Louisiana casinos lost 877 million dollars in 2020 compared to 2019 and are starting off 2021 down significantly from where they were this same time last year. Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 1 (27) “ …I’m Jeff Palermo”
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An effort to recall Governor John Bel Edwards falls way short of the signatures needed to force a recall election. Don Molino has the story…
Cut 2 (30) …I’m Don Molino”
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LSU faces St, Bonaventure in the first round of NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 12:45. The Bonnies are known for playing great defense and coach Will Wade says LSU will have to be disciplined offensively since the Tigers like to play fast….
Cut 3 (15) “…what we do.”
St.Bonaventure is anchored defensively by big man Osun Osunniyi (Oh-shoon Oh-shoon-ee-yee), who averages almost three blocks per game. Wade says he’s one of the best rim protectors he’s seen.
Cut 4 (11) “…in the country”
LSU is a young team, with only Javonte Smart and Darius Days having experience in the tournament. Smart says the team needs to treat this like any other game.
Cut 5 (10) “…just another game”
Tip-off Saturday from Bloomington, Indiana is at 12:45.
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Several female lawmakers have called on LSU to fire instead of suspending two high-ranking athletic officials for their role in the mishandling of sexual misconduct cases outlined in the Husch Blackwell report. Governor Edwards says the people who contributed to the system-wide failure are not employed at LSU anymore…
Cut 6 (12) “…longer there.”
Edwards says he while some disagree with the suspensions, he’s not questioning the decision.
Cut 7 (11) “…decision.”
Edwards says only two members of the current Board of Supervisor were on the board during the period reviewed and they had no knowledge of the alleged behavior of former Coach Les Miles. The report concluded only three members knew about the situation and failed to share it.
Cut 8 (13) “…inappropriate.”
Miles, who has been released from his contract at Kansas University, denies the allegations.
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Louisiana gaming revenue is still slow to get back to normal after a tough 2020 was followed up by extreme weather to start 2021.
Louisiana gaming establishments lost 877 million in revenue for 2020 compared to 2019. Louisiana Casino Association Executive Director Wade Duty…
Cut 9 (10) “…temperatures”
Workforce Commission figures show 4,790 employees were laid off from state casinos throughout the course of 2020.
February revenue is down 23.4 percent from 2020. Duty says that’s partially due to the water situation that happened in Shreveport, but also close to the industry’s new normal.
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Some of the biggest revenue losses were seen at Harrah’s in New Orleans. Louisiana’s lone land-based casino was down 40 percent from February of 2020, or 7.4 million dollars.
Duty does not expect revenues to immediately return to normal even after the public health emergency ends because those 50 and older are staying closer to home…
Cut 11 (09) ” that point”
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Louisiana reports fewer than 400 COVID-19 hospitalizations for the first time since late March.
State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says we’re seeing historic lows in nearly all COVID-related categories right now.
Cut 12 (10) “ …to date.”
Kanter says this is evidence that we are doing a good job of stopping the spread, using mitigation measures, and proof the vaccine is working.
Cut 13 (08)“…hospitalizations.”
987,000 Louisianans have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine and 568,000 have completed their full series.
Kanter says the one area of the state he is worried about is Lake Charles. He says they’ve been seeing an increase in cases for about two weeks.
Cut 14 (08) “…outbreak.”
The Calcasieu Parish positivity rate sits at 8.1 percent per the most recent update.