The Louisiana Department of Health recommends if you’re fully vaccinated and over 18, get that Covid-19 booster shot…:
CUT 3 (33) “I’m Dave Brannen”

The March of Dimes has issued its annual report card for preterm births, and Louisiana received an F at 13-percent. Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative, Dr. Veronica Gillespie-Bell…:
CUT 4 (10) “our babies”

Today is the annual Great American Smokeout, an effort to encourage smokers to kick the habit. Kenneth Saucier (So-cee-A) with the Office of Behavioral Health says if you’d like to quit, simply call I-800-QUIT-NOW…:
CUT 10 (10) “that are free”
You can also visit QuitWithUsLA.org for more smoking cessation resources.

You’ll be in for a treat if you’ve got plans to attend the Saints game on Thanksgiving Day. It’ll be the first time Drew Brees will be back in the Superdome since his final game in January, and he’ll be honored at halftime.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management held the first Gulf oil and gas lease sale of 2021 in New Orleans today. President Biden placed a moratorium on new oil and gas development on federal land and waters, but a 13-state lawsuit – led by Attorney General Jeff Landry – blocked that order. Landry says today’s sale is a win for the hundreds of millions of Americans who rely on affordable and dependable energy…:

CUT 04(12)      “…need it the most.”

Get ready for some cool nights ahead, as another front moves through tonight and through Thursday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says by Friday, you’ll want to have a coat or jacket handy…:

CUT 13(09)      “…along the coastline.”

Another warming trend should develop into next week.

A 75-year-old Louisiana man who has spent about 58 years of his life in prison for the shooting death of an East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputy when he was 17 was granted parole today by the Louisiana Parole Board.  Kerry Myers, Deputy Director of the Louisiana Parole Project, says the release of Henry Montgomery, follows a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that mandatory life sentencing without parole for juveniles was cruel and unusual punishment…:

CUT 09(08)      “…of his life.”

A Baton Rouge man is in jail; accused of breaking into an elderly woman’s home and raping her. Sheriff’s deputies say the 75-year-old victim was surprised in her bathroom late Tuesday night, by a man holding a knife; wearing only a ski mask, socks and underwear. After the assault, he passed out in her bed and that is where deputies found him. 45-year-old Conway Tullier now faces serious charges.

Drivers in Louisiana won’t be getting a break anytime soon on the cost of getting around by car or truck. Tim Waldenback, of Zutobi, an online driver’s education platform, says a report just issued indicates insurance premiums will help keep the state as the most expensive in the nation to operate a vehicle for, well …a long while…:

CUT 06(09)      “…years as well.”

He says high fuel costs will also contribute to that alarming prediction.

A cold front will be crossing into the state tonight and tomorrow. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the chances of scattered showers will persist this evening and through Thursday….:

CUT 12(08)      “…arctic air…”

Keim predicts great autumn football weather for Friday and Saturday.

New Orleans hosted the first offshore oil and gas lease sale in 2021 today. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Palermo.”

Lawmen in Shreveport report a man shot multiple times early this morning when he met someone to make a transaction that started on social media. The victim is expected to recover. Caddo deputies say there was another big fight at the troubled Southwood High School, where there were numerous brawls earlier this fall. And Bossier deputies arrest a pair of people for burglarizing a Bossier City gun store; taking over 60 weapons.

The first offshore oil & gas lease sales of 2021 happened today in New Orleans, after President Biden placed a moratorium on offshore development shortly after taking office. However, a 13-state lawsuit led by state Attorney General Jeff Landry resulted in a nationwide injunction against the President’s order. Mr. Landry…:

CUT 03  (10)        “…lease sales.”

Landry calls today’s sales a win for Americans who crave affordable & dependable energy.

Calcasieu Parish deputies arrest a 16-year-old girl for the shooting death of an 18-year-old male last weekend. Officers say it happened Saturday night, and the victim died today in a local hospital. The young woman was booked into Juvenile Detention.

A New Orleans postal worker has been indicted for throwing away mail. 33-year-old Darius Patin was charged last week with tossing out over 1300 pieces of mail back in April. Patin is the second New Orleans postal worker charged with is the past year.

Caddo Parish investigators are seeking any clues as to the whereabouts of Shreveport resident Kenneth Cole, who’s been missing for six years. Cole’s family says he booked a flight to Vegas in 20125, but never made that flight. With no evidence of foul play, deputies hope someone will come forward.

A man who was 17-year-old when convicted and sentenced to life for killing an East Baton Rouge deputy is getting out of jail after nearly 58 years in prison. More from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 02(38)      “…Brannen.”

A task force established to come up with solutions to Louisiana having the highest auto insurance rates in the country finds that rates are on the rise again. Jeff Palermo has the story…:

CUT 02(30)      “…Palermo.”

Commuters are shocked and parents don’t know what to tell their kids about some graphically dirty graffiti that turned up Sunday under an overpass on Shreveport’s Line Avenue. Residents are flooding city council members with calls to have the trashy stuff painted over.

Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder is reacting to the voter rejection of Amendment 1 on Saturday that would have set the wheels in motion for the state to have a centralized tax collection system. Schexnayder says he doesn’t believe state lawmakers are about to throw in the towel on having Louisiana adopt a single tax commission, rather than the 54 entities dotting the state now…:

CUT 05(05)      “…this time”

Attorney General Jeff Landry has filed another suit against the Biden Administration, over vaccine mandates. This time he’s challenging the legality of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, mandating all employees be vaccinated at facilities that receive CMS funding…:

CUT 09(09)      “…CMS bucket.”

Landry’s office investigates alleged Medicaid fraud, so he says this gets pretty close to home.

State Attorney General Jeff Landry joins with ten other states to file another lawsuit against the Biden White House over vaccine mandates. This one challenges whether it’s legal to use the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) to force the shots. Landry says that’s unconstitutional and will contribute to even more shortages of healthcare workers…:

CUT 11  (11)        “…want to do.”

Landry’s department investigates Medicaid fraud and the mandate hits too close to home.

LSU President William Tate announces the school is lifting its mandatory mask rule for indoor areas on the Baton Rouge campus. The mask order had been in place since summer, when the so-called fourth wave hit. Tate’s decision was made with help from the university’s Health & Medical Advisory Committee. It also ends restrictions for on-campus events, like sports.

The state Speaker of the House is disappointed to see Constitutional Amendment One fail at the polls last Saturday. Dave Brannen has more…:

CUT 01  (31)        “…Brannen.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is miffed to see the dramatic increases in gas and diesel fuel prices. He points the finger at President Biden and his energy policies…:

CUT 14  (05)        “increase their production.”

He says Biden should put Americans back to work producing oil for our motor fuels.

Constitutional Amendment One – which would have created a single, centralized state sales tax collection agency – fell to defeat in last Saturday’s election. That disappoints state House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, who is glad that at least the second part of tax reforms, Amendment Two, did pass…:

CUT 04  (11)        “…into our state.”

Currently there are 54 sales tax collection entities in Louisiana.  48 other states have but one.

Last year, lawmakers passed legislation that was supposed to lower our auto insurance rates, yet they have instead gone UP. Why? Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says an increase in traffic fatalities in our state is part of the reason…:

CUT 08  (10)        “…distracted driving.”

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy lauds the signing of the $1-trillion-plus infrastructure bill by President Biden Monday. The senator says he’d have preferred to have a conservative president oversee all that spending, but he is nevertheless pleased to see New Orleans’ Mitch Landrieu tapped for the job…:

CUT 13  (11)        “…can only help.”

Out of that bill Louisiana will get billions for roads & bridges and money to establish high speed internet in every parish.

Attorney General Jeff Landry files another suit against the Biden White House over vaccine mandates. This one challenges the legality of using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid to mandate the shots. He says that’s hits too close to home for his comfort..:

CUT 10  (07)        “…to be vaccinated.”

Landry joins ten other states in this lawsuit.

Deer season is upon us, and Louisiana is beginning to test whitetail deer for the presence of COVID-19 after the same animals tested positive for the virus in Iowa. LDWF Deer Program Manager Jonathan Bordelon says it’s not known if the deer can transmit the virus to humans, and even if a deer is infected, they don’t appear to show any signs of it…:

CUT 10(05)      “…of the virus”

It’s no surprise that deer may be able to get the virus, as it started in animals before moving to humans. Bordelon says, if the thought of your deer having the virus troubles you, were gloves and a mask while field dressing it and handling the meat.

Speaking of deer, folks at Our Lady of the lake hospital in Baton Rouge were shocked when a young deer managed to wander inside the building at around 2 this afternoon. Staff subdued the creature and called Wildlife & Fisheries, who came and “tranq’ed” it and took it to be safely euthanized.

Former New Orleans Mayor and Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu will serve as President Biden’s senior advisor on the distribution of Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act funding that’s being signed into law today. UNO Political analyst Ed Chervenak on what Landrieu brings to the table in this policy role…:

CUT 06(08)      “…how things work.”

The $1.3-trillion infrastructure bill will provide funding for improvements to roads, bridges and airports, and Landrieu’s influence could mean a positive impact for Louisiana.

An audit of the Louisiana Workforce Commission finds the agency made $2.9-million in payments that potentially violated both state and federal unemployment rules. Brent McDougall, Senior Analyst with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor says LWC already has already flagged some incidents of overpayment and is working with those individuals to recapture funds…:

CUT 04(05)      “…done that.”

Louisiana’s Mitch Landrieu; former New Orleans mayor, former Lt. Governor & state lawmaker … will now be instrumental in implementing President Biden’s infrastructure bill. Dave Brannen has that…:

CUT 01  (30)        “…Brannen.”

Here’s some encouraging news from the state Department of Health. As of today, fewer than 200 persons are in hospitals statewide due to COVID-19. However, the larger numbers of new cases are among kids 17 and younger. For details, visit “ldh.la.gov/coronavirus”

A new report from website “BankRate.com” finds Louisiana the second-worst state in the U.S. for people to own and drive a car. BankRate analyst Sarah Foster says our very high auto insurance rates are the main reason; nearly a thousand higher than the national average for coverage. She says we also rank 20^th for high cost of auto repairs, and 17^th for longest commute times; almost a half-hour on average..:

CUT 14  (11)        “…to other states.”

An audit of the Louisiana Workforce Commission finds the agency made $2.9-million in payments that potentially violated both state and federal unemployment rules. Brent McDougall, Senior Analyst with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, says this is the fourth audit of LWC since the pandemic…:

CUT 03 (11)     “…how things work.”

The audit also found almost $34,000 in duplicate payments.