The state reports 2,247 COVID hospitalizations today, topping yesterday’s all-time record and under 48-uhundred new cases and 44 fatalities.

COVID has been historically associated with cough, fever, and shortness of breath, but these days in the Delta surge more and more people are suffering symptoms that you wouldn’t expect. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30)…I’m Matt Doyle”  

An early morning crash in St. Tammany Parish claims the lives of two teens and leaves two others hospitalized. Saint Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Captain Lance Vitter says the four young girls were occupants of a 2019 Honda Civic that left the roadway, struck two trees, a telephone pole, and other stationary objects. Vitter says it’s unknown if one of the fatalities included the driver of the vehicle.

Cut 10 (08) “…horrific.”

The tropics have been quiet lately, but NOAA’s climate prediction center still predicts an above-average hurricane season with 15 to 21 named storms. In May NOAA predicted 13 to 20 named storms. But lead seasonal hurricane forecaster Matthew Rosencrans says that’s not the 30 named storms recorded during the historic 2020 season…

Cut 5 (12) “…last year.”

COVID hospitalizations in the state exceed 22-hundred today toppling yesterday’s all-time record. The Louisiana Department of Health reports more than 47-hundred new COVID-19 cases today and says the state positivity rate is the highest it’s been since April of 2020.

Vaccinated people were not excluded from the statewide mask mandate that goes into effect today. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

An early morning crash in St. Tammany Parish claims the lives of two young girls and leaves two others hospitalized. Saint Tammany Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Captain Lance Vitter says the one-vehicle accident on Guste Island Road west of Madisonville happened shortly after midnight and two young girls were pronounced dead on the scene.

Cut 9 (12) “…community”

Vitter says the vehicle struck several stationary objects and the cause remains under investigation.

Grambling State University utilizes federal pandemic recovery funds to pay off 1.5 million dollars in student account balances accrued from spring 2020 through the summer of 2021. Associate VP of Finance Sheliah Faucette says they want to attract students back to the famed Historically Black University.

Cut 6 (09) “..careers.” 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has revised its hurricane forecast for this season and it’s now calling for 15-to-21 named storms, seven to ten hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes. NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster Matthew Rosencrans says the potential return of a La Nina favors storm development…
cut 4 (08) “…storms”
The 2021 season has already produced five named storms.

The U-S Senate is working towards approving a one-point-two trillion-dollar infrastructure bill that Senator Bill Cassidy says will mean six billion dollars in funding for Louisiana. Cassidy says that’s enough money to fund several important highway construction projects…
cut 12 (13) “….Florida parishes”

Ochsner Health is trying to help dispel vaccine misinformation for women of childbearing age. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

LSU has told its students that if they are unvaccinated, they’ll have to test every month for COVID during the fall semester.

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff deputies say two juveniles were killed in a car crash just after midnight near Madisonville. Two other juveniles were also inside the vehicle and they were rushed to a nearby hospital.

A statewide indoor mask mandate for everyone five years old and up went into effect today. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says this includes vaccinated individuals, because every bit of mitigation helps…
cut 9 (08) “…un vaccinated”
Unvaccinated individuals account for 90 percent of all new COVID cases.

Physicians at Ochsner Health are working to dispel common myths and misinformation about COVID vaccines, especially among women of childbearing age. OBGYN Dr. Jane Martin, who was vaccinated for COVID during her own pregnancy, says the data shows vaccines are safe for pregnant women…
Cut 4 (11) “…outcomes.”

In-person job fairs hosted by the Louisiana Workforce Commission are being held across the state today. It’s part of the Back to Work Louisiana Campaign. L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates says if you are not qualified for a particular job, there are training programs to get you certified…
cut 14 (11) “….that job”
For more information go to Louisiana works-dot net.

The tropics have been quiet lately, but NOAA’s climate prediction center still predicts an above-average hurricane season with 15 to 21 named storms. Lead seasonal hurricane forecaster Matthew Rosencrans…
cut 3 (10) “….five”
The season has already produced five named storms and one hurricane.

A statewide indoor mask mandate is back in place today as Louisiana leads the nation for the number of new COVID cases per capita. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says those who are vaccinated are about eight times less likely to be infected in the first place…
cut 8 (10) “…with Delta”
Kanter says that’s why vaccinated individuals are also being asked to mask up while indoors.

The U-S Senate is working towards approving a one-point-two trillion-dollar infrastructure bill that Senator Bill Cassidy says will mean six billion dollars in funding for Louisiana. Cassidy says that’s enough money to fund several important highway construction projects…
cut 12 (13) “….Florida parishes”

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is hosting several in-person job fairs today as the state looks to return unemployed workers to the workforce…
cut 3 (31) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

The CDC has issued a new 60-day eviction ban. The ban applies to counties or parishes experiencing extremely high levels of COVID like Louisiana. State officials over 60-thousand households have applied for rental assistance, but only eleven thousand have been approved.

Louisiana’s statewide indoor mask mandate goes into effect today. The governor announced on Monday that he was reinstating the mask mandate as hospitals are struggling to keep up with the growing number of COVID patients. Vaccinated people are not excluded from the mask mandate. Matt Doyle has more…
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And the state has a record number of people hospitalized as a result of COVID, 2,112. The state also reported 59 new COVID deaths yesterday.

Pregnant women are among the group of individuals who are hesitant to get the COVID vaccine. Research previously indicated among non-COVID vaccines during pregnancy, that the mother will pass along protective antibodies through the placenta and breast milk to their child. Ochsner Baptist OBGYN Doctor Jane Martin says data also shows it’s the same for COVID vaccinations.
Cut 6 (09) “…breast milk.”
Ochsner healthcare providers say they are seeing an increase of younger unvaccinated patients along with pregnant patients who do not have a preexisting condition, being admitted to the hospital.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is holding in-person job fairs in every major metro area of the state today. L-W-C Secretary Ava Cates says job seekers should bring a resume, I-D, and any certifications or other professional credentials…
cut 15 (07) “…best face”
For more informaation go to la-works-dot-net.

The statewide mask mandate takes effect today and both the unvaccinated and vaccinated will have to return to masking up while indoors. Many vaccinated individuals question why they have to wear a mask again. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says there’s growing evidence that vaccinated individuals who get COVID can spread the virus…
Cut 7 (08) “…days later.”
The number of people hospitalized in Louisiana due to COVID has reached an all-time high and the state health department reported 59 more COVID deaths yesterday.

Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the Infrastructure bill that Senators are working to pass contains over six billion dollars in funding that would go to Louisiana over a five-year period. Cassidy says the legislation also contains three-point-five billion dollars in flood mitigation assistance grants…
cut 11 (08) “…our state”

Ochsner Health is trying to help dispel vaccine misinformation for women of childbearing age. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office says two juveniles were killed in a car crash just after midnight near Madisonville. Two other juveniles were also inside the vehicle and they were rushed to a nearby hospital. Names of the victims or a cause of the crash have not been released.

Governor John Bel Edwards’s indoor mask mandate takes effect today, one day after the state set a record for the number of COVID patients in the hospital. Health officials continue to encourage everyone over the age of 12 to get the COVID vaccine and that includes pregnant women. Ochsner Baptist OBGYN Doctor Jane Martin got vaccinated during her own pregnancy. She says she made that decision after seeing many pregnant women hospitalized with COVID and data confirming the increased risk…
cut 5 (11) “….same age”

The U-S Senate is working on a one-point-two trillion-dollar infrastructure bill that Senator Bill Cassidy says will send six billion dollars to Louisiana to improve roads and bridges….
cut 10 (07) “….raising taxes”
Senators have proposed using 200-million dollars in money already earmarked for pandemic relief to help pay for this legislation.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is hosting job fairs in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houma, Monroe, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Alexandria, and Shreveport today. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”