A Tulane study conducted in Texas shows minorities face longer wait times, and more questions when attempting to make an appointment with a primary care doctor. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Louisiana’s second-largest craft beer brewery is opening a taproom that will also serve as a research and development facility in Houston.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Democrats may have lost big in last fall’s House legislative races, but their alliance with moderate Republicans in the Speaker election appears to have paid off. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A Tulane survey of primary care appointment wait times finds compared to white callers, minorities have three to seven day longer wait times to get a call back for scheduling.  Soon-to-be Tulane research assistant professor Brig Walker says minority callers also faced more questions…

Cut 4 (12) “…callers.”

The field study was conducted in Texas, where Tulane recruited Hispanic, black, and white callers who placed appointment requests with 800 primary care offices.

Hispanics faced a three day longer wait, and blacks a seven day longer wait than similar white patients. Walker says that can have a serious impact on health outcomes.

Cut 5 (09) “…delays.”

Walker says these findings could help reduce discrimination in healthcare appointment scheduling and possibly help shift the industry to more automation.

Cut 6 (10) “…accsess.”

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New Orleans-based Urban South Brewery is opening its first satellite location. Louisiana’s second-largest craft beer brewery is opening a taproom that will also serve as a research and development facility in Houston. Houston location taproom manager Marin Slanina says the expansion has been in the work for about two years.

Cut 7 (08) “…the Houston area.”

Slanina says unique flavors for the Houston location, but they do plan on bringing over some of the New Orleans brews like the Holy Roller IPA and putting a Texas twist on them.

Cut 8 (09) “…New Orleans location.”

Slanina says the company is keeping a finger on the pulse of the ever-evolving craft beer industry and says that could result in some beers created at the Houston location making its way to taps at the mothership location.

Cut 9 (09) “…to New Orleans.”

The grand opening is February 29^th.

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Assignments for two key House committees are in and Democrats have increased their representation relative to the last term thanks to the bipartisan coalition that elected Speaker Clay Schexnayder.Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says that’s their reward for backing Schexnayder.

Cut 10 (12) “…feat.”

A majority of Republicans backed Albany’s Sherman Mack, considered more conservative than Schexnayder.

The coalition of moderate Republicans and Democrats now narrowly controls Ways and Means and Appropriations, and Pinsonat says that could stymie conservative priorities, causing inter-GOP friction…

Cut 11 (09) “…repairable.”

Appropriations is where the state budget starts, and Ways and Means covers tax issues.

The Senate saw a total takeover by conservatives, so it’s still unlikely many Democratic priorities will make it the Governor, but they now may be more likely to make it to the House floor than last year.

Cut 12 (09) “…agree on”

The pro-Schexnayder coalition has a 13-12 edge in Appropriations, and a 14-4 lead in Ways and Means.

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About 300 needle incineration devices are being distributed to first responders in East Baton Rouge, Terrebonne, and Point Coupee parishes.  The device is the SANDD-mini, which stands for sharps and needles destruction device.  CEO of Redhawk Holdings, the company behind the device, Darcy Klug says it’s simple to operate.

Cut 13 (10) “…at 4000 degrees.”

Klug says while the needle is destroyed, it doesn’t tamper with any possible evidence.

Cut 14 (11) “…needle stick injury.”

The device has the potential to save taxpayer dollars.  Klug says a single needle stick injury can top $30k in workers comp costs, even if a first responder doesn’t contract a disease such as Hep C or HIV.

Cut 15 (12) “…of taxpayer dollars.”

More parishes are expected to obtain the devices in teh near future.

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Louisiana Tech men’s basketball is on a four-game winning streak and the Bulldogs have moved into a first place tie with North Texas for first place in Conference. Tech won a thriller on Saturday, a 76-73 victory over Old Dominion. Senior DaQuan Bracey was the hero as he hit a step back three with one second for the win…

Cut 16  (11)  …put in” 

The Dunkin Dogs have a big game Thursday as they visit Western Kentucky, who is in third place, one game back of the Bulldogs and Mean Green. Konkol says when you are on top of the league standings, you will get every team’s best shot

Cut 17  (19) “contested games” 

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LSU is 8-0 in SEC play after Saturday’s 73-63 win over over Ole Miss. The Tigers had 40 points in the first half and sophomore guard Javonte Smart had 21 points in the win. LSU Coach Will Wade says Smart was ready for the 11 AM tip…

cut 18  (15) ” for him”   

LSU has two games on the road this week. They are at Vanderbilt on Wednesday, who is winless in league play and then they travel to Auburn, who just beat Kentucky. Wade says there is still a long way to go in the season…

cut 19 (20)  get better”  

The Tigers have a two-game lead over Auburn and Kentucky for first place in the SEC. Smart on trying to win back-to-back regular season titles…

cut 20 (10) “ continue to win”    

A Sulpher middle school teacher takes home a Music Educator Grammy for his work in the classroom. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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The split LHSAA playoffs will remain in place after high school principals failed to approve proposals to bring the association back together. Jeff Palermo has more….

cut  2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur is home to a Grammy winner in Mickey Smith, who was honored with the Music Educator Award. Smith says he received the award for his work at a school he grew up just a few blocks away from…

Cut 3 (12)  “teaching” 

The educator will receive a 10,000 dollar honorarium with a matching school grant.

Smith was nominated and ultimately won, due to his charity work providing kids with instruments, and his ability to massively expand Maplewood’s music program.

Cut 4 (11) “…to watch”

His charity is MusicMakers2U and can be found at his website MickeySmithJr.com

Smith came onto the Grammy’s radar after he was nominated by Sulphur local, two time Grammy nominee Sean Ardoin, who’s known for his work in creole rock and roll…

Cut 5 (11) “…classroom”

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AAA is warning of the potential impacts that legalization of recreational marijuana could have on Louisiana roadways ahead of the legislative session that begins in March.  AAA spokesperson Don Redman says in the five years prior to the state of Washington legalizing recreational use, 9% of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for THC.

Cut 6 (11) “…impaired on marijuana.”

Redman says lawmakers need to consider the serious ramifications as laws against driving high will be very hard to enforce and impairment tricky to determine once recreational use is legal.

Cut 7 (09) “…are being abused.”

Redman says drivers are already very nonchalant about toking and driving as 70% think they won’t be caught, and it has the potential to get worse.

Cut 8 (13) “…on the highways.”

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Louisiana State Police added 51 Troopers to its force as their 99th cadet class graduated Friday. State Police Lt Nick Manale says the newly inducted cadets underwent 23 weeks of intense training and their education doesn’t stop there….

Cut 9 (09) “…out their career.”

During the 23-weeks of training at the Louisiana State Police Academy cadets undergo a combination of both classroom and physical drills.  Manale says the cadets also receive plenty of hands-on instruction.

Cut 10 (12) “regimen.” 

Manale says they are prepping for their historic 100^th cadet class at the LSP Academy and graduation day is a momentous occasion for every trooper.

Cut 11 (11) “…very challenging.”

For more information on becoming a state trooper visit lsp.org/recruit.html

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Proposals to end the public-private school split in postseason play for football, basketball, baseball, and softball high school sports failed to pass on the final day of the LHSAA annual convention. LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine has worked for the last five years to end the split

Cut 12 (12) “.   right now” 

Bonine says they are about 50 votes short shy of ending the split.

A majority of principals voted for North Vermilion High School principal Tommy Byler’s proposal to bring the association back together. It would have created six classes and eight in all other sports and many select schools would play at a higher classification. But Byler’s proposal needed to receive a two-thirds vote in favor…

Cut 13 (13) “…be the start”

High School principals can not vote again on another proposal to unify the association until next year. Bonine says in the meantime they’ll look to better define what a select or private school is

Cut 14 (09) “…all sports.”

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