As of this morning, there will be no less than eight Constitutional Amendments on your November ballot. Kevin Gallagher reports lawmakers have passed that many, and may pass more today…:
Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”
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LSU Health New Orleans continues its research on COVID treatments and the latest study “shines a new light” on an option. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The effort to save Grand Isle from coastal erosion gets a $122-million boost. David Grubb has more…
Cut 3 (37) “…I’m David Grubb.”
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As the legislative session ends this evening, it looks like Louisiana voters will have at least 8 Constitutional Amendments to vote on this fall. As of this morning, there are still other proposed C.A.’s at play in the legislature which could win final passage today. Baton Rouge pollster and political analyst John Couvillon says that’s a lot of amendments for voters, who will already be facing choices for U.S. Senate, Congress and numerous local elections…:
Cut 4 (09) “…regular general election.”
Constitutional Amendments we know will be on the November ballot include setting limits on tax rate increases, allowing the state to invest more in equities, allowing government workers to campaign for relatives when not on duty and more. Couvillon says that makes for a very LONG ballot, and in elections the shorter the ballot the better…:
Cut 5 (13) “…decrease in turnout.”
One Constitutional Amendment we’ll see this November is surprising: an act to remove any and all language allowing involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment from state statutes. Couvillon says most would assume that had been done decades ago…:
Cut 6 (07) “…slavery in Louisiana.”
Couvillon recommends doing your homework on the fall ballot and being prepared to vote on EVERY item; all the way to the bottom.
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An LSU Health New Orleans study shows significant promise with ultraviolent light therapy in hospitalized COVID patients. Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery Dr. Frank Lua says while studies show vitamin D is effective in treating COVID, taking it in pill form is not beneficial, however, increasing one’s vitamin D levels with specialized light therapy does.
Lau says they are seeing positive results within two to four days of treatment.
Specialized ultraviolent light therapy helps stabilize the immune system in other diseases also including psoriasis, some types of skin cancer, and even transplant patients. Lau says the pilot study at LSU Health New Orleans is part of a much larger 500-patient study.
And while one might assume spending more time in the sun to increase their vitamin D level will keep them from catching COVID, Lau says depending on one’s skin type you only need to spend 10 to 20 minutes in the sun daily.
Reduced mortality was observed in both unvaccinated and fully or partially vaccinated patients.
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The Army Corps of Engineers expects to begin a $122-million project this summer to restore the storm defenses surrounding Grand Isle after they were damaged by Hurricane Ida. Mayor David Carmardelle is glad the work is finally getting underway, though he wishes it weren’t during another hurricane season.
The project will be done in three phases, starting with the sealing of leaks in the sand-filled “burrito levee” that runs along the beach. Carmardelle says those temporary repairs may hold, but is looking forward to the third phase that will put some heartier filling in that burrito, something he had been recommending for years.
As more residents return to Grand Isle, Carmardelle would like to see the Corps’ plans go even further in strengthening its barriers. He wants to see some of the funds allocated for sturdier materials to help build up the beach, similar to the five protective rock jetties on the southern end of the island.
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The 2022 legislative session comes to a close today. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says the budget is the most impactful legislation passed, as hundreds of millions of dollars in surplus money and federal aid is set to be used on major projects…
Erwin says lawmakers also passed several bills designed to improve education. He says there’s legislation waiting for the governor’s signature that would provide more school choice options for certain students, legislators also provided more incentives to encourage dual enrollment for high schoolers and once a student gets to college
And state lawmakers also approved incentives that’s designed to encourage retired teachers to come back to the classroom. Erwin says not enough certified teachers is a big problem and Louisiana legislators will allow retired teachers to keep collecting their retirement benefits while also getting a paycheck……
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The Ragin Cajuns run in the College Station Regional did not last as long as they had hoped as U-L Lafayette was eliminated on Sunday afternoon by T-C-U. The Cajuns scored a first inning run and that’s it in a six to one loss to the Horned Frogs. Coach Matt Deggs says his team ran out of gas…
U-L Lafayette made its first appearance in an NCAA Regional since 2016. Catcher Julian Brock says they brought grit back to Cajun baseball…
Cut 17 (12) “ …hard nosed softball.”
Deggs says he’ll be forever grateful to the 2022 team…