09:30 LRN Newscast January 14

The Supreme Court says private businesses with over 100 employees can’t require workers to get the Covid vaccine, but they did keep a mandate in place for healthcare workers. Brandon Trosclair who owns grocery stores in Louisiana and Mississippi was among the first business owners to legally challenge the White House mandate. He says the High Court got this one right..:
Cut 14 (09) “just super-relieved”
It’s a loss for the Biden Administration which sought to use the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration to enforce the vaccines for workers.

Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is set to receive approximately $1 billion dollars to repair and upgrade bridges under the new Bridge Formula Program, with over $200 million of that allocated for this fiscal year. He says this is great news from the Federal Highway Administration as Louisiana’s funding needs for infrastructure projects are massive.

New data shows the number of Louisianans who smoke cigarettes is at an all-time low. A report from the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living says the percentage of adults who smoke is down to just over 18-percent. TFL director Dr. Earl Benjamin Robinson says the report is encouraging and inspires optimism..:
CUT 12 (11) “individuals are protected”
For help kicking the tobacco habit, visit “QuitWithUsLA.org”.

The White House announces they’ve purchased another 500 million home Covid tests in addition to the 500 million already ordered. But Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says with Omicron surging the way it is now this should have been done sooner…:
Cut 5 (08) “tests now”
The White House also plans to distribute high-quality masks at no cost and next week a website will be launched so Americans can order the free home COVID tests.