The Life Tabernacle Church in Central is continuing with its normal services, despite regularly attracting a crowd of over 1100. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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The state reports three more deaths and 60 more coronavirus cases today in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo reports that brings our total to 257…
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A capital region church is continuing to hold services as normal, defying the ban of gatherings of 50 or more people. Rev. Tony Spell says police have shown up after services at the Life Tabernacle Church in Central telling them next time it’ll be the National Guard that will disband the gathering.
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The church had an attendance of over 1,100 from 5 parishes on Sunday, which is about normal.
Spell says they are not pressuring the congregation to show up and says the church also does not have the technology to conduct services remotely.
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Spell believes the virus is politically motivated, adding the church will not have its freedom of assembly taken away.
The church’s most recent service on Tuesday night drew over 300 people.
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Congress is working on a massive economic stimulus package that will result in Americans receiving a direct payment from the federal government. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the goal is for the first check to be issued April 6th
The amounts would depend on income and family and the two potential cash infusions will cost 250-billion dollars each.
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…
Cassidy, a doctor, says he supports Governor Edwards’ dramatic measures to close down schools, restaurants and bars. He’s been in contact with hospitals to make sure they are ready as the virus is showing no signs of slowing down…
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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…
SNAP sends benefits to roughly 770,000 Louisiana residents currently.
Despite the increased work needed to process all the new applications, Walters does not foresee any disruptions to the usual distribution calendar.
If you’re one of those new applicants, Walters says the best way to find out about benefits is to text to 898-211, or…
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The number of coronavirus cases is up to 257 in Louisiana and two more patients died this morning at the Lambeth House, a retirement facility in New Orleans. A third fatality today has been reported today in Jefferson Parish bringing our total to seven. Governor Edwards says health experts estimate the state has two weeks to minimize the spread of the coronavirus
Edwards continues to implore Louisiana residents to wash their hands frequently and practice social distancing.
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 tests results…
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.
The governor also says he’s requested Small Business Administration disaster loan assistance for all 64 parishes and he’s suspended eviction and foreclosure notices for now to prevent homelessness