The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal in Shreveport ruled Ochsner Health cannot discipline unvaccinated employees until a lawsuit filed on the behalf of employees is heard…
cut 3 (35) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The Gaming Control Board has approved sports betting licenses for four casinos and they can start taking legal sports bets tomorrow. The Caesars Sportsbook inside Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans and Horseshoe in Bossier City say their sportsbooks will open tomorrow.

Early voting for the November 13th election begins today. Now through next Saturday, except for tomorrow of course, you can quickly cast your votes on four constitutional amendments and local elections on your ballot. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says the early voting location in New Orleans has been moved so that social distancing can be observed…
CUT 08 (09) “…with that location.”
Orleans has a big ballot, with a Mayoral race and city council seats to be decided.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is hosting several Get Out and Fish events today. LDWF’s Danica Williams says they’ve also stocked 17 ponds around the state with adult-sized channel catfish.
Cut 9 (12) “…adult size fish.”
You can get a list of locations for the Go Out and Fish program from the LDWF website.

A state appeals in court in Shreveport has ruled that Ochsner Health can not dismiss or discipline its employees in north Louisiana if they are not vaccinated against the coronavirus. Friday was the deadline for Ochsner’s 32-thousand employees to be fully vaccinated or they could be fired. The three-judge appellate court has also ordered a Shreveport judge to hold a hearing on the issue.

With the November 13th election just around the corner, a week of early voting gets underway today. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 2 (29)…I’m Dave Brannen.”

One of the big news items this week is Facebook changing its company name to Meta. The social media giant is now expected to expand into the virtual world. There are some who feel the name change is an attempt to reimage Facebook in order to try and dodge some recent negative press, but UNO marketing professor Lisa Palumbo disagrees….
cut 5 (09) “…try it out”
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the metaverse is the next frontier just like social networking was when they got started.

This weekend is the “Go Out and Fish” program, sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. LDWF’s Danica Williams says they have stocked 17 ponds across the state with catfish, so you’ll have a better chance of landing a big one. She also says there are other things you can do beside cast a line..:
CUT 10 (09) “…while they’re there.”
You can get a list of locations that have been stocked with catfish at Go Out and Fish program on the LDWF website.

Facebook’s announcement of a name change to Meta, sent some users into a frenzy that the social media giant would dissolve their most-used platform. But UNO Marketing Professor Lisa Palumbo says Facebook isn’t going anywhere.
cut 3 (12) “….a while now.”
Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg says the company will focus on building virtual reality products.

FEMA has extended the deadline for Hurricane Ida storm victims in 25 parishes to apply for disaster assistance. Spokesperson Nate Custer says the federal agency can help with rental assistance, temporary housing and home repairs not covered by insurance…
cut 9 (10) “…move back in”
It’s been two months since Hurricane Ida and disaster survivors have received more than 889 million dollars in federal grants.

Tomorrow begins early voting for the November 13th election and every ballot has four constitutional amendments on them. Brooke Thorington reports the first two amendments are generating the most interest…
cut 1 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

It’s Halloween weekend and it feels like fall. High temperatures are in the 60s today and State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs will be in the 70s on Saturday and Sunday…
cut 14 (07) “….no chance of rain”

A seven-member Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight is expected to begin its work in December in the aftermath of high-profile beatings of black men, at least one of them deadly. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 3 (34) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

It was a bizarre scene on I-12 in Tangipahoa Parish yesterday afternoon as a small plane had to make an emergency landing. Authorities say thankfully the pilot and two passengers on the aircraft were uninjured after hitting the driver’s side of a Ford pickup truck. The driver of the Ford was also not hurt.

FEMA is extending its deadline for Hurricane Ida individual assistance. Folks in the 25-parish disaster declaration area now have until November 29th to apply for help from the federal agency. FEMA’s Nate Custer says the extension was requested by the governor’s office because of possible communication issues.
Cut 8 (07) “…considered for assistance.”
Custer says more than a half-million applications for Ida assistance have been approved so far at a price tag of 816-million dollars. FEMA says another 297-million has been paid to storm victims through National Flood Insurance Program claims.

Cool-weather has arrived for this Halloween weekend. Highs will be in the 60s today and it will also be breezy. State Climatologist Barry Keim says we’ll see highs in the 70s for Saturday and Sunday…
cut 15 (06) “…chill in the air”
And don’t forget early voting begins tomorrow for the November 13th election.

A special committee has been created that will hold hearings beginning in December on complaints about the use of excessive force by State Police, particularly high-profile instances involving the beating of Black men. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil is chair of the advisory panel.
Cut 11 (11) “…of excessive force.”
Foil says the seven-member committee will make recommendations to the legislature regarding use of force laws.

Early voting for the November 13th election begins tomorrow and every ballot contains four constitutional amendments. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says Amendment Three applies to levee districts created after 2006 to levy an annual tax that will go towards maintaining levees.
Cut 6 (11) “…in southern Louisiana.”

Those in the 25 parishes impacted by Hurricane Ida are being given another month to apply for FEMA individual assistance benefits. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

One of the state’s last coal-fired power plants is closing at the end of the year and laying off 54 workers. Dolet Hills Power Station in the DeSoto Parish town of Mansfield was built in 1986 and jointly operated by Cleco and SWEPCO. The Sierra Club says the retirement of Dolet Hills is a win for ratepayers, public health and the environment.

Senate President Page Cortez has established a special seven-member panel that will review several documented excessive force complaints involving State Police troopers and Black men. Baton Rouge Senator Franklin Foil will serve as chairman. Foil says they will hear from several folks and then give the full senate recommendations on legislation that can be passed that would address the use of force…
cut 12 (13) “…at the Capitol”
Foil says their first meeting will be held in December.

About one thousand people who worked at one of the nursing homes owned by Bob Dean have been laid off. The Louisiana Department of Health has stripped Dean of his licenses after sending over 800 nursing home patients to a warehouse facility in Tangipahoa Parish not equipped to house that many people. Dean is fighting L-D-H to get his licenses back.

Early voting begins tomorrow and while there are a few local elections there are four constitutional amendments on everyone’s ballot. Public Affairs Research Council President Robert Travis Scott says Amendment One would streamline sales tax collection in the state.
Cut 4 (11) “…what it does.”
Scott says opponents argue moving to a consolidated system takes control from the local governments to collect sales taxes, while opponents say Louisiana’s outdated tax system is an unnecessary burden on those trying to transact business.

It’s Halloween weekend and it will definitely feel like fall. High temperatures will be in the 60s today and State Climatologist Barry Keim says highs will be in the 70s on Saturday and Sunday…
cut 14 (07) “….no chance of rain”