Governor John Bel Edwards expects the state will begin COVID vaccinations within 48 hours of receiving its first shipment. Edwards says health care workers are the first priority…
cut 8 (14) “…EMS workers”
Edwards says the first shipment of vaccines could arrive at the end of this week, 39-thousand of them, 40-thousand more vaccines could arrive the following week.

Data from the U-S Census Bureau shows the marriage rate in Louisiana has fallen from 17.6 in 2009 to 14.1 in 2019. LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Clinical Psychiatry Doctor Richard Costa says many millennials are not getting hitched after watching their parents get divorced…
cut 13 (10) “…family unit”
The Census Bureau says the marriage rate has also fallen nationally, along with the divorce rate in Louisiana and across the country.

The state high school football championships are moving from New Orleans to Natchitoches and the nine title games will be played at Turpin Stadium from December 27th to the 30th. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says the association’s executive committee made this difficult decision over concerns fans might not be allowed inside the Superdome…
cut 12 (11) “….verses not”
Turpin Stadium’s capacity is 15,500 so Bonine expects to sell a maximum of 4,250 tickets per game.

The Louisiana Department of Education says 26-hundred of its teachers and principals have participated in workshops to help provide better virtual instruction to students…
cut 4 (10) “…support teachers”
Assistant Superintendent of Training and Learning, Doctor Jessica Chaisson, says the department has offered two series of workshops, a three-part online training series and the other is a series of webinars to enhance a teacher’s digital learning skills with the help from Google.

During a White House Coronavirus event, Governor John Bel Edwards said the state is planning on receiving 79-thousand COVID vaccinations, with the possibility of 39-thousand doses arriving this week. Edwards says the first priority is hospital workers and then nursing home residents. He says the state also plans to reach underserved communities…
cut 9 (13) “….vaccinations”

The state department of education says over 25-hundred teachers and principals have participated in digital education workshops. Assistant Superintendent of Training and Learning Doctor Jessica Chaisson says these educators also have free access to self-study modules…
cut 5 (09) “…virtual setting”

The state high school football championship games are being moved to Natchitoches and are set to run for four days from December 27th to the 30th. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans is undergoing a name change. It’s part of a 325-million dollar renovation that will turn the building on Canal Street into a casino-hotel called Caesars New Orleans. The plan is to construct a 340-room hotel tower by 2024, along with other expanded amenities at the state’s lone land-based casino.

Governor John Bel Edwards said at the White House Coronavirus vaccine summit that he expects the state will have 79-thousand vaccine doses during the first two weeks of distribution and the first 39-thousand could arrive this week. Edwards says healthcare workers at hospitals and then nursing home residents will get the first shots…
cut 7 (13) “…that confidence”

High School football championship games will be played in Natchitoches later this month, not New Orleans. L-H-S-A-A Director Eddie Bonine says the association’s executive committee decided to move the prep classic over concerns of more stringent capacity restrictions at the Dome…
cut 10 (06) “…Natchitoches”
The Prep Classic will run from December 27th to the 30th.

Virtual instruction is a new normal at Louisiana schools and the state department of education announces over 25-hundred of their educators have participated in digital education workshops. Brooke Thorington has more…
cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The state health department reported the largest one day increase in the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital since April. Hospitalizations increased by 92 to 1,516. The state also reported 24-hundred new coronavirus cases and 45 deaths bringing Louisiana’s death toll to 6,652.

Louisiana dry ice manufacturers are preparing for the rollout of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”

Ochsner Hospital for Children is one of 24 systems around the nation that’s been selected to participate in a Pfizer COVID vaccine trial for children ages 12 to 17. Ochsner Principal Investigator, Doctor Julia Garcia-Diaz on why a trial is needed involving just kids.
cut 14 (07) “….works”
Garcia says the goal is to enroll about two-thousand children nationwide.

Georgia native and LSU freshman tight end Arik Gilbert is reportedly home sick and looking to transfer. This latest news is another troubling sign for a program that seems to be falling apart. LSU still has two more games left on its schedule and Athletics Director Scott Woodward has said the Tigers are also interested in playing in a bowl game. But Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says this program is ready for the offseason to start…
Cut 11 (08) “…with staff.”

LSU Interim President Thomas Galligan says they are waiting for an out of state law firm to complete its investigation into how the school has handled claims of sexual misconduct. In many cases, former LSU football players were involved. Some details have come out and there are students who believe some LSU administrators should be fired, but Galligan says…
cut 8 (10) “…right”
Husch Blackwell says it will complete its investigation in February.

The state health department has adopted the revised COVID quarantine guidelines. So Doctor Tina Stefanski, with the state office of public health, says if you’ve been exposed to COVID, you should quarantine for ten days as opposed to 14 days…
cut 5 (11) “…zero risk”
Stefanski says if you show no symptoms and after five days test negative, you can leave quarantine after seven days.

The state department of corrections says it has a brand new Louisiana Reentry Workforce Job Portal aimed at connecting potential employers with highly-trained inmates reentering society. Assistant Secretary for Reentry Rhett Covington says the post-release job program is the first of its kind and takes advantage of the over 1,300 certifications inmates have received in the last two years.
Cut 12 (08) “…that way.”
The portal is being promoted by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.

Congressman Mike Johnson says the FCC is investing $342 million over the next decade to bring broadband internet to almost 176-thousand residents in rural Louisiana. Johnson says the FCC’s Rural Digital Opportunity Fund will allow existing telecommunications companies to access this funding…
Cut 13 (11) “…service.”

Governor Edwards will be at the White House this afternoon to participate in a COVID-19 vaccine summit. The summit will feature President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence to discuss how the vaccine will be produced and distributed. Edwards is expected to provide his perspective on Louisiana will distribute and adminster the COVID vaccine.

Meanwhile, the state health department adopts new CDC quarantine guidelines…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

LSU interim president Thomas Galligan says they’ve handed over 60 files to a law firm that’s been hired to look into how the university has handled accusations of sexual misconduct and sexual violence involving students…
cut 9 (08) “…for them”
Many of the allegations are against former LSU football players, notably ex- running back Derrius Guice. They were brought to light in an investigative piece written by the USA Today.

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson announces the federal government will invest more than 342-million dollars over the next ten years to expand broadband access to 176-thousand Louisianians in rural areas. Johnson says some view bringing high-speed internet to rural areas as the equivalent of providing electricity and telephone service in the 18 and 19-hundreds.
Cut 14 (06) “…21st century.”
The funding will be distributed through the F-C-C’s newly-established Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.

The state health department says it’s following the C-D-C’s lead and relaxing its COVID-19 quarantine guidelines. The policy extends to schools as well so many teachers and students would only have to quarantine for seven days instead of 14 days if they are exposed to COVID-19, but test negative after five days. Regional public health director for Acadiana, Doctor Tina Stefanski…
cut 6 (10) “…wearing masks”

Here’s some good news, especially in this world of virtual learning. Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson announces the federal government will invest 342-million dollars over the next ten years to expand broadband access in rural Louisiana…
cut 15 (08) “…too long”
Johnson says the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund will help provide broadband to nearly 176-thousand Louisianians.

The fallout from a USA Today report detailing mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations at LSU continues as the school hands over 60 plus case files containing allegations to a firm investigating the situation. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

LSU could be losing another one of its playmakers on offense. Freshman tight end Arik Gilbert is reportedly homesick and the Georgia native is set to transfer.

The Monroe News-Star reports Grambling Coach Broderick Fobbs and former Ragin Cajuns Coach Mark Hudspeth could be candidates for ULM’s head coaching vacancy.