Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says jets carrying the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are flying to locations where they can be first given to frontline workers and also nursing home residents. Cassidy says Pfizer’s vaccine must be stored at very low temperatures and only a few sites in Louisiana have that capability…
cut 8 (09) “…distribution”

A vaccine being available soon is welcome news to many. COVID Deaths are up to 6,194 in Louisiana. Early in the pandemic around 70-percent of fatalities from COVID in the state were among blacks now it’s 44-percent. Doctor Corey Herbert credits outreach from the Louisiana Health Equity Task Force.
Cut 6 (10) “…many myths.”

The U-S Supreme court is hearing oral arguments at this hour in a case out of Louisiana that seeks to undo split jury verdicts. Baton Rouge attorney Andre Belanger says all past non-unanimous convictions deserve a second look based on a recent ruling that non-unanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional…
cut 11 (09) “….juries”
Louisiana’s constitution didn’t require a unanimous verdict until 2019 and the state Attorney General Jeff Landry argues the case it could upend thousands of violent criminals.

Senator John Kennedy was a guest on the Moon Griffon show Tuesday and was asked about President Trump’s election challenge….
Cut 13 (12) “…to court.”

The U-S Supreme Court will hear a case today that could deem all past non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana unconstitutional, potentially resulting in thousands of retrials. The case was brought on behalf of Thedrick Edwards, a Louisiana man serving time for multiple non-unanimous convictions. His attorney, Andre Belanger, says his client should receive a new trial…

cut 10 (10) :”…war”

But the Louisiana Attorney General’s office says a unanimous jury verdict was not required until a constitutional amendment went into effect last year.

Senator John Kennedy says he’s not ready to say Joe Biden won the presidential election. Kennedy made these comments on the Moon Griffon show…

cut 14 (10) “….like confetti”

US Attorney General William Barr says his office has not found any evidence of widespread fraud that could have produced a different outcome in the election.

Senator Bill Cassidy says we are on track in Louisiana to begin the first wave of COVID vaccinations mid-month. Matt Doyle has the story…

cut 2 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses. LSU Health New Orleans Doctor Corey Hebert says that presents a challenge, especially for minorities who lack transportation to get to a medical facility….

cut 5 (08) “”…real challenge”

U-S Attorney General William Barr says the Justice Department has not seen fraud on a scale that could have produced a different outcome in the Presidential election. The Trump campaign says millions of illegal votes were counted in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy said on the Moon Griffon show that he’s still waiting on the courts to make their rulings…
cut 15 (09) “…until then”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is being shipped to locations across the country and U-S Food and Drug Administration approval could happen in the middle of the month. Cassidy says healthcare workers and nursing home residents are expected to be the first ones to receive the vaccine, which he says based on all of the evidence is safe…
cut 9 (04) “…take it”

The Louisiana Health Equity Task Force has worked on educating minorities about COVID, soon they will focus on the importance of being vaccinated. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital in Lousiana is up to 1,289, which is more than double the number it was a month ago. COVID hospitalizations have also increased by more than 200 over the last week. The peak for COVID hospitalizations was in April when there were nearly two-thousand patients in the hospital.

Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer has started shipping its COVID vaccine to Louisiana and other pre-positioned sites across the country. Cassidy says a distribution plan for Louisiana is in place and local companies have been enlisted to safely transport the vaccine.
Cut 7 (10) “…role.”
Three pharmaceutical companies say they have developed a highly effective COVID vaccine and Pfizer could receive approval from the U-S Food and Drug Administration next week.

The CDC says COVID vaccines should be widely available to the public by mid-2021, however members of the Louisiana Health Equity Task Force worry that many blacks and Latinos will not get vaccinated. LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Corey Hebert serves on the task force and says it’s due to mistrust.
Cut 4 (11) “…for things.”

Today the US Supreme Court hears a case involving a Louisiana man that could result in retrials for Louisiana prisoners convicted of non-unanimous verdicts…
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Most of Louisiana experienced freezing temperatures this morning. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The search continues in Kenner for two armed robbery suspects involved in the murder of a gas station clerk early Monday morning on Williams Boulevard. The 30-year-old victim leaves behind a pregnant wife and a one-year-old child. Shreveport police are also investigating a shooting that left a pregnant woman dead and another man injured.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is investigating about 32-thousand new unemployment claims for potential fraud. L-W-C Secretary Ava Dejoie says the suspicious claims are being rigorously reviewed and unfortunately this is happening all over the country…
cut 11 (11) “…situationj”
Dejoie says the review of all of these claims, could result in a delay of benefits for some recipients.

After a nearly three-year process, Entergy Louisiana says it has acquired Washington Parish Energy Center, near Bogalusa. Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli says it’s a modern and low-carbon facility and it will add to the company’s clean energy portfolio…
cut 6 (08) “…our customers”
Scardigli says the 261-million dollar acquisition will result in an extra dollar increase in monthly bills over the next year for customers.

It’s Giving Tuesday and Foodbanks are in need of aid as we move into the holidays. Matt Doyle has the story…
voicer 1 (28) “….I’m Matt Doyle

Public visitation is today at St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Baton Rouge for former LSU football player and successful restauranteur Ruffin Rodrigue. The Thibodaux native was an offensive guard for the Tigers in the 1980s and his Ruffino’s restaurants in Baton Rouge and Lafayette are popular eateries in south Louisiana. Rodrigue was just 53.

Most of the state is experiencing its first hard freeze of the winter this morning. After a warm November, State Climatologist Barry Keim says this first freeze is running a little behind schedule.
Cut 13 (11) “…Baton Rouge.”
Temperatures will warm up into the 50s today and we’ll see a gradual warm-up until another shot of cold air arrives at the end of the workweek.

Entergy Louisiana says it has completed its purchase of the Washington Parish Energy Center near Bogalusa. The utility company says the natural gas-powered plant will add a reliable source of clean-energy power. Entergy Spokesperson Brandon Scardigili says customers will see a slight increase in their bill to finance the 261-million dollar acquisition…
cut 5 (10) “…the country”

If you’ve recently applied for unemployment in Louisiana, there could be a delay in payment. That’s because the Louisiana Workforce Commission is reviewing about 32-thousand claims that could be fraudulent. LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie says the timing could not be worse.
Cut 10 (12) “…unfortunate.”
L-W-C says it has already stopped over 160-thousand claims since the pandemic led to a big jump in unemployment.

Entergy Louisiana has completed its purchase of the Washington Parish Energy Center near Bogalusa. Entergy spokesperson Brandon Scardigli says the 361-megawatt natural gas-powered facility will deliver a cost-effective and low-carbon source of power to the company’s grid.
Cut 4 (09) “…those goals.”

It’s giving Tuesday and there are a lot of non-profits asking for help today, including food banks. Second Harvest Food Bank, which serves the needy across south Louisiana, says they love donations, but they can also use volunteers. He says they make sure their volunteers are protected from COVID…
cut 9 (12) “…volunteers”
Second Harvest’s website has more information on volunteer opportunities and how to donate.

State Climatologist Barry Keim has this advice before you leave the house today…
cut 15 (06) “…days”
Temperatures are below freezing for a large portion of the state this morning. Expect rain during the middle week, chilly temperatures at the end of the workweek, but the weekend looks nice.