Voters are wrapped around the State Archives building for the first day of early voting. Matt Doyle spoke with a few of them as they waited in the chilly weather.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

Early voting hours and days are extended due to the pandemic from 8am until 7pm, Monday thru Saturday and ends on Tuesday, October 27^th. For locations use the Geaux Vote App, that’s G-E-A-U-X.

Legislators are coming under fire for passing a $22.6 million dollar bill full of 113 projects that some say is old-school pork-barrel legislation. HB 39 contained items like lighthouse improvements, construction of a sports complex, and other small-ticket items. Governor Edwards says he’ll take a look at the appropriations bill before signing it and might line-item veto a few of the more questionable expenditures. Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue countered…

Cut 15 (08) “state” 

LSU Student Body President Stone Cox wants the University to require students participate in mandatory monthly Covid-19 testing to move the school into phase 3. Student lead organizations is one area that would benefit from phase 3.

Cut 4 (12)   “…events”   

Voters are wrapped around the Secretary of State’s office for the first day of early voting. Matt Doyle spoke with a few of them as they waited in the chilly weather.

cut 2 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson was the victim of an attempted auto theft last Saturday. Police say the incident happened in Uptown when a man barged in and apparently tried to steal the vehicle with Benson inside. Benson was reportedly shaken but unharmed.

Legislators are under fire for passing a $22.6 million dollar bill full of 113 construction projects that some say is old-school pork-barrel legislation. HB 39 contained items like lighthouse improvements in Madisonville, construction of a sports complex in Central, and other items. Public Affairs Research Council head Robert Travis Scott says it’s disappointing…

Cut 12 10) “…governments”

Campaign finance reports indicate U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has raised as much money in the last quarter as his main Democratic challenger, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins. UL-Lafayette Poli-Sci Professor Pierson Cross says if Perkins can force Cassidy into a run-off, it greatly increases his chances of more campaign contributions.

Cut 7 (09) “…national recognition”

Cassidy’s war chest however is much larger.

Campaign finance reports indicate U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy has raised as much money in the last quarter as his main Democratic challenger, Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins. But overall, Cassidy’s war chest is much larger.  UL-Lafayette Poli-Sci Professor Pierson Cross says numbers indicate Perkins is appealing to both state and national democrats.

Cut 6 (09) “uphill slope”

It’s the first day of early voting and a long, socially distanced line wrapped around the Secretary of State’s office. This voter says she’s a frequent early voter and has never seen this many people in line before. She says when she first saw the line she turned around but decided to come back…

Cut 9 (11) “do it”

LSU Student Body President Stone Cox sent a letter to Interim President Thomas Galligan, suggesting monthly COVID-19 testing for all students, an effort to move into Phase Three.

Cut 1 (30) “  I’m Taylor Sharp”  

LSU Student Body President Stone Cox has sent a letter to University Interim President Thomas Galligan suggesting that all students participate in mandatory monthly Covid-19 testing to move the school into phase 3.  Cox says that moving into phase 3 would be a big step in the right direction.

Cut 3 (13)  “…Now”   

The state has only had 495 reported cases of COVID in K-12 students and 1,063 cases in school staff since the school year began. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says that’s thanks in large part to educators and the Louisiana Department of Health’s early warning system currently in place in two-thirds of schools…

Cut 11 (09) “walls”

Twelve days are left in the special session where Republican lawmakers are attempting to pass legislation to reduce a governor’s authority when imposing restrictions during a public emergency. During a Thursday afternoon press conference, Governor John Bel Edwards reiterated he feels the special session aimed at attacking his authority is unwarranted…

cut 8 (08) “…irresponsible”

Republican House Members are waiting to see if the Senate approves a resolution to overturn the governor’s emergency order. It’s already passed the lower chamber.

A cold front is moving through the state and it will keep our high temperatures in the 60s and 70s today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says it will also help keep tropical storms away…
cut 14 (09) “…gulf”
The National Hurricane Center is watching a broad area of low pressure in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, but it has a low chance of development.

Long lines are being reported as 10 days of early voting begins today. You can’t vote Sundays but Monday through Saturday polls open at 8 am and close at 7 pm. There’s a lot of interest in this election but Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin says don’t assume the worst when you see a long line.

Cut 24 (11) “…be discouraged”

Early wraps in Louisiana and wraps up October 27^th.

The House has now passed a number of measures aimed at limiting the Governor’s public health authority and Governor Edwards says if they make it to his desk he’s likely to veto them.

Edwards touted his record handling the pandemic and says the public health authority granted to him by the State Constitution has helped him guide Louisiana through this crisis.

Cut 9 (11) “possible”

So far, the state has only had 495 reported cases of COVID in K-12 students and 1,063 cases in school staff since the school year began, despite higher predictions.  Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says in spite of the success they have identified a few problem areas where infections are most likely to occur.

Cut 12 (06) “.forth”

Louisiana has been blessed by a cold front this morning with north Louisiana temperatures in the 50s and south Louisiana temps in the 60s with little humidity. State Climatologist Barry Keim says this cold front should help ward off any tropical systems in the area as well. So how long should we expect this wonderful weather to last?

Cut 15 (09) “…trend”

The Louisiana House has approved a bill allowing the Legislature to strike down parts of the Governor’s COVID-19 public health orders pertaining to limitations on in-person visitation at nursing homes. Natchitoches Representative Kenny Cox says the bill may restrict the Governor from re-implementing restrictions on nursing homes should we be hit with another wave of COVID.

Cut 5 (12) “…early”

The measure heads to the Senate for more discussion.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell supports the idea of the Saints temporarily playing their home games at LSU’s Tiger Stadium. Cantrell says no other NFL facility with a fixed roof is allowing fans to attend their games.

Cut 13 (13) “…at this time”

A plan to bring high-speed internet to fourteen parishes in north Louisiana clears the Public Service Commission. Rural electric cooperatives serving the area received approval from the PSC to enter the internet business.  Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says the initiative is long overdue.

Cut 9 (11) “records, etc”

Louisiana Tech legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Dean passed away Wednesday at the age of 68 from Covid-19. Dean is also enshrined at the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Former LA Tech Sports Information Director Keith Prince says not only was Dean a great player, he was also an exceptional person.

Cut 7 (10) “…anybody”

The state health department reports 823 COVID-19 today cases and 12 deaths.

A House committee approved a bill allowing the Legislature to strike down parts of the Governor’s COVID-19 public health orders pertaining to limitations on in-person visitation at nursing homes. Prairieville Representative Tony Bacala brought the bill after speaking to frustrated constituents and the Alzheimer’s Association…

Cut 3 (10)  “…lost”   

The New Orleans Saints football team is meeting with LSU officials to discuss the possibility of moving games to Tiger Stadium. The Superdome is limited with the number of fans it can hold during the pandemic because it is an indoor stadium. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is supportive of the move.

Cut 12 (08) “…the stadium”

The Saints played in Tiger Stadium in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina.

A plan to allow rural electric co-ops to bring high-speed internet to fourteen parishes in North Louisiana clears the Public Service Commission. PSC Commissioner Foster Campbell says currently the electric co-ops provide some of the lowest power rates in the state and he expects them to be able to provide high-speed internet at reasonable rates as well to rural areas.

Cut 11 (04) “…it works”

Campbell predicts high-speed internet availability in the area in 15 months.

Louisiana Tech legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Dean passed away Wednesday afternoon from Covid-19. Former LA Tech Sports Information Director Keith Prince says even though Dean played out west for the Chargers and 49er’s, he never forgot where he came from.

Cut 8 (08) “here”

Dean played for the bulldogs in the early 70’s and had a 10-year NFL career, winning two super bowls with the 49ers.

He was 68 years old.

The PSC votes unanimously to allow Claiborne Electric and Northeast Louisiana Power to use federal grants and low-interest loans to provide high-speed internet from Webster Parish eastward to the Mississippi River. Commissioner Foster Campbell says it’s a necessity for economic development.

Cut 10 (12) “…..part of the country”

Campbell predicts it will take 15 months to provide high-speed internet to the area.

A strong majority of House members vote to allow school nurses to administer medical marijuana to students with referrals for the treatment. Stonewall Representative Larry Bagley says the treatment must be delivered by the parents to the school nurse and administered only by authorized school personnel.

Cut 5 (09) “…campus”

Louisiana Tech legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Dean passed away Wednesday at the age of 68 from to Covid-19. Dean is also enshrined at the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Former LA Tech Sports Information Director Keith Prince says not only was Dean a great player, he was also an exceptional person.

Cut 7 (10) “…anybody”

The state health department reports 823 COVID-19 today cases and 12 deaths.

And New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell supports a move by the Saints to play in Tiger Stadium.

Legislation allowing school nurses to administer medical marijuana to students is halfway to final passage after clearing the House. Cut 1 (30) “ I’m Matt Doyle”

A Louisiana football legend has died from COVID-19. Former Louisiana Tech star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Fred Dean has died at the age of 68. Dean was an outstanding pass rusher for the Bulldogs from 1971 to 1974 after graduating from Ruston High. He went on to play for 12 years in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls with the 49ers in 1981 and 1984.

Louisiana’s high school class of 2020 scored an average ACT composite score of only 18.7, the third year in a row the state has seen a drop in scores. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says that number is an all-time low since the state began requiring all students to take the exam in 2013.

Cut 10 (10) “…families.”

Amongst Economically Disadvantaged students, the composite average is down to 17.1.

NFL owners approve New Orleans’s revised plan to host the Super Bowl in 2025 instead of 2024. The NFL’s regular season is set to expand by one week to 17 games, beginning 2021. Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation CEO Jay Cicero says that extra week clashes with Carnival Season in 2024.

Cut 13 (06) “…of Mardi Gras.”

Fat Tuesday in 2025 is March 4^th.

The Louisiana House has approved the Ka Mauri Harrison Act, which is in response to the six-day suspension a nine-year-old boy in Jefferson Parish received he moved a BB gun during a virtual class.  Author of the bill, Jennings Representative Troy Romero, says the legislation allows students to appeal suspensions to the school board and requires all 69 school districts to develop discipline policies for online learning…
Cut 4 (06) “…move forward”

Saturday’s LSU-Florida game has been rescheduled for December 12th in Gainesville because of a coronavirus outbreak with the Gators football team. Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin says last week’s trip to Texas A-and-M may have helped spread the virus within the team
Cut 10 (12) “……headache”
The Senate unanimously passes legislation allowing clergy members access to patients in a hospital during a public health emergency. Bill author Minden Senator Robert Mills says it would protect the religious liberties of patients and families should they want a visit by a clergy member.
Cut 8 (08) “need”
The legislation moves to the House.
The House approves legislation barring the state from penalizing religious leaders who hold in-person services against orders during a declared emergency. The bill by Oil City Representative Danny McCormick was brought in response to the Governor’s restrictions on gatherings during the pandemic, which includes religious activities.
Cut 13 (06) “…emergency”
The bill heads to the Senate.