The state health department, following guidance from the CDC and FDA, is stopping the use of the Johnson and Johnson one-dose vaccine while they review data. Brooke Thorington explains
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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A top priority of the 2021 session, a centralized sales tax collection system, receives significant support from the House Ways and Means Committee. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The state department of health is following guidance from the CDC and FDA and halting the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine. Both the CDC and FDA are investigating a possible connection between blood clots and the one-dose vaccine. Tulane School of Medicine Professor Doctor Lisa Morici says six women were diagnosed with blood clots six to thirteen days after their injection.
Cut 3 (10) “…age of 50.”
The six women not only had blood clots in the sinuses of the brain but also appear to have a reduced platelet count.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health 85,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine have been administered, in Louisiana and no reported complications or blood clots.
Morici says this only affects the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, not the others in the U-S, and shouldn’t discourage you from being vaccinated.
Cut 4 (10) “…Pfizer vaccines.”
While the stop usage is receiving lots of attention, Morici says the blood clots could be a result of something else for example smoking and not the vaccine, so it’s important the cases be thoroughly investigated.
Cut 5 (12) “…going forward.”
Morici says once the investigation is completed the CDC and FDA could recommend the use of the vaccine in a particular demographic or stop usage altogether if they do find a link between the vaccine and blood clots.
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House Speaker Clay Schexnayder’s proposal to centralize Louisiana’s sales tax collection system gets positive reviews from a House committee. Schexnayder proposes using a single board to collect local and sales taxes, which would make it easier on small businesses and assure the right amount of taxes is collected…
Cut 6 (10) “.. our job.”
A task force came up with Schexnayder’s centralized sales tax collection proposal. It will need two-thirds support in both the House and Senate and Schexnayder says a constitutional amendment to streamline Louisiana’s sales tax system will appear before the voters in the fall
Cut 7 (07) “…always important.”
Shreveport Representative Tammy Phelps says she supports the idea of a centralized sales tax system, but she’s concerned about whether voters will understand what this proposed constitutional amendment will do
Cut 8 (08) “…laymen terms”
Currently, sales tax is collected by the state as well as individual cities and parishes. The measure was approved on a 14 to 1 vote by the House Ways and Means Committee.
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With Congressional efforts to raise the federal minimum wage dead in the water Governor Edwards is looking to the Legislature to increase the state’s 7.25 an hour minimum this session.
In past years Edwards would put his weight behind a single bill but this time he says he’ll take any raise he can get, even if it’s below his preferred number.
Cut 9 (07) “..sign it.”
Edwards says many essential workers don’t make a living wage, and after everything they’ve done for the state since the start of the pandemic they deserve a raise.
Cut 10 (09) “..needs.”
The minimum wage hasn’t seen a hike since 2008 and Edwards says there’s tons of polling to suggest that raising it in Louisiana is a very popular idea.
Cut 11 (11) “.life.”
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The City of New Orleans will be the backdrop for the first movie production to leave the state of Georgia amid protest of the state’s new voting laws. Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s spokesperson, Beau Tidwell, says the Will Smith feature, Emancipation, is moving to Louisiana.
Cut 12 (12) “…recently.”
Emancipation is a drama based on the true story of an enslaved man who escapes from a plantation during the Civil War and joins the union army. It was scheduled to begin filming near Savannah in June.
Tidwell says this could be the first of many productions leaving Georgia and relocating to Louisiana.
Cut 13 (09)“…have them.”
As for what the economic impact will be on the city, Tidwell says he doesn’t have the numbers yet.
Cut 14 (10) “…update you.”
Emancipation will be the second Apple TV production filmed in Louisiana. The Tom Hanks feature Greyhound was shot in Baton Rouge in 2019