COVID-19 vaccine eligibility has been expanded in Louisiana to include everyone 16 and older and who has a health condition that makes them more at risk of seriously getting sick or dying from the virus. This includes overweight individuals and smokers and those with asthma, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Pharmacists received a heads up the state would increase eligibility for the COVID vaccine. Brooke Thorington reports pharmacies are prepared.
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Sunday marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID death in Louisiana and since then over nine-thousand people have died from complications of the virus. But advancements have been made in treating the disease…
cut 11 (12) “…steroid”
That’s Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Chief of Hospital Medicine, Doctor Mike Sewell.

Today the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children meet to discuss the Husch Blackwell report that details the mishandling of sexual misconduct and assault cases at LSU. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says the report was eye-opening…
cut 9 (10) “….take place”
LSU has said they plan to implement the 18 recommendations made by Husch Blackwell.

In the 12 months since Louisiana saw its first COVID case, treatment has come a long way. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Chief of Hospital Medicine Dr. Mike Sewell says the current case fatality rate is far lower than it was at the beginning of the pandemic when it was as high as four percent in New Orleans…
Cut 10 (05) “…thousand.”
Sewell says they’ve learned extensive ventilator use and hydroxychloroquine are ineffective ways to treat COVID, while injecting monoclonal antibodies into high-risk patients when they are suffering from mild symptoms has worked.

Pharmacies are scheduling more and more COVID vaccine appointments. Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association President Randall Johnson…
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Individuals as young 16 years old with certain health conditions are now eligible to get vaccinated. Go to covid-vaccine-dot-la-dot-gov to locate a provider.

The State Senate Select Committee on Women and Children meets today to discuss the handling of sexual assault cases on college campuses. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Human remains found near Franklin in early January have been identified as belonging to 39-year-old Casey Marie Collins of the Lafayette area. St. Mary Parish authorities say the investigation is now considered a homicide. Anyone with information should contact the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Governor John Bel Edwards has made his first public comments about the Husch Blackwell Report that investigated how LSU mishandled sexual assault cases…
cut 15 (12) “….where else”
Edwards says it’s important parents know that their children will be safe on a college campus and if something happens it’s investigated properly.

The Senate Select Committee on Women and Children plan to discuss this topic at their meeting today at the State Capitol. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell is the chair of the Louisiana Legislative Womens’ Caucus…
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The committee will hear from sexual assault survivors during their meeting that starts at 10 AM.

Anyone 16 or older who is overweight or who has a health condition the CDC considers likely to put a person at a high risk of serious COVID complications, including asthma, hypertension or Type 1 diabetes is now eligible for the COVID vaccine. Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association president Randall Johnson says they plan to be busy putting shots in arms, but pharmacists have fine-tuned their operations…
cut 5 (11) “….of waste”

Sunday marks the first COVID-19 death in Louisiana. During that time doctors have come up with better ways to treat COVID patients. Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Chief of Hospital Medicine Doctor Mike Sewell says injecting monoclonal antibodies into patients who are considered high risk from dying from the virus has helped save lives…
cut 12 (06) “…progressing”

Individuals over the age of 16 with one of two dozen designated health conditions, smokers, or persons with a body mass index greater than 25-percent are now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association President Randall Johnson says they are ready to put shots in arms…
cut 4 (09) “…this vaccine”
The state health department says nearly ten-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated.

Governor Edwards said he was mortified by the findings in the Husch Blackwell report that examined multiple sexual assault cases that LSU failed to properly handle. Edwards says he’s committed to making sure college campuses enforce guidelines and Title Nine offices are properly staffed…
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Fatal outcomes for those suffering from severe COVID cases are down. Matt Doyle spoke with Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Chief of Hospital Medicine Dr. Mike Sewell about improvements in care…
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Pharmacists received a heads up that the state would increase eligibility Tuesday for the COVID vaccine. Brooke Thorington reports independent pharmacies are prepared.

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The State Senate Select Committee on Women and Children meets today to discuss the handling of sexual misconduct incidents on college campuses. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Fatal outcomes for those suffering from severe COVID cases are down substantially from this time last year. Matt Doyle spoke with Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Chief of Hospital Medicine Dr. Mike Sewell about improvements in care over the last year…

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Providers and pharmacists were notified ahead of the Governor’s announcement Tuesday that COVID vaccinations would be available for those 16 and over with a preexisting health condition. President of Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association Randall Johnson says they are ready.

Cut 4 (09)“…this vaccine.”

It’s been just of two months since vaccines began arriving in the state and weekly allocations have increased over time.  Johnson says pharmacists have been able to fine-tune their operations.

Cut 5 (11)“…of waste.”

Johnson says most pharmacies receive their allotment on Monday morning and begin vaccinations of those with appointments, that afternoon. And now with a third vaccine available, they’re able to schedule even more.

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To locate a provider to vaccinated visit CovidVaccine.LA.gov

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A Senate committee meets in the Capitol today at 10 AM to discuss the handling of sexual misconduct incidents on college campuses.

Members of the Legislative Women’s Caucus will attend the meeting, including Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell…

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The stated purpose of the meeting is to receive in-depth responses from all public university systems in the state regarding their handling of sexual misconduct cases, and the policies in place to respond to such incidents.

Mizell says the goal is to have a dialog with university system leaders about creating policies that make it easier to report an assault, along with clear consequences and a process in place for victims to be heard.

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Mizell says the Husch Blackwell report detailing the mishandling of sexual misconduct and assault cases at LSU put a spotlight on the issue.

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In the 12 months since Louisiana saw its first COVID case treatment has come a long way.

Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport Chief of Hospital Medicine Dr. Mike Sewell says the current case fatality rate is far lower than it was this time last year when it was as high as four percent in New Orleans…

Cut 10 (05) “…thousand.”

Sewell says that number began to drop substantially in early fall once enough data was compiled to provide consistently effective treatment.

Many of the early treatments, such as extensive ventilator use, were found to be ineffective. Sewell says some widely used treatments were even harmful.

Cut 11 (12) “…steroid.”

Other abandoned treatments for severe cases include convalescent plasma and hydroxychloroquine.

Another big change involves treating high-risk individuals early in their infection with monoclonal antibodies.

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The Louisiana Department of Health reports 9,769 COVID-19 deaths in the state since the start of the pandemic.

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Governor John Bel Edwards says he was very troubled after reading the entire Husch Blackwell report that investigated mishandling of sexual abuse and assault cases at LSU. Edwards says the report also made recommendations on how to improve the Title Nine office and what punishments to enforce.

Cut 13 (09) “…guess it.”

Edwards says it’s imperative young people and their parents know that when they attend a college in Louisiana that they are going to be safe.  He says proper guidelines will be enforced and the Title Nine offices will be staffed with trained personnel.

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Edwards says he’s pleased that LSU made the report available to the public and understands that they are implementing all 18 recommendations from the report to mitigate future mishandlings.

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The LSU Basketball team seems to be a lock to make the NCAA tournament but the Tigers are still playing for seeding in the Big Dance as they prepare for the SEC tournament. Associate Editor for Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Blake Lovell says LSU is well-positioned to have success in the conference tournament.

Cut 16 (19) “…matchup standpoint.”

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projects LSU as an 8 seed in the NCAA tournament which puts them in an 8-9 matchup in round one, with the winner playing the number 1 seed in the second round.  Lovell says that if LSU wins a couple more games they could move up to a 7^th seed.

Cut 17 (16) “…seven or higher.”

When it comes to improving their seeding, Lovell says the Tigers can’t afford to lose the first game in the conference tournament.

Cut  18 (11) “…the ten maybe.”

Kansas University is reportedly paying $1.9 million to Les Miles to end his employment as head football coach after the Husch Blackwell report stated Miles acted inappropriately with female students at LSU. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the sexual misconduct allegations were initially hard to believe because Miles was considered a family man.

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The State Fire Marshal’s Office arrested 24-year-old Navin Sam of Lafayette, Sunday on one count of simple arson for setting an ex-girlfriend’s vehicle on fire. The car was set on fire in front of the victim’s home in Breaux Bridge on March 3rd. An additional suspect, a juvenile, was also arrested in this case

Louisiana has expanded COVID vaccine eligibility to anyone 16 years and older with certain health conditions, including asthma, hypertension, diabetes, smokers, and people who are overweight. Edwards says the list of health conditions for eligibility can be found on the state department of health’s website.

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President Biden declares Louisiana a major disaster after two winter storms last month. Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Casey Tingle says it allows homeowners and renters in affected parishes to be eligible for assistance if they sustained damage.

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Beginning today those 16 and older with a preexisting health condition are now eligible to be vaccinated. For a list of those conditions, you can visit the state health department’s website. Governor Edwards is encouraging those who are eligible to be vaccinated to do so. He says nearly 10-percent of the state’s population have been fully vaccinated and very few have reported serious side effects…

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State Treasurer John Schroder tells Talk Louisiana host Jim Engster he will not among those getting vaccinated. Schroder says instead he’s under a doctor’s care and building his immune system. Schroder, a COVID survivor, was hospitalized in early December.

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Former LSU football coach Les Miles has been fired at Kansas after allegations of sexual misconduct were made public during his time at LSU. Taylor Sharp has the story.

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Former LSU President F. King Alexander released a statement that he regrets not taking stronger action against Miles when he was at LSU. Alexander says at the time attorneys told him there was not enough evidence to support termination. Alexander, who is now at Oregon State, says the inquiry found Miles’s actions were inconsistent with LSU’s community values and he should have acted further.

Those 16 and older in Louisiana who are overweight, smokers, have diabetes or asthma, or suffer from a list of other comorbidities are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine. Governor Edwards this another important step in the state’s fight against COVID-19 as he hopes getting more of the population vaccinated will reduce serious illness and death from the virus.

Cut 4 (08) “…the virus.” 

State Treasurer John Schroder says he won’t be getting a vaccine. Schroder says instead he’s focusing on making sure his immune system is strong. Schroder told Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana he’s under a doctor’s care…

Cut 10 (10) “…system.” 

Schroder was hospitalized with COVID in December.

Les Miles is out as the head football coach at Kansas University after reports that surfaced last week where Miles acted inappropriately with female students at LSU. Allegations ranging from texting, attempting to kiss a student, and performing unwanted touching. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says Kansas had no choice…

Cut 7 (12) “…any level”

President Biden declares Louisiana a major disaster area after two winter storms last month. Deputy Director of the Governor’s Office Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Casey Tingle says In addition to the 23 parishes, nine others could also be eligible for assistance.  A few weeks ago, GOHSEP asked residents to complete a Damage.LA.gov survey for a better idea of how many were impacted by the storms.

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