Governor Edwards will announce today whether the state will move into Phase two of reopening the economy on Friday. That means bars and summer camps can re-open and non-essential travel can resume. But Edwards says even if the state goes to phase two that doesn’t mean COVID-19 has left the state…
cut 14 (10) “…it remains deadly”
The state reported just six new deaths yesterday, bringing the state’s total to 2,686.

Families of children who receive free or reduced-price meals are eligible for Pandemic EBT cards to help offset those meals lost when schools closed early, but they need to act fast. Louisiana Department of Education spokesperson Sydni Dunn says the application deadline is next Monday
Cut 7 (11) “…$285 per child.”
For more information go to the Louisianabelieves.com and click on Covid-19 Information and Resources

It’s the final day of the regular session and a tort reform bill aimed at lowering auto insurance rates is in a conference committee and is expected to receive final legislative passage today. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 3 (27) “…Matt Doyle”

Two successful businessmen from Alexandria were killed in a plane crash near Lake Buhlow in Pineville yesterday afternoon. The victims have been identified as Ben Cooper and Blake Cooper. Blake was the executive director of the Central Louisiana Regional Port. But his seven-year-old son is expected to survive the crash.

Governor John Bel Edwards is expected to announce at 2:30 today whether the state is ready to move into Phase 2 of reopening the economy. Edwards says the metrics used to make the decision to move into phase one are still in play for determining whether the state is ready for phase two
Cut 13 (13) “…cases”
Edwards says they are also looking at testing capacity, which he says continues to improve.

State emergency planners are keeping their eye on a tropical disturbance. National Weather Service Forecaster Stephen Carboni says what was Tropical Storm Amanda in the Pacific is moving over the Yucatan Peninsula.
cut 15 (10) “….southern gulf”
Carboni ays if it does develop into a storm, it will be called Cristobal.

The deadline is nearing for families of children that received free or reduced-price meals at Louisiana schools to apply for Pandemic EBT cards. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

The death of George Floyd and the subsequent arrest of a Minneapolis officer brought civil unrest to many cities across the country. But here in Louisiana, all protests and demonstrations were held without violence.

Today is the final day of the legislative session and lawmakers are poised to approve a tort reform bill that seeks to reduce auto insurance rates by at least 10-percent. A key component of the bill is lowering the jury threshold from 50-thousand to five thousand dollars. Supporters say that will result in cases involving car crashes being settled at a more reasonable amount. Before the bill passed in the House, freshman Representative Larry Frieman from Abita Springs says when he campaigned, voters complained about our high rates and this measure is our best vehicle to lowering premiums
Cut 16 (07) “…to do it”
Governor Edwards does not support this proposal and could veto the measure, but U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the votes are there to override the veto and lawmakers are staying in Baton Rouge for a special session that begins at 6:01 tonight…
cut 12 (08) “…in session”

The other big issue in the regular session, a proposal to prevent local parishes from pursuing litigation against oil and gas companies for damaging the state’s coast line did not make it through the process. Louisiana Oil and Gas Association President Gifford Briggs says failing to pass this legislation will cost the state thousands of potential new jobs because oil companies will refuse to invest here…
cut 9 (11) “…lost revenue”
But St. Bernard President Guy McInnis says the oil and gas industry has to pay for the damage they’ve done to the coast…
cut 11 (05) “…wetland.
Supporters of the bill say they will bring the issue back to the legislature next year.