The Louisiana Health Equity Task Force has worked on educating minorities about COVID, soon they will focus on the importance of being vaccinated. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Senator Bill Cassidy says we are on track in Louisiana to begin the first wave of COVID vaccinations mid-month. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Today the US Supreme Court hears a case involving a Louisiana man that could result in retrials for all Louisiana prisoners who were convicted on non-unanimous verdicts. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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The CDC says COVID vaccines should be widely available to the public by mid-2021, however members of the Louisiana Health Equity Task Force worry that both blacks and Latinos will forgo being vaccinated. Dr. Corey Hebert who serves on the task force says it’s due to mistrust of the medical community.

Cut 4 (11) “…for things.”

Herbert says another hurdle with the vaccines for minorities is the double dose factor and the health disparity issue for minorities such as lack of transportation to obtain medical help in their community.

Cut 5 (11) “…real challenge.”

Early in the pandemic around 70-percent of fatalities from COVID in the state were among blacks now it’s approximately 44-percent. Herbert credits the task force’s outreach with changing that number.

Cut 6 (10) “…many myths.”

Hebert says the task force will also launch a media campaign aimed at minorities about the benefits of the COVID vaccination.

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Senator Bill Cassidy says Pfizer has started shipping its COVID vaccine to Louisiana and other pre-positioned sites across the country. Cassidy says a distribution plan for Louisiana is in place and local companies have been enlisted to safely transport the vaccine.

Cut 7 (10)  “…role.”

Three pharmaceutical companies say they have developed a highly effective COVID vaccine and Pfizer could receive approval from the U-S Food and Drug Administration next week.

Pfizer’s vaccine looks like it will be the first administered, but Cassidy says it must be stored at very low temperatures, and only some staging sites in Louisiana have that capability.

Cut 8 (09) “…distribution.”

Moderna and AstraZeneca are also set to apply for emergency approval for vaccine distribution.

Cassidy is confident that the first wave of vaccinations, those for healthcare workers and nursing home residents, will begin mid-month in Louisiana.

Cut 9 (04) “…take it.

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The US Supreme Court will hear a case today that could deem all past non-unanimous jury convictions in Louisiana unconstitutional, potentially resulting in thousands of retrials.

The case was brought on behalf of Thedrick Edwards, a Louisiana man who is serving time on non-unanimous convictions. His lawyer Andre Belanger says his client must be given a retrial.

Cut 10 (10) “…war.”

The case would decide whether or not Ramos vs. Louisiana, a ruling that deemed non-unanimous convictions unconstitutional, would be retroactive to settled cases. A constitutional amendment deeming all future non-unanimous convictions unconstitutional was passed by Louisiana voters in 2018 but was not retroactive to cases that had already been decided.

Belanger says all past non-unanimous convictions deserve a second look.

Cut 11 (09) “…juries.”

Edwards is serving a life sentence on rape, kidnapping, and armed robbery convictions related to a 2006 Baton Rouge crime spree. Edwards’ primary charge, rape, was decided 11-1 with the court’s lone Black juror voting to acquit.

The Louisiana Attorney General opposes the case on the grounds it could upend thousands of violent crime convictions like Edwards’, but Belanger says it’s about righting a historic wrong.

Cut 12 (11) “…them.”

Louisiana Solicitor General Liz Murrill will represent the state by phone today. She released a statement saying “If Ramos were to be applied retroactively thousands of long-final convictions, whose crimes each have victims, would be unsettled.”

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Senator John Kennedy was a guest on the Moon Griffon show Tuesday and asked about President Trump’s election challenge. The state’s senior Senator, also a Republican, Bill Cassidy has already called for the transition to begin for President-Elect Biden. Kennedy however says Trump has the right to express his opinion about the election.

Cut 13 (12) “…to court.”

Kennedy says the election is not final until all the court cases are concluded.

Cut 14 (10) “…like confetti.” 

Kennedy says he would never deny anyone the right to vote and the amount of mail-in ballots this election, created problems. In the meantime,  Kennedy says he’s waiting on the courts.

Cut 15 (09)“…until then.” 

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Training camp is underway for the Pelicans and veteran Eric Bledsoe is one of the new faces. He was acquired from Milwaukee in a four-team trade that sent fan favorite Jrue Holiday to the Bucks. Bledsoe is entering his eleventh season after averaging 15 points a game last season and he looks forward to taking on a leadership role in New Orleans…

Cut 16 (11) “…I’m up for it.”

As far as Bledsoe’s role on the court, he says he’ll do whatever he can to help the team win.

cut 17 (14) “…to help.”

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LSU’s offensive line is trying to fix the issues that led to pass protection problems in the loss to Texas A&M last Saturday. Tigers offensive guard Ed Ingram says they are spending a lot of time this week watching the film of the Crimson Tide’s defense…

cut 18 (16) “…myself.”

LSU will face number one ranked Alabama without its best receiver as Terrace Marshall has decided to opt-out and get ready for the NFL draft. Ingram says he supports Marshall’s decision…

cut 19 (12) “…for him.”

It’s unclear who will start at quarterback for LSU on Saturday after TJ Finley struggled in the loss to the Aggies. Linebacker Jabril Cox says the veterans on the team are doing what they can to support Finley and Max Johnson…

cut 20 (17) “…always are.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers that includes Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy unveiled a 908-billion dollar coronavirus aid bill today. Cassidy says it would bring much-needed relief to unemployed workers and struggling businesses.

Cut 9 (11) “…venues.”

The bill does not include a new round of stimulus checks.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley thanks Governor Edwards for allowing schools to stay in Phase Three even as the state moves back into a modified Phase Two. Brumley says the biggest challenge they face is the quarantine protocol. He says one positive case can lead to over 50 students needing to be quarantined.

Cut 7 (05) “..the virus.”

There’s an $11,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person who fatally shot a black bear in St. Mary Parish. State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says the bear was found on November 9^th near Centerville and they believe the bear was shot by a rifle a few days before.

Cut 3 (09)  “…shot at it”

That’s the second black bear murdered in St. Mary Parish this year.

Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says between October 2019 and September 2020, 756 children were adopted from foster care, the fourth-highest number for any year on record, and more than 125 of the adoptions happened over video conferencing…

Cut 14 (08) “…ceremony.” 

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley thanks Governor Edwards for allowing schools to stay in Phase Three even as the state moves back into a modified Phase Two. Brumley says the biggest challenge they face is the quarantine protocol. He says one positive case can lead to over 50 students needing to be quarantined.

Cut 7 (05) “..the virus.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers that includes Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy unveiled a 908-billion-dollar coronavirus aid bill today. Cassidy says the bill is not a long-term solution but would hold the country over until vaccines are widely available.

Cut 11 (08) “…compromise.”

It’s unknown whether the proposed relief package has majority support in either chamber.

The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services says between October 2019 and September 2020, 756 children were adopted from foster care. DCFS Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says that’s the fourth-highest number of adoptions from foster care in a single year…

Cut 12 (12) “…our children.” 

The record is 912 set in 2018.

There’s an $11,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person who fatally shot a black bear in St. Mary Parish. State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Adam Einck says the bear was found on November 9^th near Centerville and they believe the bear was shot by a rifle a few days before.

Cut 3 (09)  “…shot at it”

Louisiana’s Senior Senator has helped develop a 908-billion dollar COVID emergency relief package. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (30) … I’m Jeff Palermo.”  

A swinger’s convention in New Orleans turns into a COVID super spreading event after 41 people who attended the Nawghty in N’awlins swingers gathering at the NOPSI Hotel test postive. 250 people total are believed to have attended the event which was held after being postponed this summer.

Schools were allowed to stay in Phase Three despite most of the rest of the state moving into Phase Two last month. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says that’s because Governor Edwards agreed with medical experts who are confident schools are not super spreader locations.

Cut 6 (10) “..percent”

Between October 2019 and September 2020 756 children were adopted from Louisiana foster care, the fourth-highest number of adoptions in a single year. Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says  44-percent of all adopted children involved siblings…

Cut 13 (12) “… together.”

A bipartisan Congressional COVID relief bill introduced today would restart federally boosted unemployment payments for ten weeks, but does not include another round of stimulus checks. Senator Bill Cassidy signed onto the effort and says that’s because it is not a stimulus.

Cut 10 (04) “.people”

Federally boosted unemployment would be set at 300 dollars a week on top of what the state provides. It is unclear whether the bill has majority support in either chamber.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says of the 800,000 plus students in Louisiana’s K-12 system, only 4,400 have tested positive for COVID since classes resumed. Brumley argues keeping kids at school may be safer than other options.

Cut 8 (07) “the virus”

Schools were allowed to remain in Phase Three while most of the rest of the state moved back to Phase Two.

St. Mary Parish has now seen two black bear killings this year and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and other environmental groups are hoping to crack down on the illegal slayings. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says the award for information in the slaying of a black bear last month is at 11,000 dollars combined, and a reward for a bear shot dead in May is at 6,000 dollars.

Cut 5  (06) “…come forward” 

Anyone with information is asked to call Louisiana’s Operation Game Thief hotline.

756 children were adopted out of foster care in Louisiana between October 2019 and September 2020 according to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. DCFS Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says more than 125 of the adoptions happened over videoconferencing…

Cut 14 (08) “…ceremony.” 

A bipartisan group of lawmakers comes to an agreement on a 908 billion-dollar Congressional COVID relief bill. Senator Bill Cassidy signed on to the effort. He says it would help support unemployed workers and struggling businesses.

Cut 9 (11) “…venues.”

The Department of Children and Family Services celebrated the ending of National Adoption Month last night with a virtual event highlighting 549 families who adopted a record number of 756 children from foster care in the past year.  DCFS Adoption Program Manager Cheryl Tirado says uniting families is always rewarding.

Cut 12 (12) “…our children.” 

There’s an $11,000 reward for the arrest and conviction related to the death of a black bear that was illegally killed last month in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says the bear was found on November 9^th off Log Bayou Road. Einck says this is the second black bear found shot in St. Mary Parish this year.

Cut 4 (09)   “…found.”  

Call the Louisiana Operation Game Thief hotline if you have any information.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley thanks Governor Edwards for allowing schools to stay in Phase Three even as the state moves back into a modified Phase Two. Brumley says the biggest challenge they face is the quarantine protocol. He says one positive case can lead to over 50 students needing to be quarantined.

Cut 7 (05) “..the virus.”

There’s an $11,000 reward for the arrest and conviction related to the death of a black bear that was illegally killed last month in St. Mary Parish. LDWF spokesperson Adam Einck says the bear was found on November 9^th off Log Bayou Road and believes it was shot a few days before.

Cut 3 (09)  “…shot at it”

If you’ve recently applied for unemployment in Louisiana, you might notice a delay in payments, that’s because the Louisiana Workforce Commission is reviewing approximately 32-thousand claims they believe to be fraudulent. LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie says the timing could not be worse.

Cut 10 (12) “…unfortunate.”

State officials are growing increasingly confident that schools are not COVID super spreading hotbeds.

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state is reporting 5,300 additional COVID-19 cases today. The also note the number is larger due to a processing error of cases that should have been reported on Sunday.