Louisiana is in the midst of one of the worst flu seasons on record. Matt Doyle spoke to the Department of Health Immunization Director Frank Welch…
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The Governor’s Office says as of late Wednesday, four deaths are attributed to the extreme winter weather in Louisiana. Kelley Ray has more…
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Major highways are still shuttered across the state this morning as one of the most severe icing events in recent memory grinds Louisiana travel to a halt. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Louisiana continues to suffer through its worst flu season on record, with nearly 10 in 100 doctors visits in the last month for flu related symptoms. State Health Department Immunization Director Frank Welch says in his 20 years of doing this, he’s never seen so many cases
Welch says the worst outbreak he’s seen previously was 8 in 100 visits, and that only lasted a week.
Every few years the country is hit with a particularly nasty strain of flu, known as H3-N2, but this year’s strain is even more resilient than usual. Welch says that means more severe symptoms…
Welch says if you come down with flu like symptoms, you need to isolate yourself…
Welch says complications from the flu kills roughly 700 Louisianans a year.
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Cold temperatures claimed the life of a man in New Roads early Wednesday. Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff Bud Torres says they were notified by a neighbor that 84-year-old Paul Maker was found dead due to hypothermia in his home. They had some space heaters, but weren’t running them overnight…
Torres says Maker and his wife lived in a home not equipped with central heat. The home’s temperature when they arrived was 20 degrees. Torres says Maker’s wife was alive when they found her but is suffering from the extreme temperatures…
Torres says the sad outcome of this story shows people should check on their neighbors during this cold snap, especially elderly ones…
The Governor’s office says Maker’s death is one of four statewide related to the cold weather.
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Travel review website RewardExpert finds people vacationing in Louisiana are the “happiest and most satisfied of tourists.” The site found that 98-percent of visitors to the Bayou State are happier with their trip here than other states. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser credits Louisiana’s hospitality…
Nungesser says the information is timely as they are getting ready to promote Louisiana as a travel destination to tour operators in Asia…
Cut 11 (10) “international travelers.”
The Los Angeles Times also listed Louisiana as one of 25 must-see places this year and the New York Times says New Orleans is the number one place to go this year as the city celebrates its 300th birthday this year. Nungesser says while there are places to visit in the Bayou State, he believes it’s the people who make Louisiana a great place to vacation in…
Cut 12 (07) “greatest assets.”
Other states which came in the top five for the happiest visitors included Mississippi, New Hampshire, Delaware and Iowa.
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Major highways are still shut down this morning to protect drivers from icy conditions. Could the state have done a better job keeping interstates open. State Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallet says crews worked hard to keep a few key areas open…
I-12, which passes over several large waterways, is still shut down. Mallet says its some of the most severe freezing he’s seen in a while…
Mallet says crews are working hard salting, brining, and sanding key bridges and roads. There’s been some criticism of how the state is handling the closings, but Mallet says his department puts safety first…
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The Wakefield Fire Chief died in the line of duty Wednesday morning. 48-year-old Russell Achord of St. Francisville was killed while responding to another accident on Highway 61 in West Feliciana Parish. State Police Senior Trooper Bryan Lee says that’s when 51-year-old Robert McCoy of Tallulah came around a curve…
Lee says they will continue their investigation into the exact cause of the accident to see if speed or the loss of control of the vehicle was a factor…
There were no injuries reported in the initial accident.
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The Ragin Cajuns put their perfect 5-0 Sun Belt record on the line tonight when they visit U-T Arlington, who was the preseason favorite to win the league. In four of U-L Lafayette’s conference wins, they’ve allowed 64 points or less. Coach Bob Marlin says that’s been a big key to their success…
Frank Bartley leads UL-Lafayette in scoring, averaging 16 points a game. But Marlin says the senior from Baton Rouge is more than a scorer…
The Mavericks are 3-3 in the Sun Belt, but have won three of their last four after starting league play with losses at Coastal Carolina and Appalachian State.
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Louisiana Tech is in last place in Conference USA with a 1-and-5 record. But they play the next seven of their next nine at the Thomas Assembly Center. The Bulldogs host North Texas tonight and Coach Eric Konkol says his team has lost some close games and he knows why…