Restaurants and bars that serve food are prepping to move to Phase Two Friday, but will it be enough to help them keep their doors open. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington”
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Senator John Kennedy says what happened to George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police was murder. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Louisiana State Parks were packed over the last two weekends with levels of attendance not seen since 2008. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
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On Friday restaurants and bars that serve food will be able to open at 50 percent capacity as the state moves into Phase Two. President of the Louisiana Restaurant Association Stan Harris believes the transition to increase capacity with effective social distancing will help put restaurants on the road to recovery.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…all of us.”
Under Phase One eating establishments were restricted to 25-percent capacity, Friday they can they double that. Harris says Phase One for all practical terms has been a trial run for Phase Two, but as for true economic recovery that won’t be reached until Phase Three.
Cut 5 (10) …demand builds.”
Tables can be arranged 6 feet apart in Phase Two as opposed to the current eight to ten feet apart. Restaurant workers are still required to wear masks and Harris says even though it makes it difficult to socialize, workers have adapted to the new change.
Cut 6 (06) “…beyond this.”
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Senator John Kennedy says George Floyd was a victim of murder at the hands of Minneapolis Police but condemns the nationwide rioting and looting in response. Kennedy says the video evidence paints a clear picture.
Cut 7 (11) “…are also culpable.”
Kennedy says he’s all for peaceful demonstrations, but targeting law enforcement officers with violence and aggression is wrong.
Cut 8 (13) “…American as baseball.”
Kennedy believes in Louisiana, demonstrations have gone smoothly but encourages other parts of the country that are seeing an unlawful backlash to activate the National Guard.
Cut 9 (12) “…the business owners.”
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Governor Edwards says the state is planning for an active hurricane season and making adjustments to existing preparedness guidelines with COVID-19 in mind.
Edwards says shelters are a major piece of the state’s response efforts but now is not the best time for congregate mega shelters, so…
Cut 10 (13) “…necessary”
Edwards says another issue they’re trying to solve is the potential lack of help from humanitarian groups the state relies upon to provide aid in a crisis.
Cut 11 (10) “…catagory.”
Edwards says the state is also working to establish new deals with our neighbors to house residents should the occasion call for it, despite COVID-19 still being prevalent here.
Cut 12 (09) “either.”
No evacuations are currently planned for Tropical Storm Cristobal, which Edwards says could, in a worst-case scenario, dump 10-15 inches of rain over a 48 hour period on certain parts of the state.
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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser celebrates the 20,000 Louisianans who packed into state parks over the last two weekends, numbers not seen since 2008.
The state was offering campers a free night if they stayed in a cabin for several nights and Nungesser says the deal appears to have been a hit.
Cut 13 (08) “…available.”
Nungesser says one popular attraction led the pack in total attendance…
Cut 14 (06) “…islands.”
Nungesser thanked Louisianans for supporting their local tourism economy and says despite the pandemic they’re hard at work winning back the big conferences the state is used to.
Cut 15 (07) “…Miami.”
The truckers voted 80%-20% to move the conference after the state offered free catered seafood and an authentic Louisiana jazz band to change locations.