Louisiana hit the 100,000 COVID case milestone Thursday. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Hospitalizations in the state are up to 15-hundred and vent use up to 200. Our Lady of the Lourdes C-M-O Doctor Henry Kaufman says staffing is stretched the Lafayette Hospital…

Cut 5 (11)  “…an issue.”

The U-S Senate is about to begin debating the fifth coronavirus relief package, which will likely come with a trillion-dollar price tag.  Senator John Kennedy expects there will be additional help for unemployment compensation, but it will not be at the same $600 per week level.

Cut 13 (12) “…in their job.” 

Local governments have been reimbursed 127 million dollars so far as part of the CARES Act. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the bulk of the money reimbursed so far has gone to southern parishes hit hard in the early days like Orleans and Jefferson Parishes.

Cut 8 (10) “…parish”

The funding comes from a 524-million-dollar fund for local governments.

Louisiana has surpassed 100-thousand coronavirus cases, becoming the 12th state to do so and the smallest state to reach the grim milestone. Governor John Bel Edwards…
Cut 10 (09) “…check.”
Edwards has signed the executive order that extends the statewide mask mandate, keeps bars closed, and also keeps the state in Phase 2 of reopening through August 7th.

Healthcare officials in Acadiana warn the public that they are running out of regional healthcare capacity due to COVID-19 case growth. Lafayette General Health Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amanda Logue says their system hospitals and ICUs are full of COVID patients.

Cut 4 (11)_”…of them”

The U-S Senate is about to begin debating the fifth coronavirus relief package, which will likely come with a trillion-dollar price tag.  Senator John Kennedy is pushing a measure for local and state governments who have previously had funding in past coronavirus relief bills, to have more autonomy with how that money is spent, including use for operating expenses which are not linked to COVID-19.

Cut 15 (09) “…get 90+ votes.” 

Local governments have been reimbursed 127-million dollars so far as part of the CARES Act. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne  says the bulk of the money so far has gone to southern parishes hit hard in the early days like Orleans and Jefferson Parishes and that it’s interesting to note that 12 rural northern Louisiana parishes have not submitted an application for any reimbursements.

Cut 9 (11) “…parishes”

Governor John Bel Edwards has renewed the proclamation that extends Phase Two, which includes the statewide mask mandate and bar closures until August seventh. Edwards is once again asking residents to follow the mitigation measures that are in place…
cut 12 (10) “….do our part”
Edwards renewed his proclamation on a day Louisiana surpassed 100-thousand coronavirus cases. The state is reporting over 15-hundred COVID-19 hospitalizations and nearly 200 of those patients are on a ventilator. Several hospitals have suspended elective surgeries again. Our Lady of the Lourdes CMO in Lafayette Doctor Henry Kaufman…
cut 6 (11) “….differed”

The state is reporting they’ve sent 127-million dollars in federal coronavirus relief aid to local governments for reimbursement of COVID-related expenditures. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne…
Cut 7 (11) “…pandemic”
Other professional services and contracts for things like mental health counseling and financial consulting also applied.

The U-S Senate is about to begin debating the fifth coronavirus relief package, which will likely cost a trillion dollars. Senator John Kennedy expects there will be assistance for unemployed workers, but the benefits will not be at the same $600 per week level that it has been at.
Cut 13 (12) “…in their job.”
Not all Republican lawmakers are in agreement with the latest relief effort as some feel the cost is too much.

The state is now reporting 101-thousand coronavirus cases, becoming the 12th state to surpass 100-thousand cases and the smallest to do so population wise. There are some who suggest Louisiana is double-counting cases for people who test positive multiple times. Edwards says that’s not happening and called it a disinformation campaign aimed at minimizing how serious the situation is…
cut 11 (09) “…saying
The number of people hospitalized in Louisiana is up to 15-hundred and those on ventilators is close to 200. Our Lady of the Lourdes C-M-O Doctor Henry Kaufman says staffing is getting stretched thin at their Lafayette Hospital…
cut 5 (11) “…an issue”

Senator John Kennedy says the Senate is working on another coronavirus relief package that would extend enhanced unemployment benefits that are about to expire. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Meanwhile, Louisiana’s Senior Senator Bill Cassidy is set to qualify today for re-election as he’s seeking a second term. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins qualified yesterday providing Cassidy a serious challenger from the Democratic Party. Qualifying ends at 4:30 PM today.

Louisiana has surpassed 100-thousand coronavirus cases, becoming the 12th state to do so and the smallest state to reach the grim milestone. Governor John Bel Edwards…
cut 10 (09) “…reality check’
Edwards has signed the executive order that extends the statewide mask mandate, keeps bars closed and also keeps the state in Phase 2 of reopening through August 7th.

Louisiana Senator John Kennedy says Republicans are discussing a fifth coronavirus relief package that would provide additional help for people out of work and also provide more money for public schools so they can safely reopen. But Kennedy says students should not be forced back into the classroom…
cut 14 (11) “….be forced to”

Healthcare capacity in the Acadiana region is running low as the coronavirus spreads through the community. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Tropical Storm Hanna has formed in the central Gulf of Mexico, eyeing a landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, but it will bring rain to south Louisiana.

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins officially qualifies to challenge Senator Bill Cassidy.  Perkins, a Democrat says his decision to run rose from the concerns he has about how Congress is handling the coronavirus pandemic and this moment calls for strong, decisive leadership in DC.
Cut 3 (11)  “…to happen again.”  
The primary election is November 3^rd.
The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression heading towards Texas has the potential to produce heavy rains in Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the potential tropical storm could produce about an inch of rain for central Louisiana through Monday, two to four inches along the I-10 corridor and four inches along the coast…
Cut 8 (09) “…umbrella’s handy”
The forecast calls for the depression to strengthen into a tropical storm tomorrow morning and make landfall on Saturday between Houston and Brownsville, Texas.

Ochsner plans to double its COVID testing capacity over the next six weeks in an effort to reduce test result wait times to 24 hours. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says right now their patients are waiting up to four days for results, and the surge in demand for COVID tests that is creating the backlog is partially due to the increase in a-symptomatic patient testing, but…
Cut 14 (12) “…virus.”
The state health department reports one-point-one million tests have been completed since the pandemic started.

In an open letter to parents and student-athletes, LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says there are no plans to cancel fall sports and they are committed to a safe start for fall sports…
Cut 10 (12) “…format.”
Bonine has said the state needs to move beyond Phase 3 of its reopening in order for high school football games to be played.

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins officially qualified for the U-S Senate race today, providing Republican incumbent Bill Cassidy with a serious challenger. Kevin Barnhart has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

A tropical depression in the gulf that’s headed for Texas is expected to dump a lot of rain on south Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says as the system moves south of us, it will increase wind speeds in south Louisiana.

Cut 7 (08) “right now”

Ochsner plans to double its COVID testing capacity over the next six weeks in an effort to reduce test result wait times to 24 hours. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says the new testing equipment will be coming in a variety of packages.
Cut 13 (10) “…minutes” 
The state health department reports one-point-one million tests have been completed since the pandemic started.

LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine has sent a letter to parents and student-athletes letting them know they have no intention of canceling fall sports, unless the pandemic dictates it’s not safe to play. Bonine says they are committed to conducting fall sports

Cut 9 (12) “…not acceptable.”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins officially qualifies to challenge Senator Bill Cassidy.  Perkins, a Democrat, says DC is moving too slow in helping families and cites legislation sent from the House to the Senate over two months ago that would have provided much-needed relief to working families.

Cut 4 (11)_ “that they have.”

A tropical depression in the gulf that’s headed for Texas is expected to dump a lot of rain on south Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the soon-to-be Tropical Storm Hannah will make for a wet next few days.

Cut 6 (06) “…days”

Keim says as the system moves south of us, it will increase wind speeds in south Louisiana.

Ochsner plans to double its COVID testing capacity over the next six weeks in an effort to reduce test result wait times to 24 hours.  Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says they’re currently running 2,500 to 3,000 tests a day, but it’s taking two to four days to get results back to patients.
Cut 12 (10) “…a day” 
The state health department reports one-point-one million tests have been completed since the pandemic started.

LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine has sent a letter to parents and student-athletes letting them know they have no intention of canceling fall sports, unless the pandemic dictates it’s not safe to play. Bonine has said the state needs to move beyond Phase 3 of its reopening for high school football games to be played. He encourages the public to follow the safety guidelines that have been established to prevent the spread of the virus

Cut 11 (08) “fall sports”

Over 100,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began as of today after the state reports another day over 2,000 cases, this time 2,300 people, at a positivity rate of 11 percent. Hospitalizations are on the rise as well, back to our early May level.

The status of high school sports in the fall is on the mind of many. Jeff Palermo reports the LHSAA does not have a plan yet, but they’ve reached one conclusion…

cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The most prominent Democrat in the November Senate race against Bill Cassidy offic8ially filed his paperwork at the Secretary of State’s office in Baton Rouge today. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins spoke to our reporter there, and said this when asked about where he stands on abortion.

Cut 5 (12)  “…within that snapshot.”

Ochsner plans to double its COVID testing capacity over the next six weeks in an effort to reduce test result wait times to 24 hours. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says right now their patients are waiting up to four days for results, and the surge in demand for COVID tests that is creating the backlog is partially due to the increase in a-symptomatic patient testing, but…

Cut 14 (12) “…virus.”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins officially qualifies to challenge Senator Bill Cassidy. Perkins, a Democrat says his decision to run rose from the concerns he has about how Congress is handling the coronavirus pandemic and this moment calls for strong, decisive leadership in DC.
Cut 3 (11) “…to happen again.”
The primary is November third.

Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Doctor Robert Hart says they are purchasing new equipment in order to get coronavirus test results back faster to patients…
cut 13 (10) “….15 minutes”
Many people are waiting several days to get their test results back. Today, the state health department reported 24-hundred new cases, bringing the state’s total to 101-thousand.

The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression heading towards Texas has the potential to produce heavy rains in Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the potential tropical storm could produce about an inch of rain for central Louisiana through Monday, two to four inches along the I-10 corridor and four inches along the coast…
Cut 8 (09) “…umbrella’s handy”
The forecast calls for the depression to strengthen into a tropical storm tomorrow morning and make landfall on Saturday between Houston and Brownsville, Texas.

In an open letter to parents and student-athletes, LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says there are no plans to cancel fall sports and they are committed to a safe start for fall sports…
cut 10 (12) “…format”
Bonine has said the state needs to move beyond Phase 3 of its reopening in order for high school football games to be played.