State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley disagrees with the statewide mask mandate applying to all school districts, instead supporting local school boards ability to make that decision themselves. Governor Edwards says the indoor mask mandate applies to all schools in the state, a claim Attorney General Jeff Landry disputes. Brumley says school leaders have been made aware of Edwards’ order…

Cut 4 (06) “..order” 

AARP is calling on mandatory vaccinations for all nursing home staff, residents, and visitors. AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl…

Cut 14 (11) “…across the board.”

New Orleans reportedly is moving to require vaccination proof to indoor most indoor spaces in the city.

LSU President William Tate says in a few weeks students will be required to get vaccinated to be on campus.

Cut 9 (09) “…that time.”

The LSU Faculty Senate requested the vaccine mandate be instituted before classes begin this month but the LSU board says they can’t legally require that given the vaccines are still under emergency use authorization.

Homeschool Louisiana President Chris Chin says the U-S Census shows the percentage of homeschool households has jumped in the past two years from 6 percent to 14.5 percent now. Chin says parents are growing increasingly frustrated with public school systems’ pandemic era policies…

Cut 8 (09) “…do better”

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley disagrees with the school mask mandate, saying the decision should be left to local school boards. He says schools got pretty good at keeping kids safe from COVID over the last year…

Cut 5 (10) “…to work”

Despite disagreeing he says most schools are following the masking policy.

And an increasing number of parents are choosing not to worry about public school policy and instead home school their children per recent Census data. Homeschool Louisiana President Chris Chin says homeschooling is more than twice as popular now as it was pre pandemic.

Cut 6 (10) “…14.5 percent.”

The latest AARP dashboard indicates staff vaccination rates at Louisiana nursing homes are at 44-percent, well below the advised benchmark of 75-percent or higher. As a result the state branch is calling on nursing home facilities to require all staff, visitors, and residents to be vaccinated. Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl…

Cut 12 (06) “…and visitors” 

LSU President William Tate says vaccines will likely be mandatory on campus within the next few weeks. Tate says even before the mandate comes in you should get vaccinated.

Cut  11 (12) “…extremely ill.”  

Some faculty have balked at the delay, saying a September mandate would mean most students wouldn’t be fully vaccinated until mid-October. 

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley reports that “most” schools are following the Governor’s mask mandate ahead of the resumption of classes this month. Governor Edwards says the indoor mask mandate applies to all schools in the state, a claim Attorney General Jeff Landry disputes. Brumley says school leaders have been made aware of Edwards’ order…

Cut 4 (06) “..order” 

Brumley made the comments on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.

LSU President William Tate says it is likely only a matter of weeks before the school adopts a vaccine mandate. Tate says the only thing holding back that move is the FDA, which is expected to give full authorization to Pfizer early next month. But until then…

Cut 10 (09) “…particular time.”

Homeschool Louisiana President Chris Chin says the U-S Census shows the percentage of homeschool households has jumped in the past two years from 6 percent to 14.5 percent now. Chin says parents are growing increasingly frustrated with public school systems’ pandemic era policies…

Cut 8 (09) “…do better”

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell is set to hold a 430 PM press conference today where she will address reports that the city will be adopting a requirement that people be vaccinated to enter many buildings in the city. The Advocate first reported that New Orleans is moving to requiring proof of vaccination for entry to the Superdome, bars, restaurants, and other venues. New York City has already adopted a similar policy and Los Angeles appears set to follow suit this week.  

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says he believes local school boards should be in control of K-12 mask policy, but “most” schools are following the Governor’s mask mandate. Brumley says he believes that school systems and school boards should be working with local medical leaders and parents to make the decision on if masking should be mandatory.

Cut 3 (08) “…bossier” 

As LSU prepares to welcome students back to campus, system president William Tate released a video message today reminding students of the new COVID protocols in which unvaccinated students will undergo routine testing. Tate also informed students that COVID vaccinations will be mandatory sooner than later.

Cut 9 (09) “…that time.”

Homeschool interest has not died down even with students returning to full in person learning. Brooke Thorington has more from the President of Homeschool Louisiana.

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

The Advocate reports their sources are telling them the City of New Orleans is planning to announce that people must be vaccinated to enter many indoor spaces such as the Superdome, bars, restaurants, and other venues. What proof of vaccination would be required is unknown and the Mayor is expected to address the media this afternoon. 

The Saints will practice in pads this morning and then tomorrow leave for Baltimore where they’ll play the Ravens in the team’s first preseason game of the year. No word on who will start at Q-B for that game. Taysom Hill says he’s benefiting by getting a lot of reps at quarterback in practice.

Cut 16 (19) “rep thing”

Whoever gets the start will be without Michael Thomas, although receiver Marquez Callaway has been a standout so far in camp.

Two preseason games will be played tonight as the New England Patriots will take on Washington and the Pittsburgh Steelers will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles.  Pittsburgh played in the Hall of Fame game against Dallas last thursday.

The Dunham school has announced it will retire former football star Derek Stingley Jr’s number 24 jersey.  The LSU defensive back wore 24 during his first two seasons in Baton Rouge but will  sport the teams coveted number seven this fall for the Tigers.

CBS Sports has released its preseason bowl projections and they have LSU traveling to Atlanta to take on Notre Dame in the Peach Bowl.  CBS also has Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma making it to the College Football Playoff.

After returning to Louisiana for fall practice, ULM head coach Terry Bowden will go back to Florida on Friday as his father, former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden will lie in honor at the Florida State Capitol Rotunda and then lie in repose at F-S-U’s Athletic Center. A public funeral service for Bobby Bowden will be Saturday on the campus of Samford, his alma mater.

One month from today is LSU’s home opener and despite the state dealing with a fourth surge of COVID cases, the plan is for Tiger Stadium to be at 100-percent capacity. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

There’s now evidence that the Delta variant surge is beginning to slow in Louisiana. While hospitalizations increased once again they did so at a slower rate than they had been leading up to this week and percent positivity on tests has begun to plateau and drop in many places.

The Louisiana/Mississippi line is no longer in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Fred. State Climatologist Barry Keim says right now landfall along the panhandle seems most likely

Cut 4 (10) “..happen” 

Fred is expected to enter the gulf just off the coast of Florida Sunday and make landfall near Apalachicola Monday.

Scammers are reportedly taking advantage of the eviction moratorium situation to prey on victims by impersonating government officials on the phone. President of the Better Business Bureau of South-Central Louisiana Carmen Million warns you to be vigilante because no one is immune to scams.

Cut 14 (12) “…a scam.”

Despite the massive uptick in COVID cases this month plans are still on for 100 percent capacity at Tiger Stadium a month from now for the home opener. Director of Strategic Media for LSU Athletics Cody Worsham says the school will still obey any protocols in order to keep fans safe.

Cut 7 (11) “…they leave” 

It’s looking increasingly likely that Tropical Storm Fred won’t be nearing Louisiana, instead heading to Florida Monday. It’s been a quiet hurricane season in the Gulf so far but State Climatologist Barry Keim says the Saharan Dust Layer has lifted and we should expect things to get a lot more active in the coming weeks.

Cut 5 (10) “…season”

A  mom shot her daughter in the head in Winnsboro, allegedly after pointing gun at her that she says she didn’t know was loaded. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says Lachandra Jones was arguing with her 13 year old daughter outside of a rental home that Jones owned.

Cut 10 (08) “…the shooting.

Jones was charged with second-degree cruelty to a juvenile and illegal use of a weapon.

President of the Better Business Bureau of South-Central Louisiana Carmen Million is warning residents about scams related to the eviction moratorium. She says scammers are attempting to get people’s personal information by impersonating government officials.

Cut 13 (10) “…country.”

The Louisiana/Mississippi line is still in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Fred but as of now it appears the system is most likely to hit Florida. State Climatologist Barry Keim says right now landfall along the panhandle seems most likely…

Cut 4 (10) “..happen” 

Fred is expected to drop below tropical storm strength today but strengthen tomorrow as it approaches Cuba.

A Winnsboro mom allegedly shot her daughter in the head during an argument over the weekend. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says Lachandra Jones alleges she did not know the gun had a bullet in the chamber when she pointed it at her daughter during the dispute.

Cut 9 (10) “…recovery.”

One month from today is LSU’s home opener and despite the state dealing with a fourth surge of COVID cases, the plan is for Tiger Stadium to be at 100-percent capacity. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Louisiana reports another 5,400 COVID cases today along with 55 additional COVID-related deaths as this 4^th surge of the pandemic continues to burn through the entire state. The rate of new hospitalizations appears to be slowing, but we still did add to the count putting the state just below 2,900. 

A number of LSU players were missing during the portion of the practice viewed by the media. Standout cornerbacks Derek Stingley Junior and Eli Ricks were among those not present. Coach Ed Orgeron says running back Tyrion Davis-Price is dealing with a minor injury, a timetable for his return is unknown at this time.

LSU is ranked 13th and U-L Lafayette is ranked 23rd in the preseason coaches poll which was released yesterday. Alabama is ranked number one ahead of Clemson, Oklahoma, Ohio State and Georgia.  ULL’s Sun Belt rival Coastal Carolina comes in one spot behind the Cajuns at 24.

Patrick Robinson was competing for a starting spot at cornerback with the Saints but has now announced his retirement from the NFL after 11 seasons in the league, a number of them with New Orleans. The Saints were already thin at corner and this is another blow to the position.

With a lack of depth at the position there are reports that the Saints could be interested in a potential trade involving Jaguars cornerback CJ Henderson.  Henderson is a former first-round pick from the University of Florida.

The state of Louisiana has a number of highly ranked quarterbacks and one that is highly recruited is Arch Manning, the son of Cooper Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli, and grandson to Archie Manning.  Arch has the ability to run and he says it’s a necessity this day and age.

Cut 19 (15) “different”

Manning’s top target in receiver AJ Johnson has left the school and transferred to Cardinal Newman high school in Florida.  Johnson is a four-star recruit according to 247Sports.

Despite the rising number of cases and COVID hospitalizations, even among younger people, the LHSAA said in a memo that it’s confident schools can work with local health officials so the fall season can happen. Also, the memo says if a game is canceled because of COVID, it will go down as a forfeit for the team who does not have enough healthy players.

State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says more mitigation rules may be needed if the state doesn’t slow down the spread of COVID-19. Kanter is worried about the growing number of COVID patients in the hospital statewide and how to care for them if the surge of patients doesn’t stop

Cut 6 (10) “…sustain that.”

Not only are hospitalizations rising, but so are the deaths, the state reported 93 COVID fatalities on Tuesday, the highest single day increase since January 8th.

The U.S. Senate approved the 1.2 trillion-dollar infrastructure package today. Senator Bill Cassidy, who helped negotiate and craft the bipartisan bill says over six billion dollars in infrastructure assistance will be headed to Louisiana as a result…

Cut 14 (08) “…infrastructure.”

Attorney General Jeff Landry wants to hear from you if you feel you’ve been censored by a social media company. Landry says this censorship deprives Americans of access to important information. He cited the censorship of posts about the Wuhan lab’s alleged involvement with the virus.

Cut 4 (12) “…citizens” 

Landry says you can fill out a form at the AG’s website if your posts have been impacted.

As children begin to return to the classroom, State Police are reminding motorists to be mindful of school zones. LSP spokesperson, Trooper Johnathan Odom says all traffic must stop no less than 30 feet from a school bus when its stop signals are in use.

Cut 10 (12) “…the bus.”