The Legislative Economic Recovery Task Force began the difficult assignment today of providing the state legislature with ideas on how to jump-start the economy. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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The state has surpassed 15-hundred COVID-19 deaths as the Louisiana Department of Health reported 67 additional fatalities bringing the death toll to 1,540. Governor John Bel Edwards

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Deadly storms slammed central and north Louisiana yesterday, killing two in DeSoto and Rapides Parishes. In DeSoto, rains sparked flash floods that claimed the life of an unidentified Mansfield man.  In Rapides Parish 67-year-old Becky Roberts was killed by a potential tornado in Lecompte. National Weather Service forecaster Seth Warthen says the suspected supercell was highly unusual for the area.

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Car dealerships are seeing slow sales and not as much work for their service departments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Will Green says implementing social distancing guidelines means they are moving the transactions from the showroom to the internet. He says car buyers can test drive a vehicle and not even go to the dealer.

Cut 8 (08) “…get your vehicle.”

Green says car shoppers can find some great deals at this time.

The LSU Alexandria campus was hit by a tornado yesterday, one of many Rapides Parish locations that took storm damage. Around 930 last night the tornado struck just 200 yards away from where the students who remained on campus were living in a dorm. No lives were lost at the campus and no major structural damage was observed.

Elsewhere in Rapides one person wasn’t so lucky. 67-year-old Becky Roberts was killed in Lecompte. National Weather Service forecaster Seth Warthen says the potential tornadoes were part of a long track supercell that appeared to have traveled a long distance.

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The storm system also brought heavy rains in DeSoto Parish. Sherriff’s spokesperson Mark Pierce says a flash flood killed a man in Mansfield when it produced a strong current in a drainage ditch.

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The national unemployment rate rose to 20 percent as mass furloughs and layoffs continue due to the coronavirus shutdown. Economist Loren Scott estimates 349-thousand unemployment claims for the month of April in Louisiana, because of the economic shutdown…

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The Tax Foundation estimates about 16-percent of the workforce has applied or is receiving unemployment benefits in Louisiana.

Car dealerships are seeing slow sales and not as much work for their service departments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Will Green says they are certainly impacted by the stay at home order…

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Green says these days car buyers can test drive a vehicle and not even go to the dealer.

A Rapides Parish woman was killed by a suspected tornado and a DeSoto Parish man died in a flash flood yesterday.
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The state reported 67 more COVID-19 deaths today, bringing the death toll to 1,540. During his daily COVID-19 briefing, Governor Edwards was asked if there will be high school football this year. The governor says he’s optimistic…
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The economic shutdown is hurting a lot of different facets of our economy including car sales. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Will Green says car shoppers should be able to find great deals…
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Green says many car buyers are using the internet to shop for their vehicle and if you want to test drive a truck or car, many dealers will bring the vehicle to you.

The Louisiana Economic Recovery Taskforce had its first meeting today. Chairman Jason DeCuir says the regular legislative session is expected to resume next month and lawmakers are looking for immeidiate triage ideas by May 7tn…
cut 5 (10) “….immediately’
Senate President Page Cortez from Lafayette has told the Advocate he tested positive for the coronavirus last month, but had a mild case and is fine now.

The state has surpassed 15-hundred COVID-19 deaths as the Louisiana Department of Health reported 67 additional fatalities bringing the death toll to 1,540. Governor John Bel Edwards
Cut 14 (12) “…Hurricane Katrina.”
Edwards says the state continues to flatten the curve. Louisiana reported 481 new cases and the number of patients hospitalized and on ventilators continues to decline.

Deadly storms slammed central and north Louisiana yesterday, killing two in DeSoto and Rapides Parishes. In DeSoto, rains sparked flash floods that claimed the life of an unidentified Mansfield man.  Sherriff’s spokesperson Mark Pierce says the heavy rainfall produced a strong current in a drainage ditch. Pierce says rains just hammered the region.

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The coronavirus pandemic could result in an unemployment rate above 20-percent in Louisiana. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder has confidence in the Louisiana Economic Recovery Taskforce, a group of private-sector business leaders which legislative leaders formed in an effort to provide the Legislature with policy recommendations on how to jump-start the economy, to develop long-term solutions.

Cut 6 (11) “…the economy back ”

Car dealerships are seeing slow sales and not as much work for their service departments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President Will Green says implementing social distancing guidelines means they are moving the transactions from the showroom to the internet. He says car buyers can test drive a vehicle and not even go to the dealer.

Cut 8 (08) “…get your vehicle.”

Green says car shoppers can find some great deals at this time.

A deadly storm system slammed central and north Louisiana yesterday, killing two in DeSoto and Rapides Parishes. In DeSoto rains sparked flash floods that claimed the life of an unidentified Mansfield man. DeSoto Parish Sherriff spokesperson Mark Pierce says the rains produced a strong current in a drainage ditch…

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The current reportedly carried the man’s body about 50 yards before his body was recovered.

In Rapides Parish 67-year-old Becky Carter Roberts was killed by a potential tornado in Lecompte. National Weather Service forecaster Seth Warthen says the suspected supercell was highly unusual for the area.

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There were reports of two potential tornadoes in the area.

The Legislative Economic Recovery Task Force began the difficult assignment today of providing the state legislature with ideas on how to jump-start the economy. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Governor Edwards is calling on Louisianans to “mask up” and wear facial coverings in public to stop the spread of coronavirus. He says if you don’t have one…

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The coronavirus pandemic could result in an unemployment rate above 20-percent in Louisiana. Economist Loren Scott estimates 349-thousand unemployment claims for the month of April, because of the economic shutdown…
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And Scott says low oil prices will prevent Louisiana from bouncing back as fast as other states who do not rely on the oil and gas industry.
Governor John Bel Edwards is calling on Louisiana residents to “mask up” which means wearing a face mask in public places. Edwards says wearing a mask reduces the chances of asymptomatic, or mildly symptomatic people unknowingly transmitting the virus to others.
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Guidelines still call for anyone feeling sick to self-quarantine, even if they have a mask.

Tulane is set to study whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to help prevent people who’ve been exposed to coronavirus from developing COVID-19. Tulane School of Medicine Infectious Disease Epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Kissinger says if you’ve been in close contact with a confirmed case, and you’re interested, they’ll have you do a telemedicine conference, then…
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Tulane hopes to enroll 500 local participants.
Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette is one of the many events canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of trying to push back to the fall, a virtual music festival will happen instead, with live-streamed performances. Festival spokesperson Carly Viator says there will also be a virtual 5k for those who need an excuse to get out of the house and run.

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This would have been the 34^th year for the festival. The live stream takes place on the event’s Facebook page.

Tulane University is conducting a study to see whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to help prevent people who’ve been exposed to coronavirus from developing COVID-19. Tulane Epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Kissinger says the treatment has shown promise, but it needs to be proven in a human clinical trial.
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Kissinger says if you’ve been in close contact with a confirmed case and want to participate, go to covid-19-pep-study-dot-org.

Governor Edwards is asking residents to wear a mask or some sort of facial covering when out in public. But Edwards says gloves are not recommended because…
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The Louisiana Workforce Commission has paid out 561-million dollars in total benefits to 302-thousand Louisianans whose employment has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Many have found it difficult to file claims or receive their benefits on a timely basis, but L-W-C executive director Ava Dejoie says they are adding an additional server to its network…
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Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette is one of the many events canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But organizers are holding a virtual music festival. Festival spokesperson Carly Viator says they will stream musical performances tomorrow through Sunday.
Cut 4 (09)_ “…some surprise collaborations.”
For more information go to festival-international-dot-org.

The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s office says a possible tornado destroyed homes in the Woodworth area and one woman was killed. DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson says a man drowned when he was swept up by fast-moving floodwaters near a drainage ditch as he attempted to retrieve his garbage can. Several homes were also flooded in Mansfield.

Governor Edwards says face masks will be the new normal in public places…
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The Louisiana Workforce Commission says they’ve paid 561-million dollars in benefits to over 302-thousand Louisiana residents who have filed for unemployment because of the coronavirus pandemic. Once a person qualifies for unemployment, they are asked to certify weekly and L-W-C executive director Ava Dejoie says they are asking unemployed workers to certify online on a specific day based on the last digit of their social security number…
cut 14 (12) “…accept all numbers”

Tulane is seeking participants for a study that’s looking into whether hydroxychloroquine can prevent a person from getting COVID-19 after being exposed. Epidemiologist Doctor Patricia Kissinger says this treatment could be a vital tool once contact tracing becomes more widespread…
cut 9 (10) “….infection”