Louisiana is seeing Covid cases rise, and the worst flu season in 5 years. Michelle Southern reports now is the time to get updated on vaccines before the holidays…:
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Michelle Southern.”
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In Saturday’s election, 30-year-old political newcomer Davante Lewis defeated three-term incumbent Lambert Boissiere for a seat on the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Both are Democrats. Marsanne Golsby has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Marsanne Golsby”
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State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon is hopeful another incentive program will alleviate the state’s insurance crisis. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Covid cases are on the rise and flu is at its highest level in 5 years, so the Louisiana Department of Health is strongly encouraging residents to get boosters and vaccines before holiday gatherings. LDH reported nearly 4500 new Covid cases in its last count. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter…:
Cut 4 (13) “…COVID-19.”
Kanter says at the start of the month, over 10% of healthcare visits in Louisiana were for flu-like illness. He says now is the time to take precautions…:
Cut 5 (12) “…severe disease.”
The updated COVID-19 boosters are formulated to offer continued protection against the original strain while also offering new protection against the Omicron and other variants. Kanter says getting the shots now will give your body time to bolster immunity before the height of gatherings…:
Cut 6 (12) “…holidays.”
Louisiana residents should also consider getting tested ahead of gatherings. Home testing kits are widely available or you can call 211 to find a test site near you.
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It would only make sense that the state’s favorite crustacean is the topic of ongoing research at Nicholls State. Biosciences Associate Professor Chris Bonvillain says they’ve been looking at how water quality and low oxygen levels impact wild crawfish in the Atchafalaya Basin.
Cut 7 (12) “…at a time.”
And while crawfish are surviving in waters with low-oxygen levels, Bonvillain says they’re maturing smaller in size as a result.
Cut 8 (12) “…smaller eggs.”
Preliminary studies show low oxygen produces fewer eggs and Bonvillain says the next phase of research will look at egg size. He says unhealthy crawfish tend to produce fewer eggs…
Cut 9 (05) “…as well.”
Bonvillian says he’s also received feedback from Louisiana crawfish farmers who say they too are seeing smaller crawfish than in the past.
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Florida’s Legislature begins a special session today to address the state’s property insurance crisis. Thousands of Louisiana property owners are forced to find new private insurance carriers as many companies are either folding or no longer writing policies in Louisiana. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says a possible solution, is an incentive program, similar to the one used after Katrina and Rita, which led to new private insurance companies in Louisiana.
Cut 10 (06) “…last resort.”
Louisiana lawmakers are waiting to see how much money the Revenue Estimating Conference says is available for such a program. The REC is meeting this week.
Donelon says yes, it’s dire but not as bad as it was after Katrina, and it’s not just that some companies have left the state entirely….
Cut 11 (07) “…consumers.”
After Katrina and Rita, Donelon says the state faced a $23.3 billion crisis with a million claims. The last two hurricane seasons total $14 billion and 800-thousand claims.
While those without coverage are forced to turn to Citizens the state’s insurer of last resort, Donelon is hopeful incentives will resolve the insurance crisis.
Cut 12 (12) “…in Citizens today.”
At least 10 insurance companies have left the state in the last year.
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Thirty-year-old progressive policy advocate Davante Lewis unseated three term Public Service Commissioner Lambert Boissiere in a Saturday runoff election for the District Three Public Service Commission seat. Lewis is the first openly LGBTQ person to win elective office in Louisiana, but he does not think his sexual orientation was as a factor in the race.
Cut 13 (13) “…affect them.”
Lewis, of Baton Rouge, says anger about high utility bills and a desire for more renewable energy helped him. He won with 59 percent of the vote. The fifty-seven-year-old Boissiere, of New Orleans, was supported by prominent Democrats including Congressman Troy Carter and Governor John Bel Edwards.
The race received national attention. Lewis was supported by powerful national environmental groups who mounted a massive grassroots campaign and poured money into the race.
Lewis says his first priority will be to try to reinstate a rule the PSC repealed in 2018 allowing net metering for solar power. He says net metering credits solar panel owners for the electricity they add to the grid.
Cut 14 (06) “…credit back.”
Lewis says only two percent of the energy used in Louisiana comes from renewable sources.
Cut 15 (08) “…the grid.”
Lewis’s election doesn’t change the commission’s political ratio. There are still three Republicans and two Democrats.
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The 2022 Prep Classic saw two of the state’s winningest coaches win a state championship. Jim Hightower has been involved in over 500 games and he’s never seen a finish like the one he experienced on Friday as his St. Thomas More Cougars rallied from 10 points down in the final two minutes to stun Lafayette Christian 52-48. Hightower says it was a wild finish…
Cut 16 (16) “..pretty special”
Louisiana’s winningest coach, J-T Curtis, captured his 27th state championship on Saturday night as the John Curtis Patriots blanked Brother Martin 23-0 nothing. Curtis saw his veer offense grind out a 99-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, which set the tone…
Cut 17 (11) “….played very hard”
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The Pelicans won their seventh straight last night as they defeated the Suns 129 to 124. New Orleans also beat Phoenix on Friday in the Smoothie King Center and with an 18-and-8 record the Pels have the best record in the Western Conference. Zion Williamson says it a nice accomplishment for December…
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Williamson has been outstanding during this seven game winning streak and he scored 35 points in yesterday’s overtime win. In O-T, Pelican fans chanted “M-V-P” when Zion was at the free throw line. Williamson says he loves feeling the love from the home fans…
Cut 19 (18) “….way they do”
Williamson has scored 30 or more points four times during this seven-game winning streak. Coach Willie Green is impressed with the former number one pick is doing, especially after missing all of last year with a foot injury…
Cut 20 (20) “…with us”
The Pels begin a three-game road trip in Utah on Tuesday.