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Vaccine OK'd for people 12-15

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 12:15pm

Staff Report

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday granted emergency use authorization that will allow young people 12-15 to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
The move marked the first time one of the three major COVID vaccines has been approved for use in people under 16.
The news comes as public health officials have sounded alarms about a decline in the rate of new vaccinations at levels below the number needed to establish so-called “herd immunity.”
Vaccine eligibility in Louisiana was expanded in late March to include people as young as 16.
“The FDA’s expansion of the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age is a significant step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D., in a press release Monday.
“Today’s action allows for a younger population to be protected from COVID-19, bringing us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy and to ending the pandemic. Parents and guardians can rest assured that the agency undertook a rigorous and thorough review of all available data, as we have with all of our COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations.”
The most commonly reported side effects in the adolescent clinical trial participants, which typically lasted 1-3 days, were pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, chills, muscle pain, fever and joint pain. With the exception of pain at the injection site, more adolescents reported these side effects after the second dose than after the first dose, so it is important for vaccination providers and recipients to expect that there may be some side effects after either dose, but even more so after the second dose.
As of Monday, 26.37% of people 18 and older in Louisiana Department of Public Health Region 3, which covers the area from St. Mary and Assumption parishes east to St. John the Baptist, have completed their COVID-19 vaccine series.
In St. Mary, 23.32% of adults have completed their vaccinations, and in Assumption the vaccination rate is 22.91%.
Lower St. Martin is part of Region 4, which is centered in Lafayette Parish. The adult vaccination rate for that region is 24.67%. In St. Martin, the adult vaccination rate is 20.48%.

Find a vaccine provider near you
https://www.vaccines.gov/search/

House committee rejects LGBTQ housing protections

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 12:13pm

RYAN NELSON, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE -- An attempt to match Louisiana and federal laws on housing discrimination based over sexual orientation or gender identity failed Monday.
Rep. Aimee Freeman, D- New Orleans, said her bill, HB282, would have eliminated discrimination in housing sales and rentals to members of the LGBTQ community. An initial vote found the bill losing 7-4 in the House Commerce Committee before Freeman voluntarily deferred it.
Maxwell Ciardullo, the director of policy at the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, testified with Freeman on the importance of aligning state and federal laws.
“Someone might read our laws and think they could lawfully choose to discriminate against someone based on their gender identity issues and not to sell their home to them,” he said.
Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, an attorney, said the state could violate federal laws if the protected classes did not expand to include LGBTQ members.
“It's really no different than saying, should you have a choice to refuse to rent to me, or sell me a home, because I’m African American,” said Jordan. “Whether you agree or disagree with that, that’s the status of the law.”
Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, voted against the bill.
“Personally, I don’t wear a mask and get discriminated against,” said McCormick. “It looks like it ought to be the business owner’s personal choice. I’m not trying to run a bill that says you have to let me come in your store whether I have a mask on or not.”
The committee split along party lines, with seven Republicans voting against and four Democrats in support.

Sports gambling rules pass in La. House

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 12:10pm

DAVID JACOBS, The Center Square

Louisiana House members voted Monday to advance one of three bills that would create the regulations and tax rates for sports betting, which 55 of 64 Louisiana parishes voted to legalize last year.
“The people spoke,” said Rep. John Stefanski, the Crowley Republican who authored House Bill 697.
Stefanski’s bill calls for a 10% tax on the net proceeds of an operator for on-premise sports wagering and an 18% tax on net proceeds from mobile betting. The bill also calls for the Louisiana Lottery to oversee sports betting through kiosks placed in bars and restaurants, which Stefanski said was meant to allow retail establishments to benefit. Many bars and restaurants have video poker terminals, and some owners are worried legal sports betting will cut into that part of their business.
If HB 697 is approved in its current form, 30% of the revenue from the taxes on proceeds would be dedicated to providing services for residents with developmental disabilities. Most of the rest would go to education through the state’s Minimum Foundation Program, though parishes where bets are placed would get 5%.
The House passed Stefanski’s bill with a 77-24 vote.
Senate Bill 202 by Republican Senate President Page Cortez would allow the state to issue 20 licenses to operate a sports book, limited to operators of the state’s 16 casinos and four horse racing tracks. Senate Bill 142 by Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen, calls for the revenue from the licensing fees to be deposited in the general fund, though some lawmakers likely will call for the money to be dedicated to early childhood education.
On the other side of the Capitol on Monday, the Senate voted 20-16 to approve Senate Bill 240 by Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria. The bill is meant to prevent companies from using refundable income and corporate franchise tax credits to not only reduce their tax liability but to have the state end up owing them money.
Luneau said he recognized some companies in some years might still be able to reduce their tax liability to zero, but argued there should be a limit.
“There ought to be a floor,” Luneau said. “We shouldn’t be going below zero.”
Some types of companies were taken out of the bill at their request, which led Sen. Barrow Peacock, R-Bossier City, to ask whether small companies that can’t afford lobbyists to help them get an exception were being treated unfairly. Luneau said he didn’t think so because small companies aren’t getting the big tax breaks that bring their tax liability “below zero.”

Wheel House for May 11: Fishing and chess

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 12:02pm

KID’S FISHING
Kiwanis Club of East St. Mary 12th annual Kid’s Fishing Rodeo is 9:30-11:15 a.m. Saturday, May 15, at Lake End Park, Morgan City. Free fishing contest for children ages 3-15. Free hot dogs and refreshments for participants. Trophies and door prizes awarded. Use of pole and bait provided if child does not have one. Parent or guardian must accompany each child during the entire event.

CHESS
Morgan City Chess Club meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at First Baptist Church, Victor II Boulevard, Morgan City. Anyone interested, welcomed. For info call Jace Etienne, 985-518-3975.

Thanks for their service

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 11:59am

Submitted Photo/Berwick Town Government Facebook Page
Joey and Randy Dohmann of A.J. Dohmann Chevrolet Cadillac and Chrysler treated Berwick Police Department officers to lunch Monday to show their support during National Police Week.

Cleco urges customers to make hurricane preparations

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 11:55am

Sunday was the start of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, and Cleco is encouraging customers to use this time to prepare for the Atlantic hurricane season which officially begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
This initiative, led by the National Weather Service, is a nationwide effort to build a weather-ready nation before there is a storm. Each day during Hurricane Preparedness Week, the National Weather Service focuses on a different hurricane-related topic to help individuals and communities prepare. See topics at https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness.
“Hurricane season is right around the corner, and researchers are predicting another above-average Atlantic hurricane season,” said James Lass, director of distribution operations and emergency management. “While this is an early projection and subject to change, it’s always better to be prepared.”
In their first forecast for the season, researchers at Colorado State University have forecast 17 named storms and expect eight to become hurricanes and four to become major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). According to CSU, an average season is one with 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
“Last year’s hurricanes, including the pandemic, taught us to expect the unexpected, so now is a good time to review your plan or develop a plan if you don’t already have one, replenish supplies in your emergency storm kit and review your insurance policies,” said Lass. “We know from experience that hurricanes can be deadly and cause significant damage, including extended power outages.”
In 2020, Cleco Power’s service area was hit by three hurricanes, Laura, Delta and Zeta, in just two months.
Below are steps customers can take to prepare for the 2021 hurricane season:
Prepare a storm kit – gather supplies you might need during a power outage, including flashlights, batteries, canned food, manual can opener, bottled water, medication and a first aid kit.
—Develop a plan in case your area is evacuated.
—Test your generator to make sure it’s working.
—Have a battery-powered radio to receive updates broadcast by the media.
—Review your insurance policies.
Take pictures or video of the inside and outside areas of your home or business for potential insurance needs.
—Plan ahead for medical or special needs.
More storm preparedness tips can be found online at www.cleco.com and by following Cleco on Facebook at @ClecoPower.
Cleco Corporate Holdings LLC is a regional energy holding company that conducts its business operations through its subsidiaries, Cleco Power LLC and Cleco Cajun LLC.
Cleco Power is a regulated electric public utility company that owns 10 generating units with a rated capacity of 3,360 megawatts and serves approximately 290,000 customers in Louisiana through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana and Mississippi.
Cleco Cajun is an unregulated utility company that owns 14 generating units with a rated capacity of 3,379 megawatts and wholesale contracts serving nine Louisiana cooperatives, three wholesale municipal customers and one electric utility. For more information about Cleco, visit us at www.cleco.

Hacked pipeline could go back online this week

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 11:50am

BETHANY BLANKLEY, The Center Square

After being hacked over the weekend and taken offline, Colonial Pipeline, the nation’s largest fuel pipeline system, said it is hoping to “substantially” restore its operational service by the end of the week.
Colonial Pipeline, which transports 45% of the East Coast’s fuel supply, delivers oil and other products from the refineries in Texas through the Southeast and up the East Coast to New Jersey. It was reportedly the victim of a cybersecurity ransomware attack. The hack affected only information systems, not machinery controls, indicating it would take less time to get the pipeline back up and running.
NBC News suggests the attack was conducted by the Russian cyber group DarkSide, which has not taken responsibility for it. DarkSide announced on Monday that"our goal is to make money, and not creating problems for society" without mentioning Colonial Pipeline.
In response to the attack, the Biden administration issued a regional emergency declaration to allow tanker truck drivers to work beyond their daily limits in 17 states. The fleet is already stretched as it is operating with 25% fewer drivers than it normally would be because of several factors.
On Sunday night, Colonial Pipeline said in a statement that its operations team was “developing a system restart plan. … While our mainlines (Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4) remain offline, some smaller lateral lines between terminals and delivery points are now operational. We are in the process of restoring service to other laterals and will bring our full system back online only when we believe it is safe to do so, and in full compliance with the approval of all federal regulations."
On Monday, the Georgia-based company said it was bringing its system back online in a “stepwise” fashion, closely consulting with the U.S. Department of Energy.
“While this situation remains fluid and continues to evolve, the Colonial operations team is executing a plan that involves an incremental process that will facilitate a return to service in a phased approach,” the company said in an updated statement.
“This plan is based on a number of factors with safety and compliance driving our operational decisions, and the goal of substantially restoring operational service by the end of the week.”
UBS Global Wealth Management analyst Giovanni Staunovo projected, according to The New York Times, that a prolonged shutdown of five days or longer would likely “send gasoline prices higher, which already trade close to a 7-year high.”
On Monday, gasoline futures were up 1.5%, indicating that gas prices could increase within the next week.
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said, “The situation is growing more intense each day that passes without the pipeline restarting, and motorists are advised to show extreme restraint or exacerbate and prolong the challenges.”
A prolonged reopening could cause gas prices to rise in states like Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia, Northern Florida and surrounding areas, de Haan says.
Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for the Oil Price Information Service, says the greatest concern will be “in coastal states from Georgia north to the Delmarva Peninsula.”
Some Northeastern states can get supply from foreign gasoline imports, but not all states have that same capability. Tennessee, for example, already “often runs out of gasoline during normal circumstances,” he says, making it more likely to be impacted by the hack.
Jet fuel deliveries would also be impacted – especially those flying in and out of major East Coast airports. These airports only maintain roughly three to five days worth of jet fuel. Not receiving fuel from Colonial within a few days could result in major headaches and delays for airports, travelers, and flight schedules, KVIA News 7 reports.
On top of this, a new AAA report states that nationally, gas prices are increasing because of rising crude oil prices. Since the extension of production cuts from last year ended in April, according to an OPEC+ agreement, gas prices are up, and they will keep going up.
“Gas prices are expected to keep rising in the coming days as crude oil prices climb,” AAA Texas spokesperson Daniel Armbruster said. “As a result, Texans are paying the highest gas prices in almost two years.”
Comparatively speaking, Texas drivers are paying the third-lowest gas prices in the U.S., behind Mississippi and Louisiana.

State rental program expanded to offer utility help

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 11:47am

Louisiana’s U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program ia being expanded to include utility assistance.
The program focuses on providing financial assistance to Louisiana renters and landlords experiencing financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Governor's Office.
More information can be found at LAStateRent.com.
Louisiana renters may be eligible for assistance from the state-administered program if they meet all of the following criteria:
—Renter resides in a rental unit in one of 57 parishes covered by state-administered program.
—At least one individual in the household qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due directly or indirectly to COVID-19.
—Renter has received a past-due rent notice, a past-due utility notice, an eviction notice or is experiencing housing instability.
—Renter’s total household income is at or below 80% of the area median income.
Both renters and landlords are eligible to apply for assistance. Priority is given to households where at least one member has been unemployed for more than 90 days due to COVID-19 and to households earning less than 50% of the area median income, as required by the law. In most cases, rental assistance is provided to the landlord, and utility assistance will be paid directly to utility providers.
To learn more or to apply for the state program, tenants and landlords can visit www.LAStateRent.com. For questions about the program or assistance with the application process, renters or landlords can call 877-459-6555, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. To attend an application assistance event scheduled near you, visit www.LAStateRent.com/events.

Morgan City police radio logs for May 7-9

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 11:25am

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Friday, May 7
7:47 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
8:10 a.m. 800 block of Ditch Avenue; Complaint.
8:29 a.m. U.S. 90 Westbound from Gibson; Be on the lookout/hit and run.
10:06 a.m. Sixth Street and Ditch Avenue; Complaint.
10:51 a.m. 300 block of Patton Street; Animal complaint.
11:48 a.m. 200 block of Second Street; Warrant/arrest.
11:49 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; 911 hang up call.
12:14 p.m. 1500 block of Bernice Street ; Animal complaint.
12:30 p.m. 1100 block of Seventh Street; Theft.
1:13 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Disturbance.
1:25 p.m. 6900 block of La. 182; Battery.
2:04 p.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Medical emergency.
2:08 p.m. La. 182 and East Boulevard area; Stalled vehicle.
2:14 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Assistance.
3:37 p.m. 1500 block of North First Street; Complaint.
6:07 p.m. 800 block of Ditch Avenue; Civil.
6:21 p.m. Brashear Avenue; Juvenile problem.
6:53 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Civil.
7:11 p.m. 1500 block of North First Street; Theft.
7:37 p.m. 100 block of Orange Street; Complaint.
7:37 p.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Welfare concern.
8:31 p.m. Sixth and Arenz streets; Assistance.
10:19 p.m. Federal Avenue and Levee Road; Loud music.
11:13 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.
11:54 p.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Patrol.
Saturday, May 8
8:01 a.m. 900 block of Federal Avenue; Theft.
9:20 a.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Assist Acadian Ambulance.
9:40 a.m. 300 block of Second Street; Assist fire department.
10:02 a.m. 700 block of Fifth Street; Complaint.
10:24 a.m. 600 block of General Patton Street; Disturbance.
10:47 a.m. 1000 block of Greenwood Street; Medical emergency.
11:36 a.m. 4000 block of Roselawn Drive; Loud music.
11:40 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:05 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:55 p.m. Morgan City area; Assistance.
1:12 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Alarm.
1:19 p.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Remove subject.
3:47 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Suspicious subject.
4:01 p.m. 700 block of Federal Avenue; Alarm.
4:45 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Animal complaint.
6 p.m. 400 block of Fifth Street; Medical.
6:27 p.m. U.S. 90; Debris in road.
7 p.m. 800 block of Railroad Avenue; Removal of subject.
7:09 p.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Theft.
7:28 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Suspicious person.
7:49 p.m. Lake End Park; Theft.
8:19 p.m. 600 block of Belanger Street; Counterfeit money.
8:33 p.m. 1000 block of Ninth Street; Patrols.
10:10 p.m. Inglewood Mall; Complaint.
10:20 p.m. 2200 block of Maple Street; Animal.
10:53 p.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Medical.
Sunday, May 9
12:22 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Hit and run.
1:08 a.m. Roderick Street; Disturbance.
1:50 a.m. 600 block of Brashear; Complaint.
4:38 a.m. 2000 block of Allison Street; Harassment.
6:04 a.m. 700 block of Fourth Street; Complaint.
6:11 a.m. 1600 block of Front Street; Complaint.
6:55 a.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.
7:17 a.m. 3000 block of Frances Street; Medical emergency.
7:17 a.m. 600 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard; Medical emergency.
8:41 a.m. 200 block of Railroad Avenue; Alarm.
8:42 a.m. 100 block of Mallard Street; Disturbance.
10:34 a.m. U.S. 90 eastbound; Hit and run.
12:05 p.m. 100 block of Wren Street; Disturbance.
1:18 p.m. Redwood Street and La. 182; 8-10’ alligator.
1:53 p.m. 600 block of Fourth Street; Found property.
5:57 p.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; 911 hang up.
6:42 p.m. 200 block of Everett Street; Animal.
7:40 p.m. 1600 block of Front Street; Patrols.
7:50 p.m. Ochsner St. Mary; Fight.
8:01 p.m. Siracusa Subdivision; Assistance.
8:24 p.m. 900 block of Birch Street; Complaint.
8:29 p.m. Ochsner St. Mary; Fight.
8:39 p.m. 1400 block of Federal Avenue; Fight.
8:48 p.m. 600 block of Third Street; Disturbance.
11:13 p.m. Brownell Homes; Fight.

Tips on how to show appreciation to the military

Tue, 05/11/2021 - 8:34am

United States military personnel serve both domestically and abroad. Active-duty personnel are following in the footsteps of retired veterans and protecting the freedoms of their fellow Americans while also playing a vital role in protecting millions of non-Americans across the globe.
Military personnel make myriad sacrifices every day. Recognition of those sacrifices is just one of the many ways Americans can show their appreciation for the military, even during the era of social distancing.
—Help a veteran. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2019 there were 17.4 million military veterans living in the United States. More than half of those veterans are 65 or older.
As difficult as social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has proven for everyone, perhaps no group has sacrificed more than men and women over 65, millions of whom have been separated from their families. Aging men and women spent a year or more isolated at home to protect themselves from a virus that public health officials acknowledged was especially lethal to people over 65.
Adults who want to show their appreciation for military veterans can reach out to local veterans’ organizations and offer to lend a hand. Such organizations may be delivering meals to vulnerable veterans, driving veterans to appointments to see their doctors or get vaccinated or organizing events for veterans who have already been vaccinated. Pitching in to help with such efforts is a great way to show veterans their efforts are still appreciated, even if it’s been decades since they last served.
—Help a military family. Data from the Office of the Under-secretary of Defense indicates that there were roughly 1.3 million active-duty military personnel in 2018. Many of those service members serve overseas for months at a time.
Their families back home can use a helping hand even in the best of times, but they might be especially needy while confronting the pandemic. Though vaccination projections suggest hundreds of millions of Americans will be fully vaccinated by mid-summer, in the meantime neighbors can help local military families handle life at home. Invite a local military family over for a weekly meal, offer to take kids to a sports practice if it’s safe to do so or help out with chores like mowing the lawn or washing the car.
—Donate to charities that serve the military. Adults who have not been vaccinated and are hesitant to be around others can still show their appreciation for military service members. Various organizations help both active-duty military and veterans, and donating to such charities can be a great way to help an excellent cause.
Locally, Purple Heart Outdoors provides support and conducts outdoor activities for service men and women, and disabled veterans. . Purple Heart Outdoors was founded by Army veteran Dustin Bagwell of Morgan City. Visit the website for more information, www.purpleheartoutdoors.org
If you’re unsure about which organization to support, visit Charity Navigator at charitynavigator.org. Charity Navigator evaluates hundreds of thousands of charitable organizations and can be an invaluable resource for prospective donors.
Veterans and active military personnel deserve support. There are various ways for people to express that support, even as the world continues to confront the pandemic.