The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is reaching out to auto insurers who are not doing business in the state to let them know about recent changes to the state’s civil litigation rules in car crash cases.  Kevin Barnhart has more

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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This week the state Revenue Department will mail thousands of letters to frontline workers who had problems with their tax rebate applications. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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A few weeks from now Louisiana will begin borrowing money from the feds to float the state unemployment insurance program. Brooke Thorington has the story.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

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The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry is reaching out to auto insurance companies who are not currently offering coverage in Louisiana to let them know the state has made changes to its civil litigation system for car crashes. LABI President Stephen Waguespack says they have sent out more than 1,100 letters.

Cut 4 (07)“ …rates go down.” 

Waguespack says there are so few choices for commercial auto insurers in Louisiana, that it will only take a handful of companies to start writing new business to see major changes in rates.

Cut 5 (10)  “is no competition.”

Waguespack says the tort reform legislation approved in the special session has made the state’s judicial system more transparent and fair.

Cut 6 (10) “…your services here.”

The Louisiana House Democratic Caucus says the tort reform legislation approve in June will not lead to lower rates.

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The Louisiana Revenue Department says 69-thousand checks worth 250-dollars a piece have been sent to essential workers who had to work during the governor’s stay at home order. Secretary Kimberly Robinson says 240-thousand people have applied for the tax rebate since July 15^th

Cut 7 (14) “…testing”

Home health and healthcare workers are the second biggest category after grocery store workers.

This week the state Revenue Department will mail thousands of letters to people who applied for the 250-dollar hazard pay check, but there was a problem with their application, or submitted disqualifying information.

Cut 8 (09) “information.”

208 applications have been filed on behalf of frontline workers who are ineligible because they are deceased.

They’ve also had some problems verifying workers’ information…

Cut 9 (10) “…name”

17-million in payments have gone out and the program still has 23-million available dollars, so the state is still accepting applications at frontlineworkers.la.gov

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Louisiana will need to begin borrowing money from the feds to fund our unemployment insurance program as of September 7^th. Louisiana Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says even if the state runs out of money in the trust fund, the state is constitutionally mandated to keep paying benefits, so…

Cut 10 (07) “…benefits.”

Dejoie says over 20 states are already borrowing money from the feds to fund their unemployment programs.

Dejoie warned that there will be penalties for the state unemployment trust fund running dry, and we do have to pay the borrowed money back.

Cut 11 (10) “…funds”

Louisiana’s unemployment trust fund was rated as the 17^th strongest in the nation before the pandemic struck, but Dejoie says it has been hammered by the pandemic economy.

Cut 12 (11) “million.”

454,000 beneficiaries are currently receiving unemployment insurance payments from the state. All 454,000 will be eligible to receive the new 300 dollar federally enhanced unemployment assistance.

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Based on the latest data, the number of new COVID-19 cases is on the decline after the state experienced a second surge in new cases in July. So why did Louisiana experience a second surge? State Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry says some of those that tested negative in the spring may have relaxed on their spread mitigation efforts

Cut 13 (12) “…keep our distance.” 

Guidry says the virus has also been teaching the public and science professionals along the way that it does not behave like a normal virus.  The summer climate did not act as a mitigate factor as restrictions began to lift.

Cut 14 (11) “…viruses normally behave.”

Guidry says the science community did everything they possible could to convince people to take mitigation efforts seriously, but a lack of public cooperation has set the state back.

Cut 15 (12) “…this virus spread.”

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The Pelicans are searching for a new head coach after the team decided to move on from Alvin Gentry after five seasons and just one postseason appearance. Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin says he’ll take his time in finding Gentry’s replacement…

Cut 16 (20) “then on” 

The Pelicans job should an attractive one. The roster features a potential superstar in Zion Williamson, an all-star in Brandon Ingram and one of the better two-way guards in the league in Jrue Holiday. Griffin knows he has a big decision in front of him…

cut 17  (21) “…everyone” 

Host of the Locked on Pelicans podcast, Jake Madison, says a former head coach in Cleveland will likely get an interview…

Cut 18  (20) “…Milwaukee Bucks”   

Madison says Griffin will also look to make some changes with the roster during the offseason…

cut 19 (11) “…next year”  

Three women have been arrested in connection with the assault of a Baton Rouge Chili’s hostess. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

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New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewes are not sure if they will roll next year. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (28) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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Baton Rouge Police arrest three women for allegedly assaulting a teenage worker at Chili’s, who was trying to enforce social distancing. Cell phone captured the attack on the hostess, who told a large group of women they could not be seated together. Baton Rouge Police Sgt Don Coppola says the public helped with the investigation.

Cut 3 (08)  “…three individuals”  

48-year old Tammy Dabney is charged with aggravated second-degree battery, while 27-year old Rodneka Dabney and 46-year old Erica Dabney were charged with disturbing the peace and simple battery.

Coppola says media attention on the case helped with the investigation.

Cut 4 (10)“ ..Crime Stoppers 

A GoFundMe account has been set up for 17-year old Kelsy Wallace, the victim of last weekend’s attack. Reports say Wallace will not return to her job at Chili’s. Coppola says the young girl had to be treated at a local hospital for minor injuries.

Cut 5 (10)  “this happens”

If you have any information about the case, call Crime Stoppers.

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Governor Edwards expresses concern over the upcoming flu season.  Edwards says the message is clear about the flu vaccine this year.

Cut 6 (06) “…past or not.”

Edwards says the combination of having spikes in both COVID and flu cases at the same time could be detrimental to medical facility capabilities.

Cut 7 (07) “…care delivery system..”

Edwards says this year’s vaccination is not yet available, but when it is, you’ll hear about it.

Cut 8 (06) “…shot this year.”

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New Orleans Mardi Gras Krewes met to discuss next year’s season, with the result being a clear message that no one knows if it will actually happen. Mardi Gras Guide publisher Arthur Hardy says there’s not a lot of optimism about having large scale parades in the Crescent City, but he cautions…

Cut 9 (11) “…parades.”

He also adds that funding for the creation of floats is up in the air as some krewes are having difficulty securing membership dues do to the uncertainty.

The heart of the season is set for early-mid February next year, but there’s no indication a vaccine will be widely available by then. Hardy says there’s been some suggestions addressing that problem…

Cut 10 (06) “…weeks”

Fat Tuesday is February 16^th in 2021.

While outdoor parades may be possible by then, Hardy says indoor Mardi Gras balls are looking increasingly less likely…

Cut 11 (12) “this year”

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The state is receiving another $205 million in BP oil spill money for a variety of projects to help recover from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. Executive Director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Bren Haase says $176 million will be used to build marshland in the upper Barataria Basin

Cut 12 (11) “…the Mississippi River.”

Haase says over $25 million will be put toward oyster-related projects, including the construction of two brood reefs in St. Bernard Parish. The reefs will be closed to harvesting, but are located near open harvesting areas.

Cut 13 (10) “…can eat them.” 

Haase says $3 million will be going toward a system that is in place to respond to injured marine mammals.

Cut 14 (07) “…the save them.”