Governor Edwards wants to add the COVID vaccine to the list of shots to attend public schools K-12 and higher education. But opponents to such a move voiced their concerns at today’s House Health and Welfare Committee. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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A special committee made up of state senators began hearings today on the use of force policies that State Police has in place. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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Governor John Bel Edwards wants to add the Covid vaccine to a list of required shots needed to attend K-12 schools and higher education. The new rule would initially only apply to students 16 and up at the start of the 2022 school year because it’s only FDA-approved for that age group.

Cut 3 (11) “…as well.”

The move is opposed by mostly GOP lawmakers who are gathering today for an oversight hearing to stop the proposal.

Edwards says because it’s been approved by the FDA for those 16 and older, the public needs to be reminded in order to receive such approval it’s been thoroughly tested.

Cut 4 (10) “…these populations.”

Edwards says but it’s also part of a larger effort to battle the pandemic.

Cut 5 (10) “…18 or below.”

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Hurricane victims from 2020 and 2021 continue to struggle with insurance companies on getting paid for their storm damage claims. Houma Senator Mike Fesi says many of his constituents can’t even a call back. Fesi says he’s told insurance providers a little communication is better than no communication at all…

 Cut 6 (11) “..biggest complaint.” 

Fesi says expects a lot of legislation will be considered in the 2022 regular session on how they can force insurance companies to provide timely claims. But he says they have to be careful, because if you put too many regulations on insurance companies they won’t do business in Louisiana anymore…

Cut 7 (10) “…much trouble.”  

Fesi says his best advice for the time being for frustrated policyholders is to call the Louisiana Department of Insurance and voice your complaints…

Cut 8 (09) “…better satisfaction.”

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UPDATE: House Health and Welfare vote 13-2 to reject a rule to add COVID vaccines to the state’s immunization schedule. 

A House Health And Welfare Committee meeting is underway, receiving public input from the governor’s plan to add the COVID vaccine to the list of required shots needed to attend K-12 schools. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder voiced his opposition to adding the COVID vaccine to attend schools.

Cut 9 (14) “…for schools.”

Attorney General Jeff Landy says the proposal of adding the vaccine to the shot schedule is an overreach of the Department of Health because they are also dictating who can attend K-12 public schools.

Cut 10 (07)  “…0f Health”

Anti-vaccine activist and attorney Bobby Kennedy Jr, a guest of Landy attended the hearing and told the committee instead of a four-year study, the Pfizer vaccine trial ended at six months and was given authorization by the FDA.

Cut  11 (14)  “..never know.”  

Dr. Kanter stated that’s Kennedy’s presentation of deaths and side effects of the vaccine was a gross misinterpretation of the truth.

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The Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight held its first meeting today. The senators are reviewing L-S-P’s use of force policies as the state agency has come under fire after several documented cases of Troopers beating up Black motorists. Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says 99-percent of the state’s Troopers do their job well, while one-percent do not

Cut 12 (08) “…entire bunch”  

Colonel Lamar Davis was named the new Superintendent of State Police 13 months ago. He says several changes have been made since his appointment, but unfortunately some of the changes can’t take place over night…

Cut 13 (10) “…those things.”

Information gathered from this State Police Oversight Committee is expected to produce legislation that will be considered in the 2022 regular session. Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux…

Cut 14 (10) “..do that.” 

Several high-ranking LSP officials were also on hand to testify. Boudreaux asked Lt. Colonel Doug Cain about how L-S-P leadership is attempting to change the culture within the department. Cain says they are educating Troopers that everyone has a different life background and consider that when dealing with the public…

Cut 15 (12) “…decision making.” 

The first case of the Omicron variant in Louisiana has been detected in Louisiana and State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter stresses vaccinations and boosters. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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ULM Monroe hopes to help the statewide nursing shortage with a new agreement with Louisiana’s 2-year colleges and tech schools. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

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A Louisiana Congressman proposes legislation to cancel student loan debt equal to the amount of SBA loans taken out by a person to recover from disasters. More from Dave Brannen.

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The Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight will hold their first meeting today and hear from LSP Superintendent Colonel Lamar Davis. The committee was formed after several reports of excessive force. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil is chairman of the seven-member committee.

Cut 4 (12) “…situations. “

Foil says their primary goal determine if legislation needs to be enacted to reduce excessive force among police officers and as a legislative branch, they have oversight authority the executive branch.

Cut 5 (10) “…their policies.”

While the first meeting will give committee members the opportunity to question Colonel Davis about practices and training of State Police, Foil anticipates a second meeting to allow for public input. As for possible legislation that could be created…

Cut 6 (12) “…allegations of excessive force.”

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are reviewing a series of beatings by troopers and if top police leaders obstructed justice to protect troopers involved in the deadly 2019 arrest of Ronald Greene.

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The state has its first known case of the Omicron Variant. The Louisiana Department of Health says the individual who lives in the greater New Orleans area recently traveled within the US. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the variant is significant because it has some 50 mutations from the original virus.

Cut 7 (11) “…crucial question.”

Kanter says researchers are still gathering and reviewing data and there are still many unknowns, for example, is the Omicron variant resistant to current therapeutics we are using to treat COVID and/or the vaccines.

Cut 8 (10) “…fully vaccinated.”

Until there’s more data, Kanter says it’s hard to predict what kind of impact the Omicron variant will have in Louisiana. He says currently there is a lull in cases and hospitalizations in the state. The state has increased lab sequencing to detect the Omicron variant and the public should…

Cut 9 (09)  “…booster shot.”

In Louisiana just below 50-percent of the population is fully vaccinated.

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UL-Monroe seeks to help the statewide nursing shortage with a groundbreaking degree transfer program. Dr. Don Simpson is Dean of the ULM College of health sciences. He says they’ve forged an agreement with the state’s 12 community & tech colleges with associate nursing degree programs to allow those nurses to easily pursue their Bachelor of Science in Nursing at ULM…:

Cut 10 (11)  “…credentials as a nurse.”

Four-year universities have partnered with local 2-year schools before, but this is the first time in our state a university has partnered with an entire college system (the LCTCS) to offer a near-seamless degree transfer program. Once a nursing student has their 2-year degree, they can apply for ULM’s online study program to get the additional 30 hours needed to get a BS degree in Nursing. Simpson says, because it is online, anyone from anywhere in Louisiana can apply…:

Cut  11 (08)  “…where they want to be.”  

Dr. Simpson says it’s hoped this degree transfer program will help with Louisiana’s current shortage of trained nurses. He says to make even more ease of completing a BS degree, ULM will offer the program at just $200 per credit hour. He says getting a BS degree increases earnings potential…:

Cut 12 (12) “…their bachelor’s degree.”

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Congressman Troy Carter is proposing legislation that would erase student loan debt equal to that of any SBA loans taken out to recover from a disaster since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s called the ‘No Double Debt for Disaster Survivors Act”.

Cut 13 (07) “…have a restart.”

Stats show that the nation has nearly 43-million borrowers owing one-point-five-nine billion dollars in federal student loans, while the average borrower has just over 36 thousand dollars in federal loans.

Carter compares the Act to the U.S. forgiving the indebtedness of countries.

Cut 14 (09)  “…on their feet.”

Carter says there’s good reason for the canceling of student debt as outlined in his legislation.

Cut 15 (12)  “..with student debt.”

Carter says canceling student debt under the act would substantially increase Black and Latino household wealth and help narrow the racial wealth gap, while also providing immediate financial relief to millions of Americans.

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The Ragin Cajuns have promoted co-offensive coordinator Michael Desormeaux as U-L Lafayette’s new head football coach. Desomreaux set records when he was a quarterback for the Cajuns in the mid-2000s and he’s been on the staff the last six seasons. Athletics director Doctor Bryan Maggard says Desormeaux is the right leader for the program and the hiring has the recommendation of outgoing coach Billy Napier

Cut  16 (16) “…our roster”

Desormeaux is a New Iberia native and the school says he’s been instrumental in the Cajuns having one of the top offenses in the Sun Belt and consistently helps bring the league’s top recruiting class. Maggard says Desormeaux is a man of unbelievable character and integrity and has a very high football acumen….

Cut 17 (10) “ right now” 

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LSU football will have another game this season as they will play in the Texas Bowl in Houston against Kansas State on January 24th. Baton Rouge native Brad Davis will serve as the interim coach and he’ll be the first African-American to an LSU football team in a game…

Cut 18 (20) “..right now”  

LSU didn’t play in a bowl game last season. Davis it’s good the Tigers have another 15 practices and another game to prepare for…

Cut 19 (25)  “..what we do”  

Governor Edwards held a briefing Friday to discuss the Omicron variant which was designated a variant of concern just a week ago. Brooke Thorington has more.

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CWD, or Chronic Wasting Disease which is fatal to deer, is becoming a growing concern in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

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Governor John Bel Edwards addresses the Omicron variant at a press conference this morning. It was just a week ago when the World Health Organization declared it a variant of significance and now it’s been detected in five states. Edwards says it’s not in Louisiana that we know of and detection is underway.

Cut 3 (10) “…as possible.”

Edwards says as far as we know 100% of cases in the state are from the Delta variant.

Edwards says there are a number of studies underway about the variant and there are some things we know and many others we do not know yet. The governor says that the Department of Health has established a network of laboratories and they are proactively sequencing on positive PCR tests.

Cut 4 (08) “…any other variant.”

Regardless of variants, Edwards says the best protection is to be fully vaccinated, which includes children five and older and when applicable a booster shot for individuals 18 and older.

Cut 5 (13) “…and death.”

Currently, Edwards says only 49-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated which clearly isn’t enough.

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Concerns are growing in the state about the possibility of Chronic Wasting Disease infecting white-tailed deer in Louisiana.  This after CWD was found in one of the animals in Union County, Arkansas.

 Cut 6 (06) “..concerning to us.” 

That’s State Veterinarian Jim LaCour with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries who says the agency has issued a ban on baiting and feeding in nearby Moorehouse and Union parishes beginning December 6.  CWD is a neurodegenerative disease of white-tailed deer that can prove fatal to the deer and other animals.

LaCour says not feeding the deer is a precautionary step targeted at halting the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease.

Cut 7 (13) “…possibly through saliva.”  

LaCour is urging hunters to submit the white-tailed deer they’ve harvested so they can be tested for CWD.

Cut 8 (12) “…it is present.”

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Over the past 30 days Louisiana State troopers says they’ve seized more than six million dollars in illegal narcotics during numerous traffic stops across the state. Trooper William Huggins says on Wednesday a traffic stop in St. Tammany Parish led to the discovery of a large quantity of suspected meth.

Cut 9 (06) “…of suspected methamphetamine.”

The street value of the haul is estimated at more than two million dollars. A Texas man was arrested on drug-related charges. In one of the other stops, some 37 kilograms of meth was seized with an estimated street value of four-point-six million dollars.

Huggins says the makeup of the drug seizures during the traffic stops were large quantities of meth.

Cut 10 (08)  “…4.6 million”

Huggins says it’s hard to tell if more drugs are crossing the state’s highways.

Cut  11 (08)  “..focused on it.”  

During the traffic stops over the past month, troopers seized 577 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated one-point-six-million dollars.

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280 workers at Ochsner Health in Louisiana and Mississippi have been fired for not coming into compliance with the firm’s COVID-19 vaccination policy, though 99 percent of additional staff members have. Tulane Health Care Economist, Charles Stoecker, posed this question when asked about the situation.

Cut 12 (08) “…covid to you”  

Most of the 280 people terminated are contract employees who work on an as-needed basis. Those employees in good standing would be eligible for rehire once they’re in compliance with Ochsner Health policy.

Stoecker says the Ochsner Health vaccination policy isn’t really all that strict given the alternative provisions for those who choose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Cut 13 (11) “…be tested weekly.”

Stoecker says that even though Ochsner Health says 99 percent of its nearly 30 thousand employees are in compliance with its vaccine mandate there’s some lack of transparency in that statement.

Cut 14 (11) “…given an exemption.”