The LSU football program has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban for this season in an effort to lessen the penalties it could receive from the NCAA for rules violations.  Taylor Sharp has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp.”  

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Louisiana’s Senior Senator provides an update on negotiations over a 900 billion dollar plus COVID relief bill that includes another round of PPP and federally boosted unemployment payments. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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The LSU football program has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban as a way to punish itself for violating NCAA rules. It’s the first time LSU will not participate in the postseason since 1999. But LSU beat reporter for the USA Today Network Glen Guilbeau says the NCAA may not look at this as a serious punishment…

Cut 3 (12)  “…this seasons gone.”

Back in October, LSU also decided to cut its number of available scholarships by eight over the next two years, reduced the number of allowable recruiting visits, and banned former wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior for two years. Guilbeau says the NCAA may add to these penalties when they complete their investigation

Cut 4 (08)   “…asked for.”  

Guilbeau says the NCAA has been investigating LSU for a recruiting violation committed by Ed Orgeron in January 2019, Beckham handing out a fistful of cash to players after the national championship game, and a booster providing former LSU football player Vadal Alexander’s parents with a no-show job.

Cut 5  (12) “…gave up.” 

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Today the FDA is expected to vote on emergency approval for the Pfizer COVID vaccine and next week they will vote on the Moderna vaccine.  LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Fred Lopez says this is good news considering we are seeing a spike in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Cut 6 (07) “…encouraging.”

With two COVID vaccine options on the cusp of being approved when asked which one should you take Dr. Lopez says to take the first one that is offered to you.

Cut 7 (09) “…effective.”

Lopez says both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two inoculations, 21 and 28 days apart respectively. Lopez stresses the importance of taking both shots for maximum protection.

Cut 8 (12) “…these vaccines.”

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D.C. lawmakers are increasingly confident a new roughly 900 billion dollar COVID relief bill will soon be passed.

Senator Bill Cassidy says one big sticking point left is Republicans want businesses to be shielded from COVID-related lawsuits, and Democrats want to ensure if someone has a claim they have a right to sue.

Cut 9 (10) “…pandemic.”

Cassidy was a part of the bipartisan team that resuscitated negotiations that had collapsed pre-Presidential election with a trimmed-down bill including some priorities from both parties.

The White House is pushing for a new round of stimulus checks in lieu of federally boosted unemployment, but Cassidy says this isn’t a stimulus bill…

Cut 10 (09) “…rent.”

Negotiators seemingly have agreed that the Payroll Protection Program must be refunded, and re-administered with a more targeted focus for businesses most impacted by the pandemic.

Cassidy says an agreement is right around the corner.

Cut 11 (08) “…divides.”

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Two brothers wanted for the shooting death of a gas station clerk in Kenner were arrested in Memphis, Tennessee. Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser says they’ve been searching for 28-year-old Lamonte Loggins and 29-year-old Eric Rodgers since committing the cold-blooded killing on November 30th

Cut 12 (11) “..zero reason.” 

Glaser says the 30-year-old clerk was executed on his knees after complying with every order from the robbers. The chief says they wanted to provide justice to the victim’s family…

Cut 13 (10)“…behind bars.”

Glaser says the suspects are originally from Tennessee but moved to Kenner two years ago with their mother. He says Loggins is the suspected gunman and he’s already spent a good part of his life behind bars

Cut 14 (10) “…apprehended them.” 

D.C. lawmakers are increasingly confident a new roughly 900-billion-dollar COVID relief bill will soon be passed after the two major parties disagreed parts of the bill.  Senator Bill Cassidy says an agreement is right around the corner.

Cut 11 (08) “…divides”

The LSU football program has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban to punish itself for violating NCAA rules. Reporter for the USA Today Network Glen Guilbeau says the NCAA has been investigating the program for a recruiting violation committed by Ed Orgeron, Odell Beckham Jr handing out cash to players and a booster providing former player Vadal Alexander’s parents with a no-show job.

Cut 5  (12) “..gave up.” 

Two brothers wanted for the shooting death of a gas station clerk in Kenner were arrested in Memphis, Tennessee. Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser they’ve arrested 28-year-old Lamonte Loggins and 29-year-old Eric Rodgers after the cold-blooded killing on November 30^th. Glaser says Loggins, the suspected gunman has already spent a good part of his life behind bars.

Cut 14 (10) “…apprehended them.” 

LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Fred Lopez says he’s very encouraged by data from both the Pfizer and Modera COVID vaccines. Lopez says both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two inoculations, 21 and 28 days apart respectively, and stresses the importance of taking both shots for maximum protection.

Cut 8 (12) “..these vaccines.”

Two brothers wanted for the shooting death of a gas station clerk in Kenner were arrested in Memphis, Tennessee. Kenner Police Chief Michael Glaser says they’ve been searching for 28-year-old Lamonte Loggins and 29-year-old Eric Rodgers since committing the cold-blooded killing on November 30th

Cut 12 (11) “..zero reasons.” 

The FDA is expected to vote today on emergency approval for the Pfizer COVID vaccine and next week the Moderna vaccine.  LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Fred Lopez says with two COVID vaccine options on the cusp of being approved when asked which one you should take he says the first one that’s offered.

Cut 7 (09) “..effective.”

The state reports 25-hundred new COVID-19 cases today and 40 fatalities.

Louisiana’s Senior Senator provides an update on negotiations over a 900 billion dollar plus COVID relief bill that includes another round of PPP and federally boosted unemployment payments. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

Today the FDA is expected to vote on emergency approval for the Pfizer COVID vaccine and next week they will vote on the Moderna vaccine.  LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Fred Lopez says this is good news considering we are seeing a spike in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Cut 6 (07) “…encouraging.”

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says we could have an agreement on a COVID relief bill in Washington sometime next week. An initial bipartisan relief proposal did not include any stimulus checks, but the White House has stepped in requesting at least 600-dollar direct payments. Graves says it’s one of the four biggest issues left.

Cut 8 (11) “…approach.”

The LSU football program has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban for this season in an effort to lessen the penalties it could receive from the NCAA for rules violations.  Taylor Sharp has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp”  

Two Barksdale Air Force Base B-52 bombers were part of a show of force in the Middle East today. The two planes were assigned to the 2^nd Bomb Wing operated in the U. S. Central Command area of responsibility. The Air Force routinely flies aircraft to promote regional security in the area.

The state reported the largest single-day increase in COVID cases Wednesday at 4,339, none of the cases were backlogged. Governor Edwards will hold a briefing today at 2:30, he attended the White House Coronavirus Summit Meeting on Tuesday. A White House Task Force report indicates the state is in the red zone for the virus with a statewide positivity rate of 10.7 percent.

The Pfizer vaccine will undergo a crucial committee hearing today to determine if it will gain emergency approval and be available next week. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The LSU football program has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban as a way to punish itself for violating NCAA rules. It’s the first time LSU will not participate in the postseason since 1999. But LSU beat reporter for the USA Today Network Glen Guilbeau says the NCAA may not look at this as a serious punishment…

Cut 3 (12)  “…this seasons gone.”

Northwestern State is prepping to host the LHSAA Football Prep Classic the annual championship will be December 27^th through the 30^th.  Northwestern athletic director Greg Burke says the university had record enrollment this fall and hosting the Prep Classic is a perfect opportunity to showcase the campus and recruit students.

Cut 12 (11) “…popular choice.”

The Pfizer vaccine will undergo a crucial committee hearing today likely determining whether it will gain emergency approval and be available next week. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Congress is reportedly closing in on a deal for a near trillion-dollar COVID relief bill. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Northwestern State University in Natchitoches will host the LHSAA Football Prep Classic at the end of the month. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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A committee of medical experts will hold a public panel today likely determining whether or not the Pfizer vaccine is cleared for emergency approval by the FDA.

The panel will review the results of both the FDA’s and Pfizer’s findings on the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. LSU Health New Orleans Genetics Department Chair Lucio Meile (Me-lay)…

Cut 4 (06) “…granted.”

Meile is a former FDA employee.

Once the panel makes its recommendation Meile says the ball will be in the FDA’s court…

Cut 5 (06) “…does.”

The FDA has already posted its review of the vaccine publicly. Meile says that review “looks extremely good”, but the report also warns some suffer heavy, temporary side effects after their second shot.

Meile says the FDA emergency approval of the vaccine is expected to happen very shortly after the panel submits its recommendation.

Cut 6 (10) “…meeting.”

A CDC committee will meet Friday and Sunday to finalize plans on who to vaccinate first. If both committees wrap their work up by the end of the weekend shots could start being put in arms early next week.

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Congressman Garret Graves feels we could have an agreement in place on a COVID relief bill in Washington sometime next week.

The price tag is reportedly around 900 billion dollars. Graves says much of that is another round of the Payroll Protection Program and funding for COVID response and vaccine distribution.

Cut 7 (08)  “…individuals.”

An initial bipartisan relief proposal did not include any stimulus checks, but the White House has stepped in requesting at least 600 dollar direct payments. Graves says it’s one of the four biggest issues left.

Cut 8 (11) “…approach.”

Under the Trump Administration proposal, the checks would be in lieu of restarting federally boosted unemployment payments.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says a deal can’t be done without another round of aid to state governments, but Graves says current proposals are too weighted towards big states.

Cut 9 (09) “…has.”

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The LHSAA announced this week they are moving the annual Football Prep Classic from the Superdome to Northwestern State in Natchitoches. Due to COVID capacity restrictions and the risk of cancellation, the games have been moved. Northwestern State Athletic Director Greg Burke says they are pleased to be hosting the event.

Cut 10 (10) “…and coaches.”

The championship typically lasts three days but this year will be four days, December 27th through the 30th.

Burke says LHSAA had discussed a while back hosting the prep classic as a back-up and on Tuesday it was official. Burke says despite the short timeline with help from the city they can pull off the event.

Cut 11 (09) “…way possible.”

LHSAA says at Northwestern they’ll be able to sell 4,250 tickets a game for the Prep Classic versus current capacity restrictions at the Dome and the possibility the City of New Orleans might not allow fans in the stadium.

Burke says Northwestern State had record enrollment this fall and hosting the Prep Classic is a perfect opportunity to showcase the campus and recruit students.

Cut 12 (11) “…popular choice.”

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The department of health reported its single highest day number of COVID-19 cases Wednesday with 4,339 new cases. Acadiana Region Medical Director Dr. Tina Stefanski says cases were already on an uptick and now we are beginning to see spikes from Thanksgiving, two weeks ago today.

Cut 13 (12) “…cases reported.”

In addition to the highest daily number of new cases and we are just below the second wave peak of 1,600 hospitalizations at 1,537.  Stefanski says we haven’t seen the full effect of Thanksgiving on our healthcare system.

Cut 14 (09) “…their illness.” 

The availability of COVID vaccines for the general public is still six months away, Stefanski says until then we have to remain diligent.

Cut 15 (09)“…behavior.” 

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Louisiana Tech was scheduled to play Baylor from the Big 12 to open its football season, but that game never happened because of COVID, so it only makes sense that the Bulldogs conclude their regular season by facing TCU on Saturday in a game that was recently scheduled. Coach Skip Holtz on the Horned Frogs

Cut 16 (19) “…football team.”

Holtz calls TCU one of the better teams in the Big 12, even though they are 5-and-4 on the season and unranked. Tech has been playing two quarterbacks. Luke Anthony and Aaron Allen and Holtz say that will not change on Saturday as he wants to continue to develop both guys

cut 17 (19) “…to play.”

Holtz says Anthony will start on Saturday, he considers Aaron Allen a co-starter. Tech enters the game with a 5-and-3 record and he expects to play in a bowl game, but the bowl experience this year will be much different…

cut  18 (22) “…go home.”

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The Saints will visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, who will start rookie Jalen Hurts at quarterback.  Coach Sean Payton says his defense will need to be ready for a different offense due to Hurts’ ability to run the ball.

cut 19 (15) “…hadn’t seen.”

Sunday will be a big game safety Malcolm Jenkins, who’s in his second stint with the Saints, after playing six seasons in Philadelphia. Payton says he regrets letting Jenkins leave after the 2013 season…

cut 20 (11) “…here we go.”

Statewide since our first COVID linked fatality in March, we’ve had enough COVID deaths to fill eight average flu seasons. The numbers come from New Orleans-based data analyst Jeff Asher who says he averaged flu deaths every year from 2012 to 2016 and the average is 765.  Asher says the high number of COVID fatalities came despite a historic effort to prevent the spread.

Cut 4 (09)   “…diseases”  

Can you lose your job if your employer requires a COVID vaccine and you refuse? According to Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino in Louisiana the short answer is yes. He says exceptions would be, for example, if an employee has a collective bargaining agreement, or protected under certain federal laws if they have a disability, a sincere religious belief…

Cut 10 (08) “…accommodation.”

Two are dead and three injured including a four-year-old after a shooting incident in Lacombe Tuesday. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Captain Scott Lee says four people allegedly entered a home with guns, two of them were shot dead, two were injured…

Cut 13 (08) “…recovery.”

LSU freshman Tight End Arik Gilbert is opting out for the remainder of the football season. With all of the opt-outs in college football this season, the mental health of athletes has been in the spotlight, and coach Ed Orgeron says the school does a great job addressing mental health issues.

Cut 8 (12) “…go through”

The state reported the single day highest number of new COVID cases today at 4,339 cases.  Tomorrow will two weeks from Thanksgiving, when health officials urged the public not to gather outside their immediate household to reduce the spread. The state also reports 32 new fatalities, 1,537 are currently hospitalized

New Orleans based data analyst Jeff Asher’s report proves the flu is in no way comparable to COVID. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Two are dead and three injured including a four-year-old after a home invasion and shooting incident in Lacombe Tuesday. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Captain Scott Lee says it’s unclear if any of the alleged home invaders actually fired their weapons. Scott says the incident is still under investigation.

Cut 14 (05) “…scene.” 

Scott says the four-year-old child in the home is expected to recover, but two of the four-armed people who entered the house were fatally shot and the other two wounded.

LSU freshman Tight End Arik Gilbert is opting out of the remainder of the season. While Gilbert has not announced any plans to transfer, Coach Ed Orgeron says LSU will re-recruit him to get him back next season.

Cut 7 (07) “..next year.”

Two are dead and three injured including a four-year-old after a shooting incident in Lacombe Tuesday. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Captain Scott Lee says shortly after 10 AM yesterday deputies were called to the 28-thousand block of Palmer Drive…

Cut 12 (05) “..guns.” 

The four-year-old child in the home is expected to recover. Scott says the homeowner was not struck by gunfire, but two of the four people who entered his house did not leave alive.

Statewide since our first COVID linked fatality in March, we’ve had enough COVID deaths to fill eight average flu seasons. The numbers come from New Orleans-based data analyst Jeff Asher who says he averaged flu deaths every year from 2012 to 2016 and the average is 765.  Asher says the high number of COVID fatalities came despite a historic effort to prevent the spread.

Cut 4 (09)   “…diseases”  

Can you lose your job if your employer requires a COVID vaccine and you refuse? According to Loyola Law professor Dane Ciolino, the short answer is yes because Louisiana is an at-will employment state. Health experts say vaccine mandates are to be expected in professions like healthcare and public education. Ciolino says the courts have already addressed vaccines.

Cut 11 (09) “…apply here.”

LSU freshman Tight End Arik Gilbert is opting out for the remainder of the football season. With all of the opt-outs in college football this season, the mental health of athletes has been in the spotlight, and coach Ed Orgeron says the school does a great job addressing mental health issues.

Cut 8 (12) “…go through”

Can you lose your job if your employer requires a COVID vaccine and you refuse? According to Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino in Louisiana the short answer is yes. He says exceptions would be, for example, if an employee has a collective bargaining agreement, or protected under certain federal laws if they have a disability, a sincere religious belief…

Cut 10 (08) “…accommodation.”

Statewide in the eight and a half months since our first COVID linked fatality, we’ve had enough COVID deaths to fill eight average flu seasons. Those numbers come from New Orleans-based data analyst Jeff Asher who says when extrapolating current rates out to 12 months COVID will likely rival cancer and heart disease deaths.

Cut 3 (10)  “…astounding.”

The state high school football championship games are being moved to Natchitoches and are set to run for four days from December 27^th to 30^th. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”