LRN PM Newscall December 12

The award-winning Alex Winter Fete kicks off today in Downtown Alexandria.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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With the holidays coming up, the state Office of Public Health raises concerns that only 25-percent of healthy adults in the state have received a flu shot. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut  2 (31) “.Jeff Palermo.”    

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Downtown Alexandria is the focal point of holiday spirit this weekend in Rapides Parish with the Alex Winter Fete.  There is no shortage of arts and craft vendors for holiday shopping, a gumbo cook-off, and Interim Director of Community Services TJ Nash, Sr. says for those feeling they need to burn holiday calories, an ugly sweater 5k.

Cut 3 (08) “…their ugly sweaters.”

Nash says several popular attractions are returning this year adding visitors are coming from as far away as the North Pole for the festivities.

Cut 4 (08) “…for our youngsters.”

Nash says no Louisiana celebration would be complete without live music and a parade.

Cut 5 (10) “…approximately 2pm.”

Festivities kick off today and run through Sunday.  More details can be found at alexwinterfete.com.

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At 7PM tonight Louisiana Public Broadcasting takes a deep dive into the world and history of Bayou State duck hunting with In the Blind.

The program interviews hunters from around the state, and was created by New Orleans based producer Emma Lou Reid who went on her first duck hunt in Caplan three years ago.

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Reid, a Minnesota native, spoke about the program this morning on Talk Louisiana.

The program takes a look at just what makes a good duck hunter. Reid says having good aim is just one small part of the package…

Cut 7 (10) “…natural landscape.”

Reid says the show traces the evolution of duck hunting from a do or die way of life to the now highly popular, and highly regulated sport.

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The program will reair at 11:30 tonight, and 6:30 Sunday.

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The White House is scrambling today to sure up Senate support for a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada amid growing concerns by conservatives over the House backed bill.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Democratic House support for the bill earlier this week after a compromise was reached, but Senator John Kennedy says the new changes may have gone too far…

Cut 9 (09) “…weakended.”

The US Trade Representative is briefing Senate Republicans today, hoping to allay concerns that the deal is too liberal after it won the backing of a major labor union. Kennedy says the bill is now stuffed.

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Louisiana Delegation members Senator Bill Cassidy, and Congressmen Ralph Abraham and Garret Graves have announced their support for the USMCA deal, but for Kennedy, the jury is still out…

Cut 11 (09) “…for it.”

Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain also celebrated the deal earlier this week.

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The state Office of Public Health says only 25-percent of healthy adults have received a flu shot this year. Immunization medical director, Doctor Frank Welch, says that percentage needs to increase since flu activity is widespread in the state, with almost three times as much activity as the regional baseline

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Welch says Louisiana is already close to matching the peak of last year’s flu season and that was one of the worst in years. He says the B strain of flu is going around Louisiana, while the rest of the country is getting sick from the more severe A-strain…

Cut 13 (09) “…flu shot”

During the 2018-19 flu season, 15-thousand Louisiana residents were hospitalized by the flu, while 15-hundred died from the virus. Welch says protect yourself now…

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