The state health department reported over one-thousand COVID cases among nursing home residents last week, an increase of about 300 from the week before. But state health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says there is some good news…
Cut 14 (10) “…residents.”

A leading provider of online health care to women is now available in Louisiana. Nurx delivers online consultations with medical professionals, pharmacy services and specialized care; all via the Internet. Dr. Adrienne Robertson says they are ready to assist with a number of women’s health needs…:
cut 4 (14) “….anti-aging services”
For more information go to Nurx-dot-com.

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a press conference at 2 PM today as he’ll release details of his spending plan for the next fiscal year. It’s expected to contain more dollars for education. Louisiana Federation of Teachers legislative director Cynthia Posey also hopes legislators will address some of the education reforms that have forced a lot of teachers out of the profession. She says it’s difficult for teachers to have their voices heard when the legislative session begins…
cut 11 (12) “….legislative committee”

Today marks the beginning of tax season as Louisiana residents can begin filing their state and federal returns. Though the process can seem complicated, Certified Public Accountant Conner Brown says a little information can go a long way to helping you maximize your return and minimize what you owe.
Cut 7 (7) “…taxable income.”
The federal tax day is April 18th, while the deadline to file state taxes is May 16th.

Cynthia Posey, Legislative Director for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers is hopeful lawmakers will address the needs of educators in the upcoming legislative session, if not she fears the teacher shortage will continue to grow. Posey says education reforms over the last decade are only hurting students and driving away teachers.
Cut 10 (12) “…isn’t working.”
Posey says among the concerns is the amount of paperwork teachers are burdened with in addition to low pay.

Similar to hospitals nursing homes are feeling the impacts of Omicron. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says COVID cases are not only impacting residents but those who take care of them.
Cut 13 (08) “…settings are.”
Last week the health department reported more than 1,000 cases among nursing home residents, an increase of about 300 from the week before.

A leading provider of online health care to women is now available in Louisiana. Kevin Gallagher reports on what “Nurx” has to offer…:
Cut 1 (36) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”

State Police is investigating an officer-involved fatal shooting involving the Lafayette Police Department. L-S-P says a subject was shot last night after 11 PM in the 16-hundred block of Pinhook Road. No officers were injured and no other details were released.

Freezing weather will continue into the rest of the weekend in Louisiana with temperatures remaining only in the 40s. State climatologist Barry Keim says it will begin to warm up on Sunday, but until then take the usual precautions when it gets this cold…
Cut 5 (10) “…exposed lines.”
Hard freeze warnings are posted for this morning
And a new partnership between the Crescent River Port Pilots and the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Associations is increasing awareness of career opportunities in the maritime industry for minorities. Captain Roy Vance says the newly formed alliance will be making an aggressive effort to increase awareness and most importantly, fill those jobs.
Cut 8 (12) “…get the word out.”

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The state health department is now reporting reinfections on its COVID dashboard. There are more than 49-thousand in Louisiana now and almost 14-hundred were added Friday. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the state is following the CDC’s definition.
Cut 9 (12) “…as a reinfection.”
Boosters are advised for ages 12 and up, at least five months after the second dose of either the Pfizer of Moderna vaccines and at least two months after a Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

And the low temperatures in South Louisiana will make it more difficult to catch crawfish which don’t grow when it’s this cold. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says temperatures are getting into the 40s today, so this arctic blast is just a hiccup for what should be a great crawfish season…
Cut 15 (11) “…crawfish”
LRN

The state adds COVID reinfections to the dashboard and the Omicron variant has caused them to grow considerably. Brooke Thorington explains.
Cut 2 (34)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
And today’s cold temperatures are expected to continue for the remainder of the weekend. State climatologist Barry Keim says hard freeze and freeze warnings are posted for Louisiana this morning…
Cut 4 (10) “…across the whole state.”
Temperatures will only be in their 40s today
LRN
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A new partnership between the Crescent River Port Pilots and the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Associations aims to increase awareness of career opportunities in the state’s maritime industry for African-Americans and other minorities. Captain Roy Vance says that these jobs are not limited to on-ship positions and people from any number of backgrounds have the opportunity to find a job suited to their skills.
Cut 7 (11) “…to choose from.”
And with temperatures dropping down to the 20s in southeast Louisiana strawberry producers are expected to be impacted. Before this weekend, Louisiana was experiencing a mild winter, which Tangipahoa Parish Associate Extension Agent Mary Helen Ferguson says has allowed some strawberry growers to begin picking berries…
Cut 13 (09) “…back on.”
LRN

A new partnership aims to expand career opportunities in Louisiana’s thriving maritime industry. David Grubb has more.
Cut 1 (33) “…I’m David Grubb.”
And today’s cold temperatures are just the beginning of a frigid weekend in Louisiana. State climatologist Barry Keim says high temperatures will only be in the 40s today.
Cut 3 (04) “…this time of year.”
Freeze warnings will continue throughout the morning and another freeze is expected next week

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Reinfections are now reported on the state health COVID dashboard. These are included in the total case count which surpassed one million this week since the pandemic began. State Health Officer Dr. JoeKanter says they’ve been tracking reinfections since they started but Omicron caused reinfections to surge.

Cut 10 (10) “….boosters.”
And temperatures will get down to the low-to-mid 20s in southeast Louisiana this weekend where strawberries are produced. But Tangipahoa Parish Associate Extension Agent Mary Helen Ferguson says producers are prepared for below-freezing temps…
Cut 12 (11) “..protection.”
in addition to strawberries, the cold weather this weekend makes it hard for crawfish farmers to catch mudbugs that don’t grow in these temperatures.
LRN

Today’s cold temperatures are just the beginning of a frigid weekend in Louisiana. State climatologist Barry Keim says what may be the season’s coldest weather begins tonight and will last until morning…:

CUT 04(10)      “…across the whole state”

Another freeze is coming Sunday morning, then a slight warming to start the workweek.

The mild winter has allowed for boil-worthy crawfish in January. But Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says this weekend’s cold weather will make it difficult for crawfish farmers to catch mudbugs, but with high temperatures getting into the 40s the arctic blast is just a hiccup for what should be a great season…

Cut 15 (11) “…crawfish” 

A new partnership aims to expand career opportunities in Louisiana’s thriving maritime industry. David Grubb has more…:

CUT 01(33)  “…David Grubb.”

In Ascension Parish, a Gonzales man is under arrest for animal cruelty, after photos were posted online of his dog chained up in the back yard with no shelter. Neighbors also say they’ve frequently heard Frank Bell Jr. beating dogs. Bell’s dogs have been removed from the property. Most people don’t want to be outside in this weather, neither do pets.

The state health department is now reporting reinfections on its COVID dashboard. There are more than 49-thousand of those in Louisiana now, and almost 14-hundred were added Friday. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says the state is following the CDC’s definition…:

CUT 09(12)      “…as a reinfection.”

Kanter says boosters will give you Delta-level protection against Omicron COVID.

Today’s cold temperatures are just the beginning of a frigid weekend in Louisiana. State climatologist Barry Keim says high temperatures will only be in the 40s today and tomorrow..:

CUT 03(04)      “…this time of year.”

Overnight lows will go into the 20’s for much of the state. Things will start to warm up a bit by Sunday afternoon. Freezing precip is not expected.

So, with all this freezing weather, what’s the concern for the state’s strawberry crop? Tangipahoa Parish Extension Agent Mary Helen Ferguson says berry farmers ARE prepared…:

CUT 12(11)      “…ten degrees of protection.”

Because of the warm weather earlier this winter, some farmers have already picked a large portion of their crops.

A new partnership between the Crescent River Port Pilots and the New Orleans-Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Associations seeks to increase awareness of career opportunities in the state’s maritime industry for African-Americans and other minorities. Captain Roy Vance believes the industry has flown under the radar for too long…:

CUT 06(13)      “…life-changing jobs.”