LRN PM Newscall February 5th

Stat health officials are responding to a mumps outbreak involving LSU students. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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A survey by Innovet Pet finds that 34 percent of pet owners in the Bayou State struggle financially to care for their pets. Brooke Thorington has more.

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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LSU has confirmed five students living off-campus have come down with the mumps. Doctor Frank Welch with the state office of public health says the contagious disease can spread through contact with saliva or respiratory droplets…

Cut 3 (09)  “…very seriously” 

Welch says they are trying to determine if there’s a connection between the students because they did not live in the same apartment

Cut 4 (12) “…families.”

Welch says you can protect yourself from getting the mumps by receiving two doses of the M-M-R vaccine. He says students should seek treatment if their glands are swollen under their ears or jaw

Cut 5 (09) “…sides.”

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The Census will be taken this year and then it will be up to the state legislature to draw up new political maps. Lake Charles Republican Stephen Dwight was just named chair of the House Governmental Affairs Committee and he lays out the timeline for when reapportionment discussions will begin.

Cut 6 (10) “…redistricting”

A Census is taken every ten years.

Dwight will join with Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt, who chairs Senate House and Governmental Affairs, in the effort. He says they’ll tour the state after the Census is conducted.

Cut 7 (11) “…result”

The last reapportionment was not favorable to Louisiana representation as the state lost a Congressional seat. Dwight says it’ll be interesting to find out if our population has recovered.

Cut 8 (07) “…we’ll see.”

The Census is hiring Census takers, and you can apply at 2020-census-dot-gov-slash-jobs.

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A survey by Innovet Pet reveals that one in three Louisiana pet owners struggle financially to care for their animals. Elizabeth Sprang, Director of Southern Animal Foundation, a nonprofit vet clinic in New Orleans, says medical costs continue to increase for pet owners.

Cut 9 (11) “…ultrasound machine”

The survey revealed that many pet owners fail to research medical costs associated with being a pet owner. Sprang, can assist low-income pet owners at her non-profit clinic but admits it’s a challenge.

Cut 10 (11) “…everybody else” 

The survey also revealed that 42% pet owners say if they lost their job, they would not have the means necessary to keep their animals. Sprang says some owners have come to her feeling they had no options.

Cut 11 (10) “…can’t afford”

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A slow-moving cold front is providing the state with an active weather today.  State Climatologist Barry Keim says there is a chance for a wintry mix of precipitation in the northwest corner of the state, including the Shreveport area starting with rain tonight.

Cut 12 (12) “…kind of interesting”

Keim says we also have a tornado watch in effect for a large section of the state until 6pm covering Monroe, Alexandria, Lake Charles, and Baton Rouge…

Cut 13 (08) “…spun up.”

Keim says by tomorrow afternoon the front should be clear of the state and chilly air will settle in.

Cut 14 (12) “…of Louisiana.”

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