Gov. John Bel Edwards responds to Attorney General Jeff Landry’s letter stating face masks are unconstitutional. Edwards states that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but not their own facts. Edwards also points out that recent legislation granting businesses immunity from lawsuits due to the coronavirus would be negated if employees do not practice proper PPE mandates that Landry’s ruling states is unconstitutional.

While the federal government requires COVID tests to be free some patients are finding themselves hit with additional costs like lab fees when they get tested in certain facilities. Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says all community testing sites are completely free of any charges but what happens you are uninsured and end up in the ER due to COVID-19?

Cut 7 (07) “off”

Governor Edwards says he will consider the implementation of new White House COVID-19 guidelines.  Louisiana is one of 18 states in the red zone for cases and one of 11 in the red zone for testing positivity.  Edwards feels the state already is covering the most prioritized spread mitigation efforts from the CDC and White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…other things too.”

The new White House recommendations call for red zone states like Louisiana to close gyms, put tighter restrictions on indoor dining capacity to 25%, and limit gatherings to 10 people.

State case numbers for COVID-19 increased by 2,179 today, with a daily testing percentage positive of 11-percent, which is above the recommended 10-percent daily average. Fatalities are up by 24 and hospitalizations are up by 12.

Governor John Bel Edwards says he will consider the implementations of new White House COVID guidelines.  The recommendations call for red zone states like Louisiana to close gyms, put tighter restrictions on indoor dining capacity to 25%, and limit gatherings to 10 people.

Cut 3 (12)  “…points in time.”  

Louisiana is one of 18 states in the red zone for cases and one of 11 in the red zone for testing positivity. The state added almost another 2,200 cases today.

While the federal government requires COVID tests to be free some patients are finding themselves hit with additional costs like lab fees when they get tested in certain facilities. Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says all community testing sites are completely free of any charges, but in their urgent cares or if you get tested in the ER…

Cut 6 (08) “…COVID Testing”

And if you are uninsured and end up in the ER due to COVID-19?

A West Monroe man is in jail after allegedly getting violent after being denied access to a Walmart for not wearing a facemask. Brooke Thorington has more…

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

Assistant health secretary Dr. Alex Billioux debunks a theory that Louisiana’s COVID-19 case count has been inflated by individuals being retested only to find out they are still positive for coronavirus. Billioux made it clear the state is not listing every positive test result as a new case.
Cut 4 (08)_ “…that one case.”

While the federal government requires COVID tests to be free some patients are finding themselves hit with additional costs like lab fees when they get tested in certain facilities. Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says all community testing sites are completely free of any charges, but in their urgent cares or if you get tested in the ER…

Cut 6, 8 seconds, COVID testing

Testing at Ochsner ERs and Urgent Cares is being restricted to symptomatic patients. Non-symptomatic patients can be tested at community testing sites.

The state is now taking applications for the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program, an initiative aimed at helping low-income people who are struggling to make rent. Payment amounts and qualification depends on income, household size, and fair market rent prices in your area. Louisiana Housing Corporation Executive Director Keith Cunningham says you can only make 30 percent of the state’s average median income.
Cut 8 (07) “…or more.”

A West Monroe man was arrested after allegedly hitting a cop with his car and resisting arrest after refusing to wear a mask inside a Walmart. 64-year old Ricky Taylor allegedly refused to leave when a cop working a Walmart detail approached him. Eventually though police say he did move, and West Monroe Police Chief Jeff Terrell says one Taylor left the store he got into his car, and…
Cut 11 (08) “…bumped the officer.”

A second officer was called to make the arrest and a struggle ensued.

Assistant health secretary Dr. Alex Billioux debunks a theory that Louisiana’s COVID-19 case count has been inflated by individuals being retested only to find out they are still positive for coronavirus. Billioux says the health officials have nothing to gain from inflated numbers, adding that the spreading of misinformation about testing through hearsay can be dangerous.
Cut 6 (07) “…testing in general.”
Billioux says the health officials have nothing to gain from inflated numbers.

The state is now taking applications for the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program, an initiative aimed at helping low-income people who are struggling to make rent.  Louisiana Housing Corporation Executive Director Keith Cunningham says the program can provide short-term help to renters whose finances have been impacted by the pandemic.

Cut 7 (10) “…the program.”

A West Monroe man was arrested after allegedly hitting a cop with his car and resisting arrest after refusing to wear a mask inside a Walmart. West Monroe Police Chief Jeff Terrell says when 64-year old Ricky Taylor refused a Walmart employee’s request to wear a mask a police officer working detail for Walmart intervened.

Cut 10 (10) “trespass notice.”

Taylor was booked on charges of resisting an officer, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, and disturbing the peace.

Governor Edwards approves business tax cuts and credits that will cost the state an estimated 25 million dollars in the current budget year, and at least 230 million dollars over the next five years.

Early in the special session, Edwards expressed concern about the fiscal responsibility of the proposed cuts and credits, but Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says the pandemic likely inspired him to step outside his comfort zone.

Cut 15 (12) “…did” 

Low-income renters who are struggling to pay their rent can now apply for help through the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
Assistant health secretary Dr. Alex Billioux debunks a theory that Louisiana’s COVID-19 case count has been inflated. The Red River Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness recently added to the theory with a Facebook post that questioned the validity of the parish’s case count as reported by LDH. Billioux says they have looked into the claim.

A West Monroe man was arrested after allegedly hitting a cop with his car and resisting arrest after refusing to wear a mask inside a Walmart. West Monroe Police Chief Jeff Terrell says when 64-year old Ricky Taylor refused a Walmart employee’s request to wear a mask a police officer working detail for Walmart intervened. Authorities say Taylor had a verbal altercation with the officer, refused to give to his identification, left the store, and got into his car, and then it got physical.
Cut 11 (08) “…bumped the officer.”

Governor Edwards approves business tax cuts and credits that will cost the state an estimated 25 million dollars in the current budget year, and at least 230 million dollars over the next five years.
The cuts come in many forms, including a substantial portion for the casino industry, and a yearlong suspension of the corporate franchise tax. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat says it’s anyone’s guess as to whether they’ll make much of an impact.
Cut 14 (09) “…struggling”

Is the Department of Health inflating COVID-19 case counts? Assistant health secretary Dr. Alex Billioux debunks that theory. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
The state is now taking applications for the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program, an initiative aimed at helping low-income people who are struggling to make rent.
Louisiana Housing Corporation Executive Director Keith Cunningham says
The program currently has a 24 million dollar fund, but the state aims to find additional money to boost the pot.
Payment amounts and qualification depends on income, household size, and fair market rent prices in your area. Cunningham says you can only make 30 percent of the state’s average median income.
Cut 8 (07) “…or more.”

A West Monroe man was arrested after allegedly hitting a cop with his car and resisting arrest after refusing to wear a mask inside a Walmart. West Monroe Police Chief Jeff Terrell says when 64-year old Ricky Taylor refused a Walmart employee’s request to wear a mask a police officer working detail for Walmart intervened.
Cut 10 (10) “trespass notice.”
Governor Edwards approves business tax cuts and credits that will cost the state an estimated 25 million dollars in the current budget year, and at least 230 million dollars over the next five years.
The cuts come in many forms, including a substantial portion for the casino industry, and a yearlong suspension of the corporate franchise tax. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat…
Cut 13 (09) “…services.”

Assistant health secretary Dr. Alex Billioux debunks a theory that Louisiana’s COVID-19 case count has been inflated by individuals being retested only to find out they are still positive for coronavirus. Billioux made it clear the state is not listing every positive test result as a new case.
Cut 4 (08)_ “…that one case.”

The state is now taking applications for the Louisiana Emergency Rental Assistance Program, an initiative aimed at helping low-income people who are struggling to make rent.
Louisiana Housing Corporation Executive Director Keith Cunningham says the program can provide short-term help to renters whose finances have been impacted by the pandemic.
Cut 7 (10) “…the program.”

A West Monroe man is in jail after allegedly getting violent after being denied access to a Walmart for not wearing a facemask. Brooke Thorington has more…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

COVID cases are surging and hospitalization numbers are rising sharply, but deaths and ventilator use are not following at the same rate as the state’s first wave in April. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says healthcare providers have developed new techniques to aid COVID patients that were not available in March and April, including an antiviral that is much more accessible.

Cut 7 (11) “without”

A Lake Charles man who authorities say fatally shot two people and left a third-person fighting for her life is now in custody. Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the manhunt that went on for over 24 hours wrapped up when 51-year-old Neil Broussard surrendered by going to a Dollar General and asking an employee to call the cops.

Cut 12 (12) “…heroic of them.”

Broussard was arrested at the store near the wooded area in Beauregard Parish where authorities had been searching for him.

The Office of Motor Vehicles is expanding the number of offices that will operate using only online appointment scheduling by seven. OMV Spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says they’re going to monitor these locations and if the process works out consider implementing it as a normal business practice even after the pandemic passes.

Cut 11 (07) “…good thing.”

The Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete is changing ownership and the new proprietors will no longer display the collection of exotic animals that have put a spotlight on the business.  The flagship animal, a 550-pound Bengal tiger named Tony, died in 2017.  Following the euthanizing of Tony the Tiger due to age-related health issues, the main attraction became Caspar the Camel.  The camel and a kangaroo are now residing at the Alexandria Zoological Park.  Now-former truckstop owner Michael Sandlin says he still owns some of the other animals.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…at my homestead.”

COVID cases are surging and hospitalization numbers are rising sharply, but deaths and ventilator use are not following at the same rate as the state’s first wave in April. Ochsner Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Hart says it appears that’s because this new wave of cases is disproportionately impacting young people.

Cut 6 (10) “…people”

Hart says Ochsner currently has plenty of ventilator capacity, but that hospital bed usage has seen a big increase over the last month.

The Office of Motor Vehicles is expanding the number of offices that will operate using only online appointment scheduling by seven. OMV Spokesperson Matthew Boudreaux says the online scheduler is very easy to use.

Cut 10 (09) “…information.”

A Lake Charles man who authorities say fatally shot two people and left third person fighting for her life is now in custody. Calcasieu Sheriff Tony Mancuso says the manhunt that went on for over 24 hours wrapped up when 51-year-old Neil Broussard surrendered by going to a Dollar General and asking an employee to call the cops. Mancuso says a motive for Broussard’s actions is still unclear.

Cut 14 (06) “…would like that.”

The Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete is changing ownership and the new proprietors will no longer display the collection of exotic animals that have put a spotlight on the business.  The flagship animal, a 550-pound Bengal tiger named Tony, died in 2017.  Now-former truck stop owner Michael Sandlin says that death hit him hard.

Cut 3 (08)  “…getting another tiger.”