The department of health reports 44-hundred new COVID-19 cases today and 1,620 are currently hospitalized with COVID-related issues in Louisiana hospitals. The state also reports 20 more fatalities due to COVID. As for vaccinations, the state reports more than 10,000 doses have been initiated over the last seven days. The first time since the third week of April.

Ochsner Health Systems says they will require employees to be vaccinated for COVID once the vaccines receive full FDA approval. CEO Warner Thomas says since they made the announcement the vaccination rate among employees has increased and at their vaccine clinics for the public.

Cut  3 sites :11

Thomas says they are asking employees to give them their vaccination status for the next few weeks and soon you will be able to easily identify vaccinated and unvaccinated staff members.

A 20-year-old Bernice man lost his life last night as he was attempting to flee from law enforcement. State Police Master Trooper Michael Reichardt says Tyler Brazzel of Bernice was traveling at a high rate of speed on Forsythe Road in Lincoln Parish…

Cut 6 (07) “….and died”

Reichardt says Brazzel was not buckled up and pronounced dead at the scene

High School football is just around the corner and fall practice will begin shortly.  The rise in Coronavirus cases has many across the state wondering if the start of the season will be delayed.  LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine does not expect a delay because we know more about the virus now.

Cut 9 (10) “..for that”

Bonine also says he has confidence that coaches can keep the players safe because they had to work through the same thing last season.

Governor John Bel Edwards has told the White House that southwest Louisiana needs three billion dollars to help rebuild homes, businesses, and other infrastructure following last year’s hurricanes. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says the White House knows what must be done, but they have yet to ask Congress to approve the funding…
cut 5 (07) “….Lake Charles”
A spokesperson for Senator John Kennedy says Louisiana’s junior senator will try to add disaster relief money to an infrastructure bill that could start moving soon in the Senate.

The state’s largest healthcare system reports a 700-percent increase in COVID hospital patients in the last month. Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says and among the COVID patients at their facilities a large majority are unvaccinated.

Cut 7 (09) “…(x2) unvaccinated.”

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association and Ochsner Health have launched a five-year partnership where Ochsner will be the title sponsor for all LHSAA championship events. LHSAA Director Eddie Bonine says it’s a perfect partnership since it will provide a lot of potential career paths…

Cut 10 (11) “…another level.”

The town of Mamou in Evangeline Parish will soon be home to a swinger trailer park. The slogan for Tee Boi’s Swinger Trailer Park is bring your house and share your spouse. Nick Broussard works for the owner of the Trailer Park admits it’s quite the unique business venture…

cut 15 (05) “…trailer park”
Broussard says they’ve received phone calls, from New York, California, and everywhere in between. Anticipated opening is Memorial Day weekend of 2022.

Republican Congressional leader Steve Scalise says that while southwest Louisiana reels from the aftershock of Hurricane Laura the Biden Administration has yet to approve federal aid.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Erik Piccoli.”

A three-year-old was tragically killed in a drive-by shooting in Minden last night. Minden Police say they received a call around 11:20 Wednesday night and more than 25 shots were fired at a residence on Plum Street. Police say two people of interest have been identified but no arrests have been made.

Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says the fourth surge of the coronavirus putting younger people in the hospital with COVID-related illnesses. Thomas says in the spring of 2020, ten to 15-percent of their COVID patients were younger than 50…

cut 8 (09) “…. population.”

COVID hospitalizations have hit a six-month high with over 15-hundred people hospitalized statewide.

The small city of Ma-moo is known as the Cajun Music Capital of the World in addition to chasing chickens on horseback during Mardi Gras, but this week the Evangeline Parish town gained national attention when an entrepreneur announced he’s opening a Swinger Trailer Park. Nick Broussard, who works for the owner says the phone for Tee Boi’s Swinger Trailer Park is ringing off the hook.

Cut 13 (07) “…going on (laugh).”

They plan to open Memorial Day Weekend of next year.

The state health department reports over 15-hundred people are hospitalized with COVID in Louisiana. A 580-percent increase in four weeks. Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Ochsner Doctor Katherine Baumgarten says the average patient age has decreased about ten years from one year ago and is now 53-years-old and COVId cases among children are increasing rapidly…
cut 9 (12) “….our kids”

A Republican leader in Congress says it’s up to the Biden administration to get the ball rolling on passing disaster relief aid for southwest Louisiana. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says he understands the frustration felt by Hurricane Laura and Delta victims who need assistance to rebuild homes and businesses…
Cut 4 (08) “…formal request.”

People from all over the country are calling a small Louisiana town to see if an advertisement for a swinger venue is a joke or if the spouse swapping trailer park is for real. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Baton Rouge Daily Report and the Advocate reports that the Penthouse Club, which is a strip club, received over one-million dollars in federal coronavirus aid. The adult entertainment venue applied for the funding through an S-B-A program called the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant.

Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says this fourth surge of the coronavirus is sending younger people to the hospital with COVID symptoms. Thomas says in the spring of 2020, ten to 15-percent of their COVID patients were younger than 50…
cut 8 (09) “….population”
COVID hospitalizations have hit a six-month high with over 15-hundred people hospitalized statewide.

Governor John Bel Edwards has told the White House that southwest Louisiana needs three billion dollars to help rebuild homes, businesses, and other infrastructure following last year’s hurricanes. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says the White House knows what must be done, but they have yet to ask Congress to approve the funding…
cut 5 (07) “….Lake Charles”
A spokesperson for Senator John Kennedy says Louisiana’s junior senator will try to add disaster relief money to an infrastructure bill that could start moving soon in the Senate.

Ochsner Health has become the official healthcare provider of the LHSAA and will also serve as the title sponsor for high school championship events. LHSAA Director Eddie Bonine says Ochsner will have athletic trainers at their title events and Ochsner also plans to develop a curriculum that would attract student-athletes into health care…
cut 11 (12) “…benefit everybody”

The town of Mamou in Evangeline Parish will soon be home to a swinger trailer park. The slogan for Tee Boi’s Swinger Trailer Park is bring your house and share your spouse. Nick Broussard works for the owner of the Trailer Park and admits it’s a unique business venture…
cut 15 (05) “…trailer park”
Broussard says they’ve received phone calls, from New York, California, and everywhere in between.

Ochsner, the state’s largest healthcare system is seeing an enormous increase in COVID patients. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

North Oaks Hospital in Hammond says it has scheduled 500 vaccine appointments after offering 100-dollars to individuals who agreed to take the shot. Meanwhile, state data shows that COVID cases in Louisiana nursing homes has nearly tripled and nursing homes are reporting their first deaths among residents since June 23rd.

There’s been movement in the U-S Senate on a nearly one-trillion dollar infrastructure bill, but still nothing on a hurricane disaster relief bill for southwest Louisiana. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says he would like a face-to-face meeting with the Biden administration about the need for Community Development Block Grant Disaster recovery money…
cut 6 (12) “….it’s unprecedetn”

A swinger’s trailer park is opening in the Evangeline Parish town of Mamou. Nick Broussard works for owner David Aucoin and says since their slogan of Bring Your House and Share Your Spouse went viral the phone has been ringing off the hook from individuals interested in Tee Boi’s Swinger Trailer Park…
cut 13 (07) “…laugh”
Broussard says the swinger trailer park is expected to open in late May.

Republican Congressional leader Steve Scalise says that while southwest Louisiana reels from the aftershock of Hurricane Laura the Biden Administration has yet to approve federal aid. Erik Piccoli has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Erik Piccoli.”

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Ochsner, the state’s largest healthcare system is seeing an enormous increase in the percentage of COVID patients. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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People from all over the country have been calling a small Louisiana town to see if an advertisement for a swinger venue a joke is or if the spouse swapping trailer park is for real. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

_______________________________

A Republican leader in Congress says it’s up to the Biden administration to get the ball rolling on passing hurricane recovery aid for southwest Louisiana.  House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says he understands the frustration felt by Hurricane Laura and Delta victims in southwest Louisiana who need assistance to rebuild homes and businesses…

Cut 4 (08) “…formal request.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has told the White House three billion dollars in hurricane recovery dollars are needed. Scalise says the White House knows what must be done, they need to ask Congress to approve the funding…

Cut 5 (07) “…Lake Charles”.

Scalise says he would like a face-to-face meeting with the Biden administration officials to discuss the great need for community development block grant money in southwest Louisiana…

Cut 6 (12) “…its unprecedented.”

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The state’s largest healthcare system reports a 700-percent increase in COVID hospital patients in the last month and a 75-percent increase from last week. Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says and among the COVID patients at their facilities a large majority are unvaccinated.

Cut 7 (09) “…(x2) unvaccinated.”

When the pandemic began in the U-S, Thomas says the majority of hospital patients were older but that’s changed with a large majority of seniors vaccinated for COVID. He says in the spring of 2020 about 10 to 15-percent of their COVID patients were younger than 50 years of age.

Cut 8 (09) “…population.” 

And the Delta variant is also responsible for an increase in COVID cases among children. Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Ochsner Doctor Katherine Baumgarten says while hospitalizations are rare with children, COVID cases among children are increasing rapidly.

Cut 9 (12) “…our kids.”

Baumgarten says the best way to protect children is to increase vaccination rates among individuals 12 and older and to continue to mask and social distance.

_____________________________________

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association and Ochsner Health have launched a five-year partnership where Ochsner will be the title sponsor for all LHSAA championship events. LHSAA Director Eddie Bonine says it’s a perfect partnership since it will provide a lot of potential career paths…

Cut 10 (11) “…another level.”

The workforce development path for student-athletes includes a wide range of topics such as psychology, nutrition, sports medicine, and business. Bonine says now more than ever there is a great need for doctors and medical professionals…

Cut 11 (12) “…benefit everybody.”

Oschner will strengthen the LHSAAs ability to care for athletes by adding more than 80 athletic trainers, 18 sports medicine physicians, and orthopedic surgeons across the state. Bonine says Oschner has health facilities statewide allowing Louisiana athletes anywhere to benefit from the partnership…

Cut 12 (10) “…of coverage.”

The first Championship event of the 2021-22 school year begins Nov.11 with cross country in Natchitoches.

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The small city of Mamou is known as the Cajun Music Capital of the World in addition to chasing chickens on horseback during Mardi Gras, but this week the Evangeline Parish town gained national attention when an entrepreneur announced he’s opening a Swinger Trailer Park. Nick Broussard, who works for owner David Aucoin, says so far, the phone for Tee Boi’s Swinger Trailer Park is ringing off the hook.

Cut 13 (07) “…going on (laugh).”

After a sign advertising the trailer park with the slogan, ‘Bring Your House, Share Your Spouse,’ went viral, Broussard says they realized original plans for the park might have to be altered.

Cut 14 (06) “…would be.”

The projected opening for the swingers trailer park is Memorial Day Weekend 2022. The venue is intended to be designed more like a campground versus a residential community with weekend theme parties, but it will have the option for full-time residents.

When asked if this is the first swinger trailer park in the state, Broussard who claims he’s not a member of the swinging community, says he believes it is.

Cut 15 (05)“…trailer park.”

Broussard says they’ve received phone calls, from New York, California, and everywhere in between.

______________________________

The Saints hold their first training camp practice and star wide receiver Michael Thomas is not on the field and will not practice with the team for several weeks after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle in June. General Manager Mickey Loomis says Thomas tried to rehab the injury, it just didn’t work

Cut 16 (19) “…than later.”

The Saints will not have Thomas for the start of the season and also defensive tackle David Onyemata, who has been suspended for six games after failing a drug test. Cornerback Marshon Lattimore could also be suspended for an offseason arrest. Plus eight starters off of last year’s team are no longer wearing the Black and Gold. Loomis still likes the talent on this team

Cut 17 (29) …itself.” 

Saints Coach Sean Payton is focused on training camp, but it’s possible the Superdome will not be at full capacity for the season opener against Green Bay because of the sudden rise of COVID cases in the Gulf South. Payton points to the Stanley Cup Finals that saw Tampa Bay play in front of sold-out crowds, while Montreal had limited capacity for their home games…

Cut  18 (26)”…your players.”

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A week from today, LSU will report for preseason camp and the quarterback battle between Max Johnson and Myles Brennan can really begin. Coach Ed Orgeron says whoever wins the job, the team will be in great shape…

Cut 19 (29)  “…best man.” 

Oregon spoke at the Baton Rouge Rotary Club yesterday and he was asked about the possible addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC…

Cut 20 (29)  “…them in.” 

The state reports 4,700 new COVID cases today and hospitalizations are up 135 to 1,524. State officials say the majority of those in the hospital with COVID are unvaccinated. The state’s positivity rate has reached 13.2-percent. The last time it was this high was December of 2020.

As case numbers surge, so are hospitalizations, but when you compare the number of patients in Louisiana facilities to high numbers in the pandemic last year it doesn’t seem as dire. However, State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says hospitals are facing a severe nursing shortage now and facilities are treating other patients in addition to COVID patients.

Cut 4 (11) “…patients.” 

According to the Advocate newspaper, five members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation say they have been vaccinated for the coronavirus. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise received his first dose of a two-dose vaccine last week. Scalise says he waited to get the vaccine because he tested for the immunities of COVID

Cut 9 (09) “..get it”

Louisiana has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country.

Starting on August 9th, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will begin accepting applications from Louisiana fishermen and others in the industry who incurred economic revenue losses greater than 35-percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wildlife and Fisheries biologist Jason Froeba says they have 12-million dollars in financial assistance available…
cut 8 (06) “…is helpful”
Applications are available on the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website

The Louisiana Department of Health reports 4,700 new cases of COVID today and hospitalizations increased by 135 to 1,524. The state’s positivity rate is 13.2 percent the highest since December of 2020. Ventilator usage also increased by 17 to 144.

Louisiana Congressman Steve Scalise received his first vaccine shot last week, today he talks about his decision to get vaccinated. Jeff Palermo has more…
Cut 2 (31)…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will soon begin accepting applications for financial assistance for those who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Administrator Jason Froeba says anyone within the fishing industry that lost at least 35 percent of their revenue is eligible.
Cut 6 (08) “….fishing capacity.”
The total financial assistance is over 12 million dollars and LDWF begins taking applications August ninth.

Nicholls State University is receiving nearly 500 thousand dollars in grant money that will go towards coastal research. Nicholls Dean of Sciences and Technology Dr. John Doucet says they will specifically look at how coastal ridges can help in the fight against land loss…
Cut 12 (11) “…on those ridges”
The research will start this fall and continue through 2023.

The state reported 4,700 new COVID cases in Louisiana and hospitalizations have increased by 135 in a day for a total of 1,524. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says at this point in the pandemic people can’t say they don’t know someone who’s been affected by COVID.

Cut 3 (11) “…that bad.” 

And while the Delta variant of COVID has resulted in a huge increase in cases and hospitalizations, health officials are also tracking the Lambda variant which originated in Peru. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise says President Biden’s open border policy is helping this latest strain make its way into the United States…

Cut 11 (09) “…insanity  

Scalise announced he received the first dose of the vaccine last week.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will soon begin accepting applications for financial assistance for those who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The total financial assistance is over 12 million dollars. Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist Administrator Jason Froeba (Fro-bah) says the money will be distributed equally among approved applicants.

Cut 7 (08)  “…number on it.”

Nicholls State University will receive nearly 500 thousand dollars in grant money that will go towards coastal research. Nicholls Dean of Sciences and Technology Dr. John Doucet the school will also assist with the creation of ridges to protect back marshes by studying naturally occurring ones. He says these artificial ridges will protect the back marsh and trap sediment…

Cut 13 (11) “…prevent their deterioration”