TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
The most recent forecast track for Hurricane Isaias has shifted farther east, away from Louisiana. That’s the word from the National Hurricane Center.
The latest update has the storm making landfall near the Alabama-Florida state line.
But National Weather Service Meteorologist Phil Grigsby says Louisiana could still see some effects. A storm surge watch and tropical storm watch have been issued for coastal parishes:
SOT:
“Anybody that’s got camps, anybody that’s, uh, you know, that lives out there involved with the fishing industry or anything like that, be prepared for some higher water and some gusty winds, especially Friday afternoon into Friday night.”
TAG:
Grigsby says Louisiana will see less than an inch of rain from the storm, which is now expected to make landfall either late Friday night or early Saturday morning.
<**** NEW STORY ****>
INTRO:
Louisiana is revamping its foster care program for its training and certification process.
The Department of Children and Family Services, or DCFS, has launched an online portal this week as part of those changes.
Families can use either a computer or a mobile device to complete their forms, upload their documents and track their progress on the HomeReady portal.
DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris says moving everything online simplifies the process and creates much less paperwork:
SOT:
“The end goal of HomeReady is to make it easy for people in Louisiana to become a caregiver and easy for us to find a perfect match for a child that may need a temporary home.”
TAG:
Harris says with more than 7,000 children in Louisiana foster care, the state needed an easier, more modern way for potential foster parents to get certified.
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INTRO:
Texas patients and doctors will no longer have to pay taxes to access and share medical records.
As KERA’s Abigail Ruhman reports, Texas comptroller Don Huffines just signed an executive order to abolish taxes on healthcare technology systems:
SOT:
“Huffines’ office says previous leadership of the agency stretched a sales tax on data processing services to cover “things the legislature never intended.” The executive order directs the agency to submit a rule change that clarifies that patient portals and other healthcare technology systems used to “maintain, access or share medical records” are no longer taxable. Huffines was appointed comptroller earlier this year and is running in next month’s midterm election to serve a full term.”
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INTRO:
Flu season may be starting early according to experts.
In Arkansas, infectious disease specialist Dr. Robert Hopkins says there’s a new option for the flu shot this year.
Dr. Hopkins is the medical director with the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
And he says, for the first time there is an mRNA-based flu vaccine. It’s produced by Moderna. The FDA just approved the new vaccine this fall:
SOT:
“And this is a vaccine that’s approved for adults 50 and older to reduce the likelihood of severe influenza. So, the first time we’ve had an mRNA-based option. But we have eight other different flu vaccines approved for different age groups and populations in the United States.”
TAG:
The CDC recommends a flu vaccine every year for everyone 6 months and older, ideally by the end of October.
<**** FORECAST ****>
The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
- Sunny conditions with a high near 92, then
- More sun and a high of 91 Friday.
- For the weekend: it’ll start off with a chance for rain Saturday and a high near 85.
- Then dry, sunny and a high near 90 for Sunday.
- By Monday, Columbus Day, sunny again and 92.
- Hurricane Isaias is tracking east northeast and will likely have little if any impact on the Four State Region.
- Some rain is still in the forecast for late Friday into Saturday.
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