The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Department two boys who were taken outside of their father’s home in Ponchatoula Tuesday have been found in Florida.  8-year-old Kaesyn Heck and 4-year-old Jax Matthews are now in protective custody in Santa Rosa County. Their mother escaped on foot when authorities located the car she was driving.

Our neighbors in Texas and Mississippi are dropping their mask mandates but Louisiana is not following suit. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

Louisiana is dead last in the 2021 Childhood Report that ranks how well states provide for and protect children during the pandemic. Senator Bill Cassidy says Louisiana does have a high rate of in-person learning but that includes hybrid models where students are in the classroom two days a week and virtual the other three.

Cut 4 (12) “…reopen.” 

It’s been one year since the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery was dedicated in Jennings. Cemetery director Dwayne Guidry says there are no fees to bury a veteran. He says full military honors are also available and the cemetery is held to the highest standards…

Cut 10 (11) “…veteran cemeteries.” 

The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Department says 8-year-old Kaesyn Heck and 4-year-old Jax Matthews have been located near Milton, Florida. An Amber Alert was issued for the two boys after they were kidnapped and the car, they were sitting in was also taken by their biological mother. The mother escaped on foot in a wooded area in Santa Rosa County and the children are now in protective custody.

Louisiana is dead last in the 2021 Childhood Report that ranks how well states provide for and protect children during the pandemic. Senator Bill Cassidy says he hasn’t read the report in full but believes it’s weighted towards the lack of internet access for many children and…

Cut 3 (11)  “…learning.”  

The report examines child poverty, child deaths, hunger, dropout rates, and teen pregnancy.

Louisiana moved into Phase Three COVID restrictions today, but health officials warn that doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. Our neighbors in Mississippi and Texas dropped their mask mandates but State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says we won’t be doing the same.

Cut 6 (12) “…vigilant.”

A drug normally used to treat horses, ivermectin is making the rounds on social media as a cure for COVID. Director of Louisiana Poison Control Dr. Mark Ryan says ivermectin was at one time used in hospitals to treat patients when nothing else proved to be effective, but as physicians have found more useful drug therapies the medication has been removed as an option.

Cut 14 (07) “…COVID.” 

Ryan says never try to treat yourself, especially with nonproven drug therapy.

Louisiana ranks dead last in a report comparing state’s treatment of children during the pandemic. The 2021 Childhood Report examines child poverty, child deaths, hunger, dropout rates, and teen pregnancy. Senator Bill Cassidy says a big part of our ranking appears to be the fact that so many of our students couldn’t take virtual classes due to a lack of broadband internet, something he’s pushing to address…

Cut 5  (11)  “…they live.” 

Louisiana has now vaccinated atleast 657,000 people since December and that number looks set to begin ramping up quickly with the Biden Administration saying there will be enough doses for all Americans to get a shot by the end of May. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the ramp up is crucial because we’re now in a race against a string of more deadly and contagious variants.

Cut 8 (09) “…Louisiana.”

Health officials say another unproven medication is making the round os on social media as a way to treat COVID symptoms. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

Due to delayed data from the census it is increasingly unlikely that Louisiana will be able to complete the reapportionment process in 2021. House and Governmental Affairs Chairman John Stefanski tells LRN that data needed to even begin the process won’t be arriving from the feds until at least late September at the earliest. 

Our neighbors in Texas and Mississippi are dropping their mask mandates but Louisiana won’t be following suit. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (29) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”

An Amber Alert remains active for a missing eight-year-old and four-year-old from Ponchatoula. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office says Kaesyn Heck and Jax Matthews were inside their father’s vehicle when it was stolen from his home. The vehicle is a maroon 2013 Hyundai Elantra with a busted sunroof.

The state health department reported 582 new cases of COVID-19 today and 21 more deaths. The number of COVID patients in the hospital fell by 41 to 588. Some people have tried a drug used on horses called ivermectin to treat COVID symptoms. But the Director of the Louisiana Poison Control Center Doctor Mark Ryan says taking this drug without oversight from a physician could be dangerous…
cut 13 (08) taking it”

If you are veteran living in southwest Louisiana, an option for free burial is the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, which was dedicated in Jennings a year ago. Cemetery director Dwayne Guidry says if any vets are interested, just reach out to the Southwest Louisiana Veterans cemetery…
cut 11 (10) “…a spot”

The state enters Phase three of COVID restrictions today, but health officials say that doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. Under Phase Three most businesses can move to 75 percent capacity, but social distancing and mask-wearing are still mandatory. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the December/January spike was the largest the state ever experienced but…

Cut 7 (05) “…significant.”

Despite that progress, the state has still never dropped below 500 COVID-related hospitalizations.

Since the pandemic began there’s been vast amounts of misinformation and medical theories about what can cure or curtail COVID-19. Director of Louisiana Poison Control Dr. Mark Ryan says of the few studies on a commonly used horse medication called Ivermectin (iver-meck-tin) it’s not proven to treat COVID.

Cut 12 (08) “ …the case.” 

Louisiana is dead last in the 2021 Childhood Report that ranks how well states provide for and protect children during the pandemic. Senator Bill Cassidy says while Louisiana does have a high rate of in-person learning that includes hybrid models where students are in the classroom two days a week and virtual the other three.

Cut 4 (12) “…reopen.” 

Cassidy says he’s working with local and state officials to increase broadband access to rural areas of the state.

It’s been one year since the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery was dedicated in Jennings. Cemetery director Dwayne Guidry says there are no fees to bury a veteran. He says full military honors are also available and the cemetery is held to the highest standards…

Cut 10 (11) “…veteran cemeteries.” 

Louisiana moved into Phase Three COVID restrictions today but health officials warn that doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. Our neighbors in Mississippi and Texas dropped their mask mandates but State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says we won’t be doing the same.

Cut 6 (12) “…vigilant.”

Under Phase Three most businesses can move to 75 percent capacity.

Louisiana is dead last in the 2021 Childhood Report that ranks how well states provide for and protect children during the pandemic. Senator Bill Cassidy says he hasn’t read the report in full but believes it’s weighted towards the lack of internet access for many children and…

Cut 3 (11)  “…learning.”  

The report examines child poverty, child deaths, hunger, dropout rates, and teen pregnancy.

It’s been one year since the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery was dedicated in Jennings. 84 veterans and their loved ones have been buried their and the cemetery director Dwayne Guidry says they have 17-hundred burial spots across ten acres

Cut 9 (09) “…our veterans”

There are no fees to bury a veteran but the cost for spouses and dependents is 745-dollars. 

Louisiana is now up to 415,000 Louisianans who are presumed to have recovered from a COVID case since the start of the pandemic.

Louisiana returns to Phase 3 coronavirus restrictions today which means restaurants can return to 75-percent capacity and capacity limits on places of worship have been lifted. Louisiana bars can also reopen indoors. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says the announcement is encouraging and he hopes the vaccination rollout continues to ramp up…
cut 12 (07) “…your community”

Under the phase three order, live music can return to indoor locations, but they’ll have to follow a list of requirements put together by the State Fire Marshal’s office. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says venues must have six air exchanges per hour to qualify…
cut 14 (09) “…difficult”
And No dance floors are allowed.

The New Orleans Archdiocese advise Catholics not to take the Johnson and Johnson vaccine due to its use of abortion-derived cells in the manufacturing process. Governor John Bel Edwards, a practicing Catholic, says Louisianans should take whatever vaccine they are first offered and in some cases you will not have a menu of vaccines to choose from
Cut 9 (10) “…locations.”

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says he can not support the COVID relief bill approved by the House because it funds projects that have nothing to do with the virus, like a subway system in San Francisco and a bridge in upstate New York. He says the COVID relief bill could force the nation into a state of inflation…
cut 5 (10) “….like that”

Cassidy says he supports direct payments to taxpayers.

Governor John Bel Edwards asks Louisiana Catholics to take the Johnson and Johnson vaccine if offered despite a request from the New Orleans Archdiocese not to do so. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

The law firm charged with investigating LSU’s handling of sexual assault and violence cases will release their report on Friday along with the analysis of Title IX policies and procedures. The report will be published online at lsu.edu forward slash title IX review. A presentation will also be made by Husch Blackwell to the LSU Board of Supervisors Friday.

Indoor live music is allowed again in Louisiana at bars and music venues under the Phase Three guidelines that go into effect today. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says a 20-foot separation between stage and audience is required, so is a strong HVAC, and one other additional requirement…

Cut 13 (10) “…Plexiglas.”

Senator Bill Cassidy says he will not support the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill as it passed the House Saturday. Cassidy and other Republicans also oppose the $130 billion allocated to help reopen schools and colleges. Cassidy says the CDC says it’s safe to reopen schools now and the funds wouldn’t arrive in time anyway.

Cut 6 (12) “…be solved.”

The Senate takes up the bill next.

Louisiana moves back to phase three coronavirus restrictions today, which means a majority of businesses, including restaurants and salons, can operate at 75-percent capacity and bars can operate at 25-percent capacity. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack…
cut 10 (09) “…enough”
The statewide mask mandate remains in place.

The phase three order also allows for live music indoors, but strict regulations must be followed that have been put in place by the State Fire Marshal. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says the experience will not be what it was pre-pandemic…
cut 15 (06 “…congregate”
Browning says a 20-foot separation between the stage and audience and a strong H-VAC system must in place.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling on the Senate to pass a one-point-nine trillion-dollar COVID-19 relief bill, but Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said he can’t get support the bill, because it contains funding that has nothing to do with the virus…
cut 1 (31) “….Brooke Thorington”

An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing eight-year-old and four-year-old from Ponchatoula. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office says Kaesyn Heck and Jax Matthews were inside their father’s vehicle when it was stolen from his home. The vehicle is a maroon 2013 Hyundia Elantra with a Louisiana license plate of 153AFD.

Louisiana returns to Phase 3 coronavirus restrictions today which means restaurants can return to 75-percent capacity and capacity limits on places of worship have been lifted. Louisiana bars can also reopen indoors. Louisiana Association of Business and Industry President Stephen Waguespack says the announcement is encouraging and he hopes the vaccination rollout continues to ramp up…
cut 12 (07) “…your community”

Under the phase three order, live music can return to indoor locations, but they’ll have to follow a list of requirements put together by the State Fire Marshal’s office. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says venues must have six air exchanges per hour to qualify…
cut 14 (09) “…difficult”
And No dance floors are allowed. New Orleans remains in modified phase two for a little while longer.

The New Orleans and Baton Rouge Archdiocese are advising Catholics not to take the Johnson and Johnson vaccine due to its use of abortion-derived cells in the manufacturing process. Governor John Bel Edwards, a practicing Catholic, says Louisianans should take whatever vaccine they are first offered.
Cut 7 (10) “…vaccines.”
Edwards says he looked at documents from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and Vatican sources before coming to the conclusion that Catholics should take the J&J vaccine.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says he can not support the COVID relief bill approved in the House because it funds projects that have nothing to do with the virus, like a subway system in San Francisco and a bridge in upstate New York. He says the COVID relief bill could force the nation into a state of inflation…
cut 5 (10) “….like that”