Over 100,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began as of today after the state reports another day over 2,000 cases, this time 2,300 people, at a positivity rate of 11 percent. Hospitalizations are on the rise as well, back to our early May level.

The status of high school sports in the fall is on the mind of many. Jeff Palermo reports the LHSAA does not have a plan yet, but they’ve reached one conclusion…

cut 2 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

The most prominent Democrat in the November Senate race against Bill Cassidy offic8ially filed his paperwork at the Secretary of State’s office in Baton Rouge today. Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins spoke to our reporter there, and said this when asked about where he stands on abortion.

Cut 5 (12)  “…within that snapshot.”

Ochsner plans to double its COVID testing capacity over the next six weeks in an effort to reduce test result wait times to 24 hours. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says right now their patients are waiting up to four days for results, and the surge in demand for COVID tests that is creating the backlog is partially due to the increase in a-symptomatic patient testing, but…

Cut 14 (12) “…virus.”

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins officially qualifies to challenge Senator Bill Cassidy. Perkins, a Democrat says his decision to run rose from the concerns he has about how Congress is handling the coronavirus pandemic and this moment calls for strong, decisive leadership in DC.
Cut 3 (11) “…to happen again.”
The primary is November third.

Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Doctor Robert Hart says they are purchasing new equipment in order to get coronavirus test results back faster to patients…
cut 13 (10) “….15 minutes”
Many people are waiting several days to get their test results back. Today, the state health department reported 24-hundred new cases, bringing the state’s total to 101-thousand.

The National Hurricane Center says a tropical depression heading towards Texas has the potential to produce heavy rains in Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the potential tropical storm could produce about an inch of rain for central Louisiana through Monday, two to four inches along the I-10 corridor and four inches along the coast…
Cut 8 (09) “…umbrella’s handy”
The forecast calls for the depression to strengthen into a tropical storm tomorrow morning and make landfall on Saturday between Houston and Brownsville, Texas.

In an open letter to parents and student-athletes, LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine says there are no plans to cancel fall sports and they are committed to a safe start for fall sports…
cut 10 (12) “…format”
Bonine has said the state needs to move beyond Phase 3 of its reopening in order for high school football games to be played.

Louisiana crosses the 100,000 total COVID positive test mark today after adding another 2,300 cases, but in some good news, we’re seeing the first single-digit increase of hospitalizations in over a week. 11 percent of all tests reported today were positive, above the ten percent problem level.

Ochsner plans to double its COVID testing capacity over the next six weeks in an effort to reduce test result wait times to 24 hours. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says they’re currently running 2,500 to 3,000 tests a day, but its taking two to four days to get results back to patients.

Cut 12, 10 seconds, a day

A tropical depression in the gulf that’s headed for Texas is expected to dump a lot of rain on south Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says  along with three to five inches of rain the system will bring a bit of a reprieve from the hot, still air we’ve experienced this past month.

Cut 7 (08) “right now”

Seven candidates for Louisiana’s 5^th Congressional District seat qualified on Wednesday. Kevin Barnhart recaps some of those that got on the ballot.

Cut 2 (44) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

In a statewide poll commissioned by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, 76-percent of the state’s residents support the governor’s mask mandate and 61-percent say the public health emergency in Louisiana should not be canceled. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says the Remington Research Group surveyed 36-hundred Louisiana residents…
cut 17 (09) “…board”

Democratic Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is at the Secretary of State’s office qualifying to run against U-S Senator Bill Cassidy in the November third primary. It was unknown if Cassidy would face a serious challenger. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Perkins’ entry is good for voters…
cut 30 (08) “….of issues”

A tropical depression in the gulf that’s headed for Texas is expected to dump a lot of rain on south Louisiana. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the soon-to-be Tropical Storm Hannah will make for a wet next few days.
Cut 6 (06) “…days”
The National Hurricane Center projects the depression will strengthen into a tropical storm in the next 24 hours and make landfall Saturday between Houston and Brownsville, Texas.

Louisiana High School Athletic Association executive director Eddie Bonine has sent a letter to parents and student-athletes letting them know they have no intention of canceling fall sports unless the pandemic dictates it’s not safe to play. Bonine says they are committed to conducting fall sports…
cut 9 (12) “…safe manner”

Seven candidates for Louisiana’s 5^th Congressional District seat qualified on Wednesday, looking to fill the position currently held by Ralph Abraham who is not pursuing an additional term.  Republican Ouachita Police Juror Scotty Robinson announced his bid for the position last November and says the traits he has picked up in local government and constituent accessibility are what set him apart from his opponents.

Cut 8 (09) “…call me anytime.”

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris, also a Republican, says he sees a bunch of career politicians in DC and touts his balance of holding elected office and being a business owner as the reason voters should cast a ballot for him.

Cut 11 (09) “…and create jobs.”

The primary election is scheduled for November 3^rd.

Democratic Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins will challenge Republican Senator Bill Cassidy in the November 3rd election. Before he got into politics, Perkins served in the Army and is a former student body president at West Point and Harvard. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Cassidy cannot underestimate Perkins.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…to campaign”

Perkins says Washington’s poor handling of the coronavirus outbreak persuaded him to jump into the Senate race.

A Remington Research Group poll commissioned by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder shows wide and bipartisan support for the Governor’s mask mandate and public health emergency declaration. 76 percent of those surveyed last weekend support a government mask mandate. UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross…

Cut 15 (08) “…result.” 

A statewide poll commissioned by House Speaker Clay Schexnayder has found that 76-percent of the respondents support the governor’s mask mandate and 61-percent oppose canceling the state’s public health emergency declaration. U-L Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says that’s blow to a Republican-led effort to revoke the governor’s coronavirus order….
cut 16 (11) “…seriousness”

U-S Senator Bill Cassidy will face a serious challenger in his re-election bid as Democratic Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins will officially enter the race today when he files his paperwork at the Secretary of State’s Office. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Perkins enters the race as an underdog…
cut 5 (12) “…uphill climb”
The election is November third.

Seven candidates for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District seat qualified on Wednesday. Kevin Barnhart has more from the Secretary of State’s Office…
Cut 2 (44) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor John Bel Edwards will give a COVID-19 briefing today at 2:30. The state is expected to surpass 100-thousand total coronavirus cases today.

A tropical depression moving south of Louisiana is expected to bring the Bayou State a lot of rain over the next few days. The system is expected to make landfall in Texas on Saturday, but two to four inches and possibly six inches of rain is expected to fall across south Louisiana through Monday…
cut 14 (07) “….moisture”
National Weather Service Forecaster Donald Williams says the system could be a tropical storm when it makes landfall in Texas on Saturday.

Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins is scheduled to qualify at the Secretary of State’s office today to run against U-S Senator Bill Cassidy in the November third election. We were not sure if a major Democratic challenger would run. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Perkins’ entry into the race is good for voters…
cut 6 (08) “….of issues”

Seven candidates for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District seat qualified on Wednesday, looking to fill the position currently held by Ralph Abraham who is not seeking reelection. Among them is Abraham’s former Chief of Staff Luke Letlow, who says his campaign will not just run on the record and accomplishments of Abraham…
Cut 7 (09) “…sector as well.”
Scotty Robinson, Matt Hasty, Lance Harris and Allen Guillory are the other Republicans who have qualified. Two Democrats have qualified, including the Chief Operating Officer at Grambling State, Martin Lemelle Junior…
cut 10 (09) “….through technology”
Small business owner Candy Christophe of Alexandria has also qualified for the race. Qualifying ends at 4:30 tomorrow.

Democratic Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins will officially qualify for the US Senate race today, challenging Republican incumbent Bill Cassidy.
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

Tropical Depression eight is moving through the central Gulf of Mexico heading towards Texas. Donald Williams with the National Weather Service says the system is not expected to develop into a hurricane and at most may become a weak tropical storm…
cut 13 (06) “….organized”
The system is expected to bring rain to south Louisiana.

Seven candidates have filed their paperwork at the Secretary of State’s office in Baton Rouge seeking to replace Ralph Abraham as Louisiana’s fifth district congressman. Republican Lance Harris is looking to jump from the state legislature to the U-S House of Representatives. Harris is a businessman from Alexandria..
cut 11 (09) “….create jobs”
Harris is one of five Republicans to qualify. The others are Allen Guillory, Matt Hasty, Luke Letlow and Scotty Robinson. Two Democrats have qualified. Clinical social worker Candy Christophe is also from Alexandria and she’s entered the race to create change…
cut 9 (10) “….want to see”
The other Democrat in the race is Martin Lemelle of Ruston. Qualifying ends tomorrow at 4:30.