Shreveport has been without water now for two days since water mains ruptured due to the winter storm. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
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Beginning Monday schoolteachers and staff will be eligible to get vaccinated for COVID. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Power providers ask residents to conserve power during peak periods through Saturday morning to help prevent further rolling blackouts. Matt Doyle has more…
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There’s still little to no water preassure in Shreveport two days after the city lost water due to the winter storm.
That’s wreaking havok on area hospitals. Willis-Knighton Chief Administrative Officer Brian Crawford says it’s been a struggle to stay operational.
Cut 4 (12)“…toilets.”
Crawford says they’ve also had difficulty sterilizing equipment and washing linens without water.
Local companies are pitching in with oil tankers full of water and the National Guard has moved in to provide support. Crawford says that’s helping them meet basic needs.
Cut 5 (11)“…MRI.”
Governor Edwards warned the water situation in Shreveport will likely persist even after the winter weather conditions go away.
Not only are hospitals without water, the roads are undriveable and Crawford says they’re having to get creative just to stay staffed up.
Cut 6 (11) “…patients.”
Staff are being housed at nearby hotels and staged on cots once they rotate out of their shifts.
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The life expectancy rate in the U-S has dropped by one year, that’s the most it’s dropped sine World War II. According to the CDC the average life span in the US is now 77.8 years compared to 78.8 in 2019. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Community and Population Medicine Dr. Benjamin Springgate says the COVID is the main reason for the decrease.
Cut 7 (10) “…even more.”
The average life span for Blacks dropped 2.7 years to 72 and for Hispanics a decrease of 1.9 years to 79.9. The drop for Caucasians is .8 years to 78.
The pandemic began to take hold last spring in the US and Springgate says the numbers use to determine the current life expectancy rate are not from the entire year.
Cut 8 (09) “…be worse.”
With the larger decreases in life expectancies among Blacks and Hispanics in the US and Springgate says it is very concerning about minorities and the pandemic.
Cut 9 (10) “…to die.”
Springgate says statistics indicate while the US makes up only four percent of the global population but 20-percent of the COVID deaths suggests that the US is not handling the pandemic as well as other nations.
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Teachers and school staff will be among those eligible to be vaccinated for COVID beginning Monday. Governor Edwards made the announcement Thursday allowing an additional 166-thousand K-12 employees to be prioritized. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says it’s vital to increase face to face instruction.
Cut 10 (10) “…open.”
Brumley says currently 67-percent of public-school students attend in-person instruction.
As to how teachers and staff will be vaccinated, Brumley that’s based on each the school system.
Cut 11 (10) “…hospitals.”
Brumley said while he is thankful that teachers and school employees will soon be eligible to be vaccinated the Department of Education will not push nor incentivize employees to do so.
Each individual school system will handle how employees will be inoculated and Brumley says around half of employees have indicated they wish to be vaccinated.
Cut 12 (10) “…an interest.”
Brumley says when more students are able to return to the classroom it also allows more parents to return to the workforce.
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Governor Edwards asks all residents to temporarily conserve power during peak consumption periods to help prevent further rolling blackouts.
Edwards says the state needs you to cut back on consumption from 7 to 9 this morning, 7 to 10 tonight, and 7 to 9 once again Saturday morning.
Cut 13 (07) “…thing.”
Edwards says this request does not apply to the elderly or those living with medical conditions that could be impacted by keeping the heat turned down.
Rolling blackouts have plauged the state since the winter event began and Edwards says local power providers needed to do a better job giving customers forewarning.
Cut 14 (11) “…too.”
Public Service Commision Chairman Craig Greene says the PSC will investigate the lack of communication from providers.
Edwards says ultimately the decision to initiate rolling blackouts was made at a level above Entergy, Cleco, or SWEPCO as energy demand far exceeded supply grid-wide.
Cut 15 (12)“…to do.”
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The Louisiana Tech men’s basketball team’s two-game series with Middle Tennessee has been moved to Saturday and Sunday due to the inclement weather.
The Bulldogs will bring a 17-6 overall record and a 10-4 conference record to Murfreesboro as they take on the Blue Raiders, who currently sit at 5-13. Tech coach Eric Konkol says Middle Tennessee has played well as of late.
Cut 16 (20) “…good basketball team.”
Konkol says that no matter who his team is playing, their preparation is always the same.
Cut 17 (14) “…traveling that week or not”
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The seventh ranked LSU baseball team will open the 2021 season tomorrow by hosting Air Force. Potential first-round pick Jaden Hill is set to get the start on the mound for the Tigers in the season opener. Hill didn’t give up a run 11.2 innings last season. Coach Paul Mainieri says they plan to pitch the big right-hander three innings on Saturday…
Cut 18 (13) “…other guys.”
Because of the pandemic, only 25-hundred fans will be allowed inside Alex Box Stadium for at least the first few weeks of the season. Mainieri says in a normal year, 25-hundred fans at a game would be good for 18th best in the country.
Cut 19 (24) “…out there.”
LSU has a lot of experienced pitchers, but the infield will be inexperienced. Freshman Will Hellmers could get the start at third base. Hellmers was recruited as a pitcher out of Jesuit High School in New Orleans, but Maineri says he’s got a good glove and also brings an edge to the field.
cut 20 (20) “…(chuckles)”