Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins joins 33 other mayors in calling on President Biden to support sending Americans recurring checks through the end of the pandemic. The group, which purchased a full-page ad in the Washington Post touting the idea, does not back a specific dollar amount. When asked how these checks would be financed Perkins responded…

Cut 8 (09) “…itself.”

The Biden Administration announces a 60-day pause in the issuing of new oil and gas leases on federal land and revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. While the Keystone does not run through Louisiana Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute Dr. Eric Smith says we do utilize the sour crude carried by the pipeline.

Cut 11 (11) “….stream”

A Crawfish Specialist projects a healthy crawfish season ahead of us. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

Governor Edwards will hold an 11am briefing today, he was in DC earlier this week for the Inauguration of President Joe Biden. On Thursday, the state reported 3,856 new COVID-19 cases and 59 fatalities. Hospitalizations total 18-hundred, which has been on a steady decline since January 15th. As for vaccines, LDH says more than 301-thousand have been administered in the state so far.

The Biden Administration announces a 60-day pause in the issuing of new oil and gas leases on federal land and revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. Associate Director of the Tulane Energy Institute Dr. Eric Smith says Louisiana doesn’t do much drilling on land, but this move makes one thing clear.

Cut 10 (09) “…Administration.”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins joins 33 other mayors in calling on President Biden to support sending Americans recurring checks through the end of the pandemic. Perkins says the US economy already didn’t work for half of all Americans and the pandemic has just exacerbated that, and this is a way to help folks out while stimulating the economy.

Cut 7 (09)  “..spend it.”

The City of Bogalusa received welcome news this week when an over $50-million dollar expansion was announced for International Paper. IP is one of the largest employers in the city and the expansion will enhance the mill’s efficiency in the papermaking process. Mayor of Bogalusa Wendy Perrette says she was worried the mill was looking to close when they reduced operations temporarily.

Cut 5 (11) “…effectively.”

Crawfish harvests are expected to pick up steam shortly.  LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley says as for the sales side of crawfish in the pandemic is still likely to keep prices low. Shirley says while the proliferation of drive-thrus really helped last year restaurant, sales will likely remain down.

Cut 14 (09) “…restaurant.” 

The Biden Administration has begun rolling back many of the Trump Administration’s oil and gas policies. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

The City of Bogalusa received welcome news this week when an over $50-million-dollar expansion was announced for International Paper. After a trend of paper mills closing over the years in the Washington Parish city, Mayor of Bogalusa Wendy Perrette says it’s welcome news.

Cut 4 (11) “…to stay.”

Crawfish harvests have been slow to start the year with pond temperatures still pretty cool but the season looks set to pick up steam shortly. LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley says while it’s been slow going so far he projects we will have a strong peak crawfish season this year.

Cut 13 (11) “….far away”

On the sales side, the pandemic is still likely to keep prices low.

Public school students in New Orleans will not return to in-person classes next week, due to the average daily number of coronavirus cases in Orleans Parish. School district officials will give an update on the 28^th.

The state is facing hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the next fiscal year, barring a significant economic recovery or federal aid. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) ….I’m Matt Doyle”  

A Southeast Louisiana Fire Chief has passed away from COVID-19 complications. Chief Bruce Cutrer, of District #1 in Amite, died Tuesday. Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller said Cutrer dedicated his life to the people of the parish for more. Flags are at half-staff in his honor.

Julia Letlow has qualified to run for the 5^th congressional district, the seat that was won by her late husband Luke Letlow, who died of Covid-19 days before he was set to be sworn in. Republican Allen Guillory, who is also running, stated that Letlow taking office could be harmful to her children, but Julia believes it will be beneficial.

Cut 8 (10) “…serve others”

Qualifying ends on Friday.

So far, the most recent Public Affairs Research Council COVID dashboard indicates case numbers are on a downward trend. As for hospitalizations, the third surge well surpassed the second peak over the summer. PAR President Robert Travis Scott says but hospitalizations remain a concern in Lake Charles and Lafayette.

Cut 5  (11) “…facility” 

According to the most recent COVID-19 dashboard from the Public Affairs Research Council, the state is showing a downward trend in the positivity rate for COVI-19 tests. The positivity rate for the state, in the last three days, is 6.4 percent according to the PAR. President Robert Travis Scott says it’s a good indicator.

Cut 4 (12) “…eight weeks.” 

Julia Letlow, Congressman-elect Luke Letlow’s widow, has qualified to run in the special election for the 5^th District Congressional seat Luke won in December. He served as former Congressman Ralph Abraham’s chief of staff.  Julia says she watched how Luke handled himself and learned a lot.

Cut 7 (11) “…make a difference.”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne warns we will likely face hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the fiscal year beginning in July. The Revenue Estimating Conference adopted this forecast ahead of the budget that will be presented in February. Dardenne says unfortunately the budget will have to include cuts to higher ed and healthcare.

Cut 9 (07) “…hit”

Beloved former Baton Rouge news anchor Donna Britt has died. Britt worked at WAFB until Lou Gehrig’s disease forced her to retire in 2018. Britt’s husband Mark Ballard says while most will remember the 62-year-old for talents as a news anchor, Ballard says he remembers a different side of her.

Cut 14 (15) ” life at home.” 

She’s survived by her husband and two children.

Julia Letlow has officially qualified to run for the 5^th congressional district, which her late husband won in December before passing away due to Covid-19. 

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Taylor Sharp”  

Since hitting a peak all-time high of 2,069 COVID patients in Louisiana hospitals on January 8^th, numbers have since dropped significantly to only 1,800. Other signs that the state’s third wave is starting to subside include a quickly dropping positivity rate on new tests, now down statewide to 6.4 percent.

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne warns we will likely face hundreds of millions of dollars in budget cuts for the fiscal year beginning in July. Dardenne says it’s tough to see our budget get slammed by the pandemic considering just a year ago it had been stabilized.

Cut 11 (10) “..education”

The Revenue Estimating Conference adopted a forecast drop of 228 million dollars.

Former Baton Rouge news anchor Donna Britt passed away early Thursday morning after losing her battle with ALS.  Britt worked for the CBS affiliate, WAFB, from 1980 all the way until 2018 when the illness forced her to retire.  Britt’s husband Mark Ballard says she was preparing her LSU Journalism Hall of Fame acceptance speech just a few months ago.

Cut 13 (11)“to the event.”