Governor John Bel Edwards says the current coronavirus restrictions will remain in place through at least January 13th. That means, restaurants, gyms, salons, casinos and malls must limit their maximum occupancy to 50-percent, churches are restricted to 75-percent occupancy. Edwards is concerned the number of COVID patients in the hospital is at its highest number since April…
cut 8 (11) “…trouble’

Speaking of traveling, AAA is anticipating at least 34 million fewer Americans will travel this holiday season, a decline in travel of at least 29-percent. Spokesperson Nick Chabarria says they still expect as many as 84- million Americans will travel during the holidays and a vast majority will do so by car…
cut 5 (09) “…pandemic”
Chabarria says airline travel is down nearly 60-percent from last year.

500 new jobs are coming to Acadiana as Amazon has announced plans to build a fulfillment center in the Lafayette Parish city of Carencro. Lafayette Economic Development Authority CEO Gregg Gothreaux says the one-point-one million square foot facility will be located on the former Evangeline Downs site near I-10 and I-49…
cut 12 (11) “…the south”

There’s a slight risk for severe weather in south Louisiana today as a strong cold front approaches. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this front will bring us colder temperatures for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day…
cut 15 (10) “…outside”
But the first concern is the potential for severe weather today. Strong storms are expected this afternoon and into tonight in south Louisiana. There’s a marginal risk for central Louisiana.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the current Modified Phase Two restrictions for at least another three weeks citing the state’s high number of COVID hospitalizations, which have exceeded the level reached during the second surge in July. Edwards says the state is seeing a plateau of reported COVID-like illness and declining test positivity rates, but…
Cut 7 (04) “…quo”
So that means the statewide mask mandate stays in effect through January 13th. Restaurants, retail businesses and gyms will also remain limited to 50-percent indoor capacity and most bars will stay closed.

If you plan on holding an outdoor Christmas celebration, be prepared for temperatures 10 to 12 degrees below normal…
cut 14 (09) “….Christmases”
State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs will be in the 50s on Christmas Day as a strong cold strong front moves through today. There’s a slight chance for severe weather in south Louisiana this afternoon into tonight.

This time next year Amazon’s first fulfillment center in the state will be up and running in Lafayette Parish, Brooke Thorington on how it will impact Acadiana…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Jefferson Parish Coroner says an airplane passenger’s cause of death was respiratory failure due to COVID-19. 69-year-old Isaias Hernandez of Los Angeles was on a flight from Orlando to L-A on December 14th when the flight was diverted to New Orleans because Hernandez needed medical attention. An emergency medical technician who gave C-P-R to Hernandez has also tested positive.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the state’s Phase Two coronavirus restrictions, which includes the statewide mask mandate, to January 13th. Edwards says hospitalizations have exceeded the level reached during the second surge in July. He says it’s clear we still have a lot of work to do, but there is light at the end of the tunnel…
cut 9 (07) “….here yet”
The state health department reported yesterday that 22-thousand health care workers have been vaccinated.

Traditionally today is one of the busiest travel days of the year but Triple-A estimates 34 million fewer Americans arel traveling this holiday season. Spokesperson Nick Chabarria (Cha-berry-ah) says many people are heeding the health warnings and staying home.
Cut 4 (07) “…overall travel.”
Chaberria says air travel is down 60-percent from last year.

The first Amazon fulfillment center in Louisiana will be in Lafayette Parish, the online giant will construct the center in Carencro. Gregg Gothreaux, CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority says it’s a big boost for the area and not just because they will hire 500 employees.
Cut 10 (11) “…a year.”
Construction of the fulfillment center is expected to be completed by the end of 2021 and Gothreaux says hiring will begin three months prior to opening.

LSU’s coaching staff will look much different in 2021 as offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger and defensive line coach Bill Johnson are retiring as on-field coaches and will remain with the program as analysts.

Big economic development news as Amazon plans on building a 100 million dollar fulfillment center in Carencro next year. Matt Doyle has the story.
cut 2 (31) ….I’m Matt Doyle.”

The state health department reports vaccines have been administered to 22-thousand health care workers. The state plans to update that number twice a week on it’s coronavirus dashboard found on the department of health’s website. The governor is holding a COVID-19 briefing at this hour.

Bo Pelini is out after just one season as LSU’s defensive coordinator after the Tigers defense had a historically bad season. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says Pelini also left LSU after 2007, but that was after winning a national title…
cut 5 (12) “…very beginning”
There’s also a report that offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger will retire as an on-field coach and be reassigned to another position.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state last month had 90-thousand fewer jobs than the previous November. The New Orleans metro area is responsible for about half of that number. L-W-C Secretary Ava Dejoie says the city’s job losses are historic…
cut 14 (12) “…bust

Governor John Bel Edwards will provide a COVID-19 update today and with the current modified Phase 2 order set to expire Wednesday, the governor is expected to announce what restrictions will be in place for the next month. With the state still reporting a significant number of cases, Edwards has said he does not expect a loosening of restrictions.

A new, more infectious strain of coronavirus is spreading in England. Matt Doyle spoke with an LSU Health New Orleans professor about the concerning news…
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

A Legislative Auditor’s report raises concerns that COVID test results are not getting reported to the state Health Department fast enough for effective contact tracing. Data Analytics Manager Chris Magee says laboratories are not reporting all results to LDH within the legally mandated 24 hour time period…
Cut 10 (09) “…plus.”
The report did discover that the COVID numbers on the LDH dashboard are accurate and not being over-reported.

From 10 AM until noon at the Lake Charles Civic Center, the Second Harvest Foodbank will hand out holiday meals. Second Harvest Food Bank spokesperson Natasha Curley says Calcasieu and Cameron Parish families have been through a lot and they can use this food…
cut 6 (10) “…very devasting”
Curley thanks Chevron for providing 50-thousand dollars to make today’s food distribution a reality.

A Legislative Auditor’s report raises concerns that lab delays in reporting COVID test results are hampering the state’s contact tracing program. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The Louisiana Supreme Court has sent a legal dispute between Governor John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana House of Representatives over COVID restrictions back to district court. The state’s highest court says Judge William Morvant should have had a full hearing before ruling on the constitutionality of a House petition that seeks to cancel the governor’s mask mandate, business restrictions, and limits on crowd size.

The 900-billion dollar pandemic relief bill approved by Congress last night contains money for struggling businesses, including restaurants. Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says the bill gives a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program for restaurants that include loan forgiveness and 24-weeks to spend the capital.
Cut 13 (10) “…to borrow.”
The legislation also includes increased unemployment benefits and a 600-dollar stimulus check for most people.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Southwest Louisiana will hand out holiday meals to struggling families in Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes at the Lake Charles Civic Center from 10 AM to noon today. Second Harvest Food Bank spokesperson Natasha Curley says a 50-thousand donation from Chevron made today possible…
cut 5 (12) “….challenging times”

A new audit from the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office has found the state health department’s Coronavirus dashboard is not overreporting cases or deaths, but many labs are not reporting their data on a timely basis. Data analytics manager Chris Magee says the late reporting and inadequate information to identify positive patients is hampering contact tracing…
cut 11 (06) “…timely”

Flights from London are still landing in the United States even though health officials in the U-K has found a new strain of the coronavirus that is 70-percent more infectious. LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Professor Doctor Fred Lopez says there’s a good chance this strain makes its way into the United States…
cut 8 (10) “…plane”
While reports indicate it is at least 70 percent more infectious, it does not appear to be any more deadly.

The latest COVID relief bill from Congress adds extra provisions to assist a struggling restaurant industry. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

This latest federal stimulus package is also expected to provide Louisiana colleges and public schools with more federal aid. According to the Advocate, the state could be in line for one-point-six billion dollars, with one-point-one billion dollars for public schools and 385-million dollars for higher education.