be a lot more Christmas and New Year’s holiday travelers this year compared to a year ago when COVID had us all hunkered down. Triple-A’s Don Redman says his group predicts a 34 percent increase in those hitting the highways, many of them beginning their trips today.
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Nationwide, 109 million people are expected to travel 50 miles or more for the holidays.
Redman says while gas prices are significantly higher than a year ago, that’s not likely to be the lone determining factor for folks opting for holiday travel.
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Redman says patience will be key to getting to your holiday destination safely.
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And, he says airline travel over the holiday period is expected to increase 184 percent compared to last year.
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A recent study shows Louisiana continues to have one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the country. Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America says more than half a million Louisianans, including one in five children, struggle with hunger.
While the pandemic highlighted food insecurity during a surge in unemployment Berg says hunger in the Bayou State has been an ongoing issue due to low wages and inadequate safety net programs in the state.
Berg says it’s ironic that a state known for its culinary leads the nation in hunger and despite what some might say hunger is a political and a partisan issue.
Berg says the 67-percent drop in food insufficiency in Louisiana coincided with the massive boost in federal food and cash aid.
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As the Omicron COVID variant takes a foothold in Louisiana, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approves Pfizer’s new COVID-19 treatment pill. Dr. Benjamin Springgate is with LSU Health in New Orleans. He call this an “extraordinary step forward” in treating the coronavirus and its variants…:
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The oral treatment, called “Paxlovid” by Pfizer, was authorized for treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID in adults and kids 12 and up at high risk for progressing to severe illness. The drug is not authorized for post-exposure prevention, or in people who are already hospitalized with the virus. Dr. Springgate says, even so, its approval comes none too soon…:
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Pfizer’s Paxlovid is available only with a prescription from your doctor. Treatment must begin within five days of onset of symptoms. Frequent COVID testing is advised to know if or when that occurs. Dr. Stringgate says this can be a serious breakthrough in dealing with pandemic…:
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Today is the last day to send gifts in the mail if you want them to arrive for Christmas. USPS Spokesperson David Walton says you can use their service called Priority Mail Express if you want guaranteed delivery by Saturday.
Check with your local post office to find out what their drop-off hours are for Priority Express.
Walton has a few mailing tips to help your packages arrive on time, like a clearly printed address label with the correct zip code.
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Walton says put plenty of bubble wrap in your packages and if you’re shipping a battery-operated item…
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And if you’re tracking an item and it’s still not showing any details, Walton says to contact the retailer or sender to see if it’s been handed over to the postal service yet.
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The Saints will take on a red-hot Miami Dolphins team on Monday night. The Dolphins have won six in a row, only allowing a total of 79 points in those games. New Orleans Acting Head Coach Dennis Allen says Miami is also playing complimentary football on offense…
Sean Payton remains away from the team after testing positive for COVID-19 last Friday. Allen says Payton is doing better, but did not give a clear timeline on when the head coach will return…
Both New Orleans and Miami have suffered long-losing streaks this season. Miami lost seven in a row, while the Saints dropped five in a row. But both teams are 7-and-7 and playing a meaningful game in December. Quarterback Taysom Hill he’s looking forward to this game…..