A Monroe area lawmaker’s proposed bill would mandate your pharmacy to fill what your doctor prescribes; no matter what the FDA or CDC says. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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In a controversial move, Grambling State has announced the hiring of former Baylor coach Art Briles as its new offensive coordinator. David Grubb has more.

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

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Mardi Gras is all about fun, but the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission wants you to do so responsibly. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Vice President Kamala Harris has canceled her trip to the Bayou State today in the wake Russia’s attack on Ukraine. She was  scheduled to visit the small town of Sunset in St. Landry Parish to discuss the federal government’s investment into improving rural high-speed internet. . UL-Lafayette Political Science professor Dr. Pearson Cross says Harris’ was set to visit an area that’s in great need of  infrastructure assistance.

Cut 4 (11)  “…infrastructure bills.”

Cross says Harris’s was planning to visit a state where only two members of the state’s seven-member Congressional delegation voted for the trillion dollar infrastructure bill.

Cut 5 (12) “…political statement.”

Cross says he’s not sure why Harris chose Sunset, Louisiana to begin with….

Cut 6 (07)  “…something like that.”

Harris recently announced more than 10 million households are registered in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program which provides a $30 monthly discount for eligible households. For more information visit ACPbenefit.org.

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A Monroe state Representative files legislation that, if passed, would require pharmacists to fill so-called off-label medications. Republican lawmaker Mike Echols says off-label drugs are any that are prescribed for a patient that have not been approved by peer groups or the FDA. He says, during the pandemic, some patients could not get prescriptions for some drugs (Ivermectin in particular) because the Food & Drug Administration or other groups discouraged filling them…:

Cut 7 (14) “…degree of integrity.”

A number of doctors reported good results with treating COVID patients with Ivermectin, but official focus was placed on using the vaccines – not any therapeutic drugs – so pharmacists refused to fill them. Echols says it’s not for the FDA, the AMA or the CDC to decide what legal meds your doctor and pharmacist can provide you, and his bill would put that into state statutes…:

Cut 8 (09)  “…protect those relationships.”

Echols feels that no one should be able to get in the way of the relationship between a doctor and patient…:

Cut 9 (12)  “…prescribing these medications.”

Echols’ bill is one of hundreds to be debated during the Regular Legislative Session, which starts March 14^th. A similar bill will also be introduced in the Senate. Echols says he is open to merging the two into one.

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In a controversial move, Grambling State has announced the hiring of former Baylor coach Art Briles as its new offensive coordinator. Briles coached Baylor for nine seasons before being fired for his involvement in repeated cover-ups of allegations of sexual and physical assaults against his players. HBCU sports analyst Reggie Flood says this seems like a desperate move for both parties.

Cut 10 (10) “…any other school.”

According to the Monroe News-Star, Wednesday Grambling denied that Briles would be hired before the news was leaked by local station KTAL. But rumors of Briles coming to Grambling had been circulating for some time. Flood says the university has already started to insulate new coach Hue Jackson from the oncoming wave of criticism.

Cut  11 (1o)  “…and this hire.”  

The stakes have been raised in HBCU football over the past couple of years, as more high-profile coaches and talent make their way to campuses. Flood believes that this hire is a byproduct of the pressure on Grambling to get back among the elite and the Tigers seem to be willing to endure the scrutiny, if it produces results.

Cut 12 (11) “…is good publicity.”

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Not only will revelers be out and about for Mardi Gras, but the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is helping fund local law enforcement with Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over to keep impaired drivers off the road. LHSC spokesperson Mark Lambert says officers are trained to spot drivers who are impaired behind the wheel.

Cut 13 (09) “…arrested.”

In addition to New Year’s Eve and Halloween, Lambert says Mardi Gras is one of the deadliest times to be on the roads due to the number of impaired drivers. From 2016 to 2020 alcohol-related crashes in the state during carnival killed 22 and injured 531 people. And it’s not just alcohol…

Cut 14 (08)  “…impaired driver.”

Lambert says Mardi Gras is a time to celebrate but there’s a responsible way to celebrate safely by planning for a sober driver. He says to keep an eye on your friends and step up if needed.

Cut 15 (12)  “…road a favor.”

The statewide campaign of Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over runs until March 1^st.

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The present and future of Zion Williamson have been the hottest topics in the NBA over the past week. Speculation continues as to whether Zion will play for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, or ever again. Williamson has missed 113 games since 2019. Pelicans beat writer Christian Clark of NOLA-dot-com says with 23 games remaining in the season, he doesn’t see Zion back on the court in the near future.

Cut 16 (17)  “…this season.”

Some of the most direct criticism of Williamson came from former teammate and fellow Duke Alum JJ Redick. Redick characterized Zion as a “detached teammate” and said that has been the case since his rookie year. Clark says the description is accurate and who it came from was telling.

Cut 17 (19) “ …needed from JJ.” 

This offseason the Pelicans can offer Williamson a max extension worth more than $190 million, something no player in his position has turned down. Clark expects that Zion won’t be the first, but he’ll have to show the front office he’s healthy.

Cut 18 (15) “ …take the max.” 

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New LSU offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock met with the media for the first time since arriving on the Baton Rouge campus in January. Denbrock described what he wants an LSU offense to look like

Cut 19 (23)_“…efficiently” 

Myles Brennan is expected to be the starter at quarterback. But there’s also Garrett Nussmeier and incoming freshman Walker Howard. Denbrock says they’ll use spring practice to evaluate the quarterbacks…

Cut 20 (13) “ …chance to win” 

The director of the LSU’s Center for Energy Studies says Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not good for our wallet. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

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Now that Russia has begun its invasion of Ukraine, Congressman Mike Johnson says U-S action must be swift. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Brooke Thorington,”  

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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked oil prices to soar past 100-dollars this morning for the first time since July 2014. Executive director at the Center for Energy Studies at LSU, David Dismukes, says inflation is already high and the Russia-Ukraine will only push prices higher

Cut 3 (10) “…even worse”

Gasoline prices are also expected to rise. According to Louisiana Triple-A, the statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline is $3.31. That’s the highest they’ve been in eight years. Dismukes says gasoline prices could exceed four dollars a gallon if demand remains high…

Cut 4 (11) “…prices go.”

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The Public Service Commission is urging Louisiana utilities, electric, gas, and water to step up their vigilance on cyber security as a result of the unrest caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. PSC member Lambert Boissiere says Russia’s aggression may not be limited to military airstrikes on Ukraine

Cut 5 (08) “…computers these days.”

Several utility companies have already been victims of cyberattacks in recent years and there have been reports that US utilities’ are extremely vulnerable to future attacks. Most cyber-attacks are financially motivated, but Boissiere says attackers are also looking to disrupt businesses..

 Cut 6 (09) “…power flowing.” 

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Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee says they’ve been receiving intelligence for some time the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a real possibility.

Cut 7 (13) “…real threat.” 

The Republican Congressman says the threat goes even beyond Ukraine but to other nations, like the US, and not just from an economic standpoint, Johnson worries the invasion could prompt other dictators to attack other countries.

Johnson says even with the Biden Administration announcing a new set of sanctions aimed at Russian banks and technology firms he feels it’s too little too late.

Cut 8 (10) “…in the US.” 

As U-S for boots on the ground in Ukraine, Johnson says we don’t have the capability of doing that right now and that’s why the Biden Administration needs to evoke strict sanctions as soon as possible.

Cut 9 (09) “…since WWII.”

Johnson is also hopeful that both parties in Congress agree on decisive action and he encourages the White House to do the same.

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Hosting the Tigers for the first time since 1998, number 15 Louisiana Tech defeated 8th-ranked LSU 11-6 last night in an early statement game by the Bulldogs, who are off to a 4-0 start. After dominating one of the top teams in the country, Tech broadcaster Dave Nitz likes the potential in Ruston but says there isn’t much time to celebrate this win with some big games ahead.

Cut 10 (12)  “..next week.” 

On a night when temperatures dropped into the 40s, an evening so cold that Coach Lane Burroughs said he might not have sat through if he didn’t have to, the crowd showed up early and was there to support the Bulldogs throughout the ballgame. Nitz says it was an electric atmosphere and a sign of things to come.

Cut 11 (12)   “…at Louisiana Tech.”  

While the victory on the field was very important, Nitz says the biggest impact of this win may not come until the end of the season for the Bulldogs, when the NCAA selection committee is putting together its postseason tournament brackets.

Cut 12 (12) “…end of the year.”  

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Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is worried about rising prices as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Strain says Ukraine has some of the most fertile soil in the world and is a major exporter of wheat and grain and now the supply for these bread-making ingredients is tightening…

cut 13 (08) “…very significant”

Strain says Russia is a major exporter of natural gas, which is needed to produce fertilizer. He says the cost of fertilizer is already high…

Cut 14 (10)  “…at the grocery” 

For the month of January COVID cases in Louisiana among nursing residents and staff increased dramatically. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Beginning as early as May, Louisiana Entergy customers will see an 8-to-10 dollar surcharge to pay for the repair costs from recent hurricanes and last February’s winter storm. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (33)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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AARP data shows an alarming increase in COVID transmission among Louisiana nursing homes for the month of January.  AARP State Director Denise Bottcher says staff cases increased from 102 in December to 55-hundred, and for residents, it went from 54 to 36-hundred.

Cut 3 (04) “…nursing homes.”

And while case numbers increased radically with the Omicron variant Bottcher credits the high vaccination and boosted rate of 56-percent among nursing home residents at keeping COVID fatalities from spiking as much as cases. In December four COVID deaths were reported and in January it increased to 49.

Cut 4 (10) “…previous surges.”

As for nursing home staff, Bottcher says there has been an increase in the vaccination rate however only 16-percent of staff is boosted which we know is extremely important in decreasing severe COVID and death.

Cut 5 (07) “…much as possible.”

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Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves predicts another surge in gasoline and electricity prices because of what he calls Russia’s veiled invasion of Ukraine. Graves says Russia is one of the largest net exporters of oil and gas in the world…

 Cut 6 (11) “…electricity bills.” 

Graves says the Ukraine-related sanctions imposed by the United States, European countries, and others will cut off Russian energy supplies. He says the best way to temper sustained high energy prices is to let American workers produce American energy.

Cut 7 (12) “…your oil.” 

Graves wrote a letter to the President expressing his concerns about higher gas prices and implored the Administration to take a different approach instead of opposing domestic energy production in the Gulf of Mexico…

Cut 8 (11) “…their homes.” 

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Governor John Bel Edwards testified today before the U-S Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to discuss the state’s work on coastal restoration and to implore the federal government to take more expedient action as impacted regions see more and more erosion with each passing year.

Cut 9 (13) “…unnecessary delays.”

Earlier this month Edwards announced that Louisiana completed its Climate Action Plan, becoming the first state in the Deep South to develop a road map to getting to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The governor says it’s the latest example of how the state has become more aggressive in preparing for future natural disasters.

Cut 10 (10)  “…achieve it” 

Edwards asked the committee to support the Shoreline Health Oversight, Restoration, Resilience, and Enhancement Act, allowing Gulf States to receive a more significant share of offshore oil revenues to fund restoration and protection projects, and a stronger relationship with the Army Corps of Engineers. Without those measures, Edwards said millions of people and billions of dollars are at risk.

Cut 11 (11)   “…importance.”  

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The Public Service Commission approves Entergy’s request to charge its customers an additional eight-dollars a month for the next 15 years to pay for the damage done to the power grid from four hurricanes and a winter storm. PSC member Foster Campbell believes Entergy should also pay part of the repair bill

Cut 12 (10) “…the people.”  

Campbell was the lone no vote out of the five-member commission. He says it’s troubling that utility customers will see higher bills, while the Entergy CEO enjoys raises…

cut 13 (14) “…to them”

Entergy says two-point-two million dollars in damages was done to its system following the hurricanes in 2020 and the winter storm in February 2021. The utility company says Hurricane Ida caused other one-million dollars. PSC member Eric Skrmetta voted for the surcharge…

Cut 14 (12)  “…to the money spent.” 

Skrmetta says Entergy faced a difficult task each time there was extensive damage and they rose to the challenge. including getting power restored in days for some parts of southeast Louisiana after Hurricane Ida…

Cut 15 (11) “…that they need.” 

Entergy says customers could see the surcharges as soon as May.