The Governor’s race is over and Louisiana’s politicos turn their attention to the 2020 races. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
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Louisiana sees its first casualty to vaping as part of a larger national outbreak of illness and death. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Governor Edwards activates the state’s cybersecurity team in response to an attack on state government computer systems. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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This year’s big race is over but it’s never too soon to start looking towards 2020. Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy is up for re-election. ULM Political Science Professor Dr. Joshua Stockley says even though Democratic Governor Edwards just won re-election, don’t expect another statewide upset for the party…
Cut 4 (10) “right now.”
Cassidy was first elected in 2014, beating Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu 56 to 44.
The President put a lot of time and effort into flipping the Governor’s Mansion but ultimately failed. Stockley says even though Rispone ran as a Trump proxy…
Cut 5 (13) “…in play.”
In 2016 President Trump won the state 58-38 over Hillary Clinton.
All of Louisiana’s U-S House delegation is up for re-election in 2020, but Stockley says none of the incumbents will face a real threat. The only question is whether Congressman Ralph Abraham will retire. Stockley says a decision needs to be made soon…
Cut 6 (08) “decisions”
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Louisiana sees the first death from the outbreak of vaping related illness. Nationally, over 2,000 cases of illness have been detected and are to blame in 40 deaths. Assistant state health officer Doctor Joseph Kanter says so far, thirty cases of vaping lung injuries have been diagnosed in the state.
Cut 7 (09) “…that they deserve.”
The identity of the deceased has not been released due to privacy laws. The median age for victims is 29-years-old, with the youngest person being 17 and the oldest being 71. Kanter says there is still much mystery surrounding vaping and what is causing the lung injuries to happen.
Cut 8 (10) “…nicotine in it.”
55 percent of those reporting lung injuries stem from vape products that contained the combination. One in five individuals reported using nicotine alone. Recent data indicates middle and high school vaping rates have doubled since 2017 in Louisiana. In 2019, an estimated 32 percent of high schoolers and 15 percent of middle schoolers reported using vape products more than once.
Kanter says there is only one recommendation in mitigating the risk of lung injuries from vaping.
Cut 9 (11) “ …addiction to quit.”
Kanter adds the Louisiana Quit Line, often used by cigarette smokers, can help provide resources to those who want to stop vaping as well.
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Livingston and Albany, two towns in Livingston Parish ended their prohibition on liquor sales in overwhelming votes Saturday.
Albany Mayor Eileen Bates-McCarroll says the processed started last year at a Livingston Chamber of Commerce meeting when area leaders agreed it was time to put the issue up for a vote.
Cut 10 (10) “…Margarita.”
25 percent of the electorate in Albany had to sign a petition to get the issue on the ballot.
Bates-McCarroll says the vote will help out the local economy by incentivizing development along their I-12 exit, and hopefully bring a few new restaurants into town.
Cut 11 (10) “decision”
Opponents of the ordinance believe the law change could result in more incidents of drunk driving.
Bates-McCarroll has lived in town long enough to watch attitudes change as different folks move in and out, and…
Cut 12 (10) “option”
The Mayor says the liquor ban was originally passed in Albany about half a century ago.
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A ransomware attack brought most of the state government to a halt on Monday. The attack forced the shutdown of state agency websites as well as email and internet access. Division of Administration spokesperson Jacques Berry says upon detection, the Office of Technology Services initiated security protocols.
Cut 13 (05) “…state’s network traffic.”
A hacker can use ransomware to block a user’s access to a computer system until the target pays whatever price tag is set on a ransom. Governor Edwards tweeted no ransom has been paid. Edwards has activated the state’s cybersecurity team in response to the attack.
Berry says a similar attack took place over the summer with some of the state’s school systems.
Cut 14 (05) “…kind of thing.”
The issue shut down operations at the state’s 79 OMV locations. Berry says no personal data has been leaked as a result of the attack.
Cut 15 (11) “…one by one.”
Edwards tweeted full restoration of services may take several says.
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An LSU win on Saturday against Arkansas and the Tigers will clinch an SEC West title and punch their ticket into the SEC Championship game. Coach Ed Orgeron says he hasn’t really thought about postseason play yet
Cut 16 (13) …beat Arkansas.
The oddsmakers are not expecting much of a game on Saturday. LSU is a 44.5 point favorite.
LSU will spend this working on improving a defense that allowed 402 yards rushing in a victory over a four-win Ole Miss team. Orgeron says they had guys out of position on some of those long runs, so getting guys in the right position is critical
Cut 17 (15) me first”
Is it possible LSU doesn’t have the personnel to be a great defense? They seem to be missing All-American linebacker Devin White, who is now with the Buccaneers. Orgeron still believes in his guys…
cut 18 (25) the season strong”