The state’s largest healthcare system notes a slight decrease in COVID hospitalizations, but the situation remains dire. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

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A 28 million dollar line of credit for Superdome renovations was paused by the State Bond Commission in retaliation of the Saints’ vaccine ticket policy. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (40)…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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There’s some positive news from Ochsner Health, during their Wednesday conference call they indicated a small decline in COVID hospitalizations. CEO Warner Thomas says this week they have 1028 COVID patients across their hospital systems.

Cut 3 (12) “…in New Orleans.” 

Thomas says 89-percent of their current hospital patients are unvaccinated.

Even with a slight decline in hospital patients, Thomas says nonemergency surgeries are still having to be postponed but they aren’t all elective, they are procedures impacting those with cancer and heart disease, and those needing organ transplants.

Cut 4 (09) “…our system” 

Thomas says they have had to redeploy approximately 800 staff throughout the system to handle the influx of COVID patients which is another reason for canceling procedures.

As the fourth surge continues, Thomas says they have seen the number of children with COVID at Ochsner more than double in the last month which is alarming.

Cut 5 (12) “…seen there”

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The Louisiana Gaming Control Board approves emergency rules that would allow casinos to offer sports betting to their patrons possibly as early as mid-September. Chairman Ronnie Johns says the goal all long was to make sure legal sports wagering in Louisiana was up and running prior to the start of the football season…

Cut 6 (10) “…this quickly” 

The emergency rules approved by the board will give riverboat and land-based casinos and racetracks the ability to take sports bets starting on Monday. A month ago, Johns was named chairman of the Gaming Control Board and the number one question he’s been asked is when is legal sports betting coming to Louisiana???

Cut 7 (06) “…it’s coming”  

Last year, voters in 55 parishes said yes to legalized sports betting in their parish. Sports betting began in Mississippi in August of 2019 and Louisiana casino operators have complained about missing out on revenue. But Johns says sports betting is now a reality in Louisiana…

Cut 8 (11) “…very quickly”

The emergency rule goes into effect Monday, which allows casinos to apply for a sports betting license, It will take a few weeks for regulators to approve the application.

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The State Bond Commission voted to pause funding on a 28 million dollar line of credit for renovations to the Superdome due to the Saints’ vaccination policy.

This morning the Saints backtracked on not allowing refunds for unvaccinated season ticket holders, but if fans cancel they lose their season ticket position. Attorney General Jeff Landry says he won’t support releasing these funds until that policy is changed.

Cut 9 (08) “…were in.”

Landry says he spoke with a man who has owned season tickets since 1969 and just wants the option to opt-out for this year, the same policy that was in place last year.

Cut 10 (10) “… the entire time.”

The vote was 10-2 in favor of pausing the funding. The two votes against came from Edwards Administration members. One of those was Edwards’ Executive Counsel Matthew Block…

Cut  11 (09) “…at all.”  

The commission also voted in favor of withholding financing for New Orleans hospitals, schools, roads, and other construction projects tapped for funding by the Legislature.

The Commission refused to comment as to why but it was obvious enough that it was retaliation for the citywide vaccine-proof policy. Block noted it’s not just the city that isn’t getting paid….

Cut 12 (11) “…moment” 

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Governor Edwards visited the U-L Lafayette campus this afternoon to get an update on the state’s Shot for 100-dollar COVID-19 vaccine initiative. The first 75-thousand students who are vaccinated on a college campus receive a 100-dollar VISA card. Edwards says it’s very important to get this age group vaccinated

Cut 13 (11) “…too”

Edwards visited the U-L Lafayette campus on a day in which the health department reported a slight decline in coronavirus patients hospitalized statewide. But the governor says the Acadiana region is seeing a high positivity rate and an increase in hospitalizations…

Cut 14 (08) “..Lafayette General.”

Today is in move-in day for U-L Lafayette students. The school’s vice president for research, innovation, and economic development, Ramesh Kolluro, says this program will help vaccinate thousands of students…

Cut 15 (09) “…pick up.” 

BESE voted to adjourn today’s meeting where members were expected to vote on allowing school districts to set their own masking policy. Matt Doyle has more on the raucous occasion…

Cut 1 (38) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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During his monthly call-in radio show, Governor John Bel Edwards defended his public health order that requires masks in schools. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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Senator John Kennedy slams the Biden Administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

President Biden defended the decision, saying while the collapse of the government was faster than anticipated it was clear the people weren’t willing to fight to defend that government. Kennedy says the withdrawal empowers global jihadists…

Cut 3 (09) “…all saw.” 

Kennedy says Biden’s hasty withdrawal was an attempt for Biden to win some political points…

Cut 4 (10) “…way” 

Biden disagrees, saying in his experience there is no good time to withdraw but that there was clearly no longer a national security interest in staying in the country

Kennedy accuses the Biden Administration of not having a proper exit strategy and leaving thousands of American allies behind Taliban lines.

Cut 5 (10) “…refugees.”

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Anti-mask protestors shut down this morning’s BESE meeting where members were expected to vote on whether or not to allow individual school boards to accept or reject the Governor’s mask mandate.

The meeting began in chaos and after it became clear many attendees refused to put on a mask BESE member Holly Boffy moved to adjourn…

Cut 6 (15) “…*incoherent screaming*”

The vote was 8-2, and as of now the Governor’s statewide mask mandate still applies to all K-12 schools.

BESE member Ronnie Morris asked the unruly crowd to please cooperate and put on a mask so that the meeting could continue…

Cut 7 (10) “…time” 

That request provoked outrage from the audience.

Before the meeting was adjourned there were frequent interruptions from audience members repeating misinformation about standard masks not being effective against COVID transmission.

Cut 8 (11) “…*shushing*”

Central Pastor Tony Spell, who was once arrested for refusing to cease his services during the pandemic, was also in attendance and briefly seized control of the room at one point. He led the crowd in anti-mask chants.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is alerting residents of a fake social media post with their logo claiming you won’t be able to obtain a hunting license if you can’t show proof of vaccination. LDWF Spokesperson Ed Pratt says it’s not true and the misinformation that’s being spread is most unfortunate.

Cut 9 (09) “…like this.”

Pratt says there are lots of emotions around mask and vaccine mandates at this time and having the agency placed in the midst of the ongoing debate is not fair.

Cut 10 (12) “…in the state.”

LDWF learned of the post with their logo this week after someone in Mississippi called and notified agents. Pratt says they want to nip the misinformation in the bud and remind the public that your vaccination status is not linked to the purchase or renewal of your hunting license.

Cut  11 (09) “…seen that.”  

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On his monthly Ask the Governor’s show, Governor Edwards defended the need for masks inside schools

Cut 12 (10) “…understand that” 

The state reported 66-hundred new coronavirus cases today and state officials say 28-percent of all new COVID cases are children. But those numbers didn’t stop a crowd of anti-maskers from allowing a debate to occur at a BESE meeting over masks in schools. Edwards says there are some who are not listening to the information from the state department of health…

Cut 13 (08) “…numbers”

39-percent of the state’s population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19. That’s up from 33-percent a month ago. Edwards says the state is making progress in getting more people vaccinated…

Cut 14 (11) “..go.”