Matt Doyle spoke with Republican House Minority Whip Steve Scalise about President-elect Joe Biden’s proposed 1.9 trillion dollar economic stimulus and COVID relief plan…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Pointe Coupee Parish native Lieutenant General Russel Honore will oversee the investigation of  Capitol security after the January 6^th riot where protesters stormed the building. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The Louisiana Department of Health reports the first confirmed case of the more infectious U.K. variant of coronavirus in the state. Matt Doyle has the story.

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The incoming Biden Administration has proposed its first priority for the Democratic-controlled Congress, a 1.9 trillion dollar COVID relief and economic stimulus plan.

A 350 billion dollar chunk of that would assist local and state governments who have seen their budgets battered by COVID. Republican Congressman, and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise…

Cut 4 (10) “…COVID”

The proposal also includes upping federally boost unemployment payments from 300 dollars to 400 dollars a week and extending them, along with the eviction moratorium, through the end of September.

The plan also includes big expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and a 1,400 dollar stimulus check. Scalise calls the big-spending so soon after December’s COVID bill unnecessary.

Cut 5 (12) “…approach.”

Also included is a call for an increase in the minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour, and an end to the tipped minimum wage. Scalise says that would end up sending a lot of jobs to China.

Cut 6 (09) “…workforce

Democrats hold a slim majority in both the House and Senate and could pass the proposal along party lines.

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Lieutenant General Russel Honore has been appointed to oversee the investigation of Capitol Security after protestors stormed the building on January 6^th. LSU Communications Professor Bob Mann says the Pointe Coupee Parish native, is by far the best choice.

Cut 7 (10)  “…sees them.”

Honore is best known for the leadership he provided as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, following the historic hurricane in 2005. He retired from the Army in 2008. Mann says his retirement will assist with the investigation.

Cut 8 (10) “…in this.”

Mann says the investigation requires the combined efforts of several law enforcement agencies and Honore’s experience in chaos and respect from both political parties makes him ideal for the job.

Cut 9 (10) “…as Honore.”

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi named Honore to the position on Friday calling for an immediate review of the Capitol’s security infrastructure, and interagency processes and procedures. 

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Louisiana has discovered its first case of the new, more infectious U.K. variant of the coronavirus.

The new variant is about 50 percent more infectious than the dominant strain in the state right now, but LSU Health New Orleans Assistant Dean of Translational Science Lucio Miele says viruses have evolutionary pressure to grow more infectious…

Cut 10 (07) “…month”

The CDC warns the UK variant will likely become the dominant strain of coronavirus in the U.S. by March.

Miele says this is one of several new branches of the virus that have been discovered in recent months. They all share one thing in common…

Cut 11 (07) “..spreading.”

The Louisiana Department of Health reports they are trying to isolate those who’s been in contact with the new mutation, but it is likely that strain is already circulating through the state.

Miele says the good news is that so far it looks like our vaccines protect against the new strain, and if the virus mutates further they’ll be ready to respond…

Cut 12 (09) “…infectious.”

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The Saints season is over and a Hall of Fame career could be over too. In the third matchup of the season, Tampa Bay got the better of New Orleans beating the Black and Gold 30-20 in what could be quarterback Drew Brees’ final game. It was a difficult year for Brees and another tough home playoff loss, but he’s happy for the journey

Cut 13 (12) “….given to me”

Brees was asked in the postgame if this was his last game, but the 42-year-old was not ready to announce a decision on Sunday night. If this was a Brees’ final game, it ends with him throwing three interceptions

Cut 14 (13) “…those turnovers.” 

The Saints had four turnovers on the night and it led to 21 Tampa Bay points. Coach Sean Payton says it’s hard to win postseason games when you do that

Cut 15 (14)“…to win.”

Payton and Brees arrived in New Orleans together in 2006 as the city was just beginning its long recovery from Hurricane Katrina. The two guided New Orleans to the NFC Championship game that season and won a Super Bowl three seasons later. Payton was asked about what Brees has meant to the organization, but the coach says he can give that answer in the future

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Louisiana Tech’s Forever Loyal Campaign proves donors are Forever Generous by exceeding their goal and raising $171 million. Brooke Thorington has more.

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State and federal law enforcement agencies say they are prepared for this weekend’s planned demonstrations and will be monitoring the situation at the State Capitol. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) ….I’m Matt Doyle”  

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So far only one Louisianan has been arrested for participating in the riot at the Capitol last week, 50-year-old Vaughn Gordon of Lafayette.

Gordon isn’t accused of being violent, only of misdemeanors, but legal analyst Tim Meche says everyone at the Capitol that day who gets caught will pay a price…

Cut 3 (12)  “..accountable”

One police officer was beaten to death with a fire extinguisher and another committed suicide several days after. Federal prosecutors also allege some involved in the riot were actively plotting to assassinate elected officials.

Gordon got charged after admitting to the Advocate that he was inside the Capitol that day as part of the protest. There’s also a video circulating of Gordon discussing the day…

Cut 4 (08) “…happening” 

Gordon told the Advocate that he was able to wander the Capitol for nearly two hours, but says he didn’t vandalize anything and remained peaceful.

Meche says Gordon may not be the only Bayou State native who gets arrested…

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Gordon was charged Thursday with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, and one count of demonstrating in the Capitol.

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Louisiana Tech’s Forever Loyal Campaign and exceeded its goal and raised more than $171 million for the University.  LA Tech President Dr. Les Guice says the campaign which began November 2018 originally set out to raise $125 million.

Cut 6 (10) “..raise funds”

Guice credits the Loyal Tech family, who has been impacted by the University for the success of the campaign.

Guice says the funds have already been used to assist students and they have other infrastructure projects are the works.

Cut 7 (11) “…needs.”

The La Tech campus was heavily damaged on April 25^th of 2019, by an EF3 tornado, the majority of that damage was to athletic facilities. Guice says the unfortunate event spurred donations to the campaign.

Cut 8 (12) “…they say.”

Guice says parts of that significant donation of $1-million went towards helping students and staff who were affected by the tornado.

More than 23,500 donors made more than 100-thousand individuals donations.

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Governor Edwards asks everyone participating in this weekend’s protests to stay peaceful and follow the law.

Law enforcement agencies report they will be closely monitoring demonstrations at the State Capitol this weekend. Edwards says the state will protect your right to protest, but not to riot.

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State Police and other law enforcement agencies including the FBI released a joint statement saying they are monitoring the situation but have not identified any specific or substantiated threat to life or property.

Edwards touted the fact that election protestors have been holding demonstrations at the State Capitol for weeks without issue, hopes they will continue to do so, and not behave like the Capitol Hill mob.

Cut 10 (10) “…The United States.”

Federal Prosecutors now allege the some involved in the Capitol Hill mob intended to capture and assassinate specific elected officials.

Edwards asks anyone attending a protest this weekend to wear a mask.

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The Saints and Buccaneers will meet for a third time on Sunday in the NFC Divisional Round playoff game. In the two regular-season meetings, the Saints allowed just 13 points a game and they’ve intercepted Bucs Quarterback Tom Brady five times. Brady has a lot of respect for the New Orleans defense

Cut 12 (11) “…long time” 

Tampa Bay finished the regular season with the N-F-L’s number one rush defense. Saints Offensive tackle Terron Armstead on what the Buccaneers do well….

Cut 13 (12)“..run game”

This will be the third meeting this season between the Saints and Buccaneers. Armstead says they’ll stick with what they’ve done all season…

Cut 14 (09) “.a way to win.”