State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley unveils the guidelines schools will operate under when students return in August. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

AAA estimates summer travel will be down 15-percent from July to September. Spokesperson Don Redman says in our region, 98-percent of travelers are planning to get to their destination by car…
cut 11 (06) “….at state parks”

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%
Cut 13 (10) “…CBD from that.”
Across the country, there has been widespread crop failure because of excessive amounts of THC, so having this first batch meet state and federal regulations is a victory for the state’s hemp industry.

We are having internet issues again. Trying to resolve, but literally out of my hands. Hopefully, it comes back soon.

Jeff

Governor Edwards officially signs an executive order extending Phase Two for another 28 days, and orders groups of no more than 250 for indoor gatherings.

This extension has drawn the ire of some House conservatives who feel the extension will do too much damage to Louisiana businesses. As a result, Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh has resumed pushing a petition that if signed by half of the Legislature would end the Governor’s declaration of emergency. Seabaugh needs 53 additional lawmakers to join him in the House…

Cut 12 (11) “…to having 53.”

But Democrats oppose revoking the order. Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says some economic boosts are not worth the added risk to the lives of vulnerable Louisianans.

Cut 15 (11) “…a business open.” 

State workers will not be getting their scheduled pay raises if the budget remains it its current state. Senate Finance Committee members agreed to pause the raises and reconsider them later in the year, citing concern over the  “optics” of giving state workers a pay raise while so many private-sector employees have lost their jobs, but Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne notes that most of the workers who will be impacted don’t make a lot of money.

Cut 8 (09) “…workers”

But Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says if we pass a raise some of them may end up not having a job…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

A resolution by Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields to establish a task force to study policing policy gains final passage. The resolution had unanimous support in its final form, which removed previous language about George Floyd and racial profiling by police.

The state education department releases guidelines for schools to reopen with students in the classrooms. Jeff Palermo reports from third grade and on up masks will be required…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

And for additional school guidelines if the state remains in Phase Two when schools reopen in August maximum group sizes for students would be constrained to 25, no contact sports or band would be allowed, and school bus capacity would be capped at 50 percent. If we move to Phase Three contact sports are in and the number roughly double.

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma determines a 63-year-old black man died of febrile delirium while in the custody of Shreveport first responders last April. Thoma says first responders worked quickly to apply medical care to Austin.

Cut 5 (13)  “…a preventable death”

A group called 45 days of Action Shreveport seeks answers on why Austin and Tommie McGlothen died in police custody in April.

State workers won’t be getting their scheduled pay raise if the budget remains in its current form. A Senate committee backed a pause in pay raises with plans to reevaluate the possibility later in the year. Evangeline Parish Senator Heather Cloud says the economy is too uncertain right now…

Cut 7 (06) “…be here”

The state education department released a plan today on how public schools can reopen for the upcoming school year and do so without contributing to the spread of COVID-19. One of the guidelines calls for children in third grade and above to wear masks and students with a breathing condition could wear a face shield. The plan also calls for symptom monitoring of students when they arrive and throughout the day, including an initial temp check. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter says sick students need to be isolated quickly…
Cut 10 (05) “…recovery time.”
Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh is once again pushing his petition to end Louisiana’s state of emergency because of COVID-19. While it is unclear if Seabaugh has enough backing, Rosepine Republican Charles Owen is among those showing support for the measure and believes lawmakers need more input on the decision making of advancing the state in reopening.
Cut 13 (08) “…ahead of time.”  

Caddo Parish Coroner Doctor Todd Thoma determines a 63-year-old black man died of febrile delirium while in the custody of Shreveport first responders last April. Thoma says paramedics and police were called to Wavey Austin’s apartment because he was delusional and uncooperative, so he was handcuffed to conduct a medical evaluationThoma says there was no struggle with police or significant signs of trauma…
Cut 4 (08)_ “…or broken bones.”
Febrile delirium is an acute and transient confusional state with a high fever.  Austin was running a fever of 101.5 at the time of this death and was found to have an enlarged heart contributing to arrhythmia.
When the Senate Finance Committee approved a budget for the next fiscal year Wednesday they put a pause on scheduled pay raises for state workers. Baton Rouge Senator Bodi White says right now a public sector pay raise just wouldn’t look good.
Cut 6 (11) “…deal with”
The proposal heads to the Senate where it could be adjusted.

Scheduled pay raises for state employees will be paused under the budget now making its way to the Senate floor. Senate Finance Committee members expressed concern about the “optics” of giving state workers a pay raise while so many private-sector employees have lost their jobs, but Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne notes that most of the workers who will be impacted don’t make a lot of money.

Cut 8 (09) “…workers”

lawmakers say they will take a look at whether the state can afford the raises later this year.

The state education department informs schools that they should be prepared to have to close for three to five days once classes resume should the campus be recognized as having an ongoing spread of COVID-19. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter hopes schools have a plan in place to do a deep clean

Cut 11 (08) “…any return.”

Shreveport Republican Alan Seabaugh is once again pushing his petition to end Louisiana’s state of emergency because of COVID-19.  Seabaugh needs the support of 53 other lawmakers in the House and says the spread mitigation restrictions have been extended too long.

Cut 12 (11) “…to having 53.”

Louisiana has seen over 53,000 COVID-19 cases and 3,000 fatalities and Baton Rouge Democrat Denise Marcelle applauds the Governor’s decision making and feels sacrificing human life is not worth it for a quicker economic bounce back.

Cut 15 (11) “…a business open.” 

The trend of higher COVID case counts and increased hospitalizations continues today with 938 new positive tests reported and 22 additional hospitalizations.

The state education department released a plan today on how public schools can reopen for the upcoming school year and do so without contributing to the spread of COVID-19. One of the guidelines calls for children in third grade and above to wear masks. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter…
Cut 9 (08) “…face masks.”
Carter says students with a breathing condition could wear a face shield.

State Health Officer Doctor Jimmy Guidry says wearing a cloth mask will limit the spread of droplets that transmit COVID-19. He says that why it’s important for people to wear masks in public, especially if you are asymptomatic…
cut 11 (08) “….that’s a fact”
The state reported 938 additional cases of COVID-19 today and the number of people hospitalized because of the virus rose by 22.

The Senate Finance committee says state worker pay raises for the next fiscal year should be put on hold. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

A group of House Republicans is pushing for legislators to sign a petition seeking to end the governor’s state of emergency because of COVID-19. They say it’s time for Louisiana to re-open even more, but Baton Rouge Representative Denise Marcelle says that’s not a good idea…
cut 14 (07) “…people’s lives”