DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson hopes the U.S. House will giving final passage to a trillion-dollar infrastructure bill today. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Booster shots for the Pfizer COVID vaccine offer are now available in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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It’s finally back to school today for some students in Lafourche Parish. Dave Brannen has more

Cut 3 (34)  “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

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The U.S. House is scheduled to vote today on a Senate-approved one-trillion-dollar infrastructure bill. Louisiana Secretary of Transportation Shawn Wilson says the bill will be a boon to Louisiana’s road & bridge needs and he’s encouraged it received bipartisan support in the Senate…:

Cut 4 (10) “…generations and decades.”

Wilson says this bill is only about infrastructure and the jobs that come with it. Some opposed to the bill worry there is abundant spending on what Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calls “human infrastructure”. Wilson says 19 Senate Republicans voted for this bill, and they wouldn’t have if it contained loads of so-called “pork”…

Cut 5 (12) “…rail investment.”

Wilson says the bill’s passage will mean about $6-billion for Louisiana infrastructure projects. That’s over a billion more than the state would normally get in federal funds over five years. He says passing the bill will mean real progress for Louisiana…:

Cut 6 (13) “…can invest in”

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Booster shots are now available for some who received two doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine at least six months ago. The Louisiana Department of Health says those who are 65 and older, along with those 18 and older with an underlying health condition, or those who live or work in a high-risk setting are eligible. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says while boosters are significant, but it will not end the pandemic.

Cut 7 (08) “…be vaccinated.”

The new booster shot guidance for those who received the Pfizer vaccine is effective immediately. In an effort to remove any barriers Kanter says you only need to self-attest for the booster shot and there’s no need for a prescription.

Cut 8 (09) “…before.”

Booster guidance differs from the third shot criteria, for those with immunocompromised systems for example cancer or organ transplant recipients, it’s recommended they receive a third shot. Kanter says the booster shot criteria allows a larger number of individuals to receive an extra dose to increase waning efficacy.

Cut 9 (10)  “…undue risk.”

If you have any questions about the booster shot you are encouraged to ball the vaccine hotline at 1-855-453-0774

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Some kids in the Lafourche Parish school system will head back to classes today, but not all. Superintendent Jarod Martin indicates it’s a bit of a Rubik’s Cube initiative getting at least some of the schools back open after the devastation from Ida. But, bells will ring at some locations today.  For example…

Cut 10 (12)  “…Ward Middle School.” 

Martin says quite a few school buildings just aren’t ready for students to come back.

Cut 11 (07) “…to be sharing.”

The Lafourche superintendent says in some cases it seems a bit confusing for the operation of some schools in the district.

Cut 12 (12) “…Meadow Lower Elementary.”

It’ll be later next month before some schools in Lafourche will be able to open their doors to students.

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Healthy Blue and Louisiana Community and Technical College System are offering a scholarship program to help healthcare students complete their degrees. LCTCS Spokesperson Quinton Taylor says even students on a full-tuition scholarship might have difficulty paying for supplies like scrubs or a stethoscope while in school.

Cut 13 (12) “…coming back.”

Taylor says they are very grateful that Healthy Blue notices the need for more healthcare workers and offers scholarships to assist with supplies. He says they are looking forward to more students being able to benefit from the financial assistance.

Cut 14 (09)  “…Louisiana forward.”

To apply for the $250 scholarship for part-time students and $500 for full-time students, Taylor says you can visit the LCTCS.edu website and look for the Healthy Blue Scholarship link.

Cut 15 (12)  “…spring semester.”

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LSU’s defense executed its game plan well on Saturday in a 28-25 win over Mississippi State. The Tigers gave up an SEC record 623 passing yards last year to the Bulldogs and were determined to limit the big plays this time around. Coach Ed Orgeron says they wanted to make sure they kept everyting in front of them, so they only rushed three players on passing downs

Cut  16 (16) “…it worked.”

LSU allowed 371 passing yards on Saturday but the average gain per play was just 5.5 yards. Linebacker Damone Clark had 15 tackles….

Cut 17 (14) “..to the end.” 

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ULM has won back-to-back football games since November 2018 as the Warhawks upset Troy 29-16 to snap an eight-game Sun Belt losing streak. The Warhawks were 23.5 point underdogs entering the game, but Coach Terry Bowden’s team pulled off one of the biggest victories of his coaching career

Cut 18 (17)”…level today.”

Andrew Henry rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown and Rhett Rodriguez threw a TD. The defense returned an interception for a touchdown and also had a safety.

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For the first time since 1995, the Saints won in Foxborough as the Black and Gold defeated the New England Patriots 28-13. New Orleans leaned on its defense as they intercepted rookie quarterback Mac Jones three times. Safety Malcolm Jenkins had a pick-six. Jenkins says they know the defense is the team’s strength..

Cut 19 (17)  “…beat.” 

The Saints offense did not turn the ball over. Quarterback Jameis Winston threw for only 128 yards, but he tossed two touchdown passes. Alvin Kamara rushed for 89 yards and Taysom Hill scored a rushing touchdown. Winston is pleased they came away with a win…

Cut 20 (20)  “…great win” 

The LSU AgCenter estimates Hurricane Ida produced 584-million dollars in damages to the state’s agriculture industry. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (33) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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There were several tense exchanges during a Joint Medicaid Oversite Committee meeting Friday where lawmakers questioned LDH’s attorney about nursing home evacuations plans. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (34)…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

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A north Larose neighborhood that endured a ten-foot storm surge is dealing with almost a foot of sludge and standing water. Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson says the Industrial Park neighborhood was inundated with muck and mud from marsh waters that made it over the levees.

Cut 3 (06) “…in the back.”

Chaisson says the Corps of Engineers, municipal crews, and private contractors are working to help clear roads, drainage ditches in addition to resident’s yards. He expects it will take another three weeks.

Another issue parish officials are facing is getting answers from FEMA on long-term housing expectations. Chaisson says after posting his frustration on social media he’s now getting feedback.

Cut 4 (08) “…long-term housing.”

After almost four weeks since Ida made landfall, Chaisson says he completely understands that residents are frustrated and tired, but he tries to encourage them to remain hopeful.

Cut 5 (10) “…and better.”

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LSU AgCenter experts say the state’s agriculture industry suffered at least 584-million dollars in damages as a result of Hurricane Ida. LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry says timber was hit the hardest as a total of 168-thousand acres of trees were affected costing the industry more than 300-million dollars

Cut 6 (09) “…salvaged” 

Guidry says about 50-percent of the total estimated volume of damaged timber is in Tangipahoa Parish.

Guidry says about 139-thousand acres of sugarcane or a quarter of the state’s total cane crop are projected to have somewhat lower yields due to storm damage. He says much of the affected sugarcane is recovering, but it will come at a price…

Cut 7 (07) “…35-million dollars”  

Guidry says sugar mills will also lose revenue due to hurricane damage and the interruption in operations.

There is also a lot of fresh produce and ornamental horticulture growers in southeast Louisiana. Guidry says the estimated damage for these producers is 9.5 million dollars as a lot of greenhouse roofs were damaged.

Cut 8 (10) “..to sell”

He says the livestock death toll from Ida is 22, but farm structures and fences need to be repaired and older livestock producers have indicated they are getting out of the business.

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Organizations including Schoolplies are working to help kids get back in school after Hurricane Ida’s devastation in parishes that include Terrebonne and Lafourche.  CEO Allie Casey says, that in partnership with the United Way of South Louisiana, hundreds of school supply kits will be given away this Sunday

Cut 9 (12) “…back to school” 

Classes begin Monday and the weekend event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fletcher Technical Community College along LA-311.

After Sunday’s school kits giveaway, Casey says they will continue to work virtually to get more supplies into the hands of students.

Cut 10 (06)  “…the efforts going” 

Be sure to visit Schoolplies.com on the web for more information where can find out how to donate school supply items or students and parents can receive assistance with school supply needs.

Casey says work to put some 600 school supply kits together with everything from pencils to notebooks and erasers for the first day of school has been made less easy without power to their office.

Cut  11 (10)  “…a crazy time.”  

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There were several tense exchanges during a Joint Medicaid Oversite Committee meeting Friday where River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot questioned Louisiana Department of Health Attorney Stephen Russo about nursing home evacuation plans. The meeting came weeks after hundreds of nursing home residents were crammed into a Tangipahoa Parish warehouse resulting in several deaths

Cut 12 (12) “….anywhere there.”  

Russo told the committee to view a nursing home’s evacuation plan they can request to see it through their local emergency preparedness office.

More than 800 patients from seven nursing homes owned by Bob Dean were transported to a warehouse with mattresses on the floor, that took in up to eight inches of water. Talbot questioned Russo as to why patients from the Orleans, Jefferson, Terrebonne, and Lafourche parish nursing homes were sent to Tangipahoa when storm models indicated it was in Ida’s path.

Cut 13 (09) “…advice of counsel.”

LDH and Dean are facing lawsuits filed by family members of and nursing home residents.

Committee members stated after the tragic evacuation to the warehouse in Independence and questions over the approval process, along with the decision to move patients to an area within the storm’s projected path inland will need to be addressed with legislation.

Abbeville Senator Bob Henssgens…

Cut 14 (03) “….the problem”