The newly approved drug Aduhelm (Add-u-helm) to treat Alzheimer’s has stirred interest in the state but it comes with a hefty price tag. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Under a bill signed by Governor Edwards those who have a criminal history but were never convicted of a crime can’t be discriminated against by employers. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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Catholic High School in Baton Rouge has vacated its 2017 and 2020 state football championships after the LHSAA determined they violated rules that occurred in 2017 as a result of an investigation that began in March. WBRZ-TV sports reporter Matt Trent says he’s learned that inappropriate contact occurred with athletes.

Cut 3 (14) “…open house.”

While this punishment stems from numerous recruiting violations, Trent says that more violations could have occurred.

Cut 4 (12) “…and play.”

Gabe Fertitta was the head coach of the Bears during their run to four straight championship games in 2017 and 2020. He resigned from Catholic in February and joined the University of Louisville coaching staff. Trent says Fertitta told him he did not know about these allegations…

Cut 5  (09) “…otherwise” 

The LHSAA or Catholic High has not provided details on the violations that occurred.

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Two weeks ago, the FDA approved the first drug to treat Alzheimer’s in more than 15 years, despite an independent committee not endorsing Aduhelm (Add-u-helm). Chair of Neurology at Tulane School of Medicine Dr. Demetrius Maraganore (Mare-ah-gah-nor-ay) says this is the first drug to reduce amyloids in the brain which are prevalent among patients.

Cut 6 (11) “…reverse Alzheimer’s.”

He says this drug will put the reducing amyloid theory to the test.

But with a hefty price tag of $56,000 annually per patient Maraganore says no physician with a good conscience is going to recommend a medication with uncertain benefits that are not cost-effective.

Cut 7 (11) “…treatment.”

Maraganore says however patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s could still possibly benefit from the medication and he’s recommending that his patients look at participating in a study.

Cut 8 (11) “…this point.”

It’s estimated that 92,000 residents over the age of 65 suffer from Alzheimer’s in Louisiana.

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Governor Edwards signs legislation that should help prevent employment discrimination against those who were charged but never convicted of a crime.

New Orleans Representative Matthew Willard says under his bill a business cannot request a background check for an applicant if it did not lead to a conviction.

Cut 9 (09) “…ignore that”

Willard says his legislation also attempts to help out convicted felons who are out of jail and seeking a job.

Cut 10 (09) “…writing”

The bill also calls for businesses to consider the nature of a convicted felon’s offense and how long it has been since the offense was committed.

Willard says his legislation started as an attempt to outright ban private-sector employers from asking if an applicant has a felony record. While that was a bridge too far this year for the business community…

Cut  11 (11) “…in mind” 

Currently, state agencies have “banned the box” and do not require applicants to note whether they are a convicted felon.

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The CDC reports a higher-than-expected number of cases of myocarditis in people who received their second dose of mRNA covid vaccines. LSU Health Shreveport infectious disease professor Dr. John Vanchire says cases have been the highest amongst men under the age of 18 and the heart inflammation symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pains

Cut 12 (11) “…have recovered”

The vaccines that fall under this category include Pfizer and Moderna. Dr. Vanchire says that while myocarditis can be fatal, the inflammation is treatable and shouldn’t scare patients from getting vaccinated…

Cut 13 (11) “…vaccination”

Contracting myocarditis is more likely after getting the vaccine but is still a rare event with 20 to 30 cases out of a million. Dr. Vanchire says the risks involved with getting covid versus getting myocarditis isn’t comparable…

Cut 14 (10) “…are safe ” 

The 2021 KIDS COUNT is out, and Louisiana ranks towards the bottom in its four main categories. Brooke Thorington has more from the President of the Annie E Casey Foundation.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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A bit over a million dollars in state and federal unemployment benefits were paid out to 374 dead Louisianans since March of 2020 according to a Legislative Auditor’s report. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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The 2021 KIDS COUNT report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows Louisiana’s rankings are towards the bottom. President and CEO Lisa Hamilton says they look at four areas, Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community. Hamilton says the 2019 data shows the state at 49^th poverty-wise.

Cut 3 (12) “…worse now.”

Louisiana ranked 48^th in Health and Education and 49^th in Family and Community.

Hamilton says meeting the economic needs of children has a direct effect on their education, health along with family, and community. She says the American Rescue Act allows families to receive an extra $300 a month through the child tax credit and it will hopefully break the cycle of poverty.

Cut 4 (09) “…as adults.”

The tax credit will reportedly lift 400-million children above the poverty line.

KIDS COUNT tracks a total of 16 indicators among the four main topics and Hamilton says it isn’t all bad news for children in the state.

Cut 5  (08) “…the course.” 

She says the state needs to continually make investments in education and healthcare for children. Hamilton says the state improved in health coverage and only 4-percent lack health insurance, which’s above the national average of six percent.

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The Louisiana Legislative Auditor finds just over a million dollars in unemployment benefits were paid out to 374 dead folks since March of 2020.

Data Analytics Manager Chris Magee says the Louisiana Workforce Commission does have a process to weed out dead applicants and managed to catch roughly 8,000 with their current system…

Cut 6 (12) “…deceased.”

The one million only amounts to point-zero-one-three percent of the 8.5 billion in state and federal benefits paid out since March of 2020.

Magee says nothing could have been done to stop about half of that money from being paid out but 123,000 dollars could have been prevented if LWC were to start processing death data weekly.

Cut 7 (08) “…quickly.”

The report notes 337,000 dollars should have been prevented under the current system but managed to slip through.

Workforce Commissioner Secretary Ava Cates says all things considered the department did a good job on this issue relative to the historic demand for UI.

Cut 8 (11) “… ratio”

Cates says LWC will review implementing weekly processing of Social Security death data.

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Monroe Police continue to investigate Friday night’s fatal shooting of former Richwood High starting quarterback Michael Sherman. Detectives say Sherman was gunned down after an argument involving two females. Richwood High Football Coach Marcus Yanez says Sherman was a great person to be around

Cut 9 (11) “…the state”

Sherman graduated in May and no arrests have been made.

After learning of Sherman’s death, Yanez held a team meeting, with players, coaches, students, and the community. But he says less than an hour after that meeting two more of his former players were shot in a drive-by shooting…

Cut 10 (10) “…doing ok”

So three teenagers were shot in Monroe and no arrests have been made. Yanez is joining other community leaders in calling for the violence to stop…

Cut  11 (11) “…of my kids” 

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A side-by-side crash in Webster Parish claims the life of an 11-year-old boy and injuries to the 14-year-old girl who was driving the vehicle. State Trooper Jonathan Odom says the 14-year-old was driving the 2011 Polaris UTV northbound on Grant Circle when the tragic crash occurred.

Cut 12 (10) “…vehicle”

The 11-year-old has been identified as Morris Naron of Plain Dealing. The 14-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for minor injuries.

Neither of the two children had seatbelts on.

Cut 13 (07) “…seatbelts”

Operating an off-road vehicle on public roadways is illegal. It is not currently known whether the 14-year-old will face charges as a result of the crash.

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Several hundred homeowners in the eastern half of Slidell are cleaning up after Tropical Storm Claudette dumped over ten inches of rain in a short amount of time, producing street flooding that got into people’s homes. Mayor Greg Cromer…

Cut 14 (12) “…of feet ” 

Cromer says between 40 and 50 high water vehicle rescues took place Friday night, including a pregnant woman…

Cut 15 (11) “…the hospital” 

Cromer says residents who sustained flood damage should report it at damage-dot-la-dot-gov.

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