Late evening and overnight storms wreaked havoc across much of Louisiana last night resulting in at least two deaths. In St. Landry Parish a tornado killed one man and injured seven others while up in Caddo Parish a 48-year-old Shreveport man was killed when a tree fell on his mobile home.

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Don Molino has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Don Molino.” 

The share of new UK variant COVID cases as a portion of overall COVID cases appears to be multiplying rapidly in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says The CDC estimates a minimum of 13 percent of Louisiana COVID cases are the newer more deadly and contagious variety…

Cut 7 (06) “…go up.”

Kanter also warns the CDC variant tracking data has a several-week lag time and that the number is likely much higher right now.

Prison reform advocates pursue changes to the way prison labor is handled, targeting a provision of the state constitution called the “slavery exception” that relates to the nearly unpaid forced labor of Louisiana inmates. Executive Director of Decarcerate Louisiana Curtis Davis, who spent 25 years at Angola, is working to change that. He says prisoners are paid pennies for their work.

Cut 12 (09)   “…of soap.” 

COVID numbers continue to stay low in Louisiana despite spikes in other parts of the country driven by new viral variants. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says percent positivity this week was only 2.3 percent, the lowest since the pandemic began, and only 301 people are in Louisiana hospitals with COVID symptoms…

Cut 6 (09) “..encouraging.”

He warns that our rate of UK variant cases is multiplying in size by about 3-4x a week. Currently estimated at least 13.4 percent.

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. House Democratic Caucus Chair Representative Sam Jenkins says assisting those who’ve lost employment as a result of the pandemic is the priority.

Cut 9 (07) “…of work.”

 There’s a clause in the state constitution that allows prisoners to be treated like slaves, but legislation has been filed to change that.  Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (29) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

The nationwide share of Johnson and Johnson vaccine is set to drop by 86 percent next week and appears likely to stay that way through the end of the month due to a quality control problem at a US-based plant manufacturing vaccine. Previous shipments of JnJ had come directly from a Netherlands vaccine plant.  

The 16th ranked Louisiana Tech baseball team has won three straight weekend series as they begin a four-game set tonight at Rice. The Bulldogs have won 12 of their last 14.  A big part of their success has been on offense. Coach Lane Burroughs says they are doing a good job of getting clutch hits, especially when trailing.

Cut 16 (13) “off the bench”

LSU looks to snap a six-game losing streak in the SEC when they visit Kentucky for three games starting tonight in Lexington. Landon Marceaux is tonight’s starting pitcher for the Tigers and A-L Labas gets the ball tomorrow. Coach Paul Mainieri is holding off on naming a starter for Sunday’s series finale…

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the ULM baseball team begins a three-game series tonight against Georgia Southern. The Warhawks are looking to snap a five-game losing streak in Sun Belt play.

Also, the Ragin Cajuns baseball team will begin a three-game series tonight when they host Rice.  First pitch between the Cajuns and Red Wolves is scheduled for 6 p.m.

After losing Trendon Watford and Javonte Smart, LSU basketball will also lose forward Darius Days, as he announced he will forego his remaining eligibility and enter the NBA draft.  Days averaged 11.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game this past season.

After a recent loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the New Orleans Pelicans will return home tonight as they host the Philadelphia 76er’s at 7 p.m.

And in college football…Southeastern Louisiana hosts Nicholls with F-C-S playoff implications on the line.  Also, Northwestern will be on the road to take on Incarnate Word tomorrow at 7 p.m. and McNeese will travel to Sam Houston to take on the Bearkats at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

The number of new UK variant cases in Louisiana is rising. Now up to 13.4 percent of all new COVID cases reported in the state are believed to be that more deadly and contagious variant. But our percent of variant cases is much better than the rest of the county. The nationwide average is 27.2 percent, Florida is at 34.5 percent, Texas is at 25.2 percent. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says these numbers do lag a few weeks behind but gives us a good idea of where we are…

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Senator John Kennedy wants everyone in the state to get a COVID vaccine. He says he can’t sing but he is free and freely chose to get the vaccine because it works.

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House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. House Democratic Caucus Chair Representative Sam Jenkins says investing in education to grow the state’s economy is a priority. He says that begins with pay raises for educators and makes good on a promise to move salaries towards the southern regional average.

Cut 10 (10) “…teachers.” 

Prison reform advocates back an amendment ending the “slavery exception” that allows inmates to be forced to perform labor for just pennies an hour.  Executive Director of Decarcerate Louisiana Curtis Davis, who spent 25 years at Angola, says the 13^th Amendment didn’t end slavery it codified it with a loophole allowing prison slave labor. He says if you refuse to work guards can use force against you.

Cut 13 (07)“…those guns”

If passed a constitutional amendment could be added to the fall 2022 ballot.

House Democrats release their Come Back Stronger Louisiana agenda for the upcoming legislative session. House Democratic Caucus Chair Representative Sam Jenkins says assisting those who’ve lost employment as a result of the pandemic is a priority.

Cut 9 (08) “…of work.”

Prison reform advocates pursue changes to the way prison labor is handled, targeting a provision of the state constitution called the “slavery exception” that relates to the nearly unpaid forced labor of Louisiana inmates. Executive Director of Decarcerate Louisiana Curtis Davis, who spent 25 years at Angola, is working to change that. He says prisoners are paid pennies for their work.

Cut 12 (10)   “…of soap.” 

If passed a constitutional amendment could be added to the fall 2022 ballot.

The state’s COVID test percent positivity rate was only 2.3 percent this week, the lowest since the pandemic began. Despite this good news State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter is concerned the more deadly and contagious UK variant could cause us problems. The CDC estimates a minimum of 13 percent of Louisiana COVID cases are UK variant.

Cut 7 (06) “…go up”

Louisiana’s 13.4 percent rate is still much lower than the nationwide average of 27.2 percent.

Senator John Kennedy says he’s ready to quash this pandemic once and for all by encouraging everyone in the state to get vaccinated…

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Over 28 percent of Louisianans have received at least one dose of a vaccine so far.

COVID numbers continue to stay low in Louisiana despite spikes in other parts of the country driven by new viral variants. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says percent positivity this week was only 2.3 percent, the lowest since the pandemic began, and only 301 people are in Louisiana hospitals with COVID symptoms…

Cut 6 (09) “..encouraging”

The CDC estimates a minimum of 13.4 percent of all new Louisiana cases are the more deadly and contagious UK variant.

With UK variant cases rising Senator John Kennedy asks all residents to go get a vaccine. He says he’s not much of a singer but he is proudly vaccinated, because the vaccine works…

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There’s a clause in the state constitution that allows prisoners to be treated as slaves, but legislation has been filed to change that.  Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (30) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

LSU looks to snap a six-game losing streak in the SEC when they visit Kentucky for three games starting tonight in Lexington. Landon Marceaux is tonight’s starting pitcher for the Tigers and A-L Labas gets the ball tomorrow.  Here’s Labas on the importance of getting an SEC victory sooner than later…

Cut 20 (15) “one game at a time”

Fresh off a five to three win over Alabama on Wednesday, the ULM baseball team begins a three-game series tonight against Georgia Southern. The Warhawks are looking to snap a five-game losing streak in Sun Belt play. Coach Michael Federico on what he wants to see from his team in Statesboro

Cut 18 (18) “to win” x2

The 16^th ranked Louisiana Tech baseball team will begin a four-game weekend series tonight as they will be on the road against Rice.  First pitch for game 1 is scheduled for 6 p.m.  The Bulldogs are 20-7 on the year with a 6-2 mark in conference play.

Also, the Ragin Cajuns baseball team will begin a three-game series tonight when they host Rice.  First pitch between the Cajuns and Red Wolves is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The LSU basketball team is losing another player as Javonte Smart will follow Trendon Watford and enter his name into the NBA draft.  The 6’4 guard averaged 16 points and four assists per game for the Tigers this past season.

After a recent loss to the Brooklyn Nets, the New Orleans Pelicans will return home tonight as they host the Philadelphia 76er’s at 7 p.m.  The Pels are 22-29 on the year while the sixers sit at 35-16.

And in college football…Southeastern Louisiana hosts Nicholls with F-C-S playoff implications on the line.  Also, Northwestern will be on the road to take on Incarnate Word tomorrow at 7 p.m. and McNeese will travel to Sam Houston to take on the Bearkats at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

The longest-serving member of the LSU Board of Supervisors is calling on the school to drop the school’s law firm of Taylor Porter amid the ongoing scandal. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Senator John Kennedy asks residents to get vaccinated. He says he can’t sing very well but he is free and he is fully vaxxed up…

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The state launches a vaccine hotline that can help schedule COVID vaccine appointments for residents at nearby providers. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the hotline is open 8 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 PM on Sundays. The number is 855-453-0774.

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The hotline can connect residents with health care experts who can tell you more about how the vaccines are made, what makes them safe, and what makes them highly effective.

1.3 million Louisianans, or about 28 percent of the state’s total population, have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine so far and over 900,000 have completed their full series whether that be two doses of Moderna and Pfizer or one JnJ shot.

LSU’s General Counsel told lawmakers why LSU employees had been banned from speaking under oath to a Legislative Committee today. Winston Decuir says it’s related to a lawsuit by a current LSU administrator. He says he learned of the lawsuit Wednesday and had not or seen who was named in it when the decision was made.

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Lawmakers argued the ban will intimidate further whistleblowers from coming forward.

State Police say a vehicle heading the wrong way on Interstate 10 near Crowley caused a fiery crash that killed three people and left another person in critical condition. Trooper Thomas Gossen says the vehicle driving in the opposite direction slammed head-on into another vehicle…

Cut 3 (07)  “…that was also involved.” 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says a family of four in Louisiana could purchase a health insurance plan for premiums as low as 163-dollars per month at health-care-dot-gov. Director of the Office of Minority Health Doctor LaShawn McIver says  the President recently extended the special enrollment period to August 15, so that families can take advantage of newly expanded financial assistance.

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Colorado State University hurricane researchers anticipate an above-average 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Graduate Researcher at CSU Jhordanne Jones says Louisiana has a 50-percent probability of landfall hurricanes in 2021, which she says is hauntingly like predictions we had last year.

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Lawmakers blasted LSU’s lawyer this morning over the school’s decision not to allow employees to testify at a Legislative hearing on the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases. New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says school officials have not justified their decision to not fire anyone as a result of the Husch Blackwell report. LSU General Counsel Winston Decuir responded on behalf of Interim President Tom Galligan…

Cut 12 (11)   “…unacceptable” 

A fiery crash on I-10 near Crowley claims the lives of three people. Trooper Thomas Gossen says the crash occurred as one vehicle was heading the wrong way down the interstate, but because of the damage, it’s hard to tell right now which vehicle it was…

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Colorado State University anticipates another above-average Atlantic hurricane season for 2021. Brooke Thorington has more

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The state is now up to 1.3 million Louisianans who have taken at least one COVID shot and just under 900,000 that have completed their full vaccine series. About 24 percent of all residents in the New Orleans region have now completed their series, tops in the state. In last place are central Louisiana and the Lake Charles region at 14 and 13 percent.