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.

Entergy is prepared to ask the Public Service Commission today if it can charge customers more than $3 billion to cover storm repair costs over the last two years. PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell says not so fast. David Grubb has more…

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m David Grubb.”

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The bill called the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act” that received pushback from transgender advocates and even sparked the first veto session in modern Louisiana history is going for round two. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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A bill for the regular legislative session next month would expand what constitutes “justifiable homicide.” Kevin Gallagher reports on a bill to allow the use of a gun to defend one’s property from rioters…:

Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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Entergy is prepared to ask the Public Service Commission today if it can charge customers more than $3 billion to cover storm repair costs over the last two years. If Entergy’s request is approved, households would see a surcharge of $10 per month added to their bills for the next 15 years. PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell says Entergy would pay nothing under that plan.

Cut 4 (09)  “…pay it all.”

Campbell is also concerned that north Louisiana would be disproportionally impacted by those costs. He says residents in that area are still paying for previous storms and were generally spared by Hurricane Ida and other recent weather events.

Cut 5 (09) “…of the damage.”

Under the state’s current guidelines the PSC sets consumer rates for services, with the companies charging for power and can seek compensation for repair costs for damages caused by storms. Campbell says it may be time to revisit those policies, especially considering Entergy’s ever-increasing profits.

Cut 6 (12)  “…is troubling.”

Campbell also says that Entergy is expected to request to recover an additional $1.4 billion in damages later this year, and two other utilities, CLECO and SWEPCO have their own requests pending as well.

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Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is once again attempting to pass her “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” after last year’s legislative effort forced the first veto session in modern history. The bill prohibits a female sports team from allowing students who are not biologically female to participate.

Cut 7 (07) “…of this bill.”

Governor Edwards said he vetoed the bill because it was mean-spirited and searching for a problem that doesn’t exist. The override attempt won Senate approval but fell two votes short of a two-thirds majority in the House.

Mizell says the bill filed for the 2022 session adds verification of sex by using one’s birth certificate which lists one’s gender at or near birth.

Mizell says the intent of her bill is to protect women’s sports.

Cut 8 (07)  “…sports bill.”

Since last year’s session, Lia Thomas a transgender woman who previously competed on the University of Pennsylvania’s men’s swim team has now set new records in the sport for females. Mizell says this changes the narrative from last year’s debate and even more states are considering such legislation.

Cut 9 (08)  “…the debate.”

Ten states have similar laws, which include the surrounding states of Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The 2022 legislative session begins on March 14^th.

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A bill filed for the regular legislative session – which starts next month – seeks to aid those who use a gun to defend their property during a riot or other social disorder. Caddo Parish Republican state Representative Danny McCormick is the bill sponsor. He says his bill expands of what can be considered a “justifiable homicide”…:

Cut 10 (09) “…or burn down your home.”

McCormick says his bill would apply to use of armed force to defend one’s property during a riot, or to “prevent imminent destruction of property.” He says watching the riots of the spring and summer of 2020 caused him to bring the bill…:

Cut  11 (07)  “…up in Oregon.”  

Louisiana statutes clearly define what is considered a riot.

Portland, Oregon (and many other U.S. cities) saw dozens of fires set during racially motivated riots in 2020. McCormick says he’s seeking to amend current law on what constitutes a justified homicide because current law doesn’t allow armed protection of one’s property…:

Cut 12 (09) “…guilty of homicide.”

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After photos and videos surfaced of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and other elected officials not wearing face masks at a Mardi Gras Ball Friday, spokesperson Beau Tidwell had to address the subject at a press conference.

Cut 13 (07) “…going forward.”

The photos are from the Mayor’s Mardi Gras Ball Friday evening. Despite the city’s COVID requirements that face masks must be worn inside public spaces, with the exception of eating and drinking, Photos from the event appear to show otherwise. Tidwell says the guidelines remain in place.

Cut 14 (08)  “…this time.”

Tidwell says guests were required to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to attend the ball, which is part of the city’s requirements for indoor venues.

Cut 15 (12)  “…more safe.”

Tidwell says the vaccine, testing, and masking requirements will remain in place throughout Mardi Gras.

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LSU will have its hands full tonight when the men’s basketball team travels to Rupp Arena to face sixth-ranked Kentucky. After going on a three-game win streak the Tigers lost a heartbreaker at South Carolina, dropping them to 2-6 away from home this season. Kentucky is an SEC-best 16-0 on its home floor, and Coach Will Wade has to figure out how to stop possibly the most talented team in the conference.

Cut 16 (13)  “…really good pieces.”

Late game execution has been a problem for the Tigers all season. Of their seven conference losses, four have been by seven points or less, with two by a single basket. Wade says LSU spends plenty of time on preparation for those situations, but it just hasn’t stuck.

Cut 17 (15) “ …clean it up.” 

LSU topped the Wildcats 65-60 in their first matchup at the P-MAC, but since then the two teams have been going in opposite directions. Wade says there’s little if anything that the Tigers can learn from that win with his team struggling while Kentucky has won eight of its last 10.

Cut 18 (20) “ …beat ’em here.” 

Tip-off is set for 8:00 pm.

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A sold-out crowd is expected in Ruston tonight as Louisiana Tech hosts LSU on the Bulldogs home baseball diamond. Both teams are 3-and-0 and. The Tigers swept Maine and scored a program-record 51 runs for an opening weekend series. Tech Coach Lane Burroughs says LSU’s hitters will challenge his pitchers…

Cut 19 (19)_“… all year” 

This is only the seventh meeting between the two schools in baseball and Tech’s only win came in 2019. It’s the first time the Diamond Dogs have hosted LSU and Burroughs knows his players are fired up for the game…

Cut 20 (20) “ …those games” 

The two teams played twice last year and LSU won both contests, 16 to 7 and 16 to 8.

Two Jefferson Parish Sheriff deputies are charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daniel Vallee in Marrero last Wednesday. Brooke Thorington reports the shooting came as deputies surrounded Vallee’s S-U-V….

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation express concern as Russian forces show signs of invading Ukraine. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Two Jefferson Parish Sheriff deputies face manslaughter charges after Sheriff Joe Lopinto says lethal force was not justified in the fatal shooting of Daniel Vallee in Marrero last week. Lopinto says deputies surrounded Vallee’s S-U-V and he refused to get out. He says Isaac Hayes and Johnathan Louis fired their guns when Vallee’s hands dropped and hit the horn.

Cut 3 (10) “…point in time.”

Officers encountered Vallee’s SUV with him in it as they answered a noise complaint at a known crack house. Lopinto says Valle was repeatedly asked to exit the vehicle, he started the car, after raising both hands and placing them on the steering wheel, he hit the horn which startled officers, and shots were fired.

Cut 4 (10) “…this case.”

Vallee, who was not armed, was shot multiple times. Toxicology reports show Vallee tested positive for several drugs. Lopinto says the video footage from the shooting will not be released. The two deputies turned themselves in Monday night and were booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Facility.

Cut 5 (06) “…defense here.”

Lopinto says force was justified in the incident but not lethal force.

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Lake Charles is ready to revitalize its lakefront. 2022 has seen a number of new businesses announce their intentions to open locations on the lakefront, bringing food, entertainment, and recreational activities to the long underdeveloped area. It’s been 17 years since talks began on how to bring the area back, and Mayor Nic Hunter is glad that things are finally in motion.

 Cut 6 (12) “…on our lakefront.” 

The centerpiece of the redevelopment is Port Wonder. When it is finished, the educational and entertainment facility will sit on the north shore and should serve as a catalyst to bring families back to the lakefront thanks to two notable tenants says Hunter.

Cut 7 (12) “…Wildlife & Fisheries.” 

Hunter is proud that most of the businesses moving to the lakefront are locally owned. Over the next few months, things will really get rolling with Mayor Hunter expecting to see the fruits of this labor early in 2023.

Cut 8 (06) “…visitors and guests.” 

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U-S Senator Bill Cassidy supports strong economic sanctions against Russia as reports indicate Russian forces have moved into eastern Ukraine and Cassidy says this establishes Russian President Vladimir Putin as an enemy of freedom. He says sanctions worked against Russia when President Ronald Regan was in office

Cut 9 (12) “…you name it”

Cassidy says Louisiana can help play a role in weakening Russia financially as that country relies heavily on revenue from natural gas…

Cut 10 (12)  “…less money.” 

President Biden announced new sanctions against Russia this afternoon that he says go beyond what was implemented against them in 2014. He says the United States is cutting off Russia’s major financial institutions from the west and sanctioning Russia’s sovereign debt.

Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson blames the Biden Administration for not doing more sooner…

Cut 11 (11)   “..this dilemna”  

Johnson says it’s probably too late to avoid a conflict at this point…

Cut 12 (10) “…strength.”  

Johnson believes the U-S should have supplied Ukraine with anti-tank missiles and defense systems. He says America could have also put sanctions on Russian officials and energy assets.

Biden announced today he’s authorized additional movements of US forces and equipment to strengthen their Baltic allies, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

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Former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain will spend the rest of his life behind bars as a judge sentenced Strain to four life sentences, plus another 30 years on top of that. Strain was convicted in November on aggravated rape and incest charges. A mother of one of Strain’s victims spoke with reporters after the sentencing hearing

cut 13 (08) “…Jack hurting him.”

The 60-year-old Strain served as the top lawman in St. Tammany Parish from 1995 to 2016. He was convicted on eight charges of sex crimes against boys, including four counts of aggravated rape. A mother of one of the victims blames herself for not doing more

Cut 14 (13)  “…thought.” 

Strain also faces sentencing in federal court on a bribery charge. It has nothing to do with the sex crimes case, but the publicity of the federal investigation led to victims coming forward.