The FDA authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer COVID vaccine Friday. Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement saying “Truly, the last nine months have been a struggle for all of us, especially for the families of the 6,767 Louisianans who unfortunately have lost their lives due to COVID-19. Louisianans are a strong people and, though we are all tired from this pandemic, I am inspired by their sacrifice and selfless commitment to each other.

Edwards says he will not make it mandatory to get a COVID vaccine nor will he provide financial incentives. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”  

A vaccine by Moderna is expected to gain approval sometime this month and be administered in a first wave to nursing home residents and staff, but AARP State Director Denise Botcher is concerned that it may not produce results fast enough to address what are some concerning trends in nursing home infections and deaths…

Cut 14 (07) “…population.” 

State Trooper Jacob Brown of Rayville has been charged with one count of Aggravated Second-Degree Battery and Malfeasance in Office for allegedly using excessive and unjustifiable force during an arrest in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. Trooper Michael Reichhardt says 30-year-old Brown was assisting the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office…

Cut 10 (04) “…administrative investigation.”

A law office in Monroe has identified the victim as Aaron Bowman.

The FDA authorized emergency approval of the Pfizer vaccine Friday. Early reports out of Europe, where the Pfizer vaccine is already being administered, indicate there may be some side effects after getting your shot. Governor Edwards says it’s still no reason not to take it once it becomes available to you…

Cut 7 (11) “…too.”

For most of the public that vaccine won’t be available until late spring

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has set deadlines for people who need to file proof of loss documents for insurance claim damages from Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta. February 23rd is the deadline for Laura, April 7^th for Delta and April 26^th for Zeta. Donelon’s office says state law requires giving property owners within a disaster declaration area at least 180 days from the event to submit proof of loss information.

An AARP dashboard report indicates nursing homes in Louisiana face concerning trends.  Data analyzed from October 19^th to November 15^th show an increase in staff cases and an ongoing shortage of staff and PPE. AARP State Director Denise Botcher says community spread is responsible for 476 new staff COVID cases.

Cut 12 (05) “..have COVID.” 

The report indicates a staff shortage of 37-percent and 17-percent of long-term care facilities have less than a week supply of PPE on hand.

The state fire Marshal’s office says over the past two weeks, six people have died in house fires bringing the total to 70 for the entire year. State Fire Marshal’s office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue is urging residents to make sure they have a working smoke detector…
cut 5 (07) “….get out safely”

The FDA authorized emergency approval for the Pfizer COVID Friday and Governor John Bel Edwards issued a statement saying, “This is a historic and hopeful moment for our country and state, and we would be remiss if we did not pause to thank the scientists, doctors, health care workers and other researchers who have worked tirelessly not only to fight COVID but also their considerable talent and training towards creating this vaccine.” Edwards also thanked clinical trial participants.

Once vaccines are readily available to the public in 2021 Governor John Bel Edwards is imploring residents to take it.  A Pew survey shows 40 percent of Americans would refuse to take the vaccine if offered. Edwards says he hopes they change their mind but it won’t be mandatory in Louisiana, and…

Cut 6 (06) “…do it.”

State Trooper Jacob Brown of Rayville has been charged with one count of Aggravated Second-Degree Battery and Malfeasance in Office for allegedly using excessive and unjustifiable force during an arrest of a black man in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. Trooper Michael Reichhardt says a lawsuit filed by the victim in October started the investigation…

Cut 9 (09) “…at that time.”

In the past two weeks, six people have died in fires in Louisiana, including the latest fatal fire which occurred in Lafayette Thursday night.  While the cause remains undetermined, State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue believes unsafe heating practices could be factors.

Cut 3 (12)  “…in your home.”

Last year 75 people in Louisiana died due to fires and so far 70 lives have been claimed in 2020.

A State Trooper has been arrested and charged with Malfeasance and battery for the alleged use of unnecessary and unjustifiable force against a Black man in Ouachita Parish in May of last year. Trooper Michael Reichhardt says an investigation determined that 30-year-old Jacob Brown of Rayville acted improperly during an incident where the victim alleges he was dragged to the ground and beaten senselessly…

Cut 11 (08) “…his supervisors.”

A law office in Monroe has identified the victim as Aaron Bowman. 

Early reports out of Europe, where the Pfizer vaccine is already being administered, indicate there may be some side effects after getting your shot. Governor Edwards says it’s still no reason not to take it once it becomes available to you…

Cut 7 (11) “…too.”

For most of the public that vaccine won’t be available until late spring

A vaccine by Moderna is expected to gain approval sometime this month and be administered in a first wave to nursing home residents and staff, but AARP State Director Denise Botcher is concerned that it may not produce results fast enough to address what are some concerning trends in nursing home infections and deaths…

Cut 14 (07) “…population.” 

Of the statewide death total from COVID, 40-percent of those fatalities are in nursing homes.

In the past two weeks, six people have died in fires in Louisiana, State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says last year 75 people died due to fires and so far, 70 lives have been claimed in 2020.  Rodrigue says cooking and heating tips can help keep people safe.

Cut 4 (13) “…flammable.”  

State Trooper Jacob Brown of Rayville has been charged with one count of Aggravated Second-Degree Battery and Malfeasance in Office for allegedly using excessive and unjustifiable force during an arrest in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. Trooper Michael Reichhardt says 30-year-old Brown was assisting the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office…

Cut 10 (04) “…administrative investigation.”

A law office in Monroe has identified the victim as Aaron Bowman.

The hospitals are filling up and we’ve got another near 3,000 case day to report again in Louisiana, but in some good news vaccine rollout is imminent in Louisiana for frontline healthcare workers. The bad news is there are fears that some in the public will refuse to take it once publicly available. Governor Edwards says he hopes those folks change their mind but it won’t be mandatory, and…

Cut 6 (06) “…do it.”

We’re awaiting final emergency approval of the Pfizer vaccine from the FDA.

An AARP dashboard report indicates nursing homes in Louisiana face concerning trends. AARP State Director Denise Botcher says an adequate supply of medical-grade PPE is vital and with only 17-percent of facilities reporting a one-week supply, she fears the worst.

Cut 13 (11)“…PPE.”

In the past two weeks, six people have died in fires in Louisiana. While the causes remain undetermined, State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue believes unsafe heating practices could be factors.

Cut 3 (12)  “…in your home.”

Last year 75 people in Louisiana died due to fires and another 70 lives have been claimed in 2020.

State Police Trooper Jacob Brown has been arrested for allegedly use of excessive and unjustifiable force during an encounter with a Black man in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. Trooper Michael Reichhardt says a lawsuit filed by the victim in October started the investigation…

Cut 9 (09) “…at that time.”

A law office in Monroe has identified the victim as Aaron Bowman. They claim Bowman was dragged to the ground and beaten senselessly during the arrest.

It looks likely that we will be vaccinating frontline healthcare workers in Louisiana as early as early next week, but Governor Edwards warns it will take until at least late spring before the general public gets a shot at the vaccine…

Cut 8 (09) “…holds”

Edwards says stopping mitigation measures now would be like fumbling at the one yard line.

An AARP report from October to mid-November shows 476 new cases among nursing home staff in Louisiana and 17-percent have a PPE shortage. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) …I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

We’re now just 11 COVID hospitalizations shy of the peak we hit in late July during the 2^nd wave. This third wave appears primed to blasted right back that as there are currently no signs that currently levels of spread of slowing down as the state reports another near 3,000 cases today.

As we wait on a rollout for a COVID-19 vaccine, the state reported nearly three-thousand new cases and 43 additional deaths today. Hospitalizations also increased by 60 to 1,589.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he will not make it mandatory for people to get a COVID vaccine nor will he provide financial incentives. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.”

The state hopes to begin administering vaccine shots to frontline health care workers early next week.

State Police Trooper Jacob Brown of Rayville has been arrested for allegedly using excessive force during an arrest of a black man in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. State Police Trooper Michael Reichardt says they first learned of the incident in October when the victim’s attorneys filed a lawsuit…
cut 11 (08) “…his supervisors”
The victim’s attorneys say their client was dragged to the ground and beaten and had to be hospitalized as he’s also a dialysis patient.

The state fire Marshal’s office says over the past two weeks, six people have died in house fires bringing the total to 70 for the entire year. State Fire Marshal’s office spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue is urging residents to make sure they have a working smoke detector…
cut 5 (07) “….get out safely”
A fatal fire happened last night in Lafayette, killing a 20-year-old man.

In the past two weeks, six people have died in fires in Louisiana, State Fire Marshal Spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue says last year 75 people died due to fires and so far, 70 lives have been claimed in 2020.  Rodrigue says cooking and heating tips can help keep people safe.

Cut 4 (13) “…flammable.”  

State Trooper Jacob Brown of Rayville has been charged with one count of Aggravated Second-Degree Battery and Malfeasance in Office for allegedly using excessive and unjustifiable force during an arrest in Ouachita Parish in May of 2019. Trooper Michael Reichhardt says 30-year-old Brown was assisting the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s office…

Cut 10 (04) “…administrative investigation.”

A law office in Monroe has identified the victim as Aaron Bowman.

Vaccine rollout is imminent in the US and European reports indicate the vaccine has some side effects, but Governor John Bel Edwards says he’s reviewed the data and there are vaccines people already take with side effects worse than this…

Cut 7 (11) “…too.”

Reports indicate the heaviest side effects with the Pfizer vaccine are from the booster shot 21 days after the first shot.

An AARP dashboard report indicates nursing homes in Louisiana face concerning trends.  Data analyzed from October 19^th to November 15^th show an increase in staff cases and an ongoing shortage of staff and PPE. AARP State Director Denise Botcher says community spread is responsible for 476 new staff COVID cases.

Cut 12 (06) “..have COVID.” 

And the report indicates 17-percent of long-term care facilities have less than a week supply of PPE.