A new way to test and treat patients diagnosed with cancer is placing Ochsner Health – New Orleans front and center of universal genomic testing. Teiko Foxx has the story…

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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The state’s Secretary of Environmental Quality has resigned. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (30)  “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

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Almost 50 percent of LSU Health graduates will remain in instate for their residency. Brooke Thorington has more from the Interim Dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

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Ochsner Health – New Orleans is one of the first hospitals in the nation to standardize genomic testing for cancer drugs to better treat cancer patients. Ochsner Health System Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services, Catherine Oliver says genomic testing helps to identify a person’s DNA and how the changes in a person’s DNA impact how they respond to medication.

Cut 4 (09)  “…from that medication.”

Pharmacogenomics testing guides doctors on how patients metabolize certain drugs and warns of possible side effects so they may adjust dosage in a way that provides personalized treatments. Oliver says the process evaluates the function of nearly 30 genes its preventing hospitalization and saving lives.

Cut 5 (09) “…decreasing that dose.”

Ochsner launched a pharmacogenomics program that is available to all patients in March 2022. The systems testing partner, OneOme, is working with insurance companies to make testing affordable. Oliver says providers can have results in about five days and costs are determined by health benefits.

Cut 6 (07)  “…minimal cost.” 

Pharmacogenomic testing is only needed once during a lifetime for most patients and is reflected in the patient’s record in a way that it is accessible now or in the future.

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Governor John Bel Edwards announces the resignation of the Secretary of Environmental Quality, Chuck Carr Brown. He will step down on March 31^st. Brown has led LDEQ from the time Edwards was first sworn into office. Brown says he is proud of the progress made in cleaning Louisiana’s air in recent years, after having the federal government set benchmarks for air quality…:

Cut 7 (11) “…the  Industrial Revolution.”

Brown previously served the Department of Environmental Quality as Assistant Secretary under Governor Kathleen Blanco. As Secretary, he oversaw LDEQ’s response the 2016 flood, and has worked with federal authorities as a steward of the state’s environment. He says he hopes his successor will carry on in his path…:

Cut 8 (09) “…and honest dialog.”

Brown’s resignation is effective at the end of this month. He tells LRN he is not retiring, but rather moving into a new phase in his life; doing environmental work in the private sector…:

Cut 9 (08)  “…State of Louisiana.”

LDEQ Assistant Secretary Roger Gingles has been appointed Interim Secretary.

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LSU’s Center for Energy Studies says the planned carbon capture hub in Calcasieu Parish could decrease climate change and also support jobs at the same time. Greg Upton, Interim Executive Director for the center says they have identified more than 50,000 jobs within a hundred miles of the planned hub.

Cut 10 (11)  “…look to decarbonize.”

Upton says when you look at the capacity of this one carbon capture hub in Louisiana the long-term impacts on the environment are significant. He says they’ve estimated $11.3 billion in what they call abated social costs over the lifetime of one carbon capture hub facility.

Cut 11 (05)  “…the atmosphere.”

And because many of Louisiana’s exports create carbon emissions and the state’s geology allows for the creation of a carbon sequestration hub, Upton says such facilities provide unrealized opportunities for the state.

Cut 12 (10)  “…to the customer.”

Upton says companies are looking to deliver those exports in a way that keeps them cost-effective internationally and reduces their carbon footprint.

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Match Day figures from LSU Health New Orleans indicate 80 percent of their graduating students who are staying in Louisiana for their residency will enter one at LSU Health. Richard DiCarlo, Interim Dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine says it is very encouraging when their graduates remain in-state.

Cut 13 (10) “…at LSU.” 

Match Day is when every medical graduate student in the country learns which residency program they will enter, based on which one they chose and which program chose them, similar to signing day for athletes.

And the ones who will do their residency out of state, DiCarlo says they are entering prestigious ones.

Cut 14 (11)  “…for practice.”

DiCarlo says about 20 to 25 percent of their students will practice internal medicine, and others enter general surgery, pediatrics, and family practice. And recently he says more are entering the field of psychiatry.

Cut 15 (10)  “…also important.”

Forty-nine percent of LSU Health New Orleans medical grads will remain in Louisiana for their residency and 46 percent of LSU Health Shreveport grads will stay in-state for theirs.

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The top-ranked LSU baseball team missed out on sweeping Texas A-and-M last weekend as they blew a four-run lead on Sunday and lost to the Aggies eight to six. Coach Jay Johnson says he would have loved the sweep, but he’s dwelling on Sunday’s loss..

Cut  16 (16)  “…move on.” 

LSU left 12 runners on base in Sunday’s loss, but Johnson says he liked the offensive approach of his team as they scored 27 runs…

Cut 17 (18) “…to the hitters.” 

The Tigers are back at home tonight to take on Central Arkansas. Johnson says it will be a good non-conference test…

Cut 18 (17) “…well to win.”

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The Ragin Cajuns started Sun Belt play by sweeping Arkansas State, limiting the Red Wolves to ten runs during the three-game series. Coach Matt Deggs liked how his pitchers throw strikes…

Cut 19 (20) “…very exciting.”

U-L Lafayette hosts Grambling tonight then Southeastern Louisiana tomorrow and then they head to Mobile next weekend to take on South Alabama. Deggs says Grambling brings a 6-and-13 record to Tigue Moore Field…

Cut 20 (20)  “…can’t happen.”  

Money management, spending, credit, saving, and investing are just a few components that will be added to promote financial well-being for Louisiana high school students if state lawmaker Nicholas Muscarello has his way. Teiko Foxx has more.

Cut 1 (32)  “…I’m Teiko Foxx.”

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The state will allow Neuty, the pet nutria, to stay at a home in Jefferson Parish. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 2 (31)  “….I’m Jeff Palermo.” 

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A bill filed for the upcoming legislative session would require high school juniors and seniors to complete a Financial Literacy course to graduate from high school and qualify for TOPS. The author of House Bill 103, Hammond Representative Nicholas Muscarello says this has been on his radar for some time.

Cut 3 (08) “…two years.” 

The current curriculum requires students to complete at least four mathematics credits. Muscarello has been working with Superintendent of Education – Dr. Cade Brumley on the content components and says this will move students towards being fiscally responsible.

Cut 4 (08)  “…currently getting.” 

The proposed law would be added as part of the qualifications for TOPS and TOPS Tech awards which apply to graduates of public and nonpublic schools. Muscarello says twenty-five states have already implemented this requirement in their curriculum and he’s hopeful Louisiana will be added to that list.

Cut 5 (06) “…this through.”

The legislative session begins on April 10.

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Baton Rouge Police says 45-year-old Derrick Perkins faces additional charges for his involvement with the Georgia businessman Nathan Millard who went missing last month and his body was found wrapped in plastic and a rug on March 6th.  BRPD Sgt L’Jean McKneely says Perkins was already in custody on related charges of Access Device Fraud and investigators learned more about his involvement.

Cut 6 (08)  “…the information.” 

Perkins is also charged with Simple Criminal Damage to Property for burning the car he allegedly used that night and Failure to Seek Assistance in Millard’s death.

Last week Perkins was arrested last week on other charges and never posted bail. McNeely says they believe Millard’s actions in the early morning hours of February 23^rd resulted in his death.

Cut 7 (11)  “…his death.” 

McKneely says investigators believe Perkins was the last person to see Millard alive.

Cut 8 (05)  “…in now.” 

Toxicology results to determine Millard’s exact cause of death are pending.

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There appears to be a happy ending involving the story of Neuty the Nutria. Last week, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries attempted to take the wild animal away from a Jefferson Parish couple who had Neuty as a pet. But L-D-W-F spokesperson Ed Pratt says an agreement has been reached so that the nutria can remain with the family…

Cut 9 (08) “…about this.”

Several elected officials, including Lt Governor Billy Nungesser, said the state shouldn’t take the nutria away from the family. Pratt says the couple has applied for a permit which allows them to keep the animal under certain conditions…

Cut 10 (12) “…the nutria” 

Under state law, it’s illegal to possess a wild animal. But Pratt says L-D-W-F is making an exception in this case…

Cut 11 (09)  “…all sides.”

Details of the permit have not been released.

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The LSU women’s basketball program is headed to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2014. Angel Reese was dominant as she had 25 points and 24 rebounds and the Lady Tigers held Michigan to a season-low for points in a 66-42 win in front of a raucous crowd at the PMAC. Reese on the team’s defensive performance…

Cut 12 (13) “…it was fun.” 

LSU needed a great defensive effort, because they only shot 35-percent from the field. But they made six three-pointers, three of them were made by Jasmine Carson. Coach Kim Mulkey told Carson to look for her shot

Cut 13 (12) “…so big”

LSU will head to Greenville, South Carolina where they’ll play second-seeded Utah on Friday.