Shipping delays have been an ongoing issue for businesses due to the pandemic but with the holiday season just over two months away, economist Dr. Loren Scott says it might be wise to get started on Christmas shopping now…:

CUT 07(12)      “…the smartest thing”

He says last-minute shoppers may end up being the empty-handed Grinch this year.

A new coronavirus variant has been detected in Louisiana. LSU-Shreveport doctor of genomics Krista Queen says the B 1.630 variant has been found in samples from Baton Rouge, which have mutations they’re observing…:

CUT 12(11)      “…low percentage.”

There’s cautious optimism as the sugarcane harvest ramps up in south Louisiana. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says the harvest is getting off to a soggy start as many fields are muddy as a result of a wet 2021…:

CUT 03(12)      “…field out.”

A former Louisiana State Police trooper accused of violating a man’s civil rights during a May 2019 arrest pleaded Not Guilty today, during his arraignment in federal court. Jacob Brown is charged with deprivation of rights under color of law. He’s accused of beating Aaron Bowman with a flashlight; causing a broken jaw, three broken ribs, a broken wrist and a gash to his head. Brown also faces criminal charges for the incident.

Citing the ill effects of COVID on education, BESE has voted to set aside its letter grade school performance evaluations this year. The U.S. Department of Education must approve BESE’s plan.

A new COVID virus variant has been detected in the state. Dr. Krista Queen Director- Viral Genomics and Surveillance at LSU Health Shreveport says they discovered the so-called B 1.630 variant in samples from the Baton Rouge area. She says this is a first for Louisiana, and less than 100 total cases have been detected across the USA…:

CUT 14(10)      “…watch closely”

Social Security benefits will increase by 5.9 percent with the Cost-of-Living Adjustment announced today by the agency. Troy Broussard, with AARP in Louisiana, says it marks the largest COLA in four decades…:

CUT 09(10)      “prescription drug costs”

It’s hard to think about the holidays when it still feels like summer, but one economist suggests getting in the holiday mode quick unless you want to hear “Bah! Humbug!” this year. Brooke Thorington explains…:

CUT 01(30)      “…Thorington.”

Ascension Parish D.A. Ricky Babin says he’s likely to ask for the death penalty for accused cop-killer Matthew Mire. Mire is alleged to have shot and killed State Police Trooper Adam Gaubert and a Gonzales woman, and wounding three others during a violent spree early last Saturday morning. Mire will face charges in Ascension, Livingston and East Baton Rouge Parishes.

There will be more money in the pockets of Social Security recipients come next year.  More from Dave Brannen….:

CUT 02(31)      “…Brannen.”

Louisiana’s Board of Elementary & Secondary Education has voted to put aside the letter grading system for public school performance. The reason? The coronavirus pandemic and its effect on education. Performance scores normally released in November will not be this year. The federal Education Department must approve of the move, something of which state officials are fairly certain.

There’s yet another variant of the COVID virus in Louisiana; the so-called B 1.630 variant found in samples taken in Baton Rouge. Dr. Krista Queen, with LSU Health in Shreveport, says less than 100 cases have been detected nationwide…:

CUT 13(12)      “…very best tool.”

She says it’s too early yet to tell if vaccines will need tweaking to cover the new variant.

Cooler and drier weather will enter the Bayou State this weekend – just in time for what remains of the sugarcane harvest, which has begun with some pretty wet conditions. LSU AgCenter sugar specialist Ken Gravois says the cool front comes at a good time as there’s still a good chance for producers to make money off this crop…:

CUT 05(09)      “…cane mature.”

A new COVID variant has been detected in the state. Dr. Krista Queen Director- Viral Genomics and Surveillance at LSU Health Shreveport says they discovered the B 1.630 variant in samples from the Baton Rouge area which has mutations they are observing.

Cut 12 (11) “….low percentage.”  

Social Security benefits will increase by 5.9 percent with the Cost-of-Living adjustment announced today by the agency. Troy Broussard with AARP in Louisiana says it marks the largest increase in four decades. Broussard praises Social Security for realizing the need for such a significant increase in monthly benefits.

Cut  11 (10)  “…to do it”  

Shipping delays have been an ongoing issue for businesses due to the pandemic but with the holiday season just over two months away Economist Loren Scott says last-minute shoppers could be in trouble this year. He says in the past retailers have saved money by ordering “just in time inventory,” which meant goods were brought in when they were absolutely needed. But with shipping delays and a backlog at ports, Scott says many retailers might adjust their business model.

Cut 8 (06) “…in the past.”

There’s cautious optimism as the sugarcane harvest ramps up in south Louisiana. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says the harvest is getting off to a soggy start as many fields are muddy as a result of a wet 2021. He expects the tonnage will be off this year because of a damp growing season…

Cut 4 (10) “…on the tonnage.”

It’s hard to think about holidays when it still feels like summer in the Bayou State, but one economist says you need to get in holiday mode ASAP unless you want to hear Bah humbug this year. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Social Security benefits will increase by 5.9 percent with the Cost-of-Living adjustment announced today by the agency. Troy Broussard with AARP in Louisiana says it marks the largest increase in four years. He says the COLA increase is something that will be welcomed by those who solely rely on SSI payments and those who don’t.

Cut 10  (10)   “…here in Louisiana.”

There’s cautious optimism as the sugarcane harvest ramps up in south Louisiana. LSU AgCenter sugarcane specialist Kenneth Gravois says the harvest is getting off to a soggy start as many fields are muddy as a result of a wet 2021

cut 3 (12) “….fields out”

2020 was a stellar year for the industry as the American Sugar Cane League estimates 463-thousand acres of cane were harvested, with an average of 85-hundred pounds of sugar produced per acre. Gravois expects the tonnage will be off this year because of a damp growing season…

Now a check on today commodities….

Social Security benefits will increase by 5.9 percent with the Cost-of-Living adjustment announced today by the agency. Troy Broussard with AARP in Louisiana says it marks the largest increase in four decades.

Cut 9  (10)  “…prescription drug costs.”

The increase takes effect in January, with benefit payments to reflect a 5.9 percent hike in the current benefit being paid out to each recipient.

Shipping delays have been an ongoing issue for businesses due to the pandemic but with the holiday season just over two months away Economist Loren Scott says if you’re a last-minute shopper you really could end up being the Grinch this year.

Cut 6 (09) “…until November.” 

While Scott says he doesn’t see shelves being completely empty for retailers, he does however anticipate a problem if you are looking for a specific gift.

Today is the last day for those in Ida impacted parishes to call in for DSNAP interviews. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

A new Covid-19 variant has been detected in Louisiana.  That word today from LSU Health Shreveport’s Center of Excellence for Emerging Viral Threats.  It was discovered by the Viral Genomics and Sequencing Lab and is being called B.1.630.  It was sequenced last week from two samples collected in Baton Rouge. It was first detected in the U.S. in March of this year. So far, the predominance of the variant is said to be low.

Today is the final day to apply for disaster food stamps for residents living in 25 parishes impacted by Hurricane Ida. DCFS Assistant Secretary Shavanna Howard says It’s an income-eligible-based program and they look at your income from August 26th to September 24th…

Cut 5 (10) “…DNSAP benefits.”
Calls today are open for all last names until 6 PM.

It continues to be difficult for small businesses to see things return to what’s considered pre-pandemic normal. In addition to a labor shortage Dawn McVea, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business says the amount of goods available for stores to sell is also a problem.

Cut 9 (08)  “…is an issue.”

Services will be held Saturday to honor the life of Master Trooper Adam Gaubert, who was killed in the line of duty. His funeral will be Saturday at St. George Catholic Church in Baton Rouge. Trooper Kate Stegall says visitation will be Friday evening at Resthaven Funeral home and on Saturday morning before the 11 am service.

Cut 10 (07)  “…church.” 

The procession will begin at 8 am and the public is invited to assemble along the drive.

LSU-Shreveport is offering a course on Careers in the Legal Cannabis industry. Dr. Julie Lessiter, Vice-Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives for LSUS says as more areas see legalization become a reality, interest is growing in the industry and the course can be taken no matter where you live.

Cut 14 (11)  “…this class too.”