You can still buy a lottery ticket, but winners should know they won’t be able to claim any prizes over 600 dollars at the moment. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Lincoln Parish deputies are showing up to residents’ homes with groceries instead of warrants. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart ” 

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Governor Edwards continues to show a grim forecast for COVID-19’s impact on Louisiana.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (33)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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COVID-19 is impacting lottery sales to the point where the next time the Powerball jackpot is won and the jackpot resets, it’ll start at 20 million dollars as opposed to 40 million.

Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says, for example, their March 11^th Powerball Wednesday night drawing generated 265,000 dollars…

Cut 4 (11)_ “…expected.”

35 percent of sales generated by the lotto are used to fund K-12 education.

The governor’s order to close all state offices includes lotto offices, and Chopin says if you were one of Wednesday’s lucky 10,000 dollar winners, you can’t claim your money, yet.

Cut 5 (08)  “…can.”

They’ve also extended the expiration deadline for claiming prizes on all previous winning tickets by 90 days.

Scratch-off players take note, Chopin says they won’t be able to ship any more scratch-offs until state offices reopen.

Cut 6 (10) “…weeks”

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The Lincoln Parish Sherriff’s deputies are paying visits to homes in their community, not because they have a warrant, but because they have groceries.  Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Matthew Henderson says they started doing grocery pickup for the elderly this week and have expanded to helping others that are at-risk.

Cut 7 (07) “…Ruston as well.”

Residents place their orders online, then call deputies telling them which store and the order number.  Henderson says they just launched the delivery service on Monday and it has taken off.

Cut 8 (10) “…more coming in.”

Henderson says although none of the deputies ever thought they’d be in delivering groceries in law enforcement, they are finding the experience to be very rewarding.

Cut 9 (08) “…thing for everybody.″

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83 people are dead from the state’s 2,305 confirmed COVID-19 cases.  The latest fatalities include the state’s first juvenile to die from the virus, a 17 year old from New Orleans.  Governor Edwards says it is a reminder that everyone is at risk.

Cut 10 (11) “…it doesn’t discriminate.”

Edwards continues the stress the importance of minimize contact with others and says Louisiana is tied for second in the nation for per capita COVID infections.

Cut 11 (10) “…as April 2nd.”

Current projections show New Orleans running out of hospital bed space by April 7^th.  The Governor says his office is in the process of signing contracts to stage a makeshift hospital at the Morial convention center is planned to have 120 beds ready by end of the weekend, with 1120 in total sometime next week.

Edwards says just because someone may live outside of the New Orleans area does not mean COVID-19 isn’t any issue.  The Governor referenced the recent uptick in numbers in Northwest Louisiana parishes as evidence.

Cut 12 (10) “…a statewide problem.”

Edwards says the focus remains on flattening the curve and calls on citizens to do better with social distancing and continue to avoid mass gatherings.

Cut 13 (11) “…not to go.”

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Parts of the state could see record highs today, and that’s led some armchair virologists to speculate that the state could see a dip in COVID-19 cases as a result.

Our Lady of the Lake infectious disease specialist Catherine O’Neal says that’s a dubious claim that’s not supported by research.

Cut 14 (12) “…its own.”

Some of the misinformation about potential dips in COVID rates over the summer likely stems from false assumptions that it behaves like Influenza. O’Neal says that’s not the case.

Cut 15 (08)“…winter.”

That means we’re unlikely to be bailed out of this pandemic just because of a change in seasons. O’Neal says we’re still at a point where we don’t know when life can return to normal.

Cut 16  (10)  “…longer” 

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The Pelicans are trying to adjust to life under the threat of COVID-19 and maintain the momentum that had them challenging for the 8^th seed before the season was suspended.

Pelicans VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin says things were going well until the NBA closed all practice facilities last Thursday.

cut 17  (19) “…abruptly” 

Griffin expects the Pelicans haven’t played their last game this year and says he hopes fans get to see the conclusion of what’s been an encouraging first season with the new-look team.

Cut 18  (25) “…is.”   

The average gas price in Louisiana has dropped to $1.85 a gallon. Brooke Thorington talks to a Petroleum Analyst on the outlook for the Bayou State.

Cut 1 (27) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

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Congressman Ralph Abraham backs the use of experimental, or off-label treatments for COVID-19. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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As the coronavirus forces the economy into a freefall, oil and gas prices continue to drop. Patrick DeHann, Head of Petroleum Analyst with Gas Buddy says prices at the pump for the month of March continue to drop and oil prices are the lowest we’ve seen in eighteen years. DeHaan gives an update on Louisiana.

Cut 3 (09)  “…a year ago.”  

DeHaan says even with $1.85 being the statewide average they have seen prices far lower than that in certain parts of the state.

Cut 4 (07)_ “…Baton Rouge.”

DeHaan says while some might see a reduction at the pump as a relief while their personal income has been reduced due to the coronavirus pandemic, however…

Cut 5 (08)  “…low prices.”

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Four people are dead, including a 2-year-old, following crash on Progress Road in Baton Rouge.  Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola says last night around 9:30, a driver and two passengers were in an Oldsmobile traveling at a high rate of speed when control of the vehicle was lost.

Cut 6 (06) “…a residence.”

56-year-old Patrick Dunn, an occupant of the home, and front passenger 22-year-old Destiny Nelson both died at the scene.  The driver, 28-year-old Jamarcus Brown and 2-year-old passenger Jamarcus Brown Jr. died after being transported to the hospital.

Coppola says he’s not sure why the three were out on the roads during the Governor’s shelter-in-place order.

Cut 7 (09) “…get through this.”

The investigators continue to search for answers.  Coppola says the massive loss of life compounds the already tragic situation.

Cut 8 (06) “…you had four.”

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There are currently no FDA approved treatments for COVID-19, but there’s a growing number of people advocating for the expanded use of experimental treatments for the disease.

Congressman Ralph Abraham is one of those advocates. He says when a situation is serious enough, patients should be allowed to take off-label treatments.

Cut 9 (10) “…decision″

The President has touted what he says are good results from the use of an anti-malarial drug called Hydroxychloroquine. The treatment does not have FDA backing, but Abraham says anecdotally…

Cut 10 (08) “others.”

Small scale studies of hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 patients have yielded mixed results, and a Kaiser Family Foundation director labeled it a “drug of last resort” due to its side effects.

Abraham says even though these experimental drugs don’t have FDA approval and may have side effects, some patients don’t have other options.

Cut 11 (11) “…with”

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Saints QB Drew Brees commits $5 million dollars to help feed Louisiana residents who are struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Second Harvest Food Bank is one of the recipients of this generous donation, and President and CEO Natalie Jayroe calls Brees a true leader.

Cut 12 (09) “…can’t be understated.”

Brees says he’s also working with Oschnser Health System, Walk-Ons, Jimmy Johns, Small Sliders and Waitr to prepare and deliver over 10,000 meals per day throughout Louisiana.

Jayroe says this will help with feeding those that have lost employment and seniors whose ability to access food may now be challenged.

Cut 13 (10) “…meals as schools.”

Second Harvest currently has the ability to crank out 2,000 meals per day and the contribution will help to increase that number.

Cut 14 (07) “…that is hunger.”

Brees made the announcement on Instagram.  The exact size of the allocation to Second Harvest has not been released.