The state health department is holding mass vaccination events with the one-dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine. The clinics begin today at the Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, the Shrine on Airline in Metairie, the Lake Charles Civic Center and the St. Tammany Physicians Network in Madisonville. For a list of mass vaccination, events go to the department of health’s website.

Phase Three allows restaurants to move to 75 percent capacity but industry advocates say that will not be enough to save many teetering eateries…
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has ended the search for new voting machines as there were complaints coming in from Republican lawmakers and vendors. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt says the search was used outdated requirements that didn’t take into account modern threats…
cut 8 (09) “….standards”
Those new federal standards were adopted just weeks after the process began.

An Ambert alert that was issued yesterday for two missing Ponchatoula boys has been canceled after the children were found unharmed in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy James Travis says the children were reported missing Tuesday and the Amber Alert was issued Wednesday…
cut 15 (07) “…Ambert Alert”
The children’s mother is the kidnapping suspect. Authorities are still searching for 38-year-old Shawntel Heck.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has ended the search for new voting machines amidst complaints about the bid process from fellow Republican lawmakers. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt sent Ardoin a letter asking him to restart the procurement process for new machines with more legislative, public, and expert input on best practices for purchasing voting machines.
Cut 7 (03) “…cheat.”
Two vendors also filed complaints against the Secretary of State.

The search continues for a mother who allegedly kidnapped her two boys from Ponchatoula. An Amber Alert was issued for a vehicle that the children were riding in. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Chief Deputy James Travis says the vehicle was found in Santa Rosa County, Florida…
cut 14 (06) “…on foot
The mother has been identified as 38-year-old Shawntel Heck. Travis says the children were unharmed.

State Police is investigating a fatal police shooting that occurred in Abbeville yesterday afternoon. The episode began when a Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s deputy attempted to serve a protective order, when a suspect began shooting at officers. State Police say a deputy was shot and the suspect was fatally shot while aiming a rife at law enforcement. The wounded deputy has reportedly been released from the hospital.

Redistricting of Louisana’s Congressional districts may have to wait until next year. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (30) “…Brooke Thorington.”

Two young boys from Ponchatoula have been found safe in Santa Rosa County, Florida after they were reported missing. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Chief Deputy James Travis says the eight and four-year-old were located yesterday afternoon after an investigation determined it was their mother, 38-year-old Shawntel Heck, was the one who took the boys after their father left them briefly in his car.
Cut 13 (10) “…children.”
While the boys are safe, the search continues for Shawntel Heck.

Redistricting was expected to be done this year, but House Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski says the state will wait until next year to redraw political boundaries because the 2020 Census numbers will not come in until the fall…
cut 4 (09) “…calendar”

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has ended the search for new voting machines amidst an outcry over the process. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Our neighbors in Texas and Mississippi are dropping their mask mandates but Louisiana won’t be following suit. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”

An Amber Alert remains active for a missing eight-year-old and four-year-old from Ponchatoula. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office says Kaesyn Heck and Jax Matthews were inside their father’s vehicle when it was stolen from his home. The vehicle is a maroon 2013 Hyundai Elantra with a busted sunroof.

The state health department reported 582 new cases of COVID-19 today and 21 more deaths. The number of COVID patients in the hospital fell by 41 to 588. Some people have tried a drug used on horses called ivermectin to treat COVID symptoms. But the Director of the Louisiana Poison Control Center Doctor Mark Ryan says taking this drug without oversight from a physician could be dangerous…
cut 13 (08) taking it”

If you are veteran living in southwest Louisiana, an option for free burial is the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, which was dedicated in Jennings a year ago. Cemetery director Dwayne Guidry says if any vets are interested, just reach out to the Southwest Louisiana Veterans cemetery…
cut 11 (10) “…a spot”

Louisiana returns to Phase 3 coronavirus restrictions today which means restaurants can return to 75-percent capacity and capacity limits on places of worship have been lifted. Louisiana bars can also reopen indoors. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says the announcement is encouraging and he hopes the vaccination rollout continues to ramp up…
cut 12 (07) “…your community”

Under the phase three order, live music can return to indoor locations, but they’ll have to follow a list of requirements put together by the State Fire Marshal’s office. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says venues must have six air exchanges per hour to qualify…
cut 14 (09) “…difficult”
And No dance floors are allowed.

The New Orleans Archdiocese advise Catholics not to take the Johnson and Johnson vaccine due to its use of abortion-derived cells in the manufacturing process. Governor John Bel Edwards, a practicing Catholic, says Louisianans should take whatever vaccine they are first offered and in some cases you will not have a menu of vaccines to choose from
Cut 9 (10) “…locations.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says he can not support the COVID relief bill approved by the House because it funds projects that have nothing to do with the virus, like a subway system in San Francisco and a bridge in upstate New York. He says the COVID relief bill could force the nation into a state of inflation…
cut 5 (10) “….like that”

Cassidy says he supports direct payments to taxpayers.

Louisiana moves back to phase three coronavirus restrictions today, which means a majority of businesses, including restaurants and salons, can operate at 75-percent capacity and bars can operate at 25-percent capacity. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack…
cut 10 (09) “…enough”
The statewide mask mandate remains in place.

The phase three order also allows for live music indoors, but strict regulations must be followed that have been put in place by the State Fire Marshal. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the experience will not be what it was pre-pandemic…
cut 15 (06 “…congregate”
Browning says a 20-foot separation between the stage and audience and a strong H-VAC system must in place.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on the Senate to pass a one-point-nine trillion-dollar COVID-19 relief bill, but Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said he can’t get support the bill, because it contains funding that has nothing to do with the virus…
cut 1 (31) “….Brooke Thorington”

An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing eight-year-old and four-year-old from Ponchatoula. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office says Kaesyn Heck and Jax Matthews were inside their father’s vehicle when it was stolen from his home. The vehicle is a maroon 2013 Hyundia Elantra with a Louisiana license plate of 153AFD.

Louisiana returns to Phase 3 coronavirus restrictions today which means restaurants can return to 75-percent capacity and capacity limits on places of worship have been lifted. Louisiana bars can also reopen indoors. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says the announcement is encouraging and he hopes the vaccination rollout continues to ramp up…
cut 12 (07) “…your community”

Under the phase three order, live music can return to indoor locations, but they’ll have to follow a list of requirements put together by the State Fire Marshal’s office. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says venues must have six air exchanges per hour to qualify…
cut 14 (09) “…difficult”
And No dance floors are allowed. New Orleans remains in modified phase two for a little while longer.

The New Orleans and Baton Rouge Archdiocese are advising Catholics not to take the Johnson and Johnson vaccine due to its use of abortion-derived cells in the manufacturing process. Governor John Bel Edwards, a practicing Catholic, says Louisianans should take whatever vaccine they are first offered.
Cut 7 (10) “…vaccines.”
Edwards says he looked at documents from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Vatican sources before coming to the conclusion that Catholics should take the J&J vaccine.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says he can not support the COVID relief bill approved in the House because it funds projects that have nothing to do with the virus, like a subway system in San Francisco and a bridge in upstate New York. He says the COVID relief bill could force the nation into a state of inflation…
cut 5 (10) “….like that”