So how has the coronavirus pandemic impacted learning in the classroom? State education officials say the number of public school students scoring Mastery or above on the LEAP exams saw a decrease of five percentage points from 2019 to 2021. The decrease was seen across all grade levels.

With students and teachers set to return to the classroom, there’s a heightened sense of concern as the delta variant is impacting more children.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU will not have a vaccine mandate for the fall semester. LSU Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Dampf says a mandate is not legal under state laws that govern public universities. That’s primarily because COVID vaccines are still under emergency use authorization.
Cut 6 (11) “..mandate.”
Dampf was a guest today on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.

LSU quarterback Myles Brennan is recovering after undergoing surgery to repair his broken non-throwing arm. His father, Owen Brennan, told WWL radio his son suffered the injury while preparing for a fishing trip in Grand Isle…
cut 9 (12) “…humerous bone”
Brennan says his son plans on competing for the starting Q-B job when he’s cleared to play.

Ochsner Hospital for Children says they are seeing an increase in kids testing positive for COVID. System Chair of Pediatrics Doctor William Lennarz says most children suffer from mild symptoms of the Delta variant, but they are also treating seriously ill children…
cut 14 (11) “….week or so”
Lennarz says if he was a parent of a 12 to 18-year-old, he would run not walk to the closest vaccine station.

The FDA is aiming to give final approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for adults by Labor Day weekend. The shot currently has Emergency Use Authorization. Tulane School of Medicine Epidemiologist Dr. Susan Hassig says the agency is reviewing storage, dosing, and distribution data.
Cut 7 (09) “…full authorization.”
Full authorization could lead to more vaccine mandates.

Louisiana Lottery sets a sales record for the last fiscal year. Matt Doyle on what this means for public education
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Senator John Kennedy authored an amendment to the infrastructure bill that would provide one-point-one billion dollars in disaster relief to Louisianians who suffered damage from Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Zeta. But according to his office, the Senate has blocked that effort. An aide to Senator Bill Cassidy told the Advocate that disaster relief could not be included in the infrastructure bill due to congressional procedure.

With students set to return to school, along with faculty and staff, they will face their third pandemic impacted school year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says members have mixed emotions about returning, excitement, and…
Cut 4 (08) “…the game.”
Ochsner Health System Chair of Pediatrics Doctor William Lennarz says the average age of pediatric patients hospitalized has dropped from 16 years old in June to 12 years old in July…
cut 15 (08) “….not vaccinated”
But Lennarz says so far the data indicates that children do not appear to be proportionately more severely affected by the Delta variant.

The total number of people hospitalized in Louisiana due to COVID is 2,247, an all-time high.

There are reports that the Pfizer Vaccine could get final F-D-A approval by September. It received emergency authorization late last year and Tulane School of Medicine Epidemiologist Doctor Susan Hassig says full authorization could result in many people deciding to get the vaccine…
cut 9 (08) “…hesitant”
LSU is not making it mandatory for students to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, but students who are not vaccinated will be required to test monthly.

The Louisiana Lottery says it just had its best year ever for sales with nearly 625-million dollars in revenue. Spokesperson Kim Chopin says 35 cents of every dollar spent on Lotto games go towards K-through-12 education funding, so that means 207-million dollars will go to public education, up 28-million from last year…
cut 11 (11) “…education”

So how has the coronavirus pandemic impacted learning in the classroom? State education officials say the number of public school students scoring Mastery or above on the LEAP exams saw a decrease of five percentage points from 2019 to 2021. The decrease was seen across all grade levels.

With students and teachers set to return to the classroom, there’s a heightened sense of concern as the delta variant is impacting more children.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Ochnser Health System says they are seeing more children hospitalized with COVID-19, but the overall number is still relatively low. System Chair of Pediatrics Dr. William Lennarz says there has been a clear rise in COVID cases among children due to the Delta variant. He cited percent positivity among those 18 and younger…
Cut 13 (09) “…24 percent.”

The Louisiana Lottery ended its fiscal year with nearly 625-million dollars in revenue, the best year ever in its 30-year history. 207-million dollars goes to the State Treasurry for K-12 public education funding. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin believes they picked up a few more players during the pandemic…
cut 12 (10) “….businesses”

Ochsner Hospital for Children says they are seeing an increase in kids testing positive for COVID. System Chair of Pediatrics Doctor William Lennarz says most children suffer from mild symptoms of the Delta variant, but they are also treating children who are critically ill…
cut 14 (11) “….week or so”
Lennarz says if he was a parent of a 12 to 18-year-old, he would be running not walking to the closest vaccine station. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter agrees…
cut 6 (09) “…vaccine is”
Carter says a poll among national members indicates more than 90-percent are vaccinated for COVID and an estimated 80-percent of faculty and staff are vaccinated in Louisiana.

The FDA is expected to give full authorization for the Pfizer COVID vaccine next month, approximately nine months after it received Emergency Use Authorization. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

NOAA has increased the predicted storm total for the 2021 hurricane season. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo” 

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COVID has been historically associated with cough, fever, and shortness of breath, but these days in the Delta surge more and more people are suffering symptoms that you wouldn’t expect. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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The tropics have been quiet lately, but NOAA’s climate prediction center still predicts an above-average hurricane season with 15 to 21 named storms. Lead seasonal hurricane forecaster Matthew Rosencrans…

Cut 3 (10) “…five” 

The season has already produced five named storms and one hurricane. Rosencrans says the potential return of a La Nina favors even more storm development…

Cut 4 (08) “…storms” 

In May, NOAA predicted the 2021 hurricane season would produce 13 to 20 named storms, but now they are calling for as many as 21 named storms. But Rosencrans says that’s not the 30 named storms recorded during the historic 2020 season…

Cut 5 (12) “…last year.”

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Grambling State University is utilizing federal pandemic recovery funds to pay off 1.5 million dollars in student account balances that accrued from spring 2020 through the summer of 2021. Associate VP of Finance Sheliah Faucette says they want to attract students back to the famed Historically Black University.

Cut 6 (09) “..careers.” 

Faucette says paying off these fees will help students access their transcripts for employers, or continue their education.

Cut 7 (12) “…college” 

Faucette says these fees and balances that are being paid off are not the same as student loans.

Cut 8 (11) “…loan”

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An overnight crash near Madisonville claimed the lives of two teens and leaves two others hospitalized. Saint Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Captain Lance Vitter says the single-vehicle wreck happened shortly after midnight and two young girls were pronounced dead at the scene.

Cut 9 (12) “…community”

The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation and Vitter says the four young girls were occupants of a 2019 Honda Civic that left the roadway, struck two trees, a telephone pole, and other stationary objects. Vitter says it’s unknown if one of the fatalities included the driver of the vehicle.

Cut 10 (08) “…horrific.”

Investigators believe speed is a contributing factor in the crash and it’s not known if they were wearing restraints. Vitter says their thoughts go out to the families who have lost loved ones and the community as they grapple with the loss of young lives.

Cut  11 (08) “…avoided.”  

Vitter says the four juvenile females were from Madisonville.

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The Delta variant appears to be impacting some people in different ways than the original strain, resulting in symptoms that were not historically associated with COVID.

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says COVID can still present with the classic symptoms of cough, fever, and shortness of breath, but keep in mind…

Cut 12 (11) “…things” 

Kanter says during this Delta surge do not blow off any symptoms, no matter how mild…

Cut 13 (11) “…do so”

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LSU announces unvaccinated students will be required to test monthly for COVID during the fall semester. System President William Tate says when students arrive on campus for the semester, they will be required to submit proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. Tate says the policy is part of several other safety protocols

Cut 14 (10) “…our community”

Tate says masks will also be required indoors at all times, except when individuals are alone in their offices. Some professors have asked LSU leadership to make vaccines mandatory. Tate is only recommending that students get vaccinated

Cut 15 (09) “…kind of activities.”