A Legislative task force is taking up the question of whether the state should ditch the current jungle primary system and move to closed primaries for elections. Matt Doyle has the story.

 Cut 1 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

_______________________________

The fallout from the pandemic is not only being felt in the economy but also among women seeking OB/GYN care. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.” 

 __________________________________________

Algiers based Edna Karr High fights for its fifth consecutive football state championship tonight against Carencro. Matt Doyle spoke with Karr’s coach Brice Brown…

Cut 3 (28)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

____________________________________________

A Legislative task force is studying whether Louisiana should move to a closed primary system and will submit its recommendations by the next regular session.

Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the current jungle primary system was implemented in 1975 to limit Democrat on Democrat attacks during statewide elections.

Cut 4 (12) “…each other.”

Under the jungle primary system candidates of all parties compete to head to a run-off. Under a closed primary candidates of the same party compete against each other for a spot in the general election, and no party/third party voters may not participate in the primary.

Pinsonat says one of the arguments in favor of moving to closed primaries is that it would end the state’s awkward, low-turnout December run-off elections.

Cut 5 (08) “…Presidential.”

The task force is being led by Republican Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt, with a change to a closed primary vocally supported by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, Attorney General Jeff Landry, and Democratic Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields.

The question seems to come up just about every year but Pinsonat says a move to closed primaries is opposed by people who stand to lose from the shift.

Cut 6 (08) “…benefit.”

The closed primary system was attempted for Congressional races in 2008 and 2010 but was rejected in 2012.

__________________________________________

Nine months into the pandemic some OB/GYN clinics are seeing an influx of patients, but it’s not what you think. Dr. Karli Boggs, Clinical Director at the LSU Clinic at Women’s Hospital in Baton Rouge says they are overwhelmed.

Cut 7 (10)  “…limited access.”

Dr. Boggs says many of their new patients are women who lost health insurance along with the jobs, and now have Medicaid coverage. Boggs says the average wait to schedule a gynecological visit as opposed to obstetrics is three months or more.

Cut 8 (09) “…to care.”

Another alarming issue from the pandemic, Dr. Boggs says they are seeing more OB patients than usual that are experiencing domestic abuse.

Cut 9 (12) “…and beaten.”

Boggs says if you are a victim of domestic abuse to let your physician know, and they can assist you with resources, or local law enforcement.

_______________________________________________

Edna Karr is gunning for their fifth high school football state championship in a row tonight as they take on Carencro for the Class 4A title at 6 PM in Natchitoches.

Cougars’ head coach Brice Brown says the secret to their success has been staff continuity.

Cut 10 (10) “…systems.”

Karr is coming off a dominant 35-13 win over Easton back on December 18^th, their closest game of the playoffs. The Cougars clobbered Istrouma 70-19 in the second round back on December 4^th.

Brown says his championship-winning teams all have one thing in common with this year’s group, they don’t quit.

Cut 11 (09) “…quarters.”

Edna Karr is a New Orleans team based in Algiers.

Brown says his secondary came into the season full of fresh faces and inexperienced sophomores but has played up to the Karr standard.

Cut 12 (05) “…else.”

Carencro, the 1^st seed in Class 4A, has been even more dominant than Karr in this year’s playoffs, most recently coming off a 49-7 win over Neville.

_________________________________________________________

Former Governor Edwin Edwards turned down a COVID vaccine over the weekend when he was at LSU-Health Shreveport over the weekend for routine medical tests. Edwards biographer Leo Honeycutt says Edwards felt it would be better used on a healthcare worker at the moment.

Cut 13 (13) “…he refused.”

Honeycutt says 93-year old Edwards has tested negative for COVID three times in the past two months but didn’t want to jump the line for a vaccine.

Cut 14 (11) “…who does.” 

Currently, healthcare workers who work directly with COVID patients are being vaccinated first in Louisiana. Honeycutt says Edwards plans to get vaccinated when it’s his turn.

Cut 15 (07)“…hospital.”

Edwards was hospitalized twice in November and diagnosed with double-pneumonia on his second visit.

Former Governor Edwin Edwards is back home after a routine exam over the weekend at LSU Health-Shreveport. Edwards Biographer Leo Honeycutt says Edwards took a private jet on Saturday for a checkup and is back home now. Despite his age and recent bouts of pneumonia, Honeycutt is amazed at Edwards’s resilience and believes he’s a living testament that laughter really is the best medicine.

Cut 11 (08) “…facilities”

Work has begun on a 54.9 million dollar restoration of the North Breton Island wildlife sanctuary, a vital brown pelican habitat just east of the Plaquemines Parish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Taylor Pool says the project will add 400 acres of land to the third-largest colony for waterbirds in the state…

Cut 12 (10) “…impacts” 

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 24 years in the position. Guidry began his career with the state as medical director for the Acadiana Region in 1990 and then became state health officer in 1996. Guidry says he’s most proud of how the department assists with disasters.

Cut 3 (10)  “…protect health.”

Two are dead and one injured after a shooting at a block party in Crowley early Sunday morning. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says police received a call about a crowd of hundreds who had gathered for an unannounced block party and were causing a commotion. The shooters are still on the loose and Broussard says police could use some help finding them…

Cut 8 (08) “…information.”

Broussard says the shooting started as police began breaking up the party.

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 30 years of working for the state. Brooke Thorington has more as he reflects on his time with the department.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

_______________________________________

Former Governor Edwin Edwards is back home after a trip to LSU-Health Shreveport over the weekend. Matt Doyle has more…

cut 2 (00) ….I’m Matt Doyle.”  

_____________________________

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 24 years in the position. Guidry began his career with the state as medical director for the Acadiana Region in 1990 and then became state health officer in 1996. Guidry says he’s most proud of how the department assists with disasters.

Cut 3 (10)  “…protect health.”

Guidry says during his tenure he’s seen how far the state has advanced when responding to disasters, from witnessing lives unnecessarily lost in Katrina to saving lives by being proactive with natural disasters.

Cut 4 (07)  “…storm hit”  

Guidry says the department of health oversees so many aspects of everyday life from restaurant inspections, immunizations, emergency preparedness, and most recently the COVID pandemic. Guidry says the public often has misconceptions about the department.

Cut 5  (12) “…other out.” 

Guidry plans to take some time off before his next venture after an extremely busy 2020 with the pandemic and preparing for eight named storms this year.

_______________________

Two are dead and one injured after a shooting at a block party in Crowley early Sunday morning.

Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says police received a call about a crowd of hundreds who had gathered for an unannounced block party and were causing a ruckus.

Cut 6 (10) “..subjects”

Two of the victims died yesterday in the hospital while the third victim received minor injuries and has been released.

Broussard says the party was a bad idea and they are investigating whether the establishment that hosted it was in violation of COVID restrictions.

Cut 7 (10) “phone call.”

The shooters are still on the loose and Broussard says police could use some help finding them…

Cut 8 (08) “…information.”

______________________________________________

Former Governor Edwin Edwards is back home after a routine exam over the weekend at LSU Health-Shreveport. Edwards Biographer Leo Honeycutt says Edwards took a private jet on Saturday for a checkup and is back home now.

Cut 9 (11) “…of tests.”

Honeycutt says Edwards was also given a COVID test because he was at a healthcare facility and tested negative.

Honeycutt says the 93-year-old former governor routinely gets pneumonia in the fall but was recently hospitalized twice in Baton Rouge.

Cut 10 (12) “…tests anyway.”

Despite his age and recent bouts of pneumonia, Honeycutt is amazed at Edwards’s resilience and believes he’s a living testament that laughter really is the best medicine.

Cut 11 (08) “…facilities”

Edwards served four terms as Louisiana’s governor.

______________________________________________

Work has begun on a 54.9 million dollar restoration of the North Breton Island wildlife sanctuary, a vital brown pelican habitat just east of the Plaquemines Parish.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Taylor Pool says the project will add 400 acres of land to the third-largest colony for waterbirds in the state…

Cut 12 (10) “…impacts” 

North Breton Island was named a National Wildlife Refuge in 1904 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Callan Marine has been contracted to pump 5.87 million cubic yards of sand onto the island’s beaches, more than doubling the island’s current 290 acres.

Cut 13 (08)“sand”

Much of the funding for the project comes from Deepwater Horizon Spill settlement money.

Pool says they hope to have the project completed by spring, but…

Cut 14 (10) “project” 

The project was first approved for construction in 2014.

________________________

Cut 15 (11) “…starting to understand.” 

Cut 16 (10) “…do that yet” 

___________________________________________

Former Governor Edwin Edwards is back home after a series of routine tests at LSU-Health Shreveport. Edwards biographer Leo Honeycutt says Edwards was in Shreveport over the weekend for scheduled tests, it was not an emergency. He says even though the 93-year-old former governor routinely gets pneumonia in the fall he was recently hospitalized twice in Baton Rouge.

Cut 10 (12) “…tests anyway.”

A block party of hundreds in Crowley ends in tragedy after gunfire erupts while police were dispersing the event Sunday. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says the unauthorized gathering was reported by concerned neighbors just after midnight Sunday and while police arrived to break it up two were fatally shot and another injured. Broussard says the party was a bad idea…

Cut 7 (10) “phone call.”

Work has begun on a 55-million-dollar restoration of the North Breton (Brett-on) Island wildlife sanctuary, a vital brown pelican habitat just east of the Plaquemines Parish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Taylor Pool says much of the funding for the project comes from Deepwater Horizon Spill settlement money and they hope to have the project completed by spring, but…

Cut 14 (10) “project” 

The project was first approved for construction in 2014.

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 24 years in the position. Guidry began his career with the state as medical director for the Acadiana Region in 1990 and then became state health officer in 1996. Guidry says he’s most proud of how the department assists with disasters.

Cut 3 (10)  “…protect health.”

Former Governor Edwin Edwards is back home after a routine exam over the weekend at LSU Health-Shreveport. Edwards Biographer Leo Honeycutt says Edwards took a private jet on Saturday for a checkup and is back home now.

Cut 9 (11) “…of tests.”

Honeycutt says Edwards was also given a COVID test because he was at a healthcare facility and tested negative.

Work has begun on a 54.9 million dollar restoration of the North Breton Island wildlife sanctuary, a vital brown pelican habitat just east of the Plaquemines Parish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Taylor Pool says Callan Marine has been contracted to pump 5.87 million cubic yards of sand onto the island’s beaches…

Cut 13 (08)“sand”

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 30 years of working for the state. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

Two are dead and one injured after a shooting at a block party in Crowley early Sunday morning. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says police received a call about a crowd of hundreds who had gathered…

Cut 6 (10) “..subjects”

Former Governor Edwin Edwards is back home after a trip to LSU-Health Shreveport over the weekend. Matt Doyle has more…

cut 2 (00) ….I’m Matt Doyle.”  

From the LHSAA Prep Classic, Oak Grove bate Grand Lake for the 1A title 33-7. Tigers Senior Running back Ron Craten rushed for 191 years and two touchdowns. The four-day Prep Classic began yesterday in Northwestern State and wraps up Wednesday.

Two are dead and one injured after a shooting at a block party in Crowley early Sunday morning. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says police received a call about a crowd of hundreds who had gathered for an unannounced block party and were causing a commotion. The shooters are still on the loose and Broussard says police could use some help finding them…

Cut 8 (08) “…information.”

Broussard says the party was a very idea during a pandemic.

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 24 years in the position. Guidry says the department of health oversees so many aspects of everyday life from restaurant inspections, immunizations, emergency preparedness, and most recently the COVID pandemic. Guidry says the public often has misconceptions about the department.

Cut 5  (12) “…other out.” 

A block party of hundreds in Crowley ends in tragedy after gunfire erupts while police were dispersing the event Sunday. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says the unauthorized gathering was reported by concerned neighbors just after midnight Sunday and while police arrived to break it up two were fatally shot and another injured. Broussard says the party was a bad idea…

Cut 7 (10) “phone call.”

Work has begun on a 54.9 million dollar restoration of the North Breton Island wildlife sanctuary, a vital brown pelican habitat just east of Plaquemines Parish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Taylor Pool says the project will add 400 acres of land, more than doubling the island’s size…

Cut 12 (10) “…impacts” 

North Breton Island was named a National Wildlife Refuge in 1904 by President Theodore Roosevelt.

State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry is retiring this week after 24 years. Guidry says during his tenure he’s seen how far the state has advanced when responding to disasters, from witnessing lives unnecessarily lost in Katrina to saving lives by being proactive with natural disasters.

Cut 4 (07)  “…storm hit”  

Guidry became state health officer in 1996.

Despite strong objections, President Donald Trump has signed a 900-billion dollar pandemic relief package that will result in many Americans receiving a 600-dollar stimulus check. ULM Political Science Professor Doctor Joshua Stockley says many on Capitol Hill were blindsided when the President initially said he would not sign the legislation

Cut 12 (06) “…four years.”

President Trump last week called the 600 dollar checks disgraceful and called for 2,000 dollar checks instead.

Despite objections, President Trump signed a 900-billion-dollar pandemic relief package that will result in many Americans receiving a 600-dollar stimulus check, ULM Political Science Professor Doctor Joshua says the bill also extends unemployment benefits. It’s unclear why the president decided to sign the bill after initially threatening to veto. Stockley says many Americans are glad Mr. Trump had a chance of heart…
Cut 11 (11) “…difficult year.”

the House of Representatives will vote on a standalone measure today to increase the stimulus check amount.

A drive by shooting claims two lives in Crowley. Crowley Police Chief Jimmy Broussard says three people were shot Sunday a block party on West Hutchinson Avenue. 25-year-old Joseph Castillo is one of the fatalities the other name has not been released.

A new study indicates that pregnancy and childbirth complications have risen 32% as more millennial females have pre-existing conditions increasing the risks. Senior Medical Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana Dr. Dee Barfield says the study also found average age to have a child increased to 31 and the older you are the more likely you are to already have a chronic condition.

Cut 6 (11) “…countries.”

The study looked at claims data from 2014 to 2018.

Eighteen schools made it to the Prep Football Classic but no team endured more than the Grand Lake Hornets. The small school in Cameron had two devastating hurricanes make landfall in their parish, but yet they persevered and will play in today’s Class One-A Championship game. Jeff Wainwright is their head coach…

Cut 13 (08) “…us a game”