The number of new Delta variant cases in Louisiana continues to grow, concerning state health officials it could lead to another spike in cases. Matt Doyle has the story.
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A Plaquemine man picked the wrong person to pull over while he was allegedly impersonating a police officer in Assumption Parish, the man he over was an off-duty deputy. Brooke Thorington has more.
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The St. Tammany Parish Council will hold a special meeting tonight and vote on whether to allow a referendum to go on the November ballot to approve a proposed casino for the area. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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An estimated 25 percent of the current COVID cases in Louisiana are believed to be the more dangerous Delta variant strain that first emerged in India. That’s according to State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter who says the number of new Delta cases is doubling every two to three weeks meaning we could face a new spike in overall COVID cases.
Cut 4 (07) “…sick.”
The 25 percent share of Delta cases in Louisiana is above the national average of about 20 percent.
Kanter says the good news is that those who are fully vaccinated with either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine have about 90 percent protection from the new, more deadly strain.
Cut 5 (06) “…variant.”
Louisiana is still seeing about five to ten COVID deaths per day.
And Kanter also warns that now more than ever those who started a vaccine series need to finish it due to the Delta variant’s higher transmissibility.
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19 Delta variant cases have been officially recognized in Louisiana but Kanter warns the number is much higher due to the lack of variant testing available.
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The gig is up for a Plaquemine man who was arrested for impersonating a police officer after he allegedly pulled over an off-duty parish deputy. Assumption Parish Sheriff’s spokesperson Lonny Cavalier says 27-year-old Vincent Vinny Marks got in trouble when he flashed his flights and pulled over the off-duty deputy….
Cut 7 (09) “…incident.”
Cavalier says Marks is no stranger to law enforcement, he was involved in an incident earlier this year and the same deputy answered the call.
Cut 8 (10) “…recognized.”
Marks was booked Monday night in the Assumption Parish Detention Center on a felony count of impersonating a peace officer. Cavalier says they believe this isn’t the first time Marks has done this.
Cut 9 (06) “…complaint.”
Marks posted a commercial bond in the amount of $10,000.
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At tonight’s St. Tammany Parish Council Meeting, members will vote on whether to grant a parish-wide vote to be put on the November ballot to allow a casino to relocate to the parish. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt sponsored legislation for a public vote and now the parish council will decide its next fate.
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St. Tammany Sheriff Randy Smith, alongside Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal, oppose the casino and say an increase in criminal activity typically accompanies such venues and developers have not shown them any research that says otherwise. Smith quoted FBI data on the types of crimes associated with gambling.
Cut 11 (10) “..suicides increase.”
Smith says St. Tammany Parish already has one of the highest suicide rates in the state.
Senator Hewitt says some see the casino as a great economic development opportunity for the parish.
Cut 12 (07) “…vote on it.”
Peninsula Pacific Entertainment has already stated they will make a $325-million investment in the new casino in hopes of luring gamblers that usually visit Mississippi’s casinos to stay in the state. P2E has guaranteed to hire 50-percent of their employees from the parish.
Smith says they work with federal and state law enforcement on combatting human trafficking which he says is already an issue on the I-10/12 corridor that runs through Slidell.
Cut 13 (08) “…don’t need.”
The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 tonight to decide if the casino referendum will be put on the Nov. 13th ballot. Voters in the parish will have to undo a 1996 vote that currently blocks casinos.
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America’s Health Rankings 2021 Health Disparities Report finds before just COVID Louisiana was making some progress in longstanding problem areas but began facing new health issues.
Black infant mortality declined 22 percent between periods measured between 2003 to 2006 and 2015 to 2018. UnitedHealth Group CMO Dr. Ana Fuentevilla (fwent-uh-vee-uh)…
Cut 14 (06) “…Louisiana.”
The report also noted there was a 28 percent decline in the share of the white population that had less than a high school degree and a 30 percent decrease in the number of Black adults who couldn’t get medical care because of the cost.
But Fuentevilla the bad news is that compared to men there was a 40 percent increase in the number of women who suffer from multiple chronic conditions.
Cut 15 (10)“…or depression.”
There was also a 33 percent increase in depression among Louisiana adults who reported only having a high school diploma. Fuentevilla says this has likely gotten even worse over the last year and a half.
Cut 16 (04) “…COVID.”
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One of the first priorities for new LSU Head Baseball Coach Jay Johnson is to hire a staff, including a pitching and hitting coach. Johnson says he will not rush to hire someone because he wants to make sure he finds the right fit.
Cut 17 (20) …narrow search.”
Kendall Rogers of D-1-Baseball-dot-com reports Texas Tech recruiting coordinator and assistant coach J-Bob Thomas is staying in Lubbock. He’s refused Johnson’s offer to take on the same duties with the Tigers.
Johnson also needs to meet with the players and try to find guys to fill out the holes in the roster. The new coach on the type of team he wants to field…
Cut 18 (17)”..than LSU.”