LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is developing a smartphone app aiming to make it easier for consumers to stick to their diet plans by gauging calorie consumption. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
_____________________________________
A Louisiana teachers union calls on the state to mandate that everyone must wear a facemask while on school grounds. Matt Doyle has more.
___________________________________________
Saturday is Election Day for the Presidential Primary. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
______________________________
LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center is developing a smartphone app aiming to make it easier for consumers to stick to their diet plans by gauging calorie consumption. Co-principal investigator Dr. Corby Martin says the PortionSize app helps tackle a critical problem in weight management, getting people an idea of what they are actually eating.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…during that meal.”
Martin has been working about the app with his co-principal investigator, Dr. John Apolzan for about a year and a half and says they’ve still got more work to do. The study will recruit around 150 participants to throughout the study of the app.
Martin says as soon as they have data that suggests that the app is accurate, it will be available to researchers and clinicians. How long it will be before it ends up in the hands of the public is still to be determined.
Cut 6 (08) “…on the App Store.”
__________________
The number of people hospitalized as result of COVID-19 has nearly doubled over the last month. According to the state department of health, there are just over 40 ICU beds available at each of these three regions, central Louisiana, the River Parishes and Acadiana. Governor John Bel Edwards
Cut 7 (10) “…hospitalizations.”
As of yesterday, the number of ICU beds available in southwest Louisiana was down to 27. Edwards says some hospitals also report a low supply of Remdesivir, which is an approved therapeutic drug for severely ill COVID patients
Edwards says hospital leaders have also told him staffing has become a problem
Edwards says hospital officials also say they are seeing more white males hospitalized as a result of COVID-19.
_______________
The Louisiana Federation of Teachers is asking the state mandate facemask usage while on school campuses, instead of the current policy of recommending their use.
LFT President Larry Carter says they’ve polled nearly 13,000 of their members and one issue stuck out like a sore thumb…
Some localities and parishes have adopted mandatory face mask usage while in businesses and public buildings, but most have not.
Carter says they’re serious about their facemask policy request and have been putting their money where their mouth is to make it happen…
The LFT is also calling on members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to support the House Democrat created HEROES Act that would fund additional safety measures in schools.
If the state refuses to mandate facemask usage in schools could we see teachers participate in an organized walkout? Carter says that’s not being considered right now.
___________________________________
Saturday is Election Day for the Presidential Preference Primary. The voting process will look a little different than other elections. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says there will be spread mitigation efforts in place and they’ve recruited poll workers that are less susceptible to poor outcomes from COVID-19 exposure.
Cut 13 (09) “…on Election Day.”
Only registered Republicans can vote in the GOP primary and, even though Joe Biden is anticipated to accept the nomination, registered Democrats can select between the 14 candidates up for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Louisiana’s presidential primary is not the only item on the ballot for the July 11th. There are also local races in 24 parishes and party committee positions.
Cut 14 (07) “…the ballots locally.”
If you are hoping to get your hands on the state’s famous “I Voted” stickers, Ardoin says you are out of luck with this election.
Cut 15 (03) “…COVID through stickers.”
____________________________
The Big 10 Conference has decided its schools will only play 10 college football games this season and only conference games. Other conferences may do the same. Sports Illustrated writer Ross Dellenger says optimism for an on-time kickoff has turned to doubt among college football powerbrokers
Dellenger doesn’t expect the SEC to make a decision on what might happen with its football season for another few weeks…
Dellenger says another option for college football is to delay the start of the season until late September or early October. Or they could wait even longer…