Healthcare workers in Shreveport and Monroe are taking Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, St Mary Medical Center and Ochsner LSU Health Monroe to court over mandates by those facilities to be vaccinated. Plaintiffs’ attorney Jimmy Faircloth says the suit seeks to enforce the affirmative right under Louisiana law to refuse medical treatment. He says there is no legal backing for the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers and hospital staff…:

CUT 10  (09)        “…health care decisions”

The lawsuits filed today seek a temporary restraining order and injunction to prevent the Ochsner mandate.

Meanwhile Ochsner Health Systems will begin charging employees an additional $200 a month to cover adult dependents on their insurance plan who have not been vaccinated. That’s an extra $2400 a year, starting in January. This fee is similar to what’s been in place for tobacco users and is in line with the benefits offered by many healthcare organizations and companies.

Louisiana joins an international campaign to commit to zero greenhouse gas emissions; the so-called “Race to Zero” campaign. Last year, the Governor signed an executive order committing the state to zero greenhouse gases by 2050. He’s also launched a Climate Initiatives Task Force…:

CUT 13  (12)        “…get there”

Sixteen hospitals in the state that deliver babies have met new standards designed to improve the state’s poor maternal death rate. Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative Dr. Veronica Gillespie-Bell says they are working to reduce maternal death rates in which hypertension and hemorrhage are the leading causes. So, does this mean mothers should avoid UN-designated birthing hospitals in Louisiana?  Dr. Bell says not necessarily…:

CUT 08  (10)        “…maternal outcomes”

More healthcare workers in Louisiana are choosing to battle Covid-19 vaccine mandates by their employers.  More from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 01             (31)      “….Brannen”

Parents of special needs students are generally in favor of a new state law that takes effect next summer, mandating cameras in special education classrooms IF a parent asks for one. Many asked say they worry about their child being abused at school, and believe the added layer of transparency can only be a good thing.

As recovery efforts continue in Lafourche Parish after Hurricane Ida, Sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne says things are getting better for some, while others are still struggling. He says a large number are going to be dealing with temporary housing issues, because so many lost their homes to Ida…:

CUT 04             (10)      “…else to go.”

Matherne says huge debris piles are still everywhere; impeding visibility and safety for motorists.

Louisiana has joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s “Race to Zero” campaign. It’s a global effort that involves thousands of governments, higher education institutions, and businesses committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Governor Edwards says Louisiana must do its part because it’s on the front lines of climate change…:

CUT 12             (08)      “…more severe.”

Last year Edwards signed an executive order committing the state to being net-zero on greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

As recovery efforts continue in Lafourche Parish after Hurricane Ida, Sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne says things are getting better for some, while others are still struggling with little things that are piling up. That includes educational needs.

Cut 3 (12) “….a half weeks.”

Sixteen hospitals in the state that deliver babies have met new standards designed to improve the state’s poor maternal death rate. Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative Dr. Veronica Gillespie-Bell says they are working to reduce maternal death rates in which hypertension and hemorrhage are the leading causes.  Gillespie-Bell says they began with 31 hospitals and have grown to 42, and they’ve seen a 35-percent reduction in adverse outcomes

Cut 7 (06) “…procedures.”  

LSU announces star cornerback Derek Stingley Junior had surgery on his foot and there’s no timetable on his return. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

Welcome to the first day of Sports Betting in Louisiana.  It’s being launched today at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville beginning at 3 p.m.  It’ll be the location of the operation of a traditional sportsbook in the Draftroom of the casino, said to be Paragon’s newest amenity, that includes theater seating, a custom video wall and betting counters.

Healthcare workers in Shreveport and Monroe are taking Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, St Mary Medical Center and Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport to court over mandates by those facilities to be vaccinated. Jimmy Faircloth, an attorney for the plaintiffs says the suits filed today are part of an employee’s fight for medical freedom.

Cut 9  (12)   “…don’t get vaccinated.”

The suit seeks to enforce the affirmative right under Louisiana law to refuse medical treatment.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne tells us today that more than five weeks after Hurricane Ida, only about one-third of the debris from the storm has been picked up. It’s one of the frustrations that residents are facing.

Cut 5 (09) “…or vice versa.”

Matherne says huge piles of debris along the parish’s highways are still causing issues, including for motorists.

Sixteen hospitals in the state that deliver babies have met new standards designed to improve the state’s poor maternal death rate. Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative Dr. Veronica Gillespie-Bell says they are working to reduce maternal death rates in which hypertension and hemorrhage are the leading causes.

Cut 6 (12) “…and outcomes.” 

The collaborative was launched in 2018 joining healthcare providers and community advocates to improve birthing outcomes.

Now here’s your commodity report for this Wednesday afternoon.

As recovery efforts continue in Lafourche Parish after Hurricane Ida, Sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne says things are getting better for some, while others are still struggling with little things that are piling up. That includes educational needs.

Cut 3 (12) “….a half weeks.”

Sixteen hospitals in the state that deliver babies have met new standards designed to improve the state’s poor maternal death rate. Medical Director of the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative Dr. Veronica Gillespie-Bell says they are working to reduce maternal death rates in which hypertension and hemorrhage are the leading causes.

Cut 6 (12) “…and outcomes.” 

A wedding attended by about 150 people in Abbeville is drawing more attention to such gatherings being potential super-spreader events for the coronavirus.  More from Dave Brannen.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.” 

The number of COVID patients in the hospital has fallen below 700 statewide, which is the lowest total since July 18th when the fourth surge was just starting to ramp up. The Louisiana Department of Health reports 82-percent of hospitalized patients are unvaccinated.

Disaster relief funding has been approved by Congress and Senator Bill Cassidy says there’s about $600-million allotted for southwest Louisiana. As for Hurricane Ida funding, Cassidy estimates there’s around a billion for the state.

Cut 5 (11) “…December.”

A wedding of 150 attendees in Abbeville on September 25^th has been confirmed as a COVID outbreak. State health department Region 4 Medical Director Dr. Tina Stefanski says the best way to protect yourself in group gatherings like a wedding is to get vaccinated, especially if you are elderly or have underlying health conditions.

Cut 9 (09)  “…your best protection.”

All attendees are encouraged to get tested and quarantine to prevent spreading.

Astra Zeneca’s first-of-its-kind preventative antibody treatment is seeking emergency use authorization.  Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans, Doctor Lucio Miele says AZD7442 will not be marketed as a substitute for the vaccines but more of an ancillary for those who are unable to be vaccinated because they have cancer or a compromised immune system…

Cut 11 (09) “…the vaccine.”

A Baton Rouge medical center is leading the nation in using innovative robotic technology to diagnose lung cancer. Baton Rouge General pulmonologist Dr. Michael Sanchez says the new Monarch Platform can mean earlier, more accurate detection of lung cancers and it can move in ways a human guiding a scope simply cannot.

Cut 15 (05)  “…lot more precision.”

The long-anticipated disaster relief funding receives passage in DC. Kevin Gallagher has more

Cut 1 (33) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

A Marksville casino will be the first venue to open sports betting in the Bayou State. “The Draft Room” at Paragon Casino will allow bets to start being placed at 3 pm today. Other casinos are expected to follow once state police have approved their operations.

If you attended a September 25^th wedding in Abbeville state health officials say you need to be tested for COVID. LDH says several people have since developed Covid symptoms and tested positive for the virus.  Dr. Tina Stefanski, medical director for Region 4 of the Office Public Health says there’s concern that some 150 wedding attendees could further spread what has been an all too often deadly virus.

Cut 8 (10) “…home get tested.”

Another offering in the fight against COVID is seeking Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA. Astra Zeneca’s first-of-its-kind antibody treatment is used as a preventative. Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans, Doctor Lucio Miele says data from AZD7442 is promising.

Cut 10 (06)  “…months.” 

The company won’t be marketing the drug as a substitute for the vaccine

A wedding attended by about 150 people in Abbeville is drawing more attention to such gatherings being potential super-spreader events for the coronavirus. More from Dave Brannen.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

Power is finally coming back on in Grand Isle over a month since Hurricane Ida made landfall. Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng says Entergy has set up a temporary generation plant that is supplying power to some residents. But Sheng says water and sewage are still down.

Senator Bill Cassidy says a spending bill signed by President Biden last week will send 600-million dollars in hurricane recovery money to southwest Louisiana to help rebuild homes and other infrastructure after last year’s hurricanes. Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter has said that’s not enough and Cassidy says the chances of getting additional funding are not good…
cut 6 (06) “…shall do so”
Cassidy says the bill approved last week contains one billion dollars for Hurricane Ida recovery.

Lung cancer makes up about 25-percent of all cancer deaths, but Baton Rouge General is one of the first hospitals in the U-S to use innovative robotic technology for lung cancer diagnosis. Pulmonologist Doctor Michael Sanchez says the Monarch Platform robot will lead to safer and quicker diagnoses…
cut 14 (08) “….different lesions”
He says a quicker diagnosis leads to greater potential for curing lung cancer.

During a weekly conference call with reporters, Senator Bill Cassidy said 600-million in hurricane recovery dollars are headed towards southwest Louisiana as a result of a funding bill signed by the President last week…
cut 4 (11) “…not enough”
Cassidy believes it will be difficult to get another allotment for southwest Louisiana. He says the same spending bill also has one-billion dollars for Hurricane Ida recovery.

State health officials are asking unvaccinated individuals who attended a wedding on September 25th at L’Eglise in Abbeville to quarantine until Saturday as several people who attended the wedding have tested positive for COVID-19. Doctor Tina Stefanski, medical director for Region Four, says 150 people were in attendance and they consider all attendees exposed to COVID-19…
cut 7 (08) “….importantly get tested”

AstraZeneca is hoping their monoclonal antibody treatment will receive emergency use authorization in the effort to help end the pandemic. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

We are 13 months away from next year’s November election and Senator John Kennedy finally has an announced challenger. Luke Mixon is a 42-year-old Democrat from Baton Rouge, who grew up in Avoyelles Parish. Mixon is a political newcomer who is a former Navy pilot and currently flies commercial planes.

So how much money is Louisiana getting from the recent funding bill approved by Congress that contains hurricane recovery dollars? Kevin Gallagher has more…
cut 1 (33) “….I’m Kevin Gallagher”

The number of COVID patients in the hospital has fallen below 700 statewide, which is the lowest total since July 18th when the fourth surge was just starting to ramp up. The Louisiana Department of Health reports 82-percent of hospitalized patients are unvaccinated.

Drugmaker AstraZeneca, has asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize emergency use of what’s been called a first-of-a-kind antibody treatment to prevent COVID-19. The drug would be for individuals with compromised immune systems and need more protection to go along with the vaccine…
cut 12 (10) “…SARS-cov-2”
That’s Assistant Dean for Translational Science at LSU Health New Orleans, Doctor Lucio Miele, says late-stage human trials show that AstraZeneca’s antibody drug reduced the risk of developing COVID symptoms by 77-percent.

A medical center in Louisiana is leading the nation in using innovative robotic technology to diagnose lung cancer. Baton Rouge General pulmonologist Dr. Michael Sanchez says the new Monarch Platform can mean earlier, more accurate detection of lung cancers or pre-cancerous nodules. He says manual bronchoscopes can only be guided so far into the body…:
Cut 13 (11) “…without it.”
Use of Monarch was recently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration