A federal judge calls for Louisiana to go back to using the summer election plan for the upcoming fall elections. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported 508 more coronavirus cases yesterday increasing the total number to nearly 159-thousand. The number of COVID-19 deaths increased by 18 to 5,126. The number of COVID patients hospitalized rose slightly.

New Orleans Police say they have arrested a 15-year-old for a September 10th shooting that killed three people and wounded two others.

Cameron Police Jury Vice President Scott Trahan estimates over half of the homes in the storm-ravaged parish were completely destroyed by Hurricane Laura. Trahan says it could be up to three months before most of the parish gets power back, but even when the power returns, many homes will not turn the lights back on.
Cut 14 (07) “…left.”
The parish has an estimated population of just under 7,000.

Tiger Stadium will have about 25-thousand fans at LSU’s season opener on September 26th against Mississippi State. The school says they’ll announce seating arrangements next week. Athletics Director Scott Woodward and Interim LSU President Thomas Galligan says the 25-percent capacity includes student tickets…
cut 13 (09) “…sounds right”
LSU has said that students who get tested for the coronavirus will have priority for football tickets.

US District Judge Shelly Dick has ruled against the Secretary of State’s election plan that rolled back much of the summer’s mail-in balloting opportunities. Dick said the limited absentee access approved by the Legislature imposes a burden on a person’s right to vote during a pandemic. Governor John Bel Edwards agrees.
Cut 8 (07) “…do that.”
Under Ardoin’s plan, the only COVID-related reason for requesting an absentee ballot is that if you test positive for the virus during early voting or before Election Day. Ardoin is reviewing the decision.

LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward says they will provide seating arrangements for the September 26th season opener next week. Tailgaiting will not be allowed and Woodward addressed that during a news conference…
cut 11 (10) “…the woods yet”

Education leaders present an update to a Senate Committee on the return to learning in Calcasieu Parish following Hurricane Laura. Brooke Thorington has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

And we need to keep an eye on the Gulf of Mexico once again. There’s an area of low pressure in the southern Gulf has a 90-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours. If this disturbance becomes a named storm, it will be named Wilfred and then we move on to the Greek Alphabet, which also happened in 2005.

A federal judge has ruled the state should give more people the option of using absentee mail ballots for the November third presidential election. The ruling goes against the election plan endorsed by Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin and the state legislature. Governor Edwards applauds the decision. He says Ardoin’s election plan made no considerations for those with co-morbid conditions, and…
cut 9 (09) “….positive”
U-S District Judge Shelly Dick says the state should revert back to the rules it had in place for the summer elections, which allowed a voter to seek an absentee ballot if they were at risk of severe illness. Ardoin says his office is reviewing the judge’s ruling.

The National Hurricane Center is giving a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico a 90-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression in the next 48 hours. The low is expected to meander in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico for the next day or so.

Calcasieu Parish School Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus tells the Senate Education Committee that 74 of their 76 school campuses and office complexes sustained damage from Hurricane Laura. 15 of the buildings had substantial damage when roofs came off. The estimated total damage is about 300-million dollars. Bruchhaus says they hope to resume online learning on September 28th, but internet connectivity is limited…
cut 6 (12) “….schools with internet”
The district plans to open schools as they become ready, with 5-to-7 opening next week.

Meanwhile, at the Sacred Heart Graveyard in Cameron Parish, 150 caskets floated away from their tombs. Cameron Police Jury Vice President Scott Trahan says after having similar incidents in recent storms it’s time the parish starts filling caskets with concrete…
Cut 15 (11) “…go anywhere”

LSU’s Athletics Director Scott Woodward has no concerns over the football program’s coronavirus protocols after Coach Ed Orgeron said most of the players had the virus. Jeff Palermo has more…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The state health department reports 508 additional COVID-19 cases today and an additional 11 hospitalizations for a total of 678. 107 of those are on ventilators an increase of 8.

The Cajun Navy has 25 to 30 boats ready to respond to the severe flooding in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle now as Tropical Storm Sally continues to bring incredible rain totals forecasted over the next two days. United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says unfortunately it is tough to get the boats into position with some key bridges closed.

Cut 5 (08)  “…to have, unfortunately.”

Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says the move to Phase Three is a big help, but they still anticipate 25 to 50 percent of all state restaurants will close permanently due to COVID. Harris says staffing is still an issue for most restaurants, although recent reductions in unemployment benefits could force more people back to work.

Cut 11 (07) “…revenue.”

Phase Three also bans restaurants from serving alcohol after 10pm.

Tropical Storm Sally is slowly dumping potentially historic levels of rain across Alabama and the Florida panhandle.  The Cajun Navy has been deployed to assist in the likely numerous search and rescues that will be needed once floodwaters from the up to 30 inches of rain begin to rise, and United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says unfortunately it appears many of the residents did not evacuate.

Cut 4 (09)“ …could survive it.” 

LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron’s comments yesterday that most of the team has tested positive for COVID-19 raised quite a few eyebrows. LSU athletics director Scott Woodward says Orgeron was too forthright and transparent when he said most of the team has had COVID-19 and there are no issues with the protocols in place

Cut 8 (08) “…doing things.”

Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says a national survey shows 58 percent of US adults know a local restaurant that’s closed its doors for good due to the pandemic. He says revenue losses for Louisiana restaurants have been significant.

Cut 9 (10) “…revenue”

The state’s move to Phase Three allowed restaurants to increase indoor dining capacity to 75 percent, but Harris notes it now bans those businesses from serving alcohol after 10 PM.

Three horses in south Louisiana have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says when a horse is infected with the mosquito-transmitted illness, it’s typically bad news for the horse.

Cut 12 (09) “…West Nile Virus.”

A national survey shows year over year restaurant sales are down 35 percent and the industry is expected to lose 240 billion dollars in revenue.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

The United States District Court Middle District of Louisiana issues a ruling on upcoming elections. The court has ruled to increase early voting for the Presidential General and Open Congressional Primary elections to 10 days. The court is also making the COVID-19 Ballot Application that was used in July and August available.

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward is pleased with how the football program is handling the coronavirus. A day earlier, Coach Ed Orgeron said most of the team has had COVID-19, but Woodward says the players are receiving world-class medical attention that includes a strong contact tracing system

Cut 6 (09) “…doing it”

Three horses in south Louisiana have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  Ag Commissioner Mike Strain Common signs in horses can include fever, loss of appetite, weakness, loss of coordination, and circling.  The disease can also infect humans. Strain says it is important for horses to be vaccinated against the virus.

Cut 13 (11) “…every six months.”

The Cajun Navy is assisting in the response to Hurricane Sally, which made landfall this morning as a slow-moving Category 2 storm near the Florida-Alabama line. Baldwin County in Alabama is reporting major to catastrophic flooding. United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says their focus is floodwater rescues.

Cut 3 (06)  “…surge coming up.”  

Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says the move to Phase Three is a big help, but they still anticipate 25 to 50 percent of restaurants will close permanently due to COVID. The state’s move to Phase Three allowed restaurants to increase indoor dining capacity to 75 percent, but it now bans them from serving alcohol after 10 PM. Harris says alongside the large amounts of lost revenue…

Cut 10 (10) “…safe”

LSU athletics director Scott Woodward is pleased with how the football program is handling the coronavirus. A day earlier, Coach Ed Orgeron said most of the team has had COVID-19, but Woodward says the vast majority of the cases have occurred socially and not in the weight room or at practice.

Cut 7 (11) “socially.”

Three horses in south Louisiana have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it is important for horses to be vaccinated against the virus, however, humans do not get vaccinated for EEE, but instead are encouraged to avoid mosquitos with bug spray and long sleeves. Strain recommends taking additional protective measures, including draining standing water.

Cut 14 (10) “…mosquito-infested areas.”