The Louisiana Department of Health is reminding the public to catch up on routine vaccinations with its Operation Immunization campaign. Vaccination rates show a downward trend in Northeast Louisiana. Regional 8 Medical Director Tonya Hunter says it’s never too late to catch up on your vaccinations and protect your health.

Cut 9 (09)  “…we can.”

Small white flags will be placed along roadsides throughout the Monroe area to serve as a reminder to update vaccinations. You can find information about recommended vaccinations at immunizations.la.gov.

8-year-old Alli Glass is being credited with saving her grandfather’s life after a four-wheeling accident Tuesday night. The two were thrown from a four-wheeler and the 83-year-old was pinned underneath in a canal. Sheriff Kevin Cobb says her grandfather is grateful Alli didn’t get hurt after running for help.

Cut 6 (09)  “…him help.”

A Tulane study finds the more you drink, the greater the effect on your blood pressure. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Residents in Minden are bracing for a citywide power outage after a fire damaged the city’s Entergy Gilark substation over the weekend. The blackout is set for 10 pm Thursday and is expected to last up to six hours. Entergy representatives say their priority is to minimize any inconvenience to residents and businesses during the heat.

August is Vaccination Awareness Month and State officials have launched Operation Immunization reminding Louisianans, especially in the Northeast region to get vaccinated. Regional 8 Medical Director Tonya Hunter says vaccinations are crucial for protecting us against crippling diseases

Cut 8 (10) “…diseases.”

Hunter says nine parishes in northeast Louisiana have below-average vaccination rates for children at the age of two.

A Franklin Parish man is on the mend after his eight-year-old granddaughter saved his life Tuesday night. The two were ejected from a four-wheeler when the grandfather was trapped underneath. Sheriff Kevin Cobb Alli Glass knew to prop his head up to keep him from drowning and went for help.

Cut 4 (07)  “…a bind.”

A new study finds a correlation between consuming alcohol and high blood pressure. Co-author of the study Dr. Paul Whelton at Tulane University says the observational study of 20-thousand participants conducted over a 24-year period found a direct connection and even one beer a day can increase your BP.

Cut 13 (06) “…linear relationship.” 

The full study is published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension.

39-year-old Nelson Montgomery was arrested at Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans for allegedly hurting himself and a flight attendant on an arriving flight Wednesday. Officials say Montgomery hurt himself with a sharp object and then grabbed a flight attendant. Passengers were able to finally stop Montgomery’s attack. The flight attendant was treated at the hospital. Officials say Montgomery was treated with non-life-threatening injuries.

The state Office of Public Health has launched Operation Immunization in northeast Louisiana. Regional 8 Medical Director Tonya Hunter says Operation Immunization aims to address the downward trend in vaccinations among children entering kindergarten since 2020…
Cut 7 (12) “…to school.”
Nine of the 12 northeast Louisiana parishes have lower vaccination rates than the statewide average for the common childhood vaccine series at age two.

A federal jury acquits State Trooper Jacob Brown of depriving Aaron Bowman’s civil rights during an arrest in Monroe in 2019. Brown, a white officer, was seen on body-camera video, repeatedly hitting Aaron Bowman, a black man, with a flashlight.

The city of Minden will be without power at 10 PM tonight so repairs can be made to an Entergy substation that caught on fire over the weekend.

Acadian Ambulance is targeting young people as they face EMT and paramedic shortages. Director of Louisiana and Mississippi operations, Porter Taylor, says Acadian has several training sites across south Louisiana and Alexandria and the training can be applied to college coursework to earn an associate’s degree…
cut 12 (11) “….EMT class”
For more information go to become-a-medic-dot-com.

Eight-year-old Alli Glass has been labeled a hero after helping her great grandfather survive a four-wheeler accident. The two were thrown off the four-wheeler while riding at night and the 83-year-old man was pinned underneath. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says Alli maneuvered her great grandpa and the four-wheeler so he can breathe and then ran more than a half a mile to get help. Cobb says everyone is okay after the traumatic experience.
cut 5 (06) “…..type tears”

The state health department launches a new campaign to encourage Louisianans to get up to date on their vaccinations, especially in northeast Louisiana. Teiko Foxx has more…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Teiko Foxx”

Governor John Bel Edwards and First Lady Donna Edwards are mourning the death of Father Mark Beard, the pastor at St. Helena Catholic Church in Amite, the home parish of the Edwards. Beard died in a car crash yesterday just over the state line in Mississippi. He was known as a dynamic priest. Father Beard was 62.

An eight-year-old girl in Franklin Parish is being called a hero after she helped her 83-year-old great grandfather survive after they were both thrown from a four-wheeler. The elderly man was pinned underneath and Alli Glass helped position him to make sure he could breath. Sheriff Kevin Cobb says the eight year old than ran over a half a mile to go get help…
cut 6 (09) “….him help”
Cobb has made Alli an honorary sheriff’s deputy in Franklin Parish.

A new study co-authored by a Tulane researcher has found one beer a day is enough to increase blood pressure. But what if you are a wine drinker? Doctor Paul Whelton says when it comes to alcohol…
cut 15 (09) “….spirits etc”
Whelton says this study suggests that people battling high blood pressure may benefit the most from low to no alcohol consumption.

A federal jury finds a white state police trooper not guilty of depriving Aaron Bowman, a black man, of his civil rights despite body-camera video that showed the officer hitting Bowman with a flashlight 18 times in the driveaway of his Monroe home. The incident left Bowman’s head bleeding and he had a a broken jaw and ribs. Brown was facing up to ten years in prison.

After running half a mile in the dark to help save her grandfather, an eight-year-old north Louisiana girl is being called a hero.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Acadian Ambulance is recruiting students for its National EMS Academy which provides credentials for EMTs and paramedics in the face of workforce shortages. Director of Operations in Louisiana and Mississippi Porter Taylor says there are plenty of opportunities…
Cut 10 (10) “…are divisions”
Acadian has training sites across south Louisiana and Alexandria. For more information go to becomeamedic.com.

A Tulane researcher finds a correlation between consuming alcohol and high blood pressure. Dr. Paul Whelton says the observational study of 20-thousand participants conducted over a 24-year period found a direct connection and even one beer a day can increase your BP.
Cut 13 (06) “…linear relationship.”
Whelton says the findings may be most impactful on those who already have higher than desired blood pressure levels.

State education officials say LEAP scores have improved for a second consecutive year. The latest results show a two-point jump from last year in the percentage of students considered proficient. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says that means 33-percent of students are scoring at the mastery rate or above…

Cut 3 (12) “…work to do.” 

It’s been another day of oppressive heat in the Bayou State. We asked State Climatologist Barry Keim what is causing it and if there is any relief in sight. He says a ridge of high pressure continues to hover over the southeast, it moves in and hangs around for a week baking the area with triple-digit temperatures.

Cut 11 (09)  “…things down.”

Keim says the ridge of high pressure eventually moves out but unfortunately, it’s replaced with another one right behind it.

Pro bass angler Jake Ormond of Sterlington set a new state record for the largest longnose gar ever caught. Kace Kieschnick has the story…

Cut 2 (34)  “….I’m Kace Kieschnick.”  

In Franklin Parish, 8-year-old Alli Glass is being regaled as a hero, after saving her grandfather’s life when he was pinned beneath a four-wheeler in a canal. She knew to prop his head up to keep him from going under and ran for over half a mile barefoot to get help in the dark. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb says the 83-year-old is extremely thankful everyone is proud of Alli’s bravery.

Bass Pro Jake Ormond of Sterlington set a new state record for the biggest longnose gar which he caught on Bayou Bartholomew. It took Ormond finally hooked the large fish after three casts…

Cut 6 (10)  “…too long.” 

The fish was 65 ½-inch and weighed nearly 32 pounds.

And the heat goes on in the Bayou State with another day of excessive heat. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it’s been one of the worst summers on record for heat.

Cut 12 (10) “…yesterday.” 

He says the 104 high temp August 1^st in the capital city ranks in the top seven for hottest days ever.

The state Department of Education says LEAP scores for third through 12th graders are up for a second consecutive year. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Office of Public Health is launching Operation Immunization, an initiative to raise awareness about the importance of immunizations and reverse declining vaccination rates among children in Monroe and other parts of Northeast Louisiana. Nine of the 12 parishes have lower vaccination rates than the statewide average for the common childhood vaccines series at the age of two.

3:30 (15) 6:30 (18) 9:30 (20)

LEAP scores have improved for a second year in a row for Louisiana students. Scores are up two points from 2022 which equates to 33-percent of students are performing at the mastery rate or higher. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says high school students improved in five out of six subject areas…

Cut 5 (13)  “…with a three percent increase.”

Seventy-five percent of Louisiana school systems improved during the 2022-23 school year.

In Franklin Parish, 8-year-old Alli Glass is being regaled as a hero, after saving her grandfather’s life when he was pinned beneath a four-wheeler in a canal. She knew to prop his head up to keep him from going under and ran for over half a mile barefoot to get help in the dark. Franklin Parish Sheriff Kevin Cobb the 83-year-old is extremely thankful and proud of Alli’s bravery.

It’s another scorcher in the Bayou State. State Climatologist Barry Keim says a dome of high pressure continues to plague the southeast and it’s keeping moisture from the Gulf from cycling through and bringing showers to cool things off. He says it’s a rut and the only thing it’s going to do is push hot air down towards us.

Cut 13 (12) “…case scenario.”

Heat advisories after expected to continue through the week.

Bass pro-Jake Ormond sets a state record for the largest longnose gar that he caught on Bayou Bartholomew. Once he reeled it in, he started making calls looking for a nearby scale. He found the biggest cooler he could, put it in ice and headed to Farmerville…

Cut 8 (12)  “…inches long.” 

For a picture of his catch visit Louisiana Radio Network.