Governor Edwards officially signs an executive order extending Phase Two for another 28 days, and orders groups of no more than 250 for indoor gatherings.

This extension has drawn the ire of some House conservatives who feel the extension will do too much damage to Louisiana businesses. As a result, Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh has resumed pushing a petition that if signed by half of the Legislature would end the Governor’s declaration of emergency. Seabaugh needs 53 additional lawmakers to join him in the House…

Cut 12 (11) “…to having 53.”

But Democrats oppose revoking the order. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says some economic boosts are not worth the added risk to the lives of vulnerable Louisianans.

Cut 15 (11) “…a business open.” 

State workers will not be getting their scheduled pay raises if the budget remains it its current state. Senate Finance Committee members agreed to pause the raises and reconsider them later in the year, citing concern over the  “optics” of giving state workers a pay raise while so many private-sector employees have lost their jobs, but Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne notes that most of the workers who will be impacted don’t make a lot of money.

Cut 8 (09) “…workers”

But Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says if we pass a raise some of them may end up not having a job…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

A resolution by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields to establish a task force to study policing policy gains final passage. The resolution had unanimous support in its final form, which removed previous language about George Floyd and racial profiling by police.

The state education department releases guidelines for schools to reopen with students in the classrooms. Jeff Palermo reports from third grade and on up masks will be required…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

And for additional school guidelines if the state remains in Phase Two when schools reopen in August maximum group sizes for students would be constrained to 25, no contact sports or band would be allowed, and school bus capacity would be capped at 50 percent. If we move to Phase Three contact sports are in and the number roughly double.

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma determines a 63-year-old black man died of febrile delirium while in the custody of Shreveport first responders last April. Thoma says first responders worked quickly to apply medical care to Austin.

Cut 5 (13)  “…a preventable death”

A group called 45 days of Action Shreveport seeks answers on why Austin and Tommie McGlothen died in police custody in April.

State workers won’t be getting their scheduled pay raise if the budget remains in its current form. A Senate committee backed a pause in pay raises with plans to reevaluate the possibility later in the year. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says the economy is too uncertain right now…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

The state education department released a plan today on how public schools can reopen for the upcoming school year and do so without contributing to the spread of COVID-19. One of the guidelines calls for children in third grade and above to wear masks and students with a breathing condition could wear a face shield. The plan also calls for symptom monitoring of students when they arrive and throughout the day, including an initial temp check. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says sick students need to be isolated quickly…
Cut 10 (05) “…recovery time.”
Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh is once again pushing his petition to end Louisiana’s state of emergency because of COVID-19. While it is unclear if Seabaugh has enough backing, Rosepine Republican Charles Owen is among those showing support for the measure and believes lawmakers need more input on the decision making of advancing the state in reopening.
Cut 13 (08) “…ahead of time.”  

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma determines a 63-year-old black man died of febrile delirium while in the custody of Shreveport first responders last April. Thoma says paramedics and police were called to Wavey Austin’s apartment because he was delusional and uncooperative, so he was handcuffed to conduct a medical evaluationThoma says there was no struggle with police or significant signs of trauma…
Cut 4 (08)_ “…or broken bones.”
Febrile delirium is an acute and transient confusional state with a high fever.  Austin was running a fever of 101.5 at the time of this death and was found to have an enlarged heart contributing to arrhythmia.
When the Senate Finance Committee approved a budget for the next fiscal year Wednesday they put a pause on scheduled pay raises for state workers. Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says right now a public sector pay raise just wouldn’t look good.
Cut 6 (11) “…deal with”
The proposal heads to the Senate where it could be adjusted.

Scheduled pay raises for state employees will be paused under the budget now making its way to the Senate floor. Senate Finance Committee members expressed concern about the “optics” of giving state workers a pay raise while so many private-sector employees have lost their jobs, but Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne notes that most of the workers who will be impacted don’t make a lot of money.

Cut 8 (09) “…workers”

lawmakers say they will take a look at whether the state can afford the raises later this year.

The state education department informs schools that they should be prepared to have to close for three to five days once classes resume should the campus be recognized as having an ongoing spread of COVID-19. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter hopes schools have a plan in place to do a deep clean

Cut 11 (08) “…any return.”

Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh is once again pushing his petition to end Louisiana’s state of emergency because of COVID-19.  Seabaugh needs the support of 53 other lawmakers in the House and says the spread mitigation restrictions have been extended too long.

Cut 12 (11) “…to having 53.”

Louisiana has seen over 53,000 COVID-19 cases and 3,000 fatalities and Baton Rouge Democrat Denise Marcelle applauds the Governor’s decision making and feels sacrificing human life is not worth it for a quicker economic bounce back.

Cut 15 (11) “…a business open.” 

The trend of higher COVID case counts and increased hospitalizations continues today with 938 new positive tests reported and 22 additional hospitalizations.

The state education department released a plan today on how public schools can reopen for the upcoming school year and do so without contributing to the spread of COVID-19. One of the guidelines calls for children in third grade and above to wear masks. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter…
Cut 9 (08) “…face masks.”
Carter says students with a breathing condition could wear a face shield.

State Health Officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says wearing a cloth mask will limit the spread of droplets that transmit COVID-19. He says that why it’s important for people to wear masks in public, especially if you are asymptomatic…
cut 11 (08) “….that’s a fact”
The state reported 938 additional cases of COVID-19 today and the number of people hospitalized because of the virus rose by 22.

The Senate Finance committee says state worker pay raises for the next fiscal year should be put on hold. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A group of House Republicans is pushing for legislators to sign a petition seeking to end the governor’s state of emergency because of COVID-19. They say it’s time for Louisiana to re-open even more, but Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says that’s not a good idea…
cut 14 (07) “…people’s lives”

The concerning trend of higher COVID case counts and increased hospitalizations continues today with 938 new positive tests reported and 22 additional hospitalizations.

Governor Edwards has been sounding the alarm about this rise in cases noting a disproportionality high number of these new cases are 18-29-year-olds. Along with demographics their contact tracing data also shows a worrying number of people who have contracted the virus are not wearing a mask. State health officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says there should be no doubt in people’s minds about just how effective masks are at limiting transmission.

Cut 10 (11) “…an important part.”

Guidry says a mask reduces the risk of someone sharing the virus with others through exhaled particles, and for it to have maximum effect, it needs to cover the nose, not just the mouth like another myth would lead some to believe.

State workers won’t be getting their scheduled pay raise if the budget remains in its current form. A Senate committee backed a pause in pay raises with plans to reevaluate the possibility later in the year. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says the economy is too uncertain right now…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

Opponents note the Legislature is also currently considering nearly a hundred million dollars in business tax breaks at the same time.

The House clears a resolution creating a task force to study police policy, leading to some heated moments on the floor. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala voted for the bill but told the floor police are far more likely to be killed in the line of duty than African Americans are to be killed by police. That prompted this response from Baton Rouge Representative Ted James.

Cut 15 (09) “…action.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will issue a new proclamation today extending the Phase Two reopening for another 28 days. Edwards says the alarming number of new cases reported the last two days, makes it crystal clear the state is not ready to move to Phase 3. He says Louisiana is now ranked seventh per capita in COVID-19 cases down three spots from its previous best ranking.
Cut 7 (08) “…doing more testing.”
Edwards says more than 245-thousands tests have been conducted this month.

State Health Officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says studies have shown that if we all wear masks properly, COVID-19 cases would plummet. Guidry says social distancing is also an important component…
cut 12 (06) “…large crowds”

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma rules that a black man who passed away while in Shreveport police custody in April died from a medical problem known as febrile delirium. Thoma says police were dispatched after 63-year-old Wavey Austin displayed bizarre behavior and upon police approaching him in his apartment, he was handcuffed for a medical evaluation.
Cut 3 (12) ”…and did CPR.”

Senate Finance has approved a budget for the next fiscal year that puts a pause on regularly scheduled pay raises for state workers. Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says given how many private-sector workers are unemployed, a public sector pay raise wouldn’t look good.
Cut 6 (11) “…deal with.”
The 60 million dollars in pay raises was set aside, and lawmakers say they will take a look at whether the state can afford the raises later this year.

The state reported 882 new COVID-19 cases yesterday. 18-percent of all cases are 18 to 29-year-olds. Governor Edwards says while younger people think they may not get too sick from the coronavirus, there’s a lot about this virus we don’t know.
Cut 8 (07) “…may last forever.”

There are many Louisiana residents who refuse to wear masks, but with rising COVID-19 numbers, health officials are getting the word out on how masks can slow the spread.
Cut 2 (24) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is concerned about the impact the COVID pandemic is having on nurses. Healthcare providers are witnessing COVID patients suffer to a greater extent compared to other diseases and APNA President Tari Dilks says it’s having an acute impact on their mental state and could lead to PTSD.
Cut 6 (12) “…slowly to death”
Dilks encourages those with family members and loved ones working on the frontlines to be supportive of the situation.

The state department of education released guidelines today on reopening schools. The D-O-E says public school students at third grade and older should wear face masks. Also schools should prepare to closed for three to five days if the school environment is determined to be a source of ongoing COVID-19 spread. New superintendent of education Cade Brumley will have more to say at 2:30 virtual press conference.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is heading in the wrong direction when it comes to the state’s battle versus COVID-19. Lousiana has reported over 22-hundred new cases over the past two days and the governor says Louisiana has moved from number ten in per capita cases to number seven this week. Edwards is once again making a plea for residents to mask up…
cut 9 (07) “…need to do it”
State health officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says it’s a myth that masks are not effective…
cut 10 (11) “….an important part”
Guidry says a cloth mask limits the spread of droplets that transmit COVID-19 and for it to have maximum effect, it needs to cover the nose, not just the mouth like another myth would lead some to believe.

A resolution that would set up a task force to review police policies and the use of excessive force by Louisiana law enforcement turned heated on the House floor. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala, a former sheriff’s deputy, made the point that a police officer is far more likely to be killed in the line of duty than African Americans are to be killed by police…
cut 14 (07) “…about” (2x)
Representative Ted James, a black lawmaker from Baton Rouge, responded by saying many police officers are not held accountable when they use excessive force against African Americans.
cut 22 (13) “…tax funded vacation”
The House unanimously approved the resolution and it heads back to the Senate to see if they agree to House changes.

Governor John Bel Edwards will issue a new proclamation today extending the Phase Two reopening for another 28 days. Edwards says the alarming number of new cases reported the last two days, makes it crystal clear the state is not ready to move to Phase 3. He says Louisiana is now ranked seventh per capita in COVID-19 cases down three spots from its previous best ranking.
Cut 7 (08) “…doing more testing.”
Edwards says more than 245-thousands tests have been conducted this month.

State Health Officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says studies have shown that if we all wear masks properly, COVID-19 cases would plummet. Guidry says social distancing is also an important component…
cut 12 (06) “…large crowds”

A resolution calling for a task force on policing policy creates a heated disagreement on the House floor. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The U-S Supreme Court could issue a ruling today on an abortion law passed in Louisiana in 2014. The law requires doctors at abortion clincis have admitting privildges at a nearby hospital in case there is an emergency. If the law went into effect, that would close two abortion clinics, leaving just one in the state.