JMC Analytics publisher John Couvillon says Democratic participation in early voting for the 2020 Presidential Primary is way up from 2016, even with the race already having been decided and Joe Biden a lock to take on President Trump in the primary. Black Democrats make up about 37 percent of the early voting turnout so far, which is much higher than normal. Couvillon says that won’t change any races here, but is not a good sign for the President’s reelection effort…

Cut 4 (07)_ “…trump.”

Another Louisiana staple announces a cancellation for 2020, the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff in New Iberia waited as long as possible, marinating on options but decided to postpone due to the resurgence of COVID-19.  Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce CEO Janet Faulk Gonzales says instead of holding it in person they are looking at a virtual event.

Cut 12 (08) “…like yet.”

With all the economic uncertainty in the world today, can you ask for a raise during the coronavirus pandemic?  And if so, how?  UNO Professor of Finance Mark Rosa says it is possible, but you need to consider a few things first about your company such as the pandemic’s impact on the business.

Cut 6 (11) “…could go through.”

Some companies may have a salary freeze in place, so asking for a bonus might be the path to extra money. 

Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence discover a new class of pipeline drugs to relieve pain and reduce fever.  The findings are now published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.  Senior Author Dr. Nicolas Bazan says this drug could be used as a non-addictive substitute for opioids.

Cut 9 (06) “…and so on.”

JMC Analytics publisher John Couvillon says we’ve seen an unusually high early voting turnout for the upcoming July 11^th Presidential Primary election.

Couvillon says both primaries have already been decided, and with turnout still high that likely foreshadows a high turnout November election.

Cut 3 (12)  “…newsworthy.”  

JMC estimates this year we could see turnout at 70 percent in the general election.

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields is asking Louisiana’s public schools to cancel athletic activities for the fall semester out of an abundance of caution due to the pandemic. Fields is the chairman of the state Senate’s education committee and made the statement ahead of next week’s state school board meeting. Fields sent letters to the heads of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Louisiana School Boards Association.

With all the economic uncertainty in the world today, should you ask for a raise? And if so, how?  UNO Professor of Finance Mark Rosa says some companies may have a salary freeze, so asking for a bonus might be the path to extra money.  But if you absolutely can’t get more money, Rosa recommends asking for perks such as more paid time off.

Cut 8 (13) “…their cash reserves.”

Baton Rouge Family Practice Attorney Nancy Sue Grégoire says the courts have seen and increase in divorce filings but now instead of going to a courtroom they have to use ZOOM for court proceedings due to the virus, and Grégoire believes for some they don’t understand the reality of the situation.

Cut 9 (11) “…going to do it”

The number of people hospitalized as a result of COVID-19 has surpassed one-thousand as the state health department reports another 61 hospitalized today because of the coronavirus. The number of total cases rose by 19-hundred and deaths increased by 23 to 3,211.

State Farm has announced its lowering its auto insurance rates by an average of 10-percent. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the COVID-19 pandemic has played a role in the lower rates…
cut 11 (07) “….at home orders”

Is it wise to ask for a pay raise during a pandemic? UNO Finance Professor Mark Rosa says you might have a good argument if you’re workload has increased because of furloughs and layoffs at your place of employment…
cut 7 (07) “…money my way”

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Both Democratic and Republican Presidential Primaries are basically decided but Louisiana voters are still highly engaged in the upcoming July 11th election. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Here are commodity prices…

With all the economic uncertainty in the world today, can you ask for a raise during the coronavirus pandemic?  And if so, how?  UNO Professor of Finance Mark Rosa says it is possible, but you need to consider a few things first about your company such as the pandemic’s impact on the business.
Cut 6 (11) “…could go through.”
Rosa says even if your employer has been hit hard with furloughs and layoffs, it is still possible to ask for a pay bump if you are picking up the extra work left in the absence of former coworkers.

State Farm auto insurance policyholders can expect nearly a 10% decrease in their rates.  Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the drop is not linked to recent tort reform.

Cut 10 (09) “…by State Farm.”

State Farm is the largest auto insurer in the state, with a million policyholders.

There was little action on police reform in the recent special session but reform advocates say that is not going to be the case in the fall or 2021 session. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James they will revive an effort to revoke qualified immunity for officers. He says the effort to allow cops to be held liable for misbehavior in civil court will be a major part of reform discussions. He says right now…
Cut 4 (10)_ “…liability.”

Legislation is awaiting the Governor’s signature that would allow electric co-ops to create their own hi-speed internet networks in rural areas that lack broadband access. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell (My-Zell) says the pandemic has put a spotlight on the serious problems her rural constituents face with their current non-broadband services.

Cut 13 (07) “…speed.”

State Farm has announced its lowering auto insurance rates for Louisiana policyholders by an average of 10-percent. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says this decrease, combined with three other rate decreases in the last couple of years has resulted in a 23% total rate decrease. Donelon anticipates other insurers will follow State Farm’s lead….
Cut 12 (07) “…driven by competition.”
The effective date of State Farm’s current reduction is August 24.

Because of the parameters put on the special session, lawmakers were not able to pass police reform legislation as the George Floyd protests were taking place across the country. Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says these difficult conversations will take place in a possible special session in the fall or a regular session next year…
cut 6 (10) “….police”

Baton Rouge attorney Nancy Sue Gregoire says she’s seen an increase in divorces since the pandemic started….
cut 7 (08) “…get along”
Gregoire says changes in employment is making it harder to settle a divorce proceeding.

A bill that passed in the special session that’s awaiting the governor’s signature is a bill that would allow electric co-ops to create their own high speed internet networks in rural areas that lack broadband access. Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell says many of her lower-income constituents could benefit greatly from broadband in ways they might not expect…
cut 15 (10) “….money”
Mizell says the governor is expected to sign the legislation. The senator made the comments on Talk Louisiana hosted by Jim Engster.

State Farm auto insurance policyholders can expect nearly a 10% decrease in their rates. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says State Farm is the largest auto insurer in the state, with a million policyholders. He says the rate decrease can be attributed to people staying at home and off the roads during the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.
Cut 11 (07) “…at home orders.”

Legislation is awaiting the Governor’s signature that would allow electric co-ops to create their own hi-speed internet networks in rural areas that lack broadband access.
If signed into law co-ops would be able to make broadband companies under separate entities from their current power companies so that utility funds were not used for internet service.
The FCC has committed to spending over 20 billion dollars on expanding rural broadband.
Franklinton Representative Beth Mizell (My-Zell) says after that commitment her effort gained a lot of support.
Cut 14 (07) “…ago”
Mizell made the comments on Talk Louisiana.

———————————————————————————————————————
The coronavirus is putting extra stress on relationships and many are calling it quits. In addition to family practice lawyers seeing an increase in business, the pandemic is also having another effect on divorces. Baton Rouge Attorney Nancy Sue Grégoire says
Grégoire says the pandemic has caused many to lose their employment and healthcare and it is making the process of divorce even more difficult.
Grégoire believes the use of ZOOM in court proceedings due to the Corona skews the reality of the situation.
Cut 9 (11) “…going to do it”

The East Feliciana parish police jury rejected a proposal to remove a century old statue of a Confederate soldier from in front of parish’s antebellum courthouse. The 5-3 vote rejected the move of the piece to a cemetery.

The coronavirus is putting extra stress on relationships and many are calling it quits. In addition to family practice lawyers seeing an increase in business, the pandemic is also having another effect on divorces. Baton Rouge Attorney Nancy Sue Grégoire says the pandemic has caused many to lose their employment and healthcare and it is making the process of divorce even more difficult. She has advice for those who are in the middle of ending their relationship.
Cut 8 (09) “…temporary.”

There was little action on police reform in the recent special session, but reform advocates say that is not going to be the case in the fall or 2021 session.
Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says they’ll also be pushing to build on current laws that stop bad cops from department hopping after they get in trouble. Right now, a cop who is convicted of excessive force can’t get rehired in Louisiana, however…
Cut 5 (12) “…of force”

The largest auto insurer in Louisiana is giving drivers a decrease, but it has nothing to do with recent tort reform legislation. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewe’s are getting ready for next years celebration…despite the mayor saying cancelling mardi gras was “on the table.” Members of Babylon, Bacchus, Endymion, Excalibur, Hermes, Isis, Muses, Rex and Zulu all say they are rolling if they get city and state permits.

Police reform sat on the backburner while tort reform dominated the recent special session but a Baton Rouge lawmaker says that will not be the case next time the next time lawmakers head to the Capitol…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The East Feliciana parish police jury rejected a proposal to remove a century old statue of a Confederate soldier from in front of parish’s antebellum courthouse. The 5-3 vote rejected the move of the piece to a cemetery.

The coronavirus is putting extra stress on relationships and many are calling it quits. In addition to family practice lawyers seeing an increase in business, the pandemic is also having another effect on divorces. Baton Rouge Attorney Nancy Sue Grégoire says those who were already in the process of a divorce before the pandemic began are having even more complications.
Cut 7 (08) “…get along”

Legislation is awaiting the Governor’s signature that would allow electric co-ops to create their own hi-speed internet networks in rural areas that lack broadband access.
Franklinton Representative Beth Mizell (My-Zell) says the pandemic has put a spotlight on the serious problems her rural constituents face with their current non-broadband services.
Cut 13 (07) “…speed.”

Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, has made a request to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that schools should ban sports this fall. In a letter sent to BESE, Fields says the spread of the coronavirus makes the decision too critical for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to make. BESE has scheduled a meeting a week from today, but the board’s president, Sandy Holloway told geaux-preps-dot-com that extracurricular activities is a decision made on the local level.

Louisiana Tech has suspended voluntary football workouts after a second football player tested positive for COVID-19. The school is said to be being overly cautious.

It’s official in Monroe, Jeff Tannehill is the new head football coach and athletic director of the Neville Tigers, replacing Mickey McCarty who has been hired as the school’s principal. Tannehill is a 1989 graduate of Neville and had two stints as an assistant coach under McCarty. McCarty led Neville to four state championships.

_______________________________________________________________

The Pelicans have added depth as they prepare to leave for the NBA’s bubble in Orlando tomorrow. Forward Sindarius Thornwell has inked a deal with New Orleans and he’ll serve as a substitute player. The 25-year-old last played in the NBA G League, averaging nine points, five rebounds and five assists for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Meanwhile, the Pelicans Brandon Ingram says he’s not very confident the NBA will be able to pull off the bubble experiment and finish the season, but never thought about not joining his teammates in Orlando.

And big news out of the NFL today as the Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have reportedly agreed to a ten-year contract extension that will pay the superstar signal caller over 400-million dollars. Mahomes and the Super Bowl champion Chiefs will be in the Dome on December 20th to the face the Saints.

Plans are still on for LSU and Louisiana Tech to play each other in men’s basketball on November 24th at the CenturyLink Center. Officials announced today that tickets will go on sale for the game at 10 AM on Thursday.

There was little action on police reform in the recent special session but reform advocates say that is not going to be the case in the fall or 2021 session.
Baton Rouge Representative Ted James they will revive an effort to revoke qualified immunity for officers. He says the effort to allow cops to be held liable for misbehavior in civil court will be a major part of reform discussions. He says right now…
Cut 4 (10)_ “…liability.”

State Farm auto insurance policyholders can expect nearly a 10% decrease in their rates. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the drop is not linked to recent tort reform.
Cut 10 (09) “…by State Farm.”

COVID is not only detrimental to people’s health but it’s also testing relationships. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

Pig guts