A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee meets today to debate the idea of a third booster shot being needed for the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. LSU Health Shreveport’s Dr. John Vanchiere, oversaw the clinical trial of the Pfizer vaccine in north Louisiana and says the agency has much to consider from the data collected thus far.
Cut 4 (11) “…being looked at.”
The CDC will have the final say on who should get a third shot and when.

A National Federation of Independent Business survey finds more than half of small businesses have been negatively affected by pandemic-related supply chain issues. NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says member businesses believe there’s little hope of improvement anytime soon.
Cut 13 (10) “…with the holidays”

The mass evacuation of more than 800 nursing home patients to an overcrowded warehouse in Tangipahoa Parish renews calls to revise evacuation plans and oversight. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

During his monthly radio show, Governor John Bel Edwards was asked about the State Police custody death of Ronald Greene, which is under federal investigation. Body camera video shows several State Troopers punching and tasing Greene before he died. Edwards is troubled by the video…
cut 12 (11) “…really criminal”
Edwards says he has confidence that Colonel Lamar Davis’ new policies will prevent future incidents of excessive force arrests.

According to AARP’s nursing home dashboard in the four-week period ending August 22nd, resident COVID cases and deaths increased dramatically. AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says the numbers mirror that of the state during the same time period.
Cut 13 (12) “…this year.”

You may someday have an alternative way to getting protected against bacterial pneumonia. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen”

The remnants of Nicholas could produce scattered showers and thunderstorms across the state today. The National Weather Service says Lake Charles has received 62 inches of rain this year, which surpasses the average annual accumulation of nearly 60 inches. We still have 3.5 months left to go in this year.

Governor Edwards addresses the State Police scandal in which a man’s death during his arrest was covered up for two years. Kevin Gallagher reports.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Baton Rouge native Haley Arceneaux was successfully launched into space last night in the first-ever all-civilian space flight. The 29-year-old Arceneaux who battled cancer as a child is in space with three others, where they are conducting experiments. Arceneaux is also the youngest American to ever go into space. The mission will last three days.

LSU President William Tate met with President Joe Biden to discuss the school’s vaccination requirement and COVID testing procedures. Tate says it has resulted in more than 81-percent of students showing proof of vaccination…
cut 8 (11) “….at the top”
LSU says there are 78 students who are not in compliance with their vaccination and testing protocols and they face expulsion.

Tulane researchers say they’ve developed an inhaled vaccine that can provide protection against bacterial pneumonia, which is found in hospital settings. Researcher Doctor Jay Kolls says their studies show this vaccine has been successful in mice…
cut 5 (09) “…bacteria”
Kolls says more studies are needed before it can be used on humans.

LSU President William Tate met with President Biden to discuss the university’s COVID protocols. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU has fallen 19 spots in a U-S News and World Report that ranks the nation’s universities. LSU ranks 172nd nationally and 13th in the SEC. Only Mississippi State ranked lower among SEC schools. President William Tate says LSU’s overall rank fell largely because of financial and faculty resources.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he supports his new Commander of State Police, while federal authorities investigate the death of motorist Ronald Greene, who died while in police custody after he was beaten by several troopers following a police chase. LSP Colonel Lamar Davis announced tough new policies last week, and the Governor says he approves.
Cut 10 (07) “…be a state trooper.”
Edwards called the actions by State Troopers who arrested Greene as criminal.

Researchers at Tulane University believe they have developed an inhaled vaccine against bacterial pneumonia. Dr. Jay Kolls, a corresponding author of the study, says the medication may help curb a disturbing death toll.
Cut 4 (11) “…the United States.”
Kolls says the vaccine has been shown to protect mice from bacterial pneumonia and more studies are needed.

During his monthly radio show, Ask the Governor, Governor John Bel Edwards said he has complete confidence in the Superintendent of State Police, Colonel Lamar Davis. Last Friday, Davis held a press conference and discussed policy reforms L-S-P has implemented to reduce excessive force encounters with the public. Edwards calls the policy changes appropriate…
cut 11 (11) “…people of Louisiana”
State Police has come under fire for multiple cases of white troopers beating up black motorists during traffic stops. Edwards called the 2019 violent arrest of Ronald Greene criminal. Greene died in police custody and federal investigations into the case are ongoing.

Baton Rouge native Hayley Arceneaux is in space. The 29-year-old Arceneaux and three other citizens blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral last night. The crew will conduct scientific experiments during a three-day mission.

LSU President William Tate met with President Biden and the COVID Response team Tuesday afternoon and briefed them on the school’s multi-tiered approach of COVID mitigation and vaccination requirement. LSU was the only university that attended the meeting and Tate says the President was interested in how the school’s approach changed vaccination rates.
Cut 7 (11) “…and staff.”
The university says there are 78 students who face expulsion for not following the school’s COVID vaccination policy.

AARP’s nursing home dashboard found that COVID cases and deaths in nursing homes shot up dramatically in the four weeks leading up to Hurricane Ida. Several nursing homes were evacuated as a result of Ida and AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl says fears the COVID numbers could worsen among nursing homes…
cut 15 (06) “….concerned about it”
AARP says they are hopeful more staff will be vaccinated once the national mandate for nursing home workers to be vaccinated goes into effect.