Beginning today you can visit your loved ones in veterans homes. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”

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President Trump says he’ll name a replacement for the recently departed Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Saturday, and called for a vote before the November 3^rd election. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (31) “…Matt Doyle” 

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LSU announces an all-time enrollment record of 34,290 students. Jeff Palermo reports the university is also celebrating a more diverse student body…

Cut 3 (31)  “…I’m Jeff Palermo”  

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Louisiana veterans homes will begin allowing in-person visits today for the first time since the pandemic began.

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs spokesperson Brandee Patrick says everyone entering the facilities will be required to mask up and get screened just like the staff does every morning…

Cut 4 (11)“ …given one” 

Homes included in the initial visitation program are in Monroe, Bossier City, Reserve, and Jennings, and the program will only be allowed at facilities that have not had a staff member or resident test positive for 14 days.

For at least the next 28 days visitations will have to happen outdoors and visitors will have to stay six feet away from their loved ones. Patrick says it will likely take place on the spacious patios…

Cut 5 (10)  “areas.”

Patrick says visitations will be conducted Monday through Friday from 9 to 11 AM and 1 to 4 PM, and visitors must call the home to set up a reservation.

Cut 6 (08) “…done.”

The protocol was designed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the CDC.

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President Trump says he will name a replacement for recently deceased Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Friday or Saturday.

The declaration has sparked a firestorm with the Presidential Election just over 40 days away but  ULM Poli Sci Professor John Sutherlin says he expects that nominee won’t be confirmed before November 3^rd…

Cut 7 (12) “…issue.”

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell says the upper chamber will move to confirm before the inauguration next year. That’s caused Democrats to cry foul over precedent Senate Republicans set when they blocked President Obama’s nominee in 2016.

Sutherlin says the next justice will almost certainly have to be a woman, and New Orleans native and Federal Appellate Judge Amy Coney Barrett appears to be at the top of the shortlist.

Cut 8 (07) “…judge”

Fox News reports that Mr. Trump has met with Barrett.

The 48-year-old Barrett is a protégée of former Justice Antonin Scalia, and a graduate of Dominican High in New Orleans, and Notre Dame Law School. She was named to the Appellate Court by President Trump in 2017.

A replacement judge for Ginsburg would likely shift the High Court’s balance on issues like the Affordable Care Act and abortion. Sutherlin says Barrett is clear on one of them…

Cut 9 (07) “…Wade”

Democratic leaders have signaled that they’re willing to pull out all the stops to halt the nomination process until after the inauguration, and even threatened to add new seats to the court if a Trump nominee is approved and Democrats win the upcoming election.

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The Saints had a double digit lead in Las Vegas on Monday night, but the Raiders got rolling in their new stadium and defeated New Orleans 34-24. For the second straight week the Saints offense couldn’t get into a  rhythm while the Raiders had the ball for 36-plus minutes. Coach Sean Payton says allowing the Raiders to convert 10-of-17 on third downs hurt

Cut 10 (12) “…as well.”

Raiders Quarterback Derek Carr threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, while Saints Q-B Drew Brees threw for 312 yards and a touchdown. He was also intercepted once at the end of the second quarter…

Cut 11 (12) “…in person.”

The Saints defense had trouble stopping Raiders tight end Darren Waller, who had 12 catches for 103 yards and one touchdown. Also New Orleans committed ten penalties for 129 yards. Defensive end Cam Jordan says they have a lot to fix before their next game on Sunday against Green Bay…

Cut 12 (12) “…these mistakes”

New Orleans hosts the 2-0 Packers on Sunday night. The Saints are 1-1.

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Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, LSU has set a record for enrollment at 34-thousand students and for the third-straight year, the school has broken a record for the largest and most diverse freshman class in university history. Interim President Tom Galligan says these gains speak to the reputation of LSU…

Cut 13 (12) “…wonderful, wonderful state”

Freshmen enrollment is a record 67-hundred students and Galligan says the freshman class is made up of 17-percent Black students, which is a record and Hispanic students in the freshman class is also a record at nine-percent…

Cut 14 (10) “…welcoming environment.”

LSU has also broken records for retention rate as the first to third-year retention is 75-percent.

LSU has received criticism for its holistic admission approach, which considers a student’s background, the rigor of curriculum they took in high school and life circumstances. Some say the school has lowered its standards, but Galligan says the quality of student entering LSU has not wavered…

Cut 15 (09) “…admissions.”

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Junior Quarterback Myles Brennan will begin the difficult task on Saturday in trying to follow the footsteps of Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow. Brennan will be the starting QB for the reigning national champs when they host Mississippi State. Brennan has been waiting for his opportunity and Coach Ed Orgeron says he’s always believed in the Mississippi native…

Cut 16 (21) “…summertime” 

Burrow benefited by playing with fellow first round picks Justin Jefferson and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. He also had Biletnikoff award winner Ja’Marr Chase. Brennan doesn’t have those weapons, but he will have the opportunity to connect with big tight end Arik Gilbert. Coach Ed Orgeron says Gilbert has drawn comparisons to former Detriot Lions receiver Calvin Johnson…

Cut 17 (20) “…Calvin Johnson” 

LSU’s offense set all kinds of passing records last season. Orgeron says for LSU to have an explosive passing attack again, Brennan needs to make smart decisions with the football…

Cut 18  (16) “…make plays” 

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ULM is off to an 0-2 start after losing to Texas State 38-17 last Saturday. Warhawks Quarterback Colby Suits threw for 377 yards in a loss, but Coach Matt Viator wants a more balanced attack and would like to get the ground game going

Cut 19  (22) “…football better”    

ULM running back Josh Johnson was held to just three yards a carry on 17 attempts last week. The Warhawks are home again this Saturday against UTEP. The Miners from Conference USA are two and one on the season as they have wins over Stephen F Austin and Abilene Christian, but were blown out by Texas. Viator on what UTEP likes to do on defense

cut 20 (13) “…home again”

State lawmakers could vote as early as today to call themselves into a special session. Jim Shannon on what legislators will consider…

Cut 1 (31) “…Jim Shannon”  

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Louisiana local governments are projected to lose an average of six percent of their expected revenue for the 2021 fiscal year. Matt Doyle has the story.

cut 2 (31) “I’m Matt Doyle”  

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It appears likely that lawmakers will return to Baton Rouge for a special session covering several different issues that would start next Monday.

The vote to enter the session is imminent, and LaPolitics.com publisher Jeremy Alford says it will cover everything from Hurricane Laura to unemployment, but…

Cut 3 (07)  “…emergency.”  

Alford says a number of Republican lawmakers are not happy with the COVID restrictions still in place, including capacity limits, bar limitations, and the outright closure of some businesses.

A petition to roll back the public health emergency failed, and Alford says Legislative attempts to override the Governor’s order will be tough to pull off…

Cut 4 (06)“ …possible” 

Initially, it was thought an October special session would be called to allocate potential Congressional relief money, but Alford says those D.C. negotiations have stalled and lawmakers may have to return to Baton Rouge in December for another special session if those funds get passed.

Alford says even if Republicans manage to file an effort to override his public health emergency many lawmakers feel the issue will have to be settled in court.

Cut 5 (11)  “inherent ”

Alford says it is likely the session would begin September 28th and run 30 days.

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Pineville Police say one of its officers was shot last night in the leg behind a shopping center in what authorities are calling a police ambush. Deputy Chief of Pineville P-D Darrell Basco says the wounded officer heard two gunshots shortly after he exited his police cruiser

Cut 6 (08)  “…and released”  

Basco says the second shot hit the rear door of the police car. He says Crimestoppers has offered a five-thousand-dollar reward for information

Cut 7 (10)“ …the area” 

Basco says the officer was on routine patrol when the shooting occurred near the intersection of Military Highway and Donahue Ferry Road. He says they are not sure if this was a planned attack

Cut 8 (11)  “…right now.”

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Most of south Louisiana is under a flash flood watch until Wednesday night as Tropical Storm Beta is expected to produce several inches of rain in the Bayou State. State Climatologist Barry Keim says the rain will be on and off for the new few days

Cut 9 (09) “…four days”

Keim says if you are tired of the hot weather there is some good news. He says the rainfall and cloud cover will hold down the high temperatures…

Cut 10 (11) “…low 80s”

Tropical Storm Beta is a slow mover and after making landfall in Texas, it’s expected to move northeast and the center of the storm will be in central Louisiana as a depression on Thursday morning.

Keim says as long as Beta doesn’t produce huge amounts of rain over a short period of time, Louisiana should be able to handle its rainfall

Cut 11 (11) “…accommodate rain ”

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Louisiana local governments are expected to see a 714 million-dollar decline in revenues for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal years combined due to COVID and Laura.

Legislative Auditor economist Ed Seyler says local governments are heavily dependent on sales taxes which have seen major reductions due to mandatory business closures and mass layoffs…

Cut 12 (08) “…taxes”

For the 2021 fiscal year, the expected total revenue loss sits just under six percent for local governments statewide.

Hurricane ravaged Cameron and Calcasieu are expected to see a 17 and 10 percent drop in 2021 revenue respectively. Seyler says there’s a chance though that storm repair could soften the blow…

Cut 13 (08) “…jobs.”

Other parishes seeing the largest declines in fiscal year 2021 are Orleans at 13 percent, Jefferson and Natchitoches at eight percent, and St. John, St. Tammany, and Beauregard at six percent.

Seyler says the numbers were compiled by the Auditor’s office into a report you can find on their website. He says the numbers are troubling…

Cut 14 (07) “…Louisiana.”

An optimistic projection estimates a loss of only 523 million during those years, while a more pessimistic projection pegs it at 860 million.

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State employer payroll taxes are likely to go up and unemployment benefits likely to go down next year due to the depleted state unemployment trust fund…

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

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The state is working to implement new federal guidelines to allow visitations at nursing homes. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (31) “…Brooke Thorington” 

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Four Shreveport cops are indicted on negligent homicide charges in the April death of a 44-year-old mentally ill man. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (32)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

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Researchers at Baton Rouge General say a taste test may predict how vulnerable a person is to severe illness from COVID-19. Doctor Henry Barham, a rhinologist, says they have found that people who have trouble detecting certain bitter flavors are at a higher risk for developing more symptoms…

Cut 4 (08)“ …would do” 

The loss of taste and smell are hallmark symptoms of COVID-19 patients.

Barham says their initial study involved 100 people who had COVID. He says the second study that’s ongoing involves five-thousand people as they try to determine if a taste test can predict COVID-19 severity…

Cut 5 (09)  “…on now.”

Barham also notes that as people get older they lose the ability to taste as well…

Cut 6 (11) “…the big one.”

Barham says even if you test out as a “supertaster” you should still get the vaccine once it becomes available.

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The unemployment trust fund has dropped below 100 million dollars and that will likely mean reduced benefits for recipients and higher taxes on businesses next year. Louisiana Workforce Commission Secretary Ava Dejoie says if the trust fund is below 100 million in 2021, the maximum weekly benefit will drop to 221 dollars from the current 247 dollars, but…

Cut 7 (04) “…benefits.”

Dejoie says when it comes to higher taxes on employers each employer has their own experience rating with the trust fund so…

Cut 8 (09) “…significantly.”

Dejoie says because of the dual-threat to both the unemployed and employers it’s vital that Congress include unemployment trust fund relief in the next pandemic relief bill.

Cut 9 (09) “…COVID”

The Revenue Estimating Conference meeting is set to meet September 30^th to discuss and verify the status of the trust fund.

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Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is implementing new federal guidelines that lifts the ban on nursing home visits. State Director of the Louisiana AARP Denise Botcher says new guidance from the feds allows nursing homes to conduct outdoor visitation with social distancing…

Cut 10 (10) “…to Louisiana families.”

In addition to outdoor visits, nursing homes in parishes with no more than 10 percent test positivity and without any new onset of COVID cases in the last 14 days can allow indoor visitation.

Botcher says the inability to visit in person has been a difficult period for families when phone calls and virtual visits have been the only option.

Cut 11 (12) “…in person.”

Botcher says visitors will be required to wear face coverings, wash their hands, and social distance.

Cut 12 (06) “…one time.”

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A Caddo Parish grand jury indicts four Shreveport cops on negligent homicide charges linked to the April death of a mentally ill man, 44-year-old Tommie McGlothen Jr. Officers arrested McGlothen April 5^th and after McGlothen was handcuffed video revealed that he was severely beaten and tased, and left for 48 minutes without aid. Family attorney James Carter…

Cut 13 (11) “…beat him.”

Video shows McGlothen, apparently handcuffed, on the ground resisting while officers beat him with a baton, kicked him, punched him, and tased him as he screams. After no longer moving the beating continues, and he is then stood upon his knees and kicked into the ground, lifted back up, and slammed into a squad car.

McGlothen was in an altercation with a homeowner when officers arrived, and Carter says police were well aware of his condition due to incidents from earlier that day…

Cut 14 (09) “…unfortunate.”

A coroner’s report showed McGlothen had a broken nose, jaw, and heavily swollen face after the encounter. The report also came to the conclusion that McGlothen’s death was likely preventable, although not the direct result of the beating, but of “Excited Delirium”.

Carter says it’s unconscionable that police would beat Mr. McGlothen so severely, and then just leave him handcuffed in the back of a car…

Cut 15 (07) “…to happen.”

Treona McCarter, Brian Ross, D’Marea Johnson, and James LeClare were also charged with malfeasance. Police Chief Ben Raymond has declined comment on the indictments.

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The Saints will look to improve to 2-0 tonight when they face the Raiders in their new stadium in Las Vegas. New Orleans All Pro receiver Michael Thomas will not play because of a high ankle sprain. Quarterback Drew Brees says the Black and Gold have a next man up mentality

Cut 16 (14) “…do have” 

Tight end Jared Cook agrees it’s next man up….

Cut 17 (16) “…about that” 

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The 19th ranked Ragin Cajuns rallied back from a two touchdown deficit to beat Georgia State 34-31 in overtime to improve to 2-0. Elijah Mitchell rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns to help spark the comeback. Coach Billy Napier says they needed Mitchell, because overall they were not consistent enough on offense

Cut 18  (17) “…play better” 

Quarterback Levi Lewis threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns, but he was also intercepted twice. The Cajuns were also just 3 of 14 on third downs and allowed 223 yards rushing. But Napier says the most important thing is that they are 2-0

Cut 19  (19) “…the most”    

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Louisiana Tech was without six starters and 20 players from their two-deep because of COVID-19, but still rallied back from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to beat Conference USA rival Southern Miss 31-30. The Bulldogs scored the game tying touchdown in the final seconds and added the extra point for the win. Coach Skip Holtz says he’ll never forget this victory

cut 20 (20) “…competed tonight”