12:30 LRN Newscast April 21

The latest numbers from the state are in and currently, the state has recorded 25,258 positive cases of COVID-19. Up 404 from the previous day. And is now reporting 1,473 fatalities up 68 from Tuesday.

Current hospitalizations are 1747, a reduction of 51 and vent usage is also down by 10 to 287.

The markets remain volatile and the price of oil continues to plummet. According to Gas Buddy the average price of gasoline in Louisiana is $1.64 a gallon today. Head of Petroleum Analysis at Gas Buddy Patrick DeHaan says the average price is down about a nickel from last week.

Cut 9 :09 selling pressure

DeHaan says there have been some prices as low as $1.05 a gallon in New Orleans.

Louisiana saw small crowds of protesters at the Capitol over the weekend calling for the state to end its stay at home order, with more protests apparently set for this weekend. Governor Edwards says those complaints about the shutdown won’t shake him from the position that the stay at home order will hold until April 30th.

Cut 10 (11) “safety”

A UL Lafayette student’s face mask sewing operation receives the national spotlight from CBS.  Sewing with Savoy founder Christine Savoy says requests for masks have picked up with the CDC now recommending face masks and she says she’s got a tight-knit group of friends helping to contribute to the assembly of hundreds of masks.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…a small group.”