The state health department reported a big jump in coronavirus cases today as Louisiana reported 710 new positive cases. The state says the large jump is the result of a backlog of test results that have come in from two new labs who are now reporting their results electronically. It’s the first time the state recorded more than 700 positive tests since April 15th.

Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick is organizing an end the shutdown rally Saturday at noon in front of the governor’s mansion. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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The New Orleans Archdiocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the institution is facing mounting legal costs caused by litigation stemming from decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop Gregory Aymond says the shutdown of church services because of COVID-19 has added more financial hardships
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Aymond says the action will not affect individual church parishes or their schools.

The Louisiana Legislature will resume the 2020 regular session on Monday and several safety restrictions will be in place. Senate President Page Cortez says instead of multiple committee hearings at one time, committee schedules will be staggered throughout the day to lessen traffic in the halls…
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Plexiglas dividers have been installed between House member’s desks as well.

On a day where the restrictions on businesses were lifted, the state reports a big jump in additional COVID-19 cases and deaths. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The governor’s new Stay at Home order begins today. It allows restaurants to have outdoor seating, with no table-side service. All employees of any business who deal with the public must wear a mask. Shopping malls can open for curbside delivery of goods.

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive. Governor Edwards says contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus.If you test positive, Edwards says the state will want information from you that could help identify others you may have infected.

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Contact tracers will also be calling those who are considered close to known COVID positive individuals to inform them that they need to quarantine.

Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick is one of several lawmakers to be a part of a grassroots rally at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge on Saturday.  Large gatherings have been banned as part of spread mitigation efforts, but McCormick says he does not foresee the rally becoming a super spreading event.

Cut 10 (09) “…need to be.”

Louisiana reports 65 additional COVID-19 deaths today bringing the state total to 1,927 COVID fatalities. Louisiana also noted an uptick of positive tests with 710* taking the state total to 28,711*.

Oil City Republican Representative Danny McCormick is one of several lawmakers to be a part of an anti-shutdown rally at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge on Saturday.  McCormick says the goal is to send a clear message to the Governor and the state legislature.

Cut 9 (09) “…and could not do.”

The New Orleans Archdiocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a result of legal costs from cases linked to decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop Gregory Aymond says the filing helps them reorganize and settle outstanding lawsuits.

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Restaurants are allowed to have outdoor dining today, Brooke Thorington on what to expect.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The New Orleans Archdiocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to legal costs stemming from lawsuits brought against the church linked to decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop Gregory Aymond says the action will not affect individual church parishes or their schools…

Cut 4 (11)_ “administrative offices.”

Officials say no parish funds will be used to potentially settle any claims. 

Two parishes, LaSalle and East Feliciana have said they plan to allow their churches and businesses to open today at 25-percent of their occupancy limits. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard planned to do the same but changed his mind after a conversation with the governor. But remains frustrated the stay at home order has been extended to May 15th…

cut 12 (12) “…coughs again”

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive. Governor Edwards says contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus.

Cut 6 (08) “…14 days.”

Edwards mentioned intimate partners, household members, and anyone who has had contact of less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with an infected person could be asked to quarantine.

The FDA has authorized anti-viral treatment Remdesivir for use in COVID patients after a study shows it can lower the amount of time a person with a severe COVID case spends in the hospital. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Julio Figueroa says the study is promising but the next hurdle for patients will be the treatment’s limited availability.

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The Archdiocese of New Orleans has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the 227-year-old institution is facing mounting legal costs caused by litigation stemming from decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop Gregory Aymond says the shutdown of church services because of COVID-19 has added more financial hardships…
cut 3 (08) “…reorganizaiton”
Aymond says the filing will not affect individual church parishes or their schools.

The governor’s new Stay at Home order begins today. It allows restaurants to have outdoor seating, with no table-side service. All employees of any business who deal with the public must wear a mask. Shopping malls can open for curbside delivery of goods.

LSU plans to begin a phase one re-opening on May 18th and the state legislature will re-start the legislative session on Monday.

Republican lawmakers are passing around a petition that seeks to revoke the state’s stay at home order so that the economy can begin to get back on its feet again. But Governor John Bel Edwards says overturning the order would be completely irresponsible and nonsensical…
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Edwards says revoking the order could cause the state to lose millions of dollars in federal assistance.

There’s also been a push by Republican lawmakers to re-open the state on a parish-by-parish basis. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard says he supports that approach because they’ve only had a few residents impacted by the virus…
cut 10 (10) “…we know them”
East Feliciana and LaSalle Parish have told their churches and businesses to open today allowing 25-percent of their occupancy limits.

Beginning today, restaurants can have outside dining with no wait service. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says all restaurants that provide outdoor patio venues must adhere to strict mitigation standards…
Cut 4 (11)_ “…normal restaurant.”
New Orleans is not participating in this change to the governor’s stay at home order.

LSU Health New Orleans says it’s using the antiviral drug remdesivir on severely ill COVID-19 patients since it has shown signs of helping…
cut 9 (10) “…OUTCOMES”
Chief of Infectious Disease Doctor Julio Figueroa says Remdesivir requires a patient to receive an intravenous dose every day. The FDA is said to be on a fast track to approving remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19.

Governor John Bel Edwards says his new stay at home order will allow churches to hold services under a tent and he hopes there will be a further relaxation in a couple of weeks. Attorney General Jeff Landry provided the governor with a set of guidelines for churches to hold services inside with more than ten people. But Edwards says we are not there yet…
cut 15 (08) “….cases”

Two parishes, LaSalle and East Feliciana have said they plan to allow their churches and businesses to open today at 25-percent of their occupancy limits. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard planned to do the same but changed his mind after a conversation with the governor. But remains frustrated the stay at home order has been extended to May 15th…
cut 12 (12) “…coughs again”

Governor John Bel Edwards has formally extended his stay at home order until May 15th, but there are parish leaders who are eager to see more of the economy open up, such as Kenny Havard of West Feliciana…
voicer 2 (25) “….I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor John Bel Edwards says local authorities can impose stricter measures, but they can not authorize relaxed restrictions….
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The governor says that means enforcement from the state health department and state fire marshal.

Louisiana restaurants can offer outside dining starting today, with no wait service. That means you can pick up your food inside and take it outside to a patio area and eat. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says restaurants can also set up tents….
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And restaurants can allow customers to use the restrooms that are inside, but social distancing of six feet should be practiced.

LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease experts say studies show the antiviral treatment Remdesivir has promise for treating COVID-19 patients. Dr. Julio Figueroa says there were no statistically significant indications that it impacts overall mortality, but…
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Figueroa says they are using Remdesivir under the FDA’s Expanded Access Program, which permits the use of investigational drugs outside of a clinical trial.

Governor Edwards responds to a legislative effort to overturn his public health emergency and stay at home declarations…
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Speaking of funding, the Archdiocese of New Orleans is reportedly planning to file for bankruptcy today. The 227-year-old institution is facing mounting legal costs because of unresolved clergy abuse lawsuits and the shutdown of church services has resulted in a loss of revenue. The filing is not expected to impact daily operations or the diocese’s charitable efforts.

Starting today, restaurants can allow outdoor eating. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says there will be no wait service…
cut 5 (08) “….move outside”
Also, outdoor capacity must be 25-percent of what is allowed by the State Fire Marshal, so you’ll see tables 10 feet apart. No more than 10 people at one table.

Leaders in LaSalle, East and West Feliciana are among the parishes that are upset the governor extended the stay at home order to May 15th. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard says most of their 115 COVID-19 cases are inmates at Angola and believes his restaurant should offer dine-in services, with a 25-percent occupancy rate…
cut 11 (13) “….shut it down”
Edwards says parishes are not allowed to looosen the restrictions under the stay at home order and face enforcement from the state health department and the fire marshal.

Governor Edwards officially extends the stay at home order to May 15th and blasts a legislative petition that if passed would overturn the state’s public health emergency declaration backing the order. Edwards says passage of the petition would potentially disqualify Louisiana from receiving millions of dollars in federal aid and puts the public’s health in jeopardy.
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Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says the petition to cancel the stay at home order has over half the signatures it needs.

Remdesivir has shown promise in helping patients who are hospitalized with severe COVID-19 symptoms. Gilead Sciences originally developed the drug to treat Ebola. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Disease Doctor Julio Figueroa says it wasn’t successful in that application, but it seems to help those infected by COVID-19…
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Figueroa says they are currently using it under the FDA’s Expanded Access Program, which permits the use of investigational drugs outside of a clinical trial.

Restaurants are allowed to have outdoor dining today, Brooke Thorington on what to expect.
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Malls are also allowed to offer curbside pickup as part of the changes made to the governor’s stay at home order.

Governor Edwards calls a legislative petition aimed at ending his stay at home order and public health emergency “completely irresponsible and nonsensical”, but a petition proponent says they already have more than half the signatures they need to pass the veto-proof instrument. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says the petition is popular with his constituents.

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Senator John Kennedy says he’s not in favor of rubber-stamping federal legislation to help state and local level governments cover expenses without seeing some indication as to how much revenue is expected to be lost.  Kennedy thinks some mayors and governors will see spending money that they don’t have as being the new normal.

Cut 6 (10) “…do revenue projections.”

The Central Police Department warns their phone lines are clogged with out of state callers protesting the house arrest of Life Tabernacle Church Pastor Tony Spell.  The call to action was posted on a Facebook page claiming to be Magi Spell. Police Chief Roger Corcoran says it’s a dangerous stunt that could prevent people from reporting emergencies.

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Attorney General Jeff Landry is encouraging Governor Edwards to allow the reopening of churches.  Landry says there is becoming some social unrest and one of the first steps to helping that is to allow churches to reunite their congregations.

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Edwards responded to the letter saying he’s not considering allowing churches to open before May 15^th.