Governor Edwards will announce COVID-19 vaccine incentives at a 2:30 press conference in an attempt to increase the state’s vaccinated population which currently sits at 33-percent. Eric Picolli has the story…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Eric Picolli.”

That tropical disturbance we’ve been watching in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to move towards Louisiana today and possibly develop into a tropical depression tonight or early tomorrow morning. Forecasters are expecting heavy rainfall starting on Friday and continuing into Saturday.

The Biden administration is looking at whether the Gulf of Mexico could be a source of offshore wind energy. LSU Center for Energy Studies Executive Director David Dismukes says turbines in the Gulf can likely generate electricity, but there’s a number of questions that must be answered from hurricane resiliency to…
cut 14 (07) “….hours”
Governor Edwards is a supporter of offshore wind energy development in the Gulf.

The governor has signed a bill that establishes a framework for businesses that plan to use drones to make local deliveries. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says the devices will have to travel at a speed no higher than 12 miles per hour in pedestrian areas, can’t be used around airports and local governments can also set up their own regulations…
cut 9 (09) “….to me”
Several other states have passed similar laws.

The Biden Administration is asking energy companies if they’d be interested in setting up offshore wind turbines in the Gulf of Mexico. LSU Center for Energy Studies Director David Dismukes says it’s the beginning of a long road towards the potential development of renewable energy in the Gulf.
Cut 13 (11) “…wind.”
Dismukes says northeastern states began the process to set up offshore wind turbines about 15 years ago and are just now starting to implement the program.

Governor Edwards has signed legislation that establishes the rules that businesses will be required to follow if they implement drone delivery services. Port Allen Senator Rick Ward says he envisions businesses using these devices to make short-distance deliveries…
cut 8 (11) “….the service”
Under the bill, self-driving robots can not go faster than 12 miles per hour in pedestrian areas.

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a press conference at 2:30 today to announce COVID-19 vaccine incentives. Edwards has been pushing individuals to get the vaccine….
cut 12 (11) “….is your choice”
About a third of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, with 47-percent of those 18 and older getting their doses and 80-percent of those 65 and older having started the process.

A tax credit that’s worth up to 25-hundred dollars for individuals who purchase an electric car or an alternative fuel vehicle is set to expire on July 1st. Legislation changed the sunset date for the tax credit from January 1st to July 1st so Louisiana Clean Fuels Co-Coordinator Tyler Hermann says this could impact businesses or state agencies who are buying these types of vehicles…
cut 5 (09) “….to get”

The Biden Administration is interested in potentially having companies set up wind turbines in the shallow waters off the Gulf of Mexico coast….
Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

LSU has reinstated Doctor G-E Ghali as the chancellor of the university’s medical school in Shreveport. He was suspended for two months after four women accused Ghali of sexual misconduct. Ghali said in a statement that an outside investigation cleared him of wrongdoing. An attorney representing the four who women filed the complaints said something is truly rotten in Louisiana and at LSU.

Today at 2:30, Governor Edwards will announce COVID-19 vaccine incentives in an effort to increase the number of people vaccinated against the virus. Edwards teased the announcement during his monthly radio show Ask the Governor.
Cut 10 (08) “…to promote vaccinations.”
One-point-five million people are fully vaccinated in Louisiana, which represents 33-percent of the population, one of the lowest percentages in the country.

If you’re planning on buying an electric vehicle in hopes of receiving a tax credit you better make that purchase in the next two weeks. Louisiana Clean Fuels Co-Coordinator Tyler Hermann says the legislature passed a bill that accelerates the sunset date of a $2,500 tax credit for the purchase of an alternative fuel vehicle.
Cut 4 (06) “…from now.”
The original date was January 1, 2022.

A federal judge in Lafayette has blocked President Biden’s moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales on federal land and water. U-S District Judge Terry Doughty stated he could not find any rationale for the moratorium. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, who filed the suit, says he could not agree more…
cut 14 (09) “…vital role”
The President issued the moratorium in January in an effort to combat climate change.

Forecasters say there’s a high chance a disturbance over the Bay of Campeche will develop into at least a tropical depression. Marti Calhoun with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the broad low-pressure area will likely develop into a tropical depression late tomorrow or early Friday. She says once that occurs, they can provide a better forecast on rainfall potential…
Cut 4 (10) “…from there”
No flood watches are posted yet, but there’s a strong likelihood for heavy rainfall on Friday and Saturday.

The CDC has issued a warning to states in the South that they are seeing an increase in R-S-V, which is a common respiratory virus, but it can be fatal especially for children who have compromised immune systems. L-D-H Capital Region Medical Director and pediatrician, Doctor Dawn Marcelle, says children are not the only ones at risk…
cut 12 (07) “….group settings’
The CDC is asking doctors to test for RSV, especially if a patient tests negative for COVID.

Stan Van Gundy is out after one season as head coach of the Pelicans. Van Gundy failed to lead Zion Williamson and the Pels to the playoffs this past season and sources say there were tensions behind the scenes involving Van Gundy. Locked on Pelicans podcast host Jake Madison says a former Louisiana Tech women’s basketball star is a potential candidate to replace Van Gundy…
cut 8 (12) “….Vaneterpool”
If Weatherspoon gets the job, she’ll become the first woman head coach in a major American sport.

A federal judge has blocked President Biden’s moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales on federal land and water. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla hopes the ruling will force the President to rethink his energy policy…
cut 9 (09) “…on that”
The President issued the moratorium in January in an effort to combat climate change.

Forecasters say there’s a high chance a disturbance in the Bay of Campeche in the southern Gulf of Mexico will develop into at least a tropical depression. Marti Calhoun with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says the system will move north over the Gulf tomorrow and bring several inches of rain to south Louisiana starting on Friday…
cut 3 (06) ” will fall”
Calhoun says they’ll have a better handle of the disturbance once it develops into a tropical depression.

A bill to remove the statute of limitations for child sex abuse victims to seek civil damages becomes law in Louisiana…
cut 1 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Baton Rouge is once again providing total hip replacement surgery as a way treat dogs suffering from arthritis and dysplasia in the hip. LSU Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Charles Walls…
Cut 13 (11) “…not enough.”

A federal judge in Lafayette has granted Attorney General Jeff Landry’s request to halt President Biden’s moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales on federal land and water. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Mike Moncla calls the decision a big win for Louisiana workers that are dependant on offshore oil and gas production…
Cut 7 (06) “…for us.”
A statement from the U-S Interior Department says they are reviewing the judge’s opinion and will comply with the decision, but they will outline the next steps to improve stewardship of public lands and waters.

Senator Bill Cassidy says a bipartisan group of 10 Senators is working on an infrastructure spending package that over time will help pay for mega projects….
Cut 10 (09) “…Louisiana.”
Cassidy says raising the federal gasoline tax and having it tied to inflation is one way to pay the infrastructure bill, but President Biden does not support a higher gasoline tax.

Governor Edwards has signed legislation that removes all deadlines for child sex abuse victims to seek civil damages against their abuser. The previous law allowed child sex abuse victims until their 28th birthday to file a civil suit. New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says his bill also has a caveat for victims over the age of 28…
Cut 5 (08) “..their age.”

The LSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital says they are able to provide dogs with total hip replacement surgery for the treatment of advanced hip osteoarthritis. Orthopedic surgeon, Doctor Charles Walls, says the procedure can greatly improve a dog’s quality of life…
cut 15 (05) “…success rate”
The cost of the surgery can range anywhere from five thousand to $65,000 and complete recovery averages six months.

U-S District Judge Terry Doughty has blocked the Biden administration’s executive order that prohibits new oil and gas leases on federal land and water. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry asked for the preliminary injunction and Judge Doughty said he could not find a rational explanation in canceling the lease sales. Legal analyst Tim Meche…
cut 8 (09) “….new one”
The moratorium was imposed in late January as the Biden administration looks to move away from fossil fuels in an effort to reduce the effects of climate change.

A bill that removes the deadline for child sex abuse victims to pursue civil damages against their abuser has been signed into law by Governor Edwards. The bill’s author, New Orleans Representative Jason Hughes says he’s received emotional feedback from abuse survivors…
Cut 4 (08) “…to us.”
The legislation goes into effect on August 1st.

Senator Bill Cassidy is part of a bipartisan team of 10 US senators working on an infrastructure spending proposal that they believe can win 60 votes in the Senate. Matt Doyle has ore…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The National Hurricane Center says there’s a high chance that a tropical disturbance in the Bay of Campeche will form into at least a tropical depression over the next 48 hours. Forecasters say the system will begin to move north tomorrow and heavy rains are likely for Louisiana on Friday.