50 hospitals in Louisiana have formally requested the state’s assistance in getting additional health care workers to deal with the huge influx of patients coming in during the Delta surge. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says these hospitals have told the state they can no longer adequately provide care for the number of patients they are taking in.
Cut 4 (09) “..come here.”
This fourth surge in COVID cases is exacerbating the nursing shortage in the state. And Louisiana State Nurses Association President Ecoee (E-coy) Rooney says many nurses are facing burnout and struggling with how to cope with the daily physical and mental demands on their profession…
cut 8 (09) “…need”

State Police is investigating an early morning Sunday shooting involving a Lafayette Police officer working security detail. Authorities say the officer responded to a shooting incident in the parking lot of The District nightclub when more shots were fired which resulted in one death and another person injured.

Today, the Louisiana Office of Tourism unveils its newest marker on the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail at A-Z Young Park in downtown Baton Rouge. In 1967, Young along with Bob Hicks and Gaye Jenkins led a march from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge to present a list of grievances to then-Governor John McKeithen, including employment discrimination. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the marker at A-Z Young Park is the fourth of 15 to be unveiled along the trail…
cut 14 (12) “…their states”
More information can be found at Louisiana Civil Rights Trail-dot-com.

Staffing shortages and a 4th major COVID surge in 17 months are taking a heavy toll on Louisiana’s health care workers, leading many to suffer poor mental health. Louisiana State Nurses Association President Ecoee (E-coy) Rooney says under normal circumstances nursing is a rigorous, but rewarding profession. However…
Cut 7 (12) “…myself.”
Rooney says many of these hospitalizations could have been avoided. Ochsner Health says they now have over one thousand COVID-19 patients hospitalized across their system, 90-percent are unvaccinated. Some people have decided not to get vaccinated because they already had COVID, but Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says the vaccine remains your best protection…
cut 11 (07) “….vaccinated”

The Louisiana Civil Rights Trail continues to grow. Today another marker is unveiled and on the anniversary of the beginning of a historic demonstration. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A major tourism event is officially off the calendar for 2021. There will not be a New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in October as planned due to the rising number of new COVID cases in the Gulf South. Organizers hope Jazz Fest can return in the spring of 2022.

State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says there are 50 hospitals in Louisiana requesting help from the state because they are treating so many COVID patients. Kanter says if you are only suffering minor symptoms or just need a COVID test, do not go to an emergency room.
Cut 5 (07) “…ability”
COVID-related hospitalizations spiked faster than it ever has and sits at a record high of 2,421.

A recent Gallup survey found that previous infection is one reason COVID survivors will not get vaccinated believing they are protected. But Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says a CDC study offers real-world evidence disputing the belief that previous infection offers ideal protection.
Cut 12 (10) “…difficult.”

Louisiana’s nurses haven’t had many breaks since the pandemic began in March of 2020, and now many are dealing with burnout. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Governor Edwards is calling upon Louisianans who believe in the power of prayer to join him and First Lady Donna Edwards in praying and fasting during their lunchtime over the next three days for health care workers and all of those who are sick with or affected by COVID-19. Edwards says he believes strongly in the power of prayer and there are thousands who need to be lifted up in prayer.

Louisiana hospitals are clogged with COVID patients leading to 50 facilities formally requesting aid from the state. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Because of the exponential growth of COVID cases in New Orleans and the region the decision has been made to cancel the 2021 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival scheduled for October. Organizers are hopeful the musical festival can return to the New Orleans Fairgrounds next spring.

Some people who previously had COVID are reluctant to be vaccinated believing their antibodies will protect them, but Ochsner Health Director of Infection Control and Prevention Dr. Katherine Baumgarten says their antibodies might not be enough for the growing variants.
Cut 10 (12) “…of COVID.”
A recent Gallup survey found that previous infection is one reason COVID survivors will not get vaccinated believing they are protected.

Another marker will be unveiled along the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail today. The newest marker commemorates the 54th anniversary of the Bogalusa to Baton Rouge Civil Rights March. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says the 105-mile demonstration grew from 25 to 600 people before its final stop.
Cut 13 (11) “…capitol.”
For more information go to Louisiana Civil Rights Trail-dot-com.

The state health department says over the past two weeks about one percent of Louisiana residents have become infected with COVID-19. Governor John Bel Edwards says more than six thousand children have tested positive this week, which is why children five and up should wear a mask in schools

Cut 7 (12) “…young people” 

LSU faculty and staff members expressed concerns Friday with a 100-percent capacity return to the classroom during the fourth pandemic surge. History Professor Meredith Veldman questioned school leaders when a statement on the school’s website says they follow CDC guidelines, yet their actions show otherwise.

Cut 13 (12) “.occupancy”

Another COVID-19 variant has been detected in Louisiana. LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport has found the Lambda variant in seven cases in northwest Louisiana. But LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Jeremy Kamil says there’s no reason to believe that this new variant will bypass the vaccines that are available…
cut 11 (08) “….well”
Canadian-based Interfor Corporation announces plans to invest eight million dollars to restart an idle sawmill near DeQuincy. Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance CEO George Swift says the revived plant will support significant logging and logistics activity in the region…
Cut 5 (08) “…this industry”
The project is expected to create 170 new jobs.

The Delta variant has apparently prompted more unvaccinated individuals to seek out the COVID vaccine. Governor John Bel Edwards says the number of people being vaccinated now has grown by 300-percent during this surge…

Cut 8 (07) “..some time”

Because of this record surge in cases, LSU faculty want the school to either mandate vaccines or allow teachers to go all online for the semester. History Professor Meredith Veldman the pandemic is at worse levels now than it ever was in spring 2020 when the school went entirely remote.

Cut 14 (09) “…conditions”

On Friday President Tate said he would mandate vaccines once they receive full FDA approval. Otherwise, there was no official response from the board to faculty members

Seven Lamba COVID variants have been sequenced in Louisiana so far, all clustered in Northwest Louisiana. LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Jeremy Kamil says Lambda is not an offshoot of the now-dominant Delta variant.

Cut 9 (08) “…Peru”

The Lambda variants most likely crossed the border from Texas.

The Lambda variant, first discovered in Peru, has now been found in Northwest Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle” 

In Shreveport, an accident on I-20 leaves three dead and three others in critical condition. Shreveport Police says the accident happened about 2 am this morning after a truck lost a tire traveling west on I-20 and pulled over. A car then hit the truck causing it to cross two lanes of traffic and into the path of five motorcyclists, killing two of them and the car passenger.

For the fourth straight day, Louisiana has set a record for the number of COVID patients in the hospital. On Friday it was up to 2,421 and according to health officials, 90-percent of the hospitalized are unvaccinated. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is at the leading edge of this fourth surge

Cut 6 (12) “..even close.”

LSU faculty expressed their concerns on Friday over the return of in-person teaching especially with only 34-percent of the students reportedly vaccinated. They want the option to teach classes virtually or limit in-person capacity to 50-percent. Kevin Yua Coordinator of LSU World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures says previous mitigation rules were not always followed.

Cut 12 (12) “..enforced” 

The Delta variant has apparently scared more unvaccinated individuals off the fence and over to a healthcare provider. Governor John Bel Edwards says the number of people seeking a vaccine has grown by 300-percent during this surge…

cut 8 (07) “….for some time”

Another COVID-19 variant has been detected in Louisiana. LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport has found the Lambda variant in seven cases in northwest Louisiana. But LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Jeremy Kamil says there’s no reason to believe that this new variant will bypass the vaccines that are available…

cut 11 (08) “….well”

There was a report suggesting Chinese vaccines were ineffective against Lambda in Peru, but Kamil says there’s no hard data to back that up.

LSU faculty addressed the administration on Friday over their pandemic concerns as the university plans to return to in-person instruction for most classes. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

The weekly winners of the state’s Shot at A Million vaccine lottery today were announced today. Coty Hemperley of Shreveport won the $100,000 cash prize and Nevada Charity of New Orleans is the scholarship winner. The million-dollar grand prize and remaining scholarship winners will be announced on Friday, August 13^th.

The state’s health care system is getting stretched to the limit due to the Delta variant-fueled surge in cases. We’re seeing record COVID hostpializations and as a result 50 hospitals across the state have formally requested state help in getting additional health care workers to deal with the huge influx of patients. Governor Edwards says part of the uptick is coming from increased numbers of kids getting sick, which is why children five and up should wear a mask in schools

Cut 7 (12) “…young people” 

Many LSU faculty say it is not safe to return to in person learning for the fall given the school’s refusal to adopt a vaccine mandate. This morning Kevin Yua (rhymes with wow) told school leaders that previous mitigation rules weren’t always followed and now only 34 percent of students are vaccinated.

Cut 12 (12) “..enforced” 

The request was not considered by the board.

Seven incidents of the Lambda variant were discovered in northwest Louisiana, likely crossing the border from Texas where the new strain is more common. LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Jeremy Kamil says health officials are keeping an eye on it…

Cut 10 (05) “…wave.”

Kamil says vaccines are almost certainly effective against the new variant.

Interfor Corporation will invest eight million dollars to revive the idled Georgia Pacific sawmill near DeQuincy. Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance CEO George Swift says the Canadian-based company is one of North America’s largest lumber producers…

Cut 4 (09) “…viable.” 

Over 2,400 people now lay in Louisiana hospital beds with COVID, by far the highest level of any point during the pandemic. Governor John Bel Edwards says Louisiana is the epicenter of the nation’s latest COVID surge.

Cut 6 (12) “..even close.”

Because of this record surge in cases, LSU faculty want the school to either mandate vaccines or allow teachers to go all online for the semester. History Professor Meredith Veldman the pandemic is at worse levels now than it ever was in spring 2020 when the school went entirely remote.

Cut 14 (09) “…conditions”

There was no official response from the board to faculty members on that specific request but LSU President William Tate told faculty at the meeting that once the vaccine receives full FDA approval he intends to issue a vaccine mandate.

Delta may be the primary variant in the state right now but up in northwest Louisiana, the first cases of the Lambda variant have been discovered. LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Jeremy Kamil says there’s no reason to believe that this new variant will bypass vaccines.

Cut  11 (08) “…well”  

Lambda likely crossed the border from Texas where the variant is more prevalent and is thought to be responsible for a surge of cases in Peru.

Interfor Corporation announces it will invest eight million dollars to revive the idled Georgia Pacific sawmill near DeQuincy. The governor’s office says the project will create 170 new jobs. Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance CEO George Swift says the mill was shut down last May due to the pandemic

Cut 3 (11) “…in particular.”