Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry announces that Amite City Councilman Emmanuel Zanders has been arrested and charged with eight counts of election fraud. Landry says the District 3 councilman illegally registered voters at addresses they did not live at.

Cut 9 (12) “ vacant lot”

In other Amite news, Bama wide receiver and Amite native Devonta Smith won the Heisman last night.

A kidnapped 11-year-old was saved and her alleged kidnapper is behind bars in Grant Parish after communicating with the minor over the internet. The girl went missing late Sunday in Madison Parish and was located in Grant Parish Monday evening resulting in the arrest of 22-year-old Angel Ramirez. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt…

Cut 12 (06) “…safely” 

As the COVID vaccine rollout continues in Louisiana, healthcare workers are now receiving their second dose, and more are eligible to receive their first dose. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

Louisiana has hit an all-time high in COVID hospitalizations as the third wave of the virus seems to be spreading nearly uncontrolled throughout the state. 1,993 patients are in the hospital, and 43 additional Louisianans are reported dead from the disease today. We’re also just shy of 300,000 total cases.

DeVonta Smith, the pride of Amite, won the Heisman Trophy last night after a stellar year at wideout for Alabama. The six-foot-one, 175-pound Smith hopes he can inspire kids who have been told they are too small to play big-time football.

Cut 5  (08) “…too big” 

Smith became the first receiver to win the Heisman since Desmond Howard in 1991.

Ochsner Physician Dr. Jay Brooks was among the first healthcare providers to be vaccinated in Baton Rouge and he’s now received his second injection of the COVID vaccine. As for side effects Brooks says he’s been somewhat achy after the injections.

Cut 6 (07) “…a one.”

Brooks says it’s comparable to the flu shot and not as rough as the shingles vaccine.

A United Health Foundation study shows Louisiana saw a notable uptick in healthcare spending per capita between 2014 and 2019, from 81 dollars a person to 94 dollars a person. United Chief Medical Officer Rhonda Randall says Louisiana also saw a seven percent increase in mental healthcare providers between 2016 and 2020, which is good but far below the curve…

Cut 15 (07)“…period.”

Starting next fall high schoolers can enroll in the Fast Forward initiative, which allows students to spend grades 9 and 10 in high school, but grades 11 and 12 at a post-secondary campus working in an apprenticeship program or towards an associate’s degree. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says not every student needs four years of traditional high school education…

Cut 10 (04) “…next step.”

Thanks to the recently passed COVID relief bill Louisiana’s unemployed workers are receiving 300 dollars in federally boosted UI payments per week again. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director Ava Dejoie says it’s a much-needed reprieve…

Cut 13 (11)“…manner.”

The maximum an unemployed worker gets from the state is 247-dollars per week. The additional 300-dollar a week benefit is expected to last until March 13th.

Senator John Kennedy will vote against certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s election win tomorrow in Congress. LSU Poli Sci Professor Robert Hogan says it’s not surprising considering Kennedy is up for reelection in two years and may have greater ambitions…

Cut 10 (11) “.behind”

Senator Bill Cassidy will vote to certify.

A person very close to the late Luke Letlow may run for the 5th district Congressional seat that remains vacant following his death from COVID-19. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

The Louisiana Department of Health has authorized hospitals to begin vaccinating anyone in the public who is currently in an eligible group with any excess COVID vaccines they may have that exceed their uptake. This comes as public demand this week massively outstripped supply as those over 70 became eligible.

USA Today Network of Louisiana reporter Greg Hilburn reports Julia Letlow, the wife of the late Congressman-elect Luke Letlow, is reportedly considering a run for the 5^th Congressional district seat as being asked to run. ULM Political Science Professor Joshua Stockley says it’s a very personal decision for the 41-year-old…

Cut 6 (11) “…public service.”

Governor Edwards has confirmed the special election to fill the seat will be held in March.

A new law took effect this year that requires health insurance companies to cover newly developed precision genetic treatments for cancer patients. River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot authored the law and says it helps cancer paitents wanting to try new procedures.

Cut 3 (12)  “.body”

A diet developed in part by LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center in the 90’s is named one of the best diets of 2021 by U.S. News and World Report. The DASH diet features a lot of veggies and complex carbs along with small portions of lean meat and low salt. Director of Dietary Assessment Dr. Catherine Champagne says it’s surprisingly easily to stick to…

Cut 7 (08)  “…a lifestyle.”

A major feature of the diet is that it calls for very limited red meat consumption.

On Monday, the state reported 1,891 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, that’s 100 less than the highest number of 1,991 on April 12th. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter said hospital CEOs will have a call with the Governor today on their current ability to provide care for COVID patients.

Cut 10 (12) “…quality care.”

107 pharmacies across the state received 100 doses of the Moderna COVID vaccine each today to use on patients 70 and older, plus those on dialysis. Those pharmacies were found in 51 different parishes, with many of the state’s larger cities hosting multiple sites. Springhill Family Pharmacy Pharmacist Suzanne Smith in Webster Parish says interest was extremely high…

Cut 12 (12) “…reserved.” 

It’ll likely take weeks to vaccine this new, 1B group of individuals. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it’s impossible to know how many vaccines we’ll get again next week and until we get enough for the general public vaccines are being given in a tier system to those most likely to be exposed and those more likely to die or have severe complications from the virus and by doing so they hope to reduce hospital capacity.

Cut 8 (10) “…as well.”

The Saints enter the N-F-C playoffs as a two seed and will host the Chicago Bears this Sunday at the Superdome. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) ….I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter has tested positive for COVID-19. Hunter released the information on his Facebook page and says he tested positive last week but is doing well and resting at home while following his doctor’s advice. He closed his post by asking everyone to continue to follow public health orders.

Individuals over the age of 70 and dialysis patients can now receive the COVID vaccine, but the number of doses is extremely limited…

Cut 1 (31) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

Phone lines at vaccine pharmacies are reportedly jam-packed.  Springhill Family Pharmacy Pharmacist Suzanne Smith in Webster Parish says despite the extra work…

Cut 14 (07) “…smoothly.” 

Senator Bill Cassidy was sworn in for another six year term Sunday after breezing to victory in November with 59 percent of the vote.  UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says he doesn’t expect the state’s senior senator to face many reelection challenges in the coming years so he could stick around in that seat for a very long time…

Cut 3 (08)  “…years”

Cassidy’s next closest competitor was Shreveport Mayor and Democrat Adrian Perkins, who only snagged 19 percent.

The Saints finished off a 12-4 regular season with a 33-7 win over the Carolina Panthers yesterday. New Orleans is the two seed in the NFC playoffs and will host Chicago this Sunday. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins has won two Super Bowls and knows how to approach postseason football

Cut 9 (12) “    it is”

Those over 70 and people on dialysis are eligible to receive the Moderna COVID vaccine at one of 107 pharmacies across the state, but due to a limited number of vaccines, you’ll have to set up an appointment at that pharmacy to do so. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says each pharmacy only received 100 doses of the vaccine…

Cut 7 (11) …what it is.”

The list of pharmacies is available online at COVID-Vaccine-Dot-LA-Dot-Gov.

The Saints blew out the Panthers Sunday to end another strong regular season at 12-4. They’ll play the Bears in the Dome Sunday for the first round of playoff action in what could be Quarterback Drew Brees’ last chance at a second Super Bowl ring. Brees says his focus is on beating the Bears

Cut 11 (12) “..and play”

US Senator John Kennedy joins an effort by a faction of Republican Congressmen who plan to refuse to certify the results of the Presidential Election. Kennedy is not joined by the state’s senior Senator, Bill Cassidy, who was sworn in just Sunday. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that’s because Cassidy’s M.O. has never been hyper-partisanship…

Cut 4 (07) is” 

Kennedy’s decision is supported by 28 Republican State House members, who wrote a letter to Louisiana’s Congressional delegation asking they not vote to certify results in the battleground states of Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, and Nevada, claiming improper procedures and irregularities.

People over the age of 70 and those on dialysis are now eligible to be vaccinated. The website of CovidVaccine.LA.gov offers a list of 107 pharmacies in 51 parishes that have the vaccine. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says unfortunately for this first week the number of doses is extremely limited.

Cut 6 (10) “..we could.”

The list shows some of the state’s more populated cities have multiple locations to choose from.

The state’s senior U.S. Senator, Republican Bill Cassidy, was sworn in for a second six-year term Sunday. Cassidy cruised to reelection with 59 percent of the vote in November. UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says his reelection efforts will get easier from here…

Cut 3 (08)  “…years”

The Saints finished off a 12-4 regular season with a 33-7 win over the Carolina Panthers yesterday. New Orleans is the two seed in the NFC playoffs and will host Chicago this Sunday. Saints Safety Malcolm Jenkins has won two Super Bowls and knows how to approach postseason football

Cut 9 (12) “    it is”

A new law that supporters say will lower auto insurance rates went into effect with the start of the New Year. The tort reform legislation was approved during the June special session. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry CEO Stephen Waguespack backed the changes…

Cut 4 (12) “…courtrooms” (AM)

The law lowers the “jury trial threshold” from 50,000 to 10,000 dollars.