3:30 LRN Newscast Jan 10

The Sabine Parish community of Peason is recovering after being hit early Sunday by a tornado. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says the EF-2 twister hit just before 5 a.m. He says cleanup is underway and rebuilding will begin once the power has been restored.

Cut  11 (10)  “…maybe a little longer.” 

Peason is located off State Highway 118, southeast of Many.

For the first time since the 2016 season, the Saints are not playoff-bound. New Orleans beat Atlanta Sunday, but the 49ers come from behind win over the Rams keeps the Black and Gold out of the postseason. Coach Sean Payton says it’s a disappointing end to a difficult season…

 Cut 6 (07) “…all season” 

Lafayette Police say a Mardi Gras float reported stolen Saturday has been found. LPD spokesperson Sgt. Robin Green says the 40-foot-long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night from a Lucille Avenue address and even though it has been found, they still want the person who took it.

Cut 12 (11) “…please contact us.”  

If you received the Pfizer vaccine the CDC says you can get your booster now at five months instead of six and ages 12 and up are now eligible for boosters. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the CDC is also recommending a third dose for those ages five to eleven if they are moderately or severely immunosuppressed.

Cut 5 (11) “…of vaccine.”

2:30 LRN Newscast Jan 10

The Saints are cleaning out their lockers today as New Orleans failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2016 season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”

The state reports just over 29-thousand new COVID cases today, which includes weekend positive cases. Hospitalizations have reached 1,794 with 86 on ventilators. 77-percent are unvaccinated.

An EF-2 tornado touched down in the Sabine Parish community of Peason early Sunday morning. Sabine Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brad Walker says about 15 homes including mobile homes – were severely damaged or even destroyed. A number of barns and other structures also sustained damage, but despite that, no one was killed.

Cut 10 (12)  “…to be expected.”

Peason is located off State Highway 118, southeast of Many.

The CDC says if you’ve received both doses of the Pfizer COVID vaccine, you are now encouraged to get boosted at five months instead of six months. The agency is also encouraging ages 12 and up to be boosted now. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says they added that age group for two reasons.

Cut 4 (09) “…Omiocron variant.”

For the nearest vaccination site call 2-1-1

1:30 LRN newscast

The Sabine Parish community of Peason is recovering after an EF-2 tornado hit it Sunday morning.…:
Cut 2 (30)…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

New York real estate heir Robert Durst has died at the age of 78. Durst was convicted of murdering one of his friends, Susan Berman in Los Angeles and he’s the suspect in several other deaths, including his first wife. Durst was arrested in New Orleans on two Louisiana gun charges in 2015 after the weapons were found in his Canal Street hotel room. He pleaded guilty to those federal charges in 2016.

A Mardi Gras float stolen out of Lafayette has been found in St. Martin Parish. The 40-foot long double-deck float was taken sometime Friday night and recovered a couple of days later in St. Martin Parish and returned to its owner. Lafayette Police Sergeant Robin Green says they continue to look for the person or persons who stole the Mardi Gras float and damaged it…
cut 14 (07) “….have been something”
Anyone with information about this stolen float is urged to call Lafayette P-D or Lafayette Crime Stoppers.

Tough ending for the Saints season, despite beating Atlanta yesterday. After the Saints disposed of the Dirty Birds, they raced into the locker room to watch the conclusion of the Rams-49ers game. Safety Malcolm Jenkins says it was tough to watch San Francisco win, which knocked New Orleans out of playoff contention…
Cut 7 (12) “…somebody else’s hands.”
The Saints finished the season with a 9-8 record.

11:30 LRN Newscast Jan 10

Louisiana’s public colleges make big changes to help assure students are not made victims of sexual misconduct. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 3 (38) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

In Sabine Parish, an EF-2 tornado tore through the Peason community Sunday morning. Dozens of structures were destroyed or badly damaged and at least six people hurt; some seriously.

For the first time since the 2016 season, the Saints are not playoff-bound. New Orleans beat Atlanta Sunday, but the 49ers come from behind win over the Rams keeps the Black and Gold out of the postseason, despite a winning record. Coach Sean Payton says it’s a disappointing end to a difficult season…

 Cut 6 (07) “…all season” 

The Louisiana National Guard continues to support Covid missions around the state in 2022. Cindy Haygood, Task Force commander with Louisiana National Guard says 886 service members are currently working at 28 vaccine sites and administering Covid tests at 31 sites.

Cut 5 (11) “regions”

Guardsmen are also helping at food banks and warehouse support.

10:30 LRN Newscast Jan 10

The Sabine Parish community of Peason is picking up the pieces after an EF-2 tornado touched down there Sunday morning. The twister destroyed dozens of homes and other structures, and sne t at least six people to the hospital with injuries; some of them serious. Authorities say no one was killed in the disaster.

Louisiana colleges and universities are making sweeping changes to their sexual misconduct policies after new state laws were passed last year. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says 188 confidential advisors are now in place at Louisiana schools, to hear the complaints and report them up the line for appropriate action…:

CUT 12(08)      “…keep students safe.”

The 2021 legislature took action last year when LSU was found to have failed in addressing widespread sexual abuse complaints.

 

Nearly 900 soldiers and airmen with the Louisiana National Guard are mobilized throughout the state in support of various COVID missions. Michelle Southern reports their work continues in 2022…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Michelle Southern reporting.”

Police in Lafayette say they have located a stolen Mardi Gras float, reported missing last week. The 40-foot long double decker was stolen January 7th, but was found Sunday – abandoned but intact – in St. Martin Parish. It’s been returned to its owner.

09:30 LRN Newscast Jan 10

According to ValuePenguin’s State of Auto Insurance in 2022 report, Louisiana will see car insurance rates increase faster than the national average. Eric Holl with Real Reform Louisiana says there were claims passage of the tort reforms in 2020 would bring about a major reduction in auto insurance rates within a year…:

CUT 09(12)      “…would notice.”

But Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the bill contained no mandates for a reduction of auto insurance premium costs…:

CUT 10(11)      “…49 states.”

Holl says, if you have to sue your auto insurance company, good luck with that.

In Sabine Parish this morning, the aftermath of an EF-2 tornado that tore through the Peason community Sunday morning. Dozens of structures destroyed or badly damaged and at least six people hurt; some seriously.

 

Are you wearing masks while indoors due to COVID? If so, are you wearing the proper kind. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says a simple cloth mask provides only minimal protection against spreading the virus. He says you NEED a KN95 or N95 mask, which are a lot easier to find now…:

CUT 15(11)      “…them online.”

The CDC has also said simple cloth masks are not effective is protecting you or others from the virus.

Speaking of the virus, nearly 900 Louisiana National Guard men and women continue to serve in the pandemic response. Cindy Haygood leads the Guard’s COVID Task Force. She says they’ve been doing so for the past 22 months…:

CUT 06(09)      “…of this community.”

The Guard have administered over a half-million tests and given over 230-thousand vaccine shots during the pandemic.

08:30 LRN Newscast Jan 10

A tornado touched down Sunday morning in the Sabine Parish community of Peason; doing extensive damage and injuring at least six people. Sabine sheriff’s deputies say, however, no one is reported dead. The National Weather Service says the twister was an EF-2 in magnitude, with a base a half-mile wide in places. At least 30 homes, businesses and farm structures were badly damaged.

Louisiana colleges and universities are making sweeping changes to their sexual misconduct policies after new state laws were passed last year. Higher Education Commissioner Kim Hunter Reed says one big change is that virtually ALL staff and faculty are now mandatory reporters, should they be aware of sexual harassment or assault…:

CUT 11(06)      “…grounds for termination”

The 2021 legislature took action last year when LSU was found to have failed in addressing widespread sexual abuse complaints. Dr. Reed says since that time, there has been extensive training of employees on hearing such complaints and acting accordingly

 

A 5-year-old boy was pronounced dead Sunday, after he was found unresponsive in a swimming pool at a Lake Charles home. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies say foul play is not suspected and categorize the death as a tragic accident.

The Louisiana National Guard is continuing to support COVID missions around the state in 2022, at the direction of Governor John Bel Edwards. Cindy Haygood is the Task Force COVID commander with the Guard. She says the Omicron surge has led to a huge increase in test site demand throughout the state…:

CUT 04(11)      “…out there.”

Haygood says Guardsmen have administered more than 542,000 COVID tests, 206,300 vaccines since the start of the pandemic

07:30 LRN Newscast Jan 10

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says it’s still important to continue to wear face coverings to reduce transmission and because of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, you might want to rethink the type of mask you’re wearing. Kanter says while cloth masks help protect those around you…:

CUT 14  (09)        “…KN95 masks.”

He says KN95’s and N95’s are much easier to find than they were last year.

A tornado tore through Sabine Parish early Sunday morning, doing extensive damage to over 30 structures and leaving six people injured; some pretty badly. Sabine Parish deputies say no deaths have been reported due to the twister. The majority of the damage was to the Peason Community off state Highway 118.

 

Real Reform of Louisiana is calling out the insurance commissioner and those who said auto insurance rates would drop after the passage of tort reform in 2020. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02(34)      “…Thorington.”

The Saints did their part but didn’t get the help they needed from the Rams who blew a 17-point lead against San Francisco and it’s the 49ers not New Orleans headed to the playoffs. The Black & Gold finish the season with a 9-8 record.

06:30 LRN Newscast Jan 10

A tornado touched down in the Sabine Parish town of Peason Sunday morning; injuring six people when it tore into their mobile home. The National Weather Service says the twister was an EF-2 in magnitude and was a half-mile across in places. The Sabine sheriff’s office says no one was reported killed. At least 30 homes were destroyed.

Nearly 900 soldiers and airmen with the Louisiana National Guard are mobilized throughout the state in support of various Covid missions. Michelle Southern reports their work continues in 2022…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Southern.”

 

According to ValuePenguin’s State of Auto Insurance in 2022, Louisiana will see car insurance rates increase faster than the national average. Eric Holl with Real Reform Louisiana says despite a promise that tort reform measures passed in the 2020 legislative session would decrease rates, so far, they haven’t…:

CUT 07(12)      “…in the country”

When asked about the ValuePenguin’s report Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says he’s not familiar with them…:

CUT 08(12)      “…they would know.”

The New Orleans Saints finished their regular season with a 30-to-20 win over Atlanta Sunday, but the LA Rams did not beat San Francisco; meaning the Saints will not be going to the NFL playoffs.

10:30 LRN NEWSCAST JANUARY 8TH

Louisiana argues its case against White House vaccine mandates before the U.S. Supreme Court…:
Cut 2 (29) “I’m Kevin Gallagher”

Meanwhile the State Supreme Court has ruled that private employers have the right to fire workers who don’t get the Covid shot. Ochsner employees filed the suit after the health system issued a vaccine requirement. But Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the supreme court ruled Ochsner can make its own rules…:
Cut 14 (07) “like Ochsner”

Approximately 30,000 homeowner policyholders in Louisiana of two insurance companies deemed to be insolvent will now have coverage under SafePoint Insurance. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says this is great news not just for those who had policies with Access Home or State National Fire, but everyone benefits since those homeowners could have ended up with taxpayer-funded Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance.
Cut 7 (11) “December 1st”
For more information visit the Louisiana Department of Insurance’s website.

It’s a must-win for the Saints on Sunday as they have to beat the Falcons and the 49ers also need to lose to the Rams in order for New Orleans to get the final spot in the NFC playoffs. Saints Coach Sean Payton..:
Cut 15 (12) “for success”
Kickoff is at 3:25.