Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says this fourth surge of the coronavirus is sending younger people to the hospital with COVID symptoms. Thomas says in the spring of 2020, ten to 15-percent of their COVID patients were younger than 50…
cut 8 (09) “….population”
COVID hospitalizations have hit a six-month high with over 15-hundred people hospitalized statewide.

Governor John Bel Edwards has told the White House that southwest Louisiana needs three billion dollars to help rebuild homes, businesses, and other infrastructure following last year’s hurricanes. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says the White House knows what must be done, but they have yet to ask Congress to approve the funding…
cut 5 (07) “….Lake Charles”
A spokesperson for Senator John Kennedy says Louisiana’s junior senator will try to add disaster relief money to an infrastructure bill that could start moving soon in the Senate.

Ochsner Health has become the official healthcare provider of the LHSAA and will also serve as the title sponsor for high school championship events. LHSAA Director Eddie Bonine says Ochsner will have athletic trainers at their title events and Ochsner also plans to develop a curriculum that would attract student-athletes into health care…
cut 11 (12) “…benefit everybody”

The town of Mamou in Evangeline Parish will soon be home to a swinger trailer park. The slogan for Tee Boi’s Swinger Trailer Park is bring your house and share your spouse. Nick Broussard works for the owner of the Trailer Park and admits it’s a unique business venture…
cut 15 (05) “…trailer park”
Broussard says they’ve received phone calls, from New York, California, and everywhere in between.

Ochsner, the state’s largest healthcare system is seeing an enormous increase in COVID patients. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

North Oaks Hospital in Hammond says it has scheduled 500 vaccine appointments after offering 100-dollars to individuals who agreed to take the shot. Meanwhile, state data shows that COVID cases in Louisiana nursing homes has nearly tripled and nursing homes are reporting their first deaths among residents since June 23rd.

There’s been movement in the U-S Senate on a nearly one-trillion dollar infrastructure bill, but still nothing on a hurricane disaster relief bill for southwest Louisiana. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says he would like a face-to-face meeting with the Biden administration about the need for Community Development Block Grant Disaster recovery money…
cut 6 (12) “….it’s unprecedetn”

A swinger’s trailer park is opening in the Evangeline Parish town of Mamou. Nick Broussard works for owner David Aucoin and says since their slogan of Bring Your House and Share Your Spouse went viral the phone has been ringing off the hook from individuals interested in Tee Boi’s Swinger Trailer Park…
cut 13 (07) “…laugh”
Broussard says the swinger trailer park is expected to open in late May.

The Louisiana Department of Health reports 4,700 new cases of COVID today and hospitalizations increased by 135 to 1,524. The state’s positivity rate is 13.2 percent the highest since December of 2020. Ventilator usage also increased by 17 to 144.

Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise received his first vaccine shot last week, today he talks about his decision to get vaccinated. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will soon begin accepting applications for financial assistance for those who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Administrator Jason Froeba says anyone within the fishing industry that lost at least 35 percent of their revenue is eligible.
Cut 6 (08) “….fishing capacity.”
The total financial assistance is over 12 million dollars and LDWF begins taking applications August ninth.

Nicholls State University is receiving nearly 500 thousand dollars in grant money that will go towards coastal research. Nicholls Dean of Sciences and Technology Dr. John Doucet says they will specifically look at how coastal ridges can help in the fight against land loss…
Cut 12 (11) “…on those ridges”
The research will start this fall and continue through 2023.

COVId Hospitalizations increased by another 135 today to more than 1,500 statewide. Brooke Thorington has more from State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter on how hospitals are reacting.
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise doesn’t think the COVID vaccine should be mandatory, but he recommends it…
cut 10 (10) “…vaccinated”
Scalise received his first dose last week.

Starting on August 9th, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will begin accepting applications from Louisiana fishermen and others in the industry who incurred economic revenue losses greater than 35-percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jason Froeba says they have 12-million dollars in financial assistance available…
cut 8 (06) “…is helpful”
Applications are available on the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website.

Nicholls State has received a 500-thousand dollar grant that will be used on coastal research. Director of coastal initiatives at Nicholls, John Doucet, says they’ll use the money to study coastal ridges in the Barataria-Terrebonne estuary and their role in preserving the coast….
cut 14 (12) “…..these ideas”
The research will start this fall and continue through 2023.

The state health department reported its largest one-day spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations yesterday since March 2020 as the number of COVID patients increased by 169 to 1,390. Republican Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says for those on the fence on whether to get vaccinated, speak with a trusted physician…
cut 12 (11) “….need to immunized”

Meanwhile, health care leaders are talking about the burnout being felt by those on the front lines of treating COVID patients for the past 16 months. LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Dean Steve Nelson…
cut 8 (11) “….and have low moral”
There are six thousand nursing positions available on the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s website where job postings are listed.

CDC is now recommending that teachers and students should wear a mask regardless of whether they were vaccinated. Tulane Epidemiologist Doctor Susan Hassig says since only ages 12 and up can be vaccinated this leaves half of school-aged children vulnerable and children are contracting the Delta variant of COVID.
Cut 6 (08) “…as possible.”
Many local school systems have not finalized their face mask policy for the upcoming school year.

U-S gymnastics star Simone Biles has also made a decision to withdraw from the individual all-around championships at the Summer Olympics after dropping out of the team event. Biles says she needs to focus on her mental health. Chair of Psychiatry at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Dr. Rahn Bailey says it’s significant a high-profile athlete is honest about her condition….
cut 13 (11) “…in America’

The state health department has reported over 18-thousand new coronavirus cases over the past week and the number of COVID patients in the hospital yesterday saw its largest one-day increase since March 2020. Senator Bill Cassidy was asked about making the COVID vaccine mandatory and he says mandates for other vaccines already exist…
cut 10 (10) “….commonly done”
Meanwhile, the governor’s office says there are over six thousand nursing positions available on the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s Website. Dean of the LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine Steve Nelson says the need for nurses will only increase…
Cut 7 (10) “…accentuated that problem.”

Superstar gymnast Simone Biles has decided not to compete in tomorrow’s individual all-around event at the Summer Games. The decision comes on the heels of her dropping out of the team gymnastics finals because of mental health issues. Brooke Thorington spoke with a mental health expert about the example Biles is setting…
cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington’

Louisiana is once again under a heat advisory today as the heat index is expected to eclipse 105-degrees.

The CDC has reversed course and is now recommending that all individuals wear masks indoors in states like Louisiana where coronavirus cases are surging. Tulane Epidemiologist Doctor Susan Hassig…

Cut 4 (10) “…as well.”

There are nearly 14-hundred patients in Louisiana hospitalized with COVID. A 530-percent increase from four weeks ago. It’s a concern because there is a significant nursing shortage. Dean of LSU Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in New Orleans, Doctor Steve Nelson, says the risks associated with being a healthcare worker have played a role in the shortage…
cut 9 (10) “….I pose to them”

State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says over the past two weeks the number of vaccine shots administered has tripled, which he says is critical to slowing down this fourth wave of coronavirus infections. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the side effects associated with the vaccine are like .01-percent, while the death rate from the coronavirus is far higher. He says even if you don’t die, there’s the problem of the long-haulers…
cut 11 (10) “…the coronavirus”

After not competing in the women’s gymnastics team competition at the Summer Olympics, Seimone Biles has decided not to compete in the individual all-around final due to mental health concerns. Chair of Psychiatry at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Doctor Rahn Bailey, says Biles is showing it’s okay not to be okay…
cut 15 (08) “…illness”