Governor Edwards is demanding businesses comply with coronavirus restrictions as the state reported another 13-hundred cases today. Edwards has said since the pandemic started the state can not enforce its way to compliance, but he’s planning to take a more heavy-handed approach.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…these mandates.”

Hospitalizations rose to 700 today.

Assistant health secretary Alex Billioux says the vast majority in new cases is coming from community spread. Billioux says the percentage of tests that are positive is eight-percent, the federal goal is to keep it below 10-percent.

Cut 13 (09) “…increases there”  

91-percent of the cases are tied to community spread rather than congregate settings like nursing homes.

The UL System is anticipating a five percent loss of revenue by the end of the 2021 fiscal year. President Jim Henderson says the pitch for students uncertain of returning is still the same, a 14-percent annual rate of return on their degree from a U-L system school.

Cut 8 (08) “…investment”

For the current fiscal year ending June 30^th, the UL System is set to suffer a 28 million dollar net loss.

Blaine Kern, Sr., who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, has died. He was 93.  Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy remembers Kern as a key figure in the history of Mardi Gras.

Cut 9 (10) “…he improved it.”

Louisiana logs another 1,300 COVID cases today, putting the state close to the 55-thousand total case mark. Assistant health secretary Alex Billioux says the vast majority in new cases is coming from community spread. He says more people are showing up to emergency room departments with COVID-19 symptoms

Cut 12 (12) “…epidemic”

The percentage of tests that are positive is eight-percent, the federal goal is to keep it below 10-percent.

As numbers spike Governor Edwards defends his decision to move into Phase Two where businesses were allowed to expand their capacity, and bars were allowed to reopen. Edwards says those rules weren’t why the cases are growing…

Cut 3 (10) ”…it eventually stopped.”  

The UL System is anticipating a five percent loss of revenue by the end of the 2021 fiscal year due to COVID-19 under the current likely scenario. UL System President Jim Henderson says they can absorb that kind of reduction and still supply a quality education, but if the pandemic were to get any worse that may be difficult.

Cut 6 (07) “…about”

The worst-case scenario they’ve drawn up shows a 150 million dollar loss in revenue due to drastic declines in enrollment and the cancellation of sports.

The famous Mr. Mardi Gras Blaine Kern Sr. dies at 93. Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says Kern had the ability to engage and captivate people like few others, and made the modern Mardi Gras what it is.

Cut 11 (07) “…quite a promoter.”

The UL System will take a 28 million dollar net hit to revenue this fiscal year, and is planning for a five percent total drop in revenue for the fiscal year starting July 1^st. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

A 72-year-old woman attacked by her two pit bulls in Mandeville on Thursday afternoon has died from her injuries. St. Tammany Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the scene after a neighbor called to report the attack. Upon arrival the dogs began attacking the deputies and eventually both animals were killed during the response. The victim died at a hospital on the Northshore earlier today.

Governor Edwards is demanding businesses comply with coronavirus restrictions as the state reported another 13-hundred cases today. Earlier this month, the governor loosened capacity restrictions on businesses and re-opened bars. Edwards has paused the state’s re-opening, extending the Phase 2 guidelines for another 28 days as the number of hospitalizations has risen to 700. The governor says the state office of public health, A-T-C and state fire marshal deputies will conduct robust compliance checks when they get complaints…

Cut 5 (11)  “…a whole”

Blaine Kern, Sr., who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, has died. Kern built his first Mardi Gras float on the back on a mule-drawn wagon with his father in 1932 and is credited for turning Mardi Gras float building into a multi-million dollar business.  Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy says Kern’s energy and creativity did not slow down in the later years of his life.
Cut 10 (10) “…just didn’t stop.”
He was 93.

Today’s numbers show there can be no doubt, Louisiana is back on a sharply upward trajectory of COVID transmission. 1,354 new cases have been discovered, and 47 additional people have been hospitalized bringing the total COVID hospitalizations to 700 compared to our post-April low of 542 June 14^th and marks the highest number since June 2^nd. 26 additional fatalities are also being reported.

Governor Edwards is pinning this spike in cases not on the move into Phase Two, which increased capacity allowances for many businesses, but on a public that is beginning to slack off on their spread mitigation efforts like mask-wearing and social distancing. Edwards says to reverse this trend they’ll have state workers more aggressively enforce COVID compliance on businesses.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…mandates”

UL System President Jim Henderson says a combination of sports revenue loss and lower student enrollment is leading them to plan for a five percent revenue loss for the coming fiscal year. Many students appear to be considering putting off returning to college while campus life undergoes significant pandemic era changes, and Henderson says they aren’t sugar coating what some of those changes may be…

Cut 7 (08) “…2019”

For the current fiscal year ending June 30^th, the UL System is set to suffer a 28 million dollar net loss.

Blaine Kern, Sr., who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, has died. He was 93.  Kern was the founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades. Mardi Gras expert Arthur Hardy remembers Kern as a key figure in the history of Mardi Gras.

Cut 9 (10) “…he improved it.”

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley unveils the guidelines schools will be operating under as students return in August. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Blaine Kern, Sr., founder of Blaine Kern Artists, which designs, builds, and stages most of the region’s largest carnival parades, has died. Kern is credited for turning Mardi Gras float building into a multimillion dollar business. His wife confirmed his death on Facebook. Kern, who was widely considered Mr. Mardi Gras, died at his home in New Orleans. He was 93.

COVID-19 is impacting summer travel. The AAA travel forecast shows Americans will take 700 trips, down nearly 15% compared to last July through September. Driving sees the smallest decrease in travel volume, down 3.6% over the year. While summer gas prices haven’t been this low since 2016, AAA spokesperson Don Redman says it is not enough to spur travel.
Cut 12 (11) “…off the roads.”
Redman says the last time the AAA travel forecast showed a dip in over the year travel was 2009, following the 2008 recession.
Louisiana’s first harvested batch of industrial hemp has been tested and is in compliance with rules for the crop.  State Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the crop received the green light after being tested to make sure THC concentration level is below the legal limit of .3%. Strain says in Louisiana there are over 100 people licensed as growers, processors, transporters, or seed sellers and producers and with the budding industry is a further exploration of additional utility for the crop.
Cut 15 (06) “…at other uses.”

The state department of education’s plan for reopening schools in August requires that students from third grade and above wear masks even in the classroom. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says student health will be closely monitored throughout the day…
cut 5 (09) “…check”
Brumley says hand washing must take place every two hours and students who get sick will be quarantied on campus until they can be removed.

The Lafayette Police Department confirms the F-B-I is assisting in the investigation into the stabbing of 18-year-old Holden White. The family says the stabbing of the gay teeenager from Kaplan was a hate crime. But authorities have only charged the suspect with attempted second-degree murder. Lafayette P-D says if they find evidence of a hate crime, additional charges could be filed against 19-year-old Chance Seneca.

Louisiana’s first harvested batch of industrial hemp gets the green light to move forward with processing….
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Air Quality alerts are up for Lake Charles, Lafayette, Houma, Baton Rouge and New Orleans as a plume of Saharan dust moves into Louisiana, increasing particle concentration, which could exasperate breathing issues for those who suffer from asthma or allergies. DEQ Air planning administrator Jason Myers says there is some good news associated with the dust plume…
cut 9 (07) “…sunset”

The State Department of Education is requiring face masks for students third grade and above as part of its plan for reopening public schools in August. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says if a student or teacher tests positive the Department of Health will consult with the district on whether the school needs to close. Brumley says that means…
Cut 6 (07) “closed”
Schools that are ordered closed may stayed closed for three to five days for a deep clean.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality warns residents with breathing issues to remain indoors as a Saharan Dust Plume begins impacting the Gulf Coast today. LDEQ Air Planning Administrator Jason Myers says the dust can exasperate existing respiratory conditions.
Cut 7 (07) “…inside.”
Air quality alerts are up for Lake Charles, Lafayette, Houma, New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

AAA indicates COVID-19 is having a significant impact on summer travel plans. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

At the state capitol, lawmakers have approved a resolution that creates a task force to study police training and what can be done to remove officers from the force who are considered bad apples. The 25-member task force will meet next month and provide recommendations to the state legislature by February first.

State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley outlines COVID safety guidelines for the upcoming school year, including the mandatory use of face coverings. Brumley says school districts will have to answer to the Louisiana Department of Health if there is non-compliance.
Cut 4 (10)_ “building”
The face mask requirement is for students third grade and above. Brumley is also encouraging school districts to make online learning available for students who do not want to return to the classroom.

Air quality alerts are up for much of southeast Louisiana, Lafayette and Lake Charles because of particle pollution from the Saharan dust cloud. If you have respiratory issues, DEQ Administrator Jason Myers recommends wearing an N95 mask while outside…
cut 8 (10) “…now”

COVID-19 is impacting summer travel. The AAA travel forecast shows Americans will take 700-million trips, down nearly 15% compared to last July through September. AAA spokesperson Don Redman most people will drive to their destinations, while other transportation methods will see a sharp decline.
Cut 10 (09) “…are the cruises.”
Most cruise lines ahve suspended all deparatures until at least August 1st.

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says the first batch of hemp grown in Louisiana and tested by their laboratory is in compliance. Strain says the next step is for the hemp that was grown in southwest Louisiana to be dried out and that can happen at a processing facility…
cut 14 (09) “….extract CBD products”