The number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital has surpassed 13-hundred and according to the L-D-H dashboard, there are only four I-C-U beds available in the Acadiana region. Louisiana Treasurer John Schroder has been hospitalized with coronavirus. His office says Schroder is experiencing little discomfort.

It took less than a year for a COVID vaccine to be developed and some are concerned corners were cut. But Governor Edwards says that’s not true…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Tomorrow is election day and voters in 24 parishes will elect a new Congressman as Republicans Luke Letlow and Lance Harris are battling to replace Ralph Abraham. There’s also a constitutional amendment on the ballot, which asks voters if people who live outside of Louisiana can serve on college management boards. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott…
cut 15 (10) “…had on”
The legislature passed the constitutional amendment in the fall special session and a companion statue is named the Lod Cook Act. Lod Cook was a big-time LSU donor who lived in California.

Louisiana is known as Hollywood South for its film production and now there’s a new streaming service called the Louisiana Film Channel.
cut 6 (09) “…initital response”
L-F-C President Doctor Lucas Fry says they have eight thousand titles in their library and they expect to launch brand new feature films soon.

Tomorrow is election day and the biggest race that remains unsettled is the fifth district Congressional race between Republicans Luke Letlow and Lance Harris. On the campaign trail, Letlow has slammed his opponent for voting yes on a state sales tax increase in 2016…
cut 12 (11) “….deal”
But Harris, who is a third-term state representative from Alexandria, says Letlow helped create a budget mess while working as an aide for former Governor Bobby Jindal…
cut 13 (10) “…there”
Harris says he made sure the sales tax increase had an expiration date and he did not vote for a renewal. Polls are open from 7 AM to 8 PM.

With coronavirus vaccine doses expected to arrive in Louisiana this month, it will be up to federal and state officials to convince the public they are safe to take. Some are concerned corners were cut in order to produce the vaccine in record time. But US Health Assistant Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir says these vaccines have been tested in tens of thousands of individuals.
Cut 8 (06) “…possible”
A Gallup poll claims four in ten Americans do not want to take the vaccine.

The Louisiana Film Channel, a streaming service of bayou state-related movies, is now accessible to film buffs. President of the LFC, Dr, Lucas Fry, says the channel was established so the public can see productions from up and coming filmmakers. Fry says many of the films are award-winning and have only been seen at festivals.
Cut 4 (08) “…future of it.”
He says the L-F-C library has about eight-thousand titles.

Officials say the first coronavirus vaccine doses will arrive later this month. Health officials will work to vaccinate frontline hospital workers and nursing home residents first. US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir on the effectiveness of the vaccines that are close to federal approval…
cut 13 (10) “…COVID disese”

Health systems are preparing to distribute the vaccines. Vice President of Pharmacy at Ochsner Health, Debbie Simonson, says the Pfizer vaccine must be stored at negative 80-degrees, so they have subzero freezers in Shreveport, Lafayette and New Orleans. She says the vaccine can be kept at normal refrigerator temps for up to five days and each vial contains five doses…
cut 9 (10) “…there”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state added over 29,000 jobs from September to October. LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie says those numbers are in large part due to the Hurricanes.
Cut 4 (12) “…Lake Charles region.”
The state ended October with 1-point-eight million jobs. That’s down 112,000 jobs from the same time last year.

A photo has gone viral that shows Governor John Bel Edwards not wearing a mask while out in public. A spokeswoman for the governor says the photo was taken last month as Edwards was eating at the Baton Rouge Country Club. The governor’s office says Edwards stood up without a mask on to speak to another person when the photo was captured. Edwards says he did not violate his own mask mandate…
cut 3 (11) “…today’s rules”

Governor John Bel Edwards says nursing home residents and frontline health care workers will receive the COVID vaccine soon…
cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir on why a second shot is necessary.
Cut 12 (07) “…protection.”
Giroir says based on the studies, the vaccines are also safe to take.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state added 29-thousand jobs from September to October. But nonfarm employment is still 112-thousand jobs less than what it was in October of 2019. L-W-C Secretary Ava Dejoie says future job growth is dependent on residents continuing to mask up and social distancing….
cut 6 (08) “….effect”

Louisiana Tech finally returns to the football field tonight to face North Texas. It’s the Bulldogs first game in 33 days after four of their games were either postponed or canceled because of COVID-19 related issues in November. Coach Skip Holtz admits this is like playing a season opener again…
cut 17 (16) “…of the game”
Kick-off is at 5 PM.

COVID vaccines are set to be deployed across Louisiana within the next two weeks. Governor John Bel Edwards anticipates all frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents will be vaccinated by mid-January. Edwards says the state will receive 40,000 doses of the vaccine in the first week after it is approved.
Cut 10 (08) “…behind that.”
The Pfizer vaccine is set to be reviewed for approval next Thursday with approval likely a few days later.

The Pfizer vaccine requires ultra-cold storage at minus 80-degrees. System Vice President of Pharmacy at Ochsner, Debbie Simonson, says Pfizer has developed cold shippers to keep the vaccine viable during delivery and Ochsner will initially receive vaccines in New Orleans and then distribute….
Cut 8 (07) “…come in.”
Simonson says their thermo-freezers will be located in Shreveport, Lafayette and New Orleans.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports employment rose in September to October by 29,000 jobs. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The fall special session cost taxpayers one-point-one million dollars. That’s according to information provided by the House and Senate. During the session, lawmakers spent a lot of time debating legislation that sought to give legislators more of a say in coronavirus restrictions, but none of those bills became law.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission reports nonfarm employment grew by 29-thousand jobs from September to October. L-W-C Secretary Ava Dejoie says they’ve seen growth in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans regions and some of that growth is hurricane-related..
cut 5 (10) “…..New Orleans”
But this latest jobs report also shows the state had 112-thousand fewer workers in October of 2020 compared to the previous October.

Governor Edwards believes Louisiana will receive 40-thousand doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine later this month and they’ll use those initial doses to vaccinate hospital workers and nursing home residents and staff. Both Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines are expected to receive emergency approval from the feds this month and Edwards says both vaccines require a booster shot…
cut 11 (08) “…nursing homes”

Distributing the Pfizer COVID vaccine requires several steps, including storing it at very low temperatures, to keep the two-dosage vaccine viable. Brooke Thorington tells us how Ochsner Health has prepped.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”