Consumers are planning to spend a record amount to prepare students for heading back to school and college. Brooke Thorington has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry says Governor Edwards’ recent orders about masks, group gatherings, and bars are unconstitutional. Matt Doyle

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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The longest serving executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party is stepping away to pursue new challenges. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 3 (27)  “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”  

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A National Retail Federation study shows the uncertainty about the upcoming school year could push back-to-school spending to record levels. NRF spokesperson Katherine Cullen says more than half of shoppers feel that some learning will occur at home and they’ll need to purchase more electronics.

Cut 4 (06)_ “…home this year.”

Only 26% expect all most or all of classes will be taught in person.

For the elementary to high school age kids, families are spending an average of $789, an increase of nearly $100 from last year, with total spending around $33.9 billion, both numbers are up from last year. Cullen says for college students, it is a similar story.

Cut 5 (11)  “…record of $977.”

Total collegiate spending is expected to top $67 billion, a new record and up from $54.5 billion last year.

Even though some brick and mortar stores closed during the pandemic are beginning to reopen, Cullen say more than half of K-12 shoppers saying they will now be buying online.

Cut 6 (07) “…patterns of shopping.”

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Attorney General Jeff Landry pens a letter calling the Governor’s statewide mask mandate, order to close bars, and limit on group gatherings unconstitutional.

Landry advises all state law enforcement agencies to exercise extreme caution when enforcing these orders, but Governor Edwards says there’s no question that his orders are legal.

Cut 7 (10) “…constitution.”

Governor Edwards says the letter is an about-face from the Attorney General…

Cut 8 (12) “…directives.”

Landry counters that he agreed to grant the Governor this authority early in the pandemic when medical capacity was at a breaking point, but that isn’t the case now.

Landry is in self-quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 and missed the Vice President’s visit to Baton Rouge Monday. Edwards wished Landry well, but says…

Cut 9 (07) “…here.”

The letter was written at the behest of eight Republican legislators who were seeking input on the legality of the recent orders.

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The Louisiana Restaurant Association estimates the pandemic economy will result in the loss of nearly a quarter of the state’s restaurants.

President Stan Harris says for many restaurants there’s just no way to weather the storm even with the federal aid that’s been received.

Cut 10 (10) “statewide.”

Harris says the damage may disproportionately impact traditional sit-down restaurants.

Cut 11 (10) “…buisness.”

With restaurants suffering the state’s service economy is getting hammered. Harris says that’s why we need Congress to extend enhanced unemployment benefits before they run out at the end of the month.

Cut 12 (09) “…happen” 

Harris made the comments on the Governor’s monthly talk show Ask the Governor.

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Stephen Handwerk is stepping away from his position at the helm of the Louisiana Democratic Party.  Handwerk is the longest-serving executive director for the party and says it is time to pursue new challenges.

Cut 13 (09) “…done my time.” 

Handwerk says he is incredibly proud of many of the party’s accomplishments during his time and highlights the ability to flip the Governor’s Mansion blue with the election of John Bel Edwards and to keep it that way for a second term.

Cut 14 (08) “…proud of that.”

Handwerk feels that during his time in office the party contributed to history-making elections putting more diversity into elected offices.

Cut 15 (12) “…of a role.” 

Handwerk will depart at the end of August.

BESE formally adopts a list of minimum safety standard recommendations like mandatory face coverings and busing policy for schools to implement before classes begin. Matt Doyle covered the meeting…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Attorney General Jeff Landry issues a legal opinion that says Governor  Edwards order that requires maks, closes bars and limits crowd sizes is likely unconstitutional and unenforceable. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education adopts a list of minimum safety standards that schools will be called on to implement to reopen safely. The recommendations range from mandatory face coverings to group size maximums. Children’s Hospital Chief Quality Officer Dr. Leron Finger says if schools follow these rules…

Cut 3 (11)  “…to school.”  

The recommendations also require teachers to be provided with hygienic supplies, limits on bus capacity, COVID symptom monitoring, and the recommendations could expand or shrink depending on what happens with the virus.

Parents, teachers unions, and even a board member raised concerns about whether physical classes should resume, but Ochsner Pediatrics Chair Dr. William Lennarz says current data suggests the risk is low.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…sick”

BESE has no enforcement power to make districts follow the guidelines, but State Superintendent Cade Brumley says districts that choose not to would lose liability protection against COVID civil lawsuits.

Some spoke out against the recommendations, including Tangipahoa Parish School Board Member Brett Duncan who says he supports many of the standards, but…

Cut 5 (10)  “…skills.”

Several school districts have already decided to delay the start of school.

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The Louisiana Department of Revenue says a state computer network connectivity problem created issues earlier today with the website where front-line workers can apply for a 250-dollar “hazard pay” check. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says the Office of Technology Services noticed the problem this morning…

Cut 6 (08) “…connectivity issues”

At around 2:00 this afternoon the web page was back up and accepting applications.

Frontlineworkers.la.gov began accepting applications at midnight and by seven AM they accepted more than 14-thousand applications. Robinson says they have funding available for 200-thousand applicants…

Cut 7 (07) “October 31st”

Robinson says the technical issue is also impacting those who are trying to file their state income taxes on the Lousiana Taxpayer Access Point portal, which is why they’ve pushed the state tax deadline to file taxes to Friday. The secretary hopes the technical issues have been resolved.

Cut 8 (05) “…this morning”

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Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a Lake Charles man who authorities say fatally two people and left a third-person fighting for her life at a home in Westlake. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says his deputies were called to the home around 4AM after 51-year-old Neil Broussard fled the scene.

Cut 9 (11) “…shot multiple times.”

One of the deceased has been identified as 17-year-old Kyla Hidalgo and the 18-year-old male victim has not been named.  The third victim, 40-year-old Catherine Hidalgo was shot multiple times and is currently hospitalized.

Broussard, who authorities call a family acquaintance, is also accused of stealing Catherine’s car and kidnapping her 14-year-old daughter.

Mancuso says the agency is currently searching a wooded area in Beauregard Parish with the help from the FBI, State Police, and other agencies.

Cut 10 (10) “…safe, thank goodness.”

Mancuso says if anyone knows the whereabouts of Broussard, they should call 911 and not attempt to approach him as he is considered armed and dangerous.

Cut 11 (10) “…as of yet.”

Broussard was previously convicted of molestation of a juvenile, one count in 2005 and two counts in 2011.

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Governor John Bel Edwards announces the state has surpassed one million COVID-19 tests administered to residents since March. Edwards says Louisiana is testing at one of the highest levels of any state

Cut 12 (10) “…as well.”

The state reported two-thousand new coronavirus cases today, bringing the total to 84-thousand. The death toll also increased by 14 to 3,351.

The governor says testing, contact tracing, and reasonable regulations like mask wearing for people eight and older while in public can reduce the spread of the coronavirus…

Cut 13 (09) “…the masks.” 

A statewide mask mandate went into effect Monday and bars are also closed, except for curbside pickup. White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx says you should not have large gatherings at your house either…

Cut 14 (06) “…you have”