TRANSCRIPT
You’re listening to Red River Radio News.
Good morning, I’m Jeff Ferrell.
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INTRO:
Democrats say they will work to revisit immigration reform following last week's victories in the U.S. House and Senate.
Texas Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro spoke at a press conference at the capitol on Wednesday:
SOT:
“This is an opportunity to take on the issue of immigration reform. This is an opportunity for us to be true to the history of this country. The history is that our nation has become the most powerful, prosperous nation on earth not in spite of immigrants, but because of them.”
TAG:
Texas lawmakers and business owners say the midterms were a rebuke of President Trump's mass deportation agenda.
They say broadly popular solutions include expanding work permits and legal status for immigrants who have contributed to the economy.
<**** NEW STORY ****>
INTRO:
In Arkansas, the state legislature plans to study medical conditions affecting women in middle age.
The plan was presented at a meeting with lawmakers this week.
Public health experts joined Democratic House member Denise Innit to talk about perimenopause and menopause.
Obstetrician Gynecologist Doctor Jill Jennings says most ob-gyn’s receive very little menopause training
in Arkansas:
SOT:
“I mean, there was another study done on who has even menopause curriculum like in their ob-gyn residency program. And that study showed that only 29-percent of ob-gyn residency programs are, even have a curriculum designed to even teach about menopause.”
TAG:
As Little Rock Public Radio reports, the legislature’s commission conducts research and collects data for possible future legislation.
This study will examine gaps in care, best practices in other states, and Medicaid reimbursement.
Jennings said Arkansas has one of the largest ob-gyn shortages in the country:
SOT:
“Arkansas Center for Health Improvement found that 271 active ob-gyns in the state. And so, that comes out to be about one ob-gyn for every 3,125 patients. So, obviously one provider can’t take care of that many patients.”
TAG:
The Arkansas study on women in middle age will also look at polycystic ovaries syndrome, and uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.
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INTRO:
Louisiana’s first recreational alligator harvest in 50 years wrapped-up in October, with more than 3,600 hunters harvesting more than 1,800 alligators.
This year the state Department of Wildlife offered as many as 10,000 tags.
State Senator Robert Allaine says he feels that’s a good number:
SOT:
“I don’t think they maxed out two to 10,000. So, I would be comfortable with leaving it where it is and getting another year of data as the program becomes more popular.”
TAG:
The Louisiana legislature approved the recreational hunting of Alligators back in April because the state is starting to become overrun with them.
There are an estimated 3 million alligators in Louisiana, equivalent to about two-thirds of the state’s population.
The alligator numbers are considered a massive conservation success story, with the gator population rebounding from fewer than 100,000 in the 1960s.
The state says the alligator industry is valued at close to $90 million annually.
<**** FORECAST ****>
The National Weather Service in Shreveport is calling for:
* Sunny conditions through Saturday, with a high today near 73.
* Tomorrow: we’ll feel a definite drop in temperatures, with a high only reaching about 65.
* For the Weekend: it starts off a bit cooler still, with a high near 63.
* Then only 59 on Sunday with a 50-50 chance of rain & under mostly cloudy skies.
* Severe drought conditions have led to extremely dry vegetation across the region. Now a cold front is bringing low humidity, and gusty northerly winds.. increasing the risk of wildfires even further.
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