Legislation is introduced that would take funding away from local governments and universities that attempt to reduce police budgets for political reasons. Matt Doyle spoke with the author…
Cut 1 (33) “I’m Matt Doyle”

The Lafayette Parish Coroner’s office says a two-year-old boy found in a car on Sunday died from heatstroke. The child’s mother’s 27-year-old, Natalie Broussard, has been charged with negligent homicide.

The 25-percent maximum capacity at athletic events will be the subject of a legislative committee this morning. Many high schools object to that number and point to the higher capacity that’s allowed inside restaurants and casinos. House Education Chairman Ray Garafalo says Friday night football games are an important event for many communities and memorable for students…
cut 14 (06) “….into these issues”
The governor’s office says the 25-percent capacity restriction is based on scientific data and guidance from health experts.

The University of Louisiana System says there are over 200 McNeese State students who are using resources such as Wi-Fi, libraries, computer labs, campus dining options, and health services at other U-L system campuses for those McNeese students who have been displaced by Hurricane Laura. U-L System President Jim Henderson says it is a rewarding effort…
cut 5 (05) “…to help you”

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris has filed legislation to be discussed in the special session that would result in a municipality or public university losing money if they reduce their police department funding by ten-percent…
cut 8 (12) “…deduction”
Harris calls the bill the Louisiana Police Funding Protection Act.

The Main Street Recovery Program aimed to assist Louisiana small businesses with pandemic recovery is no longer accepting applications. State Treasurer John Schroder says the $275-million fund that the legislature set aside is almost allocated.
Cut 10 (12) “…as backups.”

The high school football season starts tomorrow, but many schools are upset the governor’s current coronavirus order limits occupancy at outdoor athletic events at 25-percent. The House Education and Health and Welfare Committees will hold a joint meeting on this topic today. Schools argue it doesn’t make sense to cap the capacity at 25-percent when restaurants and casinos are allowed to have a higher maximum capacity. House Education Chair Ray Garafalo hopes to get answers today…
cut 15 (13) “….show the public”
The governor’s office says the proclamation is based on scientific data and guidance from health experts and the White House Coronavirus Task Force in order to ensure the safety of Louisianans.

Baton Rouge Representative Ted James says he doesn’t expect GOP efforts in the special session to curb the Governor’s public health authority will be successful. Jeff Palermo spoke with the Democrat…
cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care. The state’s 53rd governor is 90-years-old. He served as the state’s governor from 1996 to 2004. The former state senator from Franklin was easily elected to a second term. Foster supported businesses and expanded TOPS during his time in office.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto says his deputies fatally shot a man who killed his girlfriend as deputies watched. Lopinto says his deputies responded to a call of a male beating up a female. When they got to the scene, the two were arguing in the street and the man shot the woman in the neck and that’s when deputies returned fire…
cut 8 (10) “…shot also’
The identities of the deceased have not been released.

The 250 dollar Frontline Worker Rebate Program has processed about 65 percent of the over 240,000 applications received. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says they’re confident they will give away all of the money by the October 31st application deadline.
Cut 13 (10) “…available”
Eligible workers have to earn less than 50,000 dollars a year in a specifically listed frontline job for a certain amount of hours during the coronavirus shutdown.

The special session is underway and lawmakers will look to begin advancing legislation that will give them more of a say in coronavirus rules. Covington Representative Mark Wight has a bill to limit the amount of time a state of emergency declaration can go without legislative approval…
cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care. Foster served as the state’s governor from 1996 to 2004. He is 90-years-old.

The Louisiana Revenue Department says it has processed about 65-percent of the 240-thousand applications they’ve received from eligible workers who are seeking a 250-dollar payment, because of the service they provided during the economic shutdown. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says there are thousands of people who need to respond to requests for additional information before they can get their cash…
cut 15 (07) “….information

UL Lafayette biologist Karl Hasenstein is sending two batches of radish seeds to the International Space Center as part of a vegetable research experiment that NASA is conducting. Researchers are trying to figure out how to reliably grow crops 240 miles above Earth. Hasenstein says upon harvest the radishes will be sent back to earth for further research…
cut 12 (12) “…do the analysis”

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office reports a 200 percent increase in online sexual predator cases during the pandemic. Louisiana Internet Crimes against Children Commander Corey Bourgeois says the increase appears to be linked to the fact kids are spending more time online.
Cut 7 (12) “…minors”
Bourgeois says parents need to be even more mindful of what their child is doing on the internet.

Should legislators have more input on executive orders issued during emergencies? Bills have been filed in the ongoing special session addressing this issue. Covington Representative Mark Wright says it could result in future emergency orders being more effective, because it will have the backing of the legislature as well…
cut 5 (12) “….we have now”

UL Lafayette is participating in a NASA experiment to see if vegetables can be grown in space to sustain astronauts during long missions. UL Lafayette vegetable researcher Dr. Karl Hasenstein says the research has been in the works for three years, but needs to be tested in space to advance cosmic exploration.
Cut 10 (13) “…moon or Mars.”
On Thursday, radish seeds developed by Hasenstein will travel to the International Space Station.

Governor John Bel Edwards is asking Louisiana residents to pray as former Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care at the age of 90. Sources close to the former governor say Foster’s illness is not related to COVID-19. He served as Louisiana’s governor from 1996 to 2004.

A 30-day special session called by Republican lawmakers is underway. Legislation has been filed that seeks to give legislators more of a say when emergency orders are issued by the governor. Covington Representative Mark Wright says similar consultation with lawmakers exists at the federal level as well…
cut 6 (09) “….to declare war”

The 250 dollar Frontline Worker Rebate Program has processed about 65 percent of the over 240,000 applications received. Louisiana Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says they’re confident they will give away all of the money by the October 31st application deadline.
Cut 13 (10) “…available”

With kids spending more time in front of screens these days the number of reported cases of potential online sexual predation of minors was up 200 percent from April to June. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…Matt Doyle”

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s office has charged 27-year-old Natalie Broussard with negligent homicide after she allegedly left a two-year-old in a vehicle on Sunday afternoon. A cause of death of the child has not been released and authorities say the investigation is continuing. Broussard will make her first court appearance today.

The second special session of 2020 began last night and bills have been filed that seek to scale back the governor’s authority during an emergency. House Republican Mark Wright of Covington proposes that any emergency declaration extended beyond 30 days should see more input than just the governor.
Cut 4 (13)“ …of these orders.”
Governor Edwards has said you can’t respond to a public health emergency by committee.

The Louisiana Revenue Department says it has processed about 65-percent of the 240-thousand applications they’ve received from eligible workers who are seeking a 250-dollar payment, because of the service they provided during the economic shutdown. Revenue Secretary Kimberly Robinson says there are thousands of people who need to respond to requests for additional information before they can get their cash…
cut 15 (07) “….information”

A UL Lafayette biologist is conducting vegetable research with NASA and launching radishes to space on Thursday. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a broad area of low pressure in the Caribbean that has a 50-percent chance of developing into a tropical depression late this week or over the weekend.

And former Louisiana Governor Mike Foster has entered hospice care. He’s 90-years-old and people close to the situation say it’s not COVID related.