As COVID cases continue to decrease, health officials are seeing a comeback of another virus. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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A former LSU Quarterback is staying in the SEC and also remaining a Tiger. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 2 (29) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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The Louisiana Insurance Department says it has recovered 41 million dollars related to 1,500 complaints filed against insurers for issues stemming from last year’s three hurricanes. Commissioner Jim Donelon says the complaint process saves residents the effort of having to take their insurer to court over claim delays and underpayments…
Cut 3 (10) “…lives”
Of the 41 million recovered 38 million was related to Hurricane Laura, 2.5 million to Delta, and 750,000 from Zeta. 77 percent of complaints were related to homeowners policies.
Donelon says the process is an effective tool and he encourages anyone who is having a dispute with their insurer to utilize it.
Cut 4 (09) “…instances”
Insurers received 311,000 total claims related to last years’ hurricanes.
Donelon says this data helps paint a national picture of who the problem insurers are.
Cut 5 (10) “…valid”
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COVID-19 mitigation practices like masking, social distancing, and frequent hand washing also decreased other transmissible illnesses like the flu. But LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. Julio Figueroa says as mandates relax, we are starting to see a gradual increase in other viruses like the common cold.
Cut 6 (11) “…in May.”
There is no vaccine currently for RSV.
Figueroa says the pandemic put into play real-life examples of how proper mitigation efforts can decrease transmission of communicable diseases, something health officials have touted for years.
Cut 7 (10) “…as well.”
Highly transmissible respiratory viruses in this part of the country, Figueroa says tend to spread faster in the winter months when people gather more indoors versus outside. When asked if we need to return to mitigation practices when we see an uptick in flu cases Figueroa says possibly, however…
Cut 8 (07) “…coming year.”
Figueroa says vaccines, increased hand washing, and staying home when you are sick are the best methods of decreasing the spread of viruses.
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House Appropriations advances Senate-approved legislation mandating children who turn five on or before September 30th attend Kindergarten.
The vote was 19-1 with Bossier City Representative Raymond Crews the lone dissenter. He says he’s been bombarded with calls from concerned constituents…
Cut 9 (10) “…that age”
The bill would impact an estimated 2,800 students a year at most, and cost about 11 million dollars extra a year if all of those students went to school instead of being homeschooled. If passed the law would go into effect for the 2022-2023 school year.
Alexandria Representative Lance Harris says 54,000 students are already doing kindergarten every year, so it’s clear nearly all parents understand it is an important step.
Cut 10 (11) “…they need”
According to Department of Education stats, only 49 percent of students are reading on grade level in 1st grade.
Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields says under his bill if a parent doesn’t want to send their kid to school they can homeschool them but either way they must be educated.
Cut 11 (10) “…nation”
19 states currently mandate Kindergarten attendance including Texas.
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It’s been a wet May, which has made it difficult for cotton farmers. State Cotton Specialist Matt Foster says there have only been a few dry days to plant cotton and a couple of dry days has been followed by several days of rain, limiting the effectiveness of expensive seed treatments
Cut 12 (10) “…bigger problem”
Foster says cotton plants have also struggled with cool nighttime temperatures that extended into the middle of May…
Cut 13 (11)“…replanting”
Rain chances for this week are much lower than previous weeks, but Foster says planting cotton later in the season, will mean a later harvest deeper into hurricane season…
Cut 14 (06) “..that crop”
Foster expects to see more soybean acres and a lower cotton crop because of the wetter than normal May.