The National Hurricane Center is forecasting that Tropical Storm Laura will ramp up into a hurricane once it gets in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and then make landfall as a Category One Storm in Louisiana on Wednesday. Tim Destri with the National Weather Service in Slidell, says Laura is currently disorganized as it moves over Puerto Rico. He says Laura is also expected to move over Cuba’s rugged terrain…
cut 9 (09) “…southeast Gulf”
And there’s also Tropical Storm Marco, which is showing signs of strengthening in the northwestern Caribbean Sea. But Destri says the National Hurricane Center does not expect Marco to become a hurricane and eventually make landfall as a tropical storm in Texas late Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning.

Governor Edwards has declared a state of emergency as Louisiana prepares for the potential impact of two named storms.

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the main goal is to pinpoint where outbreaks occur in an effort to mitigate further spread.
Cut 3 (11) “…early as possible.”
Billioux admits it will be more difficult to handle COVID outbreaks on a college campus compared to an outbreak that might occur at a business.

A second federal judge has ruled in favor of Governor Edwards executive order that restricts bars to only take-out and delivery service. Bar owners claim they were shut down without constitutional due process. But Judge Robert Summerhays in Lafayette ruled last night there is a real and substantial relation between the restrictions on bars and the state’s effort to control the spread of COVID-19. A federal judge in New Orleans also ruled in favor of Governor Edwards.

Two tropical storms are headed to the Gulf of Mexico….
cut 15 (09) “…situation”
That’s Mike Steele, spokesperson for the governor’s office of homeland security and emergency prepardness. Steele says Tropical Storm Laura is the bigger threat to Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center says Laura is expected to make landfall as a hurricane somewhere along Lousiana’s coast on Wednesday. While Tropical Storm Marco appears more of a threat to Texas and it might not reach hurricane status.

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last summer after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says Jordan’s next court hearing is in October.
Cut 14 (11) “…released”
Jordan has been in a mental hospital since his vehicle at 90 miles per hour slammed into Stephanie Payne’s car as it was stopped at a Baton Rouge intersection in July of 2019.

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week with the total weekly tally of cases appearing on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

State Police is investigating an officer involed shooting last night in north Lafayette at a gas station. Officers responded to a disturbance at a gas station and the subject who was shot ended up walking to another gas station, where he was a shot. There’s no word on his condition or whether he had a weapon.

Tropical Storm Laura is currently projected to make landfall as a Cat One hurricane Wednesday afternoon in southeast Louisiana. It’s one of two storms that may be impacting Louisiana next week that the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for.  GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says the storms are a reminder that it is important for residents to develop a plan of action and shore up their hurricane supply kits with enough supplies to sustain every member of the family for at least three days.

Cut 16 (11) “…things become strained.” 

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says state officials are working with school officials to answer any questions they may have and give them policy recommendations.

Cut 5 (10)  “…being paid for.”

The total weekly tally of cases reported by universities will appear on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

An Ochsner anti-body survey of the Baton Rouge region uncovers some unsettling data about COVID-19. Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan says those who reported the loss of smell and taste were eight and a half times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, and it’s no simple allergy season kind of sensory loss…

Cut 7 (10) “…severe.”

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last summer after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says three medical experts observed his client and said he was not of sound mind at the time of the incident, and the district attorney agreed.

Cut 12 (10) “…that time”

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. The latest advisory shifts both storms westward. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says southwest Louisiana needs to be on guard and so does southeast Louisiana as that part of the state is in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Laura which will most likely pass south Florida on Monday.

Cut 10 (07) “…successive days.”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for the potential impact.  GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says conference calls among coastal parishes have already begun.

Cut 15 (13) “at that time.” 

An Ochsner anti-body survey of the Baton Rouge region uncovers some unsettling data about COVID-19. Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan says they discovered 61 percent of those who tested positive for a contagious infection were not showing symptoms and likely didn’t know they were carrying the virus.

Cut 6 (04) “…or not”

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says it will be a challenge to handle college outbreaks compared to dealing with certain types of businesses or buildings, as on campus, you’ve got both on-campus and off-campus living, sprawling buildings, and a variety of places that could be linked to outbreaks.

Cut 4 (11)“ …to the public.” 

Some colleges, including LSU, are doing their own contact tracing and surveillance efforts.

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last summer after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says it’s the definition of a tragedy and one no one saw coming from Jordan who was described as a good student on his way to college.

Cut 13 (08) “…tragedy” 

Stephanie Payne was idling at a Baton Rouge intersection on July 22^nd when Jordan slammed his vehicle into hers at over 90 miles per hour.

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says the official forecast track calls for this system to develop into a hurricane as it approaches the Louisiana-Texas coastline

Cut 9 (08) “…very good”

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week with the total weekly tally of cases appearing on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

The state reports nearly 1100 new COVID-19 cases today, Fatalities increase by 50. Hospitalizations decrease by 36 to 1051, with 172 patients on ventilators, down by 6.

It’s looking likely we will see two named storms enter the Gulf of Mexico next week, the first time we’ve seen two named storms in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time since 1933. One system seems to be aiming for the Louisiana-Texas border, while another, Tropical Storm Laura, is expected to make landfall as a hurricane on the northern gulf coast on Wednesday. State Climatologist Barry Keim says keep an eye out…

Cut 11 (08) “…both of them.”

Heavy rainfall is the greatest threat to the area, with two to six inches forecasted Monday through Thursday. Strong winds and elevated tides are also possible. The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for that possibility. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says it’s time to get prepared…

Cut 16 (11) “…things become strained.” 

Hopes for Louisiana obtaining any form of herd immunity in the next few months from COVID-19 appear to be slim. An Ochsner study of the Baton Rouge region showed despite being a hotspot the city only had ten percent of its population with coronavirus antibodies in mid-late July…

Cut 8 (05) “area”

That’s Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan who says 2,100 people were tested for the survey.

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last summer after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says Jordan’s next court hearing is in October.

Cut 14 (11) “…released”

Stephanie Payne was idling at a Baton Rouge intersection on July 22^nd when Jordan slammed his vehicle into hers at over 90 miles per hour.

There’s the potential for two hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico next week. State Climatologist Barry Keim says one of the storms is expected to enter the Gulf on Sunday after moving over the Yucatan Penisula. Keim says southwest Louisiana needs to be on guard and so does southeast Louisiana as that part of the state is in the cone of uncertainty for Tropical Storm Laura which will most past south Florida on Monday.

Cut 10 (07) “…successive days.”

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is bracing for the potential of two tropical systems impacting Louisiana next week.  GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says conference calls among coastal parishes have already begun and a Unified Command Group meeting has been called by the Governor for this afternoon.

Cut 15 (13) “at that time.” 

An Ochsner anti-body survey of the Baton Rouge region uncovers some unsettling data about COVID-19. Ochsner Research Scientist Dr. Amy Feehan says those who reported the loss of smell and taste were eight and a half times more likely to test positive for COVID-19, and it’s no simple allergy season kind of sensory loss…

Cut 7 (10) “…severe.”

A Baton Rouge man who killed a woman in a high-speed wreck last year after he says God told him to kill himself is found not guilty by reason of insanity. 19-year-old Jack Jordan’s attorney, James Manasseh, says three medical experts observed his client and said was not of sound mind at the time of the incident, and ultimately the DA agreed.

Cut 12 (10) “…that time”

The state reports nearly 1100 new COVID-19 cases today, with the grand total now at 141,720. Fatalities increase by 50. Hospitalizations decrease by 36 to 1051, with 172 patients on ventilators, down by 6.

The National Hurricane Center is forecasting two hurricanes will be in the Gulf of Mexico next week. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Colleges and universities will publicly report on-campus COVID-19 case data each week. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the main goal is to pinpoint where outbreaks occur in an effort to mitigate further spread.

Cut 3 (11)  “…early as possible.”  

The total weekly tally of cases reported by universities will appear on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.

The Louisiana Municipal Association calls on Congress to include aid to struggling local governments in the next pandemic relief package. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says they’ve been hammered by dual disasters in last year’s tornado and the pandemic. To survive this period they need federal aid.
Cut 10 (10) “…this.”
The National League of Cities estimates 90 percent of municipalities will not be able to meet their budgets.