The Central Police Department warns their phone lines are clogged with out of state callers protesting the house arrest of Life Tabernacle Church Pastor Tony Spell. Spell’s mother admits to organizing the campaign on Facebook. Police Chief Roger Corcoran says it’s a dangerous stunt.

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Spell was arrested last week for allegedly trying to hit an anti-Spell protestor with a church bus and violating the ban on mass gatherings.

Some analysts believe the state government could face a five percent drop in revenue next fiscal year due to the oil crisis and COVID shutdown. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says that could be an issue in crafting a new budget, but some federal assistance may soften the blow.

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Shopping malls face a major hurdle in resurgence following the coronavirus pandemic.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Attorney General Jeff Landry sends a letter to the Governor urging him to allow for the reopening of churches and other houses of worship currently closed under the stay at home order. Landry wrote “As other states begin reopening and unrest in the Legislature continues, I believe many faith-based congregations will begin to meet with or without guidance,” and offered a set of guidelines for reopening those facilities.

Early estimates show the state budget for the next fiscal year will likely have a hefty shortfall due to the COVID shutdown and the collapse of oil prices. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says that equates to about a 500 million dollar budget shortfall, but at least this year’s budget shouldn’t be impacted.

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The Revenue Estimating Conference is scheduled to meet in mid-May which will direct lawmakers on how much they’ll need to cut to pass a balanced budget for the fiscal year that begins to July.
The road to recovery for Baton Rouge Police Cpl. Derrick Maglone continues. Maglone was wounded in a shootout over the weekend that left another officer dead.  Former State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson is Maglone’s uncle and says Maglone is able speak in short sentences.

Cut 13 (08) “…bits and pieces.”

Governor Edwards is expected to provide additional guidance today ahead of tomorrow’s order allowing customers to eat take out outside of restaurants. Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says this hasn’t been the most cohesive launch of guidelines he’s seen, and some important questions still need to be answered.
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Harris says most of the communication on this order his members have had so far has been with local officials.

Shopping malls have already had a tough time competing with e-commerce, but following the pandemic, the challenge of retaining a customer base will likely grow even more.  LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says the challenges faced by malls depends on the variety of mall structures, with enclosed malls being the most at-risk for permanent closure.

Cut 5 (10)  “…restrictions are lifted.”

Budget analysts suggest Louisiana could faces at least five percent reduction in state revenue for the next fiscal year. Matt Doyle has more.
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There are at least four companies within the Louisiana oil and gas industry that have begun the process of laying off workers. Turner Industries is set to lay off 350 workers at three pipe fabrication facilities in Port Allen. Cactus Wellhead has laid off 42 workers at its office in Bossier City.

Many restaurants are preparing for the opportunity to have customers eat at their outdoor seating area. Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says the restaurant industry is taking heavy losses and any chance to offer more services is appreciated.
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Harris says only about four percent of restaurants in Louisiana have patio dining.

Shopping malls already had a tough time competing with e-commerce, but following the pandemic, the challenge of retaining a customer base is daunting. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says several factors will contribute to how much of a hurdle malls face.
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Governor Edwards says malls can be open for curbside pickup service beginning Friday.

The regular legislative session is set to resume next week and the big priority for lawmakers once they return to Baton Rouge is passing a budget for next fiscal year. The session is set to end June 1st. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says they need the Revenue Estimating Conference to provide them with a dollar figure on how much they can spend next fiscal year…
cut 12 (10) “…have time”
Zeringue says he’s been told to expect at least a 500-million dollars drop in revenues.

Malls are not producing sales tax revenue for the state. LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says malls will have to figure out a strategy so that consumers feel compelled to visit once they re-open…
cut 6 (09) “….that kind of thing”
Governor Edwards says malls can be open for curbside pickup service beginning Friday.

Customers will be allowed to eat takeout meals outside of restaurants starting tomorrow but the Louisiana Restaurant Association says only about four percent of restaurants currently have patio dining…
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The number of known COVID-19 cases is approaching 28-thousand and the virus is responsible for over 18-hundred deaths in Louisiana. The state health department reports a total of 590 COVID-19 deaths of nursing home residents and another 47 people have died from COVID-19 who lived at other adult residential facilities.

There’s talk of the legislative session resuming next week. The main priority would be passing a budget for the next fiscal year. House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says they’ve been told to brace for at least a 500-million dollar budget shortfall for the fiscal year that begins July 1st, but federal dollars could help soften the blow…
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Moody’s Analytics paints a much more bleak picture in Louisiana, estimating a budget shortfall of 34-percent.

Will shopping malls survive the economic shutdown? LSU marketing professor Dan Rice says enclosed malls are most at-risk for permanent closure…
cut 5 (10) “….restrictions are lifted’

Eating on a patio outside of a restaurant will be allowed under the new stay at home order that will go into effect Friday, but indoor dining will not be allowed until at least May 16th. Louisiana Restaurant Association President Stan Harris says restaurants are facing several challenges, ranging from chain disruptions in the meat industry and staffing questions…
cut 9 (11) “…operate”
The Governor has suggested he could implement Phase One, allowing restaurants to open at 25% capacity, by mid-May.

Wounded Baton Rouge Police Corporal Derrick Maglone continues to make a remarkable recovery after getting shot in the head area twice by a homicide suspect on Sunday. Former State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson is Maglone’s uncle and he says his nephew is feeding off the support he’s receiving…
cut 15 (11) “…allowing that”

There’s good and bad news when it comes to the state’s finances. First the good news, House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says mid-year budget cuts are not expected this fiscal year, but they could be looking at a 500-million dollar budget shortfall next fiscal year…
cut 10 (10) “…revenue”
The Revenue Estimating Conference is scheduled to meet in mid-May which will direct lawmakers on how much they’ll need to cut to pass a balanced budget for the fiscal year that begins to July.

Baton Rouge Police Corporal Derrick Maglone, who was critically injured in a shooting last Sunday that left another police officer dead, continues to make progress every day. Former State Police Superintendent, Mike Edmonson, who is Maglone’s uncle, says his nonverbal communication has meant the most to the family…
cut 14 (12) “….knees were wobbling”

Shopping malls face a major hurdle in resurgence following the coronavirus pandemic. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Governor Edwards met with President Donald Trump today in the Oval Office.  It was six months ago when the President made several trips to Louisiana urging Republican voters to vote Edwards out of office. But both men are on the same page now and feel good about the direction Louisiana is heading
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Not all Republicans are happy with Governor Edwards and his extension of the stay at home order until May 15th and are looking at overriding the emergency declaration. Shreveport Representative Alan Seabaugh believes they can get 53 lawmakers in the House to sign the petition since there are 69 Republicans in the lower chamber. He says Edwards could not veto and the petition can prevent the governor from issuing an even more restrictive order for the next 60 days.

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Raising Cane’s CEO Todd Graves predicts many of the restaurant industry changes made due to the coronavirus outbreak will stick around long after the virus fades. Graves says the industry is notorious for having workers come in even when sick, and that’s unlikely to be the case going forward. He also pointed to additions like sneeze guards in drive-throughs…

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Graves made the comments on Talk Louisiana.

According to the personal finance website WalletHub, 43 percent of shoppers are participating in comfort buying during the pandemic. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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