Talks continue on Capitol Hill on a coronavirus relief package that would provide millions of Americans with expanded jobless benefits. The 600-dollar-per-week unemployment benefit officially lapses today. Democrats support the three trillion dollar HEROES Act while Republicans want the slimmer, trillion-dollar HEALS Act. Senator John Kennedy wonders if either piece of legislation does enough for small businesses.
Cut 14 (13) “…capital.”

The SEC has approved a ten-game conference only football schedule this season. The first game will be played September 26th, instead of Labor Day weekend. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins…
cut 17 (12) “…Ole Miss”
The league has yet release each team’s new schedule.

Beginning tomorrow, access to medical marijuana will increase dramatically in Louisiana. A new law goes into effect that allows physicians to prescribe the treatment without having to obtain a special license. LSU medical marijuana licensee Wellcana CEO John Davis…
Cut 4 (12)_ “…medical condition”

Also going into effect on Saturday is a law that allows for the nighttime hunting of feral hogs on private property. Jonesboro Representative Jack MacFarland wrote the law and says feral hogs will eat anything and have negative impacts on farmland as well as other wildlife and adds this measure could help reduce auto insurance rates.
Cut 12 (09) “…up car insurance.”

New reported COVID cases have been below 2,000 for the third straight day and hospitalizations have also seen their third consecutive decline, but deaths are up significantly over the past few days. Governor Edwards says that’s due to our spike in cases over the past few weeks.

Cut 13 (09) “…so forth” 

Bar owners have filed a federal lawsuit in an effort to get a federal judge to block Governor Edwards’s order that limits bars to takeout and delivery orders.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A handful of protesters rallied outside Senator Bill Cassidy’s Baton Rouge office demanding that the federal government continues to pay unemployed individiduals 600-dollars a week. This is the last week for the 600-dollar weekly unemployment benefit. Power Coalition organizer Kaitlyn Joshua says with thousands still unemployed, the program must continue

Cut 8 (10) “Louisiana”

The Democrat-backed HEROES Act would extend the 600 dollar payments through the year, Republicans back a 200 dollar a week effort, but a House Democratic leader recently said the caucus is not “600 dollars or bust”.

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened last night in Lake Charles after an alleged high speed chase. Trooper Derek Senegal says the suspect has been identified as 37-year-old William Joseph Latour the Third…

Cut 10 (05) “…were injured.”

SEC presidents approve a plan that would reduce the football schedule from 12 regular-season games to a ten-game season against conference opponents. According to Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, the ten-game schedule would begin on September 26th and the SEC title game will be held on December 19th.

Protestors caravanned in cars around Senator Bill Cassidy’s Baton Rouge office demanding the Senator back an extension of the expiring 600-dollar a week federal unemployment payments. Matt Doyle was there…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

Several bar owners in Acadiana have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Governor Edwards over his emergency order that bans onsite consumption at bars. Attorney Jimmy Faircloth is representing the plaintiffs and he says several of these bar owners met with the governor to find out why casinos are allowed to remain open, but a small bar owner can’t have ten patrons inside their establishment

Cut 5 (10)  “…for you”

For the third day in a row, the state reports under 2,000 new COVID cases, and the number of COVID patients declined for a third consecutive day. At his coronavirus briefing, Governor Edwards warned that despite this positive trend downward every parish still has an R0 (R-naught) above one.

Cut 14 (10) “…grow”

42 additional deaths were reported today.

For the third day in a row, the state reports under 2,000 new COVID cases, and the number of COVID patients declined for a third consecutive day. At his coronavirus briefing, Governor Edwards said this is a positive sign.
Cut 12 (08) “…trend.”
It’s been over two weeks since the Governor ordered bars statewide to close and required mask usage while inside businesses.

Unions and citzens’ groups are rallying outside the front of the offices of U-S Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy demanding they vote for a coronavirus relief package that continues the 600-dollar weekly benefits for unemployed workers. Cassidy has said there needs to be a greater focus on moving unemployed people into available jobs. Augustine, an unemployed worker, says he can not find a job that pays the rent….
cut 7 (06) “>…do that”
Democrats are in support of continuing the 600-dollar a week unemployment checks.

Several Acadiana bar owners have filed a lawsuit in an effort to get a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the governor’s emergency order that has shut down bars. The governor’s office points to the 464 confirmed cornavirus infections connected to 41 bars as a reason why the closure is necessary. But Attorney Jimmy Faircloth says that’s a small fraction of the total known cases in Louisiana…
cut 4 (08) “….there’s not”
The governor’s office says he does have the legal authority to close certain businesses during a public health emergency.

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened last night in Lake Charles. Trooper Derek Senegal says Lake Charles police officers responded to an alleged carjacking and when officers located the vehicle, a pursuit ensued and ended when the suspect crashed into a house
Cut 9 (07) “…suspect.”
Senegal says the suspect has been identified as 37-year-old William Joseph Latour the Third.

Several bar owners in Acadiana have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Governor Edwards over his emergency order that bans onsite consumption at bars. Attorney Jimmy Faircloth is representing the plaintiffs and he says bar owners have been signaled out.
Cut 3 (06) “…to why”
A spokesperson for Edwards says the governor has taken both legal and necessary action to protect the health of Louisiana residents

SEC athletic directors have reportedly approved a ten-game conference-only schedule for football this year. But the proposal still needs approval from university presidents, who will meet today, but they might delay their vote to next week. LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron says if the schedule changes they will be ready…
cut 16 (11) “….pasture”

Protestors caravanned in cars around Senator Bill Cassidy’s Baton Rouge office demanding the Senator back an extension of the expiring 600-dollar a week federal unemployment payments. Matt Doyle was there…
cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened last night in Lake Charles. Trooper Derek Senegal says a suspected car jacker who was armed was fatally shot after a police chase…
cut 11 (05) “…firearm”
The suspect has been identified as 37-year-old Winston Joseph Latour the Third.

New COVID numbers for the state show an increase in cases by 17-hundred. Hospitalizations decreased for the third day in a row, today, down by 20. Vent also decreased, down by 16. Fatalities increased by 42.

Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a briefing today at 2:30.

Bar owners have filed a federal lawsuit in an effort to get a federal judge to block Governor Edwards order that limits bars to takeout and delivery orders. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

A handful of protesters took up positions outside Senator Bill Cassidy’s office demanding a full extension of 600-dollar a week enhanced unemployment benefits. Congressional Republicans are backing a 200 dollar a week extension. Power Coalition organizer Kaitlyn Joshua helped put on the event and says an amount that low risks mass evictions.

Cut 6 (06) “…suffering.”

The state eviction moratorium has expired and the federal moratorium is set to expire this month.

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened in Lake Charles last night. Trooper Derek Senegal says Lake Charles police responded to an alleged carjacking, which led to a pursuit and ended when the suspect, 37-year-old William Joseph Latour the Third, crashed into a house.

Cut 10 (05) “…were injured.”

The investigation is ongoing.

The Department of Health releases new COVID-19 numbers for the day and the state reports an increase in cases by 17-hundred. The percentage of new tests that are positive is at 7 percent. Fatalities increased by 42. Hospitalizations decreased by 20. It’s the third day in a row hospital have reported a decline in cases.

The high school graduation rate saw a slight decline from 2018 to 2019, but Louisiana schools did graduate a new record number of students. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened last night in Lake Charles. Trooper Derek Senegal says Lake Charles police officers responded to an alleged carjacking and when officers located the vehicle, a pursuit ensued and ended when the suspect crashed into a house

Cut 9 (07) “…suspect.”

Senegal says the suspect has been identified as 37-year-old William Joseph Latour the Third

Several bar owners in Acadiana have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Governor Edwards over his emergency order that bans onsite consumption at bars. Attorney Jimmy Faircloth is representing the plaintiff and says several of these bar owners met with the governor to find out why casinos can remain open, but a small bar owner can’t have ten patrons inside their establishment

Cut 5 (10)  “…for you”

Several Acadiana bar owners have filed a lawsuit in an effort to get a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against the governor’s emergency order that has shut down bars. The governor’s office points to the 464 confirmed cornavirus infections connected to 41 bars as a reason why the closure is necessary. But Attorney Jimmy Faircloth says that’s a small fraction of the total known cases in Louisiana…
cut 4 (08) “….there’s not”
The governor’s office says he does have the legal authority to close certain businesses during a public health emergency.

Minden Senator Robert Mills has asked the governor to revise an executive order to allow clergy members to enter healthcare facilities to provide mental health support. Mills says for patients who are close to death, this is especially important…
cut 8 (12) “…great relief”
The state education department reports Louisiana’s High School gradutation rate fell a little over one percent to 80-percent for the Class of 2019. But Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says the number of students graduating with college credits or industry credentials went up ten percent….
cut 5 (11) “…this state”

For the 11th straight year, Louisiana Economic Development’s Fast Start program is number one in the nation. L-E-D Fast Start Executive Director Paul Helton credits the program’s use of innovative methods of training for the high marks…
cut 12 (09) “…our clients”
Since 2008, LED Fast Start has delivered a half-million hours of training to more than 31-thousand employees.

Several bar owners in Acadiana have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Governor Edwards over his emergency order that bans onsite consumption at bars. Attorney Jimmy Faircloth is representing the plaintiffs and he says bar owners have been signaled out.
Cut 3 (06)  “…to why”  
A spokesperson for Edwards says the governor has taken both legal and necessary action to protect the health of Louisiana residents by prohibiting on-premise consumption at bars.

A Minden Senator is asking the Edwards administration to allow clergy members into healthcare facilities to tend to sick and/or dying patients. The current public health emergency bars family from entry, but Robert Mills says clergy should be considered mental health support personnel.

Cut 7 (10) “…community.”

This would include nursing homes, hospitals, and adult residential facilities.

Governor Edwards addressed concerns about COVID-19 among the state’s incarcerated population during his most recent coronavirus press conference.  Edwards says another corrections officer, Sgt. Rosa Thomas who worked at Angola for nearly 13 years, recently died from the virus.As of Tuesday, Edwards says two inmates are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

Cut 14 (07) “…who have died.”

The Louisiana High School Graduation rate for the Class of 2019 was 80-percent. That’s down from 81-percent for the previous graduating class. New Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says it’s a disappointing development after years of gains in the graduation rate.
Cut 4 (08)_ “…direction”
Louisiana public high schools graduated 42,650 students for the class of 2019, which is a state record.

For the 11th straight year, Louisiana’s Economic Development Fast Start program is ranked as the best in the nation. Business Facilities puts the ranking together every year and Fast Start executive director Paul Helton says the program provides workforce training, recruitment, and selection services for Louisiana companies who are expanding or businesses who are re-locating to the Bayou State…
cut 11 (07) “…like that”

The state department of education reports the state’s high school graduation rate for the Class 2019 was 80-percent, a slight decline from the previous year. State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says it’s too early to determine whether the pandemic will result in an even lower graduation rate for the Class of 2020, but….
cut 6 (11) “….do that’

The state reports Sergeant Rosa Thomas is the latest prison employee at Angola to die from COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has more…
voicer 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

State Police is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that happened last night in Lake Charles. Investigators say Lake Charles police officers responded to an alleged carjacking. A pursuit ensued and the suspect drove several blocks before crashing into a home. L-S-P says the suspect was in possession of a firearm and officers shot at him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.