Today is the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Louisiana. Chief of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Julio Figueroa says looking back, COVID was likely spreading in February…
Cut 4 (10)“…COVID.”
Governor John Bel Edwards will mark the one-year anniversary of the first COVID case by expanding vaccine eligibility to anyone over 16 who suffer from certain health conditions. A press conference is set for noon.

The Attorney General’s Office releases the sexual harassment complaint filed against top aide Pat Magee that resulted in his 38-day suspension and the 20,000 dollar docking of his salary. The complaint includes numerous allegations of harassment and sexist comments by Magee, who still works for the office. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the report may be costly for AG Jeff Landry.
Cut 13 (09) “…official.”

Kansas has fired former LSU football coach Les Miles. Miles has been let go after allegations surfaced last week that the coach acted inappropriately with female student workers while working in Baton Rouge.

Sunday’s NBA All-Star game helped raise three million dollars for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. And Grambling State President Rick Gallot says Major League Baseball is hosting an event this weekend focusing on Grambling and Florida A&M.
Cut 10 (08) “…universities.”

Today is the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Louisiana, Brooke Thorington talks with a physician about the early days of COVID.

Cut 1 (31) “…Brooke Thorington.”

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Louisiana’s pre-GRAMMY celebration is going all virtual this year and you can stream it live tonight starting at 7 PM. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Attorney General Jeff Landry’s handling of alleged sexual harassment and sexist behavior by one of his top aides could damage his rumored future run for Governor. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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Today is the one-year anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Louisiana. Chief of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Julio Figueroa says looking back most likely COVID was already spreading in February, well before testing was available.

Cut 4 (10)“…COVID-19.”

Figueroa says unlike other viruses, COVID-19 is unique in that some people are asymptomatic but are still able to spread the virus.

Cut 5 (07)“…of time.”

Now that we know the main route of transmission is through respiratory droplets that spread when you are in close contact with a carrier, carnival season only enabled the virus to circulate faster in Louisiana.

Cut 6 (11) “…locally.”

Five days later after the first case was confirmed, the state reported its first death from the virus a 58-year-old man in Orleans Parish.

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This year Louisiana’s pre-GRAMMY celebration is going all-virtual and will be streamed live online tonight starting at 7 PM.

Louisiana artists account for more than a dozen nominations this year. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says they’ll have a few of those artists like Bobby Rush, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and Sweet Cecilia playing tonight’s show…

Cut 7 (05)  “…artists.”

The show will be streamed live on Louisiana Travels’ social media pages.

Nungesser says they’ll be live from the Mint in the French Quarter but the program will highlight attractions, history, and artists from all over the state.

Cut 8 (10) “…COVID.”

Nungesser says they’re excited to put on a great program but it is hopefully the first, and last time they have to do the show all virtually.

Cut 9 (11) “….this year.”

The GRAMMYs kicks off Sunday at 7 PM.

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It might have LeBron James’s team that scored the most points in Sunday’s NBA All-Star game, but the real winner is Historically Black Colleges and Universities that’s receiving three million dollars from the game. President of Grambling State University, Rick Gallot says even Major League Baseball is hosting an event this weekend focusing on Grambling and Florida A&M.

Cut 10 (08) “…universities.”

Gallot says 90-percent of students at Grambling receive some type of financial aid and their portion of the NBA’s donation will go directly towards students.

Cut 11 (06) “…schholarships”

There’s been a lot of attention on HBCU’s recently and Gallot credits Kamala Harris for being the first graduate of an HBCU to become Vice President for putting them in the spotlight.

Cut 12 (08) “…previously. ”

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The Attorney General’s Office releases the sexual harassment complaint filed against top aide Pat Magee that resulted in his 38-day suspension and the 20,000 dollar docking of his salary.

The complaint includes numerous allegations of harassment and sexist comments by Magee, who still works for the office. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the report may be costly for AG Jeff Landry.

Cut 13 (09) “…official.”

The complaint was filed on November 20^th. Among other things, the report alleges a number of times when Magee discussed women’s appearance in relation to situations that impacted their career advancement. An internal investigation conducted by an outside law firm into the matter reported Magee’s comments were “joking in nature” and “there were no allegations nor findings of any requests for sexual favors; inappropriate workplace touching; nor sexual overtures.”

Pinsonat says like the Johnny Anderson scandal that plagued Governor Edwards’ run for reelection Landry will be haunted by this situation should be run for Governor in 2023.

Cut 14 (09) “…explaining it.” 

Anderson, a one-time aide to the Governor, resigned following the accusations by a staffer.

Pinsonat says the fact that Magee continues to work for the AG despite the allegations could prove to be a problem down the road.

Cut 15 (09)“….the public.”

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After losing a weekend series to Oral Roberts, the 15th ranked LSU Baseball team returns to the diamond tonight to begin a five-game week as they will host Texas Southern. After scoring one run in a loss on Sunday, Coach Paul Mainieri is eager for Cade Doughty to return to the starting line-up after missing the weekend series with a left shoulder injury…

Cut 16 (12) “…(x2)yesterday.”

Mainieri is also looking for more consistency from the bullpen. He says Blake Money has looked good and so have a couple of the other new relievers…

Cut 17 (15) “…bit more.”

The Tigers enter tonight’s game with a 9-3 record. Mainieri says despite the series loss to Oral Roberts, starting pitchers A-J Labas and Landon Marceaux pitched well

Cut  18 (16) “…shutout starts.”

About 100 students staged a sit-in in front of the LSU Football Operations building earlier today protesting the schools handling of sexual misconduct cases and calling for the firing of athletic administrators Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar based on findings released last week in the Husch Blackwell report…

Cut 12 (12) “ …responsible.” 

LSU interim president Thomas Galligan suspended Ausberry for 30 days and Segar for 21-days without pay.

In more fallout linked to the athletic program’s handling of those cases Kansas placed former Tigers and current Jayhawks head coach Les Miles on Administrative leave after reports that Miles acted inappropriately with female student workers while at LSU. Legal analyst Tim Meche wonders if K-U officials will use this opportunity to fire Miles…

Cut 5  (07)  “…his buyout.” 

A 29-year-old New Orleans man was allegedly murdered in Jefferson Parish after meeting someone through an online marketplace app to sell his dirt bike. JP Sheriff Joe Lopinto says since the start of last year they’ve seen two armed robberies, one simple robbery, two thefts, and now a homicide connected with these marketplace sales.

Cut 11 (10) “..it to”

Authorities are seeking 1^st Degree Murder charges against the alleged gunman 20-year-old Jalen Harvey.

The convention industry is holding out for a big bounce back once the pandemic clears. Co-Chair of Meetings Mean Business Fred Dixon says they surveyed convention clients and found 8 out of 10 say they would like to attend in-person conferences in the near future again and the survey also revealed that digital meetings are losing popularity…

Cut 8 (10) “…its feet.”

About 100 students held a sit-in outside of LSU’s Football Operations Building calling on officials to fire athletic administrators Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar based on findings released last week in the Husch Blackwell report. The students are part of a group called Tigers Against Sexual Assault.

Cut 14 (13) “…transferring” 

The attorney for former LSU football coach Les Miles calls Kansas’s decision to place Miles on administrative leave unfair. K-U made this move after reports that Miles acted inappropriately with female student workers while at LSU. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Miles’ attorney is upset because a Husch Blackwell investigation never spoke with Miles or other key witnesses.

Cut 3 (11)  “…right now.”  

A New Orleans man was allegedly murdered in Harvey Sunday after meeting someone through an online marketplace to sell a dirt bike. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says they’re seeking a 1st-degree murder charge against Jalen Harvey in the killing of 29-year-old Joseph Vindel. Lopinto says meeting strangers online can be dangerous, but while the victim could’ve chosen a safer location like a police station parking lot or outside of a grocery…

Cut 10 (11) “…outside.” 

Co-Chair of Meetings Mean Business Fred Dixon believes we’ll see a big increase in in-person meetings and conventions during the second half of this year. Dixon says healthcare professionals, teachers, and attorneys are required to receive annual training and online classes are not always preferred…
cut 7 (09) “….New Orleans”

About 100 students are holding a sit-in outside of LSU’s Football Operations Building calling on LSU officials to fire athletic administrators Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar based on findings released last week in the Husch Blackwell report. The students are part of a group called Tigers Against Sexual Assault. Protesters say the suspensions of only two athletic officials are not enough.

Cut 13 (10)“…cover-ups”

The attorney for former LSU football coach Les Miles calls Kansas’s decision to place Miles on administrative leave unfair. Attorney Peter Ginsberg says when LSU investigated Miles in 2013, they found no evidence he kissed a student worker or offered to take her to a hotel. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Miles’s 3-and-18 record at Kansas is likely a factor in being placed on administrative leave…

Cut 4 (08) “…winning record.” 

A 29-year-old New Orleans man was allegedly murdered in Jefferson Parish after meeting someone through an online marketplace to sell his dirt bike. JP Sheriff Joe Lopinto says they arrested Jalen Harvey after discovering messages between him and the victim, Joseph Vindel…

Cut 9 (09) “…itself”

Vindel’s dirt bike was discovered outside of Harvey’s apartment.

The pandemic has crippled the convention industry which is responsible for almost five-thousand jobs in Louisiana. Co-Chair of Meetings Mean Business Fred Dixon says the industry has been trained on how to re-open safely once the pandemic passes and most convention attendees say they’ll be there.

Cut 6 (11) “…the future.”

A sit-in of about 100 students formed this morning outside of LSU’s Football Operations Building. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 2 (36) …I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

A few hours later the protesters were approached by a few football players who asked them to move the protest to the administrative building across the street because the protest was blocking in their cars. 

The pandemic has crippled the convention industry which is responsible for almost five-thousand jobs in Louisiana. Co-Chair of Meetings Mean Business Fred Dixon says they surveyed convention clients and found 8 out of 10 say they would like to attend in person conferences in the near future again and the survey also revealed that convention attendees are able to form better relationships and build trust in communications at in-person meetings.

Cut 8 (10) “…its feet.”

A 29-year-old New Orleans man was allegedly murdered in Jefferson Parish after meeting someone through an online marketplace app to sell his dirt bike. JP Sheriff Joe Lopinto says since the start of last year they’ve seen two armed robberies, one simple robbery, two thefts, and now a homicide connected with these marketplace sales.

Cut 11 (10) “..it to”

About 100 students are holding a sit-in outside of LSU’s Football Operations Building calling on LSU officials to fire athletic administrators Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar based on findings released last week in the Husch Blackwell report. The students are part of a group called Tigers Against Sexual Assault.
Cut 12 (12) “ …responsible.”
LSU has only suspended Ausberry for 30 days and Segar for 21-days without pay.

Co-Chair of Meetings Mean Business Fred Dixon believes we’ll see a big increase in in-person meetings and conventions during the second half of this year. Dixon says healthcare professionals, teachers and attorneys are required to receive annual training and online classes are not always preferred…
cut 7 (09) “….New Orleans”

Police are seeking a 1st Degree Murder charge against a man they say murdered and robbed a 29-year-old New Orleanian at a meetup to sell a 2,800 dollar dirt bike. Matt Doyle has the story….
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state health department says nearly 415-thousand people in Louisiana have completed their two-dose series vaccinations. There are 618 vaccine providers providing shots this week. L-D-H also reporting 515 new coronavirus cases and ten new deaths.

A New Orleans man was allegedly murdered in Harvey Sunday after meeting someone through an online marketplace to sell a dirt bike. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says they’re seeking a 1st-degree murder charge against Jalen Harvey in the killing of 29-year-old Joseph Vindel. Lopinto says meeting strangers online can be dangerous, but while the victim could’ve chosen a safer location like a police station parking lot or outside of a grocery…

Cut 10 (11) “…outside.” 

The attorney for former LSU football coach Les Miles calls Kansas’s decision to place Miles on administrative leave unfair. K-U made this move after reports that Miles acted inappropriately with female student workers while at LSU. Legal analyst Tim Meche wonders if K-U officials will use this opportunity to fire Miles

Cut 5  (07)  “…his buyout.” 

Miles would reportedly be owed eight million dollars if he’s fired without cause.

Funds are now available to help tenants and landlords who’ve experienced financial hardship from the pandemic. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “…Brooke Thorington.”

A 29-year-old New Orleans man was allegedly murdered in Jefferson Parish after meeting someone through an online marketplace to sell his dirt bike. JP Sheriff Joe Lopinto says they arrested Jalen Harvey after discovering messages between him and the victim, Joseph Vindel…

Cut 9, 9 seconds, itself

Vindel’s dirt bike was discovered outside of Harvey’s apartment.

The attorney for former LSU football coach Les Miles calls Kansas’s decision to place Miles on administrative leave unfair. K-U made this move after reports that Miles acted inappropriately with female student workers while at LSU. Legal analyst Tim Meche says Miles’ attorney is upset because a Husch Blackwell investigation never spoke with Miles or other key witnesses.

Cut 3 (11)  “…right now.”  

The pandemic has crippled the convention industry which is responsible for almost five-thousand jobs in Louisiana. Co-Chair of Meetings Mean Business Fred Dixon says the industry has been trained on how to re-open safely once the pandemic passes and most convention attendees say they’ll be there.

Cut 6 (11) “…the future.”

Many Louisianans are now faced with trying to get their home insurance companies to cover damage sustained from last month’s winter storms. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the event caused all kinds of damage to rooves, trees, plumbing, and even personal injuries. If your house took any damage like that it can’t hurt to file a claim with your insurer because you can’t be penalized…

Cut 13 (06) “…claim.”

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is encouraging residents to file a claim if they sustained damage from last month’s winter storms. Slips and falls, roof damage and burst pipes are some of the circumstances that should be covered by your homeowners’ insurance. Donelon says one estimate says last month’s winter storms will cost the industry 18-billion dollars…
Cut 15 (07)“….weather.”

Funds are now available to help tenants and landlords who have experienced financial hardship from the pandemic.  Executive Director of Louisiana Housing Corporation Keith Cunningham says priority is given to households where at least one member has been unemployed for more than 90 days due to COVID…

Cut 6 (10) “…considered.”

For more information visit LA State Rent-dot com

Visit LAStateRent.com for more information.

The state’s cattle industry took a beating from last month’s historic winter storms. LSU AgCenter regional livestock specialist Jason Holmes estimates many cattle farmers lost at least a couple head, mostly calves, due to the stress of the event and the frigid temperatures. He says it came at a rough time…

Cut 8 (07) “…the ground”

Baton Rouge newborn Lexa Dennis is the youngest ever to receive Zolgensma (zol·gens·ma.), the most expensive gene-drug therapy in the world at $2.1 million. Pediatric Neurologist Dr. Charlotte Hollman says Lexa has Spinal Muscular Atrophy,  a debilitating and often fatal disease and she was given the life-saving medication at just four days old at Woman’s Hospital.

Cut 10 (06) “…opportunity.”

She went home 11 days later.