An Indoor mask mandate begins tomorrow in New Orleans. Leaders fear if the mandate is not reinstated more businesses could close due to staffing shortages and more children would be out of the classroom. The mandate comes on the heels of carnival season kicking off and New Orleans Department of Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno urges the public to take it seriously.

Cut  11 (11)  “…and tests.” 

Baton Rouge businessman Gary Chambers announces his candidacy for US Senate. Chambers says he’s running to help make life better for everyone in the Bayou State…:

 Cut 6 (11) “…take our state forward.” 

Chambers and fellow democrat Luke Mixon are the only two set to oppose incumbent Republican John Kennedy in the fall.

LSU star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has signed a name, image and likeness deal with well-known injury attorney Gordon McKernan. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state reports just under 12,500 new COVID cases today and 1,905 hospitalizations, that’s an increase of 111 from the previous day. 94 of those patients are on ventilators and 77-percent are unvaccinated in Louisiana hospitals.

Baton Rouge community activist Gary Chambers says he’ll run for U.S. Senate this fall; making him the second announced Democrat to challenge John Kennedy. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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LSU star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has signed a name, image and likeness deal with well-known injury attorney Gordon McKernan. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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In a recent study, Louisiana ranks among the worst states for meeting the need for individual caregivers. These are people who provide needed care for the sick, elderly or infirm. Sean Marchese (mar-KEZZ) is a registered nurse and oncology writer/researcher. He says the first identifiable problem is that average pay for caregivers in Louisiana is the nation’s lowest; less than $11 an hour. He says a great number don’t get paid at all..:

Cut 3 (12) “…the past year.”

Marchese says there is very high turnover in the caregiver “industry” because it is a physically and emotionally difficult job…:

Cut 4 (13) “…are also working.”

Marchese says another reason for a shortage of caregivers in Louisiana is the impacts of the coronavirus and isolation…:

Cut 5 (12) “…care that they need.”

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Another Democrat throws his hat in the ring to run for the U.S. Senate this fall. Baton Rouge area businessman and self-described advocate, Gary Chambers says he’s running to help make life better for everyone in the Bayou State…:

 Cut 6 (10) “…take our state forward.” 

In 2021, Chambers ran for the District 2 U.S. House seat left vacant by Cedric Richmond. He finished third, with 21-percent of the popular vote, barely making the runoff. Chambers says he wants to go to Washington, to better represent Louisiana’s working people. He says he supports the Biden Administration’s proposals, including one in particular..:

Cut 7 (09) “…infrastructure in this state.” 

Chambers says incumbent Senator John Kennedy’s votes don’t necessarily reflect what the people of Louisiana want. He says his “no” vote on the Infrastructure Bill (now signed into law) is an example. He says, if he is elected, he’ll work to secure Medicare for the elderly and for everyone else…:

Cut 8 (11) “…in this country.” 

Democrat Luke Mixon, from Bunkie, announced his candidacy back in October.

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New Orleans is reinstating their indoor mask mandate beginning Wednesday due the rapid increase in COVID cases causing disruptions in schools and overwhelming hospitals. New Orleans Department of Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno

Cut 9 (11) “…further notice.”

Avegno says the daily average of new COVID cases in New Orleans is 12,033, nearly three times the previous record of April 2020 and that does not reflect positive home tests for COVID.

Cut 10 (11)  “…hospitalizations are rising.”

City leaders fear if the mandate is not put in place more cases will cause businesses to close due to staffing shortages and keep children out of the classroom. The mandate comes on the heels of the city kicking off carnival season and Avegno urges the public to take mitigation seriously.

Cut  11 (12)  “…and tests.” 

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LSU star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has signed a name, image, and likeness deal with well-known injury attorney Gordon McKernan. The Baton Rouge lawyer says they’ve been looking to reach an N-I-L deal with a Tiger football player…

Cut 12 (12) “…enter that space.”  

There were rumors Boutte may enter the transfer portal, but McKernan believes this N-I-L deal helped convince him to stay at LSU.

Cut 13 (10) “…for him.”

Terms of Boutte’s deal were not released, but the New Iberia native will be paid to appear in digital ads promoting McKernan’s law firm. McKernan encourages businesses to look into NIL deals with student-athletes because players look at the amount of money they can make off the field when it comes to where they’ll go to school…

Cut 14 (09)  “…the sidelines.” 

New Orleans is reinstating their indoor mask mandate beginning Wednesday due the rapid increase in COVID cases causing disruptions in schools and overwhelming hospitals. New Orleans Department of Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno.

Cut 9 further notice :11

Baton Rouge area businessman Gary Chambers is running for US Senate.  In 2021, Chambers ran for the District 2 U.S. House seat left vacant by Cedric Richmond and finished third. Chambers says he wants to better represent Louisiana’s working people and he supports the Biden Administration’s proposals, one in particular.

Cut 7 (09) “…infrastructure in this state.” 

Luke Mixon is also running as a democrat against incumbent Republican John Kennedy.

A study shows Louisiana ranks among the worst states for pay for individual caregivers. Sean Marchese (mar-KEZZ) a registered nurse and writer/researcher says the average pay is $11 or less an hour and there’s a very high turnover in the “industry” because it is both physically and emotionally demanding.

Cut 4 (13) “…are also working.”

LSU star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has signed a name, image, and likeness deal with well-known injury attorney Gordon McKernan. There were rumors Boutte may enter the transfer portal, but McKernan believes this N-I-L deal helped convince him to stay at LSU.

Cut 13 (10) “…for him “

New Orleans is reinstating their indoor mask mandate beginning tomorrow due to an increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations. The mandate is effective at 6 am Wednesday for all indoor spaces including schools.

Baton Rouge businessman and blogger, Gary Chambers says he’ll run for U.S. Senate, the second Democrat to challenge John Kennedy. More from Kevin Gallagher.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A recent study says, Louisiana ranks among the worst states for meeting the need for individual caregivers. Sean Marchese (mar-KEZZ) a registered nurse and oncology writer/researcher says the first identifiable problem is average pay of less than $11 an hour in Louisiana, the lowest in the nation and a great number don’t get paid at all.

Cut 3 (13) “…the past year.”

LSU star wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has signed a name, image, and likeness deal with well-known injury attorney Gordon McKernan. The Baton Rouge lawyer says they’ve been looking to reach an N-I-L deal with a Tiger football player…

Cut 12 (12) “…enter that space.”  

The candidate pool for US Senate is growing in Louisiana, a second democrat, Baton Rouge businessman Gary Chambers has thrown his hat in the ring against the state’s junior Senator John Kennedy. Chambers a self-described advocate says he’s running to help make life better for the Bayou State.

Cut 6 take our state forward :11

Kennedy’s other Democratic challenger is Luke Mixon. The political newcomer appeared at the Baton Rouge Press Club and criticized Kennedy for not voting for the infrastructure bill that Mixon says will bring Louisiana better roads, clean drinking water, and expanded broadband…

Cut 14 (10)  “…solving problems”
Kennedy says only 23-percent of the infrastructure bill actually goes to infrastructure.

A Louisiana-based company called TeleLeaf is helping patients who need access to medical marijuana. Customer Service Manager Brianna Hardy says some are hesitant to try medical cannabis after pharmaceutical options proved disappointing and caused side effects that created additional health problems.

Cut 6 (11) “…other conditions.”

For more information go to tele-leaf-dot-com.

When COVID shut down Mardi Gras in 2021, it birthed the creation of house floats. And how some folks compete with neighbors to have the best Christmas decorations, Mardi Gras season is even more extravagant. You can call on a professional like Ian Darrow at Stronghold Studios in New Orleans.

Cut 7 (08) “…house floats.”

For more information visit Stronghold Studio’s website.

After a Louisiana Marine vet tried medical cannabis for his PTSD, he says it was a game-changer and now he wants to help others. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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When COVID canceled Mardi Gras in 2021, it birthed the new tradition of house floats, and one designer says they’re busier than last year. Brooke Thorington throws out the details.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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An all-time great running back at LSU is headed to the College Football Hall of Fame. Jeff Palermo reports Kevin Faulk will be enshrined in December.

Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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There’s now a new way to receive a prescription for medical marijuana in Louisiana. It’s a telemedicine platform by the name of TeleLeaf. Creator and CEO Gary Hess, a US Marine vet who suffered from PTSD, unfortunately, says there’s still a stigma surrounding cannabis use…

Cut 4 (07) “…convenient.” 

Hess created the Louisiana-based company to give those who don’t feel comfortable asking for cannabis to treat their medical conditions can do so from the privacy of their own home. In addition to those in need feeling stigmatized about medical cannabis, Hess says many physicians were not on board initially with prescribing it.

Cut 5 (10) “…are seeing.”

TeleLeaf Customer Service Manager Brianna Hardy says often many patients are hesitant to try medical marijuana after previous pharmaceutical options have proved disappointing and even caused side effects that created additional health problems.

Cut 6 (11) “…other conditions.”

Hess says first you need to register on their website at TeleLeaf.com and then you’ll have a virtual visit with a physician.

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When COVID shut down Mardi Gras in 2021, it birthed the creation of house floats. And how some folks compete with neighbors to have the best Christmas decorations, Mardi Gras season is even more extravagant. You can call on a professional like Ian Darrow at Stronghold Studios in New Orleans.

Cut 7 (08) “…house floats.”

Stronghold Studios normally assists with movie sets, but Darrow says when COVID closed down production they added house floats to their repertoire and thus a new created a new line of work.

Cut 8 (11) “…other people.” 

Darrow says they assist with the creation, design, installation, and removal of house floats. You can view their work on Stronghold Studios’ website or Instagram page.

Prices vary by design, but Darrow says they average between three to six thousand dollars. He says they’ve decorated homes in traditional Mardi Gras style, and some customers choose décor to reflect their heritage, profession, or even…

Cut 9 (08)  “…I would say.”

And while they are still taking orders for this year, Darrow says it’s best to approach them about house floats before carnival season.

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The Revenue Estimating Conference meets today at the State Capitol and it’s expected the panel will officially recognize a budget surplus from the fiscal year that ended at the end of June. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says they’ll have an extra 400-million dollars to spend on specific one-time projects…

Cut 10 (06) “…like that.”

State lawmakers will vote on how the surplus dollars will be spent and Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to provide a recommendation on how the dollars will be doled out. La-Politics-dot-com publisher Jeremy Alford says the state has misspent excess cash in the past…

Cut  11 (08)  “…smart decisions”  

The Revenue Estimating Conference will also receive revenue projections for this fiscal year and next. Zeringue says they are expecting to hear that revenues this fiscal year are coming in higher than previously projected, but he warns the good budget times might not last much longer as a portion of the state’s sales tax will soon roll off the books…

Cut 12 (05) “…few years.”

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U-S Senate candidate Luke Mixon is criticizing  Senator John Kennedy for voting to overturn the 2020 presidential results. Mixon is the lone announced Democratic challenger to Kennedy’s 2022 re-election bid. Mixon appeared at the Baton Rouge Press Club and says Kennedy betrayed his oath to the Constitution when he objected to Joe Biden’s victory in Arizona…

Cut 13 (07) “…of democracy”

Kennedy told WWL-TV in New Orleans in May that he never thought the Presidential election was stolen but believed there were some irregularities.

In August, Kennedy voted against the one-trillion dollar infrastructure bill which eventually became law. Kennedy said only 23-percent of the bill is going to actual infrastructure and he says it will raise taxes on industry and increase the deficit.

But Mixon says the infrastructure bill will rebuild roads and crumbling water systems while also providing faster internet service in rural areas…

Cut 14 (10)  “…solving problems”

Mixon entered the U-S Senate race in October. He’s a Bunkie native, a U-S Naval Academy graduate, and a decorated fighter pilot. The political newcomer says he wants to represent the best interest of all Louisiana citizens…

Cut 15 (07)  “..of democracy.”

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NFL analyst Mike Detillier says figuring out the quarterback position is the number one priority for the Saints this offseason. Detillier does not believe the Saints starting quarterback in 2022 is currently on the roster and expects New Orleans to trade for a veteran Q-B

Cut  16 (20) “…number of teams.”

Detillier says the second priority for the Saints is to make sure All-Pro receiver Michael Thomas is healthy for the 2022 season. He missed all of the 2021 season recovering from ankle surgery in June…

Cut 17 (12) “ …get him healthy.”

Detillier says a major decision facing the Saints is whether to re-sign safety Marcus Williams and if they don’t, it’s a position they’ll have to address in the draft or free agency…

Cut 18 (12) “ ..for the Saints.” 

The CDC says if you’ve received both doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine, you are now encouraged to get boosted at five months instead of six months. The agency is also encouraging ages 12 and up to be boosted now. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they added that age group for two reasons.

Cut 4 (09) “…Omiocron variant.”

For the nearest vaccination site call 2-1-1

An EF-2 tornado touched down in the Sabine Parish community of Peason early Sunday morning. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says about 15 homes including mobile homes – were severely damaged or even destroyed. But despite that, no one was killed.

Cut 10 (12)  “…to be expected.”

A Mardi Gras float stolen out of Lafayette has been found in St. Martin Parish. The 40-foot-long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night and Lafayette Police Sergeant Robin Green says they continue to look for the person or persons who stole damaged the float…

cut 14 (07) “….have been something”
Anyone with information about this stolen float is urged to call Lafayette P-D or Lafayette Crime Stoppers.

The Saints won’t see postseason play for the first time since 2016. It was a trying season as the Saints spent the first month of the regular season re-located because of Hurricane Ida, suffered numerous injuries, an NFL record 58 different starters and used four quarterbacks. Saints defensive end Cam Jordan says it would have been an amazing story if they got into the playoffs…

Cut 8 (09) “…be with the family.” 

The Saints end the year with a 9-8 record.

New CDC guidance for those who received their two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, you are now encouraged to be boosted at five months out from your last dose, instead of six months. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says boosters are vital with the highly contagious Omicron variant.

Cut 3 (10) “…with Omicron.”

The CDC also recommends that everyone ages 12 and up should be boosted.

The Sabine Parish community of Peason is recovering after being hit early Sunday by a tornado. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says the twister hit just before 5 a.m. when most people were still asleep in their beds…:

Cut 9 (11) “…registered as an EF-2.”

No one was killed.

Lafayette Police say a Mardi Gras float reported stolen Saturday has been found. LPD spokesperson Sgt. Robin Green says the 40-foot-long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night from a Lucille Avenue address. She says the float had some moderate damage to the decorations and structure, and she feels for the owner.

Cut 13 (07) “…up and running. “

It was located in a remote part of St. Martin Parish.

Tough ending for the Saints season, despite beating Atlanta yesterday. Safety Malcolm Jenkins says it was tough to watch San Francisco win, which knocked New Orleans out of playoff contention…
Cut 7 (12) “…somebody else’s hands.”
The Saints finished the season with a 9-8 record.

The Sabine Parish community of Peason is recovering after being hit early Sunday by a tornado. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says the EF-2 twister hit just before 5 a.m. He says cleanup is underway and rebuilding will begin once the power has been restored.

Cut  11 (10)  “…maybe a little longer.” 

Peason is located off State Highway 118, southeast of Many.

For the first time since the 2016 season, the Saints are not playoff-bound. New Orleans beat Atlanta Sunday, but the 49ers come from behind win over the Rams keeps the Black and Gold out of the postseason. Coach Sean Payton says it’s a disappointing end to a difficult season…

 Cut 6 (07) “…all season” 

Lafayette Police say a Mardi Gras float reported stolen Saturday has been found. LPD spokesperson Sgt. Robin Green says the 40-foot-long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night from a Lucille Avenue address and even though it has been found, they still want the person who took it.

Cut 12 (11) “…please contact us.”  

If you received the Pfizer vaccine the CDC says you can get your booster now at five months instead of six and ages 12 and up are now eligible for boosters. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the CDC is also recommending a third dose for those ages five to eleven if they are moderately or severely immunosuppressed.

Cut 5 (11) “…of vaccine.”

The Saints are cleaning out their lockers today as New Orleans failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state reports just over 29-thousand new COVID cases today, which includes weekend positive cases. Hospitalizations have reached 1,794 with 86 on ventilators. 77-percent are unvaccinated.

An EF-2 tornado touched down in the Sabine Parish community of Peason early Sunday morning. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says about 15 homes including mobile homes – were severely damaged or even destroyed. A number of barns and other structures also sustained damage, but despite that, no one was killed.

Cut 10 (12)  “…to be expected.”

Peason is located off State Highway 118, southeast of Many.

The CDC says if you’ve received both doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine, you are now encouraged to get boosted at five months instead of six months. The agency is also encouraging ages 12 and up to be boosted now. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they added that age group for two reasons.

Cut 4 (09) “…Omiocron variant.”

For the nearest vaccination site call 2-1-1