After missing two years due to COVID, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is back this spring. Kevin Gallagher has lineup highlights…:
Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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COVID numbers are indicative the state may have reached a peak, but stats also show the Omicron variant has been the hardest one yet for children. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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According to the 2022 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws, Louisiana ranks 9th in the nation. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is back for 2022; at the Fairgrounds and on its traditional dates. Jazz Fest director and organizer Quint Davis says this year’s roster of performers has something for everyone…:
Cut 4 (10) “…Stevie Knicks, Billy strings, Nora Jones.”
There was no 2020 Jazz Fest due to the pandemic, and a planned FALL Jazz Fest for 2021 fell apart amid the Delta surge. Davis says it is back after three years, and this year’s top headliners are The Who, Foo Fighters, Jimmy Buffett, Lionel Richie, Willie Nelson and dozens more. Davis says a number of artists planned their other dates AROUND being at Jazz Fest’s big return…like one superstar in particular…:
Cut 5 (11) “…we’re gonna be there.”
Back to its traditional dates – the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May – Jazz Fest has put reserved special admission packages and weekend pass tickets on sale now. Individual day tickets will go on sale soon. Davis says he is deeply grateful to the dozens of artists who’ve stayed by Jazz fest during its hiatus. He says most of them wouldn’t have it any other way…:
Cut 6 (11) “…like three years now.”
NOJazzFest.com for more information on acts and tickets.
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State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says COVID numbers hint that the state might be close to peaking with cases but yet it’s still too early to tell.
Cut 7 (12) “…very, very high.”
On Thursday the state reported 14,706 new cases and the state is expected to reach at least 1.1 million total cases today week after eclipsing a million earlier in the week.
Kanter says however the Omicron variant proves it’s much harder on children than others. He says this past week 33 children were admitted to the hospital with COVID and for the month of January 199 children have been admitted.
Omicron is also impacting children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, and brain. Kanter says we added four cases this week.
Because the highest percentage of pediatric cases are among ages four and younger, which are ineligible to be vaccinated Kanter says it’s imperative those around them be vaccinated and masked to protect them.
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Louisiana receives a top grade when it comes to laws that prevent auto crashes. Allison Kennedy, spokesperson for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety says their report looks at 16 different factors that are statistically are proven to reduce traffics accidents and Louisiana has 10 of those laws on the books.
But Kennedy also notes statistically only half of drivers and passengers are properly restrained in crashes
Areas, where Louisiana needs improvement, include booster seat laws, which Kennedy says are critical for child safety, and graduated drivers’ licenses.
Cut 11 (08) “…impaired driving crashes.”
According to DOTD 997 people were killed last year in traffic crashes, an alarming increase from previous years. Kennedy says Louisiana is not immune because traffic fatalities are up nationwide. And according to a recent survey Kennedy says 75-percent of respondents were unaware of the increase however…
Kennedy says another bright point for Louisiana is helmet laws for operators and passengers.
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Louisiana is dealing with its coldest air of the winter as overnight temperatures over the next few days will dip well below the freezing mark. Even the Houma-Thibodaux area could see lows in the mid-20s this weekend. The state has reported ten home fire deaths this year and Governor John Bel Edwards doesn’t want to see any more anytime soon…
Edwards is also asking Louisiana residents to be good a neighbor, check on those who are elderly during this frigid weather…
Light freezing rain was a possibility in south Louisiana during the overnight hours. Edwards says the state department of transportation has crews ready to address any slick roads, but he’s asking motorists to be careful…
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Last week, former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow led the Cincinnati Bengals to their first playoff victory in more than 30 years. Now, as he prepares to face the top-seeded Tennesse Titans in the AFC’s divisional round, Burrow says that postseason pressure and big games are nothing new to him.
Cut 16 (10) “…situation before.”
Already a candidate for MVP in his second season, Burrow says that his focus on preparation is what’s made the biggest impact on his early success.
Cut 17 (12) “ …confidence in.”
Burrow has put up some eye-popping numbers this year, but knows he hasn’t gotten the NFL figured out just yet.
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Louisiana Tech starts a critical three-game homestand this weekend with a battle for first place in Conference USA’s Western Division. The Bulldogs will play host to UAB riding a seven-game win streak. The Blazers were the preseason pick to win the conference title, and coach Eric Koncol knows his team will have to be at its best to hold on to that top spot.
Tech’s early success already has fans wondering just how far the Bulldogs can go. Koncol isn’t looking too far ahead as he keeps his young team improving each day.
Cut 20 (09) “…real strengths.”
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