The new 300 dollar federally enhanced weekly unemployment benefits will be available for jobless individuals in the next few weeks and will be retroactive to August 1^st. Governor Edward says the Louisiana Workforce Commission is working to make sure its distribution system is ready for the change from the former 600 dollar payments funded directly by Congress.

Cut 9 (11) “…necessary.”

Deputy Chief of Staff for the Trump Administration and member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force Dr. John Fleming is optimistic a COVID-19 vaccine could be approved in a couple of months. The former Congressman says several different vaccines could get FDA approval.

Cut 10 (10) “…6 to 8 months.”

Grambling State University reports an on-campus shooting Thursday night. GSU President Rick Gallot (Gallo) says the incident appears to be tied to an off-campus fight and students were not involved. Gallot says there is a video circulating on social media of a fight, but it has not been verified and that it is related to the GSU shooting, the incident remains under investigation.

LSU students will begin the first of ten days of move-in for on-campus residents Saturday. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Baton Rouge Police have arrested three women in connection with the assault of a Chili’s hostess. 48-year old Tammy Dabney is charged with aggravated second-degree battery, also arrested is 27-year old Rodneka Dabney and 46-year old Erica Dabney, both charged with disturbing the peace and simple battery.  The Investigation continues.

A Louisiana doctor on the White House Coronavirus Task Force offers an optimistic outlook for what is on the horizon in the battle against COVID-19.

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

US District Judge Martin Feldman is set to hear arguments in New Orleans today from 22 southeast Louisiana bar owners who are attempting to stop enforcement of Governor Edwards’ bar closure order. Similar challenges have not had much luck but legal analyst Tim Meche says this argument might be in front of the right judge.

Cut 13 (12) “…would be him.” 

LSU will begin tomorrow its staggered move-in for students living on campus. LSU Residential Life spokesperson Catherine David (Dah-veed) says the standard COVID-era coronavirus spread mitigation policies will be in effect for the move in.

Cut 6 (08) “…check in.”

The wellness bag will contain an LSU branded mask, hand sanitizer, and a Mike the Tiger stress ball.

Good news for 454-thousand unemployed workers in Louisiana. Governor Edwards says they will soon receive an additional 300-dollars a week in federal unemployment benefits. Kevin Barnhart reports that’s because the state has received new guidance on how to tap into the funds…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Grambling State says one person was shot last night on campus. There is video circulating that shows a large fight before the shooting occurred. No other information is available.

Could a COVID vaccine be available in a couple of months? Former Louisiana Congressman John Fleming, who is now a member of the White House coronavirus task force believes so…
cut 11 (10) “….2021”
Fleming says there are several vaccines that have shown promise in initial trials and mass production is already underway, so once the F-D-A approves the vaccines, they can be available for public use.

LSU students will begin moving into their dorm rooms tomorrow. Residential Life spokesperson Catherine David says seven-thousand students have received specific times on when they can move in…
cut 4 (11) “…residents”
Residence hall move-ins will take place Saturday through Wednesday and on-campus apartment dwellers can move in from August 20th to 23rd. The first day of school is August 24th.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state has submitted paperwork to the federal government so that unemployed workers in Louisiana can receive 300-dollars a week in federal unemployment benefits…
cut 8 (05) “…good news”
The 300-dollars will be in addition to what the state provides which is a maximum of 247-dollars. No word on when the federal unemployment benefits will be available.

Former Louisiana Congressman Doctor John Fleming, who is now a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force says the United States expects to have a vaccine as early as October or hopefully by December. Fleming also says there’s been advancements in treatments, the filtration of blood to pull out the virus and an oral anti-viral for infected patients…
cut 12 (06) “…we move forward”

LSU students will begin the first of ten days of move-in for on-campus residents beginning tomorrow. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

There are disappointed student-athletes on the campuses of Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese and Northwestern State. The Southland Conference has decided to postpone fall sports until the spring. So there will be no football games at those schools. Officials say the cost of testing and unknown longterm health effects of the coronavirus are main factors that went into the decision.

The new 300 dollar federally enhanced weekly unemployment benefits will be available for jobless individuals soon and will be retroactive to August 1st. Governor Edwards says new federal guidance allows for all Louisiana unemployment beneficiaries to collect the payment.
Cut 7 (12) “…1st”
This will impact over 400-thousand out of work Louisiana residents.

LSU students will begin moving into their dorm rooms starting tomorrow. It will be a staggered process and each student is allowed to bring two people to help them with the move in and all students and their designated guests must get a wristband at the River Road staging area…
cut 5 (10) “…wellness”
That’s LSU residential life spokesperson Catherine David.

22 southeast Louisiana bar owners who filed suit against Governor John Bel Edwards order that prohibits bars from letting customers drink onsite receive a hearing before a federal judge in New Orleans today. Legal analyst Tim Meche says even if the plaintiffs get a favorable ruling, they can not allow customers into their establishment right away…
cut 15 (12) “….while at least”
Four Jefferson Parish business owners were not successful in their lawsuit against the governor’s mask mandate and bar closure order in state court last week.

The Southland Conference joins other leagues in deciding to play football in the spring. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state reported 41 more COVID-19 deaths today. Governo Edwards says 49-percent of the victims are white and 49-percent are black but black residents make up 33-percent of Louisiana’s population

Cut 14 (06) “over-represented”

The Saints’ season opener against the Tampa Bay Bucs at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on September 13th will go on without any fans in attendance. Team President Dennis Lauscha says fanless games means the Black and Gold losses its dome field advantage.
Cut 8 (11) “…a big play.”
Lauscha is cautiously optimistic that fans will be allowed at games at some point during the season.
41-year-old Taniel Cole is custody after allegedly brandishing a gun in a Shreveport hospital, executing a carjacking, and taking law enforcement on a cross-state chase before being apprehended in Mississippi. Shreveport Police Chief Ben Raymond says Cole entered Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport and started a domestic dispute with someone there.A bystander who is believed to have no been a part of the domestic dispute then attempted to intervene and was shot in the left. Raymond says that bystander may have saved lives…
Cut 10 (10) “…worse.”

The Louisiana Health Department announced eleven-hundred new coronavirus cases today, bringing the state’s total to 135-thousand. But Governor Edwards says the percentage of tests that show a positive coronavirus case is decreasing
Cut 12 (12) “…on cases”

Shreveport Police released more details on yesterday’s shooting at St. Mary Medical Center. Chief Ben Raymond says 41-year-old Taniel Cole got into an argument with another person…
cut 9 (10) “…hospital”
Raymond says an innocent bystander ended up getting shot, but will be okay. Cole was arrested later in the day in Mississippi.

The Saints kick off the season on September 13th against Tampa Bay, but Who Dat Nation will not be in the Superdome. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
cut 2 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

There will be no football this fall for Nicholls, Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese and Northwestern State. The Southland Conference announced today that they are postponing fall sports and will begin looking at playing in the spring. Meanwhile, the SEC, the Sun Belt, Conference USA and the American Atheltic Conference still plan on having a fall season.