Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. The Governor says to meet that number, the state is trying not to have to rely so much on importing testing supplies.
Cut 10 (10) “…so forth”
Edwards says the minimum testing capacity needed to enter Phase One of reopening the economy is 140-150,000 tests a month.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing about the destructive tornado that hit Ouachita Parish on Easter Sunday. Mayo is deeply touched by the letter from a total stranger.
Cut 8 (05) “…wanting to help.”
The money will be used at a local food bank.

A team from LSU develops a smartphone app to help track medical equipment and supplies that are in transit around the state. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Five more LSU Tigers were selected in last night’s NFL Draft. Two former Tigers are heading to Cleveland, safety Grant Delpit and linebacker Jacob Phillips. The Saints made two trades so they can take Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun and Dayton tight end Adam Trautman in the third round. New Orleans is out of draft picks for 2020.

Louisiana is now reporting the number of patients who have recovered from COVID-19. The state health department estimates there have been nearly 15-thousand recoveries. Louisiana has 26-thousand positive cases and 16-hundred have died.

States need to meet certain COVID testing benchmarks before they can implement federal Phase One reopening guidelines, but Governor Edwards says Louisiana is setting a higher bar…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The N-F-L draft resumes today, but the Saints are out of picks. They traded up twice last night to select a pair of players in the third round, Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun and Dayton tight end Adam Trautman.

Five more LSU players were selected last night and a school-record ten Tigers have been drafted in the first three rounds. Grant Delpit went to Cleveland, Miami selected Kristian Fulton, Seattle took Damien Lewis, Denver drafted Lloyd Cushenberry and the Browns also picked Jacob Phillips.

U-L Lafayette offensive lineman Robert Hunt was selected in the second round by Miami and NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier expects Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson will be selected today…
cut 14 (04) “…flat out play”
The draft resumes at 11 AM this morning.

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is mourning the death of his 31-year-old brother Jace Prescott who was a star offensive lineman at Hauhgton High School and also played at Northwestern State. A cause of death has not been given.

Louisiana is reporting 1,601 COVID-19 deaths and 26,140 positive cases. According to the state health department, Louisiana has a death rate of about two percent. Most deaths in the state have occurred in Orleans Parish, where 392 people have died. But analysis from the New York Times shows that New Orleans, Hammond, Houma, Shreveport, and Lafayette have seen a large decline in new cases and new deaths.

Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. Edwards says the minimum testing capacity needed to enter Phase One of reopening the economy is 140-150,000 tests a month.
Cut 11 (09) “…everyday”

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says debris from the Easter tornado may have traveled far, while acts of kindness have traveled in from much further. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

Clean-up continues at the Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria. A tornado hit the facility on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says they are working to gain access to equipment so research continues…
cut 5 (06) “…extension center”

Louisiana added 61 new deaths from COVID-19 today but the state remains on a slow downward trajectory of viral spread and Governor Edwards says he’s looking at relaxing a few restrictions after the stay at home order ends April 30^th. To do that, Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. Edwards says currently the biggest challenge to meeting that mark is not lab capacity.

Cut 9 (08) “…specimen″

The Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria will need to be rebuilt after taking direct hit from a tornado on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says the mega-shelter that the state uses during hurricanes also took a direct hit

Cut 4 (07)_ “…fairly unharmed”

The NFL held the first round of it’s “Virtual Draft” last night and the Saints grabbed a highly regarded interior lineman, while a school-record five LSU Tigers were drafted in the 1^st round. At 24 the Saints grabbed Michigan big man Caesar Ruiz. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier liked the pick because…

Cut 12 (09) “…contract”

Detillier expects Ruiz will play center, while last year’s 2^nd round pick Eric McCoy replaces Warford at guard.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says the city has been blessed by many charitable acts since the easter tornado hit. A Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing of the tornado’s impact on the town.  Mayo read a letter from the donor.

Cut 7 (13) “…and rebuilding lives.”

Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May.  Edwards says currently the biggest challenge to meeting that mark is not lab capacity.

Cut 9 (08) “…specimen″

Louisiana is second in the nation for per capita testing behind Rhode Island.

The NFL held the first round of it’s “Virtual Draft” last night and continues tonight with rounds two and three.  NFL Analyst Mike Detillier expects three LSU tigers to go off the board pretty early tonight in Grant Delpit, Kristian Fulton, and Lloyd Cushenberry.  Detillier says you may see UL Lafayette’s Robert Hunt and Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson find new homes.

Cut 14 (10) “…play.”

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says the Easter Sunday tornado that swept through the city carried paperwork from the Masur Museum in Monroe into a Mississippi town 138 miles away.  Mayo says someone found it and mailed it back.

Cut 6 (12) “…into the trash.”

Mayo says that wasn’t the only act of kindness as a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing of the tornado’s impact on the town.  That money will be used by a local food bank.

The Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria will need to be rebuilt after taking direct hit from a tornado on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says the damage will impact the research and extension programs

Cut 3 (11)  “…the station”  

61 additional COVID-19 deaths are reported in Louisiana today bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease to 1,601. Total confirmed cases are now over 26,000, but nearly 15,000 state residents who have tested positive have recovered and are no longer infectious.

States need to meet certain COVID testing benchmarks before they can implement federal Phase One reopening guidelines, but Governor Edwards says Louisiana is setting a higher bar…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

The NFL held the first round of it’s “Virtual Draft” last night and the Saints grabbed a highly regarded interior lineman, while a school-record five LSU Tigers were drafted in the 1^st round. Joe Burrow, K’Lavon Chaisson, Justin Jefferson, Patrick Queen, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire made for a record-setting LSU class. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says he’s particularly excited about Edwards-Helaire’s fit in Kansas City.

Cut 13 (07) “…chiefs.”

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo highlights an act of kindness as a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing on the national news of the Easter Sunday tornado’s impact on the community.  Mayo says the he was deeply touched by the letter from a total stranger wanting to help.

Cut 8 (05) “…wanting to help.”

The money will be used at a local food bank.

61 additional COVID-19 deaths are reported in Louisiana today bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease to 1,601. Total confirmed cases are now over 26,000, but nearly 15,000 state residents who have tested positive have recovered and are no longer infectious.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says debris from the Easter tornado may have traveled far, acts of kindness have traveled in from much further.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

The Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria will need to be rebuilt after taking direct hit from a tornado on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says buildings east of Highway 71 suffered significant damage, some are a total loss. The wheat plots for research will also have to be re-built, but their cattle herd is safe. She says they working with other units in the Ag Center community to gain access to equipment so research continues

Cut 5 (06)  “…immediately.”

Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. Edwards says the minimum testing capacity needed to enter Phase One of reopening the economy is 140-150,000 tests a month, and the state performed over 140,000 tests over the last six weeks.

Cut 11 (09) “…everyday”

Less than five percent of all tests completed in Louisiana have been done in state labs, but Edwards says they’re looking to improve that number.

Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May. The Governor says to meet that number, the state is trying not to have to rely so much on importing testing supplies.

Cut 10 (10) “…so forth”

Edwards says the minimum testing capacity needed to enter Phase One of reopening the economy is 140-150,000 tests a month.

The NFL held the first round of it’s “Virtual Draft” last night and the Saints grabbed a highly regarded interior lineman, while a school-record five LSU Tigers were drafted in the 1^st round. At 24 the Saints grabbed Michigan big man Caesar Ruiz. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says linebacker was a more pressing need, but the center was the best interior lineman in the draft.

Cut 12 (09) “…contract”

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says the Easter Sunday tornado that swept through the city carried paperwork from the Masur Museum in Monroe into a Mississippi town 138 miles away.  Mayo says someone found it and mailed it back.Mayo says that wasn’t the only act of kindness as a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing of the tornado’s impact on the town.  Mayo read a letter from the donor.

Cut 7 (13) “…and rebuilding lives.”

The money will be used at a local food bank.

The Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria will need to be rebuilt after taking direct hit from a tornado on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says thankfully the LSU-Alexandria campus did not suffer any major damage and no injuries were reported. She says the mega-shelter that the state uses during hurricanes also took a direct hit

Cut 4 (07)_ “…fairly unharmed”

61 additional COVID-19 deaths are reported in Louisiana today bringing the total number of fatalities from the disease to 1,601. Total confirmed cases are now over 26,000, but nearly 15,000 state residents who have tested positive have recovered and are no longer infectious. This means nearly 60 percent of all confirmed cases in Louisiana have recovered.

The state remains on a slow downward trajectory of viral spread and Governor Edwards says he’s looking at relaxing a few restrictions after the stay at home order ends April 30^th. To do that, Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May.

Edwards says currently the biggest challenge to meeting that mark is not lab capacity.

Cut 9 (08) “…specimen″

The coronavirus pandemic may result in the demise of many department stores according to retail experts at Columbia University’s Business School.

Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria will need to be rebuilt after taking direct hit from a tornado on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith…

Cut 3 (11)  “…the station”  

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt starts an online petition to give Louisiana residents a chance to urge Governor John Bel Edwards to allow parishes to make their own decisions on when and how they reopen their economies. Hewitt says a statewide stay at home order is not working for areas of the state with low case counts.
Cut 13 (10) “…guidelines.”
The online petition can be found at open-L-A-now-dot-com. Edwards is planning to lift some restrictions after April 30th, but he wants everyone to have their expectations properly set for what it will look like.
Cut 16 (09) “…before”
The governor is expected to provide more details early next week.

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says the Easter Sunday tornado that swept through the city carried paperwork from the Masur Museum in Monroe into a Mississippi town 138 miles away.  Mayo says someone found it and mailed it back.

Cut 6 (12) “…into the trash.”

Mayo says that wasn’t the only act of kindness as a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing of the tornado’s impact on the town.

While there is limited evidence cats can suffer from COVID-19, the Louisiana SPCA is asking owners not to seek tests for their pets.  If your pet is suffering from what appears to be COVID-like symptoms Louisiana SPCA CEO Anna Zorrilla says talk to your vet before doing anything else.

Cut 11 (09) “…care”

If you are positive, Zorrilla says you should practice extra caution when interacting with your pet.