The U.S. House voted 232 to 197 Wednesday to impeach President Donald Trump with Incitement of Insurrection. The Louisiana Republican Congressional Delegation voted against impeachment, including Metairie Congressman Steve Scalise, who says impeachment will only serve to further divide the nation.
Cut 13 (05) “…ground.”
Scalise says the earliest the Senate could take up Trump’s trial would be January 20th, the day he leaves the Oval Office.

The state’s lone Democratic Congressman, Cedric Richmond of New Orleans, says the President can’t be let off the hook this time.
Cut 14 (09) “…Trump.”
Richmond also accused some of his Republican colleagues of being co-conspirators in the Capitol attack. He did not name any lawmakers by name.

According to the personal finance website WalletHub, the average Louisiana smoker pays out $1.8 million over a lifetime to support their habit….
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Army Corps of Engineers has proposed constructing a 30-mile long Upper Barataria levee system in southeast Louisiana that would protect West Bank residents in six parishes from a so-called 100-year storm. Corps Flood Risk Management Section Chief Travis Creel says the price tag is two billion dollars…
cut 6 (11) “…fail”
The project needs Congress to approve the funding.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the current modified Phase Two COVID public health order for another four weeks. Edwards says that means most businesses will remain limited to 50 percent capacity as the state rides out a third wave of the pandemic.
Cut 13 (07) “…mandate.”
Edwards is asking residents to discontinue small group gatherings which he says is driving the current surge.

Baton Rouge Republican Congressman Garret Graves does not support the House Democrats’ attempt to impeach President Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection.” Graves says the President’s actions before the riot were wrong, but impeachment would further divide a divided country.
Cut 8 (11) “…grandchildren.”

State Police is investigating a fatal police shooting of a man who the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office says shot at their deputies during a standoff. Trooper Jesse LaGrange says the T-P-S-O responded to a home in Montegut in reference to an aggravated assault. He says when deputies arrived, they located the suspect, and they tried to negotiate with him…
cut 3 (09)”…returned fire”
LaGrange says the suspect was struck and transported to a local hospital where he died.

New ULM football coach Terry Bowden has hired former West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona head coach Rich Rodrigeuz as his offensive coordinator. Monroe News Star sports reporter Adam Hunsucker says Rich’s son, former Arizona Quarterback Rhett Rodriguez, is also coming to Monroe..
cut 5 (07) “….be with Terry”

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended Louisiana’s Phase 2 COVID mitigation measures for another 28 days and he strongly recommends that all businesses move to remote work for as many employees as possible. The extension of his public health order means restaurants can maintain 50-percent capacity and Edwards also encourages curbside or delivery service…
cut 15 (07) “….you can”
Doctor Catherine O’ Neal, an infectious disease expert at LSU Health New Orleans says research suggests more than half of COVID-19 transmissions come from people with no symptoms. She says if you’ve been exposed, but not showing symptoms, you need to quarantine for at least seven days and get tested during that time…
cut 8 (08) “…know it”

During the governor’s weekly COVID-19 briefing, State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter gave an update on the status of the state’s COVID vaccination campaign…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU Health Shreveport is administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to individuals over the age of 70 at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds parking lot. They have four lines of vehicles going into a tent and those 70 and over will get a shot in the arm, without having to leave their car. Pre-registration is required at l-s-u-h-s-dot-edu.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the current modified Phase Two COVID public health order for another four weeks. Edwards says that means most businesses will remain limited to 50 percent capacity as the state rides out a third wave of the pandemic.
Cut 13 (07) “…mandate.”
Edwards reiterated previous comments that the state cannot enforce its way to COVID compliance, it needs people to voluntarily follow mitigation measures and discontinue small group gatherings that are driving the current surge.

There are over two-thousand COVID patients hospitalized. Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul Salles encourages social distancing…
Cut 6 (11) “…begin with.”

A study of NCAA athletes supports CDC revised quarantine guidelines when testing is performed during the 5th day or later. Brooke Thorington on how LSU Health New Orleans participated in the study.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

ULM has hired former West Virginia, Michigan, and Arizona Head Coach Rich Rodriguez as its new offensive coordinator. Rich’s son, Rhett Rodriguez, is also transferring from Arizona to compete for the quarterback job.

Louisiana will remain under the current modified Phase Two COVID restrictions for at least another 28 days. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The U-S House is expected to impeach President Donald Trump today for a second time this time under the allegation he incited an insurrection when the U-S Capitol was raided last week. Louisiana Congressmen Steve Scalise and Clay Higgins say they will vote against the impeachment. Congressmen Mike Johnson and Garret Graves have not said how they will vote.

The state health department has reported that 159-thousand COVID-19 vaccines have been administered and 21-thousand individuals have received both doses. The state received 35-thousand doses this week and state health officer Doctor Jospeh Kanter says they are developing better policies to make sure those shots end up in a person’s body…
cut 12 (07) “…lost”
120 vaccine doses were lost as a result of a power outage in Baton Rouge.

Ochsner Health System says they have scheduled 113-thousand vaccine appointments over the next two months. Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul Salles says if you are 70 and over and wishing to get vaccinated, schedule an appointment
Cut 4 (09) “…as they can.”
Salles says the Louisiana Health Department will expand eligibility in phases as the state gets more vaccines so check the L-D-H’s website for updates.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions for another 28 days and he’s urging businesses to have their employees work from home if possible…
cut 14 (11) “….region”
Edwards says every region of the state has a positivity rate above ten percent. The governor says there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that is the vaccine.

The state health department reports just under 140-thousand COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says 210 pharmacies and other providers received over 38-thousand doses of the vaccine this week, but unfortunately…
cut 10 (09) “…next week”
He says that’s due to the slow pace of vaccine allocations by the feds. This week the number spiked as Louisiana freed up more vaccines held in reserve.

A study of NCAA athletes and the length of COVID quarantine supports the CDC revised quarantine guidelines from 14 to 10 days after a negative test on the 5th day or later. Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Catherine O’Neal co-authored the study.
Cut 7 (09) “…fairly low.”
The analysis showed that nearly 49-percent of the positive test results occurred by day two of quarantine and by day five for 73-percent of the athletes.