Louisiana U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s looking to the Centers for Disease Control to offer up some guidance on how safe from COVID a person may be if they’ve already had it. He says worldwide research suggests previous exposure and illness can produce a natural immunity. Cassidy has suggested to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky they should look into that. He says she verified other countries are saying, “yes, natural immunity is a thing”…:

CUT 13  (11)        “…or restaurant.”

The federal Food & Drug Administration approves a new pill to take for COVID from Pfizer. Called “Paxlovid”, it reduced serious symptoms by about 89-percent in human testing. It’ll be available by prescription only, and is expected to be in pretty short supply at first … as production of the pills ramps up. COVID Omicron cases are on the rise in Louisiana and across the country.

KNOE in Monroe reports a man wanted for murdering a woman in the Ouachita Parish city back in November has been apprehended in Houston. 32-year-old Nelson Bridges is accused of the shooting death of 29-year-old Jessica Lee on November 15^th. He’ll be extradited back to Ouachita, where he’ll face a 2^nd-degree murder charge.

The U.S. Census Bureau says Louisiana continues to lose people to other states; a trend that’s been going on for years. More on that from Dave Brannen…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Brannen.”

Along with state offices resuming the requirement of face masks indoors, hospitals are beginning to reinstate mask policies as well. Brooke Thorington has more…:

CUT 02 (33)      “…Thorington.”

You remember the Shreveport woman who tossed her kids off a bridge into Cross Lake back in September; killing one of them? Ureka Black is charged with murder and attempted murder. Her arraignment, which was scheduled for today, has been pushed back until late January. Her lawyers have filed a sanity motion, and that psych evaluation will take that long.

The coroner in St. Charles Parish nails down causes of death for two bodies found in drainage ditches in the town of Boutte within days of each other. On December 17^th, the remains of 31-year-old Ellington Lockett were discovered. He was stabbed to death. Just three days later, 52-year-old Leroy Houston, Jr. was found. He died of natural causes, exacerbated by illegal drugs in his system. The former’s murder is under investigation.

If you haven’t done the Christmas dinner grocery shopping yet, be prepared to pay a good bit more. Inflation of food items is at about 6.8-percent compared to last year. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says he doesn’t anticipate any break in prices soon…:

CUT 11  (08)        “…we call input costs.”

Serving turkey? Expect to pay about 8-percent more. Beef is up nearly 21-percent this year.

Salvation Army of Lafayette says they’re behind their holiday donation goal, so they’ll stay out; ringing the bells and thanking you for your generosity right through New Year’s Eve. You can donate online at “Lafyettekettle.org”

Unfortunate news: one of Louisiana’s top exports is PEOPLE. U.S. Census data shows our state ranked fifth in the country for outmigration of populace. From July 2020 to July 2021, the Bayou State lost over 27-thousand people. Demographer Greg Rigamer says if the trend continues, the state will lose another seat in Congress eventually…:

CUT 05  (05)        “…a probability.”

Louisiana went from seven congressional districts to six after the 2010 Census.

Face mask requirements are returning to state offices and agencies, AND to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge, where infectious disease specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal says get the jab and/or booster and mask up, because treatment options are limited right now…:

CUT 08  (09)        “…short supply”

She also urges you get tested for a COVID variant before spending holiday time with family.

Louisiana U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy says he’s waiting for the Centers for Disease Control to provide guidance on the degree of risk from COVID, if one has had it before. He says research worldwide suggests some natural immunity for those who’ve recovered from coronavirus..:

CUT 12  (11)        “…some protection.”

Cassidy says he’s uncertain why CDC seems reluctant to publicly discuss natural immunity.

Doing some last-minute shopping for Christmas dinner? Some tips to help from state Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain; particularly if you’re serving a turkey…:

CUT 10  (09)        “…wonderful Christmas time.”

Strain says the over 6.8-percent inflation rate is causing a spike in the costs of this year’s Christmas dinner, and he’s not expecting prices to come down anytime soon.

Along with state offices requiring face masks indoors, hospitals are beginning to reinstate mask policies. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (33)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

Louisiana is continuing an unfortunate trend of losing population to other states according to Census Bureau data.  Demographer Greg Rigamer says economic factors primarily played a role in the Bayou State ranking fifth in out-migration comparing 2020 to 2021 figures. Rigamer says people are leaving the state by and large in search of bettering their future.

Cut 4 (09) “…a better life.”

He says that some have also left because of the continuing hit by catastrophic hurricanes.

There’s improvement to report in Louisiana’s job market. So says Ava Cates, Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission, who notes some of the improvement that’s taken place since Hurricane Ida struck, and despite COVID-19.

Cut 21 (08) “….over the year.”

Cates says the November jobless report shows a slight decline from October, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate now at five-point-one percent.

As you head out to do your last-minute shopping for Christmas dinner, Mike Strain, Louisiana’s AG Secretary, says you really shouldn’t have much trouble finding what you need, including the right size turkey.

Cut 9 (10) “…food products available.”

The only downside to all this is inflation has pushed up the price of most everything you’ll need for your meal.

Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge is requiring all to wear face masks. Infectious disease specialist at the Lake Dr. Catherine O’Neal while there are reports that symptoms from the Omicron variant aren’t as bad as Delta and not as many are being hospitalized, it’s still too early to know the impacts of the newest variant.

Cut 7 (12) “…everybody has it.”  

And another reason to mask up is because the monoclonal antibody infusion treatments they have are only for the Delta variant.

State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says the CDC recommends indoor masking for everyone regardless of vaccination status in areas with high or substantial community transmission.

Cut 13 (10) “…of transmission.”

Today the state reports 2,205 new COVID cases and 272 are currently hospitalized an increase of 33-percent from this time last week.

The Census Bureau says Louisiana is continuing to lose people to other states, a trend that’s been going on for years.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Dave Brannen.”

A Louisiana businessman’s legal fight to stop the White House COVID vaccine mandate for employers is going to the U.S. Supreme Court. More from Kevin Gallagher…:

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Gallagher.” 

In addition to state offices returning to indoor masking requirements, Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge is requiring all to wear face masks. Infectious disease specialist at the Lake Dr. Catherine O’Neal says the rapid increase in cases forced them to return to face masks.

 Cut 6 (12) “…home for 10 days” 

Governor Edwards extended the indoor mask mandate for state agencies on Tuesday.

Louisiana faces several challenges in its efforts to address domestic violence, according to a Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report. In 2017 Louisiana had the second-highest number of female homicides with more than half killed by an intimate partner. Performance Auditor Kristen Jacobs says adequate shelter for victims is a major issue.

Cut 10 (11)  “…the state.”

Louisiana is continuing an unfortunate trend of losing population to other states according to Census Bureau data.  Demographer Greg Rigamer says economic factors primarily played a role in the Bayou State ranking fifth in out-migration comparing 2020 to 2021 figures.

Cut 3 (10) “…doing much better.”

Louisiana’s percent of population decline for the year-long period was six-tenths of a percent, sixth highest in the nation.

As COVID cases begin to tick upwards again Governor Edwards puts indoor face masks back in effect for state offices and State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says you should wear a mask indoors to reduce transmission, especially for those who are more susceptible to the virus.

Cut 15 (09)  “…individuals as well.”

Louisiana businessman Brandon Trosclair is asking the U-S Supreme Court to hear his lawsuit that seeks to stop President Biden’s vaccine worker mandate for businesses that have more than 100 employees. Attorney Sarah Harbison with the Pelican Institute says the 5th circuit federal appeals court agreed to suspend the mandate, but that ruling was recently dissolved by another appeals court

Cut 7 (09) “…evaluate the case.”
There’s an improvement to report in Louisiana’s job market. So says Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Cates, who notes some of the improvement that’s taken place since Hurricane Ida struck, and despite COVID-19.

Cut 4 (08) “….over the year.”
The leisure and hospitality sector gained 27-hundred jobs from October to November.

Louisiana faces several challenges in its efforts to address domestic violence, according to a Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report. Performance Auditor Kristen Jacobs says while the state has added a number of very strong domestic abuse laws, knowledge of the laws and oversight is an issue.

Cut 12 (08) “…next session.”

Adequate shelters for abuse victims is another ongoing issue in the state.

Governor Edwards extends the state’s public health emergency order requiring face masks to be worn inside state agencies due to the increase in Omicron cases. State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol says going into the holidays there are fears it will only make things worse and we need to return to indoor masking to reduce transmission.

Cut 14 (11)  “…indoor public setting.”

Louisiana businessman Brandon Trosclair is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to end the Biden Administration’s COVID vaccination mandate for private businesses. Pelican Institute Attorney Sarah Harbison is representing Trosclair.

Cut 8 (16) “…their personal physicians.”

There’s improvement to report in Louisiana’s job market. Secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Ava Cates says seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs show a gain of 85-hundred and an estimated gain of just under 35-thousand jobs from November of 2020. She says job gains are being seen in a broad range of industries.

Cut 5 (08) “…mining and logging.”

The unemployment rate has dropped for eight consecutive months with an over-the-year employment gain.

Louisiana faces several challenges in its efforts to address domestic violence, according to a Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s report. Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Executive Director Mariah Wineski says while there are numerous challenges in the state, she says the report highlights the dire ones.

Cut  11 (12)  “…statistic.”