The man who’ll chair the Louisiana House Transportation Committee will be dealing with those federal infrastructure dollars recently approved by Congress and the President. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”
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The loss of smell from COVID six months or longer is becoming a growing health concern. Brooke Thorington on the dangers of this annoying side effect.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Besides the shopping and mailing, the holiday season is also bringing with it another election. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”
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Covington State Representative Mark Wright will be chairing the Louisiana House Transportation Committee as lawmakers figure out how to best spend federal infrastructure dollars heading to the Bayou State.
Cut 4 (09) “…then it’s doubled. “
Just where all the money will go remains to be seen, since as he understands it, there are like three pots of money that will help address infrastructure needs around the state, be it roads, bridges, or even the state’s ports.
Wright says when it comes to improving the state’s roadways, much of what needs to be spent and where has already been decided, though the legislature will further review the allocations.
Cut 5 (12) “…the books already.”
Wright says in thinking of where to best spend the federal infrastructure funds, ports in the state shouldn’t be cast aside in the doling out of dollars.
Cut 6 (07) “..to focus on.”
He says in doing so it’s like building assets for the future.
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Holiday shopping is in full swing, and you’ll want to be smart about how you finance your purchases. WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzales says if you have the option of zero-percent financing for a limited time or an immediate discount…
Cut 7 (08) “…interest traps.”
Gonzales says if you’re making a purchase on a credit card, you might want to look at benefits associated with your card, for example, price protection so you can price match a gift in the future, or purchase protection on things like electronics, which is similar to insurance.
Cut 8 (10) “…as well.”
She also warns against using the option of deferred interest on credit cards especially if you don’t think you’ll be able to pay it off in the given time period. Gonzales says for example if you don’t pay off the credit in the allotted time…
Cut 9 (08) “…tricky situation.”
Sometimes deferred interest can make your holiday purchases up to 27 times more expensive than you anticipated.
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The loss of smell from COVID for six months or longer is a growing public health concern. Dr. Kevin McLaughlin, Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery Professor at LSU Health New Orleans says a majority of people do recover their sense of smell in a week or two.
Cut 10 (07) “…sense of smell.”
Loss of smell is so prevalent with COVID that McLaughlin says instead of asking if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms we should be asking if you’ve noticed a change in your ability to smell as an indicator of COVID.
He says most regain a sense of smell in a week or two because the swelling has gone down. For another group, it may take three to four months, because the cells surrounding the olfactory nerves were damaged and it takes longer to recover, and then there’s a third group.
Cut 11 (13) “…and injury.”
Loss of smell also can impact your sense of taste which McLaughlin says is a most unfortunate result of COVID in Louisiana, especially with our amazing cuisine. And the loss of smell can also pose a danger with the inability to detect natural gas, smoke, and spoiled food.
McLaughlin says and for some, they do regain a sense of smell, but it’s altered, and instead of pleasant odors like flowers or fresh fruit…
Cut 12 (12) “…is distorted.”
McLaughlin says the best way to avoid either a temporary, possibly long-term, or even a distorted sense of smell is to get vaccinated for COVID.
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It’s early voting time in Louisiana for the December 11th elections. One of the more noteworthy candidate races is taking place in Orleans Parish where LApolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says the long-time sheriff finds himself in a battle with a progressive Democrat.
Cut 13 (07) “…battle down there.”
There are 26 parishes with only proposition questions dotting the ballot, one of the standouts asks St. Tammany voters whether they want a major casino project to move forward in Slidell. Alford says the proposition is a controversial one.
Cut 14 (08) “…got Drew Brees.”
Brees publicly supports the proposed project because it includes a 35-million dollar youth sports complex, while law enforcement officials say the casino will just bring more crime to Slidell and St. Tammany.
In Ouachita Parish, Richwood Mayor Gerald Brown is facing a recall effort. Brown is in his second term and the mayor told the Associated Press that he believes former mayor Ed Harris is behind the recall effort.
Louisiana pollster John Couvillon of JMC Analytics expects turnout to be light statewide…
Cut 15 (11) “…by the holidays.”
Early voting continues through this Saturday from 8:30 AM to 6 PM. There will be no elections in 29 parishes.
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Ed Orgeron is in Destin, Florida as his run as the head coach of the LSU Tigers ended Saturday night with a thrilling 27-24 win over Texas A-and-M. Orgeron says offensive line coach Brad Davis will serve as the interim coach…
Cut 16 (21) “…great bowl”
LSU is going to an undetermined bowl game as a result of the victory over the Aggies. The offense finally came through in a close contest as Max Johnson hit Jarray Jenkins on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 20 second left. Orgeron is proud of the offense….
Cut 17 (25) “ for him”
It was announced on October 17th that Orgeron would not return in 2022 as LSU’s head coach. But the team kept battling despite more injuries and close losses to Alabama and Arkansas. LSU finished the regular season with wins over ULM and Texas A-and-M. Orgeron says the players have been great during this period of transition…
Cut 18 (17) “..do that”
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Skip Holtz’s run as the head coach of the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs ended on Saturday with a 35-31 loss to Rice. Holtz was the third-most winningest coach in program history with 64 victories in his nine seasons. The 57-year-old says he’s grateful for his time in Ruston, but wishes it had not come to an end…
Cut 19 (20) “..my decision”
Holtz took the Bulldogs to seven straight bowl games, winning six straight. He believes he brought consistency to the program…
Cut 20 (25) “.great era”