Governor John Bel Edwards will release new coronavirus pandemic restrictions this afternoon as the state is moving into Phase 3. Edwards is expected to announce the 50-percent maximum occupancy for most businesses will increase to 75-percent as long as they continue to social distance. The mask mandate will stay in place and we’ll have to see if bars will remain closed.

Phase Three will provide public school students with more opportunities for in-person education. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The National Hurricane Center is now giving a tropical wave off the coast of South Florida an 80-percent of developing into at least a tropical depression as it begins to move past Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico. State Climatologist Barry Keim…
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The disturbance is expected to track over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico this weekend and early next week as it moves toward Louisiana.

Cleco reports that it has restored power to 99-percent of the 140-thousand customers that lost power as a result of Hurricane Laura. At the peak, over 4,000 restoration workers were on the ground. Cleco spokesperson Jennifer Cahill…
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In Calcasieu Parish, there are over 900 Cleco customers still without power.