Starting Monday, more Louisianans will be eligible to get a Moderna COVID vaccine. Matt Doyle has the story…

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Casinos in Louisiana were cold in 2020 with the pandemic and competition from other states.  Brooke Thorington has more.

cut 2 (32) ….I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue urges residents to practice fireworks safety tonight. She says never light fireworks when you are impaired and light them on a steady non-combustible surface for example concrete or asphalt.

Cut 3 (11)  “…your hand.”

With rain in the forecast, some might attempt to light fireworks from a garage, carport, or patio, Rodrigue says that’s a bad idea, you should light them 200 feet away from property.

Cut 4 (08)        around” 

Rodrigue says never allow children to handle fireworks, even sparklers.

Disposal of fireworks is also important, but sure to wet them down after use and put them away from anything flammable.

Cut 5  (11) “…catch fire.” 

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2020 will be remembered for the COVID-19 pandemic and hurricanes. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Laura left a major mark on the state when it made landfall in Cameron Parish on August 27th as a strong Category four with 150 miles per hour winds

Cut 6 (09) “..170 years.”

Laura caused massive destruction in southwest Louisiana and significant wind damage in central and north Louisiana. At least 28 deaths in Louisiana were attributed to Laura. Keim says there was also Hurricane Delta in the second week of October and Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Terrebonne Parish a few days before Halloween

Cut 7 (07) …October 28th”

Keim says it’s highly unlikely the 2021 hurricane season will match what we saw this year…

Cut 8 (14) “…improbable.”

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Starting Monday, a very limited supply of vaccine doses will be available for Louisiana residents 70 years and older and additional healthcare workers. Governor John Bel Edwards says this new “Group 1B” includes about 640,000 people on top of the 250,000 people who are currently eligible.

Cut 9 (09) “..simultaneously”

That expanded group of healthcare workers includes schools of allied health students, residents, and staff, home healthcare workers, ambulatory, outpatient, medical, dental, and behavioral health clinic workers.

About 100 pharmacies across the state will receive Moderna doses, but Edwards says if you’re in Group 1B you’ll have to get an appointment to receive one…

Cut 10 (10) “..group.”

They will release the names of those pharmacies, along with contact information on the Louisiana Department of Health website Monday.

Edwards warns this is just the beginning of vaccinations for this new group so it may take you a while to get an appointment to receive one.

Cut 11 (11) “..week.”

He notes once we receive more vaccines the next group up will be essential workers like teachers and grocery store employees.

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The Louisiana casino industry had a difficult 2020 with forced closures for almost two months, reduced capacity and one casino shut its doors for good.  Louisiana Casino Association Executive Director Wade Duty says this will result in a loss of taxes revenues for the state

Cut 12 (09) “…100-million.” 

Non-gaming losses include revenue from concerts, restaurants, and bars at casino venues. Duty says even with the gaming numbers showing a rebound of 75 to 85-percent since reopening, being unable to offset non-gaming revenue, the industry continues to struggle.

Cut 13 (07)“…sectors”

Diamond Jacks in Bossier City was the casino that closed this year and the Isle of Capri in Lake Charles has yet to reopen from hurricane damage. Duty says casinos are anxious for legal sports betting to take place in Louisiana, but the state legislature has to establish regulations and a tax structure.

Cut 14 (10) “…realistic one.” 

Duty says Louisiana casinos were suffering from competition in neighboring states before the pandemic and COVID restrictions only added to the downturn. He also says many players, especially seniors have been reluctant to return to casinos since they reopened.

After a historic number of jobs lost and more of the working poor applying, approximately 39 percent of the population in Louisiana has Medicaid coverage now. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The Alexandria Senior High football team is competing for their first state championship in school history when they take on top-seeded Carencro tonight.  Taylor Sharp has the story.

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A committee advising the CDC has laid out its recommendations for what groups should be next to get their COVID vaccinations in 2021. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Medicaid enrollment increased by 208-thousand in Louisiana this year alone and now approximately 1.8 million receive Medicaid benefits or 39-percent of the state’s population. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says the pandemic’s effect on the economy forced many to seek coverage.

Cut 4 (09) “…insurance.”

Medicaid enrollment in Louisiana been increasing since 2016 when Medicaid expansion allowed the working poor to qualify for coverage. Moller says with the pandemic highlighting the importance of medical coverage it also prompted those with low-paying jobs to seek coverage.

Moller says another reason more people are on Medicaid because early in the pandemic Congress passed The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act.

Cut 5 (10) “…coverage.”

Moller noted in addition to a historic number of jobs lost during the pandemic, thousands also dropped out of the labor force to take care of children at home when schools closed or went virtual. He says Medicaid is serving its purpose.

Cut 6 (12) “…supposed to do.”

According to the state department of health, approximately 160-thousand currently covered by Medicaid are ineligible and the department is working with the federal government on how to end coverage once the federal public health emergency ends.

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Alexandria will be looking to make history tonight when they take on Carencro for the state championship.  A win would give the team their first state title in school history.  Head coach Thomas Bachmann says his team making it to the title game proves the doubters wrong.

Cut 7 (13)  “…be done.”

Bachmann says establishing a culture and setting high expectations has been vital to his team’s postseason run.

Cut 8 (11) “…accomplish.”

Bachmann credits his team’s success this season to the number of leaders he has on this year’s squad.

Cut 9 (08) “…character.”

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With Phase One of COVID vaccinations underway to frontline healthcare workers, nursing home staff and residents, many are wondering who’s next up to get their shots in 2021.

A CDC advisory committee suggests group 1B should cover frontline essential workers and those over 75. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the state is crafting its own plan, but…

Cut 10 (04) “…recommended.”

Group 1C covers the rest of essential workers and those over 65, plus people with health conditions that can lead to more severe COVID-19 cases.

Those 1C and 1B groups include hundreds of thousands of Louisianans. Kanter says it’s likely the percentage of our population in those groups will be higher than the national average.

Cut 11 (04) “…metrics.”

Governor Edwards says those with end-stage renal disease who receive regular dialysis treatments have already begun receiving the vaccine ahead of their CDC recommended schedule.

Unfortunately, Kanter says we can’t pinpoint an exact date yet for when the state will move out of Phase One vaccinations and into Phase 1B.

Cut 12 (06) “…we get.”

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Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has died from COVID-19 at the age of 41. Letlow, who was was elected to Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district earlier this month, died at Ochnser-LSU Health Shreveport last night after spending ten days in the hospital. Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is devasted. Senior Senator Bill Cassidy released a video message on Twitter…

Cut 13 (12) “…in your prayers.”

Letlow’s death came on a day when the state surpassed seven-thousand confirmed COVID deaths. Cassidy says COVID can kill anyone…

Cut 14 (06) “…it can.” 

Letlow was set to be sworn in next week, as he was replacing Ralph Abraham. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. Cassidy asks residents to pray for the Letlow family…

Cut 15 (08)“…we should do.”

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The New Orleans Saints will wrap up the regular season on Sunday as they travel to take on the Carolina Panthers.  Despite the team’s success this year, quarterback Drew Brees says, they need to fine-tune some things before the playoffs.

Cut 16 (11) “…the field.”

Brees believes a good performance on Sunday is vital because he wants the team to be playing its best once the post-season arrives.

Cut 17 (10) “improve.”

The Saints have locked up a spot in the playoffs but are still fighting for the number-one seed.  Linebacker Demario Davis says the team has been in a playoff mindset for weeks now and needs to win on Sunday.

Cut  18 (12) “…the playoffs.”