The Louisiana Direct Seafood marketing program is helping fishermen sell their catch at a time when they’ve lost revenue from restaurants. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Over the next three weeks, the IRS will be dropping money from the $2.2 trillion emergency relief bill into the bank accounts of Americans. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Governor Edwards warns Louisianans to start mentally preparing for a traumatic month ahead due to COVID-19 . Matt Doyle has the story.
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The state’s seafood industry is hurting with restaurant business taking a dive because of COVID-19. Now, they are getting help in offloading their catch direct to consumers with the help of the marketing tool LouisianaDirectSeafood.com. LSU AgCenter coastal agent Rusty Gaude (GO-TAY) says they’ve set up the website to connect the fishermen with those looking buy the catch.
Cut 4 (11)_ “…with that catch.”
Gaude says the website posts from harvesters detail what they’ve caught, prioritizing the post order by the freshest catch.
Cut 5 (09) “…messages get buried.”
With the pipeline to restaurants being in a state of uncertainty, Gaude says this is a vital lifeline for the seafood industry.
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The Treasury Department and IRS announce the distribution of the economic impact payments will be sent out in the next three weeks. Senior tax manager at Hannis T. Borgeois Brad Tate says an income of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples will be the dividing line between getting a full $1,200 rebate or a smaller payment.
Cut 7 (09) “…married filing jointly.”
Tate says the IRS will be using the most recent info on file to get recipients their money.
Cut 8 (11) “…into your bank account.”
Tate says if you believe the IRS has outdated info of where to send your money, be on the lookout for an IRS media blitz.
Cut 9 (12) “…rebate check quicker.″
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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning folks not to fall for fake news about bans on fishing or other outdoor activities during the coronavirus shutdown.
LDWF spokesperson Renee LeBreton says outside of the seizure of a few state parks for COVID patients, nothing has changed when it comes to what you can do outdoors.
LeBreton says in fact LDWF is encouraging people to go exploring nature, maybe catch some fish, or go hunting. He says it’s a great way to stay away from other people.
LeBreton says instead of trusting some random person on Facebook, trust the professionals to tell you what is and is not allowed right now.
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Governor Edwards paints a grim picture of just how long, and how severe the coronavirus epidemic could get in Louisiana as the nation braces for an estimated 100,000-250,000 COVID deaths.
The state is tentatively set to lift the shelter in place order April 30th, but Edwards says it’s likely that life will not return to normal for quite a long time.
And he adds it depends on when we can begin testing people to see if they have anti-coronavirus antibodies that will give them natural immunity.
Edwards warns even if the statewide stay at home order is lifted in the near future, other countries have shown there’s no guarantee it won’t be needed again.
Current projections have the New Orleans region running out of ventilators by April 6th. Edwards says after that date new patients who need one will be put on non-ICU standard equipment.
About a third of all patients who will be admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 are expected to need a ventilator.
Edwards says even in best case projections many Louisianans will die because they can’t get the care they need, because even with the use of non-standard equipment…
Louisiana already is home to 4 of the top 6 parishes/counties in per capita COVID deaths.
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The Saints are preparing for the NFL draft at Dixie Brewery in New Orleans east, an establishment owned by Gayle Benson. Teams are forced to find alternative locations for their draft war rooms, because teams are not allowed in their own facilities. Payton says since they are not allowed to bring draft prospects in or go visit them, it will impact their decisions on who they pick…
Payton says he feels good after testing positive last month from the coronavirus. He says he never had the respiratory issues that many patients suffer from. The coach says they are practicing social distancing in the draft war room and they are using a lot of video teleconferencing
And Payton has clarified his comments he made to ESPN about his quarterback Drew Brees. The coach says he didn’t mean to indicate that 2020 would be his final season, in face he really doesn’t know…