The US Department of Justice is investigating the Louisiana Department of Corrections over allegations the state is keeping prisoners incarcerated long past their release date. Attorney William Most says the DOC has known since 2012 that they hold about 2,200 people past their release date every year.

Cut 3 (11)  “…per year.”

The Louisiana Department of Corrections responded to the investigation saying they “Look forward to fully cooperating with the US Department of Justice.”

The organizer of a swingers convention in New Orleans where 41 of the people who attended ended up positive for COVID-19 days after the event last month is planning another convention in the Big Easy in 2021. But Bob Hannaford told the Jim Engster show that their next convention is scheduled for August

Cut 9 (08) “…forward”

If you’ve exhausted your movie queue already now you can check out productions a little closer to home on the Louisiana Film Channel.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Polls across the state open at 7 AM tomorrow and will stay open until 8 PM for the December run-off ballot. Voters statewide will be considering Amendment One that would allow people living out of state to sit on college boards. Voters in northeast and central Louisiana along with the northern parts of the Florida Parishes will be voting in the 5^th Congressional District runoff to fill the seat left open by retiring Congressman Ralph Abraham.

New CDC guidelines say those who were exposed to a positive COVID case now only have to quarantine for ten days, as opposed to the previous 14. US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir…

Cut 8 (11) “…good news.”

Bar owners and microbrewers vented their frustrations with COVID restrictions they say are overly burdensome to a House committee. Rock and Bowl owner Johnny Blanchard says if the state would work with bar and music venue owners on looser restrictions a lot of service industry workers could be moved off unemployment.

Cut 9 (05) “…unemployment.”

The state’s unemployment trust fund has been drained dry and Louisiana is currently having to take out federal loans to pay out state benefits.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he did not violate the state’s mask mandate in a photo of him that shows him not wearing a mask in public. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “  I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

A rash of state officials have all come down with COVID-19, or have been exposed to the virus recently. Today news broke that State Treasure John Schroder is hospitalized with the disease but is responding well to treatment and in little discomfort. Congressman Garrett Graves is in quarantine right now after having close contact with a positive case, and Congressman Mike Johnson announced that he had the bug very recently, but has fully recovered from it and tested negative.

The CDC revises quarantine guidelines if you’ve been exposed to COVID. Brooke Thorington explains.

cut 2 (31) … I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

A report from the State Treasurers Office says Treasurer John Schroder is currently in the hospital after testing positive for COVID-19. The report says he is responding to treatments well and feeling little discomfort at the moment.

Authorities have arrested a Lincoln Parish father and mother of a 20-month old boy who died in a house fire in late August. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says 32-year-old Jessica Lewis and 37-year-old Christopher Bell have been charged with one count of second-degree cruelty to a juvenile after the autopsy revealed signs of abuse.

Cut 13 (06) “… this week.”

A photo has gone viral that shows Governor John Bel Edwards not wearing a mask while out in public. A spokeswoman for the governor says the picture was taken last month as Edwards ate at the Baton Rouge Country Club. The governor’s office says Edwards stood up without a mask on to speak to another person when the photo was captured. Edwards says the photo only tells a part of the story.

Cut 4 (11)   “…with a mask on.”  

Bar owners and microbrewers vented their frustrations with COVID restrictions they say are overly burdensome to a House committee. Rock and Bowl owner Johnny Blanchard says if the state would work with bar and music venue owners on looser restrictions a lot of service industry workers could be moved off unemployment.

Cut 9 (05) “..unemployment”

The state’s unemployment trust fund has been drained dry and Louisiana is currently having to take out federal loans to pay out state benefits.

New CDC guidelines say those who were exposed to a positive COVID case now only have to quarantine for ten days, as opposed to the previous 14. US Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Admiral Brett Giroir…

Cut 8 (11) “…good news.”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he did not violate the state’s mask mandate in a photo of him that shows him not wearing a mask in public. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (29) “  I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state reports another 2,774 positive COVID cases, along with 37 new COVID hospitalizations. There are only four ICU beds left in Lafayette.

The US Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case that could result in 1,500 retrials for Louisiana inmates who are serving time due to a non-unanimous conviction. Non-unanimous verdicts were deemed unconstitutional last year, but the question at hand is whether that ruling should be retroactive. Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill argued it should not be because those retrials would be a burden, but attorney Andre Belanger countered…

Cut 9 (09) “..right”

Entergy Louisiana is reportedly on track to produce enough power from solar plants to fuel 60,000 homes within the next three years. Windfarms and hydroplants are gaining in popularity in other parts of the country Entergy Louisiana Director of Resource Planning Jonathan Bourge says here its all about the sun…

Cut 15 (10) “..energy” 

A swingers convention in New Orleans held last month is making national headlines as s super spreader event. Brooke Thorington has more.

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

The CDC releases new quarantine guidelines lowering the amount of time someone must quarantine after being exposed to a positive case of COVID. Previous recommendations called for people who had “close contact” with a confirmed case to isolate for fourteen days, but new guidelines say you only need to stay put for seven to ten days.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers that includes Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy unveiled a 908-billion dollar coronavirus aid bill today. Cassidy says it would bring much-needed relief to unemployed workers and struggling businesses.

Cut 9 (11) “…venues.”

The bill does not include a new round of stimulus checks.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley thanks Governor Edwards for allowing schools to stay in Phase Three even as the state moves back into a modified Phase Two. Brumley says the biggest challenge they face is the quarantine protocol. He says one positive case can lead to over 50 students needing to be quarantined.

Cut 7 (05) “..the virus.”

There’s an $11,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person who fatally shot a black bear in St. Mary Parish. State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says the bear was found on November 9^th near Centerville and they believe the bear was shot by a rifle a few days before.

Cut 3 (09)  “…shot at it”

That’s the second black bear murdered in St. Mary Parish this year.

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says between October 2019 and September 2020, 756 children were adopted from foster care, the fourth-highest number for any year on record, and more than 125 of the adoptions happened over video conferencing…

Cut 14 (08) “…ceremony.” 

Louisiana’s Senior Senator has helped develop a 908-billion dollar COVID emergency relief package. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) … I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

A swinger’s convention in New Orleans turns into a COVID super spreading event after 41 people who attended the Nawghty in N’awlins swingers gathering at the NOPSI Hotel test postive. 250 people total are believed to have attended the event which was held after being postponed this summer.

Schools were allowed to stay in Phase Three despite most of the rest of the state moving into Phase Two last month. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says that’s because Governor Edwards agreed with medical experts who are confident schools are not super spreader locations.

Cut 6 (10) “..percent”

Between October 2019 and September 2020 756 children were adopted from Louisiana foster care, the fourth-highest number of adoptions in a single year. Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says  44-percent of all adopted children involved siblings…

Cut 13 (12) “… together.”

A bipartisan Congressional COVID relief bill introduced today would restart federally boosted unemployment payments for ten weeks, but does not include another round of stimulus checks. Senator Bill Cassidy signed onto the effort and says that’s because it is not a stimulus.

Cut 10 (04) “.people”

Federally boosted unemployment would be set at 300 dollars a week on top of what the state provides. It is unclear whether the bill has majority support in either chamber.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says of the 800,000 plus students in Louisiana’s K-12 system, only 4,400 have tested positive for COVID since classes resumed. Brumley argues keeping kids at school may be safer than other options.

Cut 8 (07) “the virus”

Schools were allowed to remain in Phase Three while most of the rest of the state moved back to Phase Two.

St. Mary Parish has now seen two black bear killings this year and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and other environmental groups are hoping to crack down on the illegal slayings. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says the award for information in the slaying of a black bear last month is at 11,000 dollars combined, and a reward for a bear shot dead in May is at 6,000 dollars.

Cut 5  (06) “…come forward” 

Anyone with information is asked to call Louisiana’s Operation Game Thief hotline.

756 children were adopted out of foster care in Louisiana between October 2019 and September 2020 according to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. DCFS Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says more than 125 of the adoptions happened over videoconferencing…

Cut 14 (08) “…ceremony.”