Louisiana will receive about 325 million dollars over the next two decades as part of a nationwide settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
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The state’s largest hospital system plans to require all employees to be vaccinated for COVID in the near future. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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The State Republican Party is threatening repercussions for Republican lawmakers who broke rank during the veto session. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”
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Louisiana is seeing rising cases and hospitalizations as it’s going through a Delta-fueled COVID surge and according to the personal finance website WalletHub, Louisiana is the least safe state in the country. WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzales says this is due to Louisiana’s poor performance in five key areas.
Cut 4 (13) “…most of them.”
Gonzales says that Louisiana’s rise in Covid deaths is due to the state’s low number of people getting vaccinated.
Cut 5 (08) “…death rate.”
The state has said 97-percent of COVID deaths since February are from unvaccinated patients. Gonzales also believes that higher vaccination rates could ultimately help the state’s economy.
Cut 6 (08) “…in person.”
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A 36 billion dollar settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers will direct 325 million dollars to Louisiana over the next 18 years to help address the impacts of the opioid epidemic.
Attorney General Jeff Landry says the agreement was struck with Johnson and Johnson, McKesson, Cardinal, and AmerisourceBergen.
Cut 7 (07) “…crisis.”
The CDC estimates that nationwide 841,000 Americans died of an opioid overdose between 1999 and 2019. Landry says while the settlement is appreciated…
Cut 8 (07) “…crisis.”
A Landry-backed plan to use the money to fund an expansion in drug courts was vetoed by Governor Edwards. Landry says they’re now looking to work with local governments one on one…
Cut 9 (08) “…addicted.”
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The nation’s largest hospital association is calling for all hospital staff to be vaccinated as COVID cases surge once again across the country. And the state’s largest hospital system, says they plan to follow the recommendation of the American Hospital Association. Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas….
Cut 10 (12) “…the FDA.”
At this time none of the three COVID vaccines used in the U-S have received full approval from the FDA, and it’s unclear when they will be approved. Ochsner says 61-percent of staff are vaccinated and the new restrictions will be added soon for the remaining 39-percent of staff.
Thomas says they are presently forgoing requiring mandatory vaccines for staff for fear of legal repercussions, but once full approval is authorized it will be enforced.
Thomas says, as for their patients, approximately 97-percent of admissions with COVID are unvaccinated.
Cut 11 (06) “…population.”
Ochsner, like other healthcare facilities in the state, has updated their visitation policies amid the surge in cases. Thomas says as COVID hospitalizations increase, it’s weighing on staff as the facility continues to stay open for Non-COVID patients as well.
Cut 12 (06) “…surge.”
Thomas says the decision to require staff to be fully vaccinated has been influenced by the hospital system’s high rate of unvaccinated patients being admitted with COVID complications.
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Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Louis Gervich threatened that there will be consequences for the failure to override any of the Governor’s vetoes during the recent session.
Gervich threatened recalls and suggested there be electoral challenges against Republicans who broke rank. LSU Shreveport Political Science Professor Jeffery Sadow…
Cut 13 (05) “…2023.”
Three Republican Senators changed their regular session support for “constitutional carry” legislation and one didn’t show up for the vote. On the transgender athlete bill one Republican House member joined with Democrats in voting against the veto override.
Gervich also threatened action against Speaker Clay Schexnayder if he doesn’t immediately replace all Democratic House Committee chairs. Sadow says that may sound extreme, but…
Cut 14 (10) “…unusual.”
Sadow says he’s received impressions from Republicans in the Legislature that removing Schexnayder would be difficult to accomplish, and that the Speaker left the session with more GOP support after having Democrats who committed to overriding the transgender ban veto back out at the last second.
Sadow says the likely outcome from this veto override session is that things will get much more partisan from here on out.
Cut 15 (07)“…Democrats.”
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Southeastern Louisiana is the preseason favorite to win the Southland football title based on the league’s preseason poll. The Lions return senior quarterback Cole Kelley, who won the Walter Payton award last spring which goes to the best player in the FCS. Lions Coach Frank Scelfo says the team’s motto for this season is to be bold…
Cut 16 (14) “…make it happen.”
The Lions received eight first-place votes, while Nicholls received four first-place votes and is expected to finish in second place. The Colonels and are coming off a spring season where they went four and three. Coach Tim Rebowe believes his team has learned from that experience
Cut 17 (13) …guys know.”
McNeese has been picked to finish fourth, while Northwestern State is projected to finish fifth in the six-team conference.
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Louisiana Tech will have a good battle for starting quarterback when the Bulldogs begin preseason camp. Aaron Allen and Luke Anthony took most of the snaps last season, but Anthony suffered a major leg injury in the final regular-season game. Coach Skip Holtz says Anthony had another surgery, which is when he went out and signed Austin Kendall…
Cut 18 (21)”…experience.”
ULM football coach Terry Bowden made his first appearance at Sun Belt Media Days yesterday. Bowden understands he has a big job in front of him after the Warhawks win winless in 2020, but he’s in it for the long haul…
Cut 19 (25) “..another job.”
The Ragin Cajuns are picked to win the Sun Belt West Division after winning 10 games last year. But Coach Billy Napier says this is a new season and he has a different team on his hands….
Cut 20 (19) “…rookie group.”