A new poll shows 68 percent of Louisianans believe using or possessing marijuana should not be illegal. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Ochsner Health’s 24-hour Vaccine Fest in Jefferson Parish is underway providing convenience and a festival-like atmosphere. Brooke Thorington explains.
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68 percent of Louisianans support decriminalizing marijuana use and possession according to a new poll, a nine percent increase from last year. JMC Analytics pollster John Couvillon says support for legalization cuts across all partisan, racial, and gender lines.
The only demographic group that consistently opposes legalization is those over the age of 65.
Couvillon says one good reason why support jumped so drastically this year likely has to do with the state’s legalization of medicinal marijuana.
Another reason? Couvillon says the Regan era “Just Say No” campaign has faded from memory.
Couvillon says this widespread support for decriminalization and legalization hasn’t translated into successful legislation.
The poll features responses from 1,160 individuals with a margin of error of 2.9 percent.
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With all Louisianans 16 and older now eligible for the COVID vaccine, newly elected Congresswoman Julia Letlow is encouraging residents to be vaccinated. Letlow lost her 41-year-old husband Luke Letlow to COVID in December, just days before he was to be sworn-in to congress.
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Luke Letlow was diagnosed with COVID in December shortly after he was elected to the 5th Congressional District and then died from complications of the virus on December 29th. His wife Julia Letlow who was then elected to the congressional seat says as someone who’s been personally affected by COVID loss she’s an advocate for the vaccine.
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Julia Letlow will be sworn-in after her election is certified by the state.
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If you miss live music and need to be vaccinated, then Ochsner Health has the event for you. Vaccine Fest is underway until 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Shrine on Airline in Jefferson Parish. Ochsner Health Medical Director of Infection Prevention Dr. Katherine Baumgarten says they have plenty of entertainment for the 24-hour event.
They will be administering the Moderna for ages 18 and older.
Baumgarten says they will be administering 6,500 doses and they have plenty of appointments available. You can visit MyOchsner.org to schedule a time or…
They are also encouraging participants to share their vaccine experience on social media and use the hashtag #VaxFest. Baumgarten says they chose to hold a 24-hour event to allow essential workers the opportunity to be vaccinated.
Participants will be scheduled for their second dose of the Moderna vaccine on Wednesday, April 28th from 6 a.m. until midnight.
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Police are searching for the driver of a Ram pickup truck who struck a bicyclist in St. Landry Parish Sunday morning and fled the scene.
That hit and run led to a series of events resulting in the death of 24-year-old Ryan Fontenot of Breaux Bridge. State Police Trooper Thomas Gossen says Fontenot was struck initially as he was turning into Acadian Medical Center…
That second impact was ultimately fatal to Fontenot. That driver did remain at the scene.
Gossen urges anyone with information about this crash to contact their local authorities.
Gossen says Fontenot likely would still be alive today had the driver of the first vehicle not fled the scene.