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. During a Zoom press conference of his own, the L-S-U A-D says there are no issues with the protocols in place

Cut 8 (08) “…doing things.”

The Cajun Navy has 25 to 30 boats ready to respond to what will likely be some severe flooding in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle as Hurricane Sally continues to creep ashore with incredible rain totals forecasted over the next two days. United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says unfortunately it’s 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.”

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.”

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”  

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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. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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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.”  

The group of Louisiana-based volunteers often respond to natural disasters.  Terrell says it appears many of the residents were blindsided by the intensity of the storm and did not evacuate.

Cut 4 (09)“ …could survive it.” 

Terrell estimates they’ve got about 25 to 30 boats ready to respond, but the closure of bridges in the area is complicating the entry process for others wanting to help.

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

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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”

Woodward says the vast majority of the cases have occurred socially and not in the weight room or at practice.

Cut 7 (11) “socially.”

Woodward also says Orgeron was too forthright and transparent when he said most of the team has had COVID-19. During a Zoom press conference of his own, the L-S-U A-D was asked why not give an exact number on how many players tested positive. Woodward says he will not discuss a player’s medical history and there are no issues with the protocols in place

Cut 8 (08) “…doing things.”

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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 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 are 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.

Harris says alongside the large amounts of lost revenue…

Cut 10 (10) “…safe”

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.”

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Three horses in south Louisiana have tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis.  Ag Commissioner 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.”

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.”

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.” 

Hurricane Sally is slowly creeping into the Panhandle dumping potentially historic levels of rain across the region. 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.” 

Sally came ashore as a category two hurricane, but the biggest fear is not storm surge or wind, but rain.

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”

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”  

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”
Woodward says the vast majority of the cases have occurred socially and not in the weight room or at practice.
The Cajun Navy deploys to the Florida Panhandle to assist with the response to Hurricane Sally.  The slow-moving Cat 1 storm is making landfall near the Florida-Alabama line and bringing with it plenty of rain.  United Cajun Navy founder Todd Terrell says the focus of the day is on floodwater rescues.
Cut 3 (06)  “…surge coming up.”  

Terrell says it appears many of the residents were blindsided by the intensity of the storm and did not evacuate.

A bar in Monroe attempts to open against the Governor’s orders and is shut down just 25 minutes into service. Matt Doyle spoke with the owner of the Junkyard bar…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillody wants to dedicate $1 million to police training following the death of Trayford Pellerin, who died last month when he was shot multiple times by multiple officers of the Lafayette Police Department. Guillory says the money will come from CARES Act funding.

The Louisiana Economic Outlook estimates by 2022 Louisiana will have recovered only 90 percent of the jobs lost in the COVID Recession. LSU Economist Dr. Loren Scott says by the end of this year Louisiana will have lost 105,000 jobs to the pandemic economic collapse, and our recovery will be less of a V and more of a Nike Swoosh…
Cut 7 (07) “…back up”
72,600 of those jobs will return by the end of 2021.
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System launches a program designed to help those who may be unemployed due to the pandemic. LCTCS President Monty Sullivan says the Reboot Your Career programs are much quicker than trying to get a degree, lasting no more than 12 weeks.
Cut 14 (07) “…go to work.”
Training focuses on skillsets for in-demand jobs such as industrial technology, healthcare, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, and information technology.

The Junkyard Bar in Monroe planned to open yesterday against the Governor’s orders but was shut down just 25 minutes into service. Owner Lane Clark says with bills pilling up he had no choice but to try to open, but when he did ATF arrived and told him he could either surrender his liquor license or be arrested if he served another beer…
Cut 4 (06)“ …fighting” 
Clark is asking other bar owners to follow his lead saying suspensions of licenses don’t mean much if you can’t open anyway.

Two Kenner men are under arrest and a third suspect wanted for the rape of a juvenile under the age of 13.  Kenner Police Commander of Criminal Investigations Michael Cunningham says the victim says the suspects undressed her, held her down, and all three of them sexually assaulted her. Cunningham says the suspect that is on the run was in a relationship with the mother of the victim.

Cut 11 (07) “…a second investigation.”

The two arrested have been identified as brothers Raul and Wilmer Paz-Perez, both 35, and 31-year-old Elder Paz-Perez is still on the loose.

The Louisiana Economic Outlook report shows the state will lose 105-thousand jobs in 2020 as a result of COVID-19 impacts on the economy. LSU Economist Loren Scott says it will take until 2022, before the state recovers 90-percent of the jobs that are lost. Scott says the recovery will be slow, because oil prices will only rise to 49 dollars a barrel by 2022…
cut 8 (10) “….2023”

Bar owners are suffering as most of them are not allowed to re-open based on Louisiana’s coronavirus pandemic restrictions. Lane Clark owns the Junkyard Bar in Monroe and says it’s not fair…
cut 6 (04) “….drinking”
Clark tried to open his bar yesterday and A-T-C officials arrived 25 minutes later and revoked his license.

The Louisiana Community and Technical College System launches a program designed to help those who are unemployed due to the pandemic. LCTCS President Monty Sullivan says the Reboot Your Career program aims to train no less than 5000 individuals by June 30th.
Cut 13 (07) “…of their families.”
Training will be for in-demand jobs such as industrial technology, healthcare, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, and information technology. For more information go to the L-C-T-C-S website.

Kenner Police is looking for 31-year-old Elder Paz-Perez. Commander of Criminal Investigations Michael Cunningham says Paz-Perez is one of three people accused of raping a 10-year-old girl after she locked herself in the bathroom in an effort to protect herself…
cut 12 (09) “…track him down”
Raul and Wilmer Paz-Perez have already been arrested for their roles in the alleged assault.

An LSU economist predicts it will take at least two years to recover 90 percent of the jobs lost due to COVID-19. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The LSU AgCenter estimates Hurricane Laura caused 525-million dollars in damage to Louisiana farmers and one-point-one billion dollars to the Louisiana timber industry. In comparison, agricultural losses from hurricanes Rita and Katrina totaled one-point-five billion dollars.

The Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control revoked the license of a Monroe bar after the establishment opened in defiance of the state’s Phase 3 COVID order. The owner of the Junkyard Bar, Lane Clark, says he opened his doors at 3 PM and 25 minutes later A-T-C officials arrived…
cut 5 (10) “…came in”
Clark says he had to open his doors or else he’ll have to shut down for good.

The Louisiana Community and Technical College System launches a program that will train those who have lost their job during the pandemic. L-C-T-C-S President Monty Sullivan says money from the federal CARES Act will help pay for the training and they hope to train at least five-thousand individuals by June 30th for a high wage job that’s in demand…
cut 15 (11) “….in Louisiana’s people”
For more information on the Reboot Your Career program go to the l-c-t-c-s website.

A bar in Monroe attempts to open against the Governor’s order that has most bars closed in the state and is shut down 25 minutes into service. Matt Doyle spoke with the owner of the Junkyard Bar…
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Hurricane Sally made landfall as a Category Two storm over Gulf Shores, Alabama this morning. The National Hurricane Center is currently monitoring three hurricanes across the Atlantic Basin. There’s also a medium chance of a tropical wave developing over the southern Gulf of Mexico.

The Louisiana Economic Outlook estimates the state will lose 105-thousand jobs as a result of the COVID-19 impacts on the economy. According to the report, it’s the worst downturn the state has experienced since the early 1980s. The New Orleans area has been hit the hardest, losing 37-thousand jobs. The Lake Charles region is the second worst-hit region with seven-thousand jobs lost. But LSU Economist Loren Scott says the region will see higher than expected growth because of Hurricane Laura recovery…
cut 9 (08) “…everything”

The Louisiana Community and Technical College System has started a short-term training program to help workers who are unemployed because of COVID-19. L-C-T-C-S President Monty Sullivan says the training programs will be aimed at no more than 12 weeks in length…
cut 14 (07) “…go to work”
More information can be found at L-C-T-C-S-dot-edu.