As we wait on a rollout for a COVID-19 vaccine, the state reported nearly three-thousand new cases and 43 additional deaths today. Hospitalizations also increased by 60 to 1,589.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he will not make it mandatory for people to get a COVID vaccine nor will he provide financial incentives. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”

The state hopes to begin administering vaccine shots to frontline health care workers early next week.

State Police Trooper Jacob Brown of Rayville has been arrested for allegedly using excessive force during an arrest of a black man in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says they first learned of the incident in October when the victim’s attorneys filed a lawsuit…
cut 11 (08) “…his supervisors”
The victim’s attorneys say their client was dragged to the ground and beaten and had to be hospitalized as he’s also a dialysis patient.

The state fire Marshal’s office says over the past two weeks, six people have died in house fires bringing the total to 70 for the entire year. State Fire Marshal’s office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue is urging residents to make sure they have a working smoke detector…
cut 5 (07) “….get out safely”
A fatal fire happened last night in Lafayette, killing a 20-year-old man.

Louisiana Radio Network, I’m Brooke Thorington….
cut 7 (09) “…vaccine”
That’s Governor John Bel Edwards who says the state is set to receive 39-thousand doses of the Pfizer vaccine once the F-D-A signs off on emergency approval.

Louisiana’s Senior Senator reacts to a lawsuit filed by Texas that challenges the election results in four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden…
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

St James Parish’s annual Christmas Eve bonfires on the levee have been extinguished for 2020, due to a high positivity rate of COVID cases. Parish President Pete Dufresne (Duh-fren) says large outdoor events are only permitted if the positivity rate is below 15-percent…
Cut 13 (12) “…St James Parish.”
Each bonfire set has until Wednesday to pick up their materials, anything left behind will be cleared from the levee.

The Brookshire Grocery Arena is the new name for the Bossier City arena that was previously known as the CenturyLink Center. Brookshire Chief Operating Officer Trent Brookshire says he looks forward to the first major event at the entertainment venue once the pandemic ends…
cut 6 (09) “…stands for”
The naming rights deal is for ten years.

The Food and Drug Administration is on the verge of approving emergency use authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Governor John Bel Edwards expects authorization very soon and 39-thousand doses could be administered to frontline healthcare personnel early next week…
cut 8 (11) “…UPS”
But Edwards says it will be months before the vaccines are widely available to the public.

Louisiana A-G Jeff Landry is one of several Attorneys’ general who has filed a legal brief that supports a lawsuit aimed at overturning the Presidential election results in four key swing states. Senator Bill Cassidy has said he has yet to see enough evidence, but maybe this issue needs to go before the Supreme Court…
cut 11 (07) “….be it”

St. James Parish has canceled its annual Christmas Eve bonfires on the levee celebration. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Bossier City arena has a new name as it’s now the Brookshire Grocery Arena as the result of a ten-year naming rights deal. Chief Operating Officer of Brookshire Grocery, Trent Brookshire, on the logo that will be displayed on the arena…
cut 5 (11) “…in Bossier”

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is days away from administering COVID vaccinations. Matt Doyle has the story…
cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The governor also says he will not make it mandatory for people to get a COVID vaccine, but he hopes most Louisiana residents will want it. Edwards says he’s not expecting much resistance early on, since front line health care workers who have been taking care of coronavirus patients are among the first group to get vaccinated.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry joins 16 other Attorneys General in supporting a lawsuit filed by Texas challenging the legitimacy of mail-in ballots in battleground states. Senator Bill Cassidy has tweeted there’s no evidence presented yet that would overturn Joe Biden’s victory, but says it is important for legitimate claims to be fully aired out.
Cut 10 (10) “…issue.”
The lawsuit challenges results in Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The Bossier City arena has a new name as it’s now known as the Brookshire (Brook-shear) Grocery Arena. The Tyler, Texas-based chain replaces CenturyLink as the naming rights sponsor. Brookshire Grocery CEO Brad Brookshire says they are thrilled about this new partnership.
Cut 4 (07) “…the BGA.”
The naming rights deal is for 10 years and it’s the first time the grocery food store chain has purchased the naming rights of a building.

Governor John Bel Edwards says we are days away from the first Louisiana residents receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Edwards says once the F-D-A gives its approval, the state will administer 39-thousand doses to front-line health care workers and nursing home residents…
cut 9 (10) “….number”
The Pfizer vaccine which is close to FDA approval requires a second shot 21 days after the first shot.

A high COVID-19 positivity rate has led to the cancellation of the St. James Parish Christmas Eve bonfires. Parish President Pete Dufrense says they worked diligently on a plan for crowd control, but rising case numbers worked against them…
cut 15 (12) “….manipulated”
There are 1,529 COVID patients in the hospital statewide.

Seventeen Republican Attorneys General have joined a Texas lawsuit challenging election results in four battleground states won by President-elect Joe Biden. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

A State Police Trooper has been arrested for allegedly using excessive force during an arrest in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. 30-year-old Jacob Brown faces one count each of aggravated second-degree battery and malfeasance in office. State Police say they began investigating the incident when they received a civil lawsuit in October alleging Brown engaged in excessive and unjustifiable actions.

Governor John Bel Edwards says it is possible we could be administering COVID vaccines to frontline healthcare workers as early as late this weekend. Edwards says a panel of medical experts has recommended to the FDA that the Pfizer vaccine receive emergency authorization.…
Cut 7 (09) “…vaccine.”
Edwards is hopeful that 159-thousand people could receive the first of their two injections by the end of December.

But a vaccine arriving in Louisiana is not enough to prevent the cancellation of the Christmas Eve bonfires on the levees in St. James Parish. Parish President Pete Dufresne says the parish issued permits for the construction of the bonfires, but that was before cases spiked…
cut 14 (10) “…next week”

Louisiana Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed a legal brief with the U-S Supreme Court urging the Justices to look into the conduct of the Presidential election in Pennsylvania. The document supports a complaint filed by the State of Texas. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy has said Joe Biden won the election and hopes this issue can be settled so that the country can come together again…
cut 12 (12) “….served”
Cassidy says Americans should be able to trust the electoral process, and this issue may need to go before the Supreme Court for that to occur.

The state health department reported its single highest day for the number of new COVID-19 cases yesterday with 4,339. Dr. Tina Stefanski, with the Louisiana Office of Public Health, says cases were already on an uptick and there are even more cases as a result of gatherings on Thanksgiving…
Cut 13 (12) “…cases reported.”

An FDA panel is expected to vote today on whether to authorize Pfizer’s COVID vaccine in the United States. Assistant Dean for Transitional Research at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Doctor Lucio Meile says the panel will review the results of both the FDA’s and Pfizer’s findings on the efficacy and safety of the vaccine…
cut 4 (06) “…granted’
Vaccines could be given out in Louisiana early next week.

LHSAA and Northwestern State officials are expected to meet today about the upcoming Prep Football Classic, which will be held in Natchitoches from December 27th to the 30th. Demons Atheltic Director Greg Burke says they are excited to host the event…
cut 10 (10) “…and coaches”
The LHSAA announced on Tuesday that it’s moving the Prep Classic from New Orleans to Natchitoches.

Will Congress agree on a coronavirus relief bill before the Christmas holiday? There’s a disagreement over whether taxpayers should receive another direct payment and also whether the federal government should provide states with more financial aid. Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves says current proposals are weighted towards bigger states…
cut 9 (09) “…has”