AM Newscall 04/16/2020

The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance is urging the class of 2020 to complete applications for federal student aid. Brooke Thorington has the story.

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Students will continue education via remote learning for the remainder of the school year as K-12 public schools will remain closed to students. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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Governor Edwards says more and more planning is being put into what the state might look like as we transition out the potential end of the shelter in place order…

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 The Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance is urging the class of 2020 to complete applications for federal student aid as part of the newly launched FAFSA Now campaign.  LOSFA spokesperson Tyana Daquano says the FAFSA form can feel like a daunting task, but they are now offering virtual assistance with completing the paperwork.

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The assistance tool can be found at MyLOSFA.LA.gov.

Daquano says the FAFSA application will not only help unlock federal aid but state and institutional aid for students as well.

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Daquano says the FAFSA application is the first step to ensuring that a college student finds some relief from the long term burden of education debt.

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K-12 public schools will remain closed to students for the remainder of the school year.  However, students will continue education via remote learning.  Acting State Superintendent Beth Scioneaux says the local districts will be tasked with the decision on criteria that will determine a student’s advancement in grade level.

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Scioneaux says the hurdles created by a lack of widespread technological infrastructure is something that will be overcome with a mix of high-tech and low-tech distance learning practices.

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Scioneaux says how to grade students will also be left in the hands of the districts.

Cut 9 (10) “…recommend pass/fail.″

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New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell files to extend the citywide shelter in place order to May 16th.

Governor Edwards says that declaration does not guarantee he will extend the statewide order past April 30th. He says it’s clear some regions are still more heavily impacted by coronavirus than others.

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About 50 percent of the state’s confirmed positive cases have been found in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes.

Edwards says when the shelter in place order is lifted statewide, he’d like to see people wearing masks whenever they go out in public to shop, but he likely wouldn’t mandate it.

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Any return to normalcy won’t be complete without the return of sports, but Edwards warns even once the order is lifted things like sporting events could be logistically difficult…

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Cantrell previously mentioned there would be no large events in New Orleans for the rest of 2020, but the Saints organization says it’s planning operations under the assumption there will be games.

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Louisiana has seen a slight increase in fatal accidents during this time compared to last year despite the fact roads are a lot less traveled these days.

State Police Lt. Nick Manale says this is not a good time for you to get into a wreck and have to visit a hospital.

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Manale says they have seen a noticeable decrease of drivers on the roads, and that’s good to see, but the increase in careless or distracted driving is not.

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Manale says just because you may have the roads to yourself does not mean you can start neglecting your basic driver safety.

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