The Centers for Disease Control has revised isolation & quarantine guidelines for those who test positive for COVID. What was once 10 days is now 5, provide the person is showing no symptoms and that they wear a mask for five days after isolating for five. LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease expert Dr. Fred Lopez says CDC guidelines are a bit different if you are a health care professional…:

CUT 11          (10)    “…the isolation.”

Gasoline prices are likely to continue to rise as we head into 2022. GasBuddy analyst Patrick DeHaan says oil prices are moving upward and there is optimism that demand for oil may begin to pick up as well…:

CUT 04          (10)    “…head higher.”

He says we could see $4 a gallon by Memorial Day.

2021 certainly saw a lot of … interesting weather in Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says Hurricane Ida in August was far & away the biggest weather story, but some others are worth looking back on too. Like the tornado outbreak that occurred last April. Keim says rarely has the state seen so many twisters within a 48-hour period…:

CUT 08          (11)    “…and northern Louisiana.”

Three men from Sulphur, in Calcasieu Parish, are under arrest for stealing catalytic converters from peoples’ vehicles. The devices can net a thief from $200 to $500, but cost the vehicle owner a lot more to replace. All three men are charged with theft and property damage. Their bail ranges from $60-thousand to $160-thousand. It’s unknown if any of them have made bail.

The forecast for relief at the gas pump remains grim and predictions for spring even more depressing. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01           (33)     “…Thorington.”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins has reinstated face mask orders for all city facilities and employees. Perkins himself has tested positive for the coronavirus and is currently in quarantine. Also, St. Martin Parish has reinstated mask rules as cases surge across the state.

As we say goodbye to 2021, State Climatologist Barry Keim looks back on some of the past year’s biggest weather events. He says Hurricane Ida in August was without a doubt the most significant, but there was also Tropical Storm Claudette; the first Louisiana storm to actually form OVER land. Keim also cites last February’s Arctic air blast…:

CUT 07           (13)     “…Lake Charles sixteen.”

Shreveport posted a record-low 1 degree during that winter storm.

A COVID-depleted New Orleans Saints roster, coupled with an untried rookie quarterback contributed to the Black & Gold’s 20-3 loss to the Miami Dolphins last night. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says QB Ian Book was simply overwhelmed, as the Dolphins pass rush chewed up a makeshift Saints offensive line…:

CUT 13           (10)     “…last night.”

The Saints face Carolina at home next Sunday.

The CDC revises isolation guidelines for those who test positive COVID from 10 days to five days, that’s if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask for at least five more days. LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says the five days begins the day you receive your positive results.

Cut 10 (09)  “…additional days.”

COVID positive tests and injuries resulted in a dismal performance on offense last night as the Saints fell to the Miami Dolphins 20-3. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says it was not a surprise to see the Saints struggle on offense with rookie quarterback Ian Book and only two starting offensive linemen on the field

Cut 12 (09) “…with the Dolphins”  

Book was sacked eight times.

As we say “goodbye” to 2021, State Climatologist Barry Keim looks back on a topsy-turvy year for Louisiana weather. Kevin Gallagher has more…:

Cut 2 (31)…I’m Kevin Gallagher.”  

COVID hospitalizations top 500 in Louisiana today, for a total of 514 an increase of 65 from the previous day. LDH also reports 4,313 new cases and eight new fatalities.

Gas forecasters predict prices at the pump will get worse before they get better. GasBuddy head petroleum analyst Patrick DeHaan says prices in 2022 could linger around the $4 mark should we be able to move past the Omicron variant and the economy continue to hold…:

CUT 03(10)      “…this spring.”

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Louisiana today is $2.99.

As we say “goodbye” to 2021, State Climatologist Barry Keim looks back on a topsy-turvy year for Louisiana weather. Keim says – without a doubt – the top weather story of the past year was Hurricane Ida…:

CUT 06(14)      “…of 1856.”

Also in Keim’s top weather stories, an arctic blast last February that took temperatures in north Louisiana down into single digits, and a two storm that spawned a dozen tornados last April.

New Orleans Police seek the person or persons responsible for shooting & killing a 7-year-old girl Sunday night in Algiers. Little Dillan Burton was riding in a car with her mom when a bullet penetrated the vehicle; striking her in the back. NOPD asks anyone with information to come forward.

The CDC revises isolation guidelines for those who test positive for COVID from 10 days to five days, that’s if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask for at least five more days. LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease specialist Dr. Fred Lopez says when the CDC looked at the data the virus appears to be most contagious in the two days before and three days after symptoms develop…:

CUT 09(09)      “…symptoms develop.”

For a testing location near you, Google the Louisiana Department of Health’s website.

A Tulane University epidemiologist says the big spike in COVID cases over the holiday weekend indicates just how contagious the Omicron variant is.  Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01         (33)    “…Thorington.”

Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lowered the COVID quarantine recommendation from 10 days to just 5 days. Experts are now saying blanket mask orders and reacting to infections numbers are using old metrics, and what’s more relevant now are numbers of deaths and hospitalizations.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the customers of two property insurers who were placed into receivership last month have found new coverage. Those companies are Access Home Insurance and State National Fire Insurance. Donelon says a new company (whose name has not yet been publicly disclosed) will take on most of those 30-thousand policies, pending approval today in a Baton Rouge courtroom. Donelon says they hope to have the deal sealed by Friday…:

CUT 11(11)      “…on a seamless basis.”

Police in New Orleans seek the person who shot & killed a 7-year-old girl Sunday, while she was riding in a car with her mom. They’re looking for a newer model Chevy pickup; white and silver and will gladly accept tips.

Your plans for New Year’s Eve may be under threat of lousy weather again this year. Forecasters say they expect thundershowers to cross the Gulf South Friday and into Saturday; bringing in cooler temperatures by late Sunday night and Monday morning.

Amid a surge of COVID Omicron cases the city of Shreveport reinstates its indoor mask mandate for city buildings and agencies. Mayor Adrian Perkins himself has tested positive for COVID. He says the order is in hopes of mitigating further spread, and more measures could be coming…:

CUT 07(10)      “…safe as well.”

Perkins says, if you think you were exposed to anyone who is sick, get tested right away.

State Health Department officials report just over 12-thousand new cases of COVID over the holiday weekend … and that does not include those who did at-home tests. Tulane University epidemiologist Dr. Susan Hassig says we’re seeing a surge that started with the Thanksgiving weekend…:

CUT 04(12)      “…given location.”

Experts say, for the most part, Omicron seems to be more contagious, but less severe.

Hunters are happy to know that, so far, no cases of Chronic Wasting Disease have presented in the Louisiana deer herd. State Wildlife & Fisheries veterinarian Dr. Jim Lacour says nearly 300 deer – submitted by hunters – have been tested, and all are negative…:

CUT 13(09)      “…get things done.”

CWD has been detected in many deer in neighboring Arkansas.

The Saints seemed destined to lose to the Miami Dolphins last night in the Caesars Superdome, due to a COVID-depleted roster. The final score was 20-3, with rookie quarterback Ian Book getting sacked eight times. Head Coach Sean Payton says the COVID losses were so bad, they had guys on field last night who’d never even practiced with the team…:

CUT 15(15)      “…next week’s game.”

Over the holiday weekend, another 12-thousand cases of COVID-19 reported in Louisiana; a great number of them the highly contagious Omicron variant. Hospitalizations doubled in just a week; from a little over 200, to nearly 450. Tulane University epidemiologist Dr. Susan Hassig says Omicron does have a different clinical presentation compared to the original virus and Delta variant…:

CUT 05         (09)    “…you should get tested.”

Homeowners who were covered by two failed companies – Access Home Insurance and State National Fire Insurance – have a safety net thanks to the state Department of Insurance. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says he’s worked a deal for a new company to take on about 30-thousand properties covered by the two; meaning those property owners will NOT have to resort to the state-owned insurer of last resort, Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance. That company’s rates are, by law, ten percent higher than the private market…:

CUT 10         (12)    “…were able to do.”

Police in New Orleans hope someone can help them identify a pickup truck used in the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl Sunday in Algiers. Little Dillan Burton was shot in the back at about 8:45 Sunday night, as she rode in a car with her mom and a sibling. Cops are seeking a newer model, white & silver Chevy pickup with a hard cover over the bed.

You’ll be required to wear a face mask if you need to visit a city building in Shreveport now due to the rapid increase in cases. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02         (31)    “…Thorington.”

A Tulane University epidemiologist says the alarming increase in COVID cases over the holiday weekend indicates just how contagious the Omicron variant is.  Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 01(33)      “…Thorington.”

Police in New Orleans hope someone can help them identify a pickup truck used in the fatal shooting of a 7-year-old girl Sunday in Algiers. Little Dillan Burton was shot in the back at about 8:45 Sunday night, as she rode in a car with her mom and a sibling. Cops are seeking a newer model, white & silver Chevy pickup with a hard cover over the bed.

Some good news from the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; after four weeks of testing about 270 samples from deer across the state, they haven’t found any incidents of chronic wasting disease. LDWF began testing for CWD earlier this month when cases were reported across the state line in Union County, Arkansas. State Veterinarian Jim LaCour…:

CUT 12(07)      “…that’s good.”

The New Orleans Saints are hoping starting quarterback Taysom Hill will be back for Sunday’s game against Carolina. Rookie Ian Book started Monday night against the Dolphins, and threw a pick six on his second pass in the 20-3 loss. Plus he was sacked eight times in his NFL debut. Coach Sean Payton _ who’s back after a positive COVID test – says it’s hard to evaluate Book’s performance. because they struggled to keep him upright…:

CUT 16(16)      “…what he does.”