A state health official says the number of LSU mumps cases is up to 12 and one of the students living on campus has been quarantined. Matt Doyle has the story…
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A science teacher at Northwestern Middle School in Zachary being held in jail on a $225,000 bond, accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The northern half of the state is under a flash flood watch until Wednesday night as moisture and upper-level disturbances are expected to interact with a cold front to produce locally heavy rainfall. National Weather Service Shreveport Meteorologist Jason Hansford says several inches of rain will fall over the next few days…
Cut 3 (06) “…Wednesday evening”
There’s also a slight risk for severe weather for central and northeast today and Hansford says more severe weather will roll into the Bayou State on Wednesday.
Cut 4 (12) “…Wednesday evening.”
Hansford says today’s severe weather threat stretches from Lufkin, Texas, across Natchitoches, Ruston, and Monroe and into Mississippi. He says the storms will be isolated…
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The statewide average price for a gallon of gasoline is currently at $2.11, down about a nickel from this time last week and 21 cents from last month. Uncertainty over tensions between the US and Iran earlier this year resulted in an uptick of prices, but AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says the recent drop follows an annual pattern.
A gallon of gas is still about 12 cents higher than this time last year and that gap is closing. Redman says dropping trend may not last much longer.
Cut 7 (11) “…production even more.”
At $50 per barrel, crude oil prices are at their lowest point in a year. Redman says an additional factor that could result in an uptick in prices is the transition from winter-grade gas to summer-grade gas.
Cut 8 (07) “…about $2.50 a gallon.”
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We’re up to 12 cases in the LSU centered mumps outbreak that was first made public with five cases reported last week.
State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says all students need to receive both doses of the MMR vaccine to protect against further spread, along with the usual health and safety advice.
Mumps feels like a particularly nasty cold, and also involves visible swelling of the salivary glands.
Welch says there’s been a nationwide string of mumps outbreaks on college campuses. He says college dorm rooms, parties, and sporting events are perfect places to spread the virus.
An LSU tennis match over the weekend was canceled when it was discovered a tennis player had been infected.
Finding a ground zero in the outbreak has been difficult so far. Welch says that’s because there’s a significant lag between when you are infected, and when you show symptoms.
There is one reported case of a student living on campus who is currently being quarantined in their apartment.
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A science teacher at Northwestern Middle School in Zachary is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student. 34-year-old Ellarea Silva is currently on leave after her arrest on Thursday. Zachary Police Chief David McDavid says the relationship appeared to be a summer fling.
Investigators are combing through the evidence on the student’s cell phone.
Silva was arrested Thursday after nearly a week of suspension without school leaders elaborating as to why. City councilman Lael Montgomery is rallying supporters calling for the resignation or removal of Principal Debby Brian as a result. The Baton Rouge chapter of the NAACP is expected to back Montgomery, but McDavid says there was not a cover-up in the investigation.
Cut 13 (07) “…and social media.”
McDavid says they are asking parents to talk to their children to see if Silva’s actions extended beyond this one child.
Cut 14 (12) “…investigation on that.”
Silva’s bond is set at $225,000. Silva faces several charges including indecent behavior with a juvenile, carnal knowledge of a juvenile and oral sexual battery.