COVID-19 hospitalizations have doubled in one week as the Omicron variant has been spiking, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Over 9-thousand have tested positive for the virus in the past week, and about 450 are hospitalized. LDH says just over 80-percent of those are not fully vaccinated.

Construction of an elevated eight-mile stretch of Highway 1 will begin in January. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01         (31)    “…Thorington.”

As the end of 2021 approaches, many start to put together their income tax filing strategies. Jonathan Stoltz is a Certified Public accountant with Malcolm M. Dienes (DEEN-us) in Metairie. He says, under normal circumstances, taxpayers look to minimize earnings and investment income in the current year – to avoid a big tax hit – but tax code changes are expected in the New Year…:

CUT 06         (09)    “…pushing off deductions.”

Stoltz says financial experts believe Congress will changes the tax code in 2022; raising federal income tax rates for the higher wage earners. He says better to pay taxes now, at a lower rate, than to wait and see how high it goes for next year.

..and now a look at the markets…