Safety is on the mind of legislators as they return for the resumption of the 2020 legislative session. Brooke Thorington has more.
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For those that are looking to get their hands on farm-fresh foods and support the state’s ag industry, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry introduces a new online tool that can help…
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A Lafayette company is set to start offering a rapid result coronavirus antibody test. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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State lawmakers return to Baton Rouge today for the resumption of the 2020 legislative session. Legislators have been away from the State Capitol since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic and safety concerns still exist. But House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says it’s time to get back to work
The biggest issues on the table are the budget, COVID-19 related bills and legislation to help the economy. Before the coronavirus pandemic, auto insurance rate reform was the big topic. Senate President Page Cortez still expects the tort reform bills to be heard
Cortez says they do not plan on discussing a proposed budget until after May 11th. The Revenue Estimating Conference will meet that day to give legislators a projection on how much money is available for next fiscal year. Cortez says they anticipate it will be less than this fiscal year, but they don’t how much
The session must end at 6 PM on June 1st. If a budget is not approved, a special session will be called.
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The state House gavels in at 9 AM this morning. But Baton Rouge Representative Ted James will not be present. James was hospitalized with COVID-19 and pneumonia a month ago and says the House chamber is not a safe environment.
James has since recovered but noted there’s no confirmation currently that those who’ve caught the virus once can’t be reinfected.
Legislative leaders say there’s important work to get done over the next month and the Governor calls lawmakers essential workers but James disagrees.
The regular session ends June 1st and lawmakers have until July 1st to pass a budget.
James says if the session must go on legislative leaders need to ensure the only items seeing daylight are the budget, COVID-related bills, or essential business.
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The Louisiana Department of Agriculture introduces a new online tool for those looking to get their hands on farm-fresh foods. It’s called the Louisiana Farm Food Map and Directory. Manager of the Louisiana Farm to School Program Johannah Frelier says it is a great way to support the state’s ag industry.
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Frelier says the tool can be found in the coronavirus information center section of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s website and can help shoppers find fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, seafood and more.
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Frelier says there has never been a more vital time for the immune system to get the nutrient product that farmers offer.
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A Lafayette drug testing company reaches a deal with suppliers to provide a test that will show patients within ten minutes whether they have coronavirus antibodies.
Global Data Fusion Founder and CEO Ed Roy says the test process is easy and only requires participants to give a small prick of blood from their fingertip.
Roy says the test is highly accurate and provides patients two important pieces of information.
Data from Baton Rouge General showed of 432 anti-body tests conducted 4.4 percent were positive.
Having anti-bodies may indicate you are now immune to the virus but the FDA says that’s yet to be proven. Roy says if it’s true his supplier is prepared to mass-produce the tests.
Global Data Fusion is set to offer the test to hospitals and other companies and is not offering individual tests to the public. The tests, from a Chinese producer, will be shipped to Lafayette sometime this week.