7:30 LRN Newscast April 3rd

Louisiana’s stay at home order has been extended through April. Matt Doyle has the story…
voicer 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

State Treasurer John Schroder says his office is mailing four-million dollars worth of unclaimed property checks to Louisiana residents…
cut 9 (05) “…average”
Unclaimed property funds include payroll checks, old bank accounts, royalties, utility deposits, and interest payments.

The state education department is leaving up to local systems to decide if high school seniors have met course requirements in order to graduate. Assistant Superintendent Ken Bradford says seniors do not have to take standardized tests, but local school systems will decide how to award course credits…
Cut 10 (08) “…high school credit.”
Bradford says the school system can determine if the student should receive a letter grade for the class he was taking or a simple pass-fail grade.

The Department of Children and Family Services is not relaxing child support payments due to the pandemic. Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales says non-custodial parents are still on the hook for money owed despite their employment status, but no enforcement actions will be taken.

6:45 LRN Sportscast April 3rd

National columnist Nancy Armour wrote it’s dumb and dangerous for the Saints to have their draft headquarters at Dixie Brewery in New Orleans East. But Coach Sean Payton wrote a harsh response to Armour and said she only had eight-percent of her facts correct with the piece.

NFL’s chief medical officer, Doctor Allen Sills, says widespread testing for the coronavirus will need to occur in order for the regular season to begin in September. Sills says the restrictions on gatherings will also have to be eased.

Veteran cornerback P-J Williams has signed a one-year deal to return to the Saints. Former New Orleans cornerback Eli Apple remains a free agent after a deal fell through with the Raiders.

One of the top graduate linebackers available is heading to LSU as North Dakota State’s Jabril Cox has committed to the Tigers. The two-time first-team All-American had 258 tackles and 14 sacks during his career with the F-C-S power.

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri is not sure what his roster will look like in 2021. Mainieri says senior pitchers Matthew Beck and Aaron George can return because the NCAA is giving them another year of eligibility. But he does not know how many players or recruits he’ll lose to the draft, because Major League Baseball has yet to decide how many rounds the draft will be…
Cut 16 (18) “…definitive answers”

And the coronavirus has claimed the life of a legendary high school football coach in Louisiana. McDonogh 35 coach Wayne Reese Senior has passed away at the age of 74. He was a head coach for over 40 years and won 255 games. He coached NFL Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk.

6:30 LRN Newscast

310 people have died from the coronavirus in Louisiana and Governor Edwards says modeling done by the University of Washington predicts the state will see 18-hundred COVID-19 deaths even if mitigation efforts are in place through May 30th. Currently, over five-hundred people are on ventilators in Louisiana and Edwards says finding more vents is difficult…
cut 5 (11) “….ago”
Edwards says his office has reported cases of price gouging to the Department of Justice.

The price of crude oil surged 25-percent after President Donald Trump posted on Twitter that he expects Russia and Saudi Arabia will step down from their price-cutting war. Also, Senators John Kennedy and Bill Cassidy are asking the president for royalty relief to save Louisiana oil and gas jobs.

The state Department of Education issues guidance for school districts on how to handle the impending graduating class of high school seniors.
Cut 2 (28) “…Kevin Barnhart ”

The Department of Children and Family Services says non-custodial parents are still required to pay child support during the coronavirus pandemic. Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales if a parent loses a job and can’t make a payment, call a child support worker…
cut 14 (08) “…had been doing”

AM Newscall 4/3/20

Louisiana’s stay at home order has been extended through April. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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Department of Education issues guidance for school districts on how to handle the impending graduating class of high school seniors. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (28) “…Kevin Barnhart ” 

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 If you owe child support, the Department of Children and Family Services is not relaxing on payments during the pandemic.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

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Governor Edwards officially extends the state’s stay at home order through at least April, and says a model used by the White House predicts 1,834 Louisianans will die of COVID-19.

The Governor says the model is predicated on the idea that we continue mitigation measures through May, instead of the current reopening date of May 1st.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…76.”

310 people have died in Louisiana from COVID-19.

Edwards says to limit the death toll the state has already distributed 450 ventilators to hospitals since the start of the COVID crisis, but finding new ones at the moment is difficult.

Cut 5 (11)  “…ago.”

507 Louisiana COVID patients are currently on ventilators.

Edwards says we’re not seeing the kind of shelter in place compliance we would like in areas outside the big cities. He says if those rural areas don’t take this seriously now…

Cut 6 (10) “…happen”

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The State Treasurer is shipping out four million dollars’ worth of unclaimed property checks to Louisianans this week. John Schroder says by working with the Department of Revenue they’ve identified tens of thousands of recipients who are owed money they can use right now.

Cut 7 (06) “…week”

Schroder says about one in six Louisianans is owed unclaimed property by the state, and you can speed up the process of getting it to you by visiting latreasury.com

So keep your eyes on your mailbox over the next week, and don’t throw out any mail until you know what it is.

Cut 8 (08) “…week.”

Unclaimed property can be everything from payroll checks to old bank accounts, royalties, deposits, interest payments, and more.

Schroder says the average check is no small fortune, but it is worth about nine hundred dollars.

Cut 9 (05) “…average″

Schroder estimates 14 million dollars in checks will be shipped next month.
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Department of Education issues guidance for school districts on how to handle the impending graduating class of high school seniors. Assistant Superintendent Ken Bradford says seniors won’t have to worry about taking the usual standardized tests graduation, but districts will have to make a call on how to handle course credits and other graduation requirements.

Cut 10 (08) “…high school credit.”

Bradford says students may elect to receive a pass/fail credit over a traditional letter grade for classes this semester, but it will not be factored into a GPA.

Cut 11 (10) “…impact their GPA”

All requirements to receive TOPS have remained the same.

Bradford says the Board of Regents is moving forward with options for dual-enrollment students.  They can either remain in the course and complete the coursework on time or they can do what is called an “in progress” …

Cut 12 (13) “…of the course.”

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The Department of Children and Family Services is not relaxing child support payments due to the pandemic.  Child Support Enforcement Director Lydia Scales says non-custodial parents will still be on the hook for money owed despite their employment status, but no enforcement actions will be taken.

Cut 13 (12) “…those enforcement techniques.”

If a parent loses a job and can’t make a payment, Scales recommends they call their child support worker and let them know that their circumstances have changed.

Cut 14 (08) “had been doing.”

Scales says the large number of layoffs and furloughs attached to the pandemic are a major area of concern that is compounded by the fact that they do not have any sort of remedy for the growing problem.

Cut 15 (11)“…this is nationwide.”

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LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri is still not exactly sure what his roster might look like in 2021. Mainieri says senior pitchers Matthew Beck and Aaron George will be able to return, because the NCAA is giving them another year of eligibility. But he’s not sure how many players or recruits he’ll lose to the draft, because Major League Baseball has yet to decide how many round the draft will be…

Cut 16  (18)  “…definitive answers” 

Current NCAA rules, only allow college baseball programs to hand out 11.7 scholarships among 27 players. Mainieri says with seniors coming back for another year and fewer players getting drafted, he’s hoping for some roster flexibility….

cut 17  (20) “…couple years” 

5:30 PM Newscast

The CDC releases new guidelines and is now recommending wearing protective masks when in public. The state is reporting 37 additional COVID-19 deaths today and over 27-hundred new cases. The death toll is up to 310 and Governor John Bel Edwards says 9,150 total cases should be a wakeup call for anyone still doubting the pandemic’s severity…
Cut 13 (10) “…states”

1,639 COVID patients are hospitalized, with 507 on ventilators, an increase of 17 from yesterday.

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. But C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says their forecast calls for 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes

Cut 11 (10) “…happening.”

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the death sends a shockwave through the nursing community andsays the needs of healthcare workers are clear.

Cut 8 (11) “…what is needed.”

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U

Cut 3 (12)  “…14 days.”  

Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators.

430 PM LRN News

State residents just got a text blast from the Governor informing them the statewide shelter in place order has officially been extended through April 30th, and an offer to sign up for direct alerts on vital COVID-19 Louisiana info from the state by texting LACOVID to 67283. This comes as the state crosses the 9,000 case mark, and adds 37 new official COVID fatalities.

If that wasn’t enough bad news for you, there’s more. Colorado State University researchers predict we will see an active 2020 hurricane season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The state’s first healthcare worker died Wednesday of COVID-19.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the rapidly developing situation has resulted in changes protective measures from the more strict airborne transmission protocol to the relaxed droplet protocol that requires the use of less PPE.  Ducrow says nurses are concerned about these changes.

Cut 7 (10) “…rather than science.”

The nurse was identified as Larrice Anderson.

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says their biggest need is staffing and they are working to hire more nurses as they expand the number of beds…

Cut 5 (11)  “…welcome relief”

Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U.

 

4:45 LRN Sportscast

It’s unique times and that’s no different for the Saints who are preparing for this month’s NFL draft with a small group of coaches and front office personnel at the Dixie Brewery in New Orleans East. Coach Sean Payton says they are practicing social distancing in their draft war room…
cut 18 (19) “….six or seven”
Payton says he feels good after testing positive last month from the coronavirus. He says he never had the respiratory issues that many patients suffer from.

And the Saints have announced they’ve re-signed cornerback P-J Williams. 44 tackles and one interception for the veterans with the Black and Gold.

Court records show LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron filed for divorce from his wife Kelly on February 26th after 23 years of marriage. In the filing, Coach O is living at the former couple’s home in Baton Rouge, while Kelly has been granted exclusive use and occupancy of their Mandeville home.

The family for former Saints kicker Tom Dempsey says the 73-year-old is receiving hospice care. Dempsey is one of several residents at the Lambeth House Senior living center in Uptown New Orleans to test positive for coronavirus. According to Dempsey’s daughter, her father’s fever has gone away, but his oxygen levels are low and he’s lost his appetite.

Legendary Peabody high school basketball coach Charles Smith has been named the Class Four-A Boys Basketball Coach of the Year after leading the Warhorses to a state championship for an eighth time. One of his talented seniors. Melvion Flanagan was named player of the year. He averaged close to 22 points a game this past season.

3:30 PM Newscast

Louisiana sees a 42 percent increase in confirmed coronavirus cases as of the noon report, but Governor Edwards cautions that number is a reflection of a backlog of test results that were just reported. Edwards says some of the over 2,700 new cases reported today were just recently discovered, but…
Cut 12 (10) “…ago”
The state reported 37 new deaths, bringing our total to 310 COVID fatalities.

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says the likely absence of an El Nino is a primary factor

Cut 9 (08) “…hurricane activity.″

 

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the death sends a shockwave through the nursing community.

Cut 6 (13) “…what can happen.”

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators. He believes they are in a decent position when it comes to personal protective equipment

Cut  4 (12)_ “…world.”

230PM LRN News

2,700 new COVID-19 positive tests have been reported in Louisiana today, more than twice the number we saw yesterday, but Governor Edwards is cautioning that today’s spike is more a result of a logjam of tests from the last week or more all finally being reported from private labs. Edwards say it is not evidence that the stay at home order is failing.

Cut 14 (07) “…April”

51,000 tests have now been conducted in Louisiana, 47,000 of them by private labs.

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U

Cut 3 (12)  “…14 days.”  

Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators.

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the needs of healthcare workers are clear.

Cut 8 (11) “…what is needed.”

Anderson’s employer released a statement remembering the fallen nurse as “a mother, friend, and a caring nurse.”

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says the tropical Atlantic is also somewhat warmer than normal right now…

Cut 10 (10) “…the air”

An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, but Jones says their forecast calls for 16.

LRN PM Newscall April 2nd

A New Orleans East Hospital nurse, Larrice Anderson, becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die of COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

____________________________

Colorado State University researchers predict we will see an active 2020 hurricane season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

___________________________

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U

Cut 3 (12)  “…14 days.”  

Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators. He believes they are in a decent position when it comes to personal protective equipment

Cut  4 (12)_ “…world.”

Thomas says their biggest need is staffing and they are working to hire more nurses as they expand the number of beds…

Cut 5 (11)  “…welcome relief”

__________________________________________

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the death sends a shockwave through the nursing community.

Cut 6 (13) “…what can happen.”

Ducrow says the rapidly developing situation has resulted in changes protective measures from the more strict airborne transmission protocol to the relaxed droplet protocol that requires the use of less PPE.  Ducrow says nurses are concerned about these changes.

Cut 7 (10) “…rather than science.”

Ducrow says the needs of healthcare workers are clear.

Cut 8 (11) “…what is needed.”

Anderson’s employer released a statement remembering the fallen nurse as “a mother, friend, and a caring nurse.”

____________________________________________________

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says the likely absence of an El Nino is a primary factor

Cut 9 (08) “…hurricane activity.″

Jones says the tropical Atlantic is also somewhat warmer than normal right now…

Cut 10 (10) “…the air”

An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. But Jones says their forecast calls for 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes

Cut 11 (10) “…happening.”

________________________________________________

Louisiana sees a 42 percent increase in confirmed coronavirus cases as of the noon report, but Governor Edwards cautions that number is a reflection of a backlog of test results that were just reported.

Edwards says some of the over 2,700 new cases reported today were just recently discovered, but…

Cut 12 (10) “…ago”

About 51,000 COVID tests have been conducted in Louisiana between state and private labs, 47,000 of which were in private labs.

The state reported 37 new deaths as well, bringing our total to 310 COVID fatalities. Edwards says the 9,150 total cases should be a wakeup call for anyone still doubting the pandemic’s severity.

Cut 13 (10) “…states”

1,639 COVID patients are hospitalized, with 507 on ventilators, an increase of 17 from yesterday.

The Governor says the recent spike in cases is not evidence that the shelter in place order is failing. He says it will likely take until sometime next week to see our curve flatten as a result of the decision.

Cut 14 (07) “…April”