U-S Senator John Kennedy says President Joe Biden has delivered a devastating blow to Louisiana’s economy by placing a moratorium on new oil and gas lease sales on federal lands and in federal waters, including the Gulf of Mexico. Kennedy says the executive order is a job killer…

Cut 3 (11)  “…leave our state.”  

The Administration says these moves are vital for reducing the nation’s carbon output and limiting catastrophic levels so climate change in the future. The US has rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, which sets a carbon neutral deadline of 2050.

Senator Bill Cassidy is skeptical about the need to send out new 1,400 dollar stimulus checks like President Biden has proposed. Cassidy says the administration hasn’t proved why people need that kind of money right now…

Cut 10 (09) “…promise.”

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says insurers have paid or reserved $7.7 Billion in claims on hurricanes, Laura, Delta, and Zeta combined. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says one of the department’s goals moving forward is increasing K-12 teacher retention, and fostering a more diverse workforce. Brumley says twelve percent of all teachers leave after their first year on the job, and they’ve got to start cutting that number back.

Cut 10 (08) “…to do.”

About a quarter of all teachers in the K-12 workforce are also uncertified.

Former Baton Rouge state representative and mayoral candidate Steve Carter died of COVID-19 complications Tuesday, three weeks after he was first hospitalized with the virus.  Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat has known Carter since the late 1970s and says Carter was not only a good friend, he was a good legislator.

Cut 12 (12) “…LSU.” 

A COVID-19 vaccination event scheduled for tomorrow at the Rapides Parish Coliseum is already fully booked. L-D-H Region Six Medical Doctor David Holcombe says when they announced the event to the public Monday night they were overwhelmed with interest.

Cut 5  (10) “…sign up.” 

The event will be Thursday from 8:30 until 3 pm and you must be preregistered. 

An outbreak of COVID-19 cases connected to a high school wrestling tournament in Gonzales has led to the LHSAA canceling the remainder of the wrestling regular season. But LHSAA director Eddie Bonine says they still plan on holding the state wrestling championships in Baton Rouge February 25th and 26th

Cut 6 (12) “…of COVID”

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says one of the department’s goals moving forward is increasing K-12 teacher retention, and fostering a more diverse workforce. Louisiana Brumley says right now the teacher workforce does not look like the student population.

Cut 9, 11 seconds, male

Only about a quarter of all teachers are black compared to roughly a third of the state’s population.

A COVID-19 vaccination event scheduled for tomorrow at the Rapides Parish Coliseum is already fully booked. L-D-H Region Six Medical Doctor David Holcombe says if you’ve got an appointment roll on in and enjoy the convenience.

Cut 4 (11) “…care of them.” 

The event will be Thursday from 8:30 until 3 pm and you must be preregistered. 

The LHSAA has halted the regular season for the sport of wrestling, but still plans on holding the state championship wrestling meet. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state is reporting another 3,868 new COVID-19 cases today along with a big jump in additional deaths at 67. COVID hospitalizations continue to decline in some good news though as the third wave slowly recedes.

The House of Representatives delivered Articles of Impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate last night. Senator Bill Cassidy is set to be a juror in an impeachment trial for the second time in a year, and a juror for the only President to be impeached twice…

Cut 9 (09) “…I vote.”

Trump is being impeached on allegations that he incited an insurrection on January 6^th. Democrats allege he riled up a mob of his supporters who attended a protest in D.C. earlier that day to head to the Capitol and interrupt Biden’s certification.

Many Entergy customers are fuming about sky-high December power bills. Entergy New Orleans CEO David Ellis says bills were up because December saw a 20 percent increase in consumption, coupled with a billing cycle that was 35 days instead of 30…

Cut 13 (11)“…increases.”

Ochsner Health System has been forced to reschedule 21,400 COVID vaccine appointments after receiving fewer doses than expected. CEO Warner Thomas says everyone that was canceled has been put on a waiting list and will be rescheduled in the order in which they first made their appointments.

Cut 8 (08) “…doses.”

Thomas says their hospital system got 70-percent fewer vaccines than expected as a result of a much smaller federal allocation for this week.

LSU has hired Minnesota Vikings Defensive Backs coach Daronte Jones as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Head coach Ed Orgeron joined Off The Bench with T-Bob Hebert on ESPN 104.5 in Baton Rouge and says he plans to have the entire defensive staff completed very soon.

Cut 5  (11) “..pretty soon.” 

The House of Representatives delivered the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate last night and a second trial for President Donald Trump is expected to begin in earnest the week of February 8^th, but many Republicans are now coalescing behind a theory that you can’t hold an impeachment trial for a President that’s out of office. Senator Bill Cassidy says it’s something that must be considered…

Cut 11 (08) “…considered.”

Ochsner had to cancel 21,400 covid vaccine appointments this week after the feds shorted us on the state’s weekly delivery. CEO Warner Thomas says it was 70 percent less than expected…

Cut 7 (06) “…Louisiana”

The Biden Administration announced starting next week vaccine supply will begin steadily increasing.

LSU has hired Minnesota Vikings Defensive Backs coach Daronte Jones as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Jones is a former colleague of former Tiger’s defensive coordinator and now Baylor coach Dave Aranda and coach Ed Orgeron says he came highly recommended…

Cut 4 (10) “…outstanding job for us.” 

Orgeron spoke with T-Bob Hebert on ESPON 104.5 in Baton Rouge.

Many Entergy customers in the state have seen a significant increase in their power bills. Entergy New Orleans CEO David Ellis says it was the perfect storm for there to be an increase for the month of December. Ellis says energy consumption for December was up an average of 20-percent.

Cut 12 (11) “…twelve-percent.” 

The US House of Representatives presented the new, Democratically-controlled Senate with Articles of Impeachment against President Trump last night. The allegations are that Trump incited a mob to insurrection on January 6^th. Senator Bill Cassidy will once again be a juror in a Trump impeachment trial. He says the worst-case scenario for Trump is that evidence is produced showing he was briefed on the potential for violence resulting from the rally he held before the Capitol Riot.

Cut 10 (11) “…evidence.”

Many Entergy customers about fuming about sky-high December power bills. Entergy New Orleans CEO David Ellis says bills were up because December saw a 20 percent increase in consumption, coupled with a billing cycle that was 35 days instead of 30…

Cut 13 (11)“…increases.”

Ochsner Health System has been forced to reschedule 21,400 COVID vaccine appointments after receiving fewer doses than expected. CEO Warner Thomas says everyone that was canceled has been put on a waiting list and will be rescheduled in the order in which they first made their appointments.

Cut 8 (08) “…doses.”

Thomas says their hospital system got 70-percent fewer vaccines than expected as a result of a much smaller federal allocation for this week.

LSU has hired Minnesota Vikings Defensive Backs coach Daronte Jones as the team’s new defensive coordinator. Head coach Ed Orgeron joined Off The Bench with T-Bob Hebert on ESPN 104.5 in Baton Rouge and he came away impressed with Jones after their interview…

Cut 3 (11)  “…same fronts.”

LSU will be well represented at Super Bowl 55. Six former Tigers are playing, three on each of the Chiefs and Buccaneers. One of them LSU star running back Leonard Fournette who’s been a big piece of the puzzle that’s landed Buc’s QB Tom Brady in his 10^th Super Bowl. The New Orleans native is appreciative of the opportunity he’s had…

Cut 11 (09) “..has changed.”

Four young teenage girls are under arrest after a 15=year-old girl was stabbed to death inside a Lake Charles Walmart Saturday night. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso says details are limited at this time but it appears this was related to a social media fight…

Cut 3 (12)  “…tolerate it.”

One of those arrested was charged with 2^nd degree murder, the other three charged with principle.

State Police are investigating the officer-involved shooting death of an alleged stabbing suspect at a Slidell gas station Sunday night. Trooper Jeremey Price says the stabbings of two victims happened inside the gas station, the officer-involved shooting of the suspect happened outside in the parking lot and LSP will lead the investigation into what happened.

Cut 8 (09) “…Slidell PD.”

Police have identified the suspect that was shot as 43-year old Caleb McCree.

LSU Health Shreveport is doing another round of drive-thru vaccinations at the Shreveport Fairgrounds for those 70 and over and who have appointments. Director of Vaccine Distribution Dr. John Vanchiere says they’ll be doing 4,000 vaccinations this week, but have 6,200 people on the waitlist…

Cut 13 (08)“…again.”

314-thousand vaccine doses have been deployed in Louisiana but the much-hyped ramp-up of vaccinations won’t be coming for at least another month or more. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter expects the allocation to remain flat for the next four to five weeks…

Cut 14 (15) ” doing that” 

Gas prices have jumped twenty cents in just the last month. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association interim President Mike Moncla says it’s partly due to the industry foreseeing the Biden Administration’s oil and gas policies like revoking the Keystone Pipeline and halting new leases…

Cut 7 (09) “..goes up.”

The Administration says the moves are needed to help combat catastrophic global warming by lowering the nation’s carbon output. President Biden has pushed for the country to become carbon neutral by 2050.

A St. John The Baptist pastor, and alleged child murderer is running for Congress in Louisiana’s 5^th District. Errol Victor Sr. was convicted of murdering his stepson with the child’s mother and was featured on America’s Most Wanted after fleeing following the alleged murder but is getting a retrial due to a non-unanimous conviction. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley doesn’t give him much of a shot and wonders why he’s running…

Cut 4 (10) “….who knows” 

New Orleans City Park will be hosting “Floats in the Oaks” starting February 7^th to showcase this year’s floats that won’t be rolling due to the pandemic. Delgado baseball coach Joe Scheurmann first came up with the idea and says this allows people to celebrate differently than they normally would.

Cut 10 (13) “…they go”