A 39-year old single mom who works in disaster recovery is now dependent on healthcare workers as she fights to breathe with COVID at Baton Rouge General. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (387) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

About 90 percent of Louisianans hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated.

Ochsner has administered about 9,700 monoclonal antibody treatments to COVID patients across New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Northshore. Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says the treatments have been highly effective.

Cut 6 (11) “..vaccinated” 

At Ochsner’s Lafayette facility Thomas estimates they are administering about 300 to 400 treatments a week.

CLECO customers can expect to see higher than average power bills due to a number of factors including last year’s historic hurricane season. CLECO President Shane Hilton says if you need assistance there are several options to help you pay your bill. He encourages you to call CLECO or visit their website.

Cut 12 (11) “…the year.”  

State Bond Commission members retaliated against New Orleans’ vaccine proof policy today by pausing scheduled funding for the Superdome renovations as well as hospital, school, and other construction projects around the city.

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.

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And when it comes to construction funds elsewhere in the City Governor Edwards’ Executive Council Matthew Block says not only could this delay construction, but workers might not get paid…

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The pause looks set to last at least a month.

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 that pays college students a hundred dollars to take the shot. 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.” 

Even with a slight decline in hospital patients, Ochsner Health CEO Warner 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” 

Attorney General Jeff Landry says 28 milion dollars in line of credit for a Superdome renovation will be held up until the Saints allow season ticket holders to opt out for the year and not lose their place.

Cut 10 (10) “… the entire time.”

The comments came at a State Bond Commission meeting where members voted to withhold the line of credit in retaliation for the Black and Gold’s vaccine proof policy.

Louisiana appears to be on track to offer casino and racetrack based sports betting sometime in September after an emergency ruling by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. Chairman Ronnie Johns…

Cut 6 (10) “…this quickly” 

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

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Vaccination numbers perked up over the last week, now just a touch under 40 percent of everyone in the state has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, about 1.8 million people. 48 percent of the state has received at least one dose, about 2.2 million. Louisiana still ranks amongst the least vaccination states in America. 

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.”

Cut 9, 8 seconds, were in

The commission also voted in favor of withholding financing for any New Orleans construction projects tapped for funding by the Legislature in retaliation for the citywide vaccine proof mandate. Governor Edwards’ Executive Counsel Matthew Block voted against, noting it’s not just the city that isn’t getting paid….

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Casinos will likely be able to start offering sports betting sometime in mid-September after an emergency ruling by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. A month ago, Chairman Ronnie Johns was named chairman of the Gaming Control Board and the number one question he’s been asked is when legal sports betting is coming to Louisiana.

Cut 7 (06) “…it’s coming”  

The ruling takes effect Monday, but it will likely take a few weeks for applications to be vetted.

5,500 new COVID cases and 58 new COVID relates deaths were reported today but hospitalizations slightly fell and there’s some evidence this 4^th COVID surge is slowing down. Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says we’re not out of the woods yet, and there’s still a troubling trend…

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The Saints change course on their refund policy, now saying that people who refuse to be vaccinated or COVID tested before games can get a refund for their season tickets. Those seeking a refund have until August 24^th at 4 PM to reach out to a ticket representative to request a refund.

Healthcare experts say the drug Ivermectin should not be used to treat COVID because it’s ineffective against the disease. Brooke Thorington has more.

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The Biden Administration says they will pull federal funding from nursing homes that don’t have fully immunized staff. AARP State Executive Director Denise Bottcher applauds the president’s decision in an effort to protect residents and other staff members from COVID exposures from unvaccinated employees.

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The Louisiana Nursing Home Association released a statement saying that once CMS releases the guidance, facilities will comply, as doing so is required to continue caring for residents who qualify for Medicare and Medicaid.

Oschner CEO Warner Thomas says we’re starting to see a slight dip in the number of COVID-related hospitalizations, as they have 1,028 COVID patients currently in beds across their system.

Cut 3 (12) “…in New Orleans.” 

Anti-mask protestors shut down a BESE meeting today where members were set to vote on whether schools should be allowed to reject the Governor’s mask mandate. The room was chaotic, and ultimately the meeting was called off after a motion by BESE member Holly Boffy…

Cut 6 (15) “…*incoherent screaming*”

The vote was 8-2.

On his monthly talk show Governor Edwards slammed those who shut down the meeting, calling their behavior unsafe.

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The state reported 66-hundred new coronavirus cases today and state officials say 28-percent of all new COVID cases are children.

Republicans are slamming President Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years. Senator John Kennedy says Biden’s hasty withdrawal was an attempt for Biden to win some political points…

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President Biden stood by his decision, saying the Taliban’s rapid advance across Afghanistan and the nearly non-existent resistance to that advance is evidence that the people of that country were not willing to fight to maintain the current government, and so American troops should not be expected to do so themselves.

A fake social media post claiming you won’t be able to obtain a hunting license if you can’t show proof of vaccination is making the rounds. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Spokesperson Ed Pratt says it’s not true, and don’t fall for the misinformation…

Cut 10 (12) “…in the state.”

The BESE meeting has begun and sometime today we will find out whether or not schools will be following the Governor’s statewide mask mandate. Once again anti mask and anti vax members of the public flocked to the event and started a fracas after being told to put on a mask or leave the room…

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After the initial chaos Central Pastor Tony Spell seized the room and led “no more mask” chants, preventing the meeting from continuing for a bit. Eventually order was restored and the meeting began, but it faces infrequent heckling from audience members.

The issue has divided the state along partisan lines with many Republican lawmakers opposing the Governor’s insistence that his order applies to all school districts.

Baton Rouge Nurse Carla Brown was honored Tuesday for vaccinating more than 2,000 in her door-to-door campaign in memory of her husband who died from COVID.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

 Airborne evacuations of Kabul have resumed just days after the Taliban surged back into power in Afghanistan. President Joe Biden stands behind his decision to end the 20 year old war, saying there’s no longer a national security interest in American remaining there. Congressman Mike Johnson disagrees…

Cut 6 (10) “…answers.”

Since the approval of a third dose for the immunocompromised now there’s discussion of a dose shot for the general public who are fully vaccinated. Brooke Thorington has more…

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The Louisiana Health Department reported 122 new COVID deaths today, which brings the state’s death toll to 11,706. Louisiana has also surpassed three thousand COVID hospitalizations.

Critical hospital personnel who have children under the age of 12 can receive childcare subsidies thanks to a new Department of Education program. Deputy Assistant Superintendent for Early Childhood Operations Lisa Brochard says all of those workers are desperately needed in our near-capacity hospitals.

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Applications will be accepted through October 31st.

Ochsner is now administering third COVID vaccine shots to Moderna and Pfizer patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Medical Director of Hospital Quality Dr. Sandra Kemmerly warns to keep in mind that not everyone who is immunocompromised currently qualifies for the third shot.

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Johnson and Johnson vaccine recipients currently are not eligible.

Those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised can now receive a third shot to boost their immune system’s odds of fighting off COVID. Dr. Katherine Baumgarten with Ochsner says there is evidence suggesting that a disproportionate number of vaccine breakthrough hospitalizations are those who are immunocompromised.

Cut 13 (07) “…dose”

Johnson and Johnson vaccine recipients currently are not eligible.

Federal officials are working out the details of how to implement the CDC’s recommendation that everyone who is fully vaccinated receive a vaccine booster shot eight months after their last shot. Infectious Disease Specialist for LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Fred Lopez says the first big question is who gets priority…

Cut 3 (06) “…first.” 

The fourth COVID-19 surge is bringing down the state’s economy. That’s according to Gulf Coast Bank and Trust president Guy Williams who says with the state reporting thousands of new cases every day, it’s keeping many people from going to work….

Cut 9 (08) “…enough workers”

Williams says health officials have told him this fourth surge could last another seven weeks.

Tier 1 and 2 hospital workers with children 12 and under can receive childcare subsidies thanks to a new Department of Education program. Deputy Assistant Superintendent for Early Childhood Operations Lisa Brochard says the subsidies take a lot of forms including having childcare workers watch the night staff’s kids. She says it should help make childcare much more accessible for those workers.

Cut 8 (11) “…amount”

The Biden Administration is developing a plan to implement the CDC’s recommendation that people receive a vaccine booster shot eight months after their last shot. Infectious Disease Specialist for LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Fred Lopez says the big question is who gets prioritized…

Cut 3 (06) “…first.” 

Critical hospital personnel who have children age 12 and under can receive childcare subsidies thanks to a new Department of Education program. Deputy Assistant Superintendent for Early Childhood Operations Lisa Brochard says this program could help get more hospital workers back to understaffed facilities…

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This subsidy program applies to a range of personnel working in Tier 1 or 2 hospitals.

Things got feisty yesterday at the State Capitol as anti-mask and vaccine members of the public clashed with health and elected officials at a meeting of House Health and Welfare. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox questioned Brandi Pew of Unmask Our Kids in Louisiana about her opposition to school masking…

Cut 14 (11) “…alright, alright.”

STEM and healthcare students who are nearing completion of their degree may be eligible to receive a Completers Grant from the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance. LOSFA Director of Scholarships and Grants Deborah (Deb-or-uh) Paul says the state needs more aspiring nurses, programmers, math educators, and others pursuing high-demand work…

Cut 11 (10) “…qualify.”

Priority for the grants will be given to those students who have exhausted financial aid from other sources.