Temperatures will get into the 40s in north Louisiana today, which should melt away most of the ice from the slick roads, bridges, and overpasses. Meanwhile, gas prices are on the rise and some areas are reporting fuel shortages because deliveries have been delayed. Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman…
cut 5 (10) “…get it delivered”

During an interview with a Washington Post columnist, Governor John Bel Edwards said it was unfortunate the Lafayette City Council voted against a local mask mandate and said the vote shows a failure of leadership. Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory responded by saying the governor has failed to enforce the state’s mask mandate.

The state reported 34 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday, but the number of hospitalized COVID patients has fallen to 806.

Additional 475-thousand Louisiana residents will be eligible to get vaccinated against the coronavirus on Monday. Brooke Thorington has more from Governor Bel Edwards…
voicer 1 (29) “…Brooke Thorington”

As Brooke said, K-through-12 educators are eligible for the vaccine starting on Monday. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says this will go a long way towards getting education back to some sense of normalcy….
cut 7 (07) “…open”
Residents can call 2-1-1 for a vaccine provider near them.

With temperatures dropping below freezing this morning, roads remain very slick in areas where snow and ice are still on the ground. State Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says it will take several hours of temperatures above the freezing mark before the highways are free of ice. Wilson also defends the state’s response in trying to keep the roads open. He says they had 14-hundred workers, primarily in north Louisiana before the storm arrived, salting and brining major roads
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There are many Louisiana residents upset with their power company too as a result of the lengthy outages and rolling blackouts. Public Service Commission Chairman Craig Greene says they will investigate how utility companies handled the winter storms…
cut 11 (09) “…same mistakes”

The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline increased another three-cents overnight to $2.30. The price at the pump has just jumped nearly ten-cents in the last week and Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says this is the type of spike we typically see during hurricane season…
cut 3 (10) “….screeching halt”
Redman says gas prices may increase by another 10-to-15 cents in the coming days.

On Monday, another 475-thousand Louisianans will become eligible for the COVID vaccine. Edwards says the winter storms caused delays in vaccine deliveries and administering doses, so he’s urging those looking to be vaccinated to be patient.
Cut 8 (07) “…not.”
For a list of participating vaccine providers go to CovidVaccine.LA.Gov or call 211.

The Public Service Commission is planning to investigate just how the power situation went so wrong across much of the state this week. Matt Doyle has more.
cut 2 (29) …I’m Matt Doyle”

Cleco reports this morning that about eight thousand of its customers remain without power. Most of those outages are in Rapides and Avoyelles Parishes. Entergy Louisiana is reporting 18-thousand outages. And there’s a freezing fog advisory in effect this morning for all of north Louisiana and as far south as Vernon parish.

State Police and the state department of transportation are warning motorists of black ice this morning in areas of the state where snow and ice are still on the ground. Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says DOTD has used three and a half million pounds of salt and thousands of gallons of brine in an effort to keep the interstates from becoming too slippery…
cut 14 (13) “…in trouble”
Wilson says the snow and ice should melt away later today as temperatures will get into the low to mid-40s in north Louisiana.

The statewide average for a gallon of gasoline has jumped up to $2.30 and Triple-A spokesperson Don Redman says motorists can expect prices at the pump to keep going up….
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Beginning on Monday, K-through 12 teachers will be eligible to be vaccinated. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says it will be up to each school district on how educators and staff can get the vaccine…
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Daycare staff and individuals between the ages of 55-and-64 with certain health conditions are also eligible for the vaccine on Monday.

The CDC has lowered the life expectancy rate in the United States by a full year to 77.8 years old. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community and Population Medicine Doctor Benjamin Springgate says it’s another sign of how deadly the COVID pandemic has been…
cut 8 (09) “…worse”

Governor John Bel Edwards says energy companies did an inadequate job earlier this week in explaining restoration timelines and warning of rolling blackouts. But he also understands the decision to initiate rolling blackouts was made at a level above Entergy, Cleco, or SWEPCO as energy demand soared…
cut 15 (12) “…to do”
Edwards says with another cold morning tomorrow, he’s still asking residents to do their part in conserving energy.

There’s little to no water pressure in Shreveport. That’s wreaking havoc on local hospitals. Willis-Knighton Chief Administrative Officer Brian Crawford says it’s a struggle to stay operational.
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Beginning Monday schoolteachers and staff will be eligible to get vaccinated for COVID. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The state is also expanding COVID vaccine eligibility to daycare staff and Louisianans aged 55 to 64 with certain health conditions. This will bring the total population eligible in Louisiana to nearly one-point-six million people. So far, 271-thousand residents have received both doses.

It’s another below-freezing morning with over 50-thousand utility customers without power. Water pressure is an issue in Lake Charles and Shreveport. In Shreveport, oil tankers full of water, and the National Guard are helping to provide water to hospitals. Willis-Knighton C-A-O Brain Crawford that’s helping them meet basic needs…
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The C-D-C says the U-S Life Expectancy Rate has fallen by one year to just under 78-years-old. The average life span for blacks has dropped by nearly three years and Hispanics two years. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community and Population Medicine Doctor Benjamin Springgate says that’s two races hit hard by the COVID pandemic…
cut 9 (10) “….to die”

Over 50-thousand utility customers woke up today without power as a result of the one-two punch the state received from winter storms. And Power providers continue to ask customers to reduce electricity usage during peak periods through Saturday morning to help prevent further blackouts…
cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

We are looking at one more cold morning tomorrow and then the warmup begins.

Starting Monday, COVID vaccine eligibility increases by another 475-thousand as Louisianans aged 55 to 64 with certain health conditions, pregnant women, daycare staff, and K-through-12 teachers can get the shot. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says each school system will handle how employees will be vaccinated…
cut 12 (10) “…an interest’

The life expectancy rate in the U-S has dropped by one year to 77.8 years, the largest decrease since World War II. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community and Population Medicine Dr. Benjamin Springgate says the COVID pandemic is the main reason for the decrease.
Cut 7 (10) “…even more.”
The report shows the average live span for blacks dropped by nearly three years.

The state is expanding who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Starting Monday, individuals between the ages of 55 and 64 with one or more health conditions, pregnant women and teachers, along with support staff, and daycare workers can get the vaccine. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says allowing K-through-12 employees to get the shot is vital to increase face-to-face instruction…
cut 10 (10) “….open”

Many schools remain closed today, because of extensive power outages across central and north Louisiana. With a couple more cold days coming up, Governor Edwards is asking residents to reduce energy consumption to avoid more rolling blackouts…
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Shreveport has been without water for two days since water mains ruptured due to the winter storm. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”