LRN PM Newscall October 1

A House committee advances a resolution by the House Speaker that would suspend all COVID public health orders by the Governor for 30 days after the special session ends. Matt Doyle has the story…

Cut 1 (30) “…Matt Doyle”  

____________________________

A bill is advancing that would require four members of the state legislature to sit on the Louisiana High School Athletic Association executive board. Jeff Palermo has more…

cut 2 (33) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

_____________________________

Don’t let the fall weather fool you. Hurricane season is not over. State climatologist Barry Keim says it’s too early to let your guard down because the history books reflect that storms can make a Louisiana landfall in October.

Cut 3 (10)  “…of the month.”  

The records date back to 1851.

While many of the state’s October landfalls may be frontloaded, Hurricane Juan made landfall on October 29, 1985, looped around, and made a second landfall on October 31.  Keim says it may not have been the most powerful hurricane, but its stationary nature pummeled south Louisiana.

Cut 4 (12) “…end of October.”

Juan is the latest into a season that a hurricane has made landfall in Louisiana.  Keim says that means no storm has made a Louisiana landfall in the last month of hurricane season.

Cut 5 (08) “…are not zero.”

_________________

A House committee approves a resolution that would suspend the Governor’s COVID public health emergency order for 30 days after the current special session ends. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says his resolution would eliminate all COVID public health restrictions established by the Governor, and give the Legislature time to craft their own.

Cut 6 (04) “…better”

The session is expected to end in late October.

Much of the discussion at the committee centered on the damage done to businesses by the ongoing orders. Sulphur Representative Les Farnum says the restrictions exacerbated Laura’s economic hit…

Cut 7 (09) “…punch.”

The Governor has called previous attempts to suspend the order irresponsible and says they would lead to an immediate loss of a substantial amount of federal funding under the Stafford Act.

Haughton Representative Doddie Horton says the orders infringe on resident’s liberty and need to be eliminated quickly. She says that starts with the mask mandate in schools.

Cut 8 (11) “…face.”

The resolution moves to the House floor.

______________________________________

The Senate Education Committee approves legislation that would require the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to have four state legislators serve on the executive board of the LHSAA. Monroe Senator Stewart Cathey says this will help keep lawmakers more informed on issues involving high school sports

Cut 9 (09) “…institutions.”

Cathey says during the summer when the LHSAA was trying to figure out how to play high school football during a pandemic, his phone was blowing up about the possibility that the season would be canceled…

Cut 10 (10) “…lit up.”

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine told the panel he communicates with several legislators already and is okay with lawmakers on the executive board, he just doesn’t think a law is needed

Cut 11 (11) “…and Speaker.”

The measure heads to the Senate floor for more consideration.

______________________________________________________

Senator Karen Carter Peterson expresses her displeasure with a lack of spread mitigation efforts from fellow lawmakers.  Peterson slammed those lawmakers who were not using masks.

Cut 12 (10) “…other members’ health.”

Peterson highlights that mask usage it the top recommendation of the White House Coronavirus Task Force.

Cut 13 (13) “…we should do.”

Peterson says the Capitol should hold itself to a higher standard that places like Walmart and Whole Foods who mandate masks while inside.  Peterson adds it is imperative that lawmakers are setting an example for constituents.

Cut 14 (11) “…help me somebody.”