Consumers are planning to spend a record amount to prepare students for heading back to school and college. Brooke Thorington has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”
_____________________________________
Attorney General Jeff Landry says Governor Edwards’ recent orders about masks, group gatherings, and bars are unconstitutional. Matt Doyle
___________________________________________
The longest serving executive director of the Louisiana Democratic Party is stepping away to pursue new challenges. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (27) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”
______________________________
A National Retail Federation study shows the uncertainty about the upcoming school year could push back-to-school spending to record levels. NRF spokesperson Katherine Cullen says more than half of shoppers feel that some learning will occur at home and they’ll need to purchase more electronics.
Cut 4 (06)_ “…home this year.”
Only 26% expect all most or all of classes will be taught in person.
For the elementary to high school age kids, families are spending an average of $789, an increase of nearly $100 from last year, with total spending around $33.9 billion, both numbers are up from last year. Cullen says for college students, it is a similar story.
Total collegiate spending is expected to top $67 billion, a new record and up from $54.5 billion last year.
Even though some brick and mortar stores closed during the pandemic are beginning to reopen, Cullen say more than half of K-12 shoppers saying they will now be buying online.
Cut 6 (07) “…patterns of shopping.”
__________________
Attorney General Jeff Landry pens a letter calling the Governor’s statewide mask mandate, order to close bars, and limit on group gatherings unconstitutional.
Landry advises all state law enforcement agencies to exercise extreme caution when enforcing these orders, but Governor Edwards says there’s no question that his orders are legal.
Governor Edwards says the letter is an about-face from the Attorney General…
Landry counters that he agreed to grant the Governor this authority early in the pandemic when medical capacity was at a breaking point, but that isn’t the case now.
Landry is in self-quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 and missed the Vice President’s visit to Baton Rouge Monday. Edwards wished Landry well, but says…
The letter was written at the behest of eight Republican legislators who were seeking input on the legality of the recent orders.
_____________
The Louisiana Restaurant Association estimates the pandemic economy will result in the loss of nearly a quarter of the state’s restaurants.
President Stan Harris says for many restaurants there’s just no way to weather the storm even with the federal aid that’s been received.
Harris says the damage may disproportionately impact traditional sit-down restaurants.
With restaurants suffering the state’s service economy is getting hammered. Harris says that’s why we need Congress to extend enhanced unemployment benefits before they run out at the end of the month.
Harris made the comments on the Governor’s monthly talk show Ask the Governor.
________________________
Stephen Handwerk is stepping away from his position at the helm of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Handwerk is the longest-serving executive director for the party and says it is time to pursue new challenges.
Handwerk says he is incredibly proud of many of the party’s accomplishments during his time and highlights the ability to flip the Governor’s Mansion blue with the election of John Bel Edwards and to keep it that way for a second term.
Handwerk feels that during his time in office the party contributed to history-making elections putting more diversity into elected offices.
Handwerk will depart at the end of August.