11:40 LRN Sportscast May 1

ESPN reports an overwhelming majority of high-level officials in the NBA remain encouraged and optimistic that basketball will return this season. But fast and reliable testing is the key and the league estimates they would need 15-thousand tests. Disney World in Orlando has emerged as a place where fan-less games can be held.

NASCAR will resume its season on May 17th at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina and there will be seven races in ten days between Darlington and the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Little League World Series has been canceled for the first time in its history.

LSU football has received a verbal commitment from four-star outside linebacker and weakside-defensive end Zavier Carter from Atlanta, Georgia. He’s ranked as the 15th best outside linebacker in the nation.

Former Saints wide receiver Ted Ginn Junior has found a new home. The Bears have reportedly signed the 35-year-old after he caught 30 passes last season in New Orleans.

LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade believes the Tigers will be a major national contender next season. Wade signed the fifth best-recruiting class in the country according to 24-7 sports. He credits good relationships with high school prospects for bringing in a top notch class…
Cut 18 (25) “…play here”
LSU’s leading scorer from last season Skylar Mays has gradudated, while the four other starters have entered their name for consideration in the NBA draft. Only Emmitt Williams can not return, because he planned to hire a non-NBA approved agent.

1130 AM LRN News

The New Orleans Archdiocese has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to legal costs stemming from lawsuits brought against the church linked to decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop Gregory Aymond says the action will not affect individual church parishes or their schools…

Cut 4 (11)_ “administrative offices.”

Officials say no parish funds will be used to potentially settle any claims. 

Two parishes, LaSalle and East Feliciana have said they plan to allow their churches and businesses to open today at 25-percent of their occupancy limits. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard planned to do the same but changed his mind after a conversation with the governor. But remains frustrated the stay at home order has been extended to May 15th…

cut 12 (12) “…coughs again”

The state is ramping up COVID-19 contact tracing this month and that means you may be getting a call from a health official if you or someone close to you tests positive. Governor Edwards says contact tracing is critical to stopping the spread of the virus.

Cut 6 (08) “…14 days.”

Edwards mentioned intimate partners, household members, and anyone who has had contact of less than 6 feet for more than 15 minutes with an infected person could be asked to quarantine.

The FDA has authorized anti-viral treatment Remdesivir for use in COVID patients after a study shows it can lower the amount of time a person with a severe COVID case spends in the hospital. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Disease Dr. Julio Figueroa says the study is promising but the next hurdle for patients will be the treatment’s limited availability.

Cut 9 (10) “…outcomes”

10:30 LRN Newscast

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the 227-year-old institution is facing mounting legal costs caused by litigation stemming from decades-old incidents of clergy abuse. Archbishop Gregory Aymond says the shutdown of church services because of COVID-19 has added more financial hardships…
cut 3 (08) “…reorganizaiton”
Aymond says the filing will not affect individual church parishes or their schools.

The governor’s new Stay at Home order begins today. It allows restaurants to have outdoor seating, with no table-side service. All employees of any business who deal with the public must wear a mask. Shopping malls can open for curbside delivery of goods.

LSU plans to begin a phase one re-opening on May 18th and the state legislature will re-start the legislative session on Monday.

Republican lawmakers are passing around a petition that seeks to revoke the state’s stay at home order so that the economy can begin to get back on its feet again. But Governor John Bel Edwards says overturning the order would be completely irresponsible and nonsensical…
cut 14 (12) “….country”
Edwards says revoking the order could cause the state to lose millions of dollars in federal assistance.

There’s also been a push by Republican lawmakers to re-open the state on a parish-by-parish basis. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard says he supports that approach because they’ve only had a few residents impacted by the virus…
cut 10 (10) “…we know them”
East Feliciana and LaSalle Parish have told their churches and businesses to open today allowing 25-percent of their occupancy limits.

9:30 LRN Newscast

Beginning today, restaurants can have outside dining with no wait service. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says all restaurants that provide outdoor patio venues must adhere to strict mitigation standards…
Cut 4 (11)_ “…normal restaurant.”
New Orleans is not participating in this change to the governor’s stay at home order.

LSU Health New Orleans says it’s using the antiviral drug remdesivir on severely ill COVID-19 patients since it has shown signs of helping…
cut 9 (10) “…OUTCOMES”
Chief of Infectious Disease Doctor Julio Figueroa says Remdesivir requires a patient to receive an intravenous dose every day. The FDA is said to be on a fast track to approving remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19.

Governor John Bel Edwards says his new stay at home order will allow churches to hold services under a tent and he hopes there will be a further relaxation in a couple of weeks. Attorney General Jeff Landry provided the governor with a set of guidelines for churches to hold services inside with more than ten people. But Edwards says we are not there yet…
cut 15 (08) “….cases”

Two parishes, LaSalle and East Feliciana have said they plan to allow their churches and businesses to open today at 25-percent of their occupancy limits. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard planned to do the same but changed his mind after a conversation with the governor. But remains frustrated the stay at home order has been extended to May 15th…
cut 12 (12) “…coughs again”

8:30 LRN Newscast

Governor John Bel Edwards has formally extended his stay at home order until May 15th, but there are parish leaders who are eager to see more of the economy open up, such as Kenny Havard of West Feliciana…
voicer 2 (25) “….I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor John Bel Edwards says local authorities can impose stricter measures, but they can not authorize relaxed restrictions….
cut 16 (11) “….order”
The governor says that means enforcement from the state health department and state fire marshal.

Louisiana restaurants can offer outside dining starting today, with no wait service. That means you can pick up your food inside and take it outside to a patio area and eat. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says restaurants can also set up tents….
cut 6 (12) “….COVID-19″
And restaurants can allow customers to use the restrooms that are inside, but social distancing of six feet should be practiced.

LSU Health New Orleans infectious disease experts say studies show the antiviral treatment Remdesivir has promise for treating COVID-19 patients. Dr. Julio Figueroa says there were no statistically significant indications that it impacts overall mortality, but…
Cut 7 (09) “…Remdesivir”
Figueroa says they are using Remdesivir under the FDA’s Expanded Access Program, which permits the use of investigational drugs outside of a clinical trial.

7:30 LRN Newscast

Governor Edwards responds to a legislative effort to overturn his public health emergency and stay at home declarations…
Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Speaking of funding, the Archdiocese of New Orleans is reportedly planning to file for bankruptcy today. The 227-year-old institution is facing mounting legal costs because of unresolved clergy abuse lawsuits and the shutdown of church services has resulted in a loss of revenue. The filing is not expected to impact daily operations or the diocese’s charitable efforts.

Starting today, restaurants can allow outdoor eating. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning says there will be no wait service…
cut 5 (08) “….move outside”
Also, outdoor capacity must be 25-percent of what is allowed by the State Fire Marshal, so you’ll see tables 10 feet apart. No more than 10 people at one table.

Leaders in LaSalle, East and West Feliciana are among the parishes that are upset the governor extended the stay at home order to May 15th. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard says most of their 115 COVID-19 cases are inmates at Angola and believes his restaurant should offer dine-in services, with a 25-percent occupancy rate…
cut 11 (13) “….shut it down”
Edwards says parishes are not allowed to looosen the restrictions under the stay at home order and face enforcement from the state health department and the fire marshal.

6:45 LRN Sportscast

LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade is like many coaches, hoping there will be a season next year. Wade says he’s optimistic…
cut 17 (20) “…time frame”
If the Tigers are able to get on the court next season, Wade believes LSU would be a major contender on a national scale. Wade has signed the fifth-best recruiting class in the country according to 24-7 sports. Trendon Watford, Javonte Smart, Darius Days, and Emmitt Williams have entered their names in the NBA draft, but Watford, Smart, and Days could return since they didn’t sign an agent. If those three players return, they can team up with five-star shooting guard Cam Thomas, along with incoming freshmen Mwani Wilkinson and Jalen Cook.

Its May 1st and hopefully this month we’ll see sports return. NASCAR is coming back this month and the first race will be May 17th at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. The next weekend, it will be the Charlotte Motor Speedway hosting the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24th.

ESPN reports an overwhelming majority of high-level officials in the NBA remain encouraged and optimistic that basketball will return this season. But there are several obstacles. Where games will be played is one of the bigger issues. Disney World in Orlando is gaining momentum as a place where fanl-less games can be held.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told a Jacksonville radio station that unity among F-B-S conferences is not needed to resume college football activities. He says if there are a couple of programs that can not return to play, that should not stop everyone. Sankey has also previously said the virus will determine what happens.

6:30 LRN newscast May 1

Governor Edwards officially extends the stay at home order to May 15th and blasts a legislative petition that if passed would overturn the state’s public health emergency declaration backing the order. Edwards says passage of the petition would potentially disqualify Louisiana from receiving millions of dollars in federal aid and puts the public’s health in jeopardy.
Cut 13 (10) “…idea.”
Oil City Representative Danny McCormick says the petition to cancel the stay at home order has over half the signatures it needs.

Remdesivir has shown promise in helping patients who are hospitalized with severe COVID-19 symptoms. Gilead Sciences originally developed the drug to treat Ebola. LSU Health New Orleans Chief of Infectious Disease Doctor Julio Figueroa says it wasn’t successful in that application, but it seems to help those infected by COVID-19…
cut 8 (05) “…replication”
Figueroa says they are currently using it under the FDA’s Expanded Access Program, which permits the use of investigational drugs outside of a clinical trial.

Restaurants are allowed to have outdoor dining today, Brooke Thorington on what to expect.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

Malls are also allowed to offer curbside pickup as part of the changes made to the governor’s stay at home order.