Updated LRN AM Newscall July 13 ###sports cuts added###

The House Education Committee will discuss plans on schools reopening in August during a 10 o’clock meeting at the state capitol today. Matt Doyle has the story.

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As the number of coronavirus cases continues to grow, is herd immunity a possible answer? Matt Doyle reports the state health department says no…

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A mask is now required for individuals when they are inside a business or outdoors and unable to keep a distance from others. Jeff Palermo has the story…

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Starting today, Lousiana residents eight years old and up are required to wear a mask when indoors and outdoors and you cannot be physically distant from others. Governor John Bel Edwards says many might not agree with this order, but he says research shows face masks can slow the spread of COVID-19…

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Businesses will be required to tell people they must have a mask on while inside their location. Edwards says the order exempts people with certain medical conditions from wearing a mask, but he says if that’s the case you shouldn’t be near people outside of your household anyways…

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The governor has also ordered all bars closed as the state has moved to third in the country for per capita cases. He says based on contact tracing at least 36 outbreaks started in bars and the number is likely more than that…

Cut 6 (11) “…to hear them.”

Bars will remain closed and the mask mandate will remain in place until at least July 24th.

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Lousiana’s education and health leaders along with the head of the LHSAA will speak today at a House Education Committee meeting about reopening schools and getting kids back on the athletic fields. House Education Chairman Ray Garofalo encourages parents to watch the 10 AM meeting on the state’s legislative website.

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You can watch live at legis.la.gov. If you miss the live broadcast you and find the meeting in the legislative video archives.

Garofalo says they’ll get school officials to lay out exactly what a potential “hybrid model” of education would look like, and how much off-campus learning would be required.

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A number of school districts have already released their preliminary back to school plans.

Garofalo says athletics is an important part of the high school experience and he plans on asking LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine how they plan to make it possible.

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Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, sparked controversy recently when he sent a letter to BESE requesting all K-12 sports be canceled for fall.

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Louisiana is reporting nearly 80-thousand coronavirus cases. The state has four-point-six million people, which means two-percent of the state’s residents have tested positive. Regional public health director for Acadiana, Doctor Tina Stefanski, says if you think herd immunity is the answer for this virus, we are not close…

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Stefanski says scientific evidence has shown the best way to beat the virus without closing businesses back down again is by wearing masks

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Assistant State Health Officer, Doctor Joe Kanter, says persons between the age of 18 to 29 continues to be the age group with the most new cases and there’s evidence they are spreading the virus to older, sicker people

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The state is reporting over 33-hundred deaths.

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A recent study shows 73% of people say they are concerned about returning to work and spending time away from their pets and 59% are worried their dog or cat may suffer from separation anxiety.  LSU Vet School Assistant Professor of Community Practice Nancy Welborn says now is the time to prep your pets for that transition.

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Welborn says it is important to shake up the daily routine of leaving the house as pets, especially dogs, can pick up on the patterns that indicate when someone is leaving.

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Welborn adds using a different door to exit your home if possible as well as staggering the times that you leave can throw off triggers.

Welborn says it will help to give your pet something to play with to help take their mind off the fact that you are leaving.

Cut 15 (11) “…of different options.” 

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The Pelicans are getting used to life inside the NBA’s bubble in Orlando, Florida. The team is staying at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and veteran shooting guard J-J Redick says he has no complaints

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Guard Josh Hart has a nice wine cellar at his New Orleans area home, but in Orlando he’s had to settle for a 15-bottle wine fridge in his room

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The Pelicans had their first practice last Friday and their first scrimmage game against another opponent is a week from Wednesday. Head Coach Alvin Gentry says the goal is pick up where they left off when the season was suspended in March

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