As COVID cases begin to tick upwards again Governor Edwards puts indoor face masks back in effect for state offices and State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says you should wear a mask indoors to reduce transmission, especially for those who are more susceptible to the virus.

Cut 15 (09)  “…individuals as well.”

Louisiana businessman Brandon Trosclair is asking the U-S Supreme Court to hear his lawsuit that seeks to stop President Biden’s vaccine worker mandate for businesses that have more than 100 employees. Attorney Sarah Harbison with the Pelican Institute says the 5th circuit federal appeals court agreed to suspend the mandate, but that ruling was recently dissolved by another appeals court

Cut 7 (09) “…evaluate the case.”
There’s an improvement to report in Louisiana’s job market. So says Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates, who notes some of the improvement that’s taken place since Hurricane Ida struck, and despite COVID-19.

Cut 4 (08) “….over the year.”
The leisure and hospitality sector gained 27-hundred jobs from October to November.

Louisiana faces several challenges in its efforts to address domestic violence, according to a Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report. Performance Auditor Kristen Jacobs says while the state has added a number of very strong domestic abuse laws, knowledge of the laws and oversight is an issue.

Cut 12 (08) “…next session.”

Adequate shelters for abuse victims is another ongoing issue in the state.

Governor Edwards extends the state’s public health emergency order requiring face masks to be worn inside state agencies due to the increase in Omicron cases. State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says going into the holidays there are fears it will only make things worse and we need to return to indoor masking to reduce transmission.

Cut 14 (11)  “…indoor public setting.”

Louisiana businessman Brandon Trosclair is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to end the Biden Administration’s COVID vaccination mandate for private businesses. Pelican Institute Attorney Sarah Harbison is representing Trosclair.

Cut 8 (16) “…their personal physicians.”

There’s improvement to report in Louisiana’s job market. Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Ava Cates says seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs show a gain of 85-hundred and an estimated gain of just under 35-thousand jobs from November of 2020. She says job gains are being seen in a broad range of industries.

Cut 5 (08) “…mining and logging.”

The unemployment rate has dropped for eight consecutive months with an over-the-year employment gain.

Louisiana faces several challenges in its efforts to address domestic violence, according to a Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report. Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Mariah Wineski says while there are numerous challenges in the state, she says the report highlights the dire ones.

Cut  11 (12)  “…statistic.”  

Governor Edwards is once again requiring indoor masking in state offices and health officials say it’s a good idea that the public starts to mask up again as what appears to be the fifth surge of COVID begins.
Cut 3 (32) “….I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Omicron variant will not stop Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Mayor LaToya Cantrell says parades will return to the Big Easy in 2022, but many parade routes will change because of a shortage of police officers. The parading season begins February 18th.

There’s improvement to report in Louisiana’s job market. So says Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates, who notes some of the improvement that’s taken place since Hurricane Ida struck, and despite COVID-19.
Cut 4 (08) “….over the year.”
The leisure and hospitality sector gained 27-hundred jobs from October to November.

Businessman Brandon Trosclair is asking the U-S Supreme Court to hear his lawsuit that attempts to stop President Biden from putting into a place vaccine mandate for employees who work for employers who have over 100 workers. Attorney Sarah Harbison with the Pelican Institute represents Trosclair and says the expense of the mandate is unrealistic…
cut 9 (10) “….set up to do that”
Right now the vaccinate mandate is set to go into place on January 10th.

Governor Edwards has extended Louisiana’s Public Health Emergency order related to COVID-19 and state agencies in the governor’s cabinet is requiring masks of employees and visitors. State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says the CDC recommends indoor masking for everyone regardless of vaccination status in areas with high or substantial community transmission.
Cut 13 (10) “…of transmission.”

Louisiana businessman Brandon Trosclair is asking the U-S Supreme Court to hear his lawsuit that seeks to stop President Biden’s vaccine worker mandate for businesses that have more than 100 employees. Attorney Sarah Harbison with the Pelican Institute says the 5th circuit federal appeals court agreed to suspend the mandate, but that ruling was recently dissolved by another appeals court
cut 7 (09) “….evaluate the case”

The employment situation is continuing to improve in Louisiana since the beginning of COVID-19 and post-Hurricane Ida. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

New census data shows Lousiana lost 27-thousand residents from July 1st 2020 to this past July. That’s the fifth-highest number in the country. New York leads the way with 319-thousand residents lost, followed by California, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Texas had the highest numeric growth.

The 17th ranked LSU men’s basketball team looks to stay undefeated tonight when they host Lipscomb at 7 PM. The Bisons are 6-and-7, while the Fighting Tigers are 11-and-0, the first time LSU has won 11 straight to begin a season since the 1999-2000 season. Coach Will Wade says putting together a double-digit win streak is very difficult…
cut 17 (18) “…different challenge”

The Pelicans have a three-game winning streak as New Orleans outscored Portland 30-19 in the fourth quarter to top the Trail Blazers 111 to 97 last night. Forward Brandon Ingram had 28 points. Since starting the season 3-and-16, the Pels are 8-and-5.

With Philadelphia beating Washington 27-17 last night, the Saints are now in ninth place in the NFC Standings. They need to move ahead of the Eagles and Vikings to grab the final playoff spot in the NFC.

In other NFL news…former LSU Tiger and Tampa Bay running back Leonard Fournette is expected to be placed on I-R and miss the rest of the regular season with a hamstring injury.

LSU defensive tackle Neil Farrell Junior has announced he will not play in the Texas Bowl against Kansas State on January fourth. He’s the first Tiger to indicate he’s opting out. The fifth-year senior had 45 tackles this past season and recorded a career-high 9.5 tackles for a loss.

In college basketball last night, Texas A-and-M topped Northwestern State 80-61, Iowa slammed Southeastern Louisiana 93-62, Kansas State clobbered McNeese 74-59 and Oregon State knocked off Nicholls 83-61, despite 26 points from Ty Gordon.

The 21st ranked Lady Tigers defeated Texas Tech 74-60 for its 10th straight win. Khayla Pointer had 19 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.

Louisiana faces several challenges in its efforts to address domestic violence, according to a Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report. Performance Auditor Kristen Jacobs says adequate shelter for victims is a major issue.
Cut 10 (11) “…the state.”
Jacobs says another issue is that state laws intended to protect victims, such as protective orders, are not consistently implemented across the state.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission says the state has added nearly 35-thousand jobs from November of 2020 to November 2021 and the state’s unemployment rate has fallen nearly three percent during that time to 5.1 percent. L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates admits the workforce is changing…
cut 6 (09) “….work-life balance”

A Louisiana businessman’s legal fight to stop the White House COVID vaccine mandate for employers is going to the U.S. Supreme Court. More from Kevin Gallagher…:
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

Governor Edwards says given the fast-spreading Omicron variant masks will be required in most state offices. He encourages the unvaccinated to get the jab and those who are vaccinated to get their booster shots if it’s been six months since your last shot.

Governor Edwards is extending the state’s Public Health Order related to COVID-19. It includes a provision permitting all state agencies to require mask wearing, the extension coming as the fast-spreading Omicron variant infects more individuals in the Bayou State. Though vaccines and boosters are seen as the strongest tools in the fight against the virus, Edwards says masking up is an important way to slow the spread, even indoors around people who aren’t members of your household.

Preliminary data from Moderna indicates their COVID booster shot increases antibody levels against the Omicron variant. LSU Health New Orleans Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says while it’s still early data and hasn’t undergone a thorough scientific review…Lopez says Moderna’s announcement of significant booster protection against Omicron models data released from Pfizer and their booster shot.

Cut 7 (12) “…prove it.”  

Less than 33% of the population in the US is boosted.

A reconfirmation today from New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell that Mardi Gras 2022 will take place as scheduled with route changes made for some crews, though all crews will roll on their scheduled days. Cantrell offered this example:

Cut 9 (13) “…avenue and Prytania.”

Today is the first day of winter and the Climate Prediction Center predicts a warmer and drier than normal winter. State Climatologist Barry Keim says La Nina climate conditions will bring the Bayou State above-average temperatures and dry conditions through February. He says Louisiana benefits from warm air coming off the Gulf of Mexico…

Cut 14 (11) “…than normal.” 

Keim says we’ll experience what should be a mild winter starting with above-normal temperatures this holiday weekend …

New data from Moderna suggests that their COVID booster shot produces great results against the Omicron variant, which is surging across Louisiana and the country. LSU infectious disease specialist Dr. Fred Lopez reminds us the data is brand new and has not yet undergone peer review…:

CUT 06         (10)    “…and older.”

Lopez says it’s still a good idea to get that booster, if you have not already.

A Monday afternoon crash in Ouachita Parish takes the life of a teen driver and leaves his passenger in serious condition. State Police Trooper Mike Reichardt says 17-year-old Logan Temple of Wisner was not wearing his seatbelt, when he ran a stop sign and was broadsided by a dump truck. That driver was unhurt. Reichardt says this is the worst time of year to lose a loved one…:

CUT 04         (08)    “…a happy time”

The crash is under investigation. No charges have been filed.

East Baton Rouge deputies are searching for a man accused of contractor fraud. He’s identified as 32-year-old Tayler Braud.  Deputies say Braud took $5,500 from someone to do work on their home, but he either didn’t finish or messed it up & didn’t fix it. The homeowner had to pay a second contractor more than $4,000 to do that. The financial loss to the victim is just under $10,000. As for Braud, who has precious contractor fraud arrests… he’s in the wind.

The Mayor of New Orleans says plans to have Mardi Gras parades WILL go on, despite an uptick in COVID cases in the state. LaToya Cantrell says they believe the events can happen without being super-spreader events. NOPD Superintendent Shawn Ferguson says parades will all happen along just two routes and police presence will be paramount…:

CUT 10         (04)    “…entire parade route.”

She says no krewes have opted to cancel their parades because of COVID.

Moderna says preliminary data indicates their COVID vaccine booster can increase antibody levels and should decrease severe infection from Omicron. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(31)      “…Thorington.”

Amid worries that Omicron is the harbinger of a 5^th wave of COVID infections, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says Mardi Gras parades are still a go; although some parade routes may be altered to minimize risk of spread. Mardi Gras Day is March 1^st, 2022.

Today is the first day of winter – the Winter Solstice – and the Climate Prediction Center predicts a warmer and drier than normal winter. State Climatologist Barry Keim says La Nina climate conditions will bring the Bayou State above-average temperatures and dry conditions through February. He says that pretty much starts this holiday weekend…:

CUT 13(08)      “…on Christmas Day.”

State Police say a deadly two-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Ouachita Parish, that left a teen dead and a passenger in his car seriously injured, could have been avoided. Trooper Michael Reichardt…:

CUT 03(10)      “Mack dump truck”

That truck driver was not hurt, but Temple was killed. Reichardt says distracted driving is the likely cause, but a blood tox sample was taken from Temple to determine if he was impaired; a standard part of any crash investigation.