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.

Benton Senator Robert Mills is asking Governor Edwards to add clergy members to the list of mental health support personnel allowed in hospitals, nursing homes and adult residential care homes. Mills also plans on filing legislation to allow clergy visitations at hospitals…
cut 9 (11) “….out”
Mills says he’s trying to protect religious liberties of patietns during a declared public health emergency.

Nearly one-point-three million COVID-19 tests have been reported to the state and 112-thousand have come back positive. Governor Edwards says regular coronavirus testing is being conducted at prisons…
cut 15 (11) “…our parish jails”
This week 39 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have reported in the Vermilion Parish Jail.

The high school graduation rate saw a slight decline from 2018 to 2019, but Louisiana schools graduated a record number of students.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Eleven Louisiana bar owners in Acadiana filed a lawsuit against Governor Edwards over his order that has closed bars. The plantiffs argue only a small number of known cases can be traced back to bars. A spokesperson for Edwards says the governor did what was legal and necessary to protect the health of Louisiana residents.

Business Facilities Magazine ranks Louisiana Economic Development’s FastStart program as the top workforce development program in the nation for the eleventh consecutive year. Executive Director of the FastStart program Paul Helton, says there is no secret to the success, they just produce results.
Cut 10 (12) “…delivers on that.”
The magazine also ranks Louisiana number one for best industrial electricity rates.

The state is reporting another Department of Corrections officer has died as a result of COVID-19. Governor John Bel Edwards..
cut 13 (09) “….worker at Angola”
The Department of Corrections says Sergeant Rosa Thomas died on Sunday and the Natchez, Mississippi native spent nearly 13 years working at the State Penitentiary. She leaves behind three children.

The Louisiana High School Graduation rate for the Class of 2019 was 80-percent, down from 81-percent for the Class of 2018. 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.

SEC athletic directors have reportedly approved a ten-game conference-only schedule for football this year due to the pandemic. 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”

Minden Senator Robert Mills has asked Governor Edwards to allow clergy to enter health care facilities to support the mental health of patients. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported 69 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday, raising the death toll to 3,769. Louisiana’s health department also reported 17-hundred new cases, but for the third time in four days, the state reported fewer COVID patients in the hospital.

Sports Illustrated reports SEC Athletics Directors have agreed to join the Big Ten and PAC 12 in moving to a conference only schedule for the upcoming college football season. The plan is not set in stone yet though as school presidents must approve it. They are scheduled to meet virtually tomorrow to discuss the proposal.

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to provide funding for states to replenish their unemployment insurance trust funds. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says Louisianans are pouring into state parks in numbers never before seen. After breaking records earlier in the pandemic Nungesser is celebrating the fact that last weekend was the biggest attendance weekend in Louisiana State Park history.

Cut 8 (09) “safely”

Attendance records were first recorded in 2008.

The state Agriculture Department has received about 300 calls from Louisianans who’ve received mystery packages of seeds from China and Eastern Europe. Commissioner Mike Strain says its part of some kind of nationwide plot.

Cut 4 (09)_ “its seeds”

If you get a package, do not open it and call the Ag department.

Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reports that the SEC athletic directors support the idea of a ten-game conference-only football schedule. Dellenger has learned SEC presidents will meet virtually tomorrow to consider the proposal. But a vote might wait until next week.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the recent slowing case growth is making him confident that fall football will be played. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The Louisiana Department of Agricultural says since Friday its office has received about 300 calls from people who say they received a mysterious package of seeds. The seeds have a mailing address from either China, United Arab Emirates, or Uzbekistan. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says this could be brushing scam
Cut 3 (10)  “…seeds”  
Strain says the packages have arrived in mailboxes across the country…

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to consider funding Louisiana’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund in the current proposal for COVID-19 relief legislation.  Edwards says the state’s unemployment was 17^th strongest in the nation before the pandemic took a toll on the fund.
Cut 10 (11) “…the solvency.”
Louisiana law mandates the Louisiana Workforce Commission impose a surtax on businesses up to 30% on taxable payroll.

69 more Louisianans are reported to have died from COVID-19, but our case count continues to come in lower than last week, with a notable decline in hospital bed usage after weeks of continual escalation. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says if we can keep up this rate of declining case growth the state could move to Phase Three in a few weeks.

Cut 7 (10) “…we won’t’”

Nungesser made the comments on Talk Louisiana.

Governor Edwards asks the Congressional Delegation to push for funding of state unemployment insurance trust funds as Louisiana is nearing depletion of the once flush account. Edwards says if the fund gets to the point where it needs to borrow money from the feds, that borrowing is available interest-free, but a mechanism has to be set up to pay it back.

Cut 11 (09) “…and their payroll.”

A mystery philanthropist makes a 20 million dollar donation to Xavier University, a historically black college in New Orleans. Xavier President Dr. Reynold Verret says representatives of the anonymous donor requested that the funds be used to create a tuition endowment.

Cut 13 (10) “…ability” 

The Associated Press suggests the donation may have been made by MacKenzie Scott, the recently divorced former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The state Agriculture Department has received about 300 calls from Louisianans who’ve received mystery packages of seeds from China and Eastern Europe. Commissioner Mike Strain says its part of some kind of nationwide plot.

Cut 4 (09)_ “its seeds”

If you get a package, do not open it and call the Ag department.

The state’s unemployment insurance trust fund is nearing depletion after historic levels of need following the pandemic shutdown. Because of that Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to consider funding the trust as part of the next wave of COVID economic stimulus.

Cut 9 (12) “…are shored up.”

We’ve now seen two straight days with COVID case counts below 2,000 after dealing with average counts clear over 2,000 all of last week. That recent slowing in case growth has Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser confident that fall football can proceed in Louisiana.

Cut 6 (06) “…months.”

He also added he is meeting soon with the Sugar Bowl Committee and is committed to holding the bowl game in New Orleans at the start of next year.

A mystery philanthropist makes a 20 million dollar donation to Xavier University, a historically black college in New Orleans. Xavier President Dr. Reynold Verret says it’s the largest single donation in school history and was told by representatives of the donor that they appreciate the importance of institutions like Xavier and the role they play in helping to bridge the nation’s achievement gap.

Cut 14 (06) “…country”

The Associated Press suggests the donation may have been made by MacKenzie Scott, the recently divorced former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The Louisiana Department of Agricultural says since Friday its office has received about 300 calls from people who say they received a mysterious package of seeds. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says if you receive the seeds, usually from shippers in China and Eastern Europe, call the state department of agriculture’s office and do not take them out of the bag or throw them away and most importantly do not plant them…

Cut 5 (07)  “…our crop”

The state reported 69 more COVID-19 deaths today, bringing the statewide total to 3,769. Louisiana’s health department also reported 17-hundred new cases, but for the third time in four days, the state reported fewer COVID patients in the hospital.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser stopped by Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster today and said last weekend broke a record for visitors at State Parks…
cut 8 (09) “…safely”

And Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says his office has now heard from at least 300 people who have received in the mail a small package containing seeds. Strain says if you receive this mysterious package, call the department of ag and do not plan the seeds…
cut 5 (07) “…our crop”

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to provide funding for states to replenish their unemployment insurance trust funds. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (28) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

A mystery philanthropist makes a 20 million dollar donation to Xavier University, a historically black college in New Orleans. Xavier President Dr. Reynold Verret calls it a historic contribution.
Cut 12 (08) “…received.”
The Associated Press suggests the donation may have been made by MacKenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The Louisiana Department of Agricultural says since Friday its office has received about 300 calls from people who say they received a mysterious package of seeds. The seeds have a mailing address from either China, United Arab Emirates, or Uzbekistan. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says this could be brushing scam
Cut 3 (10)  “…seeds”  
Strain says the packages have arrived in mailboxes across the country…

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to consider funding Louisiana’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund in the current proposal for COVID-19 relief legislation.  Edwards says the state’s unemployment was 17^th strongest in the nation before the pandemic took a toll on the fund.
Cut 10 (11) “…the solvency.”
Louisiana law mandates the Louisiana Workforce Commission impose a surtax on businesses up to 30% on taxable payroll.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the recent slowing case growth is making him confident that fall football will be played. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

The state reports over 1,700 new COVID-19 cases today. The number of active cases is almost 35-thousand, which nearly fills the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans twice.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is optimistic that football and Mardi Gras will not have to be canceled due to the pandemic, and is celebrating yet another record weekend for state parks. Nungesser says the recent slowing in new cases is likely due to the mask mandate and closing of bars, and if this keeps up he expects football to be a go for the fall and Mardi Gras to be back next year.

Cut 6, 6 seconds, months

He also added he is meeting soon with the Sugar Bowl Committee and is committed to holding the bowl game in New Orleans at the start of next year.

Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana’s Congressional Delegation to consider funding Louisiana’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund in the current proposal for COVID-19 relief legislation.  Edwards says the benefit of the extra help would be widespread.

Cut 9 (12) “…are shored up.”

Four businesses have seen their bar permits suspended after failing multiple compliance checks. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Former LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow is a very rich man suddenly after signing a four-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals worth 36-million dollars. And the deal includes a 24-million dollar signing bonus.