When Canadian Pacific merges with Kansas Southern it’s a big part of the puzzle to get passenger rail service from Baton Rouge to New Orleans on track. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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As Governor Edwards says he’ll keep pushing for COVID shots to be required for school kids, Senator John Kennedy goes on record against mandates. Kevin Gallagher has that…:

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

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After wrangling over a plan for a while, it appears the allocation of money for 450-million dollars in Superdome renovations is an almost done deal. More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 3 (35) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

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The reality of passenger rail service from the Capital City to the Crescent City is beginning to take shape. Baton Rouge Area Foundation Executive VP John Spain says a merger between Kansas Southern and Canadian Pacific will give CP, who already has a relationship with Amtrak, control of the track.

Cut 4 (11) “…do this.”

Spain says Amtrak, who will most likely be the operator of the Baton Rouge to New Orleans route has already met with the governor to express interest and even listed the potential route on their strategic plan. Spain says a track is already in place, but it’s built for freight not passengers, but that shouldn’t be a major obstacle.

Cut 5 (11) “…rail improvements.”

With financing in place, the governor, mayors of both Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and parish presidents in between all on board, Spain says the reality of service in 2022 is much brighter for an oncoming train and a trial run of the track could on the agenda very soon.

Cut 6 (12) “…good about this.”

Spain says there’s also discussion to expand rail service to include access to the Louis Armstrong Airport.

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As Governor Edwards vows to push through his mandate for school children to have COVID shots, Senator John Kennedy says COVID vaccinations should be an individual’s choice; not the result of government mandates. In his weekly press conference, the senator says he believes in personal responsibility, but he also believes in personal liberty…:

Cut 7 (13) “…a vaccine mandate.”

A number of courts have issued decisions that thwart the White House’s order that all private companies with 100 or more employees require COVID shots and boosters of workers, or face federal fines. Kennedy says this sort of thing should not be left up to any executive branch of government…:

Cut 8 (12) “…primarily the legislature.”

A panel of state lawmakers recently voted to reject the proposal to add COVID shots to the schedule of immunizations required for kids to enter schools. The governor says he and the Department of health will mandate the requirement anyway, for public health & safety’s sake. Senator Kennedy says he himself has had both COVID shots and a booster. He says he’ll get a fourth shot if his doctor recommends, but still feels government has no role in an individual’s health choices…:

Cut 9 (12)  “…to make that decision.”

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On his last call-in radio show of the year, Governor John Bel Edwards was asked if the Omicron variant could change upcoming plans for Mardi Gras. Edwards says it’s still too early to tell and so far there’s not a consensus from health officials…

Cut 10 (09)  “…or deaths.”

Edwards reports that for the last month COVID wise things have been stable in Louisiana with the lowest number of individuals hospitalized at any given time in the pandemic and our positivity rate is down around two percent.

Cut  11 (10)  “…haven’t been vaccinated.”  

Edwards says however if you’ve started your vaccination series, please complete it and if you’re fully vaccinated be sure to have your booster shot.

Cut 12 (12) “…fully vaccinated.”

Carnival season kicks off in New Orleans the first week of January and Fat Tuesday is March 1st.

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Instead of 90-million-dollars, a proposed 54-million dollar deal is awaiting Bond Commission and joint budget Committee approval for partial funding of Superdome renovations that total around 450-million dollars. Governor Edwards’ commissioner of administration, Jay Dardenne:

Cut 13 (09) “…in the dome.”

Half of the state’s money going towards the dome is coming from federal coronavirus relief aid allocated to Louisiana. The Bond Commission meets today, the budget committee tomorrow.

Dardenne says the proposed deal is a two-step process involving the governing body of the Superdome paying off a 28-million dollar debt, followed by the budget committee action tomorrow.

Cut 14 (08)  “…bond buyback.”

As part of the deal, the Saints will commit to remaining in New Orleans through 2035. Two 10-year extension options will apply if the Superdome renovations are completed.

Dardenne says the Saints will have to put up their own money for the project.

Cut 15 (11)  “…to the dome.”

The new plan will have the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District coughing up 246-million dollars for the renovations.

(The deal also includes the Saints reducing the rental of Benson Tower offices to the state at market rates, not those that are currently higher than average lease prices.)

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The Saints are getting ready to play the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers. Former LSU Tiger and New Orleans native Leonard Fournette has flourished since arriving in Tampa Bay last year. Saints Coach Sean Payton says Fournette is a great three-down back…

Cut  16 (13) “..good addition”

Payton says the passing game needs to be clicking on Sunday in order to upset the Buccaneers…

Cut 17 (12) “ so well” 

Tampa Bay has become the team to beat in the NFC South as future hall of fame quarterback Tom Brady continues to play at an MVP level. Payton was asked if he thought Brady would be this good with the Bucs…

Cut 18 (16) “ (Payton Laughs)l” 

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First-year U-L Lafayette Coach Michael Desormeaux signed eight players. One of those signees is Madison Prep Quarterback Zeon Chriss who led the chargers to a Class 3A state championship in 2020. Desormeaux is more than just an athletic quarterback

Cut 19 (25) “ about him” 
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New Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie signed eleven players on Wednesday. Cumbie says there are four wide receivers in this class they are really excited about…

Cut 20 (17) “ push them” 

He voted for the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, but Senator Bill Cassidy says the President’s Build Back Better bill will NOT get his support. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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If you still have to mail Christmas gifts and you want them to arrive in time the deadlines are approaching. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Louisiana craft brewers are looking for some help from state lawmakers. More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

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Despite voting FOR President Biden’s recently passed Infrastructure Bill, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says he cannot support the Social Safety Net and Climate Bill, also called “Build Back Better”. The massive spending bill narrowly passed the U.S. House and now faces Senate debate and scrutiny. Cassidy says D.C. Democrats are more interested in “cementing legacies than improving the economy”…:

Cut 4 (12) “…would strongly oppose.”

Cassidy says the Democrats are disingenuously selling the legislation to American’s as costing about $2-trillion, and the Congressional Budget Office scores the act accordingly…:

Cut 5 (11) “…when adjusted for inflation.”

Cassidy says the Democrats’ bill – filled with climate change policies, expanded health care and a reworking of the nation’s social safety net (some might call it “welfare, or “entitlements”) – would actually cost about $4.9-trillion. He says that’s just too much burden to put on taxpayers…:

Cut 6 (12) “…keep the price tag lower.”

Cassidy quotes Ronald Reagan, saying “nothing is more permanent than a temporary government program. He says he will not vote for the bill.

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We are 10 days away from Christmas and the options to mail gifts, so they’ll arrive on time are about to be limited.  USPS Spokesperson David Walton says today is the last day to send packages via retail ground to arrive before December 25^th.

Cut 7 (09) “…less expensive.”

Walton says this week is their busiest mailing, shipping, and delivery week of the year and they are estimating to deliver 29 million packages each day this week.

Walton says the deadline to send a package by Priority Mail is this Saturday and cost-wise he says it’s still a bargain.

Cut 8 (06) “…70 pounds.”

And for those who procrastinate mailing gifts, Walton says the deadline to observe so you won’t earn the title of Grinch this year is a week from Thursday.

Cut 9 (09)  “…Christmas Day.”

To see how much your shipping costs will be for packages and the option to print your own shipping labels and have your carrier pick them up visit the Click and Ship option at USPS.com.

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Most of the state’s lawmakers are in Lake Charles today for the annual Legisgator luncheon and will be seeing billboards urging the legislature to help Louisiana craft brewers catch up with the rest of the nation. Cary Koch (coke) is executive director of the Louisiana Craft Brewers Guild:

Cut 10 (12)  “…host weddings.”

Koch fears that without craft beer reform in the Bayou State, the struggling industry could be here today and gone tomorrow as Louisiana competes with thousands of other craft breweries in the nation.

Koch talks about some of the problems facing Louisiana’s craft brewers.

Cut  11 (12)  “…big beer world.”  

Koch says Louisiana is in a “last mover” position when it comes to locally produced beer and he hopes today’s billboard campaign in Lake Charles will help spur state policymakers into action.

Cut 12 (10) “…in the dust.”

And, that according to Koch is despite the fact that craft beer in the 21^st century has been growing by leaps and bounds, especially where pro-craft beer laws have been enacted.

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Governor John Bel Edwards says despite a House committee’s vote against adding the COVID vaccine to the school immunization schedule he still plans to do so. It would go into effect for the Fall of 2022 school year and like all vaccines, parents have the ability to have their child opt-out of the vaccine.

Cut 13 (10) “…change that.”

House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, who’s been on the record against COVID vaccine mandates told members of the House Health and Welfare Committee that asking to opt-out of the vaccine is too cumbersome.

Cut 14 (12)  “…for schools.”

At this time the FDA has only approved the Pfizer COVID vaccine for ages 16 and older and has granted Emergency Use Authorizations for ages five and older. The requirements at Louisiana schools would only pertain to ages that have full FDA approval. Edwards says it’s vital for young people to be vaccinated also.

Cut 15 (11)  “…dealing with the pandemic”

Governor Edwards will appear on his monthly radio show Ask the Governor this afternoon at 2 PM.

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LSU football has started bowl practices as they get ready to play Kansas State in the Texas Bowl on January 4th. With Max Johnson in the transfer portal, who will start for the Tigers at quarterback? LSU interim head coach Brad Davis says they hope it’s Garrett Nussmeier, even though if he plays another game this season he could lose his redshirt season

Cut  16 (22) “..on offense”

So LSU is seeking a waiver from the NCAA in order to have Nussmeier play in the bowl game and still count this as a redshirt season, even though it would be the fifth game he’s appeared in this year. If the waiver is denied, who will start at quarterback? Jontre Kirkland is a possibility, a former Q-B at Lutcher High. Davis says Kirkland will play in the bowl game but didn’t say which position…

Cut 17 (20) “  this team” 

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Today is the first day of the early signing period for college football. The LSU Tigers have ten commitments as they’ve suffered several de-commitments with Ed Orgeron’s departure. But Billy Embody with Geaux 2-4-7 sports expects LSU to sign more than ten players during the early signing period…

Cut 18 (21) “.offers”  

Two five-star prospects are expected to sign, Neville offensive tackle Will Campbell and St. Thomas More Quarterback Walker Howard. Embody says with the lack of depth at quarterback, Howard will have a chance to play right away…

Cut 19 (20)  “.the position”  

Embody expects LSU to sign at least four offensive linemen in the early signing period

Cut 20 (20) “.right away” 

A big name civil rights attorney has the state Department of Children & Family Services in his crosshairs. Kevin Gallagher reports why…:

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Mona Hardin the mother of Ronald Greene who was killed two and a half and years ago during a traffic arrest involving state police addresses the Senate Oversight Committee. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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The Chief Medical Officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge is voicing continuing concern about the lackadaisical attitude by all too many to the COVID-19 virus.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

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Well known civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump says he’ll file suit against the Louisiana Department of Child & Family Services (DCFS) over a child sex abuse and trafficking case. The case involves two girls that were sexually assaulted for a period of over 10 years, despite reports of the crimes being made to DCFS and law enforcement. Mr. Crump says the blame for their long ordeal lies with state and local authorities…:

Cut 4 (13) “…screaming out for help. “

Advocates for the victims (who are now 16 and 18) say they reported the alleged abuse, but nothing was done to remove the girls from the harmful environment. As a result, Crump says, they were allegedly abused by one suspect and even trafficked to other men. Crump says he’ll sue DCFS and whoever else he needs to…:

Cut 5 (12) “…do this to children.”

This case has similarities to the scandal of Jeffrey Epstein and his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died in prison; Maxwell is currently on trial. Crump says one cannot overlook the comparison…:

Cut 6 (09) “…for wealthy white men.”

76-year-old John Mack, who is politically well-connected in Livingston Parish, has been charged with rape and sexual battery. Crump says DCFS knew about the abuse and worked with other agencies to cover it up. In a written statement, DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says “we are cooperating fully and willingly with the Office of Inspector General and look forward to any recommendations they may have. Our internal review found no evidence of a cover-up on the part of our staff.”

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The mother of Ronald Greene addresses members of the Senate Select Committee on State Police Oversight about the death of her son during a traffic stop in Monroe in May of 2019. Mona Hardin says there’s no excuse for the length of time it’s taken to find out the truth about Greene’s death.

Cut 7 (09) “…to get answers.”

Hardin was initially told her son died from injuries sustained in a car crash but then police body camera footage, released two years later, indicated otherwise that Greene was beaten while in handcuffs as he plead for his life. Hardin held back tears as she addressed the committee.

Cut 8 (14) “…my son.”

The oversight committee requested last week that Superintendent of LSP Colonel Lamar Davis have the officers who were involved with the arrest of Greene attend Monday’s meeting but none appeared. Hardin says they need to be held accountable.

Cut 9 (07)  “…to justice.”

Hardin says her family has been torn apart since the death of her son and asked the committee what it’s going to take for the State of Louisiana to stop allowing men like her son to be killed.

Cut 10 (08)  “…off the hook.”

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More serious than a heart attack. That’s the way Catherine O’Neal describes COVID-19. She’s the Chief Medical Officer at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center told the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday. She put the death situation this way with COVID patients at OLOL:

Cut  11 (11)  “…here with COVID-19.”  

O’Neal said comparatively, the death rate for a person coming to the hospital with a heart attack is less than four percent.

O’Neal says COVID-19 is as serious as it gets, and that we are still not treating it that way.

Cut 12 (14) “…and even diabetes.”

O’Neal spoke with frankness about how we turn this COVID-19 pandemic into something far less threatening.

Cut 13 (09) “…that is science.”

And, not she says, something influencers or social media are able to be the catalyst for lessening the threat from the virus and it’s all too often deadly results which now total nearly 800-thousand in the U.S.

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A 28-year-old Slidell man is dead after being struck by two cars while attempting to cross I-10 on foot near Gause Boulevard. Warren Bouie died at the scene Sunday night. Trooper Williams Huggins says Bouie is one of more than 900 people who’ve been killed so far this year in traffic crashes.

Cut 14 (06)  “…involved pedestrians.”

Both vehicle drivers in Bouie’s death suffered at least minor injuries.  Huggins’ advice to pedestrians is to wear reflective material, stay out of the roadway and walk facing the traffic.

Trooper Huggins says it’s against the law for pedestrians to be on the interstate unless circumstances like a wreck or breakdown make it unavoidable in an emergency.

Cut 15 (07)  “…is for pedestrians.”

Trooper Huggins has some advice for those who find themselves having to be on foot on an interstate or some other highway.

Cut  16 (13) “…facing oncoming traffic”