Governor John Bel Edwards has provided his input on how one-point-six billion dollars in federal coronavirus aid should be spent. Edwards says 400-million dollars should go towards refilling the unemployment trust fund, which is bankrupt, and the only other way to re-fill it is by taxing businesses.
Cut 3 (09) “a pandemic”
Edwards another 230-million dollars would go toward repaying loans from the federal government to pay jobless claims after the Unemployment Trust Fund went bankrupt.
The Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed two cases of the COVID-19 Brazilian variant in Louisiana. LDH detected the cases in the New Orleans area and Southwest Louisiana. The CDC says the Brazilian COVID-19 variant is more transmissible and carries a higher risk of severe disease. State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter says it’s likely there are other variants to be discovered.
Cut 11 (07) “more variants”
The State Fair is underway in Shreveport and having the event in the spring is a first for the Bayou State staple. State Fair President Chris Giordano says due to COVID they postponed last year’s fall event and instead of canceling the 114th edition, they opted for both a spring and fall fair this year. So far feedback is positive.
Cut 6 (10) “families”
The Saints stayed put at 28 in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft and selected Houston defensive end Payton Turner, who played in 40 games for the Cougars, racking up 115 tackles and 10 sacks. While the team still has holes to fill on the roster, Payton says they couldn’t pass up on Turner’s potential.
Cut 13 (11) “in our league”