A leading provider of online health care to women is now available in Louisiana. Kevin Gallagher reports on what “Nurx” has to offer…:

Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Tax season officially begins today, as filers can begin sending in their returns. David Grubb has more…:

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m David Grubb.” 

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Political director for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers says lawmakers need to finally address the concerns of teachers or even more will leave the profession. Brooke Thorington explains

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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A leading provider of online health care to women is now available in Louisiana. Nurx (pronounced: NU-rux) delivers online consultations with medical professionals, pharmacy services and specialized care; all via the Internet. Dr. Adrienne Robertson is one of the Nurx medical providers. She says they are ready to assist with a number of women’s health needs…:

Cut 4 (14) “…anti-aging services.” 

Dr. Robertson says Nurx will help meet a growing market for digital remote consulting and treatment of things like basic skincare, migraine, birth control, HIV and STDs (something Louisiana has a lot of, but some women are reluctant to see a doctor for.) She says a typical visit to Nurx.com, or the Nurx app, starts with a questionnaire about the patient and the problem. She says real doctors, like her, review the information and get back in touch within a couple of days…:

Cut 5 (13) “…mailed to your home.”

Nurx is already available in 32 other states, with great success. Robertson says telemedicine from Nurx fulfills a need in the marketplace and is friendly to those with Medicare, Medicaid or group coverage…:

Cut 6 (10) “…who aren’t insured.”

For more go to nurx.com.

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Today marks the beginning of tax season as Louisiana residents can begin filing their state and federal returns. Though the process can seem complicated, Certified Public Accountant Conner Brown says a little information can go a long way to helping you maximize your return and minimize what you owe.

Cut 7 (7) “…taxable income.”

Many families received Child Tax Credits this year due to the pandemic. Brown says that doesn’t necessarily make them ineligible to get more credit on their returns.

Cut 8 (16)  “…able to do that.”

Due to Emancipation Day, this year’s returns will be due three days later than usual, April 18th Even with that, Brown advises taxpayers to be ready to file on time or pay the price…

Cut 9 (14)  “…to be late.”

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Cynthia Posey, Legislative Director for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers says she’s hopeful lawmakers will finally address the needs of educators, if not she fears the teacher shortage will only continue to grow. Posey says education reforms over the last decade are only hurting students and driving away teachers.

Cut 10 (12) “…isn’t working.”

Posey says among the concerns is the amount of paperwork teachers are burdened with in addition to low pay. She says it’s difficult for teachers to go to the capitol and express their concerns because committee meetings are held during school hours and teachers endure another level of scrutiny.

Cut  11 (12)  “…legislative committee.”  

Posey says teachers have been leaving the profession because they are no longer allowed to educate and are expected to teach so students will pass standardized tests.  And says the pandemic was the last straw for those who were considering leaving to do so even sooner.

And the pool of future teachers is getting smaller. Posey says more parents are discouraging college students from even entering the curriculum.

Cut 12 (11) “…the case.”

While many schools are asking retired teachers to return to the classroom to assist with the shortage, Posey warns the reason they left the profession, to begin with, is still being ignored. She fears most who are asked will not return until their concerns over reforms, paperwork, and pay are addressed.

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Similar to hospitals nursing homes are feeling the impacts of Omicron. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says COVID cases are not only impacting residents but those who take care of them.

Cut 13 (08) “…settings are.”

Last week the health department reported more than 1,000 cases among nursing home residents, an increase of about 300 from the week before. About 1,300 nursing home staff were absent due to COVID last week. Kanter says however there is good news to report among long-term care facilities.

Cut 14 (10)  “…residents.”

Kanter credits a high vaccination/booster rate among nursing home residents as to why COVID deaths have not seen a spike.

Cut 15 (10)  “…to be.”

As for nursing home staff, only 16-percent are reportedly boosted.

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LSU men’s basketball team is mired in its first three-game losing streak since January 2018 after losing to 24th ranked Tennessee on Saturday 64-50. The Tigers fell behind 14-nothing to begin the game. LSU Coach Will Wade called it a disappointing performance…

Cut  16 (14)  “…all season.”

LSU shot 39-percent from the field. Tari Eason had 16 points, while Brandon Murray had 15 points. Wade says he’ll need to make some changes to jump start the Tigers struggling offense. Murray on what they are doing wrong…

Cut 17 (17) “ ..offense right.” 

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Louisiana Tech had its 18-game home winning streak and its seven-game overall winning streak snapped after losing to UAB 83-76 to UAB inside the Thomas Assembly Center. The loss drops the Bulldogs to 6-and-1 in Conference USA and they are tied with the Blazers for the West Division lead. Bulldogs Coach Eric Konkol says they will need to bounce back…

Cut 18 (18) “ …works.” 

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Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are one game away from the Super Bowl after upsetting the Tennessee Titans 19-16. Burrow was sacked nine times but threw for 348 yards. But it was the Bengals defense that got a huge interception to set up a game-winning field goal. Burrow says it feels great to win a playoff game on the road…

Cut 19 (13)_“…unbelievable” 

Cincinnati will play in the franchise’s third AFC championship game on Sunday. They’ll be underdogs, but Burrow doesn’t see it that way…

Cut 20 (13) “…coming for it all”  

A new partnership aims to expand career opportunities in Louisiana’s thriving maritime industry. David Grubb has more.

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”

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The state adds COVID reinfections to the dashboard and the Omicron variant has caused them to grow considerably. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Today’s cold temperatures are just the beginning of a frigid weekend in Louisiana. State climatologist Barry Keim says high temperatures will only be in the 40s today and tomorrow

Cut 3 (04) “…this time of year.”

Keim says hard freeze and freeze warnings are posted for Louisiana beginning tonight and lasting into tomorrow morning…

Cut 4 (10) “…across the whole state.”

Keim says it will begin to warm up on Sunday, but until then take the usual precautions when it gets this cold…

Cut 5 (10) “…exposed lines.”

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A new partnership between the Crescent River Port Pilots and the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Associations aims to increase awareness of career opportunities in the state’s maritime industry for African-Americans and other minorities. Captain Roy Vance believes the industry has flown under the radar for too long.

 Cut 6 (13) “…life-changing jobs.” 

Vance also said that these jobs are not limited to on-ship positions. People from any number of backgrounds have the opportunity to find a job suited to their skills.

Cut 7 (11) “…to choose from.” 

The newly formed alliance will be making an aggressive effort to increase awareness and most importantly, fill those jobs.

Cut 8 (12) “…get the word out.”  

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The state health department is now reporting reinfections on its COVID dashboard. There are more than 49-thousand in Louisiana now and almost 14-hundred were added Friday. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the state is following the CDC’s definition.

Cut 9 (12) “…as a reinfection.”

Reinfections are also included in the total case count which surpassed one million this week since the pandemic began. Kanter says they’ve been tracking reinfections since they started but Omicron caused reinfections to surge.

Cut 10 (10)  “….boosters.” 

Kanter says studies show Omicron evades the protection of just the two-dose mRNA vaccines, but once you are boosted it brings you to the level of protection you had with Delta.

Cut  11 (07)  “…reinfections.”

Boosters are advised for ages 12 and up, at least five months after the second dose of either the Pfizer of Moderna vaccines and at least two months after a Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

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Temperatures will get down to the low-to-mid 20s in southeast Louisiana this weekend where strawberries are produced. But Tangipahoa Parish Associate Extension Agent Mary Helen Ferguson says producers are prepared for below-freezing temps…

Cut 12 (11) “..protection.”  

Before this weekend, Louisiana was experiencing a mild winter, which Ferguson says has allowed some strawberry growers to begin picking berries…

Cut 13 (09) “…back on.”

The mild winter has allowed for boil-worthy crawfish in January. But Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this weekend’s cold weather will make it difficult for crawfish farmers to catch mudbugs and they don’t grow when it’s this cold…

Cut 14 (07)  “…in action.” 

Strain says at least high temperatures are getting into the 40s today and Saturday, so this arctic blast is just a hiccup for what should be a great crawfish season…

Cut 15 (11) “…crawifsh”