BESE voted to adjourn today’s meeting where members were expected to vote on allowing school districts to set their own masking policy. Matt Doyle has more on the continuous occasion…

Cut 1 (38) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

The state reported 3,022 COVID hospitalizations today, in which 91-percent are unvaccinated and 66-hundred new COVID cases.

Senator John Kennedy slams the Biden Administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

President Biden defended the decision, saying while the collapse of the government was faster than anticipated it was clear the people weren’t willing to fight to defend that government. Kennedy says Biden’s hasty withdrawal was an attempt for Biden to win some political points…

Cut 4 (10) “…way” 

Biden disagrees, saying in his experience there is no good time to withdraw but that there was clearly no longer a national security interest in staying in the country.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is trying to correct misinformation that went out on social media with their logo, claiming you have to show proof of vaccination to obtain a hunting license. LDWF Spokesperson Ed Pratt says there are lots of emotions around mask and vaccine mandates at this time and having the agency placed in the midst of the ongoing debate is not fair.

Cut 10 (12) “…in the state.”

Pratt says your vaccination status has no bearing on your ability to purchase or renew your hunting license.

Anti-mask protestors shut down this morning’s BESE meeting where members were expected to vote on whether or not to allow individual school boards to accept or reject the Governor’s mask mandate. The meeting began in chaos and after it became clear many attendees refused to put on a mask BESE member Holly Boffy moved to adjourn…

Cut 6 (15) “…*incoherent screaming*”

The vote was 8-2

The state reports 6,600 new COVID-19 cases today and 3,022 hospitalizations a new daily high, 91-percent of which are not vaccinated. 87 additional fatalities were also reported today.  Health Regions 4 and 5 also report that 99 percent of their ICU beds are filled.

Senator John Kennedy slams the Biden Administration’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.

President Biden defended the decision, saying while the collapse of the government was faster than anticipated it was clear the people weren’t willing to fight to defend that government. Kennedy says the withdrawal empowers global jihadists…

Cut 3 (09) “…all saw.” 

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is alerting residents of a fake social media post with their logo claiming you won’t be able to obtain a hunting license if you can’t show proof of vaccination. LDWF Spokesperson Ed Pratt says it’s not true and the misinformation that’s being spread is most unfortunate.

Cut 9 (09) “…like this.”

Pratt says your vaccination status has no bearing whatsoever on your ability to purchase or renew your hunting license.

The BESE meeting has begun and sometime today we will find out whether or not schools will be following the Governor’s statewide mask mandate. Once again anti mask and anti vax members of the public flocked to the event and started a fracas after being told to put on a mask or leave the room…

20

After the initial chaos Central Pastor Tony Spell seized the room and led “no more mask” chants, preventing the meeting from continuing for a bit. Eventually order was restored and the meeting began, but it faces infrequent heckling from audience members.

The issue has divided the state along partisan lines with many Republican lawmakers opposing the Governor’s insistence that his order applies to all school districts.

Baton Rouge Nurse Carla Brown was honored Tuesday for vaccinating more than 2,000 in her door-to-door campaign in memory of her husband who died from COVID.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

 Airborne evacuations of Kabul have resumed just days after the Taliban surged back into power in Afghanistan. President Joe Biden stands behind his decision to end the 20 year old war, saying there’s no longer a national security interest in American remaining there. Congressman Mike Johnson disagrees…

Cut 6 (10) “…answers.”

The BESE meeting this morning has gone into executive session and they are expected to consider whether or not to accept the Governor’s statewide mask mandate for K-12 schools today. Alexandria Representative Lance Harriss says there are three branches of the Government, and the Governor doesn’t have unilateral authority to make this call for K-12 schools.

Cut 14 (09) “…they go.”

Governor John Bel Edwards however says the school mask mandate is not just about protecting kids…

Cut 16 (10) “…capacity.”

63 House Republicans penned a letter to BESE asking them to reject the Governor’s mandate and allow school boards to make the decision locally.

A professional watch group by the name of Creep Catchers helped put an Acadia Parish man behind bars after he solicited what he thought was a thirteen-year-old girl for sex. Oak Grove Police Chief Lewis Russell says they’ve arrested 36-year old James Regan who’s being held without bond and facing numerous charges.

Cut 7 (11) “….photographs.”

Regan drove approximately 230 miles to meet what he believed was a 13-year old girl.

President Biden stands behind his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, saying despite the heartbreak of watching the Taliban take control it was time to put the forever war to rest. The President argued that Americans shouldn’t fight and die in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight themselves.” Congressman Mike Johnson says retreating sends the wrong message.

Cut 5 (06) “…way.”

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is meeting and a spirited debate over face coverings in classrooms is expected. Governor John Bel Edwards believes his indoor mask mandate covers schools. But 63 House Republicans penned a letter to BESE asking them to allow school boards to make the decision locally. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris…
Cut 13 (06) “…state.”
But Edwards says masks are necessary to keep kids safe from the coronavirus and schools open…
cut 15 (09) “…mask”
Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry issued a legal opinion earlier this month that BESE, not the governor, has the final say on mask policies for schools. Several anti-mask parents are at the meeting waiting to speak.

An Acadia Parish man is in custody after driving more than 200 miles to have sex with who he believed was a 13-year-old girl…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Louisiana Healthcare Connections has awarded 25-thousand dollars to Baton Rouge nurse Carla Brown who has vaccinated over two thousand people after losing her husband to COVID-19. Governor Edwards says the state health department has started an initiative in honor of Brown…
cut 11 (10) “…every region”

Today, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will consider whether or not K-12 schools will abide by the Governor’s indoor mask mandate. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state health department reported nearly 37-hundred new coronavirus cases on Tuesday. Officials say nearly a quarter of all new COVID cases in Louisiana are children. The state has also surpassed three thousand people in the hospital as a result of the coronavirus. 91-percent are unvaccinated.

Authorities say an Acadia Parish man was arrested in West Carroll Parish after he drove 230 miles to meet up with a 13-year-old girl to have sex. Oak Grove Police Chief Lewis Russell says an undercover officer acting as a teenage girl on the internet lured 36-year-old James Regan up to northeast Louisiana…
cut 8 (11) “…prosecute it”
Regan faces numerous charges, including possession of child pornography.

Baton Rouge nurse Carla Brown who made national headlines going door to door to help vaccinate people has received a $25,000 check from Louisiana Healthcare Connections. Brown lost her husband to COVID before vaccines were available and she has vaccinated over 2,000 individuals in his memory.
Cut 10 (10) “…others.”
The state health department has named an initiative after her to help get more individuals vaccinated.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will debate today masks in public schools and whether local school boards have the authority to set their own policy for face coverings in the classroom. Governor Edwards believes his indoor mask mandate covers schools as well. Edwards says the health order protects kids and adults
cut 16 (10) “…..capacity”
The Louisiana Health Department reports over three thousand people are in the hospital suffering from COVID and 91-percent of them are unvaccinated.

The other big topic is Afghanistan. The withdrawal of U-S Troops has resulted in the Taliban taking over the country. Congressman Mike Johnson…
cut 4 (05) “….disaster”
The White House says it’s working on evacuating Americans and Afghan allies out of the country.

Authorities in northwest Louisiana arrested a man from Acadia Parish after he traveled to West Carroll Parish to have sex with a 13-year-old girl. But Oak Grove Police Chief Lewis Russell says 36-year-old James Regan was actually communicating with an undercover officer and not a teenage girl. He was arrested in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart in Oak Grove…
cut 9 (09) “….incident”
Regan is facing several charges after investigators say they found child porn on his phone.

The state has honored Baton Rouge nurse Carla Brown. She launched a door-to-door campaign to vaccinate as many people as possible after her husband died of COVID. Brown has vaccinated over two thousand people and she says in one of her interactions the wife agreed to be vaccinated and eventually her husband was also persuaded…
cut 12 (10) “…happy moment”

A spirited debate over face coverings in classrooms is expected at today’s Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting. Governor John Bel Edwards believes his indoor mask mandate covers schools. 63 House Republicans penned a letter to BESE asking them to allow school boards to make the decision locally. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris…
Cut 13 (06) “…state.”
The meeting starts at 9:00.

Members of Louisiana’s Republican Congressional delegation say the Biden administration has mishandled the removal of troops from Afghanistan. President Biden said there was no longer a national security interest in keeping American troops there, but Congressman Mike Johnson disagrees…
cut 6 (10) “…..answers”

The state has honored Baton Rouge Nurse Carla Brown for vaccinating over two thousand people in a door-to-door campaign in memory of her husband who died from COVID…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A Regan man is in custody after driving more than 200 miles to have sex with who he believed was a 13-year-old girl. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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Baton Rouge Nurse Carla Brown was honored Tuesday for vaccinating more than 2,000 in her door-to-door campaign in memory of her husband who died from COVID. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Today BESE will consider whether or not K-12 schools will abide by the Governor’s mask mandate. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

_______________________________

President Biden stands behind his decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, saying despite the heartbreak of watching the Taliban take control it was time to put the forever war to rest.

The Taliban swept through the country over the weekend and reestablished control for the first time in 20 years. Congressman Mike Johnson says Biden botched the withdrawal.

Cut 4 (05) “…disaster..”

Biden counters that in his experience “there is never a good time to withdraw forces”.

The President argued that Americans shouldn’t fight and die in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight themselves.” Johnson says retreating sends the wrong message.

Cut 5 (06) “…way.”

Biden said there was no longer a national security interest in keeping American troops there, but Johnson disagrees…

Cut 6 (10) “…answers.”

_____________________

A professional watch group by the name of Creep Catchers helped put an Egan man behind bars after he solicited what he thought was a thirteen-year-old girl for sex. Oak Grove Police Chief Lewis Russell says they’ve arrested 36-year old James Regan who’s being held without bond and facing numerous charges.

Cut 7 (11) “….photographs.”

Russell says they were first contacted by Creep Catchers in late July and once Regan sent explicit photographs to their undercover officer, they approached the District Attorney. Then Regan set up a meeting and drove approximately 230 miles to meet who he thought was an underage girl on August 9th.

Cut 8 (11) “…prosecute it.” 

Russell says once the suspect sent a photo of his vehicle, location and described what he was wearing Oak Grove Police Officers along with deputies from the West Carroll Sheriff’s office went to pick him up.

Cut 9 (09) “…incident.”

Regan was booked on an outstanding warrant for indecent behavior with a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor. A search of his car found sexually related paraphernalia which shows intent. His phone also contained child pornography.

________________________________________

Baton Rouge Nurse Carla Brown who made national headlines going door to door to help vaccinate people, received a $25,000 check in recognition of her work Tuesday. Brown who lost her husband to COVID before vaccines were available to him has vaccinated more than 2,000 individuals in his memory.

Cut 10 (10) “…others.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards praised Brown for her inspiring work. He even announced that the Department of Health named an initiative after her to help get more individuals vaccinated.

Cut 11 (10) “…every region.”

While her mission to vaccinate as many as she can is an emotional one, the experience has been joyful also. Brown tells about one interaction where a wife agreed to be vaccinated and eventually the husband was also persuaded.

Cut 12 (10) “…happy moment.”  

Brown will also be featured in a Louisiana Healthcare Connections PSA promoting vaccinations.

_____________________________

BESE meets this morning to consider whether or not to accept the Governor’s statewide mask mandate for K-12 schools.

63 House Republicans penned a letter to BESE asking them to reject the Governor’s mandate and allow school boards to make the decision locally. Alexandria Representative Lance Harris was one of them…

Cut 13 (06) “…state.”

Harris says there are three branches of the Government and the Governor doesn’t have unilateral authority to make this call for K-12 schools.

Cut 14 (09) “…they go.”

Governor Edwards insists his statewide mask mandate does apply to schools and can’t be overridden. He says if we want kids to be safe and schools to stay open is with a mask mandate.

Cut 15 (09)“…mask.”

Edwards says the school mask mandate is not just about protecting kids…

Cut 16 (10) “…capacity.”

________________________________________

LSU is loaded on the defensive line. It’s a group that features several seniors like Ali Gaye, Neil Farrell, and Andre Anthony, plus talented sophomores and freshman like B-J Ojulari, Joseph Evans, Jaquelin Roy and Maason Smith. Anthony says only four guys will play at one time, but anyone is good enough to start…

Cut 17 (24) “…no weak links.”  

Anthony believes the defensive line will set the tone for the entire defense…

Cut 18 (19)”…a whole.”

LSU has been waiting for former five-star running John Emery to emerge as a real threat on offense. Last season the former Destrehan star only rushed for 378 yards and three touchdowns. Emery says he’s motivated to have a big junior campaign…

Cut 19 (16)  “…very successful so” 

Since the approval of a third dose for the immunocompromised now there’s discussion of a dose shot for the general public who are fully vaccinated. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (32) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

The Louisiana Health Department reported 122 new COVID deaths today, which brings the state’s death toll to 11,706. Louisiana has also surpassed three thousand COVID hospitalizations.

Critical hospital personnel who have children under the age of 12 can receive childcare subsidies thanks to a new Department of Education program. Deputy Assistant Superintendent for Early Childhood Operations Lisa Brochard says all of those workers are desperately needed in our near-capacity hospitals.

Cut 7 (07) “…nature” 

Applications will be accepted through October 31st.

Ochsner is now administering third COVID vaccine shots to Moderna and Pfizer patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. Medical Director of Hospital Quality Dr. Sandra Kemmerly warns to keep in mind that not everyone who is immunocompromised currently qualifies for the third shot.

Cut 14 (12) “…supression.”

Johnson and Johnson vaccine recipients currently are not eligible.