Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has died from COVID-19 at the age of 41. Letlow, who was was elected to Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district earlier this month, died at Ochnser-LSU Health Shreveport last night after spending ten days in the hospital. Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is devasted. Senior Senator Bill Cassidy released a video message on Twitter…
Letlow was set to be sworn in next week, as he was replacing Ralph Abraham. He leaves behind a wife and two young children. Cassidy asks residents to pray for the Letlow family…
Cut 15 (08)“…we should do.”

With Phase One of COVID vaccinations underway to frontline healthcare workers, nursing home staff and residents, many are wondering who’s next up to get their shots in 2021.
Dr. Joe Kanter says it’s likely the percentage of our population in those groups will be higher than the national average.
Cut 11 (04) “…metrics.”

After a historic number of jobs lost and more of the working poor applying, approximately 39 percent of the population in Louisiana has Medicaid coverage now. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

SECRETARY OF STATE KYLE ARDOIN IS PROPOSING AN EMERGENCY PLAN FOR THE FEBRUARY AND SPRING ELECTIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE EXPANSION OF ABSENTEE VOTING ALLOWED DURING THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. Ardoin’s plan includes expanding mail-in voting but does not extend early voting days.

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has died from COVID-19 at the age of 41. Letlow, who was was elected to Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district earlier this month, died at Ochnser-LSU Health Shreveport last night after spending ten days in the hospital. Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is devasted. Senior Senator Bill Cassidy released a video message on Twitter expressing sorrow for the family. Letlow’s death came on a day when the state surpassed seven-thousand confirmed COVID deaths. Cassidy, a physician, suggests COVID can kill anyone…
Cut 14 (06) “…it can.”

Medicaid enrollment increased by 208-thousand in Louisiana this year alone and now approximately 1.8 million receive Medicaid benefits or 39-percent of the state’s population. Louisiana Budget Project Executive Director Jan Moller says the pandemic’s effect on the economy forced many to seek coverage.
Cut 4 (09) “…insurance.”

With Phase One of COVID vaccinations underway to frontline healthcare workers, nursing home staff and residents, many are wondering who’s next up to get their shots in 2021.
A CDC advisory committee suggests group 1B should cover frontline essential workers and those over 75. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the state is crafting its own plan, but…
Cut 10 (04) “…recommended.”
The New Orleans Saints will wrap up the regular season on Sunday as they travel to take on the Carolina Panthers. Despite the team’s success this year, quarterback Drew Brees says, they need to fine-tune some things before the playoffs.
Cut 16 (11) “…the field.”

Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has died from COVID-19 at the age of 41. Letlow, who was was elected to Louisiana’s 5th Congressional district earlier this month, died at Ochnser-LSU Health Shreveport last night after spending ten days in the hospital. Louisiana’s Congressional delegation is devasted. Senior Senator Bill Cassidy released a video message on Twitter…
Cut 13 (12) “…in your prayers.”

SECRETARY OF STATE KYLE ARDOIN IS PROPOSING AN EMERGENCY PLAN FOR THE FEBRUARY AND SPRING ELECTIONS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE EXPANSION OF ABSENTEE VOTING ALLOWED DURING THE LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. Ardoin’s plan includes expanding mail-in voting but does not extend early voting days.

A committee advising the CDC has laid out its recommendations for what groups should be next to get their COVID vaccinations in 2021. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The man behind “Stelly Plan”, former state lawmaker Vic Stelly, died from COVID over the weekend. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

A 60-year-old Lake Charles man is sentenced to 100 years in prison for sex crimes involving 9- and 10-year-old girls. Robert Lognion was already a convicted sex offender when he was accused in February 2017 of touching the girls inappropriately. The Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office says a judge sentenced him to consecutive 50-year terms for sexual battery and an aggravated crime against nature.

Vaccines at two VA homes were administered Monday to residents and staff. Roughly 40-percent of all fatalities from COVID has been in nursing home settings. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson Brandee Patrick says, however, they will continue to follow CDC and CMS guidelines.

Cut 11 (11) “…new guidance.”

The two of the remaining three VA homes will administer vaccines this week.

Cops are packing state roads ahead of New Years’ for the end-of-year Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement officers are actively looking for impaired drivers, and throwing the ones they find in jail.

Cut 12 (05) “..cell” 

Lambert says 33 people were killed last December by drunk drivers and they don’t want to see a repeat this year.

Former state lawmaker Vic Stelly, mastermind of the “Stelly Plan” state tax reform of 2002, died over the weekend of COVID-19. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the 79-year-old Stelly had a vision for a new way of funding state government using income taxes instead of sales taxes.

Cut 6 (11) “..it”

The Stelly plan lowered, then eliminated state sales taxes on certain items like food and utilities in exchange for raising income taxes on upper-income earners.

Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says officers are out in full force catching impaired drivers for the holidays. Lambert says impairment means both booze and drugs, Which includes prescriptions.

Cut 14 (08) “influence” 

Vaccines began being administered at two VA homes in Louisiana, on Monday, bringing about a sense of hope among residents. Brooke Thorington has more

cut 2 (30) ….I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

Former Denham Springs High School Assistant Football Coach Tyler Love turned himself into authorities after an investigation into allegations of misconduct regarding students at this school. He’s been booked on two counts of indecent behaviors with juveniles, and one count of prohibited sexual conduct between educator and student.

Former state lawmaker Vic Stelly, mastermind of the “Stelly Plan” state tax reform of 2002, died over the weekend of COVID-19. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the “Stelly Plan” was ultimately largely undone during the Jindal Administration. Pinsonat says that decision didn’t end well for Jindal.

Cut 8 (11) “…popularity.”

Two house fires killed three residents over the weekend in North Louisiana. State Fire Marshal spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says as the weather turns cold, she highly encourages residents to practice space heater safety and for families to establish and practice a fire safety escape plan from their home.

Cut 5 (10) “…options.” 

Cops packing state roads ahead of New Years’ for the end-of-year Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says 33 people were killed last December by drunk drivers and they don’t want to see a repeat this year.

Cut 13 (05)“driver”

December drunk driving injuries and fatalities have been rising since 2017.

VA homes in Louisiana began rollout of the Moderna vaccine Monday. Spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Brandee Patrick says workers and residents are very hopeful that the vaccines will help restore normalcy soon.

Cut 10 (11) “…offer them.”

They began vaccines at their homes in Jennings and Monroe, Monday, tomorrow in Reserve, and Saturday in Bossier. The rollout in Jackson is still being scheduled.

Stelly Plan tax reform author Vic Stelly and his wife Terry both died over the weekend from complications related to COVID-19. Stelly, who was born in Carencro and raised in Zachary, served in the Legislature from 1988 to 2004. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says he was one of the hardest working people at the Capitol.

Cut 7 (10) “phone call.”

Stelly served on the Board of Regents for higher ed from 2007 to 2013.

VA nursing homes began administering the Moderna vaccine Monday in Louisiana. Brandee Patrick, spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs said two of their five facilities put needles in arms yesterday.

Cut 9 (12) “…15 mins.”

The holidays are notorious for seeing an increase in impaired driving and cops across the state are packing the roads ahead of New Years for the end of year Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Louisiana Highway Safety Commission spokesperson Mark Lambert says law enforcement officers are actively looking for impaired drivers, and throwing the ones they find in jail.

Cut 12, 5 seconds, cell

Lambert says 33 people were killed last December by drunk drivers.

The State Fire Marshal says a Shreveport couple died in a house fire over the weekend. Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says they have not determined the cause of the house fire in Shreveport but it appears it began in the front living room. She says the front door had a deadbolt lock on that was keyed on both sides.

Cut 4 (09)  “…deadbolt”  

Former state lawmaker Vic Stelly, mastermind of the “Stelly Plan” state tax reform of 2002, died over the weekend of COVID-19. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the 79-year-old Stelly had a vision for a new way of funding state government using income taxes instead of sales taxes.

Cut 6 (10) “..subjects”

Vic’s wife, Terry Stelly, died of COVID 13 hours after her husband passed away.

Vaccines at two VA homes were administered Monday to residents and staff. Roughly 40-percent of all fatalities from COVID have been in nursing home settings. Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson Brandee Patrick says, however, they will continue to follow CDC and CMS guidelines.

Cut 11 (11) “…new guidance.”

Two house fires killed three residents over the weekend in North Louisiana. Ashley Rodrigue, spokesperson for the State Marshal says a 63-year-old man was killed Sunday in Eros, and on Saturday a couple in their 60s perished in Shreveport. She says Shreveport firefighters entered through the front door to attack the blaze of the couple’s home.

Cut 3 (10)  “…that man.”

She says the front door had a locked deadbolt on that was keyed on both sides. Both fires remain under investigation and the identities of the fatalities have not been released.

A Legislative task force is studying whether Louisiana elections should move to a closed primary system and will submit its recommendations by the next regular session. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat..
Cut 5 (08) “…Presidential.”

VA homes in Louisiana began rollout of COVID vaccines Monday. Brandee Patrick, spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs says workers and residents are very hopeful that the vaccines will help restore normalcy soon.

Cut 10 (11) “…offer them.”

They began vaccines at their homes in Jennings and Monroe, Monday, tomorrow in Reserve, and Saturday in Bossier. The rollout in Jackson is still being scheduled. Patrick says residents and workers will receive a second dose of the Moderna vaccine four weeks after the first.

When former Governor Edwin Edwards was in the hospital for routine tests over the weekend, Edwards biographer Leo Honeycutt says he was offered the COVID vaccine.

Cut 15 (07)“…hospital.”

Honeycutt says Edwards plans to get vaccinated when it’s his turn.

The Louisiana Department of Health reports just under 4,000 new COVID-19 cases today. Fatalities increased today to 61 and hospitalizations increased by 92 overnight.

Algiers based Edna Karr High fights for its fifth consecutive football state championship tonight against Carencro. Matt Doyle spoke with Karr’s coach Brice Brown…

Cut 3 (28)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”