11:30 LRN Newscast Dec 30

Governor John Bel Edwards will discuss the latest surge in COVID cases during a virtual 1 PM press conference. The state health department reported its largest single-day increase in COVID cases yesterday as the state identified over nine-thousand new cases. COVID hospitalizations have tripled in two weeks to 659.

Beginning Sunday, the maximum weekly unemployment benefit will increase to $275. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James is stepping down from his seat in the state legislature to accept a federal post by President Joe Biden. James will serve as a Regional Administrator of the Small Business Administration’s South-Central Region. James who is head of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus says he’ll take the helm early next year.
Cut 3 (09) “…early next week.”

Just two days left in 2021 and one of the state’s big stories for this year was LSU’s Title Nine scandal. An independent investigation detailed how the school failed to properly investigate sexual misconduct claims against former football players. No one lost their job at LSU, but two high-ranking athletic department employees were suspended. New Orleans Senator Karen Carter Peterson thought the punishment was weak…
cut 12 (07) “…truth again”
The fallout cost former football coach Les Miles’ job at Kansas and former LSU President F King Alexander resigned as president at Oregon State.