State leaders warn a 300 million dollar small business grant program set to open sometime in July could go fast. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”
_____________________________________
Governor Edwards is alarmed by the growing numbers in tracking COVID-19, which has resulted in the state not moving to Phase Three. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
___________________________________________
Tort reform legislation clears the Senate and is headed back to the House, but without a past provision that required insurers to lower rates should it become law. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
_______________________________________________
An estimated 450,000 Louisiana small businesses who’ve been impacted by COVID-19 economic shutdowns could qualify to receive grants from a fund set to start disbursing money next month.
State Treasurer John Schroder says despite the limited funds they’re pushing to make sure every business owner, no matter how small, knows they could be eligible.
Cut 4 (06)_ “….happens”
For the first 21 days, only businesses with one to forty-nine employees as of March 1st that have received no federal aid can apply.
The 300 million dollars set aside from the program is drawn from 1.8 billion in federal relief dollars sent to the state. Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt noted that math…
Cut 5 (05) “business”
Not all businesses who qualify may receive grants if the fund runs out. Schroder says the program will hand out grants on a first come first served basis based on the date upon which the company applied.
Cut 6 (08) “…money”
40 million dollars of the program has been set aside specifically for veteran, women, and minority-owned businesses.
______________________________________________________
Governor Edwards cites the increase in COVID-19 cases for keeping Louisiana from advancing to Phase Three of economic reopening. Louisiana is among 23 states where cases are increasing. Edwards says most of those states are in the south, so it now debunks the theory that heat and humidity would hinder the virus.
Cut 7 (06) “…of our country.”
Edwards says the percentage of case growth among young people is increasing dramatically in Louisiana and believes that is because that age group may be more hesitant to follow restrictions because they know they are not personally at the same risk level as older people.
Cut 8 (10) “…Orleans and elsewhere.”
Edwards pledges to have officials be more active in monitoring business’s spread mitigation efforts with courtesy visits and suggestions on improvements. Edwards says the state has not shutdown or revoked any permits for failing to follow spread mitigation measures, but…
Cut 9 (11) “…option for us.”
The state will remain in Phase Two for at least another 28 days.
__________________________________
A cloud of Saharan dust is crossing the Atlantic and is set to arrive in Louisiana by Wednesday bringing with it more COVID-19 concerns. The dust consists of tiny mineral rock particles from Africa. While it can produce vivid sunsets, the head of environmental sciences at LSU Health New Orleans, Dr. James Diaz, says it poses a risk to those with underlying health conditions.
Cut 10 (10) “…of getting COVID-19.”
Those with asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, and heart conditions should be most cautious. Diaz says the dust can also impact pollen allergy sufferers and possibly increase the transmission of COVID-19.
Cut 11 (10) “…a dust particle.”
Diaz says the best defense is keeping tabs on air quality alerts and staying indoors or be ready with a face covering if you do have to be outside.
Cut 12 (12) “…pre-existing lung condition.”
________________________
The Senate passes lawsuit reform legislation that supporters believe may help lower auto insurance rates.
The bill lowers the jury trial threshold to 10,000 dollars, prevents insurance company’s names from being mentioned in court, and removes a gag order on whether a crash victim was wearing a seat belt. Bossier City Senator Barrow Peacock says it’s not as strong as past efforts, but…
Cut 13 (04) “…triple”
Past tort efforts had jury trial thresholds of 5,000 dollars and barred plaintiffs from suing auto insurance companies as opposed to just keeping their name secret in court. They also included a two year prescriptive period for filing suits.
Democrats fumed over the legislation’s lack of any wording requiring auto insurance rates to go down if the bill were to pass. Alexandria Senator Jay Luneau says it does nothing for drivers…
Cut 14 (08) “…support it”
This stripped-down legislation removed pieces of prior efforts that Evangeline Parish Senator Heather McCloud says would address the state’s sky-high commercial auto insurance rates.
Cut 15 (12) “…crisis.”
McCloud ultimately supported the legislation. The vote was 29-9 and the bill will now return to the House for a final vote.
_________________________________