After a historic number of jobs lost and more of the working poor applying, approximately 39 percent of the population in Louisiana has Medicaid coverage now. Brooke Thorington has more.

 Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Alexandria Senior High football team is competing for their first state championship in school history when they take on top-seeded Carencro tonight.  Taylor Sharp has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Taylor Sharp.” 

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A committee advising the CDC has laid out its recommendations for what groups should be next to get their COVID vaccinations in 2021. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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Medicaid enrollment increased by 208-thousand in Louisiana this year alone and now approximately 1.8 million receive Medicaid benefits or 39-percent of the state’s population. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says the pandemic’s effect on the economy forced many to seek coverage.

Cut 4 (09) “…insurance.”

Medicaid enrollment in Louisiana been increasing since 2016 when Medicaid expansion allowed the working poor to qualify for coverage. Moller says with the pandemic highlighting the importance of medical coverage it also prompted those with low-paying jobs to seek coverage.

Moller says another reason more people are on Medicaid because early in the pandemic Congress passed The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act.

Cut 5 (10) “…coverage.”

Moller noted in addition to a historic number of jobs lost during the pandemic, thousands also dropped out of the labor force to take care of children at home when schools closed or went virtual. He says Medicaid is serving its purpose.

Cut 6 (12) “…supposed to do.”

According to the state department of health, approximately 160-thousand currently covered by Medicaid are ineligible and the department is working with the federal government on how to end coverage once the federal public health emergency ends.

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Alexandria will be looking to make history tonight when they take on Carencro for the state championship.  A win would give the team their first state title in school history.  Head coach Thomas Bachmann says his team making it to the title game proves the doubters wrong.

Cut 7 (13)  “…be done.”

Bachmann says establishing a culture and setting high expectations has been vital to his team’s postseason run.

Cut 8 (11) “…accomplish.”

Bachmann credits his team’s success this season to the number of leaders he has on this year’s squad.

Cut 9 (08) “…character.”

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With Phase One of COVID vaccinations underway to frontline healthcare workers, nursing home staff and residents, many are wondering who’s next up to get their shots in 2021.

A CDC advisory committee suggests group 1B should cover frontline essential workers and those over 75. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the state is crafting its own plan, but…

Cut 10 (04) “…recommended.”

Group 1C covers the rest of essential workers and those over 65, plus people with health conditions that can lead to more severe COVID-19 cases.

Those 1C and 1B groups include hundreds of thousands of Louisianans. Kanter says it’s likely the percentage of our population in those groups will be higher than the national average.

Cut 11 (04) “…metrics.”

Governor Edwards says those with end-stage renal disease who receive regular dialysis treatments have already begun receiving the vaccine ahead of their CDC recommended schedule.

Unfortunately, Kanter says we can’t pinpoint an exact date yet for when the state will move out of Phase One vaccinations and into Phase 1B.

Cut 12 (06) “…we get.”

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Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has died from COVID-19 at the age of 41. Letlow, who was was elected to Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district earlier this month, died at Ochnser-LSU Health Shreveport last night after spending ten days in the hospital. Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is devasted. Senior Senator Bill Cassidy released a video message on Twitter…

Cut 13 (12) “…in your prayers.”

Letlow’s death came on a day when the state surpassed seven-thousand confirmed COVID deaths. Cassidy says COVID can kill anyone…

Cut 14 (06) “…it can.” 

Letlow was set to be sworn in next week, as he was replacing Ralph Abraham. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. Cassidy asks residents to pray for the Letlow family…

Cut 15 (08)“…we should do.”

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The New Orleans Saints will wrap up the regular season on Sunday as they travel to take on the Carolina Panthers.  Despite the team’s success this year, quarterback Drew Brees says, they need to fine-tune some things before the playoffs.

Cut 16 (11) “…the field.”

Brees believes a good performance on Sunday is vital because he wants the team to be playing its best once the post-season arrives.

Cut 17 (10) “improve.”

The Saints have locked up a spot in the playoffs but are still fighting for the number-one seed.  Linebacker Demario Davis says the team has been in a playoff mindset for weeks now and needs to win on Sunday.

Cut  18 (12) “…the playoffs.”

A Blue Cross Blue Shield study indicates pregnancy complications are up 32-percent as more pregnant women have chronic health conditions.  Brooke Thorington explains.

 Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The treatment that President Trump received for COVID is now available in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington reports on how this can be a two-fold game changer.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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If you’re looking for a team to root for in the LHSAA Prep Classic, Grand Lake is your squad. Jeff Palermo on their remarkable journey…

Cut 3 (34)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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A new study indicates that pregnancy and childbirth complications have risen 32% as more millennial females have pre-existing conditions increasing the risks. Senior Medical Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Dr. Dee Barfield says claims data from 2014 to 2018 shows the increase in complications.

Cut 4 (10) “…both angles”

Barfield stresses the importance of prenatal visits; she says their study is from women who have access to care due to coverage and they are not seeking medical care early enough in their pregnancy.

Cut 5 (12) “…complications.”

The study also indicates the average age to have a child increased to 31.  Barfield says the older you are the more likely you are to already have a chronic condition before pregnancy.

Cut 6 (11) “…countries.”

Barfield says they worry that more pregnant women have avoided medical care and prenatal visits due to the pandemic and we’ll see more pregnancy and childbirth complications in the near future.

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The coronavirus treatment given to President Trump when he was admitted to Walter Reed Hospital is now available in Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says the monoclonal antibody fusion treatment can help high-risk patients from becoming seriously ill.

Cut 7 (12)  “…hospitalized.”

Edwards says candidates for this type of treatment must begin treatment as soon as they are diagnosed and be showing symptoms for no more than 10 days. Because this is an outpatient procedure, Edwards says monoclonal antibody fusion is beneficial in two ways.

Cut 8 (06) “…lives.”

Edwards says while he is not a physician, he’s heard promising results about treatment from the White House Task Force and from CEOs of local hospitals.

Those considered high risk for COVID are 65 and older with obesity, diabetes, and kidney disease, and those 55 and older with heart disease or hypertension are possible candidates for the new treatment.

Cut 9 (10) “…infusion.”

There are two companies that make the treatment Regeneron and Eli Lilly.

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Despite strong objections, President Donald Trump has signed a 900-billion dollar pandemic relief package that will result in many Americans receiving a 600-dollar stimulus check. Mr. Trump threatened not to sign the bill, as he pushed for a stimulus check of two-thousand dollars. The U-S House still intends to push for a higher stimulus check, but ULM Political Science Professor Doctor Joshua Stockley doesn’t see the Senate going along

Cut 10 (12) “…new Congress”

The legislation also extends unemployment benefits. It’s unclear why the president decided to sign the bill after initially threatening to veto it. Stockley says many Americans are glad Mr. Trump had a chance of heart…

Cut 11 (11) “…difficult year.”

The 900-hundred billion-dollar coronavirus relief bill received overwhelming support in the House and Senate. Stockley says many on Capitol Hill were blindsided when the President initially said he would not sign the legislation

Cut 12 (06) “…four years.”

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Eighteen schools made it to the Prep Football Classic but no team endured more than the Grand Lake Hornets. The small school in Cameron had two devastating hurricanes make landfall in their parish, but yet they persevered and will play in today’s Class One-A Championship game. Jeff Wainwright is their head coach…

Cut 13 (08) “…us a game”

Grand Lake is 8-and-1 heading into today’s One-A title game versus top-seeded and defending champion Oak Grove. Wainwright says the team has been an inspiration and an escape for Cameron Parish residents…

Cut 14 (12) “…cheering go” 

This is Grand Lake’s first appearance in a state championship football game. Wainwright told the players to enjoy the moment and don’t worry about the score

Cut 15 (08)“…those memories”