AM LRN Newscall Aug 9

Senator Bill Cassidy is optimistic the Senate will approve a 1.2 trillion dollar bipartisan infrastructure package he helped craft. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry and Governor Edwards spar over the Governor’s authority to implement mask mandates in K-12 schools. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Physicians are starting to see what they believe might be a link between COVID causing ED in men. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Senator Bill Cassidy expects the Senate will vote today on a 1.2 trillion dollar bipartisan infrastructure package that he helped craft.

Cassidy says the plan is a big win for Louisiana…

Cut 4 (12) “…highways.”

Cassidy’s colleague Senator John Kennedy opposes the bill and disputes the six billion dollar figure, arguing instead it is closer to 1.2 billion dollars.

Cassidy says the plan includes 55 billion for broadband expansion, 25 billion for airport improvement projects, 45 billion dollars in environmental resiliency, and 65 billion dollars in grid hardening.

Cut 5 (11) “…money”

The bill authorizes but does not provide funding for an I-14 east-west interstate running through central Louisiana.

Kennedy called the bill an unfunded “inflation bomb”, but Cassidy says the projected 250 billion dollars in deficits it would result in will be offset by long-term economic growth.

Cut 6 (11) “…taxes.”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry argues Governor Edwards does not have the authority to mandate masks in K-12 public schools this fall.

Landry says this policy is solely the jurisdiction of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and local school boards. He says those organizations are made up of democratically elected officials…

Cut 7 (09) “..system.”

Landry says Louisiana’s constitutional structure prohibits Governor Edwards from issuing this mandate in schools. He says the Governor is also making masking in schools a divisive issue.

Cut 8 (09) “…too.” 

Edwards called Landry dead wrong and accused him of sowing confusion and undermining public confidence in this proven mitigation technique.

Cut 9 (07) “…emergencies.”

Edwards says the Attorney General’s legal rationale is flawed and undermined by other situations where emergency declarations impacted school policy.

Cut 10 (10) “…(x2) coastal parishes.”

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In addition to the loss of smell and reduced breathing capacity, another side effect of COVID for some is erectile dysfunction. LSU Health New Orleans Urologist Dr. Matthew Mutter says when a man is fighting COVID it causes a systemic inflammatory response throughout the body.

Cut 11 (10) “…the penis.”

While it’s too early to tell if ED is a permanent or temporary side effect of the COVID, Mutter says men with preexisting conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and pulmonary issues are already vulnerable to ED.

Cut 12 (08) “…function.” 

In addition to lack of blood flow, Mutter says the causes of ED are multifactorial. ED can also be a result of a psychological issue and the ongoing pandemic has added many stressors in life for all of us.

Cut 13 (10) “…in men.”

Mutter says if you are suffering from ED, despite if you’ve had COVID or not, always seek professional help. Mutter says they are seeing more cases of ED among young men which can be an early indicator of heart disease.

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Forecasters are keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Fred* (cyclone six) as he makes his way through the Caribbean and potentially the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Fred will ingest some dry air from the west thus keeping it a tropical storm for a bit, but in the meantime, we’ll have to watch its trek…

Cut 14 (08) “…on Thursday.”

Keim says as Fred makes its way across Hispaniola its journey near the mountain range could determine its future development.

Cut 15 (12)“…development.”

Once Fred makes its way across Hispaniola and into the Gulf possibly on Saturday Keim says it’s anybody’s guess as to Fred’s potential and path.

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LSU’s defense was historically bad last year as the Tigers allowed 492 yards a game, the fourth-worst in F-B-S football and 35 points a game, which was the second-worst in major college football. During the offseason, LSU hired defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, linebackers coach Blake Baker, and defensive line coach Andre Carter. Senior linebacker Jared Small says the new coaches have connected well with the players

Cut 17 (21) “…throughout the building”  (2x)

LSU Senior linebacker Damone Clark says the new coaches have the ability to boost your confidence…

Cut 18 (17)”…different.”

On offense, LSU has several freshmen wide receivers looking for playing time right away. Chris Hilton Junior, Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas, and Deion Smith. Sophomore Kayshon Boutte is impressed with this freshmen class of wideouts…

Cut 19 (18)  “…do it all”  (2x)

Boutte also has a message for fans as new COVID cases and hospitalizations are on the rise and the Tigers home opener is about a month away…

Cut 20 (06)  “….for everybody”