Louisiana has hit another grim milestone from the coronavirus pandemic. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

On a more positive note, the state did cross the million vaccine milestone. One million 55,000 Louisianans have now received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and over 600,000 have completed their full series be that two doses of Moderna and Pfizer or one dose of Johnson and Johnson.

New Orleans Senators Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter advance to the runoff for the 2^nd congressional district, an election that will be held a month from now. Carter seems to have the edge, having won 36 percent in the primary while Peterson secured 23 percent. MC Analytics Publisher John Couvillon says one interesting thing to note is that Peterson came in third place in her own Senate district…

Cut 5  (05)  “…support” 

Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers nearly made the runoff at 21 percent.

Republican Julia Letlow will be the next Congresswoman for the 5^th Congressional District after her overwhelming primary win Saturday. Letlow is the mother to two young children, and the widow of Luke Letlow, who was set to be the district’s next Congressman before his shocking death from COVID late last year. Letlow says her kids were with her Saturday night as the results came in.

Cut 7 (07) “…celebration”

The special election for the 2^nd Congressional District is headed to a runoff between New Orleans State Senators Karen Carter Peterson and Troy Carter. Carter won 36 percent to Peterson’s 23 percent. Baton Rouge activist Gary Chambers nearly made the runoff at 21 percent. JMC Analytics Publisher John Couvillon says Carter is the favorite, but…

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Republican candidates combined for 16 percent of the vote.

21 Republican attorneys general including Jeff Landry sign a letter opposing the Biden Stimulus Bill’s mandate that states that accept relief money cannot cut taxes for years to come. Governor Edwards says he will be accepting the funds and wasn’t planning on passing any tax reforms that weren’t revenue-neutral anyway…

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Essential workers are now eligible to be vaccinated in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington talks with a physician about what it means for front-line employees

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU plays in the second round of the NCAA tournament this evening hoping for an upset of top-seeded Michigan. The Tigers routed St. Bonaventure Saturday 76-61 and Michigan is coming off a near 20 point blowout of Texas Southern. Tip-off is set for 6:10 PM

Voters in the 2^nd and 5^th Congressional Districts have until 8 PM today to head to the polls and cast a ballot for their next representative. The 5^th is expected to be a bit of a blowout with Republican Julia Letlow cruising to an easy win, but the 2^nd is expected to head to an April runoff.

The Big Dance rolls on today with LSU taking on St. Bonaventure today at 1245 in Bloomington Indiana. LSU is a young team, with only Javonte Smart and Darius Days having experience in the tournament. Smart says the team needs to treat this like any other game.

Cut 5  (10)  “…just another game” 

St. Bonaventure is a ninth seed and playing in its eighth tournament. LSU is playing the tournament for its 23^rd time. In their last tournament appearance, LSU made the Sweet 16.

Members of the Louisiana Legislative Women’s Caucus are calling for more punitive action to be taken against administrators whose names were mentioned in the Husch Blackwell report that detailed widespread mishandling of sexual misconduct incidents at LSU. Only two suspensions were handed out by the school to current employees as a result, but Governor Edwards says he’s not questioning that decision…

Cut 7 (11) “…decision.”

Louisiana gaming revenue is still slow to get back to normal after a tough 2020 was followed up by extreme weather to start 2021. Louisiana gaming establishments lost 877 million in revenue for 2020 compared to 2019. Louisiana Casino Association Executive Director Wade Duty…

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It’s Election Day for two special elections in the 2^nd and 5^th congressional districts. The 5^th is a sprawling district that runs from northeast Louisiana through Alexandria and over to the northern Florida parishes. The 2^nd is a primary New Orleans-based district that covers most of the Crescent City, parts of Jefferson Parish, the River Parishes, and north Baton Rouge. Polls close at 8 PM.

Louisiana casinos lost 877 million dollars in 2020 compared to 2019…

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LSU is in the Big Dance and takes on ninth seed St. Bonaventure today at 1245 in Bloomington Indiana. St.Bonaventure is anchored defensively by big man Osun Osunniyi (Oh-shoon Oh-shoon-ee-yee), who averages almost three blocks per game. LSU coach Will Wade says he’s one of the best rim protectors he’s seen.

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Louisiana reports fewer than 400 COVID-19 hospitalizations for the first time since late March. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says this is evidence that we are doing a good job of stopping the spread, using mitigation measures, and proof the vaccine is working.

Cut 13 (08)“…hospitalizations.”

987,000 Louisianans have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and 568,000 have completed their full series.

LSU faces  St, Bonaventure in the first round of NCAA Tournament today at 12:45. The Bonnies are known for playing great defense and coach Will Wade says LSU will have to be disciplined offensively since the Tigers like to play fast….

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Governor Edwards pushed back against calls for additional punitive action against those named in the Husch Blackwell report that detailed a culture of indifference towards sexual misconduct and assault at LSU. He says the people who contributed to the system-wide failure are not employed at LSU anymore…

Cut 6 (12) “…longer there.”

An effort to recall Governor John Bel Edwards falls way short of the signatures needed to force a recall election. Don Molino has the story…

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Starting Monday all essential workers will be eligible to call a local pharmacy or other vaccine administrator and make an appointment to get their COVID-19 vaccine. That includes a range of over 20 different professions from grocery store workers to those in higher education. Edwards says this will be the final expansion of eligibility that we’ll see until eligibility restrictions for vaccination are lifted for those over 15 entirely.

Voters in the New Orleans, River Parishes, and north Baton Rouge-based 2^nd Congressional District will be voting on their next representative Saturday. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Democratic New Orleans State Senators Troy Carter and Karen Carter Peterson are favorites to make it to a runoff.

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The 5^th district special election will also be held Sunday.

Beginning Monday all Essential Workers will be eligible for the COVID vaccine. Governor John Bel Edwards Like all other eligible groups for the vaccine, essential workers will have to schedule appointments and also identify themselves as eligible workers and provide documentation.

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Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have dropped below 400 for the first time since late March.

Louisiana casinos lost 877 million dollars in 2020 compared to 2019 and are starting off 2021 down significantly from where they were this same time last year. Jeff Palermo has the story.

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A range of over 20 essential work jobs will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting next week. That includes grocery store workers and those in hospitality. This comes as nearly a million Louisianans have now received at least one dose of a COVID 19 vaccine.

The Oregon State Board of Trustees places President F. King Alexander on probation after hearing evidence that he mishandled sexual misconduct incidents during his tenure at LSU. Alexander’s probation and multi-week suspensions to two LSU athletic administrators have been the only punishments meted out as a result of the Husch Blackwell report and Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says those punishments have been surprisingly light handed…

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Alexander left LSU to join Oregon State nine months ago after running LSU during the period covered by a report that detailed widespread administrative mishandling of sexual misconduct.

The American Rescue Plan includes an estimated $10.4 billion for Agriculture designed to strengthen the industry and food supply chain. Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the legislation includes $66-million for the Farm Loan Assistance Program for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

Cut 13 (11)“…forgiven.”

Drew Brees is looking forward to his new career in football as a member of the NBC Sports broadcasting team.  Brees will be a studio analyst for “Football Night in America” on Sunday nights and as a color analyst for Notre Dame football games.  Brees says he hopes fans can learn something about the game from his analysis.

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Those who are grocery store workers, postal workers, those in the hotel and manufacturing industries, higher education, media, and roughly 20 other professions are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine as of today’s expansion in eligibility. This now makes the overwhelming majority of those over the age of 15 in Louisiana eligible to receive a COVID vaccine at approved pharmacies.

Drew Brees says he’s ready for his next career in football as a football commentator for NBC…

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Former LSU and current Oregon State President F. King Alexander is on probation for his alleged mishandling of sexual assault and harassment reports during his tenure at LSU. He’s accused of being fully aware of allegations against former coach Les Miles but failing to act. Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says probation is a surprisingly light sentence.

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Barrow is a member of a legislative committee that has been tasked with digging further into the Alexander tenure at LSU and its alleged indifference towards sexual misconduct incidents.

So far Southwest Louisiana has the lowest vaccination rate of 7.8-percent. That’s almost half of the 13-percent rate of the New Orleans region, but Southwest Louisiana Medical Director Lacey Cavanaugh believes the numbers are misleading since many have evacuated from the area after two hurricanes last summer.

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