1-11-21
A VACCINATION CLINIC WAS SET UP OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE HEYMANN CENTER IN LAFAYETTE TO GIVE SENIOR CITIZENS THEIR FIRST DOSE OF THE COVID-NINETEEN VACCINE. IT WAS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY FOR THOSE SEVENTY AND OLDER. STAFF WITH OCHSNER LAFAYETTE GENERAL WERE ON HAND TO ADMINISTER THE VACCINE. OFFICIALS WITH THE HOSPITAL SAY THAT, DESPITE THE UNPREDICTABLE SUPPLY, THEY EXPECT TO HAVE THE VACCINE AVAILABLE ACROSS THE COMMUNITY SOON.
STAFF WITH C-V-S PHARMACY ADMINISTERED THE COVID-NINETEEN VACCINE TO RESIDENTS OF THE EUNICE MANOR NURSING HOME. ADMINISTRATOR NICKI TOUPS SAYS ALL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT CONTRACTED THE CORONAVIRUS OVER THE PAST NINETY DAYS WILL RECEIVE THE VACCINE. SHE SAYS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE STAFF ALSO AGREED TO GET THE VACCINE, WHICH SHE CALLED SELFLESS. TOUPS SAYS THE SECOND DOSE WILL BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.
AFTER RISING STEADILY, HOSPITALIZATIONS IN LOUISIANA DROPPED BY ONE HUNDRED NINE, ACCORDING TO YESTERDAY’S REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WHICH COVERED A TWO DAY PERIOD. THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS DECREASED BY FIVE. THERE WERE THIRTY-SIX MORE COVID-NINTEEN DEATHS IN THE STATE. THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES ROSE BY MORE THAN FORTY-FIVE HUNDRED, TO NEARLY THREE HUNDRED ELEVEN THOUSAND.
EVERY PARISH IN ACADIANA, EXCEPT FOR VERMILLION PARISH, RECORDED A CONFIRMED A NEW COVID-NINETEEN DEATH. THE TOTAL WAS FOURTEEN. LAFAYETTE PARISH HAD THE MOST WITH FIVE. SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD ONE DEATH WHICH WAS IN ALLEN PARISH. THERE WERE FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY NEW CASES IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING TWO HUNDRED IN LAFAYETTE PARISH. SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR. MOST WERE IN CALCASIEU PARISH, WHICH HAD ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN.
A SIXTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD LAFAYETTE WOMAN WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH SATURDAY MORNING. BREAUX BRIDGE POLICE SAY THE WOMAN RAN OFF THE BREAUX BRIDGE HIGHWAY AND HER VEHICLE FLIPPED AT AROUND EIGHT-THIRTY A-M. THE WOMAN’S IDENTITY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED PENDING NOTIFICATION OF HER FAMILY. THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
FIVE YOUNG MEN ARE FACING CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO AN ARMED ROBBERY. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.
VOICER W :30
Louisiana families are eligible for a 15% boost in their food stamp benefits through June, under the federal coronavirus aid package passed by Congress. The state said any increases due to people receiving benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program started being transferred to benefit cards Friday. The latest federal coronavirus legislation didn’t expand eligibility for food stamps, but state officials say several key provisions will increase SNAP’s reach. Officials say the program will no longer count federal extended unemployment benefits as income and will change the rules for students, allowing more to qualify.
A former state lawmaker appears to be returning to the Louisiana House without an election after no one else signed up to run against him for the vacant seat. Republican Rep. Brett Geymann of Lake Charles was the only contender to sign up for the special election for the District 35 seat representing Beauregard and Calcasieu parishes before the three-day qualifying period closed Friday. Geymann had previously held the seat for 12 years before he was forced out by term limits in 2016. The seat was open because Republican Stephen Dwight of Lake Charles resigned after winning a fall election to become Calcasieu Parish district attorney.
