AM LRN Newscall **EDIT: removed ULM/LA Tech story, replaced with new story on fall college sports**

 

A new report from the Louisiana Association of United Ways shows just how many people were not financially prepared for the pandemic. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

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A study projects an alarming number of Americans will die before the end of the year from COVID, but also says wearing a face mask could turn that number around. Brooke Thorington has more.

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Fall college sports are reportedly likely to be postponed until spring. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Before the pandemic, more than one in three Louisiana hard-working households were financially vulnerable and classified as ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.  A new report from the Louisiana Association of United Ways shows just how many people were not financially prepared for the pandemic.  Louisiana Association of United Ways President Sarah Berthelot…

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Berthelot says the economic crisis that accompanied the pandemic has made ALICE workers have to make tough decisions between necessities.

Cut 5 (11)  “…unexpected job loss.”

The research estimates over half of Louisiana’s ALICE workers lost work because of the pandemic.

Berthelot hopes the research can be used by charitable organizations to help direct assistance and by policymakers to guide decisions to increase wages for ALICE workers.

Cut 6 (11) “…in high demand.”

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A University of Washington model projects 300-thousand Americans will die from COVID by December, but if we mask up that number would drop by 66-thousand.

Louisiana Department of Health Region 9 Medical Director Dr Gina LeGarde, lost her cousin Nadine to COVID in April but says others could be saved if more people would wear masks.

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The state is seeing declining numbers of new cases and hospitalizations since the Governor’s mask mandate. That order frustrated some who feel it is an infringement on their rights, but LaGarde says…

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LeGarde says research shows that mitigation efforts work, but everyone must remain focused and continue to practice social distancing and wear face coverings properly.

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The Louisiana Restaurant Association estimates about 200 Louisiana bars have applied for and received restaurant conditional licenses so they can open back up.

LRA President Stan Harris says only bars that were previously licensed by the Department of Health to do food service can apply, but for those that do qualify…

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All bars were shuttered in Louisiana by order of the Governor last month after initially being allowed to operate under Phase Two.

Harris says if you have the facilities to make the transition it doesn’t take long to get back up and running.

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Bars that make the switch will have a set amount of time to demonstrate that they can have food sales account for more than half of their income and to ban smoking if they are in jurisdictions that still allow in bar smoking.

Harris warns not all bars are built to make the switch.

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Reports indicate college sports officials are likely to soon pull the plug on fall sports seasons and plan to push those sports into spring.

It was only three days ago that LSU announced the two additional SEC teams they’d play this fall. Tiger Rag Editor Ron Higgins says the situation changed rapidly as officials considered new information…

Cut 13 (10) “…a lot.” 

Reports indicate athletic directors were also highly concerned about potential liability issues.

Higgins says football is the big money maker that funds the school’s 18 unprofitable sports programs. He says in the short term this is going to blow a huge hole in the LSU athletics budget, but…

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Higgins says if the pandemic allows for spring sports then we could be looking at an incredibly packed sports schedule.

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No final decision has been made but Big Ten officials are reportedly the ones leading the charge on postponing the season, and if the Big Ten postpones it appears likely the other Power Five conferences would as well, along with the rest of the NCAA.

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