The BA-dot-5 variant is keeping the current surge of COVID in Louisiana on track to becoming one of the longest. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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The Louisiana Bond Commission withholds funding for the New Orleans water and sewerage board over the city’s threat not to enforce state laws that ban abortions. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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With news of President Biden testing positive for COVID today it’s also reflective of case counts and coronavirus hospitalizations on the rise in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the Bayou State is still in its sixth surge that started about two months ago and it’s on track to be one of the longest upticks in cases.

Cut 3 (07) “…transmissible variant” 

Kanter says the current surge would have most likely ended had it not been for the BA-dot-5 variant.

Today the state reports more than 34-hundred additional COVID cases but Kanter says that’s not necessarily reflective of the actual amount of COVID circulating in Louisiana.

Cut 4  (07) “…to testing.”

And while the BA-dot-5 variant is highly transmissible Kanter says it’s not necessarily virulent and hospitalizations remain low, at 747 when you compare them to case counts.

And after 28 months Kanter says COVID fatigue has definitely set in.

Cut 5  (11) “…get it again.”

According to John Hopkins School of Public Health symptoms of the BA-dot-5 include sore throat, and fatigue, but they are less likely to report fevers and/or loss of taste and smell

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Senator Bill Cassidy’s bicameral bill to provide the state bigger revenue shares of offshore energy developed passed the U.S. Senate Energy committee this morning. Cassidy says it’s called the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies & Ecosystems Act, aka RISE…:

Cut 6 (10) “…restore that coastline.” 

Cassidy says the bill will lift a cap on state revenue sharing (currently at $375-million a year), and create a revenue sharing mechanism for offshore wind energy..:

Cut 7 (11) “…other coastal states.” 

The bill is co-authored by Rhode Island Democrat Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Ten other senators have signed on as co-sponsors. Cassidy says the bill would remove limits on how much annual revenue sharing can flow into the state, and that money can be put to important use…:

Cut 8 (12) “…to natural resources.”

Cassidy says the bill is essential for rebuilding Louisiana’s coast and protecting against Gulf storms.  It goes next to the Senate floor.

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The Louisiana Bond Commission has voted to withhold 39-million dollars in non-cash line of credit for a sewerage and water board project. It’s in response to city officials pledge they would not enforce state laws that ban abortion. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin serves on the Bond Commission is in full support of withholding the money

Cut 9 (12) “…be impeached.”

A representative from Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office made the recommendation to withhold the money in response to New Orleans city officials saying that abortion laws would not be enforced. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne voted against delaying this funding…

Cut 10 (09) “…correct vote” 

State Treasurer John Schroder is the chairman of the Bond Commission and voted to withhold the non-cash line of credit, but expressed his displeasure that the Attorney General’s office is using the Bond Commission to send a message to a city….

Cut 11 (11)  “…to get on.”

The Bond Commission will consider again next month whether to release the 39-million to the Sewerage and Water Board plant. A Baton Rouge judge has blocked the law the state’s abortion ban from going into effect.

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Today it’s northeast Louisiana under an excessive heat warning as heat indices are reaching 114-degrees. State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this excessive heat has been helping to burn up the land, literally…

Cut 12 (11) “…getting dry”   

Strain says corn and soybean farmers are working to make sure their crops do not burn up in this heat…

Cut 13 (12) “..of the heat”

Some parts of the state are seeing rain cooling showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Strain says that causes another problem, mosquitos…

Cut 14 (12)  “…eastern encephalitis.” 

Republican US Senator John Kennedy is being challenged by three democrats in his re-election campaign for his second term. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (42) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Louisiana has updated its Highway Safety Plan after nearly one-thousand motorists were killed in car crashes last year, a 17-percent increase from the year before. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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Qualifying for the U-S Senate race got underway this morning and the first one to sign up, Republican incumbent John Kennedy. Kennedy is finishing up his first term and believes his voting record represents the values of Louisiana

Cut 3 (07) “…116th Congress” 

Kennedy has a huge fundraising advantage over his opponents….

Cut 4  (09) “…message out.”

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Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers who’s best know for his campaign video that went viral where he’s smoking marijuana officially filed for to run for US Senate as a Democrat against Republican John Kennedy. Chambers was present when  Kennedy addressed the media and had this response.

Cut 5  (16) “…lives in.”

Chambers also had a gift for his opponent, he planned to present the state’s junior senator with a spray bottle of Round-up.

Cut 6 (10) “…next time” 

Chambers ran for Congress last year to fill New Orleans Representative Cedric Richmond’s seat when he left to work for the Biden administration but failed to make the runoff by 15-hundred votes against Troy Carter.

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Political newcomer Luke Mixon also filed to run as a Democrat against Kennedy. The former Top Gun Naval pilot called out Kennedy for not standing up for democracy when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.

Cut 7 (12) “…to lie.” 

Mixon who also took an oath to uphold the Constitution when he served in the military, says he’s often asked why he’s running against Kennedy…

Cut 8 (13) “…to defend.”

The Bunkie native also criticized Kennedy for voting against the infrastructure bill and while he supports the Second Amendment, Mixon believes there should be red flag gun laws to keep those with mental illness from hurting others and themselves.

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Sylvia Taylor filed on behalf of her daughter Syrita Steib who is the third democrat hoping to unseat Kennedy. Taylor shared that Steib served time in prison but since completing her sentence she’s gone forward to help others.

Cut 9 (13) “…years before.”

Taylor says Steib’s platform includes a focus on infrastructure, education, women’s rights, energy and democracy. Taylor says her daughter’s life serves as an inspiration for her and others.

Cut 10 (10) “…the drive.” 

Stieb served over nine years in federal prison for her role in robbing and burning down a car dealership.

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The state is updating its Strategic Highway Safety Plan after nearly one-thousand people were killed in crash crashes in 2021. Based on preliminary data, 971 motorists died, a 17-percent increase from 2020. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman says that’s the highest percentage increase in one year since crash fatality records have been kept

Cut 11 (12)  “…community crisis.”

Increasing education efforts, strengthening laws and public policies to prohibit risky behaviors such as distracted driving and increasing accountability through enforcement are some of the strategies the state will deploy to reduce fatal crashes. State Police Superintendent Lamar Davis says they are committed to this effort

Cut 12 (12) “…negative behavior.”   

Governor John Bel Edwards says he sees way too many drivers looking at their phone instead of the road

Cut 13 (12) “..or whatever.”

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A 15-year-old girl died last night in a single vehicle crash in St. James Parish. State Police Trooper Ross Brennan says a 17-year-old was behind the wheel on LA Highway 18 when he failed to stay on the road…

Cut 14 (10)  “…overturn.” 

The driver and his two juvenile passengers were not buckled up and they were ejected from the Honda Accord. 15-year-old Ramiya Sowell of St. James died at a Baton Rouge area hospital, while the driver and other passenger sufffered moderate injuries. Brennan says seat belts could have saved a life

Cut 15 (07) “…crash.”