LRN PM Newscall April 24

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says debris from the Easter tornado may have traveled far, acts of kindness have traveled in from much further.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.” 

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States need to meet certain COVID testing benchmarks before they can implement federal Phase One reopening guidelines, but Governor Edwards says Louisiana is setting a higher bar…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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The Dean Lee Research Center in Alexandria will need to be rebuilt after taking direct hit from a tornado on Wednesday night. LSU AgCenter Central Region Director Tara Smith says the damage will impact the research and extension programs

Cut 3 (11)  “…the station”  

Smith says thankfully the LSU-Alexandria campus did not suffer any major damage and no injuries were reported. She says the mega-shelter that the state uses during hurricanes also took a direct hit

Cut 4 (07)_ “…fairly unharmed”

Smith says buildings east of Highway 71 suffered significant damage, some are a total loss. The wheat plots for research will also have to be re-built, but their cattle herd is safe. She says they working with other units in the Ag Center community to gain access to equipment so research continues

Cut 5 (06)  “…immediately.”

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Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo says the Easter Sunday tornado that swept through the city carried paperwork from the Masur Museum in Monroe into a Mississippi town 138 miles away.  Mayo says someone found it and mailed it back.

Cut 6 (12) “…into the trash.”

Mayo says that wasn’t the only act of kindness as a Monroe, New Jersey resident anonymously mailed the city a $100 donation after hearing of the tornado’s impact on the town.  Mayo read a letter from the donor.

Cut 7 (13) “…and rebuilding lives.”

The money will be used at a local food bank.  Mayo says the he was deeply touched by the letter from a total stranger wanting to help.

Cut 8 (05) “…wanting to help.”
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Governor Edwards says the state is ramping up COVID testing capacity with the goal of being able to perform 200,000 tests in a month by May.

Edwards says currently the biggest challenge to meeting that mark is not lab capacity.

Cut 9 (08) “…specimen″

Louisiana is second in the nation for per capita testing behind Rhode Island.

The Governor says to meet the 200,000 test objective the state is trying not to have to rely so much on importing testing supplies.

Cut 10 (10) “…so forth”

Edwards says the minimum testing capacity needed to enter Phase One of reopening the economy is 140-150,000 tests a month, and the state performed over 140,000 tests over the last six weeks.

Cut 11 (09) “…everyday”

Less than five percent of all tests completed in Louisiana have been done in state labs, but Edwards says they’re looking to improve that number.

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The NFL held the first round of it’s “Virtual Draft” last night and the Saints grabbed a highly regarded interior lineman, while a school-record five LSU Tigers were drafted in the 1st round.

At 24 the Saints grabbed Michigan big man Caesar Ruiz. NFL Analyst Mike Detillier says linebacker was a more pressing need, but the center was the best interior lineman in the draft.

Cut 12 (09) “…contract”

Warford was abused in the Saints season-ending round one playoff exit against Minnesota. Detillier expects Ruiz will play center, while last year’s 2nd round pick Eric McCoy replaces Warford at guard.

Joe Burrow, K’Lavon Chaisson, Justin Jefferson, Patrick Queen, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire made for a record-setting LSU class. Detillier says he’s particularly excited about Edwards-Helaire’s fit in Kansas City.

Cut 13 (07) “…chiefs.”

Detillier says he expects three tigers to go off the board pretty early tonight in Grant Delpit, Kristian Fulton, and Lloyd Cushenberry.

The draft continues tonight with rounds two and three. Detillier says you may see UL Lafayette’s Robert Hunt and Louisiana Tech’s Amik Robertson find new homes.

Cut 14 (10) “…play.”