State employer payroll taxes are likely to go up and unemployment benefits likely to go down next year due to the depleted state unemployment trust fund…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The state is working to implement new federal guidelines to allow visitations at nursing homes. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 2 (31) “…Brooke Thorington”
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Four Shreveport cops are indicted on negligent homicide charges in the April death of a 44-year-old mentally ill man. Matt Doyle has the story.
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Researchers at Baton Rouge General say a taste test may predict how vulnerable a person is to severe illness from COVID-19. Doctor Henry Barham, a rhinologist, says they have found that people who have trouble detecting certain bitter flavors are at a higher risk for developing more symptoms…
The loss of taste and smell are hallmark symptoms of COVID-19 patients.
Barham says their initial study involved 100 people who had COVID. He says the second study that’s ongoing involves five-thousand people as they try to determine if a taste test can predict COVID-19 severity…
Barham also notes that as people get older they lose the ability to taste as well…
Barham says even if you test out as a “supertaster” you should still get the vaccine once it becomes available.
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The unemployment trust fund has dropped below 100 million dollars and that will likely mean reduced benefits for recipients and higher taxes on businesses next year. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says if the trust fund is below 100 million in 2021, the maximum weekly benefit will drop to 221 dollars from the current 247 dollars, but…
Dejoie says when it comes to higher taxes on employers each employer has their own experience rating with the trust fund so…
Dejoie says because of the dual-threat to both the unemployed and employers it’s vital that Congress include unemployment trust fund relief in the next pandemic relief bill.
The Revenue Estimating Conference meeting is set to meet September 30th to discuss and verify the status of the trust fund.
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Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is implementing new federal guidelines that lifts the ban on nursing home visits. State Director of the Louisiana AARP Denise Botcher says new guidance from the feds allows nursing homes to conduct outdoor visitation with social distancing…
Cut 10 (10) “…to Louisiana families.”
In addition to outdoor visits, nursing homes in parishes with no more than 10 percent test positivity and without any new onset of COVID cases in the last 14 days can allow indoor visitation.
Botcher says the inability to visit in person has been a difficult period for families when phone calls and virtual visits have been the only option.
Botcher says visitors will be required to wear face coverings, wash their hands, and social distance.
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A Caddo Parish grand jury indicts four Shreveport cops on negligent homicide charges linked to the April death of a mentally ill man, 44-year-old Tommie McGlothen Jr. Officers arrested McGlothen April 5th and after McGlothen was handcuffed video revealed that he was severely beaten and tased, and left for 48 minutes without aid. Family attorney James Carter…
Video shows McGlothen, apparently handcuffed, on the ground resisting while officers beat him with a baton, kicked him, punched him, and tased him as he screams. After no longer moving the beating continues, and he is then stood upon his knees and kicked into the ground, lifted back up, and slammed into a squad car.
McGlothen was in an altercation with a homeowner when officers arrived, and Carter says police were well aware of his condition due to incidents from earlier that day…
A coroner’s report showed McGlothen had a broken nose, jaw, and heavily swollen face after the encounter. The report also came to the conclusion that McGlothen’s death was likely preventable, although not the direct result of the beating, but of “Excited Delirium”.
Carter says it’s unconscionable that police would beat Mr. McGlothen so severely, and then just leave him handcuffed in the back of a car…
Treona McCarter, Brian Ross, D’Marea Johnson, and James LeClare were also charged with malfeasance. Police Chief Ben Raymond has declined comment on the indictments.
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The Saints will look to improve to 2-0 tonight when they face the Raiders in their new stadium in Las Vegas. New Orleans All Pro receiver Michael Thomas will not play because of a high ankle sprain. Quarterback Drew Brees says the Black and Gold have a next man up mentality
Tight end Jared Cook agrees it’s next man up….
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The 19th ranked Ragin Cajuns rallied back from a two touchdown deficit to beat Georgia State 34-31 in overtime to improve to 2-0. Elijah Mitchell rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns to help spark the comeback. Coach Billy Napier says they needed Mitchell, because overall they were not consistent enough on offense
Quarterback Levi Lewis threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns, but he was also intercepted twice. The Cajuns were also just 3 of 14 on third downs and allowed 223 yards rushing. But Napier says the most important thing is that they are 2-0
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Louisiana Tech was without six starters and 20 players from their two-deep because of COVID-19, but still rallied back from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to beat Conference USA rival Southern Miss 31-30. The Bulldogs scored the game tying touchdown in the final seconds and added the extra point for the win. Coach Skip Holtz says he’ll never forget this victory