2:30 LRN Newscast March 18

REVISED

The number of coronavirus cases is up to 257 in Louisiana and two more patients died this morning bringing the total number of deaths to six. The governor expects the number of coronavirus cases to increase dramatically over the next 24 to 36 as the state plans to receive about a thousand test results…

Cut 13 (11) “…from that”

Edwards says if you believe you should be tested and don’t have a primary physician, please dial the state’s coronavirus hotline, 2-1-1.

A capital region church is continuing to hold services as normal, defying the ban of gatherings of 50 or more people. Rev. Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Central believes the virus is politically motivated, adding the church will not have its freedom of assembly taken away.

Cut 5 (08)  “…back to normal.”

In addition to a stimulus package Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the federal government is also working to get more testing kits out, so more people can be tested. A drive-thru testing site in Baton Rouge had to suspend operations yesterday after it ran out of testing kits. He says finding out who has the virus is critical to stopping the spread…

Cut 7 (05) “…get better”

 

The Department of Children and Family Services has seen a doubling in the usual number of food stamp applications. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says part of the surge in applications is likely because people think the program is being expanded as it does in natural disasters, but that’s not the case…

Cut 9 (14) “…SNAP″

 

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