The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s office announces that the murder of two women in Montegut on January 13th was the result of a murder for hire scheme involving three men from Acadiana. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy is one of ten Republican Senators who meets with President Joe Biden this afternoon to discuss the next coronavirus relief bill that Congress hopes to pass. Jeff Palermo has the story

cut 2 (30) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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As the excitement of the vaccine rollout grows, the Better Business Bureau has a warning about sharing a photo of your vaccination card. Baton Rouge Better Business Bureau President, Carmen Million says people like to share about their lives on social media, but sometimes they share too much.

Cut 3 (11)  “…information.”

Million says it’s fine to share that you got your shot and suggests sharing a photo of your sticker that you were vaccinated, just not your actual card that contains personal information.

Cut 4 (08) “…post” 

Another danger in posting your vaccination card on social media, there have been reports of scam artists making copies of the card in Great Britain. Million says you don’t want your information compromised.

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A fatal hit and run on Highway 165 on Friday night claimed the lives of two teenagers and has landed a Monroe man in jail.

State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says 22-year-old Corey Buie was traveling south when he struck two people who were crossing at night. He then left without calling it in…

Cut 6 (08) “…to him.”

The victims have been identified as 17-year-old Brianna Neal and 18-year-old Shedricka Hollins, both of Monroe.

Reichardt says if you strike a pedestrian, even if it may not be your fault, you must call 9-1-1 and wait for the authorities to arrive.

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Both Hollins and Neal were pronounced dead at the scene.

Reichardt says the victims were crossing in the dark, and while crossing streets at well-lit intersections is preferable, if you must cross in a dark area…

Cut 8 (10) “…help.”

The crash remains under investigation and toxicology samples were collected.

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Terrebonne Sheriff Tim Soignet says the murder of two women last month in  Montegut was a murder for hire scheme. Soignet says Beaux Cormier of Kaplan hired two men in an effort to cover up a rape he allegedly committed against a family member…

Cut 9 (09) “… testify.”

Cormier, Andrew Eskine of Carencro, and Dalvin Wilson of Eunice are charged with two counts of first-degree murder. They allegedly murdered Brittany Cormier, Beaux’s sister, and Hope Nettleton on January 13th. The rape victim, Beaux Cormier’s niece was not killed.

Soignet says the Eskine and Wilson confessed to their involvement and learned that the two made previous visits for surveillance and attempted to carry out the murder before but were unsuccessful.

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Nettleton who was visiting struggled with the gunman, and was also killed.

Soignet says they don’t get double homicides often, especially in the small community of Montegut.

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Bond has been set at two-million dollars for each man that has been charged.

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A New Orleans man has been arrested in St. Tammany Parish for allegedly terrorizing his ex-girlfriend through a string of vehicle fires. 62-year-old Michael Jackson is accused of lighting nearly a dozen vehicles on fire on three different occasions across Slidell. State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says all had a common thread…

Cut 12 (07) “helping her” 

The first incident occurred on December 23^rd where three vehicles were burned. January 4^th at the same location three were set ablaze while three others received damage. Finally on Friday Jackson allegedly tracked his ex to a friend’s house where he lit another vehicle on fire. It is believed this harassment goes back to at least October in Jefferson Parish.

Jackson was arrested Saturday, a day after the last incident. St. Tammany Fire Protection District One Assistant Chief for Fire Protection Jason Gobert…

Cut 13 (09)“.gotten.”

Gobert says locking up Jackson has been a relief for the community, and the victim in particular.

Cut 14 (09) “…anymore.” 

Jackson is facing one count of Aggravated Arson and Simple Arson. More charges are expected.

Of the 93-thousand vaccine doses allocated for nursing home residents and staff in the state, only 30-percent have been administered. Jeff Palermo has more.

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Johnson and Johnson’s COVID vaccine has a 66% average efficacy rate worldwide, but it’s 72% in the US and it’s one injection versus two. Taylor Sharp has more.

cut 2 (27) …I’m Taylor Sharp.”  

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Vaccinations among nursing home residents and staff against COVID-19 are moving slowly in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says 28-thousand have been administered so far, just over 19-thousand to residents and almost 9,000 to staff. Kanter says we all wish it was going faster but…

Cut 3 (11)  “…26-percent.”

The vaccine rollout in nursing homes is being conducted by CVS and Walgreens. Kanter says they have made one of the three visits to facilities. On the second visit, they will administer the second dose for those from the first visit and the first dose for those that missed the first visit, and then the third visit for the second shots from the second visit.

Kanter feels the 26% of staff being vaccinated will go up once the rollout conducts their second visit to facilities.

Cut 4 (07) “…lilttle bit” 

Governor Edwards says he’s seen vaccinations among staff almost double on the second visit at Veteran’s Homes and feels that will happen in private nursing homes as well.

Kanter, say 93,600 Moderna vaccine doses have been allocated to a program and so far only 30-percent have been administered.

Cut 5  (12) “…faster.” 

By February 8^th all nursing homes should have their first visit of three completed.

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The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, with help from the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, has submitted a bid to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Regionals in Bossier City. If awarded, the Brookshire Grocery Arena will host 12 teams who will play 10 games over five days in March.  Director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, Kelly Wells, says they’ve worked with the NCAA before.

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Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation President Jay Cicero says New Orleans decided to get involved due to its relationship with the NCAA.

Cut 7 (15) “…twenty-five years.”

New Orleans is set to host it’s sixth men’s Final Four in 2022.

The Shreveport-Bossier area could find out as early as next week whether or not they will host the event.  Wells says proximity to schools makes Bossier City a prime location.

Cut 8 (13) “…prefer to drive.”

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Johnson and Johnson announced today that its one-dose COVID vaccine offers strong protection from the virus with an international average efficacy of 66-percent. Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Doctor Lucio Miele says however in the U-S the efficacy rate is higher.

Cut 9 (11) “… South Africa.”

In addition to being only one injection, Miele says the J&J vaccine does not require cold storage making it ideal for rural areas and for those with access to care issues.

Cut 10 (10) “…readily available.”

Miele says while the vaccine has a 66-percent efficacy rate of preventing moderate to severe illnesses like pneumonia or other breathing difficulties the efficacy of preventing serious illness is 85-percent.

Cut 11 (12) “…moderate.”

Miele says like the Pfizer and Moderna offerings the J & J Vaccine can be updated easily to handle variants of the virus if needed. Johnson and Johnson plans to seek FDA approval next month.

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Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy join 23 other Republican Senators in requesting a meeting with President Biden over concerns involving his recent oil and gas policy.

UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he expects Biden will take this meeting.

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In his first two weeks in office, Biden canceled the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and issued a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters.

Cross says Biden made climate change a priority during his campaign and he does not expect the new President to back off of his positions.

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Cross says because of redistricting and because the states most impacted are deeply red he doubts Biden will pay a price politically for his moves on climate change.

Cut 14 (07) “…support him.”