For the first time in the 50-year history of the event, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has been canceled. The eight-day extravaganza of music from acts like Foo Fighters, Lizzo, The Who and others as well as food and culture had initially been postponed until the fall, but festival organizers officially pulled the plug on the event today. The news comes following the New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s recommendation to cancel all festivals for the remainder of 2020 in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The state’s virus death toll increases by 53, bringing the total to 1,156. Total cases: 22,532, up by 581. Among recent new hospitalizations is a Baton Rouge attorney who is part of the legal team representing the Life Tabernacle Church and Pastor Tony Spell in the continued defiance of social distancing orders. The Advocate newspaper reports the lawyer, Jeff Wittenbrink, attended two events at the church earlier this month.
Governor Edwards announces the creation of a commission tasked with producing guidelines that would allow parts of the economy to reopen. Governor Edwards says the Resilient Louisiana Commission and its task forces will begin engaging stakeholders in various sectors of the economy, asking them…
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The Commission Co-Chairs are Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson, and healthcare executive Terrie Sterling.
Baton Rouge Representative Ted James has mostly recovered from COVID-19 but says his recovery was grueling and the disease should not be taken lightly. The 37-year-old Democrat says he became symptomatic March 22nd. James says it’s been frustrating to see a rising chorus of legislators calling for the rapid reopening of the state before conditions are safe.