New Iberia will hold a parade tonight in honor of pole vaulter Morgan LeLeux, who has made the U.S. Olympic team. Taylor Sharp has the story.
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AAA anticipates this 4th of July weekend will see near record-breaking numbers of travelers take to the roads and skies. Matt Doyle has the story…
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If you’re planning on being on the water this holiday weekend be sure you have a sober driver at the helm. Brooke Thorington has more on Operation Dry Water.
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New Iberia will throw a parade tonight to celebrate one of its own as pole vaulter Morgan LeLeux has qualified for the US Olympic team. LeLeux says she’s excited to have the support of her hometown.
Cut 4 (10) “…proud of me.”
LeLeux found out she made the team right before her last vault at the Olympic Trials in Oregon but once she finished. it was an emotional experience for her.
Cut 5 (09) “…sometimes.”
LeLeux competed as a pole vaulter at Georgia and U-L Lafayette. She’s been dreaming about the Olympics since she was a little girl…
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LeLeaux says she will leave for Toyko on July 27th and plans to be standing on the medal stage August 6th.
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AAA estimates 47.7 million Americans will travel for the 4th of July weekend, a 40 percent increase from last year.
AAA analyst Don Redman says in our region we’re expecting 4.5 million travelers, proof that folks are finally ready to get out and hit the road after being cooped up for over a year…
Cut 7 (09) “…recorded.”
The travel record was set in 2019, and this year’s numbers are expected to only be 2.5 percent lower than that all-time-high. Air travel is also up 164 percent compared to last year but the overall share of air travelers compared to automobile travelers is still below average.
91 percent of those travelers will go by automobile and Redman says that demand is driving gas prices through the roof. Across the Gulf south prices are averaging a few cents under 2.80 a gallon…
Cut 8 (11) “…August.”
Nationally a gallon of gas will run you 3.12 a gallon.
If you’re planning on renting a car be warned prices are up 86 percent from this time last year. Redman says local prices are as much as twice as high as last year and even worse…
Cut 9 (11) “…alive.”
AAA also found mid-range hotel prices are up as much as 35 percent from last Independence Day.
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It’s called Operation Dry Water and it’s the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries campaign to keep impaired boaters off the water. Boating Education Coordinator Lt Dean Aucoin with LDWF says alcohol is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents.
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Aucoin says if you’re caught impaired while operating a vessel on the water it will also impact your driving privileges on the road.
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A judge can revoke your driving privileges for a specified amount of time. A first DWI offense can cost you between $300 and thousand dollars and up to six months in jail.
With extra boaters on the water for the holiday and some staying out after dark to view the fireworks Aucoin says you need to have an attentive operator and make sure the safety features of your boat and in operating order.
Cut 12 (09) “…sober.”
Louisiana had 24 boating fatalities in 2020 and so far, this year there have been 14 fatalities. Aucoin says just over 30-percent of the fatalities were alcohol-related.
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The first confirmed case of the Delta-plus coronavirus variant in Louisiana was discovered this week.
Delta-plus is thought to share the same highly transmissible qualities as the standard Delta variant while being even less easily neutralized by antibodies. Ochsner Health Research Scientist Amy Feehan…
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Feehan notes due to the limited number of sequenced Delta-plus variants, only 130 in total across the country, health officials can’t make definitive statements yet on exactly what the plus variant does.
Only 35 percent of the state is fully vaccinated and Feehan says the longer that number remains woefully low, the higher the chance more of these increasingly dangerous variants develop.
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The case was linked to a New Orleans resident who tested positive for COVID-19 in early June.
Feehan says the good news for those who are vaccinated is that you likely have a high level of protection even against this new plus variant. Regardless Feehan says she’s still going to play it safe…
Cut 15 (11)“…are vaccinated.”
Against the standard Delta variant, those who are fully vaccinated are thought to have about 90 percent protection from the virus, while those who’ve only received one shot only have about 32 percent protection.