FDA approval for a COVID vaccine could come as early as by the end of the year but most folks will not get a shot for months. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (28) “  I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Governor John Bel Edwards wins a legal battle as a state judge rejects an effort by Republicans in the Louisiana House to cancel his emergency coronavirus orders. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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A Baton Rouge pediatrician faces a simple battery charge after he allegedly hit and verbally assaulted a Southern University student while she was walking near the LSU Lakes. Baton Rouge police spokesman Sergeant L’Jean Mckneely says 54-year old Shane McKinney was questioned yesterday after he was identified as a suspect.

Cut 3 (12)  “…battery arrest”  

McKinney issued a statement from his attorney claiming he’s innocent and allegations that he threw a punch and made racially offensive comments are not true.

Mckneely says so far they have not determined a motive that led to the incident.

Cut 4 (09)   “…chest area.”  

McKinney’s statement says the physician’s elbow contacted the accuser as she jogged by on a narrow sidewalk and that simple battery requires intentional use of force or violence. As for if the incident involved racial language Mckneely says they don’t have enough evidence.

Cut 5  (12) “…that charge.” 

McKinney’s attorneys are requesting anyone to come forward with video footage of the incident.

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A number of coronavirus vaccines look like they’re nearing completion and state officials are game-planning how to make sure you can get one as soon as they are available.

State Immunization Director Dr. Frank Welch says the first people to get a vaccine will be frontline healthcare workers who have contact with COVID patients.

Cut 6 (09) “…employees”

Right behind that group will be “essential workers”.

Welch says a vaccine could begin being administered to frontline healthcare workers at their workplace in Louisiana within days of it receiving FDA approval. Then for the general public…

Cut 7 (11) “…vaccine.”

Welch says there are indications that everyone in the general public will have access to the vaccine by late-spring.

There’s some concern that many folks just won’t trust the vaccine. Welch says the best way to address those fears is to show people the trial data proving the vaccine is safe.

Cut 8 (11) “..patients.”

Welch also mentioned that a robust adverse event reporting system is in place that would alert the public should concerns be raised about any of the many coming vaccines.

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Hurricane Zeta knocked out power to more than 480,000 Entergy Customers, and two weeks later power has been restored.  Entergy Spokesperson David Freese with Entergy says it took a large team to get power restored.

Cut 9 (08) “…Louisiana.”

Freese says their quick response was key in getting power restored quickly.

Cut 10 (08) “….storm “

Zeta marked the third major restoration effort in Louisiana following a hurricane. Freese says the utility company will seek other avenues before placing restoration fees on customers’ bills…

Cut 11 (08) “….assistance”

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State Judge William Morvant rules a petition signed by Republicans in the Louisiana House to end the governor’s coronavirus emergency order is unconstitutional. Loyola of New Orleans University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says not having the Senate back the petition was the key point…

Cut 12 (07) “…effect of law” 

Senate President Page Cortez did not urge Senators to sign the petition, because he didn’t think the state needed to loosen the restrictions.

Ciolino says today’s ruling is a victory for the governor, but the state’s highest court will likely have to weigh in…

Cut 13 (10) “…first ciruit.”

Today’s decision means the state’s mask mandate, limits on gatherings, and capacity restrictions on businesses remain in place. Ciolino says based on today’s ruling, Judge Morvant believes the emergency orders have the force the law, and the House and Senate must agree to revoke those orders…

Cut 14 (05) “…not sufficient.” 

Hurricane Zeta devastated citrus crops and nurseries in southeast Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “   I’m Matt Doyle”

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Veterans Day this year has prompted some ceremonies to be altered due to the pandemic, but it’s still important to honor the tradition. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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A COVID outbreak on the LSU football team has led to the postponement and possible cancellation of this weekend’s contest in Tiger Stadium against Alabama. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (24)  “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Hurricane Zeta did a lot of damage to citrus crops and nurseries in southeast Louisiana, the most hurricane damage suffered in the area since Katrina in 2005.

LSU Ag Center Horticultural Agent Joe Willis says growers lost 75 to 90 percent of the fruit in impacted areas.

Cut 4 (12) “..up”

Farmers were either mid-harvest for some fruits like satsumas or just weeks away from picking their harvest.

Willis says the late timing of the storm was brutal for vegetable farmers who had already transitioned to their fall crops. He says the damage is less than for the fruits, only about half were lost.

Cut 5 (09) “…planting”

Cauliflower in particular took a beating, with the top leaves being torn from the plants leaving them alive, but discolored and difficult to sell.

The worst damage was in the poinsettia crops. Willis says 95 percent of the holiday staple crop was lost in southeast Louisiana.

Cut 6 (07) “…crops”

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As we honor veterans this veteran’s day, the Louisiana Department of Veterans’ Affairs says COVID has presented challenges to several observations in 2020. Veterans Secretary Colonel Joey Strickland says ceremonies that are normally held at VA homes are closed to the public this year.

Cut 7 (08)  “…general public.”

Strickland says several schools are holding ceremonies across the state to honor vets and in Bossier City today a Women’s Veterans statue will be dedicated.

To assist Louisiana vets Strickland says the department works with several organizations whose sole focus is to place veterans in the workforce and now there is a new program to help vets become business owners.

Cut 8 (08)…or website”

Strickland says helping veterans during the pandemic has been a challenge for the department, not being able to meet in person and attend conferences, but they are doing the best they can.

Cut 9 (11) “…new challenge.”

PAVE website

https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/small-business/special-programs-for-small-business/pathway-to-assist-veteran-entrepreneurs

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Governor John Bel Edwards announced a major technology agreement in northwest Louisiana Tuesday at LSU-Shreveport. The more than $3-million agreement with the university and LED will help advance students’ careers in technology at the Cyber Collaboratory.

Cut 10 (10) “…breathtaking.”

Edwards says LSUS is the fastest-growing higher education campus in the state and the new Cyber Collaboratory will only continue to attract new students.

Cut 11 (11) “…campus”

The expansion is not exclusive for technology students, Edwards credits Chancellor Larry Clark with allowing the Collaboratory to benefit students of all majors.

The LSUS technology agreement is the latest in a series of milestones along the I-20 Cyber Corridor. Edwards says when he visits the Nation’s Capital, leaders are impressed with growing advancements.

Cut 12 (09) “…corridor.”

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Saturday’s LSU-Bama game in Baton Rouge has been postponed due to a COVID outbreak on LSU’s team.

CBS Sports National College Football Writer Dennis Dodd says it’s not a surprise that we would lose a game of this magnitude because despite team’s best mitigation efforts these college players aren’t living in a bubble…

Cut 13 (13) “….party.”

Cases are also spiking in over 40 states. Louisiana is doing better than most in the country but there’s an indication that cases in Louisiana are on the rise as part of the dreaded “Winter Wave.”

Rescheduling the game will be tough considering LSU already had to flex their Florida game into a later season bye-week. It’s a blow to the local economy and Dodd says it’s yet another blow to the program’s finances…

Cut 14 (08) “…more” 

Dodd says the cancellation also leads to a crisis of legitimacy for the College Football Playoffs if the SEC doesn’t manage to get a full season in.

Dodd says the rash of COVID outbreaks in the sport could result in New Orleans no longer hosting a first-round college football playoff game as officials seek to create a playoff bubble.

Cut 15 (10) “…of those”

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Even though we are seeing more and more canceled high school football games because of COVID-19, the LHSAA is moving forward with plans to have a postseason, with the championship games at the Superdome from December 26th to the 28th. Executive Director Eddie Bonine says teams must play four games to make the playoffs and the size of the playoff brackets will not change

Cut 16 (11) “..the constitution”

Bonine says schools with a COVID issue during the postseason will be removed from the bracket and their opponent will advance to the next round.

There are still two more regular-season games left. Bonine is glad they’ve made it this far with a vast majority of the games being played

cut 17 (24)   good”  

In December, the Saints are allowed to have 15-thousand fans at their home games. Bonine says he’s not sure the exact number that will be allowed in the Dome, but they’ll do what the local authorities ask…

cut 18 (22) ” the games”   

The Republican Attorneys General Association, headed by Louisiana AG Jeff Landry, asks the US Supreme Court to declare many Pennsylvania mail-in ballots illegal. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Deployment ceremonies for the 256^th Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard began today as they depart for a yearlong mission. Brooke Thorington has more.

cut 2 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”  

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Baton Rouge Police Chief Murphy Paul is confident they’ll find out what exactly happened on Saturday night when three of his officers had an encounter with freshman LSU wide receiver Koy Moore. Moore says he was harassed and violated by the cops who assumed he had a gun and drugs. Paul says their internal affairs investigators are leading the probe

Cut 3 (09)  “…this investigation”  

Paul says the law enforcement bill of rights gives the three officers, who have been placed on leave, 30 days to hire an attorney…

Cut 4 (12)   ” .the investigation”  

Paul says they are still collecting the facts and it’s too early to tell if the officers violated Moore’s civil rights. He says the officers face additional training and potential punishment if it’s found they treated Moore unfairly…

Cut 5  (10) “…as well.” 

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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, head of the Republican Attorneys General Association, asks the US Supreme Court to hear a case challenging the legality of many Pennsylvania mail-in ballots.

Before the November 3^rd election the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that mail-in ballots that arrived after polls closed could be counted. Landry says those votes shouldn’t count.

Cut 6 (12) “…ballot”

Under the ruling, a vote could be counted as long as the mail-in ballot was postmarked by Election Day.

Landry says the lower courts allowing ballots received after 8 PM Election Day to be counted is like allowing referees to change the rules of a football game at halftime.

Cut 7 (10) “..the law”

President-Elect Joe Biden is currently winning the state by 45,000 votes. On election night he trailed significantly but caught up once a flood of mail-in ballots were tallied.

Landry says this challenge is about preserving election integrity.

Cut 8 (11) “.system”

Democrats argue the challenge is a partisan attempt to overturn election results that show an unambiguous win for President-Elect Biden. Should the US Supreme Court side with Landry and the state go to President Trump, Biden would still have enough electoral votes to win the Presidency.

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One of several deployment ceremonies for the 256^th Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard was held in Lafayette this morning. In total, about 2,000 soldiers are involved in the yearlong Middle East mission in support of U.S. Central Command. General Keith Waddell of the Louisiana National guard addressed members of the 141^st Field Artillery Regiment.

Cut 9 (08) “a hero”

Due to the pandemic, the ceremony was closed to soldiers only and live-streamed online. General Waddell expressed his gratitude to members of the Louisiana National Guard who have been extremely busy in 2020, assisting with pandemic response efforts and hurricane recovery.

Cut 10 (09) “…this year. “

Deployment ceremonies will continue over the next week for the 256^th Brigade. Soldiers will first report to Fort Bliss in El Paso for premobilization training before heading overseas to aid in the continued fight against ISIS.   General Waddell reminded servicemen of their mission.

Cut 11 (12) “…constitutionals rights”

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The state health department reported 13-hundred new coronavirus cases today bringing the state’s total to nearly 190-thousand. Governor John Bel Edwards says the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized also increased by 32 and the positivity rate on tests is also going up…

Cut 12 (04) “ to Louisiana” 

The total number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is 684 and that’s up from 596 on November first. Edwards says many states have been experiencing a surge in cases this fall and he’s asking everyone to do their part to prevent the spread

Cut 13 (05) “…really, really important”

Edwards says we’ll eventually get past the pandemic and it was good news when Pfizer announced on Monday that their vaccine is showing 90-percent effectiveness. But the governor says we are looking at a month-long process to distribute the vaccine…

Cut 14 (06) “..real difference”