The state revises COVID guidelines for schools to keep kids in the classroom as much as possible. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The Louisiana Supreme Court says it will consider whether the state’s recent ban on non-unanimous guilty verdicts for felony cases should be retroactive. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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The state issues revised COVID guidance for K-12 schools to keep disruptions to a minimum. State epidemiologist Teresa Sokol says if you are fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID in the last 90 days you are exempted from having to quarantine after being exposed. But…
Sokol says the second option is the “test to stay” which requires those who are unvaccinated to be tested for COVID twice a day for five days after exposure.
The third option is what Sokol refers to as universal masking. It requires no contact tracing or quarantine after exposure regardless of vaccination status.
Cut 5 (06) “…layer of protection.”
LDH is offering the three options for K-12 schools and daycares because full adherence to CDC guidelines presents operation challenges.
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Third Judicial District Attorney John Belton plans to pursue criminal charges against those involved in the 2019 fatal arrest of Ronald Greene, but he’s waiting for the U-S Justice Department to complete its investigation. Greene died in Union Parish, where Belton has local jurisdiction. He says while the federal investigation has taken time, it has produced results…
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Belton says the U-S Attorneys Office asked him not to move forward with state charges, because it may impede the federal investigation.
Greene died following a multi-parish police chase that ended with State Troopers beating and tasing Greene in what State Police called a violent struggle. Belton expects the federal D-O-J will complete its investigation soon…
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The Louisiana Supreme Court says it will consider whether the state’s ban on nonunanimous jury verdicts should apply retroactively. The U-S Supreme Court has already refused to make the split jury ban law retroactive, but Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the state supreme court can issue its own ruling
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Louisiana allowed split jury verdicts of 10-to-2 and 11-to-1 for 120 years. That ended in 2019 when a constitutional amendment took effect that said a unanimous verdict is needed for conviction in a felony case.
Ciolino says advocates argue the split jury verdict law has a racist history, but the Louisiana Attorney General’s office claims overturning the split system verdict retroactively would create havoc because hundreds of old cases would be re-tried…
Cut 10 (10) “…four to six months”
Ciolino says it’s hard to say how the Supreme Court will on this issue…
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Governor John Bel Edwards has extended Louisiana’s COVID public health emergency order but has removed the remaining mitigation measures from the order. Governor Edwards did re-emphasize the recommendations for people to wear masks, particularly around large crowds. It’s something to keep in mind as Mardi Gras and festival season approach.
The governor cited the downturn in COVID infections and hospitalizations as reasons for removing the mitigation measures but says that vaccinations and boosters remain the best defense from contracting or experiencing severe symptoms and encourages anyone who has yet to receive the vaccine to do so.
Cut 13 (14) “…are very important.”
The Governor’s current order is set to expire one month from today, though Edwards has said he may end it before then if positive trends continue. Before he does, he is working with his cabinet and other agencies to make sure that any changes do not impede the state’s response to COVID.
Local governments, school districts, and businesses may continue to enforce mask mandates as they see fit.
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