Of the 93-thousand vaccine doses allocated for nursing home residents and staff in the state, only 30-percent have been administered. Jeff Palermo has more.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

Louisiana reported another 2,369 cases of COVID-19 today along with another unfortunately high day of daily new deaths at 58. Hospitalizations continue to decline in some good news though, down to 1,546 and it appears the third wave of the virus is notably behind the state at the moment.

Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy join 23 other Republican Senators in requesting a meeting with President Biden over concerns involving his recent oil and gas policy. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he expects Biden will take this meeting.

Cut 12 (10) “senate.” 

In his first two weeks in office, Biden canceled the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and issued a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters.

Johnson and Johnson announced today that its one-dose COVID vaccine offers strong protection. Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Doctor Lucio Miele says it has a 66-percent efficacy rate of preventing moderate to severe illnesses like pneumonia or other breathing difficulties the efficacy of preventing serious illness is 85-percent.

Cut 11 (12) “…moderate.”

It’s been slow going vaccinating the state’s nursing home residents and staff. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says 93,600 Moderna vaccine doses have been allocated to a program and so far only 30-percent have been administered.

Cut 5  (12) “…faster.” 

The vaccine rollout in nursing homes is being conducted by CVS and Walgreens.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is looking like a decent option for those who have access to care issues in rural or undeveloped areas. Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Doctor Lucio Miele says the vaccine offers strong protection from the virus with an international average efficacy of 66-percent…

Cut 9 (11) “… South Africa.”

Over two dozen Republican Senators are seeking an audience with the President to protest his recent oil and gas executive orders like cancelling the Keystone Pipeline and the moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says because of redistricting and because the states most impacted are deeply red he doubts Biden will pay a price politically for his moves on climate change.

Cut 14 (07) “…support him.” 

Shreveport-Bossier is pushing to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Regionals at the Brookshire Grocery Arena. Director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, Kelly Wells, says proximity to schools makes Bossier City a prime location.

Cut 8 (13) “…prefer to drive.”

Vaccinations among nursing home residents and staff against COVID-19 are moving slowly in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says just over 19-thousand to residents have received a dose. Kanter says we all wish it was going faster but…

Cut 3 (11)  “…26-percent.”

The vaccine rollout in nursing homes is being conducted by CVS and Walgreens.

Johnson and Johnson announced today that its one-dose COVID vaccine offers a strong protection from the virus with efficacy of 66-percent.  Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, Doctor Lucio Miele says the J&J vaccine does not require cold storage making it ideal for those with access to care issues.

Cut 10 (10) “…readily available.”

Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy join 23 other Republican Senators in requesting a meeting with President Biden over concerns involving his recent oil and gas policy. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Biden made climate change a priority during his campaign and he does not expect the new President to back off of his positions.

Cut 13 (11)“..energy.”

In his first two weeks in office, Biden canceled the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and issued a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters.

The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, with help from the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, has submitted a bid to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Regionals in Bossier City. Director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, Kelly Wells, says they’ve worked with the NCAA before.

Cut 6 (11) “…this time.”

The Louisiana Department of Health reports only 26 percent of nursing home staff are vaccinated. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says that’s on 9,000 doses administered, a number that should go up once the rollout conducts their second visit to facilities.

Cut 4 (07) “…little bi

Governor Edwards is optimistic those numbers will at least double on the next visit.

The Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission, in partnership with Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation, submitted a joint bid to host the 2021 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Basketball Regionals at the Brookshire Grocery Arena.  Kelly Wells, Executive Director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission says proximity to schools makes the area a prime location.

Cut 8 (13) “…prefer to drive.”

The Louisiana Department of Health confirms the state’s second and third cases of the UK variant of COVID-19. Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the issue at his briefing Thursday that the new cases were found in Region 5, in Southwest Louisiana, and Region 1, the greater New Orleans area. Edwards says the new variant is 50-percent more contagious.

Cut 10 (10) “…easily.”

There are also 14 other cases pending confirmation, eight are suspected cases are in Region 1, and six are in Region 5.

State Treasurer John Schroder announces his office distributed 262-million dollars in main street recovery grants to just over 20-thousand small businesses. Schroder says the pandemic devastated small businesses and the Main Street Recovery Grant Program gave them a fighting chance to survive

Cut 13 (09) “…of it.”

Saturday Republicans decide who will be the next chair of the state party, incumbent Louis Gurvich or his challenger, Alexandria Lawmaker Lance Harris.

LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeff Sadow says this is another attempt by Harris to seek more influence in politics.

Cut 7 (10) “to do”

Vaccinations among nursing home residents and staff against COVID-19 is moving slowly in Louisiana. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says 28-thousand have been administered so far, just over 19-thousand to residents and almost 9,000 to staff. Kanter says we all wish it was going faster but…

Cut 3 (11) “26-percent”

The state department of health reports the second and third cases of the UK variant of COVID in Louisiana. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Dennis Joseph Comeaux of Breaux Bridge was arrested in St. Martinville after deputies responded to an alleged sexual assault complaint.  During the sexual assault, Breaux attempted to shoot the victim before throwing them in a trunk of a vehicle.  Breaux is facing seven charges including first-degree rape, attempted first-degree murder, and aggravated kidnapping.

The Biden Administration’s ban on new oil and gas leases on federal land does not shut down current Gulf of Mexico drilling but will begin rolling it back in the coming years. LSU Center for Energy Studies Director David Dismukes says the biggest impacts will likely be seen halfway through Biden’s first term…

Cut 7 (10) “…drill”

The Biden Administration argues halting the extraction of fossil fuels is key to limiting future global warming.

Legislators will be considering a gas tax proposal again this year in the regular session. Jonesboro Representative Jack McFarland’s bill would raise the gas tax ten cents in the next year and two cents every year after for ten years, but Governor Edwards is shooting down the idea because the economy is currently struggling…

Cut 10 (04) “…this year”

The Secretary of State’s Office has re-started the process of replacing the state’s current stock of 10-thousand voting machines, which are decades-old. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says  bids are due by March 24th and if the process goes smoothly, the new voting machines could show up at your precinct in the spring of 2022

Cut 5  (11) “…for you” 

Louisiana attempted to select a contractor in 2018 under former Secretary of State Tom Schedler, but the Edwards administration voided the deal with Dominion Voting Systems, claiming the bidding process was unfair.

LSU’s SEC schedule has been released. At home the Tigers take on Auburn, Florida, Arkansas and Texas A-and-M, and they’ll visit Mississippi State, Kentucky, Ole Miss and Alabama. The big Bama game is set for November sixth. The Tigers open the season in California against UCLA.

President Joe Biden has placed a moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, which will hurt Louisiana’s oil and gas industry…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The 2021 SEC football schedule is out and LSU is set to play seven home and five away games. LSU’s SEC home games next fall will be against Auburn, Florida, Arkansas, and Texas A-and-M, and they’ll visit Mississippi State, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Alabama on November sixth.

Senator Bill Cassidy is pushing back against President Biden’s calls for a 15 dollar federal minimum wage. He says the push for 15 an hour by 2025 would kill struggling restaurants that are barely hanging on right now.

Cut 12 (09) “…jobs.”

Proponents argue the prophesied major job losses never materialized in jurisdictions that independently raised their minimum wages.

K-12 teaching leaders in the state will be put through a 30+ hour course to educate them about how to better develop student’s emotional and social health. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says In the 2018-2019 school year, there were 30,239 days of missed school by students serving out-of-school suspensions, and helping student before they act out is key.

Cut 14 (11) “…future.” 

The Biden Administration is banning the sale of new oil and gas leases on federal lands as part of a push to limit global warming to acceptable levels in the future. U-S Senator John Kennedy says the move is a job killer, and wants Democrats in vulnerable states to push back…

Cut 4 (10)“…Louisiana families.”

The moratorium will not impact any ongoing drilling operations, but will likely be felt in the state in the coming months as future leasing operations get shutdown.

Senator Bill Cassidy says the Biden Administration has not adequately proved why Americans need another 1,400 dollar stimulus check right now. Cassidy says there’s data indicating most people don’t need the money…

Cut 11 (09) “….increased.”

The Louisiana Department of Education is developing a new program to help develop student’s emotional and social health in an effort to boost academic outcomes. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says leaders will participate in a series of workshops and five, six hour-long modules to develop skills related to student emotional health…

Cut 13 (09) “….need.”

The training focuses on developing social/emotional health in early childhood.

Insurers have paid or reserved $7.7 billion on claims in Louisiana through the end of 2020 from hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Zeta. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says claims from Katrina in Louisiana alone were $24 billion, the costliest for the state, followed by Rita at $3.3 billion, but that’s been eclipsed…

Cut 7 (11)  “…losses.”